Hong Kong: SJ hails electoral system benefits Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng The Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Bill 2021 was passed in the Legislative Council on Thursday. The amendment to the ordinance was made in accordance with the decision of the National Peoples Congress on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the amended Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law with a view to fully implementing patriots administering Hong Kong and safeguarding the overall interests of society and the constitutional order as set out in the Constitution and the Basic Law. This would synthesise a new democratic electoral system suited to Hong Kongs actual situation and with Hong Kong characteristics. When improving the electoral system of a place, one would take into account the historical background, cultural diversity, political thoughts, and inevitably the historical and current state of political development and the actual circumstances there. The National Peoples Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC), in deliberating the amendments to Annexes I and II to the Basic Law, has already taken into consideration the actual situation in Hong Kong. Certain overseas politicians alleged again that the legislation defies the objective of universal suffrage as set out in the Basic Law. However, it should be pointed out that the ultimate aim of universal suffrage, to be achieved in light of the actual situation in Hong Kong and in accordance with the principle of gradual and orderly process, as specified in Articles 45 and 68 of the Basic Law, remains unchanged. The NPCSC adopted the amended Annex I and Annex II to the Basic Law on March 30. Since then, my colleagues and I have met with various organisations and individuals from the legal and dispute resolution sector to explain to them the improvements to the electoral system. At the bills committee meetings, the Government categorised the policy with the related main ordinance and subsidiary legislations, which offered LegCo members a good grasp of the content and its implementation in the course of scrutiny. The Election Committee is now entrusted with two new functions: (1) electing 40 legislators, and (2) nominating candidates for LegCo election. These are two important aspects of the electoral system. Through the reconstituted Election Committee, the balanced and orderly political participation of the Hong Kong community is enhanced and broader representation is ensured. As such, the Election Committee is like the ballast of the new democratic electoral system, ensuring the overall interests of society, so as to fully and faithfully implement the policy of one country, two systems. The newly established Candidate Eligibility Review Committee will be responsible for assessing and validating the eligibility of candidates for the Election Committee members, the Chief Executive and LegCo members, ensuring their qualifications are in conformity with the Basic Law, the Hong Kong National Security Law, NPCSCs interpretation of Article 104 of the Basic Law, the decision by the NPCSC on the qualification of Hong Kong SAR LegCo members, and provisions of relevant local laws, which fully reflect the implementation of patriots administering Hong Kong. The improvements to the electoral system should bring an end to the chaotic scenes at LegCo. Radicals with anti-Chinese sentiment and those who attempted to collude with external forces to meddle in Hong Kongs affairs are less likely to enter the political structure through elections. The operation of LegCo will resume normality. People who are devoted to serving the community will be able to participate in policy discussions in a rational and objective manner and offer constructive suggestions to the Government. Last but not least, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to colleagues who participated in the local legislation for their full support to the Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau. To ensure that the three coming elections can be held as scheduled, the Department of Justice will continue to work closely with other government departments for the preparatory work. Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng wrote this article and posted it on her blog on May 30. This story has been published on: 2021-05-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China launches cargo spacecraft to dock with space station module Xinhua) 10:46, May 30, 2021 The Long March-7 Y3 rocket, carrying the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, May 29, 2021. China launched the cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-2 on Saturday, which is scheduled to dock with the space station core module Tianhe to deliver supplies, equipment and propellant. (Xinhua/Ju Zhenhua) WENCHANG, Hainan, May 29 (Xinhua) -- China launched the cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-2 on Saturday, which is scheduled to dock with the space station core module Tianhe to deliver supplies, equipment and propellant. The Long March-7 Y3 rocket, carrying Tianzhou-2, blasted off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the coast of the southern island province of Hainan at 8:55 p.m. (Beijing Time), according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). After 604 seconds, Tianzhou-2 separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. At 9:17 p.m., the solar panels of Tianzhou-2 unfolded and began working properly. The launch was a complete success, the CMSA said. China launched its space station core module Tianhe on April 29. The country plans to complete the verification of key technologies and the in-orbit construction of the space station through multiple launches within two years. Saturday's launch was the first time that the space station cargo transportation system, composed of the Tianzhou spacecraft and Long March-7 rockets, was put into use. Measuring 10.6 meters in length and with a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters, the Tianzhou-2 cargo ship has a maximum takeoff weight of 13.5 tonnes and carries 6.8 tonnes of goods and materials. More than 160 large and small packages, including supplies for astronauts and space-science equipment, and two tonnes of propellant have been loaded into the cargo freighter, according to the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). Lei Jianyu, a designer of Tianzhou-2 at the CAST, said that only two types of cargo spaceships currently in service globally have a maximum carrying capacity of more than 5 tonnes. "China's Tianzhou is one of them, and is at the world-leading level." After docking with Tianhe, Tianzhou-2 will replenish Tianhe's propellant and help test equipment for space application projects. The Tianzhou-2 cargo freighter is composed of cargo and propulsion compartments. Supplies are loaded inside the pressurized cargo section, and propellant in the propulsion section. The propellant used for the Tianzhou-2's flight and the propellant for refueling the Tianhe core module can be flexibly distributed according to demand. As the ancient Chinese said, to carry out an important task, supplies like rations and forage should go ahead of troops and horses. During the construction of the space station, cargo spaceships will always be launched ahead of crewed missions. "We will transport support materials, necessary spare parts and equipment first, and then our crew," said CMSA Director Hao Chun. Yang Hong, chief designer of the space station at the CAST, said that the launch missions of China's space station are closely coupled. Within 48 hours after Tianhe entered orbit, the core module underwent a status evaluation, and Tianzhou-2 then began its launch countdown preparations. Following Tianzhou-2's docking with Tianhe, the Shenzhou-12 crewed spaceship will enter its countdown preparations for launch. Three astronauts aboard Shenzhou-12, who will stay in orbit for three months, will unpack the goods stowed inside Tianzhou-2 to obtain their living and working materials. In addition to supplies for three astronauts, the gear delivered by Tianzhou-2 also includes two spacesuits for extra-vehicular activities, each weighing more than 100 kg. Tianzhou-2 is also delivering space food, dubbed "space deliveries" by Chinese engineers, including many traditional Chinese dishes. From staple foods to non-staples, from meat to vegetables, the menu design is of high quality and appetizing for astronauts. Famous stir-fried Chinese dishes like shredded pork with garlic sauce and Kung Pao chicken are both on the menu. Engineers have designed a special structure in the 18-cubic-meter cargo craft, dividing the interior into cargo compartments with honeycomb-like panels. Each compartment can hold several packages of different sizes, so that the packages can be efficiently placed in the compartments like building blocks. To improve the efficiency of loading, the research team has made 26 types of packages of different sizes, including some in trapezoidal and wedge shapes to adapt to the cylinder cabin structure of the craft. In addition, they have developed safety locks, similar to those of aircraft seats, to hold the packages in position while in space. The craft is also equipped with an information-management system. Each package has a label pasted onto it with a radio-frequency identification function, allowing the goods to be identified within a certain range. Yang Sheng, a designer of Tianzhou-2 at the CAST, said that China's space station has applied the country's advanced logistics-management technologies, enabling astronauts to obtain the cargo location and information by scanning QR codes. With intelligent positioning, the astronauts can find and access the packages quickly. The cargo craft will operate in orbit for one year. Its power supply capacity is not less than 2,700 watts. It can also carry out multiple in-orbit refueling missions. "China plans to build the space station into a state-level space lab supporting long astronaut stays and large-scale scientific, technological and application experiments," said Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China's manned space program. (Web editor: He Zhuoyan, Bianji) "If we searched the entire world for a person, more cowardly, despicable, weak and feeble in psyche, mind, ideology and religion, we would not find anyone like the Jew. Notice, I do not say the Israeli." Hassan Nasrallah Israel finds itself in a cycle of endless small wars due to four political illusions strategic errors, really. THE TEMPLE MOUNT Starting in 1948, the struggle against Israel was about religion and imprudent tolerance. When the IDF recovered Jerusalem, twice, in fact, Israel should have done what any Muslim, Arab, Persian, or Ottoman victor would have done: remove or relocate adversarial symbols of religious submission. The Al Aqsa Mosque, built over the ruins of the Jewish temple by Umayyad Calif Abd al-Malik, is a permanent beacon, a signature of Islamic privilege. Yet the Jewish temple on the same spot in Jerusalem has a pedigree that precedes Islam by millennia. After serial defeats, Islam still has its mosque and its "Dome of the Rock" fictions centrifugal symbols that motivate local and global jihad terror at the expense, to be sure, of Jewish culture, security, safety, peace, and sovereignty. Wars with, and within, Islam are underwritten by the fusion of realpolitik and toxic religion. For Islamists, separation of church and state is a sacrilege cultivated by Jews, like-minded infidels, heretics, and apostates. A case on point might be the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul: originally built as a Christian cathedral by Justinian in 537 A.D.; seized by the Ottomans in 1453 A.D. and converted to a mosque; rebranded as a museum by Ataturk in 1933; and now reopened as a mosque by a modern neo-Ottoman, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Symbol and significance matter. Over time, the Christian Church in Turkey, once the majority religion, was systematically extinguished by political atrocity and Islamic intolerance. Today, Sunni and Shia zealots are united in their quest to see that Jews and Judaism suffer a similar fate in the Levant. THE TROJAN HORSE From the start, the modern state of Israel has been beset by enemies from without. Indeed, the Mideast has been a bad neighborhood for non-Muslims since Mohamed's time. Israel now has to deal with an internal Arab-Muslim citizen demographic that may hold the balance of domestic secular power. If Al Aqsa is a brick-and-mortar Trojan Horse in the heart of the Jewish state, the real threat is the Jerusalem jihad, those 1.5 million so-called "Palestinian" Arab-Israelis, a Sunni demographic that would never tolerate a like number of Jews in their midst should they have the upper hand. Ironically, as Islamofascists like Hezb'allah and Hamas assume more local control, a second Holocaust is as near as any certainty can be. Talk of wiping Israel and Jews off the face of the map is not empty rhetoric; it is the lynchpin, the objective, for Palestinian, Shia, and Sunni zealots worldwide. No subject, at home and abroad, unites Muslims so well as Jew-hate. GAZA GOATS In spite of formidable military prowess and exceptional national courage, Israel has always tried to temper victory with justice. Modern Israel, in part a nation of immigrants, is always sensitive to charges of "imperialism," a slander more appropriate for historical and modern Islam than Judaism. Conquest, proselytizing, forced conversions, and related atrocities are Islamic, not Judaic values. From 1948 to 1967, the Gaza strip was occupied and administered by Egypt, yet Cairo never granted Palestinians Egyptian citizenship. After the 1967 Arab attack against Israel, the IDF took the Sinai and Gaza from Egypt. Under Israeli control, between 1967 and 1982, the Gaza Strip had a growth rate that averaged 10% per annum. In the interests of peace with Egypt, the Sinai was returned to Egyptian control, but Cairo never had any illusions about the Muslim Brotherhood or the Palestinian tar baby. After the Oslo accords of 1993, Israel ceded administrative control of the West Bank and Gaza to the Palestinian Authority (nee PLO), again in the interests of a permanent peace. In short order, a rift developed between the P.A. on the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza. The PLO and Hamas are joined only by terror and virulent religious bigotry. Hamas, now allied with Shia Hezb'allah, is poised to take complete control in Arab Palestine, another certainty if de jure Palestine ever holds another election. By granting measured political autonomy to Gaza, Israel enabled the "two state" fiction, an Arab fantasy where Israel would be flanked on two sides by fratricidal attack dogs dedicated to the demise of Israel. Hamas does not recognize Israel's right to exist. Withal, Arab Palestine has never been able to take yes for an answer, and now politics has been hijacked by religious jihad and political terror again at Israel's expense. Palestinian autonomy, once a peace offering, is now the dagger pointed at the heart of Zion. THE TWO-STATE FICTION Reality is a bitter pill even on a good day. Unlike the Arabs, many Israelis could never accept the facts of modern Palestinian culture, a Petri dish of discontent and sedition. Religious jihad today is as much a threat to Arab tribal totalitarians as it is to the state of Israel. While keeping Palestinians at arm's length, Arab neighbors use the West Bank and Gaza Arabs as confrontation proxies. Palestinians are in every sense sacrificial goats permanent Muslim patsies at best, front-line cannon fodder at worst. Every janissary, dictator, or Muslim autocrat is, alas, hostage to a persistent mujahedeen threat. Keeping the Israeli-Palestinian conflict alive serves several Muslim interests, inclinations, and prejudices and policy worldwide. Israel was always naive to think that it could cut a deal with local jihad proxies while the Jerusalem trophy and the Temple Mount were in play. Any thought of legitimizing a nation, like Palestine, on two Israeli borders is a triumph of hope over experience. "Two states" has never been the solution only a toxic problem. A Palestinian state is a recipe for national suicide and another Jewish holocaust. GRIM HORIZONS Over time, there are few silver linings in the clouds over Israel. Today is no exception. Clearly, Muslim zealots see the 2021 sea change in Washington politics as a golden opportunity to roll back the Abraham Accords and related progress in Arab-Israeli relations. The Biden/Harris administration is likely to minimize or ignore the Trump initiatives and return to the recidivist apologetics of the Obama era. The smoke hardly cleared from the latest Jerusalem jihad when the Biden White House assured Palestinians, and Hamas, that America would rebuild anything that Israel's Defense Force had destroyed. Thus, Muslim attacks from without and within Israel are now motivated or incentivized, in part, by post-conflict American support and largesse. Any idea that humanitarian aid can go to Palestinians without Hamas taking a butcher's cut is just another fantasy. In the West Bank and Gaza, we now have a perfect storm where terror, corruption, and jihad meet at the merge. Islamic terror and Palestinian corruption are subsidized by the United States again self-fulfilling prophecies underwritten by American tax monies. Over time, the Palestinian question was so central to Arab politics that the P.A. or Hamas had the power to kill any initiative that improved relations with Israel. The Abraham Accords were a benchmark of sorts to the extent that they canceled the Palestinian "veto." Feckless, if not reckless, American policy now gives veto power back to Hamas, a neo-national terror state. The Jerusalem jihad has new life in 2021, again at Israel's expense. G. Murphy Donovan writes about the politics of national security. Image: Walkerssk via Pixabay, Pixabay License. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. As so frequently happens in California, a state thats prone to cyclical droughts, California is suffering from a severe drought. Chris Mathys, whos gearing up to run for the House of Representatives in Fresno, which is a major city in Californias Central Valley, has an idea: Its time to declare the Delta smelt extinct and get the federal government to stop forcing massive amounts of Sierra run-off into the ocean. Its a creative idea and shows someone thinking outside of the boxes in which leftists traditionally trap conservatives. For the first time since 2014, all of California is suffering from a drought, with conditions running the gamut from severe drought to extreme drought to exceptional drought. In primarily residential communities such as the San Francisco Bay Area, water rationing is in play. In the Central Valley, crops are dying. But of course, crops have been dying for a long time in the Central Valley. The Central Valley was once Americas breadbasket, producing crops spread throughout the nation. Now, though, when you drive on I-5 through the Central Valley, where there were once abundant green fields, it looks like the Oklahoma dust bowl, circa 1930. This isnt a natural drought but is, instead, a man-made one. (Devin Nunes has a comprehensive look at this man-made drought.) The purpose is to protect the four-inch-long Delta Smelt, a wee little fishy unique to the Sacramento Delta. Already back in 2014, during Californias last big drought, there was an exceptionally good Wall Street Journal article (paywall) about the policys disaster for crops, helped along by environmental madness: All in all, California farmers fallowed about 500,000 acres of land this year. But here's the thing: much of this land could have been productive had the state stored up more water from wet years and not flushed 800,000 acre-feet into the San Francisco Bay last winter and an additional 445,000 acre-feet this spring to safeguard the endangered delta smelt. That's enough for roughly three million households to live on and to irrigate 600,000 acres of land. The problem is that federal regulators, prodded by environmental groups, have ruled that pumping at the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta threatens the smelt. Ergo, under the Endangered Species Act, the three-inch fish must be protected at almost any economic cost. After 300 smelt were ensnared in the pumps last winter, regulators ordered that a deluge of melted snowpackwhich threatened to flood northern California reservoirsbe discharged into the ocean rather than exported to farmers in the Valley. Chris Mathys, however, has come up with a plan to end this travesty. He wants to stop pretending that we can save the Delta smelt. Declare it extinct, he says, and start focusing on feeding people, not preserving a fish that is pretty much gone: A hopeful for a Fresno-area seat in Congress has initiated a petition to have the embattled Delta smelt declared extinct. Chris Mathys said Monday he took the first step toward that petition, which is a letter of intent to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state of California 30 days before filing the formal petition. [snip] This is going to take months if not years, he said. Our position is were making major decisions on the way water is released based on a fish that in reality is extinct. The fish is at the center of a battle between farmers and environmentalists. Smelt species protections mean a larger water flow through the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and less for farmers. Mathys said studies have shown the dwindling numbers of the fish, which has teetered on the edge of extinction for years. He argues theres no reason to wait any longer to call the fish extinct, not when water is so important in the central San Joaquin Valley. We cant let a technicality or government regulation get in the way of what our whole economy relies on, he said. Our economy relies on water. Aside from being sensible, what I like about Mathyss approach is that it walks over the Democrats arguments. Just as Trump started to bring peace to the Middle East by ignoring the Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza, Mathys is trying to bring water to California by announcing that its safe to discount the little Delta smelt. IMAGE: Congress-created dust bowl sign, Californias Central Valley. Unknown creator. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. May and June 2020 in America witnessed a very bizarre phenomenon: The same jurisdictions that had locked down completely, banning church services and shopping for flower seeds, all to prevent COVIDs spread, announced that massive BLM rallies, riots, and eventual looting were inconsequential when it came to COVID. This May, Canada has done something similar. The same nation thats been fanatically hostile to liberty because of COVID has dropped its regulations for pro-Hamas rallies. Its the magic of leftist science all over again. Canada has gone crazy (theres no other way to put it) when it comes to the quixotic effort to stop COVIDs spread. Despite its low COVID death rate, Canada has made every effort to stop religious worship within its borders, going so far as to arrest a pastor for daring to hold services. Its been pursuing anti-maskers with KGB-esque vigor and just recently ticketed dozens of people who attended an anti-lockdown protest. Its also extorting people who had the temerity to travel abroad and then return home, mandating that they stay in select, and often very expensive, hotels for three nights to quarantine. In other words, Canada is still living like America in spring 2020. And just like America in spring 2020, Canada has an exception to all the rules. In America, the exception was for BLM protests. The same people who had been telling us that salvation lay with stopping the economy and embracing solitary confinement for every American, suddenly announced that BLM rallies and riots werent too big a risk. Then, magically, when President Trump announced he would resume rallies, the Democrats so-called scientists again fretted about crowds and COVID . In Canada, the exception is Hamas. A large pro-Hamas rally in Edmonton attracted hundreds of people, none of whom seem to have been bothered by the COVID police or disapproving journalists. Instead, we get this supportive reporting: This isnt the first large-scale rally supporting Palestinians in Edmonton in the past week. People from all walks of life have been out offering support, according to Mousa Qasqas. Theres been so much outreach from the community saying, We want more, we want to hold our politicians accountable. Calgary also had large rallies which met with the approval of Canadas state media, the CBC: Around 400 demonstrators met at Calgary's Olympic Plaza, before marching through downtown. [snip] It was the latest after at least three other large protests in support of Palestinians held in the city. On Friday, Tucker Carlson devoted an entire episode to the degradation of science under the aegis of leftists. Whether its transgenderism, climate change, or COVID, scientists no longer follow the scientific method, one that sees them propose a theory, subject it to rigorous testing, and abandon it if the scientific method proves it untrue. Nowadays, scientists in all woke Western countries, including America, subscribe to the political method they determine which outcome will support their political ideology and then retrofit the science to fit, no matter how brutally they must mutilate the facts. We have returned to the science of the Dark Ages, before the Renaissance and the Enlightenment brought rigor and honesty to the process. IMAGE: Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier, an extremely important chemist, whom the French socialist revolutionaries sent to the guillotine in 1794, shown with his wife, Marie-Anne Pierrette Paulze in a portrait by Jacques-Louis David (detail). Public domain. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. So in her quest to find all those root causes for the current migrant surge into the U.S., Kamala Harris has focused on Central America, where two-thirds of the illegal aliens pouring over our border are coming from. And not surprisingly, instead of going to the border and asking a border surger about it, or even doing diplomacy, as she claims, she's got big plans to bring in huge corporations and NGOs to the region, kind of like the United Fruit Company, which lefties in the past have complained about. It's downright laughable. Here's her press release: As part of this Call to Action launch, 12 companies and organizations announced commitments to support inclusive economic development in the Northern Triangle, including: Accion, Bancolombia, Chobani, Davivienda, Duolingo, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Mastercard, Microsoft, Nespresso, Pro Mujer, the Tent Partnership for Refugees, and the World Economic Forum. Our comprehensive strategy to address the root causes of migration will involve significant commitments of U.S. government resources to support the long-term development of the regionincluding efforts to foster economic opportunity, strengthen governance, combat corruption, and improve security. This approach will leverage commitments and resources from the governments in the Northern Triangle, as well as partnerships with multilateral development banks and international financial institutions. Supporting the long-term development of the region, and in the Western Hemisphere more broadly, will require more than just the resources of the U.S. government. For this reason, Vice President Harris is calling on the private sector to draw on its unique resources and expertise to make commitments to support inclusive economic growth in the Northern Triangle. Together, we can work to overcome obstacles to investment, promote economic opportunity, and support long-term development in the region. Those "12" who have "answered" her "Call to Action" are actually just four corporations worth noting, plus a startup -- Mastercard, Chobani, Microsoft, Nespresso, and DuoLingo (an app startup with 200+ employees). The rest are just NGO do-gooders, or else large Colombian banks that already had operations in Central America, not actual new entrants. Let's just say the list of private-sector companies that seek to get involved with Central America is actually kind of thin. And not surprisingly, all of the companies among them have longtime associations with supporting Democrats, particularly Biden and Harris. It sounds like there was some arm-twisting, some phone calls from Kamala's team brought this about, rather than actual attraction to Central America as an investment destination based on market considerations. That's obvious enough, given that none of them, (except possibly Nespresso which says it will "invest" $150 million to buy coffee), have any plans to set up operations to create jobs. Some of the NGOs, such as the World Economic Forum, plan to exhort other companies to create jobs, not actually lay money down to create them themselves, just get some other guy to do it. Some of them, such as Grupo Bancolombia (a very respected Colombian bank, I'm sorry to say), plan to focus on remittances, which is to say, harnessing, incentivizing and entrenching the illegal alien trade as its money maker -- all those new but abandoned remittance roofs as happened in Mexico will be the model. Others plan to hand out goodies, free stuff, free Internet, free language lessons assuming the poor have a computer or cell phone. Internet connections, and "branchless banking" for the "unbanked," as some are promising, will help with remittances, not build prosperity at home. Most likely, they'll incentivize more Central Americans to send 17-year-old junior up north to get a U.S. job paid in dollars and wire cash with new ease back home. In the case of Nespresso, the company will buy stuff, but may or may not actually put money down to set up shop and put locals on payroll. I have a feeling that if Nespresso intended to hire locals with their $150 million investment, to buy Central American coffee, they would have said so to help Kamala. I even suspect the investment was already planned, given the market demand for the excellent coffee. But if they intended to hire locals with actual jobs, it's hard to think they would not have said so in their release. There's no promise at all, even from them, to create actual jobs. Job training, sure, but not actual jobs, quite a few of them say. Some, such as Chobani, say they will foster startups. But operate there themselves? No thanks. Which would make sense. Central America is characterized as wretched in the World Bank's 2020 annual Ease of Doing Business survey, with no country in all of Latin America breaching the top 50 globally. They write: A number of Latin American countries stood out for performing well on some business climate indicators. Costa Rica has a reliable electricity supply and transparent tariffs and ranks 25th on that metric globally outpacing New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Similarly, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Colombia are among the top 15 economies in the world for getting credit due to their robust collateral and bankruptcy laws. The region also performs well in the time and cost it takes to start a business: average start time has been halved to 34 days from 74 days since 2003, and costs has been slashed to 36% of income per capita from 66% in 2003. Even so, despite these improvements, the region continues to have the highest average time and number of procedures in the world required to incorporate a company. It's also bottom of the barrel on education, and among the lowest in the world for English-language skills, according to this year's EF Survey of English speaking skills in non-English-speaking countries. The CEO of DuoLingo, who grew up in Guatemala before making it big in the states, recognizes that all too well, based on this interview. And per capita income, read: buying power, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 a year, doesn't speak well for a significant consumer market. All of this, despite coveted free trade agreements with the U.S., and in the case of El Salvador, dollarization. Getting corporations to throw money without laying down roots, putting its money where the profit is, is just slightly better than throwing money at NGOs, which Harris also proposes with her $800 million aid plan. Will all this free stuff persuade illegal migrants to stay home instead of make their way to the U.S.? Seems like a poor deal actually, given the great bonanza that awaits them once they make it to the states. Something is missing with this great masterplan to get at all those root causes, there's a reason these companies touted aren't going whole hog on Central America, because we all know that if it were profitable to do so, they'd have done it a long time ago. Here's the real reason why. In 2001, Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto wrote a best-selling book called "The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Thrives in the West and Fails Everywhere Else" describing precisely why these Kamala schemes never work. He laid out the problem in this passage, emphasis mine: "Imagine a country where nobody can identify who owns what, addresses cannot easily be verified, people cannot be made to pay their debts, resources cannot immediately be turned into money, ownership cannot be divided into shares, descriptions of assets are not standardised and cannot easily be compared, and the rules that govern property vary from neighbourhood to neighbourhood or even from street to street. You have just put yourself into the life of a developing country or former communist nation; more precisely, you have imagined life for 80% of its population, which is marked off as sharply from its Westernised elite as black and white South Africans were once separated by apartheid. This 80% majority is not, as Westerners often imagine, desperately impoverished. In spite of their obvious poverty, even those who live under the most grossly unequal regimes possess far more than anybody has ever understood. What they possess, however, is not represented in such a way as to produce additional value. When you step out the door of the Nile Hilton, what you are leaving behind is not a high-technology world of fax machines and ice makers, television and antibiotics. The people of Cairo have access to all those things. What you are really leaving behind is the world of legally enforceable transactions on property rights. Mortgages and accountable addresses to generate additional wealth are unavailable even to those people in Cairo who would probably strike you as quite rich. Outside Cairo, some of the poorest of the poor live in a district of old tombs called 'the city of the dead.' But almost all of Cairo is a city of the dead of dead capital, of assets that cannot be used to their fullest. The institutions that give life to capital that allow one to secure the interests of third parties with work and assets do not exist here." Kamala Harris has talked a good game about ending corruption in Central America, which is the sort of thing that festers when locals have to jump through 10,000 hoops to start a business, as if telling government minions not to be corrupt is all it takes to get them to stop. She says nothing about property rights, nothing about the invisible architecture of capitalism, all of the things whose absence creates corruption, and all of things the presence of which enables people to use their money to create capital and from it, true economic growth. That is the mystery of capital that de Soto described. All she's offering in her root cause claim is a goodie shower, and corporate favors, with a dollop of greenie goodness thrown in. By Kamala's logic, if Central America could just go greener and get an electrical grid like California's, they'd all gladly stay home. It's ridiculous. It's laughable. And like all corporate-state schemes, it sure as heck isn't going to work. Money in, money out, dead capital all around. If anything, it's a platform for more migration given that it includes no actual investment in the region. So much for all those root causes. This one's a fiesta of unintended consequences. Image: Gage Skidmore, via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0 Obama earned rightful derision for the fact that, no matter the occasion, his tweets were always about Obama. Memorably, when he marked the 58th anniversary of Rosa Parks's refusal to sit on the back of the bus, his tweet, rather than picturing Parks, pictured Obama on the bus, gazing wistfully out the window. However, at least he acknowledged the occasion. Kamala Harris took things to a whole new level when her Memorial Day tweet had a picture of her smiling, along with the breezy message to Enjoy the long weekend. Enjoy the long weekend. pic.twitter.com/ilGOrod4AW Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) May 29, 2021 Of course, Memorial Day is not just an opportunity for a three-day weekend. It is, instead, the day on which we honor those in the military who laid down their lives to preserve our liberty or, in the case of the last 20 years of wars, who laid down the lives only for Democrats to squander their sacrifice. In my Southeastern neighborhood, half of my neighbors are ex-military and three-quarters of the houses have American flags, sometimes in great numbers. But Kamala Harris isnt a Southeasterner. Shes a woman who was raised in the Berkeley region of the San Francisco Bay Area, an area that was often called Kremlin on the Bay. When she wasnt living in California, she was in Canada. She was raised without a connection to or any respect for the military. Its an alien notion to her that, for over two-hundred-fifty years, when it comes to Americas military, all gave some, some gave all. For Harris, the military is a social justice experiment. If you need any proof of that, just think of Kamalas humorless, woke joke at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, when she spoke at the recent graduation. The joke was stupid, her delivery was awful, and it was only her anguished cackle that earned some polite applause and laughter from the graduates, who were too nice to leave her looking like the tone-deaf political abortion she is: CRINGE ALERT Kamala Harris tells woke joke about a female Marine at the Navy Academy - IT BOMBS. Cadets groan as Kamala cackles awkwardly alone onstage. Kamala also told the cadets to use "wind energy" for "combat power." The Biden humiliation of our Military continues. pic.twitter.com/rQghgIA6rM Benny (@bennyjohnson) May 28, 2021 As for Kamalas Memorial Day tweet, whether people thought she was merely stupidly self-centered or was deliberately insulting the troops, all were offended: "Vice President" Harris is officially the most self-centered, out-of-touch politician I have ever heard of. Neither her nor her staff can acknowledge the meaning of Memorial Day, let alone its name, and has to make every single thing about her. #MemorialDay https://t.co/gd3NwJz5bF Sean C. (@SeanCoff_96) May 29, 2021 @GrayConnolly This is my Uncle Walter, Madame Vice President. He won't be enjoying the "long weekend" because he was KIA at Peleliu in September 1944, advancing with his fellow Marines to take the island's airfield. Obliterated by an enemy artillery shell. He had just turned 18. pic.twitter.com/8SsqsJoRXQ natehale (on Gab @Nate_Hale) (@natehale) May 30, 2021 I know you think the "long weekend" is a chance to post a pic of yourself and get some mimosas as you plan to rip our country apart but its actually a time to appreciate the brave soldiers who died for our country & to reflect on the LIFETIME their families spend without them. Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) May 29, 2021 Long weekend? I know many are upset & saying this is disrespectful, but I believe you are really just stupid. Kimberly Klacik (@kimKBaltimore) May 29, 2021 You need to apologize to this child. pic.twitter.com/3c43h7Unys TrueWest (@Trestresjolie) May 30, 2021 Its just a long weekend for this fraud. I have several dead buddies that disagree. Buzz Patterson (@BuzzPatterson) May 29, 2021 It is Memorial Day weekend - nor for enjoying - but for memorializing our fallen. Our brothers and sisters, who 'gave the last full measure of devotion'. Please try to respect that. pic.twitter.com/pf2dDxG7sx PaxView Jeff (@JR_justJR) May 29, 2021 Unbelievably disappointed that there is no mention as to why there is a long weekend. This is a picture of our son, PFC Paul Cuzzupe who cant enjoy the weekend as he died defending our freedom. pic.twitter.com/djHiP09fnU Michael Kirk (@Flaskinsfan) May 29, 2021 What you need to remember about Kamala Harris is that shes a woman who slept her way to the middle. Since then, shes risen higher, not because of innate ability, but because she ticks the right boxes in a diversity-obsessed political party. Shes a bit dim, very tone-deaf, narcissistic, shamelessly willing to do anything to get elected, and lazy. Shes also one heartbeat away from occupying the Oval Office. IMAGE: Kamala Harris. Twitter screengrab. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. A lot was made last week about Tuesday, May 25th being the first anniversary of George Floyd's death while in police custody. For me, the most graphic indication of the impact of Floyds death and its year-long over-the-top aftermath was provided by the photograph and videos of George Floyds relatives last Tuesday outside the White House after they met with President Biden and Vice President Harris. Right in front of the White House, family members and their attorney had their clenched fists raised and pumping in the air in a radical black power salute reminiscent of the Marxist Black Panthers of the late 1960s. YouTube screengrab I know a bit about the Black Panthers, having been around back then. Coincidentally on Tuesday night as part of its tribute to George Floyd featuring a day of black-themed films the Turner Classic Movies television channel premiered a short, award-winning (of course) documentary filmed in 1968, titled Black Panthers. It was produced by a sympathetic French film crew at a demonstration in Oakland, Calif. in support of Huey P. Newton, the Black Panther leader who was awaiting trial for killing a police officer. In the film, Newton and his fellow Panthers are portrayed as the proud Marxists that they were. They and their flock are seen reading and quoting Chairman Maos Little Red Book of revolutionary sayings. They are unabashed in their praise of Marxist regimes like Red China, Cuba, and even North Korea. The difference between then and now is that in 1968 these violent revolutionaries represented a small fringe. Today, their radical successors are in control, essentially running the White House and the Democrat party. The death of George Floyd while in police custody was the second in a one-two punch in 2020 that essentially remade the country overnight. The first wave was the Covid-19 Plandemic, which is finally being exposed as a witting release by Communist China if not a cleverly designed bioweapon. Less than three months later, last Memorial Day, the death of Floyd was captured on video and quickly, thanks to social media, it went around the world. You couldnt have designed two more effective PsyOps. The ginned up response to the Floyd video catapulted the Marxist agenda of Black Lives Matter to the top tier of national policy. It has now been almost completely embraced by corporate America, academia, K-12 public and private education, popular culture, sports, the Democrats almost everything. It has helped to divide this country along racial lines unlike anything since the Civil War. It also brought to the fore Critical Race Theory, which had previously been largely confined to leftist-controlled academia. CRT has now come to dominate national policy. Here are several examples. I recently reported here on how the Medical Establishment has come together around the concept of racism being the most serious health problem. This nonsense is being enshrined into national policy by the woke Biden Administration. And not only in health care. On May 26, the NY Post reported about a significant portion of the $200 million that has been allocated to public schools for Covid relief. One part of the program funds interventions that respond to students academic, social and emotional needs including the disruption of whiteness and the propagation of critical race theory. An incredibly detailed, 53-page document sent to schools around the country, Ed Covid-19 Handbook, spells out the new requirements that schools need to follow. Two excerpts: Require a commitment to learning from students, families and educators who disrupt Whiteness and other forms of oppression. Offer free, antiracist therapy for White educators and support staff, and free, radical self/collective care and therapy for educators and support staff of color. Even though Derek Chauvin, the first police officer to be charged in the death of George Floyd, was convicted on all counts, that outcome has not satisfied Black Lives Matter and many Democrat politicians. Do you think they will ever be satisfied? The short answer is No. The Black Marxist radicals and their handlers, the oligarchs of Big Tech, the George Soross, the Democrats, Obama, et al are now pushing all the way to final victory. They see the destination of their 100-year Long March finally in sight and theyre not going to stop now. Yesterday (May 29) was the anniversary of the publication of an article I wrote for American Thinker four days after George Floyd's death. It was titled George Floyds preliminary autopsy raises the question: Was this another rush to judgment? The article cited the autopsy that concluded that he may have died from a drug overdose and not anything the police did to him. The reaction to that article from elements on the conservative right spoke volumes. I had obtained a copy of the arrest warrant for Derek Chauvin. I wrote: The brief mention of the autopsy suggests that the case against Chauvin, and possibly his three colleagues assuming they too will eventually be charged, for being totally responsible for the death of Floyd may not be as cut and dried as previously thought. As I wrote: Asphyxiation was not the cause of George Floyd's death, according to his autopsy. We later learned that George Floyd had at least four times the lethal dose of illegal drugs in his system when he was placed under arrest. One year ago, people from left, right, and center were all in agreement that George Floyd had been killed by Derek Chauvin. The video evidence was unassailable. A trial would not really be needed. For simply raising the issue of the autopsy, I was pilloried by former supporters on the conservative right. The concept of a defendant like Chauvin being innocent until proven guilty? Fuggedaboutit! All you needed to know about the case was contained in the 9-minute cell phone video. A worthy piece of accurate, independent, untainted analysis in this respect is a compelling 24-minute video by George Parry, Who Killed George Floyd? The recent trial of Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd was a kangaroo court the triumph of mob rule. Harvard law school professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz, a liberal Democrat, observed that the trial should have been moved out of Minneapolis, which was under constant threat of violence and intimidation from the mob. Meanwhile, the city which has defunded its police department -- paid Floyds family over $27 million on March 13, 2021, for his death. This largest pretrial civil rights settlement ever, according to the Floyd familys attorney, was announced prior to the trial of Derek Chauvin, further tainting the jury pool. On May 15, American Thinker published an article Floyd Defendant Accuses State of 'Prosecutorial Misconduct.' One of the former cops who has yet to be tried is alleging that the physician who performed the autopsy on George Floyd was essentially coerced into changing his findings when he testified at Chauvins trial to make it seem like Chauvins knee on Floyds neck or his shoulder was a primary cause of Mr. Floyds sudden death. I have been asked repeatedly during the past year if there is a thread that ties Covid-19, George Floyd's death, and the manipulation of these crises (real or manufactured) together to advance a specific political outcome. Short answer: YES. Longer answer: Are you serious? Both the Chinese Communist Partys Covid-19 Plandemic and the manipulation of the news about George Floyds death are the one-two punches aimed at the takedown of the United States of America. You couldnt have designed two more effective PsyOps to transform the country virtually overnight one right after the other. The proof is in the reality today. I advise skeptics to look around. Do you even recognize the country anymore? Ultimately, both of these PsyOps not only transformed America they effectively took out the only thing standing in the way of the Marxist Left that might have prevented or delayed their total victory: President Donald J Trump. A recent video conversation with the author and Jamie Glazov on this subject part of the Glazov Gang Internet television series can be watched at YouTube and at Rumble. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. The Marxist mob movement and the cancel culture it has produced are devastating our republic. The worst part is that ostensibly conservative news outlets are complicit with what is happening by submitting to political correctness, causing them to develop jellyfish backbones. The radical left has so intimidated them, they no longer print the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Editors censor conservative-leaning articles because they do not meet the politically correct standards. These editors must stop fearing the Marxist P.C. police and their repressive tactics. In 2017, the New York Times eliminated the public editor role, which existed to protect the readers from bias and errors. Perhaps the public editor did too good a job detecting censorship and promoting free speech. Censoring an opinion article can make it take another direction with a slightly different meaning. The result is that it loses its power to communicate the specific issue it is speaking about. This is targeted censorship that inhibits the constitutional First Amendment right of free speech. The massive effect of subtle vocabulary changes was revealed last week, when Chelsea Mitchell, a celebrated track athlete in Connecticut, wrote an op-ed for USA Today. Her essay exposed so-called transgender athletes for what they are. She used the word male in her article to describe those who are born biological boys but, by saying that they are girls, may participate in girls sports. The editors of USA Today threw out the word male throughout her article to appease the movement of wokeism. Doing so erased the point of Mitchells article. While no conservative outlet has been as blatant in its censorship, we are seeing creeping wokeism destroy conservative principles. Thus, almost all of them accept leftist ideology through their vocabulary. They unironically use the word transgender to describe people with gender dysphoria and use the pronouns these people demand when writing or speaking about them. For example, in a Fox News article about Bruce (aka Caitlyn) Jenners announcement about running for California governor, the article states, Shes hoping to. It's not too surprising that conservatives are doing this. The big cat social media companies are using the club of brutal censorship upon conservatives, which they consider their political and cultural enemies. Conservatives, including President Donald Trump, have been censored and eliminated from speaking on social media. Public schools, colleges, and universities are censoring the free speech of conservative students and those they bring in to speak to them. Weaponized censorship will destroy the very foundation of America. Understanding why conservative media yields to the urge to self-censor does not make it a principled or appropriate act. Shame on any conservative news editor who is trembling in his shoes and hiding under his desk in fear of the radical left and the religion of wokeism! What made America great? It was brave-hearted journalists courageously printing the truth, regardless of the fallout from the oppressors of the truth. The printed truth has defeated dictators and corrupt politicians, and exposed mafia bosses and their organized crime syndicates. It has kept America the land of the free, and the home of the brave. Totalitarian governments use censorship to suppress free speech to keep people under their yoke. Our great and wonderful Constitution gives us freedom of speech without fear of reprisal for exercising it. Political correctness forces self-censorship and must not bow to or accommodate it. Our conservative news outlets will either help preserve our republic by bravely printing the truth, or they will compromise with the radical, leftist mob to destroy truth by diluting it. The choice is clear: To keep America free, we must keep the news free from Marxisms oppressive influence. Let the people speak for themselves, dont speak for the people by editing their comments. If the peoples right to speak out is censored, in essence, the news media is automatically limiting its right to be a free press without censorship from government control. Likewise, dont let leftists force vocabulary shifts that implicitly accept the leftist agenda. We are in an all-out culture war for the soul of America. Before and during the American Revolutionary War, the Committees of Correspondence kept American colonists informed about events so they could coordinate plans to win their freedom. The British tried to stamp out this correspondence because they could not censor its contents. They understood the dangerous connection between freedom and facts. Printing the truth is not an easy road to follow, but it is the only road that leads to and preserves freedom. Patrick Henry said, Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! There is no liberty, without liberty from censorship. The news media should be a shining beacon of truth and freedom of speech, not censorship. IMAGE: Self-Censorship by Andrea Widburg. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. The United States Supreme Court ruled in 1892 that "Christianity, general Christianity, is, and always has been, a part of the common law ... not Christianity with an established church ... but Christianity with liberty of conscience to all men." More recently, a Michigan High School, after having rejected a valedictory speech on the grounds that it might offend non-Christians, relented out of court and permitted the speech, which specifically mentions Jesus as an inspiration. This is a welcome victory against what has amounted to a leftist political "war against Christianity." But there are reasons to be cautious. Some historical perspective is needed to explain why. Any reading of the Mayflower Compact proves beyond doubt that this earliest governing document of our nation clearly and specifically states that the Pilgrims, "[h]aving undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith," instituted a colony on North America. Despite the overwhelming evidence of our Christian foundations, the past half-century has seen a determined effort by the left to remove all influence of Christianity from the public sphere and replace it with an array of atheist, socialist, and (quite discordantly) Islamist doctrines. That seems to have come to a head, beginning in the 1970s, after which leftist administrators of schools abandoned their claim of neutrality regarding religion and undertook decidedly hostile, anti-Christian policies, while at the same time promoting (again discordantly) homosexual and Islamic celebrations in the classroom. The left points out, quite accurately, that the Constitution itself makes no specific mention of God. But this absence of mention is not a rejection of God; rather, it is an outcome of the Constitutional Convention, where the document was painstakingly composed by a group of men who had widely differing views on religion and religious freedom. Despite those differing views, not one of them, I am certain, intended that religious freedom would ever include the proselytism of Satanism, to public schoolchildren, for example. Their published views on what they called "Mohammedanism" were far from tolerant. And while they might have tolerated atheism and agnosticism, they most assuredly did not intend those to force Christian principles out of government. Let it be a warning that a great many Americans on the left have no tolerance for Christian views, and especially for those views expressed by the Founders. They despise the idea that our highest loyalty is not to government, but to God, the Creator, Jesus, the Messiah. Their recent retreats from their policies of oppression have nothing to do with tolerance, nor with an enlightened attitude. They have to do only with the legal expenses involved and the risk of an adverse precedent that might be set in the Court should they sue prematurely and lose. Tactics, not principles, are their motivation. Notice that their hostility toward Judaism has grown more public and more extreme. This will continue until the Jews learn from their Christian younger brothers that "never again" requires considerable effort, and not just by Israel. This brings us to the poison pill. If the only tool we use is the idea of "religious freedom," as widely interpreted by legalists, then we are going to be confronted with a Satanist valedictorian at some time in the near future. The left is too clever to let this opportunity pass by. Leftists will orchestrate it and use the new precedent, which they will set, to further their pro-Satanic teachings in the schools. Not that they have failed to do this already, but when they can certify a court ruling, the hard-won victories for Christian freedom of speech will be diluted. Christianity and its opposite, Satanism, cannot coexist. We must anticipate this tactic and adjust our response accordingly. The day we deny the inherent Christianity of our American heritage is the day we will finally lose our nation to the enemy, the one that roars like a lion and seeks to devour whom he may (1 Pet. 5:8). Image via Max Pixel. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. President Bush's recent comments that the U.S. should maintain its presence in Afghanistan are both expected and tiresome. The U.S. has now had troops halfway around the world in a distant land for nearly twenty years. This has become our nation's Forever War, reminiscent of the sci-fi novel of the same name. Written in 1974, the book chronicles a meaningless and futile war that has negative, generational impacts. Reality has begun to mimic fiction as several generations of military service members have been impacted by the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan. Just think: there are some military members who will complete an entire twenty-year career, eligible for retirement, having focused their entire career (training and deployments) on a single conflict. There are now service members who weren't even born when the 9-11 attacks occurred, yet now they're old enough to serve in harm's way and fight a conflict initiated by a president they never voted for. Simply astounding. And in that time, what measurable and long-lasting goals have we achieved? We must ask ourselves collectively, what is our ongoing purpose in Afghanistan if we are to remain, as President Bush suggests? Is it to maintain security, quality of life, or women's rights? Yes, these are important concerns, and we shouldn't turn a blind eye to the suffering of any people. But is it the business of the U.S. military to do this on behalf of Afghans? Arguably, no. This line of work is more in line with the diplomatic aims of the Department of State, the charitable efforts of international NGOs, and the Afghans themselves. We must also remind ourselves that our military is meant to protect our nation, our people, our borders, not to police the world as we've done for decades. Despite this, by President Bush's own admission, he wants the U.S. military to secure women's rights as a primary military objective. Bush essentially concedes that the troops aren't protecting the U.S. from an imminent threat; rather, they are fighting a social and cultural war. This strategy seems ill-advised. The U.S. could spend money, rather than blood, supporting Department of State efforts and international NGOs that address basic life necessities, rather than trying to fundamentally alter the Afghan culture. Culture is buried deep, difficult to change, let alone from an outside entity, and especially one that's thought of as a military invader. The Soviets tried this in the '80s, and look where it got them. Although I never served in Afghanistan, as a veteran who has served and talked with people who did deploy to Afghanistan, I was always surprised by the reoccurring theme of their comments. Without prompting or cajoling, the conversation always seemed to come back to the idea (or at least the feeling they had) that Afghans didn't seem to care much about their life circumstances or value life in the same way we do. They especially didn't desire significant change to their society or way of life, or at least not from military troops with whom they had little in common culturally. Perhaps we should consider that what the Afghans want isn't necessarily what we are offering. The U.S. military can be a force for good without applying its might i.e., peace through strength. I'm a firm believer in this tenet. By preserving our military force for the most drastic of circumstances, where combat and use of force lead to the death and destruction of enemies who mean to hurt our own citizens, we can deter major aggression worldwide. Think of Teddy Roosevelt's use of the adage "speak softly and carry a big stick." It's time to redirect the military's efforts away from social and cultural battles and refocus on effective training and preparation to address rising threats such as China and recapitalize technology that will allow for the flexibility to attack terrorists wherever they may emerge. It's also time for the U.S. to further utilize diplomatic and charitable channels to address social concerns around the world ultimately, allowing sovereign nations to partner with non-military entities to help them make choices and apply support that best fits their culture, society, and overall needs. Sorry, President Bush, but it's time to bring our troops home. Our country is both battle-fatigued and increasingly ambivalent to a people halfway around the world who seem to care little for their own future. Let's let the Afghans make their own choices we should no longer be their military overseers. Image via Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Purchase an online subscription to our website for $7.99 a month with automatic renewal. Each online subscription gives you full access to all of our newspaper websites and mobile applications. To cancel you may contact Customer Service @ 256-235-9253 or email JPAYNE@ANNISTONSTAR.COM For a limited time, for NEW SUBSCRIBERS ONLY a NEW ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION is just $59.99 for the first year. Existing customers do not qualify for the specials! After the first year, well automatically renew your subscription to continue your access at the regular price of $69.99 per year. Please note *Your Subscription will Automatically Renew unless you contact Customer Service To Cancel* Fire Chief Josh Vincent and the Lincoln Fire Department held open house Saturday May 29, 2021. The event welcomed the community into the station with inflatables for the kids, free hot dogs and ice cream, station tours and equipment demonstrations, and the Pink Heals of East Alabama fire engine. Chief Vincent thanked his sponsors (Blue Bell, Lincoln Piggly Wiggly and Buffalo Rock) for their participation and hoped to do the event annually as well as more community events in the future. Close Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Health Secretary Matt Hancock during a media briefing in Downing Street, London, on coronavirus (PA) The government has been severely criticised for failing care homes during the early stages of the pandemic. Mike Padgham, chairman of the Independent Care Group told Sky News that homes were forgotten as the virus first began to spread in the UK last year. It comes after health secretary Matt Hancock insisted the government "worked as hard as we could to protect care homes" following scathing criticism from Dominic Cummings. The former Downing Street adviser told MPs that suggestions care home were shielded from the virus last year was complete nonsense. Asked about Cummings' claims on Sunday, Padgham said: I don't believe myself there was a ring of protection thrown round us. "In those very early days it was difficult. We were forgotten. We've been forgotten over decades. That's the only issue in social care. "We weren't prepared. We weren't ready. We didn't have the PPE, we didn't have the testing. Padgham added that it took the government many, many weeks to see what was happening in homes despite the sector's best efforts and protestations. He also called for reform in the social care sector. "I've lost faith in all politicians really, because going through Labour, the coalition, now Conservatives, everyone's promised something and it's never happened, he said. Watch: Dominic Cummings: Matt Hancock should have been fired multiple times "I'm at a loss to know what we can do in the future. All I would say, if something positive came out of this pandemic, it's got to be reform of social care. "Rather than people stepping down now and resigning, I want the Government to actually give us a date when they're going to deliver social care, not move from it. "If they don't deliver this time, then they need to step aside and let someone else do it because we've run out of patience. It needs action today." Hancock has been forced to defend himself over his handling of care homes amid calls for his resignation. On Wednesday, Cummings also claimed that Hancock lied about Covid-testing people before they returned to care homes from hospitals in the early part of the pandemic. He told MPs on Wednesday that the prime minister was furious to discover in April 2020 that untested hospital patients had been discharged to care homes. He added that Hancock had told Johnson a month earlier they would be tested. When asked about this claim, Hancock told a Downing Street news conference it was not possible to test everyone being sent from hospitals into care homes at the start of the outbreak due to the need to build up the infrastructure for testing. He said: "Of course we committed, and I committed, to getting the policy in place but it took time to build the testing. "We didn't start with a big testing system in the UK and then we built that testing system, and that's why the 100,000 target was so important because it really accelerated the availability of testing because when you don't have much testing we had to prioritise it according to clinical need." Watch: Hancock denies promising tests before patients went to care homes Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Online Access for Print Subscribers. Do you have a print subscription with the Argus-Press? If yes, then click here to enjoy complimentary access to our Online Content! We recently had the opportunity to join in celebrating the completion of a very sp Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. 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Carmakers like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Toyota, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Mercedes-Benz have taken to digitalisation with renewed vigour as lockdowns and curfews become the new normal amid the raging coronavirus pandemic. "Digitalisation is the way forward. Given the unprecedented times, we have adopted a 'Phygital' approach for our sales initiatives at the dealerships. We have digitised 24 out of the 26 touchpoints involved in a car-purchase journey, except the test drive and delivery," Maruti Suzuki India Executive Director Shashank Srivastava told PTI. Digital contributes to more than 40 per cent of the enquiries, he added. Srivastava noted that the company has over 1,000 plus digital touch-points across India to assist customers through their car-buying journey, from enquiry to booking. The country's leading carmaker has partnered with leading online platforms like Google and Facebook bringing global digital expertise to dealer teams. "We are utilising targeted social media marketing, insightful content creation and immersive AR-VR experiences efficiently and effectively," Srivastava noted. Mahindra & Mahindra CEO Automotive Division Veejay Nakra noted that the company is witnessing a significant growth in digital channel month on month. "Looking at where we are today, the whole consumer journey is significantly going to shift into the digital world. Having said that, dealerships would continue to play an integral role, but the kind of role they would play is what would change," he said. Similarly, Tata Motors (Passenger Vehicles Business Unit) Head-Marketing Vivek Srivatsa stated that the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has understandably brought a lot of change in the buying and selling pattern of customers. "We, at Tata Motors, too have introduced a host of digitised interventions since the national lockdown of last year. We launched our e-commerce platform, Click To Drive to largely enable contactless end-to-end sales. We received a strong response throughout last year with noticeable spikes in interest as well as purchases, especially during the lockdown," he said. Currently, more than 40 per cent of the customers reach out to the automaker via digital channels, a significant increase from previous years, Srivatsa stated. South Korean carmakers Kia and Hyundai have also lined up digital initiatives. "At Kia, online sales and staying connected digitally with our new-age customers have been a priority since the launch of our very first product Seltos in the Indian market. The current pandemic has led to faster adoption of online sales across categories. Our robust end-to-end digital sales process has helped us offer our customers a contactless and hassle-free car buying experience from the comfort of their homes," Kia India Executive Director and Chief Sales & Business Strategy Officer Tae-Jin Park said. The company's dealership teams constantly remain in touch with prospective customers to help them navigate through the entire process for a smooth experience, assisting them at every step in their purchase journey, he said. Similarly, Hyundai Motor India AVP New Business Strategy Brijesh Gubbi noted that the company is witnessing a shift where advanced digital modes of sales and retail are gaining foothold among buyers and customers are now factoring in convenience to their purchase journey, even for high value products such as automobiles. "We started following the digitisation trend from an early stage with a focus on solving problems and cater the human side of enterprise. Even before the pandemic, Hyundai was active on all digital channels with numerous initiatives such as 'Click to Buy' to support its customers," he added. Launched in January last year, 'Click to Buy' is designed to facilitate end-to-end retail of Hyundai cars online. Japanese automakers Honda and Toyota have also beefed up their digital play. "With the emergence of Covid -19 pandemic last year, we have been single mindedly focusing on bolstering our digital initiatives for driving convenience and peace of mind of purchasing, owning and maintaining car from home, for our customers," Honda Cars India Senior Vice President and Director - Marketing & Sales Rajesh Goel said. The company is continually building on its digital platforms like 'Honda from Home' & 'Virtual Showroom' to offer end to end car booking, buying and ownership experience and solutions with more than 80 per cent of the sales process including backend steps have been digitised, he added. "Our digital platform has been designed to make it a simple, secure six step hassle free buying experience for our customers. We are enabling customers to digitally browse models via interactive 360-degree showcase for interior and exterior of our models, select their preferred dealership, request test drive, book or buy the car, and opt for home delivery of the car," Goel noted. The dealership staff are being extensively trained to facilitate car purchase at home for customers, he added. Similarly, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Senior Vice President Naveen Soni noted that digital interfaces have become the primary medium of reaching out to customers in today's time. "A key takeaway from this pandemic has been the importance of a resilient distribution network. We believe that a mix of large, small and digital formats covering the traditional and emerging markets is the right way to move ahead in 2021," he said. Digital interfaces, especially, are here to stay as they will be the pivot point to a quick revival into the "normal" and beyond, he added. "The ease of use and customer's growing trust on digital mediums even for a high value purchase like the automobile has vaulted the growth of this Covid inspired revolution," Soni said. German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz India MD and CEO Martin Schwenk said the company has integrated all its dealer partners seamlessly into its e-commerce ecosystem which has resulted in ease of purchase for the customers. "We believe that buying a Mercedes should be as easy as buying food online for our customers and underlining this shift in customer mindset, we already have more than 15 per cent of our sales volumes in the first quarter of 2021 from online bookings," he noted. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close SUV O novo D-SUV da Jeep ja tem nome! O Jeep Commander tera sete lugares e sera lancado no segundo semestre de 2021. | La nueva D-SUV de Jeep ya tiene nombre! El Jeep Commander tendra siete lugares y sera lanzado en el segundo semestre de 2021. ???? #JeepCommander #DSUV #OIIIIIIIO pic.twitter.com/URUVdmSAur Stellantis America Latina (@StellantisLATAM) May 27, 2021 The merger with Groupe PSA to form Stellantis comes to mind, along with the health crisis and chip shortage. Despite these delays, Jeep is going full throttle ahead with a brand-new product thats called Low D Three-Rowin the 2018-2022 roadmap. Subsequently baptized Grand Compass , the seven-seat brother of the Compass now has a proper name: the Commander.Previewed in a teaser video on Twitter by Stellantis America Latina, the family-sized crossover will be launched in the second half of 2021 in this part of the world. We still dont know if Jeep intends to adapt the Commander for North America, but chances are that it will because even Volkswagen sells the Tiguan with three-row seats in the United States of America and Canada.The video published by Stellantis on social media also offers a glimpse of the redesigned headlights and taillights, and the taillights in particular are different from the Compass. The Commanders proportions also bear some resemblance to the Yuntu Concept that morphed into the Grand Commander for the Chinese market, which is produced by the joint venture with GAC.Under the skin, the Grand Commander and Grand Commander PHEV both feature the 2.0-liter turbocharged GME four-cylinder engine that Jeep calls the Hurricane in the Wrangler. The Compass, by comparison, makes do with the 2.4-liter Tigershark in the United States, the 1.3-liter GSE turbo four-cylinder mill in Europe, and a couple of MultiJet II four-pot oil burners.Similar to the 2021 Jeep Compass facelift for China and European Union, the Commander is certain to receive two infotainment systems ranging from 8.4 to 10.1 inches. The Uconnect 5 media suite is joined by a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, TomTom navigation, and smartphone integration. The Evo V8 is a 24-meter (78 ft) vessel with an elegant V-line design and a fully customizable layout. The yacht was designed by Valerio Rivellini and aims to combine the speed of a motor yacht with the comfort and relaxation of sailing, according to its designer The V8 has four helm stations. There are two yacht wheels on the port and starboard sides of the main deck and two more on the rooftop.The beach area of the yacht is an open space only 70 cm (2.2 ft) above the waterline , with hull sides that open and offer you a 180-degree panoramic view.Theres also a lounge area with sliding glass doors, which can serve as an air patio during daytime and a private living area during nighttime.The main deck has a spacious salon with a dining area and the big windows can be lowered almost completely. This way they also reduce the need to use the air conditioning while offering guests more contact with the outside environment.There are three cabins for seven people and a cabin for two crew members on the main deck. The lower deck comes with two guest cabins, a crew cabin, and a master stateroom.The Evo V8 yacht will be officially presented at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2021 starting on September 7. We have no figures for the V8, but we know the vessel was launched recently during a ceremony held at the Torre Annunziata marina close to Naples. The Italian owner of the V8 attended the launch ceremony.Evo Yachts is owned by Blue Emme Yachts. Whereas Harley is easily linked with pretty much all of the important race tracks across America, the name does not ring all that good when associated with Le Mans. Yet this did not stop a German custom shop by the name Thunderbike from forever tying the American two-wheeler with the famous French circuit with this special GP S Le Mans build.Presented at the end of last year, the GP S Le Mans is part of the shops Racing Series, a line of machines named after the great tracks of the world, including Silverstone, Laguna Seca , or Mugello. A few months after its presentation, the bike has now spawned a successor. Its called the Monaco, also based on a Breakout, and a nod to the famed European city-state where one of the most exciting Formula 1 races of modern times takes place.Once a stock Breakout , the motorcycle was lowered for a more aggressive look, gifted with tons of custom parts, including a new triple tree, grips, fenders, a custom fuel tank, and countless covers (full list here ). Thunderbike calls this build the first Twin Cam on which weve fitted our newly developed GP Parts for this range, and the result, as it can be seen in the gallery above, is nothing short of spectacular.We are not being told if any changes to the bikes engine were made, apart from the fact it now breaths through a Dr. Jekill & Mr. Hyde exhaust system.The Monaco extras meant to transform the Breakout took over 11,000 euros to put together, which is about $13,400 at todays exchange rates. In addition to a three-day halt affecting the production lines at its plant in Kyushu, the Japanese carmaker is also temporarily stopping operations at its factories in Mexico.The companys Aguascalientas Plant 1 will stop assembling cars for one full week in June, according to a report from Reuters . This particular factory is in charge of building Nissans Versa, Kicks, and March.But at the same time, the Japanese firm also plans to halt the operations at Plant 2 as well, though this time the whole thing would only happen for one day. The manufacturing of the Nissan Sentra is expected to be affected by the production adjustments.And last but not least, Nissan confirmed its CIVAC plant in Morelos will go offline for seven days as well.And its all because the Japanese company doesnt have enough chips to install on its cars. The global semiconductor shortage has already made plenty of victims in the automotive industry, with large companies turning to similar production adjustments as they wait for suppliers to deliver more chips.The worse news is that nobody knows for sure when exactly the crisis is supposed to come to an end. Industry experts warn the lack of chips is very likely to continue in 2022, with some signs of recovery to be recorded in the first quarters of the next year.Meanwhile, research shows that the production of over 4 million cars could be affected by the semiconductor shortage, with the number expected to grow by the end of the year unless foundries found a way to manufacture more chips and ship them on time to help avoid more halts. Announced in 2016 at the Monaco Yacht Show and officially launched in late 2020, Majesty 175 was completed just now and premiered last weekend, at the Dubai Harbor in the UAE. It is the flagship of a new line of super-light and super-efficient superyachts from UAE-based shipyard Gulf Craft, with construction handled entirely in the home country.A video of the premiere, attended by authorities and a variety of politicians, is available at the bottom of the page. Majesty 175 isnt just the largest composite production superyacht in the world, but also the largest vessel from the shipyard. It is the first in a line of similar vessels aiming for efficiency, shallow sailing and transoceanic range. The owner of this first unit is a prominent Emirati businessman whose identity has not been disclosed to the public.Weve given Majesty 175 the coverstory treatment after its launch in November 2020, and one very important detail stands out with the world premiere: despite initial statements that the superstructure would be of fiberglass, composite materials were used for both. With a length of 54 meters (177 feet), Majesty 175 is very lightweight given the use of advanced composite materials like carbon fiber and vinyl ester. Its light weight and shallow draft of just 2.05 meters (6.7 feet) allow for close beach access.Cristiano Gatto Design penned the interior and exterior design, while Yankee Delta Studio handled naval architecture. Onboard accommodation is for 14 guests across seven luxurious cabins (including the master suite) and 10 crew. Features include a stunning infinity pool, a hybrid sky-lounge slash open sun deck, and a private deck for the master suite, ensuring maximum privacy for the owner.Majesty 175 is powered by twin MTU 2,012 hp engines, and comes with a top speed of 16.5 knots and a cruising speed of 10 knots. Its range is of 4,000 nautical miles at cruising speed, which gives it transoceanic range and makes it a true standout for a vessel of its size. It is priced at around $35 million. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The report came days after an eighth noose was found at an Amazon construction site in Windsor. The investigation has been ongoing for just over a month after the first was found on April 27, followed by what police said were five more ropes that could be interpreted as nooses, the last week of April. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. An Indigenous Canadian group announced plans Saturday to identify the remains of 215 children, some as young as three, found buried at the site of a former residential school, per CBC News. The big picture: The discovery of the Tkemlups te Secwepemc First Nation children's remains has renewed calls for the Roman Catholic Church to apologize for its role in Canada's policy of the 19th and 20th centuries that saw Indigenous children removed from families to attend state-funded residential schools. Many of the almost 150,000 children attending the schools from 1883 to 1996 to "assimilate" into white Canadian society encountered neglect and abuse, as their native languages and cultures were forbidden, the Washington Post reports. Canada's government apologized in 2008, admitting that physical and sexual abuse in the schools was widespread. Details: Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation Chief Rosanne Casimir said in a statement announcing the discovery Thursday, "To our knowledge, these missing children are undocumented deaths." She said in a later statement that more bodies could be uncovered as not all areas had been searched at the Kamloops Indian Residential School which the Catholic Church ran from 1890 to 1969 before the Canadian government took over its administration until the school's closure in 1978. Assembly of First Nations regional chief Terry Teegee told the CBC that forensic experts would join the BC Coroners Service and the Royal B.C. Museum for the identification. Prime Minister Trudeau tweeted Friday that the discovery was "a painful reminder of that dark and shameful chapter of our country's history." Of note: The Roman Catholic Church has declined to apologize for its role in what Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission found in 2015 to be cultural genocide, despite Trudeau writing to Pope Francis to ask for one. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has urged the pope to apologize, but First Nations Child and Family Caring Society executive director Cindy Blackstock noted Friday that the "Catholic Church has yet to do that, and to really accept full responsibility for reparations to families," per CTV News. "So that's something that we need to look into the Catholic Church to be doing, to accept that" accountability, Blackstock said. What they're saying: Archbishop of Vancouver J. Michael Miller said in a statement to CTV News,"[W]e pledge to do whatever we can to heal that suffering." Between the lines: While it's not yet known how the children died, "accidents, fires and contagious illness at residential schools all contributed to a high death toll, which the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has estimated at more than 4,000 children," the Washington Post notes. Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout. More than 10,000 Ethiopians rallied on Sunday to protest U.S. interference in Ethiopia's domestic affairs, after the U.S. imposed aid restrictions on the country due to the continued conflict in the Tigray, Reuters reports. Why it matters: The rally was organized by the authorities and proved larger than most pro-government rallies. It was also a rare display of public criticism of the U.S., Reuters writes. Protestors in Addis Ababa carried signs with slogans such as "Ethiopian young people denounce the western intervention," per the Associated Press. The state of play: Ethiopia is in the midst of a wave of ethnic violence, a vicious war in the northern Tigray region, and an existential debate about how power should be divided between the regions, ethnic groups and the state, per Axios' Dave Lawler. More than 2 million people have been displaced by the conflict and thousands are estimated to have died, per AP. The big picture: Last week the Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the U.S. was imposing visa restrictions for Ethiopian or Eritrean officials "responsible for, or complicit in, undermining resolution of the crisis in Tigray," per a state department press release. The U.S. also announced economic and security restrictions on aid assistance to Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government called the new restrictions "regrettable" and "misguided," per AP. Bottom line: "We will never kneel down. The preconditions and travel restrictions by the U.S. and its allies are completely unacceptable. It needs to be corrected," Adanech Abebe, mayor of Addis Ababa, said at Sunday's rally, per Reuters. The leader of right-wing Yamina party Naftali Bennett could announce as early as Sunday that he is joining opposition leader Yair Lapid to form a power-sharing government in Israel, sources familiar with the issue tell Axios. Why it matters: If a new "change government" will be formed, Bennett will be prime minister and will bring an end to 12 years of Benjamin Netanyahu rule. Such a development could end the political crisis that led to four consecutive elections in two years. Flashback: Three weeks ago, Lapid was on the verge of forming a power-sharing government that would see Bennett serve first as prime minister for two years before Lapid rotates into the job. But Bennett backtracked amid the Gaza conflict. Driving the news: Bennett met Lapid on Thursday and according to several press reports told Lapid he wants to join a power-sharing government, but still needs to get other members of his party behind him, mainly his deputy Ayelet Shaked. Bennett held consultations on Saturday night (local time) with Shaked and other close confidants. What to watch: On Sunday morning, he will hold a meeting with all the members of Knesset from his party to hear their views on the possibility of joining a "change government." The big picture: If a new government is formed, it will be the most wide-ranging coalition ever formed in Israel. Such a government will be highly fragile, avoid controversial issues, take all decisions in consensus and focus on the economy, post-COVID-19 relief and stabilization of the Gaza ceasefire. Even such an agreed-upon agenda will be very hard to implement and the government could fall apart within months. What's next: Lapid's mandate for forming a government expires on Wednesday. The leader of Israel's right wing Yamina party, Naftali Bennett, told members of his party at a meeting Sunday he's moving forward with joining opposition leader Yair Lapid to form a power sharing government that would oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Why it matters: A new "change government" would make Bennett prime minister and bring an end to 12 years of Benjamin Netanyahu's rule. The development could end the political crisis that has led to four elections in two years. What he's saying: Bennett told the members of the legislature from his party Sunday that Netanyahu has no ability to form a government, and that his claims that he can get members of the center-left bloc to defect and join the right-wing bloc are false. Bennett added that the only alternative to a change government with the center-left would be a fifth election. Netanyahu will not be able to get a majority again and then we will go to a sixth election. The country cant continue like that, Bennet said according to press reports about the meeting. A statement by the Yamina party said all members of the legislature who attended the meeting backed Bennetts effort to form a government and avoid a fifth election. Worth noting: Under a change government, Bennett would serve as prime minister for two years before Lapid rotates into the job. It would be the most wide-ranging coalition ever formed in Israel. Between the lines: Such a government would be highly fragile, avoid controversial issues, take all decisions in consensus and focus on the economy, post-COVID-19 relief and stabilization of the Gaza ceasefire. Even such an agenda would be very hard to implement, and the government could fall apart within months. Whats next: The new government could be sworn in next Monday giving Netanyahu a week to try and sabotage it to prevent Lapid and Bennett from acquiring a majority. What to watch: Bennett will announce his intention to form a government with opposition leader Yair Lapid during a speech at 8 p.m. local time, or 1 p.m. ET. Nonviolent but not peaceful protests aim to bring about change in Elizabeth City, NC I love her and miss her dearly, Jhavier Leslie said late Friday morning. Its hard to go through this new reality of not having her here, but I think this is a part of a bigger issue in society that needs to be addressed of just homophobia and the dangers around that. Im going to miss her. I love her so much. I just cant believe this is happening. This is just a nightmare for everybody. My moms literally in the hospital. She had a panic attack because it feels so unreal. Robert Price is a journalist for KGET-TV. His column appears here Sundays. Reach him at RobertPrice@KGET.com or via Twitter: @stubblebuzz. The opinions expressed are his own. Bluefield, WV (24701) Today Partly cloudy this evening. Fog developing late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening. Fog developing late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Bluefield, WV (24701) Today Mostly cloudy this evening, then becoming foggy and damp after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy this evening, then becoming foggy and damp after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. It maintains neutrality. If you put up something for one group, you have to put up another and another and maybe some things you dont like. Then it becomes divisive, said council Chairwoman Heather Maguire said. Juneteenth Celebration on S. Oregon Coast Goes Live With People Published 05/26/21 at 5:48 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Coos Bay, Oregon) One event on the south Oregon coast event is gearing up to celebrate a powerful yet overlooked moment in history while also doing so with real people this time. It's an occasion both somber and worthy of a party. (Above: the Hollerin' Place in Coos Bay, courtesy City of Coos Bay) Coos Bay's Coos History Museum has partnered with the Alonzo Tucker Task Force Committee to host the town's first ever Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday June 19, 2021. Participation will be available both online and in person a welcome sign of life for the Oregon coast. Juneteenth happened on June 19, 1865 when the last slaves in Galveston, Texas finally learned they were free - over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863. It's also known as Jubilee Day or Freedom Day, and is the oldest national celebration marking the ending of slavery in the United States. While widely celebrated throughout the U.S. it's still not a moment known by everybody, providing a moving history lesson. This year's Oregon coast Juneteenth Celebration Itinerary: Tuesday, June 15 Juneteenth Special Edition Tuesday Talk, 6:30pm - 8:00pm Learn: A livestream webinar discussing the history, education, culture and significance on Juneteenth featuring special guest panelists: Dr. Carol Bunch Davis, Texas A&M University, Galveston Heather Coleman-Cox, Juneteenth Oregon Jamar Ruff, Coos Head Food Co-Op and United Way of Southwestern Oregon Taylor Stewart, Oregon Remembrance Project Saturday, June 19 10am- 5pm Unveiling Ceremony, 10:00am - 11:00am Witness: The unveiling of the Equal Justice Initiative Historical Marker acknowledging the lynching of Alonzo Tucker in Coos Bay, Oregon and lynching throughout United States history. This portion of the event will be live-streamed. Check website for updates regarding in-person attendance. Community Word Cloud, 10:00am - 5:00pm Participate: Lend your words to our community word cloud. We invite event participants to help us commemorate this new event by contributing to a word cloud which will be made into digital artwork and a banner after the event. You can contribute online or in-person at the museum. FREE Day at the Museum, 11:00am - 5:00pm Experience: Visit Coos History Museum anytime throughout the day to celebrate Juneteenth with family and friends. Free entrance all day, the first 200 visitors will receive a Juneteenth take home kit featuring decorations, educational materials, swag and more. Check out the live music, the new Alonzo Tucker marker and story and enjoy our museum's exhibits. Covid-19 Guidelines for Juneteenth: "Please check our website and Facebook pages for more specific information regarding in-person attendance, we will update frequently to ensure we meet current Covid-19 guidelines for this event. Please maintain physical distancing and keep each other safe," said organizers. Coos Bay, Oregon. https://cooshistory.org/juneteenth-celebration/ 541-756-6320. MORE PHOTOS BELOW South Coast Hotels - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW Mingus Park, Coos Bay North Bend in the '60s, courtesy Coos History Museum Photo courtesy Oregon's Adventure Coast: Coos Bay, Charleston, North Bend More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Click here to read the full article. Gavin MacLeod, a sitcom veteran who played seaman Happy Haines on McHales Navy, Murray on Mary Tyler Moore and the very different, vaguely patrician Captain Stubing on The Love Boat, has died. He was 90. MacLeods nephew, Mark See, confirmed his death to Variety. MacLeod died in the early morning on May 29. No cause of death was given, but MacLeods health had declined in recent months. MacLeod played a relatively minor character on ABC hit McHales Navy, starring Ernest Borgnine, but as newswriter Murray Slaughter, he was certainly one of the stars of Mary Tyler Moore, appearing in every one of the classic comedys 168 episodes during its 1970-77 run on CBS. Murray was married to Marie (Joyce Bulifant) but was in love with Moores Mary Richards. His desk was right next to Marys in the WJM newsroom, so MacLeod was frequently in the shot during the sitcom, and Murray, like all the other characters, was richly developed a hallmark of MTM shows. MacLeod originally tried out for the part of Lou Grant, which went to Ed Asner, but claimed to be happy that he ended up playing Murray. He also auditioned for the role of Archie Bunker on All in the Family, but of reading the script for the first time, he wrote in his memoir, Immediately I thought, This is not the script for me. The character is too much of a bigot. I cant say these things. When Norman Lear called the actor to say that Carroll OConnor had gotten the part, MacLeod was relieved. The Moore cast MacLeod, Asner, Valerie Harper, Cloris Leachman, Betty White and Georgia Engel (Ted Knight had died in 1986) reminisced with Moore in 2002 on CBS The Mary Tyler Moore Reunion. Asner paid tribute to MacLeod on Twitter, writing: My heart is broken. Gavin was my brother, my partner in crime (and food) and my comic conspirator. I will see you in a bit Gavin. Tell the gang I will see them in a bit. Betty! Its just you and me now. My heart is broken. Gavin was my brother, my partner in crime (and food) and my comic conspirator. I will see you in a bit Gavin. Tell the gang I will see them in a bit. Betty! Its just you and me now. pic.twitter.com/se4fwh7G1G Ed Asner (@TheOnlyEdAsner) May 29, 2021 MacLeod had the great fortune to roll right from one hit show to another in 1977, when Moore ended and ABCs The Love Boat began. The hourlong romantic comedy set on a cruise ship ran for 10 years. The actors Captain Stubing was known for his signature salute. Even after the end of the voyage in 1987, the actor returned for telepic The Love Boat: A Valentine Voyage in 1990 and for the Reunion episode of rebooted series Love Boat: The Next Wave in 1998. MacLeod may, indeed, hold a record for consecutive long-running series: He went straight from The Mary Tyler Moore Show (168 episodes) to The Love Boat (249 episodes). The New York Times said in 2010: Perhaps no actor has embraced a signature role the way Mr. MacLeod has with Captain Stubing. Since The Love Boat went off the air, he has been a spokesman for Princess Cruises. In 1997, the actor joined the rest of The Love Boat cast on Oprah in what was the first full cast appearance since the show was cancelled. Another cast reunion occurred in 2013 on The Talk. MacLeod was born Allan George See in Mount Kisco, N.Y. His mother worked for Readers Digest, while his father was an electrician who was part Chippewa. He grew up in Pleasantville, N.Y., and went to Ithaca College, where he studied acting and graduated in 1952. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he moved to New York City and worked at Radio City Music Hall as an usher and elevator operator while seeking work as an actor. During this time he changed his name. After a few uncredited film roles, MacLeod made his credited bigscreen debut in the 1958 Susan Hayward vehicle I Want to Live, playing a police lieutenant, then played a G.I. in Gregory Peck starrer Pork Chop Hill the next year. His supporting role in Blake Edwards WWII comedy Operation Petticoat, starring Cary Grant and Tony Curtis and focusing on the chaotic goings on aboard a submarine, gave the young actor a flavor of what he would be doing a few years later on McHales Navy. In the meantime he appeared in the 1960 thriller Twelve Hours to Kill, which starred future I Dream of Jeannie star Barbara Eden; Blake Edwards musical comedy High Time, starring Bing Crosby and Fabian; and the critically hailed but now forgotten Korean War film War Hunt. He also did a boatload of guest appearances on TV before his stint on McHales Navy. MacLeod left McHales Navy in order to be able to appear in a supporting role in the excellent period adventure film The Sand Pebbles, starring Steve McQueen, and he appeared in a number of other films throughout the decade: A Man Called Gannon and Blake Edwards Peter Sellers comedy The Party in 1968; The Thousand Plane Raid, The Comic and The Intruders in 1969; and, in 1970, the World War II caper film Kellys Heroes, in which he played Moriarty, Oddballs machine-gunner and mechanic. In the meantime he was guesting on both dramas (Perry Mason, Ben Casey, Ironside, Hawaii Five-O, The Big Valley) and comedies (The Andy Griffith Show, My Favorite Martian, Hogans Heroes). In December 1961, he guested on The Dick Van Dyke Show in what was his first time working with Mary Tyler Moore. After his years on Mary Tyler Moore and The Love Boat, MacLeod did not work on a steady basis he did not have to. He made an impression, however, in a 2000 episode of HBO prison drama Oz in which he played the Roman Catholic Cardinal Frances Abgott, with whom Rita Morenos nun Sister Pete discusses leaving the order. The actor had assumed a certain gravitas as Captain Stubing, even amid the silliness of The Love Boat, that made this role possible in a way that it couldnt have been before. In the 2000s MacLeod also guested on series including The King of Queens, JAG, Touched by an Angel and That 70s Show. MacLeod, who had appeared on Broadway in 1962 in The Captains and the Kings, also returned to stage work after The Love Boat. He toured with Michael Learned of The Waltons in A.R. Gurneys Love Letters, and he appeared in musicals such as Gigi and Copacabana between 1997 and 2003. At a concert in 2008, he conducted the Colorado Symphony in Denver. MacLeod was first married, from 1955-1972, to Joan Rootvik, with whom he had two sons and two daughters. He married actress Patti Kendig in 1974. They divorced in 1982 but remarried in 1985. During the mid-1980s, MacLeod and his second wife became Evangelical Christians, and the pair credited the religion for reuniting them. He wrote about it in his 1987 book Back on Course, the Remarkable Story of a Divorce That Ended in Remarriage. He and Kendig appeared in the Christian big-screen time-travel epic Time Changer, along with Hal Linden, in 2002, and he played the title role in the 2008 Christian film The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry. His memoir This Is Your Captain Speaking: My Fantastic Voyage Through Hollywood, Faith & Life, was published in 2013. He is survived by Kendig and four children by Rootvik. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A new poker club, which was approved this week and will be Beaumonts third to begin operating, could signal the regions increasing acceptance for card clubs in the city. The House of Cards poker room proposed for the shopping center off Eastex Freeway near the intersection with Texas 105 that is anchored by a Market Basket store on Tuesday was approved unanimously with little discussion by the Beaumont City Council. The new business, proposed by Larry Bibbs, is one of the only poker clubs to successfully make it through the zoning approval process because of its inclusion of a bar, which required it to receive a specific-use permit, according to Beaumont Director of Planning and Community Development Chris Boone. Bibbs couldnt be reached for comment by the Enterprise, but he detailed his plans for the business in documents submitted to the city. We feel that with the amount of resources that we have invested and the demand for a higher-end poker room, Beaumont is the perfect place for such an establishment, Bibbs wrote in the proposal. With Houston being the new poker capital of the country, we will be able to keep several of our local players here instead of traveling for games Related: Nederland deals setback to poker club plan Bibbs also said the club would have between eight to 10 tables, over a dozen TVs, a bar and lounge area and a protected front desk for cash transactions. The membership system at House of Cards would require members to purchase time at a table and would be highly-regulated, with staff members escorting players to their table and trained dealers facilitating games. In order to operate legally, poker rooms in Texas cant take a cut of pots from games, but they can make revenue through sales like food and drink. Private poker clubs have been rising in popularity and abundance in larger cities in Texas since 2015 but have also faced push back from state lawmakers and some cities. In 2018, the cities of Abilene and Webster asked poker clubs in their respective cities to cease and desist operations. Poker clubs in other cities like Houstons Post Oak Poker Club and Prime Social were raided in July 2019 and their owners accused of money laundering, among other charges. The criminal charges and a connected civil lawsuit ultimately were dropped by the Harris County District Attorneys Office later in the month. Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in 2018 was asked 2018 by Rep. Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria, to give an opinion on poker clubs. He refused several months later, citing pending litigation after an Austin club sued a San Antonio club over the legality of their business model. With the political and legal pressure seemingly lifted on clubs, more have continued to pop up in cities across Texas. Poker Face Members Club on Phelan Boulevard became the second club to open in Beaumont last year, following the Texas Poker Club that opened in 2018. The city of Beaumont hasnt specifically regulated game rooms since about five years ago, according to Boone, but the perceived difference of impact to the surrounding community by poker clubs has kept them out of similar cross hairs. Instead, they have been considered similar to bridge clubs, and Boone said the city doesnt actively police and regulate them like a game room. If we approve one, we state they are responsible to comply with any state gaming law, Boone said. Thats not to say they arent monitored, but there hasnt been any problems, so far. jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jd_journalism SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) A Georgia man who prosecutors say operated a sex and drug trafficking business has been sentenced to serve more than three decades in prison. Anthony Wilson Jackson, 50, led a scheme to carry out sex trafficking across the country and shipped and distributed large quantities of marijuana around Savannah, federal prosecutors said. He was sentenced Thursday to serve 30 years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to numerous federal charges. STATESBORO, Ga. (AP) One Georgia university has hundreds of American flags on display in memory of fallen soldiers. The Military and Veteran Services office at Georgia Southern University planted 570 flags along Sweetheart Circle in the heart of the Statesboro campus in advance of Memorial Day. PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (AP) Authorities have released the names of two people killed in the crash of a single-engine plane in southern Ohio last week. The Ohio State Highway Patrol said 64-year-old David James and 62-year-old Lori James died when their plane crashed into a wooded area on a Scioto County hillside Friday morning. The Bellefontaine residents were in a single-engine 2015 LancAir Evolution, which troopers described as an experimental aircraft. The company website said the planes are sold as kits. The director of the county's emergency management association, Larry Mullins, told the Portsmouth Daily Times that the plane originated from Bellefontaine and was headed to Charleston, South Carolina at altitudes of 25,000 feet. Mullins said eyewitnesses told him that they saw the plane lose control before crashing into the ground where explosions were heard and fire and smoke were visible. Mullins said the four-seat plane was destroyed on impact and burned up. Fire crews had to use all-terrain vehicles to get to the crash site and the highway patrol used its plane to guide them to the wreckage. Two people told WBNS-TV that they saw the plane go down as they were getting ready to tee off at Elks Country Club. Dennis Pistole said they heard the engine quit" and looked up and saw the plane coming down. Tyson Phillips said they saw the aircraft basically tumbling end over end." The two said the fire burned for some time, leading them to believe the plane was full of fuel. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. Portsmouth is about 95 miles (153 kilometers) south of Columbus. WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz joined with their Republican colleagues on Thursday to block a commission tasked with investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in a 54-35 vote. While the bill establishing the commission passed the Democratic-controlled U.S. House last week, Senate Republicans effectively killed the proposal by way of the filibuster. In the Senate, 60 members are needed to move a bill to an up-or-down vote, breaking the filibuster, and Republicans successfully stopped that from happening. Cornyn advocated in February for the same kind of commission he voted against Thursday. The 1/6 attack on the Capitol was horrific & appalling, he tweeted earlier this year. Those who planned & participated in the violence that day should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I agree w/Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi a 911-type investigation is called for to help prevent this from happening again. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell a close ally of Cornyns reportedly pushed Republican members hard against moving the bill forward. Saul Loeb /AFP / Getty Images Cruz released a statement after the commission was defeated, saying that he opposed it because it was "politically motivated." "The January 6 terrorist attack on the Capitol was a dark moment in our nation's history, and I fully support the ongoing law enforcement investigations into anyone involved. Everyone who attacked the Capitol must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and brought to justice," Cruz said. "I also support the Senate committees of jurisdiction who are exercising their proper oversight roles to provide an in-depth and complete account of the attack. With multiple investigations already underway, I do not support the politically motivated January 6 Commission led by Sen. [Chuck] Schumer and Speaker Pelosi." The bill was modeled on the 9/11 Commission, which led to sweeping government reforms in order to prevent terrorist attacks. JASON ANDREW /NYT The commission was to be equally divided between five Republicans and five Democrats. To qualify, each commissioner could not be currently serving in government and was to have a background in two of the following areas: government service, law enforcement, civil rights and civil liberties, the armed forces, intelligence, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, technology or the law. While there are concurrent criminal investigations, the point of a commission was to evaluate the governments failures that led to the event and examine how to better respond in the future. Initially, House Democrats pushed for the membership of the commission to have more Democrats than Republicans. Samuel Corum /TNS But House Republican members were deeply involved in negotiating the bill with the blessing of party leaders and Democrats made a number of concessions, leading to the proposal with evenly bipartisan split. Last week, though, House leaders turned against the bill. The House version of the bill passed with some bipartisan support. While most House Republicans voted against the proposal, 35 Republicans crossed party lines to back the bill, including two Texans, U.S. Reps. Tony Gonzales of San Antonio and Van Taylor of Plano. Only six Senate Republicans broke ranks with former President Donald Trump and the majority of Republicans on opposing the creation of a commission. Moderate Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, also indicated his support for the commission leading up to the vote. "Republicans in both chambers are trying to rewrite history and claim that Jan. 6 was a peaceful protest that got a little out of hand. And now this," Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, said on the Senate floor after the commission was blocked by Republicans. "We all know what's going on here... Republicans chose to defend the big lie because they believe anything that upsets Donald Trump might hurt them politically." Bryan Mena contributed to this report. The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans and engages with them about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Right now, only a small section of the restaurant is open, for counter ordering and self-seating indoors and outdoors, as well as takeout. Civitillo said she is experiencing the same staffing shortage as most restaurateurs, but will wait it out before opening the rest of the restaurant. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. She just graduated from the College of William & Mary, thanks in part to one of the 750 scholarships awarded by the Huntington Ingalls Industries Scholarship Fund since the shipyards parent company set it up in 2016. The funds scholarship awards total more than $2 million; it is funded primarily by HII President and CEO Mike Petters decision to decline his annual salary, all but for $1. Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass. You are the owner of this article. Clarence Fanto can be reached at cfanto@yahoo.com. The Outlook is today's look ahead at the week's weather, its impact on the Berkshires and beyond. Offer a personal message of congratulations... You'll find individual Guest Books with each announcement. By sharing a positive thought you add happiness to the lives of those who are reaching a new life milestone. . . From a Guest Book, you may log in with a third-party account or use an existing account with this site. If you do not have an account, Sign up using the Sign Up link on the top right of any page. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Call ahead to confirm events. Due to COVID-19, many events have been canceled but hosting organizations might not have updated their entries. Email Blast Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Daily News Headlines & Events Email Blast Would you like to receive a digest of each day's headlines & events from The Daily News by email? Signup today! The Amplifier Headlines & Events Email Blast Would you like to receive a weekly digest of headlines & events from The Amplifier by email? Signup today! Daily News Hosted Events The Daily News is a proud host of community enrichment events. Join our Daily News Events mailing list to learn about the next event we are planning. Sign up now. Manage your lists Offer a personal message of sympathy... You'll find individual Guest Books on the page with each obituary notice. By sharing a fond memory or writing a kind tribute, you will be providing a comforting keepsake to those in mourning. . From a Guest Book, you may log in with your Google, Facebook, Yahoo or AOL account to leave a message. If you have an existing account with this site, you may log in with that. Otherwise, it's simple to create a new one by clicking on the Create "Sign up" button and following the simple steps on the Sign Up page. But health department officials said those cities, along with a handful of others in Hampton Roads, saw elevated numbers last week due to a vendor reporting a backlog of cases between Monday and Tuesday. Some of those positive COVID-19 tests dated to April. Its not clear yet how many of the cases were old, but local health officials are looking into it. The plants are 'skid mounted' and delivered directly to the hospital sites UPL, a global provider of sustainable agriculture solutions, has set up oxygen plants at eight hospitals in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, UP and New Delhi. The company rapidly stepped up its innovation and converted four of its nitrogen production plants in Gujarat, to produce and deliver oxygen to four hospitals in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. The plants are 'skid mounted' and delivered directly to the hospital sites for them to be directly plugged into the hospitals oxygen header system to help attain self-sufficiency in supply. The converted plants have now been installed and operational at the hospitals including Government Ayurvedic College in Chauka Ghat, Varanasi, Haria L G Rotary Hospital in Vapi, Jayaben Hospital in Ankleshwar and Government Hospital in Jambusar, Bharuch. In addition to this, UPL has also installed a direct oxygen plant at Max Hospital, Patparganj, New Delhi and is in the process of providing additional three oxygen plants at Indore, Gwalior and Varanasi. All these eight oxygen plants together will be catering to ~1,000 beds. UPL has also supplied ventilators, oxygen concentrators, covid medicine kits under the supervision of the local chief medical officer in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Jai Shroff, CEO, UPL said, We, at UPL, are committed to our value of being Always Human. We are proud of our team who showcased exemplary agility and innovation in these tough times by developing the unique solution of converting nitrogen to oxygen. We will continue to support the community through our bit in this battle against the pandemic. Results will be made available within three hours and suitable for rural and tribal areas Scientists of Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), have developed a 'Saline Gargle RT-PCR Method' for testing COVID-19 samples. The Saline Gargle is simple, fast, cost-effective, patient-friendly and comfortable and offers instant results and is well-suited for rural and tribal areas, given minimal infrastructure requirements. The method is environment-friendly as well since waste generation is minimised. Dr Krishna Khairnar, Senior Scientist, Environmental Virology Cell, NEERI says, Swab collection method requires time. Moreover, since it is an invasive technique, it is a bit uncomfortable for patients. Some time is lost also in the transport of the sample to the collection centre. On the other hand, the Saline Gargle RT-PCR method is instant, comfortable and patient-friendly. Sampling is done instantly and results will be generated within three hours. "The Saline Gargle RT-PCR method uses a simple collection tube filled with saline solution. The patient gargles the solution and rinses it inside the tube. This sample in the collection tube is taken to the laboratory where it is kept at room temperature, in a special buffer solution prepared by NEERI. An RNA template is produced when this solution is heated, which is further processed for Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). This particular method of collecting and processing the sample enables us to save on the otherwise costly infrastructural requirement of RNA extraction. People can also test themselves since this method allows self-sampling, he adds. Dr Khairnar expects that this innovative testing technique will be especially beneficial for rural and tribal areas where infrastructure requirements can be a constraint. The non-technique has received the approval of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). NEERI has further been asked to train other testing labs, to help scale up its adoption across the country. Nagpur Municipal Corporation has permitted to go ahead with the method, following which testing has begun at NEERI, as per approved testing protocol. Sasikala had been staying in Chennai's T Nagar area after returning to the city in February. (Photo: File/PTI) Chennai: Expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala has dropped enough hints of returning to active politics after the COVID-19 pandemic gets over. In an audio clip of an phone conversation between Sasikala and one of the party cadres, which has gone viral on social media, the leader is heard confirming her plans of her return in the politics. This follows after AIADMK lost the power in Tamil Nadu elections to DMK. The phone call has been verified by Janarthanan, the personal assistant for AMMK General Secretary TTV Dinakaran. "Do not worry, surely will sort out the party things. All be brave ok. Once corona pandemic ends, I will come," Sasikala is heard telling the cadre during the phone call. "We will be behind you Amma," the cadre is heard replying to her. Earlier in March, the Expelled AIADMK leader has announced her retirement from politics and issued a statement saying that she will 'set herself apart from politics'. The former aide of Jayalalithaa, then in her statement said "I set myself apart from politics and pray for the golden rule of my Goddess Akka (Jayalalithaa). I will continue to pray for her vision always." Sasikala had been staying in Chennai's T Nagar area after returning to the city in February following the completion of her four-year prison sentence in a disproportionate assets case. The former AIADMK leader was discharged on January 31 from Bengaluru's Victoria hospital where she was undergoing COVID-19 treatment. She was officially released from judicial custody on January 27 after completing her four-year prison sentence in a disproportionate assets case. In 2019, the Income Tax Department had attached properties worth Rs 1,600 crores belonging to her under the provisions of the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act. After the demise of Jayalalithaa in December 2016, Sasikala was elected General Secretary of the AIADMK. She had handed over the control of the party to nephew Dhinkaran after being convicted in the disproportionate assets case in February 2017. Edappadi Palaniswami was made Chief Minister with her backing but Sasikala was removed after a rival faction led by O Panneerselvam, who had rebelled against Sasikala merged with the Palaniswami faction. Both Sasikala and Dhinakaran were removed in September 2017. Help Our Community Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You! Take The Survey OTTAWA - The U.S. State Department says Arnold Chacon has been named to serve as charge daffaires to Canada at the American embassy. OTTAWA - The U.S. State Department says Arnold Chacon has been named to serve as charge daffaires to Canada at the American embassy. The announcement came Friday in a release issued by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The United States has yet to name a new ambassador to Canada, and until then Chacon will serve as the Biden administration's top diplomat in Ottawa. He succeeds Katherine Brucker, the deputy chief of mission at the embassy who has been serving as Charge d'Affaires since August 2020. The release from Blinken says Chacon is a career diplomat who has previously served as the director general of the Foreign Service and U.S. ambassador to Guatemala. It says he will work to advance "the roadmap for a renewed U.S.-Canada partnership, including trade, climate change, COVID-19 response and recovery, and global and regional security issues." The release adds that Chacon's appointment "underscores the United States strong commitment to Canada and the Canadian people," and that he is dedicated to advancing the bilateral relationship. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2021. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version said Katherine Brucker was appointed to the roll of charge d'affaires by former U.S. president Donald Trump's administration. She was, in fact, serving in the role since August 2020 but retained the title of deputy chief of mission TORONTO - Health Canada extended the expiry date of tens of thousands of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses by one month on Saturday, easing pressure on Canadians scrambling to get a second shot before the jabs went to waste. A vial of AstraZeneca vaccine is seen at a mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, April 22, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh TORONTO - Health Canada extended the expiry date of tens of thousands of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses by one month on Saturday, easing pressure on Canadians scrambling to get a second shot before the jabs went to waste. That was most dramatically illustrated in Ontario, where pharmacists and physicians planned to work through the weekend to use up 45,000 shots expiring on May 31 and 10,000 more with a best-before date in June. Any injections formerly set to expire on Monday can now be used until July 1, according to Health Canada's new guidance. The government department stressed that the move is supported by ample scientific evidence. A Saturday statement said Health Canada received an application directly from AstraZeneca complete with "product stability and mathematical modelling data" showing that two lots totaling 49,000 shots could be safely and effectively used over seven months rather than the original shelf life of six. "This change will ensure that provinces and territories are able to use up their existing inventory and provide Canadians access to much needed doses of the vaccine," Health Canada said in a statement. The head of the Ontario Pharmacists Association said Health Canada's decision is not unprecedented when it comes to evolving data associated with a new vaccine. "It's good news," Justin Bates said. "Although I do appreciate this is going to create a lot more questions ... so people can continue to make an informed consent decision." Canada's rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine has been plagued by controversy and mixed-messaging. Some provinces have paused their use of the vaccine over supply issues and concerns around a rare but deadly blood clotting disorder linked to the shots. There had been just over two dozen confirmed cases of vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, also known as VITT, in Canada as of Thursday, with another 14 under investigation. Five people had died of the condition, the Public Health Agency of Canada said. Ontario resumed the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for second doses this past week, citing evidence that the likelihood of developing the condition is even lower after the follow-up shot than it is after the first injection. The province has begun administering second shots to people who received their first dose between March 10 and 19 at pharmacies in Toronto, Windsor and Kingston, as well as some family doctors' offices. News of the extended expiry dates came as COVID-19 cases across Canada continued to climb, albeit at a slower rate than during the height of the pandemic's third wave. Alberta announced 406 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday and eight added deaths. That province also announced that there were fewer than 500 COVID-19 patients in hospital, which Premier Jason Kenney hailed as a sign of success. He said that if the relatively low hospitalization rate holds, Alberta will move to the next stage of its reopening plan. "As long as hospitalizations stay below 500, we will move into Stage 2 on June 10 and be one step closer to having an amazing and fully open Alberta summer," Kenney said in a news release. That stage would see the province allow outdoor gatherings of up to 20 people, with physical distancing in place. It would also allow restaurants to reopen for both indoor and outdoor service, with up to six people from the same household at a table. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan counted 179 new cases of the virus and one more death, while hard-hit Manitoba reported 357 new cases of COVID-19 and three added deaths. Ontario recorded 1,057 new cases of the virus, as well as 15 more deaths. Quebec, meanwhile, diagnosed 410 new COVID-19 cases and reported seven virus-related deaths. The numbers came a day after the province lifted the nighttime curfew it originally imposed in January when daily infection rates were on the rise. The province's restaurants were also cleared to resume outdoor dining as of Friday. Farther east, New Brunswick counted 10 new cases of COVID-19 and Nova Scotia logged 33, plus four added deaths. Newfoundland and Labrador reported nine new confirmed cases of the virus. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2021. With files from Shawn Jeffords in Toronto and Virginie Ann in Montreal HALIFAX - Nova Scotia is reporting its highest single-day death toll from COVID-19 in just over a year with four new deaths related to the virus. Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health, holds a press conference in Halifax on Friday, October 28, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese HALIFAX - Nova Scotia is reporting its highest single-day death toll from COVID-19 in just over a year with four new deaths related to the virus. Health officials say the deaths include two men in their 80s and a woman in her 70s in the Halifax area, as well as a man in his 80s in the western zone. The province's previous single day high was recorded on May 3, 2020 when six people died as a result of COVID-19. A total of 84 people have died since the beginning of the pandemic. Officials also reported 33 new cases of the today, with 21 in the Halifax area, seven in the eastern zone, three in the western zone and two in the northern zone. There are 566 known active cases of the novel coronavirus in Nova Scotia and 43 people in hospital, including 18 in intensive care. The province's chief medical officer of health gave his condolences to the families of those who died in a news release Saturday, along with a warning to the public. "I cannot emphasize enough how critical it is to follow both the letter and the spirit of the public health measures to prevent further illness and death from this virus," said Dr. Robert Strang. "We must never forget that it is all around us, and that is why it is so important we loosen restrictions and reopen slowly and gradually." Nova Scotia announced what it called a cautious plan to lift lockdown restrictions that have been in place since the end of April on Friday. Premier Iain Rankin unveiled a complex, five-phase strategy that won't progress until the province meets certain vaccination rates and hospitalization numbers. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2021. OTTAWA - When Mahmoud Khalaf's wife and two children travelled from Canada to visit extended family in the Gaza Strip in April, they couldn't imagine they would end up stranded there during a deadly war between Israel and Hamas. Abdallah Alhamadni poses for a photograph at his home in Mississauga, Ont., on Saturday, May 29, 2021. Alhamadni has a wife and two children in Gaza. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette OTTAWA - When Mahmoud Khalaf's wife and two children travelled from Canada to visit extended family in the Gaza Strip in April, they couldn't imagine they would end up stranded there during a deadly war between Israel and Hamas. Khalaf, an electrical engineer in London, Ont., said his wife took their five-year-old and two-year-old to visit family for the first time in seven years and wound up living through the horrors of the bombardment of Gaza. "They have never experienced something like that," he said. "For my kids, it was something very difficult and hard to understand what's going on, especially coming from an environment where they never felt like they might die." Last week, a ceasefire ended the 11-day war that left hundreds of people dead and deteriorated Gaza's already weakened infrastructure. The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 230 Palestinians died, including 65 children. Twelve people in Israel, including a five-year-old and 16-year-old, were killed. Khalaf's wife and children are among dozens of Canadians currently in Gaza, which has been under blockade since 2007. The main point of exit is through Egypt, but only a limited number of people are allowed to leave at a time and they must apply weeks in advance. He and other Canadian residents with families in Gaza fear more bloodshed and are calling on the federal government to urgently help their loved ones evacuate. "As a government, they should be taking care of their people, said Khalaf. Right? I mean, that's the government's job." Global Affairs Canada didn't answer questions on whether the department is planning to evacuate Canadians from the Gaza Strip. Department spokeswoman Patricia Skinner said consular services are being provided through the Canadian representative office to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. "Global Affairs Canada has been advising Canadians to avoid all travel to the Gaza Strip due to continuing conflict, the possible resumption of armed hostilities, and the difficulties to leave the area since October 2000," she said. There are 160 Canadians in the Gaza Strip currently registered in a federal database of Canadians abroad, but since registration is voluntary, the number is likely higher. Khalaf said his five-year-old son who was born in Canada couldn't understand the situation and the reasons behind the bombing in Gaza. "The questions come up: 'What's happening? Why is this happening? Is this happening in Canada? Is this happening everywhere, or is it just here?'" he said. He could hear the explosions when he called or FaceTimed his wife and kids, he said. "Sometimes it's really close. When it is close you see (my son) jumping, like he would be jumping from wherever he is right into his mom's arms just because he's terrified," he said. "That in itself, being so far away from them, was extremely difficult and extremely painful at the same time." The situation has also impacted asylum seekers and more recent immigrants whose families are still in Gaza. Abdallah Alhamadni received refugee status in December and works as an emergency responder with a medical transportation company in Mississauga, Ont., where he transfers people infected with COVID-19 from their homes or long-term care facilities to hospitals. He has applied for permanent residency for himself and his family members and has contacted the Immigration Department several times asking them to expedite the process, he said. "My family, they are under huge stress all the time (while) they are waiting," he said. Alhamadni is living in Canada with the daily risk of contracting COVID-19 and becoming very sick because he has chronic high blood pressure and diabetes, he said. Meanwhile, he fears for his children's lives in Gaza. "I was terrified something could happen to them, especially (with the bombardment of) houses very close to where they are living." Alhamadni and a group of parents with children in Gaza are working to bring attention to their situation. They have contacted the federal government and several Members of Parliament and will start a petition to ask for the evacuation of their families, he said. The government should give the families temporary visas while their permanent residency applications are being processed or fast-track the applications, Alhamadni said. He also contacted the Canadian representative office to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, which he said told him it would let him know if an evacuation of families is being planned. "There are no real promises they will bring them here to Canada, he said. "We are lost. We don't know what to do." The Immigration Department did not say whether it planned to evacuate families of people living in Canada from the Gaza Strip. It said it was unable to comment on individual cases for privacy reasons but it is aware of the situation of resettled refugees' dependants who remain in Gaza and it is monitoring the situation. Global migration has been upended by the pandemic, but the department has prioritized urgent protection cases, vulnerable people and those performing essential services, it said. Sammar Mohammed is another member of the group of parents working to bring children to Canada. She has been living with her two daughters in Windsor, Ont., since 2019 while her husband and her two other daughters are still in Gaza. She is waiting for their permanent residency applications to be processed so the rest of her family can join her in Canada. "This is our issue and our pain the long processing time," she said. Mohammed used to do video calls with her daughters, but now they either lose internet or power, she said. Her husband is a journalist with a local TV station whose building was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike, she added, and a classmate of her 13-year-old daughter was killed during the war. She said there are serious consequences for her loved ones as they continue to wait, especially with a fragile ceasefire that she believes could end at any moment. "If they survived this war, God knows what will happen during the next offences on Gaza." This report was first published by The Canadian Press on May 30, 2021. This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship. IQALUIT - For the first time in more than 15 years, Nunavut has a group of homegrown lawyers. Students and staff with the Nunavut Law program pose for a photo in downtown Iqaluit in 2017, the year this program was formally launched. For the first time in more than 15 years, Nunavut has a group of homegrown lawyers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Nunavut Law Program-Benjamin Ralston*MANDATORY CREDIT* IQALUIT - For the first time in more than 15 years, Nunavut has a group of homegrown lawyers. Last month, 23 students wrote their final exams for the Nunavut law program in the same classroom they spent most of their days in the last four years. The graduating class of lawyers is the first in Nunavut since 2005. The most recent program, which began in 2017, has been run jointly through the Nunavut Arctic College in Iqaluit and the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. The program brought Robert Comeau, who was born in Iqaluit, home after he completed a political science degree in Ottawa. "Law school isn't this unattainable thing. It happened here in Iqaluit. It's not a shot in the dark," Comeau said. Many of the program's professors flew up from southern Canada to teach, so courses were condensed into three-week intensive modules. Students spent class time packed into what used to be a hotel bar. "We were like sardines," Comeau said. "It's not like down south where you have 200 people in your class." Despite the close quarters, Comeau and his classmates became good friends, he said. "We're family now." Comeau said students ranged from young people to others with 20 to 30 years of workforce experience. The program had over 80 applicants and accepted 25 students. All but two finished. 'We have younger Inuit, older Inuit, qalunaat (non-Inuit) and a mix of mature students and students coming right out of university." The first year was dedicated to studying Inuit history and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement which created the territory. Comeau said a legal education is a privilege. "Regardless if you're practising law, or influencing policy or running a business, you are more well-equipped to deal with the problems facing our community," he said. "I want to take this degree and do the best things I can do with it." Comeau said he'd like to see more professors from closer to home. "People want to come teach us. We've had one of the best faculties available to any class of law students," he said. "But there were concerns throughout the program about why some classes couldn't be taught by local professors." Emily Karpik, another Nunavut law graduate, grew up in Pangnirtung and used to work as a Crown witness co-ordinator at the public prosecution office in Iqaluit. She said that job made her realize how badly Inuit were needed to work in Nunavut's courts "I really saw the need for Inuit to take part in ... the court system as lawyers, as judges Inuit who speak the language especially. I saw a lot of Inuit not understanding this system that is foreign to them." Karpik, whose first language is Inuktitut, said she wants to bring her mother tongue into the courtroom. "How can I use the Inuktitut language within the system to help Inuit get a better understanding of the law? It's a struggle, but it's possible." Sixteen of the program's 23 graduates are Inuit, something Karpik said will make a big difference in a Nunavut's legal landscape, which is dominated by lawyers from southern Canada. "We understand the dynamics of living in the North. This is who we are. This is how we live. A lot of times I've come to learn and understand that lawyers who come up from the south don't have that understanding," she said. Another Nunavut law student, Jessica Shabtai, grew up in Toronto and moved to Iqaluit in 2014. She'd like to see a dedicated law program in Nunavut. "In enough time, I'd love to see some of my classmates teaching this program." The college hasn't indicated that the degree will be offered again. Karpik said if it is, she would like to see more focus on the Inuktitut language and Inuit laws. Comeau, who is Inuk, agrees. "Sure, we're all getting degrees, but now there's this community of people that are going to actively use this education to make change in Nunavut." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2021. This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship Gray, a 25 year credit industry veteran and Zips chief operating officer, co-founded Zip with chief executive Larry Diamond in 2013. The Sydneysider, who is married with two daughters, is also a keen horse-racing fan and owner of several racehorses. He has a stake of slightly more than 3 per cent of Zip, and is one of big winners from the surge in Australias BNPL sector. In Australia, which Gray says is arguably the most mature BNPL market in the world, Zip has about 2.5 million customers and it is thinking about other financial services it could provide to this mainly younger cohort. So far its offering business loans as well as BNPL, but its flagged the possibility of offering cryptocurrency trading, share-trading, or high-return savings accounts. The sectors rapid growth has sparked a growing battle with banks, with Commonwealth Bank launching its own BNPL service as part of its bid to maintain dominance with young customers. Gray maintains there is still plenty of domestic growth to be had, including by rolling out BNPL in traditional bricks and mortar, and is dismissive of the banking sectors lack of innovation. At the high level, they [banks] are all scrambling and theyve been asleep at the wheel to some degree in engaging with the younger customers listening to what they want and trends in the market, he says. For investors, however, it is the overseas growth potential that is most exciting. Tribeca Investment Partners portfolio manager Jun Bei Liu, a shareholder in Zip and Afterpay, says there is huge urgency for overseas expansion, and Zip is keeping up well with its larger rivals. They are not necessarily taking share from anyone but they are keeping up with the growth, she says. However, making inroads into new regions outside the major western markets of North America, the UK and Europe could be more challenging. Morningstar analyst Shaun Ler says regions such as Asia, South America or Russia would be tougher to crack into due to a tougher regulatory environment. That said, he says the strategy of pursuing rapid overseas growth is right for Zip, because if they dont move into these markets, someone else will. A lot of the land grab will take place over the next 6 to 18 months. Thats when you need to grow, Ler says. So where might Zip go next? It has a team scouring for opportunities, and it recently took a strategic investment in Philippine operator TendoPay. When Gray is asked about Asia as a prospect, he points to this investment and says the company is certainly very interested in other potential opportunities. But for now, the US is the main game. Some time this half, revenue from its US business Quadpay will overtake revenue from Australia, which is likely to spark even more questions about a potential US listing, as Afterpay is pursuing. Gray says a potential Nasdaq listing or dual-listing ticks quite a few boxes, and could help its valuation, but he stresses it is only early in this option being considered. Loading An increasing percentage of our business will be based in the US. So having exposure on that exchange, giving us access to a broader set of US investors who potentially value the business in different ways to other markets makes a lot of sense, he says. Amid all the focus on growth, the company is not yet profitable, and sceptics warn todays high valuations underplay Zips future capital needs, and the risks from competition and tighter regulation. Australia risks breaching its international commitments to preserve critical wetlands, with many fish and bird species facing extinction, new research shows. Peer-reviewed papers by researchers at the Australian National University have identified critical problems in how state and federal governments have met obligations laid out in the Ramsar Convention, a global pact to protect wetlands. An aerial view of the Southern Macquarie Marshes Nature Reserve in August 2019. The area is part of a Ramsar-listed wetland. Credit:Wolter Peeters They examined six of the 16 Ramsar-listed wetlands within the Murray-Darling Basin, home to the nations longest regularly flowing rivers and its primary food bowl. The basin is also the recipient of $13 billion to help restore its health, especially wetland areas that are critical for fish and birdlife. The researchers assessed 52 different plans and strategies at federal and state levels intended to support areas such as the Macquarie Marshes and Narran Lakes in NSW with managed water flows. One reform that could improve this situation is the introduction of victim lawyers, who can advise and defend the rights of the victim in a way that is not open to counsel for the prosecution, who are primarily acting for the state. The decision last week to drop all sexual assault charges against NRL footballer Jack de Belin and his friend Callan Sinclair after two gruelling trials resulted in hung juries focused further attention on these issues. Sexual offences remain grossly under-reported and only a small number of reported cases proceed to trial because the offences are deemed unlikely to meet the criminal threshold of responsibility. Few trials lead to convictions. Where cases do proceed, victim experiences are often negative and traumatic. The victim support sector and womens specialist and legal services strongly support the introduction of victim lawyers. Our separate research has found that victim lawyers could enhance victims procedural justice experiences, and afford them the respect, dignity and courtesy to which they are entitled. However, objections hinge on concerns about the potential impact this might have on the traditional functioning of the adversarial system, including on an accused persons right to a fair trial. While the introduction of victim lawyers in adversarial systems might appear to be a radical approach, their use is increasingly being employed in Australian states and territories. For example, in Queensland and NSW, sexual assault victims can have a lawyer when challenging defence applications for the disclosure of their counselling notes and other confidential therapeutic records. In South Australia, the Commissioner for Victims Rights may appoint counsel to assist victims during criminal proceedings or intervene in cases where victims privacy may become compromised. In one example, the commissioner intervened in a defence request for access to a laptop hard drive. This belonged to the victim of a sexual offence and was used by the perpetrator to show the victim pornographic videos during the assault. The commissioner, through legal counsel, objected to the defence application for access to the victims hard drive, arguing that international and domestic law affords people the right to privacy. Rather than sharing all of the hard-drive data with the defence, the court ordered that the prosecution only pass on saved material for the 24-hour period before and after the offence. The ability for the commissioner to provide the victim with a lawyer, in this case, limited the disclosure of the victims digital records and communications and protected them from potentially intrusive defence questioning at trial. Many non-adversarial criminal justice systems afford victims of sexual offences the right to access a lawyer. For example, in Denmark victims can obtain lawyers when reporting an alleged offence and attending subsequent police interviews. The lawyer is also present when the victim testifies at trial and can object to improper questioning. Victims of sexual offences in Sweden also have their own state-funded lawyer, who can be present from the police reporting stage. Research has found that the presence of a victims lawyer can enhance the treatment afforded to victims and the likelihood of cases proceeding to trial. In the German inquisitorial system, victims of sexual offences can access state-funded lawyers for protection and support throughout the entire trial. Senior official urges Chinese scientists to advance sci-tech Xinhua) 10:59, May 30, 2021 Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, addresses the third session of the 10th national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 29, 2021. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- A senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Saturday urged Chinese scientists to become the pioneers of sci-tech self-reliance and self-strengthening. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks while addressing the third session of the 10th national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST). Earlier on Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a speech at a meeting conflating the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the national congress of the CAST. Wang called on Chinese scientists to study and carry out Xi's speech focusing on building China into a leader in science and technology and achieving sci-tech self-reliance and self-strengthening at higher levels. Wang said the CAST made achievements in promoting innovation-driven development, improving the scientific quality of Chinese people, and deepening its own reform. He hoped that Chinese scientists could do an in-depth study on Xi's important exposition on sci-tech innovation and aim for global sci-tech frontiers. He also hoped that these scientists would serve the main economic battlefields, strive to fulfill the significant needs of the country, and benefit people's lives and health. Wang encouraged scientists to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields and contribute to the new journey of building a modern socialist country comprehensively. (Web editor: He Zhuoyan, Bianji) BJP sources said Rajendar first met BJP leader and former chairman of Telangana Legislative Council Swamy Goud and requested the latter for support. (Photo: Facebook @Eatala Rajendar) HYDERABAD: Former minister and Huzurabad MLA Etala Rajendar left for Delhi on Sunday, along with former MP Vivek Venkataswamy and former MLA Enugu Ravinder Reddy. Speculations were thick on social media for the entire week about a likelihood of the sidelined TRS MLA joining the BJP after discussions with top national leaders of the party. The Delhi trip of Rajendar added to this buzz. Rajendar and Vivek Venkatswamy would meet BJP president J.P Nadda and discuss chances of the ousted health minister joining the ruling party at the Centre, some BJP leaders said here this evening. Close associates of state BJP president Bandi Sanjay and Union minister of state for home G. Kishan Reddy said these two leaders would also fly to Delhi on Monday morning to meet Nadda and discuss the Rajendars entry into the party. Rajendar was sacked by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao from his Cabinet in the beginning of May. Two inquiries are going on against him about alleged land grabs. Rajendar subsequently met several Congress and BJP leaders apart from former MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy and Telangana Jana Samiti president Prof. M. Kodandaram in hectic parleys about his future plans. BJP sources said Rajendar first met BJP leader and former chairman of Telangana Legislative Council Swamy Goud and requested the latter for support. Goud arranged a meeting with BJP state president Sanjay and invited him to join hands for a fight against Chandrashekar Rao. As per the BJP sources, Rajendar wants to meet all retired employees who played a key role in the Telangana statehood movement as he prepares to take on Chandrashekar Rao. The BJP is also trying to contact other dissatisfied TRS leaders who were feeling suffocated in the party and this job has been assigned to Rajendar to take matters forward. Once Rajendar joins the BJP, several former MLAs and senior leaders from the TRS might want to follow him. An intriguing Melbourne-versus-Sydney legal fight is playing out between HWL Ebsworth Lawyers managing partner Juan Martinez and former partner Greg Lewis. Lewis has taken legal action against his former law firm over a failed 2020 stockmarket float. He claims he was unfairly shut out from the planned float and later expelled from the firm. As managing partner, Martinez resides in Melbourne, where the firms administrative headquarters are based, while Lewis worked in the Sydney office, where the majority of the firms partners are based. But Martinez wants the case to move from the NSW Supreme Court to the Victorian Supreme Court because Victorian legislation was most relevant to the partnership laws and most of the relevant records were in the firms administrative centre in Melbourne. Martinez also argued, according to Justice Guy Parker, that to allow the proceedings to continue in Sydney would impose a significant burden on him. The suggestion was that Mr Martinez, and possibly others in the Melbourne administration of the firm, will need to travel to Sydney. Malcolm Turnbulls willingness to bag the Liberals and the Coalition has caused no end of frustration - and indignation - in the party he used to lead. But his campaigning in support of independent Kirsty OConnell in the recent Upper Hunter byelection has stretched the relationship to breaking point - in some wings of the party at least. Malcolm Turnbull. Credit:John Shakespeare Members of Sydneys Artarmon branch are calling for his expulsion and have drafted a motion which is set to be added to the agenda ahead of the partys next state council. Drafted by branch member Edwin Nelson, the motion calls for the party to turf Turnbull for his efforts campaigning against the Coalition in the Upper Hunter, where he owns a farm. Had the Coalition lost the seat the NSW Berejiklian government would have fallen [further] into a minority government, Nelsons motion states. It is unacceptable for any member of the division to aid independent candidates who are running against endorsed Liberal Party or National Party candidates in Federal or State elections. The motion must first be voted on by the Artarmon branch. Once added to the agenda at state council, it would need to be supported by more than two-thirds of the partys delegates to take effect. But senior party sources say its unlikely to achieve that level of support. The fresh outbreak in aged care emerged on Sunday after a staff member at Arcare Maidstone, aged in her 50s, tested positive. Hers is a mystery case with no known connections to the other existing infections from the outbreak that has plunged Victoria into lockdown and grew to 45 cases on Monday morning. Arcare aged care facility in Maidstone. Credit:Scott McNaughton Arcare residents are self-isolating as were people who live at BlueCross Western Gardens in Sunshine and the Royal Freemasons centres in Melbourne and Footscray, after staff also worked at the Maidstone home. The Footscray facility returned to normal operations on Monday afternoon after the staff member who had worked there and at the Arcare centre returned a negative coronavirus test. Loading On Monday evening management of Jewish Cares Gary Smorgon House in Caulfield announced that it would be putting residents into isolation after a staff member also worked at another home where a worker tested positive. Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said three of Mondays newest cases relate to outbreaks in the private residential aged care sector. The first is the son of the staff member at Maidstone. He does not work at the facility. The second is a staff member at the same facility who worked alongside the initial case. She was not vaccinated and also worked at another aged care facility, the Bluecross Sunshine aged care centre. That facility is now in lockdown. The third case is a woman in her 90s who is a resident at the Arcare Maidstone facility in the unit where the positive staff member worked. She was inoculated and is asymptomatic and has been taken to hospital. The fact this outbreak has crept into a number of private residential aged care facilities is obviously a very great concern, Mr Foley said. Aged Care Services Minister Richard Colbeck said the federal government had now started funding providers across Melbourne so workers could only work at one site. The funding for homes to pay staff who ended up out-of-pocket would continue for two weeks and could be extended, he said. Providers are asked to ... ensure staff are only working at one residential aged care facility during this time, Mr Colbeck said. Lockdown restrictions currently in place in Victoria say that where practicable, care facility workers should be limited to working at one facility. After five months of single-site regulations, the federal government dropped the requirement in November because it did not believe there should be rules in place banning casual staff in aged care from accessing work wherever they could find employment. Victorias Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton looks on as acting Premier James Merlino speaks to the media on Monday. Credit:Getty This Single Site Funding Support was also implemented in homes in Brighton, Doveton, Glen Waverley, McKinnon, Mordialloc and Moorabbin in January, and for five days in February. Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said it was massively risky to have staff working across multiple aged care facilities and it should be minimised as much as possible. The question as to how it is effectively enforced, supported financially or otherwise in terms of policy, is a question for the Commonwealth, Professor Sutton said. Acting Premier James Merlino stressed that private aged care was the responsibility of the federal government and pointed out that workers in the public sector were not allowed to work across multiple sites. We have been able to have 100 per cent of aged care workers [in public aged care homes] in metropolitan Melbourne who are not working across multiple sites, he said. Lisa Fitzpatrick, state secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, said the single-site working rule for staff had been maintained in all publicly run aged care homes in Victoria. The Commonwealth, because it involved providing funding to private providers, they took their eye off the ball, didnt provide the funding, and single-site employment wasnt an ongoing requirement in the private sector, Ms Fitzpatrick said. The reality of working in private aged care across the country is that full-time employment is rarely gained because providers insist on offering short shifts at peak activity times only, Ms Fitzpatrick said. Its why our nurses and carers are forced to work across multiple sites if they want full-time work. One of the senior doctors involved in last years response to the deadly aged care outbreaks in Victoria, Associate Professor Michael Murray, said funding to assist aged care staff to work at a single site needed to continue until at least the end of the year or when there were high rates of community vaccination. People work across multiple facilities because they need to eat and live, said Associate Professor Murray, the former geriatrician lead of the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre. If you gave them an alternative in this still low-paid sector, Im quite confident that they would choose not to, but if you dont give them an alternative or you withdraw the funding more fool us. Theyre at more risk than probably any other group in terms of being infected, and theyve got the least choices. Sean Rooney, chief executive of Leading Age Services Australia, encouraged aged care workers to not work at more than one home. A worker at the Blue Cross Western Gardens facility in Sunshine on Monday. Credit:Eddie Jim Well do anything we can to encourage workers not to work across multiple sites, Mr Rooney said. The sector is complying with all requirements stipulated by the Department of Health with regards to single site worker arrangements. The infection of the staff member of the Arcare home in Maidstone came even though she had been given her first vaccine shot on May 12. On Sunday Mr Hunt said 53 of the 76 residents at the Arcare home had agreed to be vaccinated and would receive their second doses on Monday. Florence and Graham Hansen, are both residents at Arcare Maidstone. Barbara Hansens parents, Florence and Graham, are both residents at Arcare Maidstone. Ms Hansen told The Age they first were alerted to the outbreak by a call from the centre at 10.30 on Saturday night. Loading Her parents have been at the facility for three years. Its a really well-run facility, obviously this is not quite what we wanted to hear, she said. Her parents had received a dose of the Pfizer before the lockdown and received their second dose on Monday. In a letter sent out on Sunday, BlueCross chief executive Robert Putamorsi said testing of staff at their Western Gardens facility revealed a staff member, who was a close contact of a care worker who tested positive while working at a different aged care facility, had COVID-19. Mr Putamorsi said 76 per cent of residents have received their first vaccine dose. So, Ive joined with leaders in the community sector in calling on the Labor government to implement a radical change to the way it seeks to support vulnerable families. We must reorient the current crisis-driven approach towards prevention. It has recently been reported by The Age that Victorias most at-risk children those known to child protection services are being failed. Last year no fewer than 65 died . Thats an increase of 150 per cent since 2018. Research shows the number of kids in care will almost double in five years. As a former foster care baby who had a wonderful kinder experience, I know early childhood education is absolutely critical for vulnerable kids. For vulnerable kids, engagement in kinder means learning that otherwise would not occur, at a time when their brains are developing at the fastest rate. It also means expert professionals our kindergarten teachers and other staff are there to support them. Yet in Victoria, shockingly few children known to child protection attend kinder. Bizarrely, the state government collects no data on the number of vulnerable kids who attend mainstream kinder. This is even though our states last major inquiry into at-risk children, the Protecting Victorias Vulnerable Children inquiry, said such data was essential. Experts in agencies that work with children known to child protection estimate that somewhere between 20 and 30 per cent go to kinder. The most recent figures for the specific kinder program for vulnerable kids, Early Start, show only 36 per cent of children known to child protection have ever attended. To put this into context, more than 90 per cent of all Victorian kids attend kindergarten. This massive discrepancy is unacceptable. And, according to new statistics published last week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, its getting worse. Loading The CTBTO is the organisation charged with policing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1996 and seeks to ban all nuclear tests. But the treaty is not legally binding because eight countries have held off on ratifying it: the US, China, North Korea, India, Pakistan, Iran, Israel and Egypt. Floyd concedes it is unlikely that he will convince all eight countries to ratify the treaty, but he is going to try to get some of them across the line before his four-year term is up. If you think about India and Pakistan, or US and China, none of them are going to move unless the other one moves. Or even Iran and Israel. So you have lots of dependencies there, he says. Its a very tricky dance to see the circumstances to be such that a number of these would start to ratify the treaty. But its an opening conversation that I want to be continuing with those various states. But convincing nations to comply with the treaty is not the only job of the organisation. The CTBTO has an arsenal of more than 300 monitoring stations that can pick up seismic vibrations or radioactive particles in the air, ocean or atmosphere. Floyd says this allows it to detect a nuclear explosion anywhere, anytime. That network produces data that no country can have by themselves. So everyone sees value in the treaty, he says. I think thats one of the reasons why a treaty that is 25 years old and not yet entered into force has got really strong support because theres value in it for every country. The interesting thing is that although its not legally binding, many of the great powers have agreed to a self-imposed moratorium on testing. So the only breach to nuclear testing in recent times has been North Korea. None of the others have been doing nuclear explosions for weapons development. Loading Floyd says it was important to note that the Pacific - including Australia, French Polynesia and Marshall Islands has been the site of various nuclear tests in the past. And to me its a solemn honour to be the first head of the CTBTO coming from this part of the world. Nuclear disarmament is a complex field, and there are no easy answers. Many academics and national security experts argue that a world without nuclear weapons would be less stable as they actually act as a deterrent to countries fighting each other because nuclear weapons deter conventional war. In fact, no nuclear state has ever gone to war with another nuclear state. Asked how he grappled with these questions, Floyd says there are a variety of views around strategic stability and the role of nuclear weapons. Is the holding of weapons by a few a better and more stable world? I think that we would broadly be much better off if nobody had nuclear weapons, because is there really stability where its only a few that are holding these weapons? But I know there are scholars and other proponents who hold diverse positions. My desire and goal would be to see a world without nuclear weapons. If that was possible and we were able to move towards that then that would be removing one existential threat to life on this planet. Unlike other nuclear treaties, the CTBT is not about nuclear getting states to rid themselves of nuclear weapons; it is focused on convincing them not to test them. In that sense, it very much deals with the world as it is. Floyd says he always tried to work in the current reality, always towards some visionary outcome. I would prefer to face the challenges in this world and this life with optimism towards making a difference wherever possible for the world to be a better place as a result of my being in it and my efforts, in whatever humble way that may be, Floyd says. A major advertising campaign by ad agency BMF will be launched in July to encourage under 40s to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The campaign, which is yet to be finalised, will run across social media as well as traditional media and shopping malls, and include celebrities, jokes and songs to emotionally entice younger Australians to get a jab. Australias fact-based COVID vaccination ad has faced criticism. Credit:YouTube The governments current COVID-19 vaccination campaign, launched six months ago, has come under fire for being boring, unemotional and unconvincing. There is a danger in an advertising campaign being run too slowly or piecemeal, says research fellow Jessica Kaufman of the Vaccine Uptake Group at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute. We need to get everyone on board now. Younger groups have an enormous influence on their friends and family. Moscow: MAMA was the only message that 23-year-old Russian student Sofia Sapega managed to get to her mother last Sunday before contact was lost for good after her Ryanair jet was forced to land in Minsk, escorted by a fighter jet. Several hours after the text arrived, Sapega was in a Belarusian KGB jail, detained with her boyfriend in a brazen capture that has stunned the world. Her principal crime appears to have been travelling with Raman Pratasevich, a 26-year-old dissident blogger accused of helping organise massive pro-democracy protests in Belarus last year. Sofia Sapega had only been dating Raman Pratasevich for six months. We thought that Raman might be in trouble, Ms Sapegas stepfather Sergei Dudich said. But to think that Sofia would be in trouble, too... When she was detained, we assumed they were holding her as Ramans girlfriend and that shed be out soon. Then came the confession. Toronto: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked that flags at all federal buildings be flown at half-staff to honour more than 200 children whose remains have been found buried at what had been Canadas largest indigenous residential school. The Peace Tower flag on Parliament Hill in the nations capital of Ottawa was among those lowered to half-staff on Sunday (Monday AEST). Shoes line the edge of the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill in memory of the 215 children whose remains were found. Credit:AP To honour the 215 children whose lives were taken at the former Kamloops residential school and all indigenous children who never made it home, the survivors, and their families, I have asked that the Peace Tower and all federal buildings be flown at half-mast, Trudeau tweeted. The Kamloops Indian Residential School was one of the institutions that held children taken from families across the nation. is planning to cash in on the "demand of Indian model" in global markets as it looks to boost exports to developed markets, including Japan and New Zealand, according to a top company official. While the company's exports had dipped last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is looking to increase shipments this year as most of the international markets where it sells its products have recovered. "If you look at all the world, the demand for Indian models is increasing drastically. So, we have to catch up with such kind of demand as soon as possible. So, we are very positive about our future exports plan," Pvt Ltd (SMIPL) Company Head Satoshi Uchida told PTI. He said the company is currently focussing on markets in Latin America, Japan, South East Asia and neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. On the prospects of the company's exports picking up again, Uchida said, "Because of COVId-19, outside India also suffered. So, we had reduced our exports last year. This year some countries have already started recovering. So, we hope we can increase our export sales". In 2020-21, SMIPL's exports were down 33.09 per cent at 70,369 units as compared to 1,05,164 units in 2019-20. Elaborating on the company's exports, SMIPL Vice-President, Sales, Marketing and After Sales, Devashish Handa said, "We are very bullish on exports. Throughout the last year, our order book was far exceeding what we could supply. That situation continues even now". However, he said, in March and April, the situation had improved. This month because of the oxygen-led disruptions in the supply chain, he said, "Everybody will make less. So, this month may be an aberration, but next month onwards, we expect a similar situation to come about again". Stating that the company is hoping to cross the one lakh unit exports mark again, Handa said, "Now, we are increasingly exporting to some newer and developed markets such as Japan, New Zealand and South Africa". The company's main markets continue to be Bangladesh in South Asia, Colombia and Mexico in Latin America. Asked if there are plans to export to Africa, Uchida said, "In the case of the African market, we need a little bit more time. We are focussing on big premium products ...Africa is still a commuting market. We don't have a commuting model right now. So, we have to focus on premium customers". He, however, said the company "cannot forecast so many premium customers" in Africa at present, but "we have to prepare for the future African market". (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The venerable novelist Salman Rushdies new essay collection, Languages of Truth, has big ambitions. As its subtitle suggests, it aims to tackle this still-young centurys political and cultural upheaval. Mr Rushdie spreads his arms wide here, embracing everything from the novels of Philip Roth to the death of to the art of Kara Walker, in an attempt to convey a sense of the challenges that those 18 years have presented to Western literary culture. But in trying to get his arms around so much so indiscriminately, Mr Rushdie serves up a confused vision of this century, presenting a self-absorbed and exhausted thinker whose eye has been tracking yesterdays concerns. Mr Rushdie, of course, charted a course as a political thinker in the early and mid-aughts, wielding the intellectual and moral authority thatd accrued to him after the infamous controversy in 1989, when Irans Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini called for Mr Rushdies murder following the publication of The Satanic Verses, partly inspired by the life of the Prophet Muhammad. In the wake of the September 11 attacks, the writer spoke out against radical Islam in particular and religion in general, as dogmatic frameworks that posed existentialist threats to liberal values of free speech and individuality. Thats all to say that Mr Rushdie is a novelist with very specific political investments, though you wouldnt know it from the editorial presentation of Languages of Truth. The volume arrives without a preface that might lay out a rationale for its necessity: Why this collection of essays, introductions and speeches and why now? Only a handful of the texts included have dates affixed to them, so that readers will be hard-pressed to perceive any historical or political arc at play. The tome is divided into four parts, but because these parts do not have titles, the logic of their organisation is a mere intimation. Readers are left without a roadmap through the collection, or any way of understanding Mr Rushdies intentions, turning the books eclecticism into a liability. Things do become clear once we settle into Mr Rushdies criticism, which evinces a catholic cultural appetite, equally ravenous for classic Hindu myths as it is for Samuel Becketts novels. In the opening essay, Wonder Tales as close as we get to a mission statement in this book Mr Rushdie traces the diffusion of Indian stories into Persia, the Arab world and eventually Europe, to become what we know of as The Arabian Nights. He writes: This great migration of narrative has inspired much of the worlds literature, all the way down to the magic realism of the South American fabulists, so that when I, in my turn, used some of those devices, I had the feeling of closing a circle and bringing that story tradition all the way back home to the country in which it began. This commitment to a global avant la lettre comes to the fore in the collections most coherent moments, showcasing Mr Rushdies belief that is naturally rooted in multiplicity, migration and exchange. LANGUAGES OF TRUTH: Essays 2003-2020 Author: Salman Rushdie Publisher: Penguin Price: Rs 799; Pages: 416 Unfortunately, its the most vital observation on cultural politics this volume has to offer. Elsewhere, he repeats his well-worn attacks on religious faith, objectionable not because they are offensive but because they are as blinkered and dogmatic as the theisms he wants to leave behind. Outgrowing the gods is the birth of individual and social liberty, he writes in the essay The Liberty Instinct, disregarding entire religious traditions rooted in the struggle for liberation. These essays are at their best when Mr Rushdie trains his attention on An essay on Shakespeare conveys some of the delirious joy inherent in reading Hamlet. The play is a ghost story, Mr Rushdie concedes, but not only that, because it keeps changing form, becoming, by turns, a murder story, and a political drama about intrigues at the Danish court and the threat of invasion by Fortinbras, and a psychodrama about indecision, and a revenge tragedy, and a tragic love story, and a postmodernist play about a play. Here Mr Rushdie is a reader not a terribly original one, but one whose enthusiasm and attentiveness to pleasure take centre stage. Its too bad, then, that the actual criticism of literature leaves so much to be desired. Mr Rushdie is given to easy observations that dont require keenness of thought on his part. In Wonder Tales, he erects a lazy binary to which he returns throughout the collection, one between realist fiction on the one hand and fabulist fiction on the other. In his version of literary history, realism has won out over fabulism, never mind that he goes on to cite authors like Karen Russell, Carmen Maria Machado and Helen Oyeyemi as practitioners of this tradition. The most disappointing aspect of this collection is that writers of colour and queer writers form a spectral presence in Rushdies framework. Readers will find few attempts to wrestle with the challenges that non-white writers pose to our understanding of concepts like free speech and individual liberty. The result is a book that feels limited in its political concerns, and out of touch with the most pressing questions facing contemporary literary culture in this century. Addressing the media along with her son Nithin at her Shamirpet residence on Sunday, she dared Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao to come for a discussion on who had become rich after the formation of Telangana state. (Photo: DC) HYDERABAD: Retorting strongly against the allegations of land encroachment, Etala Jamuna, wife of former minister Etala Rajender, said they had done nothing wrong in acquiring land where she has a poultry hatchery unit. Addressing the media along with her son Nithin at her Shamirpet residence on Sunday, she dared Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao to come for a discussion on who had become rich after the formation of Telangana state. She asked him to provide affidavits from 2004, adding that she was ready to discuss her properties. Turning emotional, she said she had bought 46 acres of land for a modern hatchery unit in Masaipet. As a woman, she said, she ran poultry hatcheries and employed hundreds of people. Still, false cases were filed against her instead of providing assistance. Condemning the false propaganda that 100 acres of land belonging to the poor and vulnerable had been occupied by her, Jamuna challenged the authorities stating that she was ready to face any action if she had done anything wrong. She also asked the officers to admit their mistakes and apologise to her and family. Jamuna said that in 1994, they bought lands in Devaryamjal village and set up godowns there. She recalled that the earlier governments had made several attempts to evacuate the godowns. She questioned the Chief Minister as to why he had made false allegations against her and her family. The godowns were built in accordance with all regulations in the then undivided Andhra Pradesh, she said and added that the government had forcefully vacated the godowns. She also recalled how the building of the Namaste Telangana newspaper which belongs to Chandrashekar Rao was built on the loan taken by mortgaging their lands in Devaryamjal. How then was Chandrashekar Rao now alleging that they were occupied lands. LIC's holding across 296 where its holding is more than 1 per cent, slipped to an all-time low of 3.66 per cent as on March 31, 2021, down from 3.70 per cent as on December 31, 2020 and from all-time high of 5 per cent as on June 30, 2012, as per primeinfobase.com, an initiative of PRIME Database Group. According to Pranav Haldea, Managing Director, Prime Database Group, this was on account of profit booking by India's largest institutional investor. In INR value terms though, it reached an all-time high of Rs 7.24 lakh crore in quarter ending March 31, 2021, an increase of 6.30 per cent over previous quarter. Sensex and Nifty rose by 3.70 and 5.10 per cent respectively during this period. also continues to command a lion's share of investments in equities by insurance (76 per cent share). Holding of Insurance as a whole also declined to a 5 year low of 4.80 per cent as on March 31, 2021 down from 5.00 per cent as on December 31, 2020. In INR value terms, it went up by 3.09 per cent from the previous quarter to an all time high of Rs 9.48 lakh crores as on March 31, 2021 Holding of domestic Mutual Funds in companies listed on NSE also reduced to 7.23 per cent as on March 31, 2021 down from 7.42 per cent as on December 31, 2020. According to Haldea, holding of Mutual Funds has now declined for four consecutive quarters, after 24 quarters of continuous rise (from 2.81 per cent as on March 31, 2014 to 7.96 per cent as on March 31, 2020). Net outflows by domestic Mutual Funds stood at INR 26,810 crore during the quarter, as retail investors booked profits. In INR value terms, the holding of domestic Mutual Funds went up by 4.81 per cent to Rs 14.30 lakh crore as on March 31, 2021 from INR 13.64 lakh crores on December 31, 2021. Holding of Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) stood at 22.60 per cent as on March 31, 2021, down from 22.74 per cent as on December 31, 2020, despite net inflows of Rs 55,741 crore during the quarter, according to Haldea. In INR value terms, FPI ownership also reached an all-time high of Rs 44.66 lakh crore as on March 31, 2021, up 6.77 per cent from Rs 41.83 lakh crore as on December 31, 2020. According to Haldea, retail holding (individuals with up to Rs 2 lakh shareholding) in companies listed on NSE remained the same at 6.90 per cent as on March 31, 2021. In INR value terms though, retail holding in companies listed on NSE also reached an all-time high of Rs 13.63 lakh crore from INR 12.69 lakh crore on December 31, 2020. On an overall basis, retail holding went up in 863 companies listed on NSE in the last 1 quarter. The average stock price of these companies in the same period increased by 5.52 per cent. On the other hand, retail holding went down in 713 companies. The average stock price of these companies increased by a much higher 15.57 per cent. According to Haldea, this further validates the oft-used phrase that retail buys at the peak and sells at lows. --IANS san/skp/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nearly 120 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine would be available in June for the national vaccination programme, half of which would be supplied by the centre to states free of cost, the health ministry said in a statement on Sunday. During June, the government would procure 60,960,000 doses for the inoculation of the priority group such as frontline healthcare workers and persons above 45 years of age. In addition to this 58,610,000 doses would be available with vaccine makers for direct procurement by states and private hospitals. The Health ministry said it would share the delivery schedule and allocation of doses to states in advance. The Centre has asked the states to direct the concerned officials to ensure rational and judicious use of allocated doses and minimise wastage. The basic objective behind informing the States in advance of the quantum of free vaccine doses to be made available from the Government of India for 15 or 30 days and the total vaccine doses which are available for direct procurement by states is to ensure better planning and delivery of vaccine, the health ministry said. In May the centre provided over 40 million vaccine doses to states. Another 39 million doses were procured directly either by states or private hospitals. According to the health ministry data 79,405,200 doses were available for Covid vaccination during May. A total of around 210 million doses have so far been administered as part of the Covid vaccination drive in the country. Since May 1, the highest number of doses given on a single day was on Saturday with more than 3 million people getting their jab. With more than 22 million doses administered so far, Maharashtra has taken a lead in the vaccination drive. Uttar Pradesh is next in line with over 18 million doses followed by Gujarat and Karnataka having given almost 17 million doses so far. More than 185 millions of Covishield have been given to people and around 29 million doses of Covaxin. India now also has the Russian Sputnik V available for the people and over 7,400 of its doses have been administered to beneficiaries so far. SII to supply 100 mn doses in June Serum Institute of India (SII) has informed the government that it will be able to manufacture and supply 90-100 million doses of Covishield in June as compared to its production capacity of 65 million doses in May, Prakash Kumar Singh, director of government and regulatory affairs at SII, said in a recent letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. SII said its employees had been working round the clock to produce the vaccine. Nearly 21 convicts in different jails in Uttar Pradesh have refused to take parole because they feel 'safer' inside the prison. UP DG Jails, Anand Kumar told reporters that 21 convicts in nine prisons of the state have refused parole, citing Covid scare in their districts and said that they were being treated better in the jails of the state. "We are following complete Covid protocol in the jails and taking utmost care of each prisoner," he said. Earlier this month, UP prison department had started releasing undertrials and convicts on bail and parole in compliance with the Supreme Court directives to decongest the over-crowded state jails in the wake of Covid infection during the second wave. UP prisons have so far released 10,123 under trials and convicts on bail and parole in compliance with the Supreme Court directives. As many as 8,463 under trials were released on interim bails while 1,660 convicts were given a parole of 60 days. The maximum number of 703 undertrials have been released on bail from Ghaziabad district jail, while maximum convicts (78) have been given parole from Kanpur district jail. --IANS amita/skp/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane has said that some countries have portrayed the or Quadrilateral coalition as a military alliance to raise "unsubstantiated fears" despite no concrete evidence to back their claims. Asserting that the does not intend to become a military alliance, Gen Naravane said it is meant to be a plurilateral grouping delving into issues specific to the Indo-Pacific region. The comprising India, the US, Japan and Australia has been focusing on promoting shared democratic ideologies and ensuring a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific against the backdrop of rising global concerns over China's growing assertiveness in the region. "The Quad neither intends nor attempts to be a military alliance. It is meant to be a plurilateral grouping which focuses on issues specific to the Indo-Pacific," he told PTI in an interview. "Some countries have portrayed the Quad as a military alliance to raise unsubstantiated fears despite no concrete evidence to show the same," the Army Chief added. China has been severely critical of the Quad, claiming that the grouping is aimed at containing it in the Indo-Pacific. Russia has also been criticising the Quad, saying it would be detrimental to inclusive dialogue for peace and stability in the region. Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov last month had used the term 'Asian NATO' in the context of emerging alliances in Asia that was seen as an indirect reference to Quad. The Chief of Army Staff also referred to the first Quad summit held in March that pledged to strengthen cooperation in dealing with present challenges that are not limited to military and defence cooperation but encompass all security challenges that the region faces. "The Quad believes in free and open Indo-Pacific and a number of sub-issues form the basis for its operationalisation such as health and economic impact of COVID 19, climate change, cyberspace, infrastructure development, counter-terrorism and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief," he said. Gen Naravane also elaborated on his recent comments that the Quad will not be a NATO-like alliance. "NATO's origins as a military alliance lie in the bipolar confrontational world order that existed between the end of the Second World War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union," he said, adding Quad does not aim to become a military alliance. The evolving situation in the Indo-Pacific region in the wake of China's increasing military muscle-flexing has become a major talking point among leading global powers. In the first Quad summit in March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Joe Biden, Australian PM Scott Morrison and Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga vowed to strive for an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, inclusive, healthy, anchored by democratic values, and unconstrained by coercion, in an apparent message to China. The deliberations at the Quad summit, held in the virtual format, included vaccine collaboration, climate action, emerging technologies, resilient supply chain, counter-terrorism and maritime security cooperation among others. India has always been maintaining that Quad is not aimed at any country. The foreign minister of the four countries held their first meeting under the 'Quad' framework in New York in September 2019. In November 2017, the four countries gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the Quad to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence, besides cooperating on other issues. India's approach to the Indo-Pacific was enunciated by Prime Minister Modi in his address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in 2018. Inclusiveness, openness and ASEAN centrality and unity lie at the heart of India's Indo-Pacific vision. The 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a key stakeholder in the Indo-Pacific region. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A consignment of 200,000 AmBisome (Amphotericin B injection), used in black fungus treatment reached India on early Sunday. "Another consignment of AmBisome from @GileadSciences, used in Black Fungus treatment, reaches India. Total 200,000 doses already there so far. More to follow!" tweeted Ambassador of India to United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Mucormycosis, commonly known as black fungus, has wreaked havoc across India, especially in COVID-19 patients who have been administered heavy doses of steroids to treat the infection. Many states have declared black fungus as a epidemic disease including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu and Bihar under the Epidemic Act 1897. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instructed all concerned officials to arrange the drug from anywhere in the world on a war footing. "The PM had instructed officials to get this drug from anywhere it is available in the world. Indian missions across the world have been involved in securing supplies of this drug. It has been achieved with help of Gilead Sciences in USA," the sources said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India sent a private jet to Dominica carrying documents related to the deportation of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, wanted in a Rs 13,500 crore bank loan fraud case, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne told a radio show in his country. There was, however, no immediate official confirmation from Indian authorities about it. A Qatar Airways private jet landed at the Douglas-Charles airport in Dominica, Antigua News Room reported, leading to speculations about deportation of Choksi who was detained in the Caribbean island nation after his mysterious disappearance from neighbouring Antigua and Barbuda. Browne told the radio show that the jet came from India carrying necessary documentation needed for deportation of the businessman, the media outlet reported. Publicly available data of Qatar Executive flight A7CEE shows that it left the Delhi airport at 3.44 pm on May 28 and reached Dominica at 13.16 local time on the same day, via Madrid. The Dominica High Court has stayed the removal of Choksi from its soil and put a gag order on the developments till the matter is heard in an open court on June 2. Choksi has alleged that he was abducted from Jolly Harbour in Antigua and Barbuda by policemen looking like Antiguan and Indian and taken to Dominica. Purported pictures of 62-year-old Choksi that have surfaced in Dominica shows him with red swollen eye and bruises on his hands. Choksi and his nephew are wanted for allegedly siphoning Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab Bank (PNB) using letters of undertaking. While Modi is in a London prison after being repeatedly denied bail and is contesting his extradition to India, Choksi took citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 using the Citizenship by Investment programme before fleeing India in the first week of January 2018. The scam came to light subsequently. Both are facing a CBI probe. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Saturday accused BJP MP Tejasvi Surya and his uncle Ravi Subramanya of making money through vaccines and demanded that an FIR be registered against them and they be removed as MP and MLA respectively. The BJP leaders have, however, denied the charge. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera alleged that according to an audio tape leaked through social media, Subramanya purportedly took a bribe of Rs 700 per vaccine at a private hospital in Karnataka. Surya is seen promoting the hospital in ads, he alleged. "The membership of Tejasvi Surya from the parliament should be ended immediately, we owe the people of Karnataka. The membership of Ravi Subramanya, third-time MLA from Basavanagudi, should be ended right now," he told reporters. Khera alleged that a supervisor of a private hospital clearly tells a public member that per vaccination he will have to pay Rs 900 as Rs 700 of this have to be given to Ravi Subramanya, a BJP MLA from Basavanagudi in Karnataka, who is Surya's uncle. "These are shocking, startling revelations. It is like getting caught red handed. This is a private hospital. Earlier this week, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya, who is also the national president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, had advertised his own picture along with this hospital, exhorting people to get vaccinated from this hospital," he alleged. "We want to ask Mr Prime Minister, this Tejasvi Surya is his blue-eyed boy. We demand answers, how on earth were vaccines being diverted from government hospitals to a private hospital," he asked. "There should be an FIR lodged against Surya and Subramanya, Mr Prime Minister," the Congress leader said. Citing the case of cash for questions in which members were expelled from Parliament, he said this is a case of cash for vaccines. "Tejasvi Surya's Parliament membership should be ended with immediately," he demanded, adding, "If you want to save the lives of people of Karnataka, this is hardly any sacrifice for you Mr Prime Minister. This is the least you can do. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister is on his way back from the five-day visit to the US, pinning hopes on ramping up supply of Covid-19 vaccine supply required for Indias mass inoculation programme. Apart from discussion on matters related to Security Council (UNSC), the Quad, and climate change, Jaishankar and his counterpart Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed matters on vaccine manufacturing, procurement, delivery, and how India and the US can work on it together. However, the details on vaccine partnerships are yet to be revealed. The US government promised to stand with India as it continues to fight the resurgence of the pandemic. Jaishankars visit to the US took place at a time when India was battling the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, with a near-collapsing healthcare system, and severe shortages of essential medical supplies and pharmaceutical items, including Covid-19 vaccines. India has also recorded the highest death toll since the outbreak of the pandemic. Experts said that there is a substantial scope for collaboration between India and the US towards the healthcare sector, and particularly on vaccine supplies in the current scenario. "It is crucial for India to open up tested foreign vaccines to step up the vaccination drive in the country," Arpita Mukherjee, professor at Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) said. The Centre on its part had recently announced that it is in talks with three global pharma manufacturers Pfizer, Moderna and J&J to supply vaccines in India. The US had said it will share an additional 20 million Covid-19 vaccine doses with other countries, in addition to the 60 million AstraZeneca vaccines it has already committed. Currently, 60 million doses of AstraZeneca are still undergoing the control checks by the Food and Drug Administration and will be available soon. Over the last one month, the US has been sending life saving supplies to India. The US government, companies as well as citizens have provided over $500 million towards Covid-19 relief supplies, including remdesivir, oxygen cylinders, N-95 masks, among others, to India. Together with our Quad partners Japan and Australia were continuing to identify options for cooperation in the areas of vaccine manufacturing capacity in India, as well as Covid-19 vaccine administration and delivery across the Indo-Pacific region. We continue to engage at the highest levels, including at the ministerial level conversation today, on global vaccine distribution and addressing worldwide shortages of critical inputs for vaccine production, US Acting Assistant Secretary for South Asia Dean Thompson said in a press conference after Jaishankars meeting with Blinken. Jaishankar also met UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, and business forums on economic and Covid-related cooperation between both countries. India on Sunday reported a net reduction of 114,216 in active cases to take its count to 2,114,508. Indias share of global active cases now stands at 14.80 per cent (one in 7). The country is second among the most affected countries by active cases. On Sunday, it added 165,553 cases to take its total caseload to 27,894,800. And, with 3,460 new fatalities, its Covid-19 reached 325,972, or 1.17 per cent of total confirmed infections. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor The on Monday will pronounce its judgement on Monday on a plea that sought directions to halt the ongoing work of the in Delhi because of the surge in cases. A bench headed by Chief Justice of Delhi D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh, who have been hearing a plea for suspension of construction work of the project, reserved its order after the conclusion of arguments of lawyers from both the side. The joint plea by Anya Malhotra, a translator, and Sohail Hashmi, a historian and documentary filmmaker, says the project is not an "essential activity" and thus can be put on hold during the pandemic. Here are key things to know about the The in Delhi, worth Rs 20,000 crore consists of building a new Parliament House, a new residential complex to house offices, and the Prime Minister and the Vice-President. It will also have new office buildings and a Central Secretariat to accommodate various ministries offices, reported 'Deccan Herald'. As a part of the project, three iconic buildings, the Museum, the Indira Gandhi Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), and the Archives Annexe will be demolished as a part of the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. These buildings house invaluable art, manuscripts, and other important documents which will be moved to different locations reported NDTV. The government has been criticised for pushing forth the construction work of the project amid the pandemic when cases across the country have surged. In a plea, before the Delhi High Court, the petitioners' counsel Sidharth Luthra termed the project as central fortress of death and questioned the deadline marked for the project. He said that Centre's claim on the availability of medical facilities, testing centre, and other amenities on the site were all false, reported news agency PTI. The government in a written reply has said the workers for the project were engaged well before' the imposition of curfew in Delhi and the workers are staying at the site in compliance with the Delhi governments Covid-19 guidelines, reported 'The India Express'. The West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party is witnessing a fierce battle between the partys old timers and newcomers who were inducted into its ranks shortly before the Assembly polls. Though the tension between them was palpable even before the election, it has become far worse after the BJP failed to defeat the Trinamul Congress. Those having a long association with the saffron party are particularly upset that their rightful claims have been overlooked while Suvendu Adhikari, who joined the BJP on election-eve, was appointed leader of Opposition. The old timers are also convinced that it is Mr Adhikari who is pushing the BJP to adopt an aggressive approach to the Trinamul Congress which, they believe, is suicidal coming so soon after Mamata Banerjee notched up an emphatic electoral victory. With the Narada bribery scandal back in the news following the arrest of four Trinamul leaders, the BJPs old timers in Kolkata are hoping Mr Adhikari will also be nailed as his name figures in this case. Meanwhile, they have been making discreet enquiries in Delhi about the CBIs pending request to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for his permission to investigate Mr Adhikari and BJP leader Mukul Roy in connection with this case. The delay in the reshuffle of the Union Cabinet is testing the patience of many ministerial hopefuls, who have been eagerly awaiting the all-important call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Jyotiraditya Scindia, who left the Congress last year, has been waiting the longest, for it is no secret that he was promised a Rajya Sabha seat and a ministerial berth when he joined the BJP. Then there are others who were assured they would be suitably accommodated in the government. Sushil Modi, former Bihar deputy chief minister, was expected to move to the Centre when he was denied his old post after the last Assembly election. Similarly, former chief ministers Sarbananda Sonowal and Trivendra Singh Rawat, who had to step aside in favour of their party colleagues, are also hoping to be rewarded for their sacrifice. But there is no clarity about the next Cabinet rejig. Mr Modi was earlier expected to reshuffle his ministerial team last year but the exercise was put off because of the coronavirus pandemic. It is the same story again this year as the Modi government is currently preoccupied handling the second wave of the pandemic. Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti was appointed minister for water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation during the Modi governments first term primarily because of her passion for saving and cleaning the holy river. During her tenure she even took on her Cabinet colleagues when she disagreed with the decision to proceed with the construction of new dams on the Ganga. Despite the public outcry to the spate of media stories and photographs about the unseemly sight of dead bodies of coronavirus patients being dumped in the Ganga, there has been no word from the champion of the holy river. Ms Bharti did, however, post over 30 tweets on a single day earlier this month in which she expressed full faith in the Prime Ministers leadership, was confident that he would do everything possible to save the Himalayas and Ganga and let it be known that conveyed that she is keen to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. But she was silent on the issue of the floating dead bodies. Ms Bhartis tweets are being viewed as a calling attention motion since she has been living in virtual oblivion after she was marginalised by the party. The external affairs ministry finds itself in a diplomatic fix with its neighbours as the Modi government first gifted Covishield vaccines to them in an effort to win brownie points and then abruptly stopped the supplies as it had failed to plan for India's domestic requirements. Predictably, the neighbouring countries, including Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives, are upset because they have not been able to get sufficient supplies of the vaccine for the second dose. The MEA insists there is no ban on vaccine exports but the reality is that the neighbours are not getting their full quota of vaccines. After Chhattisgarhs first chief minister Ajit Jogi passed away last May, his politician wife and son Renu and Amit Jogi find themselves at a loose end. Renu Jogi, an MLA representing the Janata Congress Chhattisgarh, the party floated by Jogi, is said to be sending feelers to the Congress, expressing her desire to support the Bhupesh Baghel government. In exchange, she is seeking a ministerial post for herself. The Congress leadership in Delhi has instead asked Renu Jogi to merge her party with the Congress. However, P.L. Punia, Congress general secretary in charge of Chhattisgarh, and chief minister Bhupesh Baghel are going all out to make sure this compromise does not go through. Mr Baghel and Jogi were locked in a prolonged battle when the latter was in the Congress. West Bengal Chief Minister has explained why she skipped a meeting scheduled with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging the central government was humiliating her. Banerjee held a press conference in Kolkata on Saturday to allege that her government is being harassed as it worked to control the pandemic. She objected to the central government transferring Alapan Bandyopadhyay, Bengals top civil servant as chief secretary, and circulating photographs of empty chairs reserved for the chief minister and her team for their meeting with Modi on Friday. Here are select quotes from her conference: Within minutes of my taking oath, the governor issued a statement of some incidents that took place when the state was under the Election Commission. You cannot digest defeat, that is why from day one you started all these actions. If the Prime Minister tells me, you touch my feet, I will help Bengal, that also I am ready to do. But please dont humiliate me like this. Dont insult me like this. Dont defame Bengal. You are not only disturbing me, but you are also disturbing my secretariat. Why are you behaving like this? We won by a landslide. Is that your worry? When we reached there, we saw that the Prime Minister was already there, we thought it our duty to meet him and submit our report. The BJP, the main Opposition party in Bengal, hit back by saying Banerjee and Bandyopadhyay had insulted the Prime Minister by not attending the meeting. BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said: She (Banerjee) is trying to show her arrogance and is indulging in petty politics. Efforts have been scaled up to bring back fugitive businessman ANI has learnt that multiple agencies are in touch with the government of Dominica on the issue which has been told that Choksi is originally an Indian citizen and had taken on new citizenship to escape the law in India after having committed a fraud of almost two billion US dollars. It is reliably gathered that India through back-channel and diplomatic route has clearly told Dominica that should be treated as a fugitive Indian citizen who has an Interpol Red Corner notice against him and he should be handed over to Indian authorities for deportation and to face the law in India for his alleged deeds which have robbed the Indian public of billions of dollars. There is no case for Choksi to deny his Indian citizenship as any other citizenship is a front to hide his alleged crimes. In fact, neighbouring Antigua has also urged Dominica to hand over Choksi to India directly. However, Dominica remains non-committal and two days back issued a statement saying that Choksi will be handed over to Antigua. Choksi enjoys full legal protection in Antigua and it will be time consuming to extradite Choksi to India from there. Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne has told ANI in an interview that Choksi will not be allowed to enter back in Antigua for where Choksi fled and illegally sneaked into Dominica and was caught. Domestic politics of Antigua and the commonwealth of Dominica has also come into play, according to local media reports. The opposition parties in Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica are making full attempts to grab political mileage by supporting the Indian fugitive in return for campaign financing. According to a report published on website of WIC news, "It was alleged that the opposition leader of UPP, Jamale Pringle had an under-table meeting with the family of fugitive and has made a special unofficial funding agreement with them to raise the voice of Choksi in the parliament." "Whether it is the United Progressive Party (UPP) of Antigua and Barbuda or the United Workers Party (UWP) of Dominica, the two are on the race track to win a spot to back Mehul Choksi as they aspire to receive his support in their future political endeavours, these claims are made by some Caribbean political strategists with years of experience in the region," said the local media reports. The political and money power of Choksi likely to be on display on June 2 when his hearing comes up. He had hired a crack team of lawyers and is building local political support, say informed sources. However, a lot will depend on back-channel pressure along with Interpol's pressure for Choksi to be handed over to India. A Dominican court has extended till June 2 its order restraining the extradition of Choksi from Dominica. The High Court will also hear the Indian fugitive's habeas corpus plea on that date. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When the pandemic struck in early 2020 upending lives, celebrity chef and philanthropist Sanjeev Kapoor along with this team decided to extend support to the healthcare professionals who were overwhelmed by the outbreak of the pandemic, by offering them freshly cooked delicious But as the word spread and demand for the grew with many more hospitals requesting for it, Kapoor realised he needed a partner who can help in scaling up the initiative. I rang up Puneet Chhatwal (MD and CEO at Indian Hotels Co Ltd) whom I have known for many years and he immediately consented for the noble cause, Kapoor told Business Standard. And the rest was history. When IHCL came on board the initiative took off on a much larger scale. IHCL brought Tata Trusts and many other donors into the picture to reach out to many more people. Kapoor together with TajSATS, IHCLs airline catering brand, offered to over 3 million healthcare workers, all through the first wave of the pandemic. The company had first begun the MealsToSmiles initiative on May 23, 2020 and stretched over five months of lockdown. This year, when the second wave struck, IHCL and Kapoor restarted the initiative. On Friday IHCL and Kapoor had a special visitor, all the way from Washington---Chef Jose Andres, Founder of World Central Kitchen a global non-profit organisation based out of Washington D.C. When I told Jose Andres who is a friend that we want to extend the meals to other cities, he brought in WCK. Even before I could say anything, he hopped on to a flight and landed in Mumbai, said Kapoor. Kapoor and WCK have partnered with (IHCL) for its MealsToSmiles initiative. Andres was in Mumbai during the weekend to visit the TajSATS kitchen. Along with Manish Gupta, Chief Executive Officer TajSATS he joined the TajSATS team in the kitchen to assist in preparing the nutritious meal boxes, and delivering them to healthcare workers at the hospitals. WCKs vision to use food to empower communities and strengthen economies has positively impacted millions of lives across the globe to date, said Andres adding that he was humbled to be able to play a small role in Indias battle against the pandemic with the support of his partners in India IHCL and Kapoor. As on Sunday, IHCL has delivered over 475,000 meals to healthcare providers at 32 hospitals in eight cities across eight states including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, New Delhi and Varanasi to date. We are now looking to get into tier two cities and looking to scale this up in a big way, said TajSATs Gupta adding that a wide network of IHCL hotel brands including Taj and Ginger has helped in executing the massive exercise. TajSats manpower and the resources to hygienically cook and pack a huge number of meals every day came in handy. These meals are being delivered through the Taj Public Service Welfare Trust (TPSWT) and TajSATS an IHCL company and Indias market leader in airline catering, in partnership with brands and individuals across the globe. Asserting that India is fighting Covid-19 with all its might, Prime Minister on Sunday spoke to a number of people ranging from those engaged in transporting medical oxygen to lab technician, and said the country's resolve to prevail over the virus is equal to the magnitude of the challenge it faces. In his monthly broadcast, Modi noted that the country was also faced with several natural disasters, including cyclones, landslide and earthquakes, during the pandemic, and said more lives were saved than the past with the Centre, states and local administration coming together to carry out relief and rescue operations. With the demand for medical oxygen rising exponentially during the recent surge in COVID-19 cases and many states and hospitals complaining of its shortage, the prime minister said the production of the liquid medical oxygen (LMO) has risen by over 10 times to nearly 9,500 MT daily from 900 MT earlier. "The demand for oxygen surged all of a sudden. This was a very big challenge, and delivering medical oxygen to remote parts of the country was indeed a huge task, he said, noting that many plants manufacturing industrial oxygen were located in the eastern parts of the country and lauded those, including cryogenic tanker drivers, the oxygen express (train) crew and Air Force pilots, involved in its transportation. In his address, he also praised farmers for generating record produce, and said the agricultural sector protected itself from the adverse effects of the pandemic to a great extent. The farmers produced record output and the government procured a record amount of crops as well, he said, adding that farmers at several places got more than the minimum support price (MSP) for mustard. Speaking of the arrangements his government made to allow farmers to transport their produce to different markets, Modi said Kisan Rail has so far ferried nearly 2 lakh tonnes of produce. Now the farmers are able to send fruits, vegetables, grains to other remote parts of the country at a very low cost, he added. Some products are being sent abroad as well, he said and mentioned that jackfruits from Tripura are now being exported to London and so is Bihar's Shahi Litchi. In his conversation with people involved in transporting oxygen, Modi spoke to Dinesh Upadhyay, who drive oxygen tankers, Shirisha Gajni, a loco pilot of an all-woman crew oxygen express, and Group Captain Patnaik from the Air Force and lauded their service to the nation. Noting that there was only one testing lab in the country initially but today more than 2,500 labs are in operation, Modi said more than 20 lakh tests are being carried out in a single day now with over 33 crore samples having been tested in the country so far. The prime minister than spoke to lab technician Prakash Kandpal who shared his experience. Modi also asked people to continue to adhere to rules related to wearing masks and taking vaccines, saying there should be no letup in our efforts. This indeed is the path to our victory, he said. Prime Minister on Sunday hailed woman loco pilot Sireesha Gajini of the South Western Railway (SWR) for also steering the Oxygen Express ferrying the life-saving gas from Jharkhand's Jamshedpur to Bengaluru on May 21. Interacting with Gajini, of Karnataka, in his monthly "Mann ki Baat" radio programme, Modi told her that all mothers and sisters would be proud to hear that one Oxygen Express was being run by an all-women crew. "Every woman of the country will be proud of you. Not only they, every Indian will feel proud of you," he told Gajini during his two minute chat with her. "Sireesha ji, you are doing an outstanding job. Many women like you came forward during the coronavirus pandemic and gave the nation the strength to find against the disease. You are also a great example of naari shakti (woman power)," he added. Gajini told Modi in English that she worked with great pleasure when she piloted the Oxygen Express. "I happily worked for this mission. For delivering the oxygen, everything is checked, including safety, formation, leakage," she said. Gajini, 33, and her co-pilots N.P. Aparna and Neelam Kumari, drove the train, carrying 120 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen in six cryogenic containers, at 100 kmph from Tamil Nadu's Jolarpettai to Whitefield station in Bengaluru, covering 125 km in 90 minutes. "The women pilot crew took over the train's electric engine when their turn came at Jolarpettai and piloted it for 125 km to Bengaluru. They forayed into a domain, considered as a male reserve for long," a railway official told IANS. Thanking the Prime Minister for calling her, Gajini said the Railways has been always supportive. Asked from where she got the inspiration to become a loco pilot in the railways, she said: "My parents are my inspiration. My father encouraged me and my two sisters to study well and supported us in our professional careers." An engineering graduate, Gajini joined the zonal railway as a local pilot in April 2013 after a year stint in a software firm here. --IANS fb/vd (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India is fighting Covid-19 "with all its might" by using its military and civil resources, said Prime Minister on Sunday, claiming the countrys medical oxygen crisis was ending. "Before the pandemic, India's daily production of liquid medical oxygen was 900 MT. This has gone up by more than 10 times to nearly 9,500 MT per day," said Modi on his monthly radio show 'Mann Ki Baat' coinciding with seven years of his government. Initially, a few hundred tests (for Covid-19) could be done in a day, now more than 20 lakh Covid tests are being conducted in a day. Till now, more than 33 crore samples have been tested in the country. India reported on Sunday 1,65,553 new infections during the previous 24 hours, its lowest daily rise in 46 days, while deaths rose by 3,460. The countrys tally of infections now stands at 27.8 million, with the death toll at 3,25,972, health ministry data showed. Days after he was found and later arrested in Dominica, the first pictures of India-born fugitive diamantaire surfaced on Saturday showing him sustaining several injuries. The pictures, supplied by the AntiguaNewsRoom, is showing him sustaining several injuries on his hands and the left eye which appeared bruised and swollen. Posting the picture, the AniguaNewsRoom tweeted, "First pictures emerge of behind bars." In an interview with ANI on May 28, Choksi's Dominica-based lawyer Wayne Marsh had said that my client was abducted from Antigua on Sunday (May 23) and beaten up. "I noticed that he was severely beaten, his eyes were swollen and had several burnt marks on his body (apparently burnt by some electronic device). He reported to me that he was abducted at Jolly Harbour in Antigua and brought to Dominica by persons whom he believed to be Indian and Antiguan police on a vessel he described to be about 60-70 feet in length," Marsh told ANI Earlier, after taking note of submissions made in the Choksi's habeas corpus petition, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court restrained Dominican authorities from removing the fugitive diamantaire from the Commonwealth of Dominica until a further hearing in the matter which is scheduled on June 2. Also, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, superior court for eastern Caribbean states including Commonwealth of Dominica, on Friday put a stay on his repatriation from Dominica. A massive manhunt was launched after Choksi went missing and an Interpol Notice was issued by Antigua and Barbuda. He was traced and captured in Dominica on May 25. and his nephew are wanted in India for allegedly siphoning off Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab Bank (PNB) using letters of undertaking. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader on Saturday hit out at the government, saying ministers of different departments are compelled to speak out on any subject just to save the "false image" of Prime Minister "For the sake of PM's false image, any minister of any department is compelled to speak anything on any subject," he said in a tweet in Hindi. His remarks came a day after Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar attacked Gandhi for his choice of words like "nautanki" for the prime minister when Modi was working to curb COVID and alleged that it was part of the toolkit's script. Javadekar also asserted that COVID-19 vaccination will be complete in India by December this year, after slammed the government's efforts on the drive in the midst of a vaccine shortage. Congress leader P Chidambaram also hit out at the government asking, "Better unravel the mystery of the missing vaccines now before public anger over shortage of vaccines pours into the streets." He said state governments are not able to get supplies from any manufacturer -- domestic or foreign. "So, from where do the corporates expect to get their supplies? "The proper thing to do is direct a CAG driven full-scope audit of capacity, production, despatch, supply and customers' lists of the two domestic manufacturers," he said on Twitter. He also asked the corporates to tell from where they will get the supplies of vaccines. "The mystery of the 'missing vaccines' is deepening every day," he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister will on Sunday broadcast his monthly radio show 'Mann Ki Baat', coinciding with seven years of his government. Modi is likely to use the 77th edition of the show to speak about the pandemic, responding to feedback he had sought from the public. Business Standard reported on May 25 the show got more than 7,000 submissions, with many citizens expressing anguish over weak healthcare infrastructure and slow vaccination. Modi, in his previous show on April 25, had said the second wave of Covid-19 is testing people's patience and their capacity to endure pain. That Sunday he spoke to doctors, nurses and frontline workers, who shared their experience and views on the disease, and expressed confidence that people will soon come out of this crisis. Many of our near and dear ones have left us untimely. After successfully confronting the first wave of Corona, the country was full of enthusiasm, full of self-confidence, but this storm has shaken the country," he said. India reported on Saturday 173,790 new infections during the previous 24 hours, its lowest daily rise in 45 days, while deaths rose by 3,617. The countrys tally of infections now stands at 27.7 million, with the death toll at 322,512, health ministry data showed. 'Mann Ki Baat' broadcasts on state-run All India Radio (AIR) on the last Sunday of a month. It streams live on Modi's and his offices YouTube channels. student Natasha Narwal surrendered at on Sunday three weeks after she was granted bail to perform the last rites of her father who succumbed to COVID-19, officials said. A senior jail official said that Narwal returned to jail on Sunday. She will be isolated for the next two weeks and her health will be monitored. Thereafter, she will join other inmates, they said. The Delhi High Court had granted bail for a period of three weeks to Narwal, a Pinjra Tod activist who was arrested last year in May in connection with the communal riots in north-east Delhi. Pinjra Tod (Break the Cage) was founded in 2015 to make hostels and paying guest accommodations less restrictive for women students. The Delhi Police's Special Cell in May last year arrested Narwal and booked her under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for alleged conspiracy in the northeast Delhi riots in February. Communal clashes had broken out in northeast Delhi on February 24 after violence between citizenship law supporters and protesters spiralled out of control, leaving at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gunahgar samjhe ki duniya tujhe, bas inti bhi zyada safai na de: The world will conclude that you are guilty, if you give so many explanations to show your innocence. This simple couplet came to my mind while reading the press release issued by PIB on May 27, titled, Myths and Facts on Indias Vaccination Process. The governments adamancy in winning the publicity war even when the case is indefensible leads responsible technocrats, like Dr Vinod Paul, member (health) and chair of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid 19 (NEGVAC), to author such press releases. Dr Paul lists out seven myths regarding the critique of the governments vaccination policy, and bravely sets out to give the correct facts. In doing so he ends up only further revealing how highly incompetent the government has been on this front. Let us take up the seven points raised by Dr Paul. The first is that the Centre is not doing enough to buy vaccines from abroad. His defence is that buying vaccines internationally is not similar to buying off the shelf items, and that vaccines are in limited supply globally. Thank you very much Dr Paul for educating us on these simplicities, but the question is, given these obvious constraints, could not have the government done better? The answer is an emphatic yes. With the same constraints, the United States has purchased enough vaccines to inoculate its population three times over, the EU countries have done much the same, Canada has bought five times of what it needs, and Japan four times. These countries had foresight. They were proactive in anticipating the needs of their population. The US even went to the extent of booking orders with pharmaceutical companies even when the trials were still on. Even now, the extra stocks with these countries are available for bulk purchase. Contrast our record. We gave away from what precious little we had, and did not aggressively buy in time for our own needs. Myth two is that the government has not approved vaccines available globally. Dr Pauls defence is that no application of any foreign manufacturer for approval is pending with the drugs controller. This, in fact, is the real lament. Why did the government not move fast enough with foreign vaccine manufacturers well in time so that by now applications would have been cleared or were pending, and production was on the anvil? To say, in a bureaucratic way, that nothing is pending with us, is no defence for the absence of proactively seeking out such collaborations before the second wave was upon us. Myth three is that the Centre is not doing enough to ramp up domestic production of vaccines. This myth is so much a fact that it barely needs rebuttal. It is now in the public domain how Serum Institute of India (SII) sought financial assistance from the government to ramp up production, but that this vital input was not provided till as late as April 2021, when we were in the throes of the second wave. Nor was Bharat Biotech, the producers of Covaxin, encouraged to expand production through adequate funding, and nor was the IPR of their vaccine shared with other indigenous pharma companies to boost total output. All such efforts are being made only now, after the mayhem and suffering we have witnessed during the second wave. Competent governments work in advance, not in hindsight. Myth four is that the Centre should invoke compulsory licensing. Dr Paul says that this is not a very attractive option since it is not a formula that matters, but active partnership, training of human resources, sourcing of raw materials and highest levels of bio-safety labs which is required. True, but everybody knows that. The real challenge was to use diplomacy at the right time to persuade foreign pharma companies to part with their technology and know-how, and obtain, either indigenously or otherwise, the material required to make the vaccines. Our foreign minister, Dr Jaishankar, has only now gone to the US for this purpose. What was the government doing for all the months before? Compulsory licensing, and the waiving of patents is permissible under the TRIPS agreement during emergencies, so it is not a question of whether it is an attractive option or not. Myths number five and six deal with the policy being adopted towards the states. The argument is so laboured that it begs disbelief. It is absolutely clear to anyone that a system where the Centre and each state separately bid for global vaccines in short supply, is a prescription for anarchy. The lame argument that health is a state subject does not dilute the express assumption of powers by the Centre when a national emergency has been declared since March 2020 under the National Disaster Management Act. The second argument that states themselves wanted powers to procure vaccines does not hold water either. Firstly, many states are clear that they never asked for such powers. Secondly, even if some states did, surely the Centre is duty bound to override their requests in the larger interest of central procurement, which is the only rational policy to follow. Passing the buck to the states is a cynical cover up for a total abdication of responsibility, and clearly against the provisions of the National Disaster Management Act. Myth seven is that the Centre is not taking any steps to vaccinate children. Dr Pauls defence that no country in the world is giving vaccines to children may be literally correct, but it ignores the fact that many countries have announced dates when they plan to do so. The basic truth is that when adults are running from pillar to post to get vaccinated, there are just not enough doses for children. The government has, quite simply, been found starkly wanting on the issue of vaccines. That is the fact. The myth is that there can be a defence of the indefensible. As many as 9,541 more people tested positive for COVID-19, taking the tally to 7,56,684 on Sunday, while 33 fresh fatalities raised the toll to 2,719, a health department official said. Of the 9,541 new cases, 5,343 were reported from quarantine centres, and the rest were detected during contact tracing, the official said. Accordingly, the number of active cases rose to 95,266, he said. The coastal state's positivity rate currently stands at 6.47 per cent. Khurda district, of which state capital Bhubaneswar is a part, reported the maximum number of new cases at 1,342, followed by Cuttack at 716, Mayurbhanj at 695, Sundergarh at 595, Angul at 562 and Puri at 528. Only three of Odisha's thirty districts reported less than 100 fresh cases each -- Deogarh (61), Gajapati (69) and Nuapada (50). Taking to Twitter, the health department said, "Regret to inform about the demise of thirty three Covid positive patients while under treatment in hospitals." Angul district accounted for five deaths, followed by Boudh, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Sundergarh at three each. Two fatalities each were registered in Deogarh, Cuttack, Gajapati, Kandhamal, Keonjhar and Khurda, and one each at Ganjam, Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada. This apart, 53 other COVID-19 patients in the state have died due to comorbidities. As many as 11,513 people recuperated on Saturday, raising the number of those who have recovered from the highly infectious disease to 6,58,646. Over 1.17 crore sample tests have been conducted thus far, including 66,057 on Saturday. Meanwhile, Asit Tripathy, the chairman of the Western Odisha Development Council, said a freighter carrying oxygen cylinders has arrived in Bhubaneswar from China. "Honourable CM has directed no patient shall suffer for want of oxygen in Odisha," he tweeted. Odisha supplies oxygen to around 15 states, but its administration lacks adequate number of cylinders to ferry the life-saving gas to its people. Tripathy, however, said more than 14,000 cylinders have been added to its existing stock in the past two months, and the situation will only get better with today's import. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Even as a Delhi Court on Saturday sent two time olympian and star wrestler to four-day police custody, the Delhi Police Crime Branch is still looking for three more persons in connection with its probe into the Sagar Dhankar murder case. A senior Delhi Police official related to probe said, that the police has till date arrested nine people in connection with the murder case. Delhi Police on Friday arrested two werestlers -- Rohit and Vijender after their role in the murder case emerged. was arrested on May 23 from Delhi after he was on the run for 18 days since May 4. He was involved in the murder of Dhankar at Chhatrasal Stadium. Dhankar was allegedly thrashed by several people in Chhatrasal Stadium over a minor tiff. He later succumbed to his injuries. On Thursday evening, the Crime Branch sleuths had taken to Haryana and Chandigarh and was questioned about the places where he stayed during his run and who all were the persons who helped him in getting shelter. Sushil Kumar has reportedly shared several names during his questioning. The Olympian was quietly taken to Haryana and Chandigarh on Thursday evening and returned to the capital on Friday morning. A crime branch source said that on the basis of the revelations by Sushil Kumar, the police is looking for Vinod Pradhan, Pradeep a.k.a. Bablu and Praveen a.k.a. Choti in connection with the murder case. The source said that all three were present during the incident at Chhatrasal Stadium. Police also recovered a double barrel gun from a vehicle that was recovered from the stadium premises. He said that the double barrel gun belonged to Pradhan. The source said all the three people belong to Jhajjar district in Haryana and police is collecting information about their whereabouts. Delhi Police has already arrested several people belonging to Neeraj Bawana and Kala Asauda gangs in connection with the murder of Dhankar. Earlier, a Delhi court had issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Sushil Kumar. Delhi Police had also issued a lookout notice for Kumar who won a bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and silver in the 2012 London Olympic Games. The source also said that Prince, a friend of Sushil Kumar who shot the video of thrashing of Dhankar has turned a witness in the case. (Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in) --IANS aks/skp/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) has detected a new hybrid variant that possesses characteristics of of the B.1.17 variant, first identified in the UK, and the B.1.6172 strain, the media reported. Genetic sequencing by the National Institute Of Hygiene And Epidemiology found at least four Covid-19 patients in the country carrying the hybrid variant, the VnExpress newspaper reported on Saturday. "We discovered the Y144 deletion on spike protein S of the B.1.6172 variant. This mutation is similar to the one found on the B.1.17 variant," Le Thi Quynh Mai, deputy head of the institute, was quoted as saying. Mai said such mutation on the B.1.6172 variant is not yet recorded by open-access database GISAID (Global Initiative on Sharing Avian Influenza Data). Thus it needs to be monitored and researched further, she said. The variant is much more transmissible, especially in the air and viral cultures in the laboratory have revealed that the virus replicated itself very quickly, the report quoted Minister Nguyen Thanh Long Long as saying. The Ministry of Health would announce the new variant on the global genome map, he added, saying that the new variant is not named yet. B.1.6172, referred to as the "double mutant", more recently deemed as a variant of concern by the World Health Organization, may be both more transmissible and harder to neutralise by antibodies raised against previous variants. The UK variant, on the other hand, is believed to be more transmissible than ordinary strains. Vietnam's latest wave since about a month ago has seen 3,595 local Covid-19 cases so far in 33 cities and provinces. Bac Giang still leads the number of coronavirus infections at 1,881, followed by neighbour Bac Ninh at 736, the report said. The new variant explains why there are so many new cases in different locations in a shorter time frame, Long said. The Southeast Asian country has, so far, recorded the presence of seven coronavirus variants, including ones from the UK and South Africa, the newspaper reported. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government on Sunday announced extending the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme to the civil aviation sector, a move that is expected to provide a solace for the pandemic-hit segment. Industry players said the "timely" decision to include the under the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS), which was announced in May last year, will ease the pressure and provide the much-needed The civil has been facing strong headwinds due to the coronavirus pandemic and looking at possible help from the government. Recently, the civil aviation ministry allowed the domestic airlines to reduce the capacity to 50 per cent from June 1 in the wake of the second wave of the pandemic. Air travel demand has been impacted due to the lockdowns and strict restrictions by various state governments to deal with the pandemic. Last month, domestic airline companies had reportedly sought reduction in capacity besides financial assistance to tide over the cash burn amid the nose-diving demand. In a statement, the finance ministry on Sunday said that on account of the disruptions caused by the second COVID-19 wave to businesses across various sectors of the economy, it has been decided to enlarge the scope of ECLGS. The civil to be eligible under ECLGS 3.0, it added. In March, ECLGS 3.0 was introduced to cover business enterprises in hospitality, travel and tourism, leisure and sporting sectors. The ministry has also removed the current ceiling of Rs 500 crore of loan outstanding for eligibility under ECLGS 3.0, subject to maximum additional ECLGS assistance to each borrower being limited to 40 per cent or Rs 200 crore, whichever is lower. Budget carrier SpiceJet on Sunday said the inclusion of the aviation sector in ECLGS will help the domestic aviation industry, which has been impacted the most by the pandemic. The inclusion of the civil aviation sector under the ECLGS is a welcome and timely move by the government that should help the sector that has been the most severely impacted by the pandemic, SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh said. "World over, we have seen governments come to the rescue of their airlines multiple times over the last one year. "Airlines in India have been at the very forefront of this war against COVID-19 and the government's recognition of the difficulties being faced by our industry is certainly a move in the right direction," he said. Bird Group Executive Director Ankur Bhatia said the extension for the scheme will ease the prolonged strain on the employment-intensive sector. "The move will bolster the much-needed to these sectors which employ a large number of people," he said. It is appreciated that despite the revenue constraints faced by the government and its impact on the widening fiscal deficit, the government has taken cognisance of the strain the aviation sector is going through, he noted. Further, Bhatia said the latest move would help the sector tide over the cash crunch and working capital issues. "One of the key challenges faced by the stressed sectors is severe liquidity crunch in the wake of low demand, and the ECLGS could help provide interim liquidity support till demand recovers," Bhatia said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India is considering a proposal to enhance a loan guarantee program for small businesses, according to people with knowledge of the matter, as authorities boost measures to help the economy recover from a devastating coronavirus wave. Prime Minister Narendra Modis government may allow small companies to borrow an additional 30% of their credit limit, up from 20% announced last year, the people said, asking not to be identified before a formal announcement. The additional debt will be fully backed by the administration. The latest plan enhances a program announced last year that guaranteed as much as 3 trillion rupees ($41 billion) of loans to small businesses as Modi tries to revive an economy struggling with the aftermath of the pandemic. The recent wave killed more than 150,000 people in two months, about as many fatalities as the whole of the past year and which prompted the nations most industrialized states to re-introduce lockdowns. The government may finalize the plan and announce the details as early as this week. A finance ministry spokesman couldnt be reached. The much-awaited onset of the southwest monsoon is expected to be delayed by two days and the rains are now likely to hit the Kerala coast on June 3 instead of June 1, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. "The delay is because of the weak westerly winds near Kerala coast which is why rainfall and cloudiness is not increasing," Director General of IMD, Mritunjay Mohapatra, told Business Standard. He said further that the depth of westerly winds also should increase to sustain rainfall. The met meanwhile, added that due to strengthening of lower level southwesterly winds, fairly widespread rainfall activity with isolated heavy falls are very likely over northeastern states during next five days. The normal onset date for the monsoon over Kerala is June 1. This marks the start of the four-month rainfall season for the country. Earlier this month, the IMD had predicted the arrival of monsoon over Kerala by May 31 with an error margin of plus or minus five days. Monsoon is expected to be normal this year. In complete divergence, private weather forecasting agency, Skymet today said that the southwest monsoon has in fact already arrived over Kerala today. "A set of environmental conditions need to be fulfilled as a criterion for the arrival of monsoon. By and large, all parameters have satisfied the required threshold, essentially the rainfall and depth and speed of westerly winds over the Southeast Arabian Sea and adjoining Equatorial Indian Ocean. Rainfall amounts are verified from the available data on the official website," Skymet said in a statement. It added that in the absence of any major monsoon trigger, the onset may be slightly mild. The arrival of monsoon over Kerala is likely to delayed by two days and it is now expected to make an onset over the state by June 3, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Sunday. Director General M Mohapatra said there is cyclonic circulation along the Karnataka coast which is hindering the progress of the southwest monsoon. "The southwesterly winds could strengthen further gradually from June 1, resulting in likely enhancement in rainfall activity over Kerala. Hence the monsoon onset over Kerala is likely to take place around June 3," the said. Due to strengthening of lower level southwesterly winds, fairly widespread rainfall activity with isolated heavy falls are very likely over northeastern states during next five days. The normal onset date for monsoon over Kerala is June 1. This marks the start of the four-month rainfall season for the country. Earlier this month, the had predicted the arrival of monsoon over Kerala by May 31 with an error margin of plus or minus five days. Monsoon is expected to be normal this year. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shrugging off pandemic-induced economic woes, the has witnessed significant appreciation in the first two months of the current fiscal as dovish stance by the US Federal Reserve and other raft of factors steered the currency's overall positive trajectory, according to experts. Apart from relatively easy money approach of the US Federal Reserve, less aggressive intervention by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in forex market helped the also emerge as the top-performing Asian currency in May, they opined. Going ahead, analysts said, the USD-INR spot is likely to remain volatile amid a slew of events like next month's major central banks' monetary policy decisions, hopes of plateauing COVID curve, rollout of vaccination programmes and expectations of a possible stimulus package by the Indian government to boost domestic economic activities. Dovish stance from RBI when they meet for monetary policy decision on June 4, and a fiscal package from the government are expected to support growth and support the currency," Devarsh Vakil, Deputy Head of Retail Research at HDFC Securities, said. Noting that the bias for remains on the bullish side, he said, "we expect rupee to head towards 72 odd levels in the near term". Forex traders cautioned that the coronavirus risk still persists and a lot will depend on aggressive rollouts of the vaccination programme. Moreover, the impact of the second COVID wave on the first quarter of FY21 will also weigh on investor sentiments. "Investors will also watch out for the vaccination programmes and aggressive rollouts will help the domestic economy. If not, then the economic recovery could be slow. In turn, this could weigh on the local currency which could again depreciate towards 74.00 levels," Sriram Iyer, Senior Research Analyst at Reliance Securities, said. In April, the witnessed a small depreciation due to FPI outflows from the equity markets. Additionally, a resurgence of a COVID second wave intensified worries that an economic recovery may be delayed. However, in May, the rupee became Asia's top-performing currency. For the current fiscal year, the rupee has appreciated around a percentage point (0.92 per cent). Registering gains for the third straight day, the rupee rose 15 paise to close at 72.45 against the US dollar on May 28 (Friday). This month has only one more trading day on May 31 (Monday). According to Iyer, the currency could appreciate initially supported by FPI flows and lack of intervention from RBI. "So, initially, we could see the rupee test 72.00 levels. This will definitely help importers especially oil imports which could help reduce the twin deficits. At the same time, exporters could feel the heat, so RBI could enter at a certain point to cap appreciation," Iyer said. Markets will also be looking for cues from RBI's monetary policy next week and the Federal Reserve' policy in mid-June. Rahul Gupta, Head Of Research-Currency at Emkay Global Financial Services, believes that although COVID cases are plateauing, regional lockdowns have created a sense of worry that it may again take a toll on the economic growth. He also pointed out that due to the second COVID wave in India and regional lockdowns, the IPOs of nearly nine companies have been postponed for the later months. "So, to keep the ball rolling, Modi government may come up with a stimulus package, which will be rupee positive. Technically, a broad trading range would be 71.50-73.50," Gupta said. India's foreign exchange reserves touched a record high of USD 592.894 billion for the week ended May 21, boosted by gold and currency assets. The previous all-time high for the forex kitty was USD 590.185 billion for the week ended January 29, 2021. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) has recorded half a million Covid cases and 6,000 deaths, numbers that experts believe deeply undercount the toll. Testing remains limited. One figure could indicate the true severity: For weeks now, about 40 percent of the tests conducted have been positive. A government in disarray has compounded the trouble. K P Sharma Oli, Nepals embattled prime minister, has been pushing for an election in November after the countrys Parliament was dissolved last week, an event that could worsen the spread. Earlier this week, Hridyesh Tripathi, Nepals minister for health and population, said the government was considering declaring a health emergency as infections rise. British intelligence agencies now believe it is "feasible" that the COVID-19 pandemic began with a leak from a Chinese laboratory, a media report said on Sunday, prompting UK's Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi to demand that the WHO must fully investigate the origins of the deadly virus. The origins of the COVID-19 remain a widely debated topic, with some scientists and politicians maintaining that the possibility of a lab leak of the deadly virus exists. Western intelligence, including in Britain, at first considered there was only a "remote" chance that it had leaked from the laboratory, where research is conducted into bat-derived coronaviruses, including one closely associated with COVID-19. But there has since been a reassessment, and a lab escape is thought "feasible", the Sunday Times reported, citing sources. China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) is near the outbreak's known epicentre of Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, where the virus first emerged in late 2019 and became a pandemic. More than 168 million confirmed cases have since been confirmed worldwide and at least 3.5 million deaths reported. "There might be pockets of evidence that take us one way, and evidence that takes us another way. The Chinese will lie either way. I don't think we will ever know," said a western intelligence source familiar with UK involvement in the investigation. Agencies are believed to have few human intelligence sources in China. Gathering data there has focused on trying to recruit on the dark web, where Chinese employees can share secrets anonymously without fear of being caught, the paper said. Citing US diplomatic sources, the paper said there were concerns that if the origin could not be determined, this could happen again and we are one wet market or bio lab away from the next spillover. Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Britain's Vaccines Minister Zahawi insisted that the WHO must be able to fully investigate the origins of the Zahawi said it's vital that the WHO is "allowed to conduct its investigation unencumbered" as it seeks to better understand how the initial outbreak began. "We should leave no stone unturned," he added. Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, said: The silence coming from Wuhan is troubling. We need to open the crypt and see what happened to be able to protect ourselves in the future. That means starting an investigation, along with partners around the world and in the WHO." Last week, US President Joe Biden ordered the US intelligence agencies to "redouble" their efforts in investigating the emergence of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic and report back to him in 90 days, amid growing controversy about the virus's origins from the WIV in China. His announcement came after a US intelligence report found several researchers at the WIV fell ill in November 2019 and had to be hospitalised -- a new detail that fuelled fresh public pressure on Biden to order a detailed investigation into the origin of the deadly virus. Former US president Donald Trump was among those who supported the theory that the virus might have escaped from a bio lab in China. Beijing has been vehemently denying that the broke out in Wuhan and took exception to Trump's reference to it as China virus or Wuhan virus. China asserts that the COVID-19 broke out in different places in the world and China only reported the virus first. In a detailed article titled The origin of COVID: Did people or nature open Pandora's box at Wuhan' published in the prestigious Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists early this month, noted British science writer, editor and author Nicholas Wade raised several questions on the origin of the novel coronavirus. The evidence adds up to a serious case that the SARS2 virus could have been created in a lab, from which it then escaped, wrote Wade, who refers to SARS-CoV-2 virus as SARS2 in short. Earlier this month, a group of leading UK and US scientists called for more investigation to determine the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the theory of an accidental release from a lab in Wuhan. In May 2020, the World Health Assembly requested that the WHO director-general work with partners to determine the origins of SARS-CoV-2. The World Health Organisation conducted an investigation into the origins of the pandemic and concluded in a report that the risk of an accidental leak from the Wuhan Institute, where coronavirus research was being conducted on bats, was "extremely low." But the WHO probe has been criticised by the US, United Kingdom and other governments over its limited access to "complete, original data and samples." The WHO study was co-authored by 17 Chinese scientists, several of them from state-run institutions. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In what was, so far, the best baseball game of the week, the Jaguars pulled their 33rd win out of the fire and salvaged a gem of a start from their star pitcher. Dozens of China-backed and funded projects in Africa, most of them developed as part of Beijing's (BRI), continue to face intense backlash from communities and environmentalists who accuse the developers of destroying ecosystems in pursuit of commodities like oil, metal and timber. China plans to invest in a massive deposit of high-grade iron ore in the Simandou mountains of Guinea, which opponents say will destroy livelihoods in the process of reducing Beijing's independence on Australian imports amid tensions with Canberra, reported South China Morning Post (SCMP). In Ghana, a USD 2 billion bauxite-for-infrastructure deal with Chinese state-owned firm Sinohydro Corp has also drawn fire for posing a threat to the environment and the people. Uganda and Tanzania last week approved the construction of an oil pipeline between the two countries, which also received calls for being scrapped by environmentalists. Elizabeth Losos, a senior fellow at Duke University's Nicholas Institute in the United States, confirmed that some China-funded projects in had done enormous damage to communities and the environment. "The real tragedy is that in many of these cases early consultation and planning could have avoided these disasters," she said. Losos also said that the Ghana-Sinohydro deal was agreed upon without conducting a sector-wide assessment to figure out how much bauxite could be mined without polluting drinking water, thus damaging farmers' livelihoods or threatening natural treasures, SCMP reported. "Once word got out what was happening, protests erupted. Sinohydro's reputation has been damaged within Ghana and across the globe," she said. As a result of pressure from environmental groups, several China-backed projects in have been blocked. SCMP reported that a Kenyan court in 2019 ordered a halt to the construction of a USD 2 billion coal-fired power plant in Lamu after activists argued it would endanger a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Site. The Industrial Commercial Bank of China, which was providing USD 1.2 billion of the funds, subsequently pulled out of the deal. "There is no doubt that Chinese commercial actors ... have tried to evade environmental requirements," said Yun Sun, director of the China programme at the Stimson Centre in Washington. Meanwhile, a senior fellow at Duke University's Nicholas Institute, said Beijing was not unaware of the potential risks involved with private and state-owned firms operating in belt and road countries. "Reducing these risks requires more uniformly applied standards and practices on environmental and social issues by China's outbound actors, which is likely to come only via coherent policy requirements from the top down," he said. Chinese investment in has also come under the scanner as many have accused it of entrappingcountries in its 'debt-trap' diplomacy. The Monetary Fund (IMF) persistently warns African and other third-world countries that mounting debts to China are dangerous. It stresses that Chinese creditors create some instability or vulnerabilities. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US is on track to reach a target calling for 70 per cent of adults to have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by July 4, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). New CDC data released on Saturday indicates that more that half of all adults in the US, or more than 51 per cent, are now fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, marking another milestone in the country's pandemic recovery, reports dpa news agency. Some 167.2 million people 18 years or older have received at least one dose, according to the CDC data. President Joe Biden set a goal earlier this month of hitting the first milestone by July 4, when Independence Day is celebrated. The target was expected to be reached hit, with the number standing at 61 per cent more than a month out. Still, the pace of vaccinations varies across the country, with the north-east and west coast among the regions with the highest take up while the south has moved more slowly. The CDC indicated that speaking of the entire US population of some 330 million, around 40 per cent of the population are already fully vaccinated now. Three vaccines are in use in the US: the two manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, which are administered in two doses, as well as the single-shot Johnson & Johnson jab. This month, US authorities extended the authorization of Pfizer/BioNTech's shot to children as young as 12. --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Just weeks before the ransomware gang known as DarkSide attacked the owner of a major American pipeline, disrupting gasoline and jet fuel deliveries up and down the East Coast of the United States, the group was turning the screws on a small, family-owned publisher based in the American Midwest. Working with a hacker who went by the name of Woris, DarkSide launched a series of attacks meant to shut down the websites of the publisher, which works mainly with clients in primary school education, if it refused to meet a $1.75 million ransom demand. It even threatened to contact the companys clients to falsely warn them that it had obtained information the gang said could be used by pedophiles to make fake identification cards that would allow them to enter schools. Woris thought this last ploy was a particularly nice touch. I laughed to the depth of my soul about the leaked IDs possibly being used by pedophiles to enter the school, he said in Russian in a secret chat with DarkSide obtained by The New York Times. I didnt think it would scare them that much. DarkSides attack on the pipeline owner, Georgia-based Colonial Pipeline, did not just thrust the gang onto the stage. It also cast a spotlight on a rapidly expanding criminal industry based primarily in that has morphed from a specialty demanding highly sophisticated hacking skills into a conveyor-belt-like process. Now, even small-time criminal syndicates and hackers with mediocre computer capabilities can pose a potential national security threat. Where once criminals had to play psychological games to trick people into handing over bank passwords and have the technical know-how to siphon money out of secure personal accounts, now virtually anyone can obtain ransomware off the shelf and load it into a compromised computer system using tricks picked up from YouTube tutorials or with the help of groups like DarkSide. Any doofus can be a cybercriminal now, said Sergei A. Pavlovich, a former hacker who served 10 years in prison in his native Belarus for cybercrimes. The intellectual barrier to entry has gotten extremely low. A glimpse into DarkSides secret communications in the months leading up to the Colonial Pipeline attack reveals a criminal operation on the rise, pulling in millions of dollars in ransom payments each month. ALSO READ: US aid agency system used to carry out cyberattacks by Russia: Microsoft DarkSide offers what is known as ransomware as a service, in which a malware developer charges a user fee to so-called affiliates like Woris, who may not have the technical skills to actually create ransomware but are still capable of breaking into a victims computer systems. DarkSides services include providing technical support for hackers, negotiating with targets like the publishing company, processing payments, and devising tailored pressure campaigns through blackmail and other means, such as secondary hacks to crash websites. DarkSides user fees operated on a sliding scale: 25 percent for any ransoms less than $500,000 down to 10 percent for ransoms over $5 million, according to the computer security firm, FireEye. As a start-up operation, DarkSide had to contend with growing pains, it appears. In the chat with someone from the groups customer support, Woris complained that the gangs ransomware platform was difficult to use, costing him time and money as he worked with DarkSide to extort cash from the American publishing company. I dont even understand how to conduct business on your platform, he complained in an exchange sometime in March. Were spending so much time when there are things to do. I understand that you dont give a crap. If not us, others will bring you payment. Its quantity not quality. The Times gained access to the internal dashboard that DarkSide customers used to organize and carry out ransom attacks. The login information was provided to The Times by a cybercriminal through an intermediary. The Times is withholding the name of the company involved in the attack to avoid additional reprisals from the hackers. Access to the DarkSide dashboard offered an extraordinary glimpse into the internal workings of a Russian-speaking gang that has become the face of global cybercrime. Cast in stark black and white, the dashboard gave users access to DarkSides list of targets as well as a running ticker of profits and a connection to the groups customer support staff, with whom affiliates could craft strategies for squeezing their victims. The dashboard was still operational as of May 20, when a Times reporter logged in, even though DarkSide had released a statement a week earlier saying it was shutting down. A customer support employee responded almost immediately to a chat request sent from Woriss account by the Times reporter. But when the reporter identified himself as a journalist the account was immediately blocked. ALSO READ: Russian hacker targets Apple in $50 million ransomware attack: Details here Even before the attack on Colonial Pipeline, DarkSides business was booming. According to the firm Elliptic, which has studied DarkSides Bitcoin wallets, the gang has received about $15.5 million in Bitcoin since October 2020, with another $75 million going to affiliates. The serious profits for such a young criminal gang DarkSide was established only last August, according to computer security researchers underscore how the Russian-language cybercriminal underground has mushroomed in recent years. That growth has been abetted by the rise of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin that have made the need for old-school money mules, who sometimes had to smuggle cash across borders physically, practically obsolete. In just a couple of years, experts say, ransomware has developed into a tightly organized, highly compartmentalized business. There are certain hackers who break into computer systems and others whose job is to take control of them. There are tech support specialists and experts in money laundering. Many criminal gangs even have official spokespeople who do media relations and outreach. In many ways, the organizational structure of the Russian ransomware industry mimics franchises, like McDonalds or Hertz, that lower barriers to entry and allow for easy duplication of proven business practices and techniques. Access to DarkSides dashboard was all that was needed to set up shop as an affiliate of DarkSide and, if desired, download a working version of the ransomware used in the attack on Colonial Pipeline. While The Times did not acquire that software, the publishing company offered a window into what it was like to be the victim of an attack by DarkSide ransomware. The first thing the victim sees on the screen is a ransom letter with instructions and gentle threats. Welcome to DarkSide, the letter says in English, before explaining that the victims computers and servers had been encrypted and any backups deleted. To decrypt the information, victims are directed to a website where they must enter a special pass key. The letter makes clear that they can call on a tech support team if they should run into any problems. !!! DANGER !!! DO NOT MODIFY or try to RECOVER any files yourself, the letter says. We WILL NOT be able to RESTORE them. The DarkSide software not only locks victims computer systems, it also steals proprietary data, allowing affiliates to demand payment not only for unlocking the systems but also for refraining from releasing sensitive company information publicly. In the chat log viewed by The Times, a DarkSide customer support employee boasted to Woris that he had been involved in more than 300 ransom attacks and tried to put him at ease. Were just as interested in the proceeds as you are, the employee said. Together, they hatched the plan to put the squeeze on the publishing company, a nearly century-old, family-owned business with only a few hundred employees. In addition to shutting down the companys computer systems and issuing the pedophile threat, Woris and DarkSides technical support drafted a blackmail letter to be sent to school officials and parents who were the companys clients. ALSO READ: One in two Indian adults fell prey to cybercrime in last 12 months: Report Dear school staff and parent, the letter went, have nothing personal against you, it is only business. (A spokesman for the company said that no clients were ever contacted by DarkSide, but several employees were.) On top of this, using a new service that DarkSide introduced in April, they planned to shut down the companys websites with so-called DDOS attacks, in which hackers overload a companys network with fake requests. Negotiations over the ransom with DarkSide lasted for 22 days and were carried out over email or on the gangs blog with a hacker or hackers who spoke only in mangled English, said the companys spokesman. Negotiations broke down sometime in March over the companys refusal to pay the $1.75 million ransom. DarkSide, it seems, was livid and threatened to leak news of the ransomware attack to the news media. Ignoring is very bad strategy for you. You dont have much time, DarkSide wrote in an email. After two days we will make you blog post public and send this news for all big mass media. And everyone will see you catastrophic data leak. For all the strong-arm tactics, DarkSide was not completely without a moral compass. In a list of rules posted to the dashboard, the group said any attacks against educational, medical or government targets were forbidden. In its communications, DarkSide tried to be polite, and the group expected the same of the hackers using its services. The group, after all, very much treasures our reputation, DarkSide said in one internal communication. Offending or being rude to targets for no reason is prohibited, DarkSide said. We aim to make money through normal and calm dialogue. Another important rule adopted by DarkSide, along with most other Russian-speaking cybercriminal groups, underscores a reality about modern-day cybercrime. Anyone living in the Commonwealth of Independent States, a collection of former Soviet republics, is strictly off limits to attacks. experts say the dont work in .ru stricture, a reference to Russias national domain suffix, has become de rigueur in the Russian-speaking hacking community, to avoid entanglements with Russian law enforcement. The Russian authorities have made it clear they will rarely prosecute cybercriminals for ransomware attacks and other cybercrimes outside As a result, has become a global hub for ransomware attacks, experts say. The cybersecurity firm Recorded Future, based outside Boston, tracks about 25 ransomware groups, of which about 15 including the five biggest are believed to be based in Russia or elsewhere in the former Soviet Union, said a threat intelligence expert for the firm, Dmitry Smilyanets. Mr. Smilyanets is himself a former hacker from Russia who spent four years in federal custody for cybercrimes. Russia in particular has become a greenhouse for cybercriminals, he said. An atmosphere was created in Russia in which cybercriminals felt great and could thrive, Mr. Smilyanets said. When someone is comfortable and confident that he wont be arrested the next day, he starts to act more freely and more brazenly. Russias president, Vladimir V. Putin, has made the rules perfectly clear. When the American journalist Megyn Kelly pressed him in a 2018 interview on why Russia was not arresting hackers believed to have interfered in the American election, he shot back that there was nothing to arrest them for. If they did not break Russian law, there is nothing to prosecute them for in Russia, Mr. Putin said. You must finally realize that people in Russia live by Russian laws, not by American ones. After the Colonial attack, President Biden said that intelligence officials had evidence the hackers were from Russia, but that they had yet to find any links to the government. So far there is no evidence based on, from our intelligence people, that Russia is involved, though there is evidence that the actors, ransomware, is in Russia, he said, adding that the Russian authorities have some responsibility to deal with this. This month, DarkSides support staff scrambled to respond to parts of the system being shut down, which the group attributed, without evidence, to pressure from the In a posting on May 8, the day after the Colonial attack became public, the DarkSide staff appeared to be hoping for some sympathy from their affiliates. There is now the option to leave a tip for Support under payments, the posting said. Its optional, but Support would be happy :). Days after the F.B.I. publicly identified DarkSide as the culprit, Woris, who had yet to extract payment from the publishing company, reached out to customer service, apparently concerned. Hi, hows it going, he wrote. They hit you hard. It was the last communication Woris had with DarkSide. Days later, a message popped up on the dashboard saying the group was not exactly shutting down, as it had said it would, but selling its infrastructure so other hackers could carry on the lucrative ransomware business. The price is negotiable, DarkSide wrote. By fully launching an analogous partnership program its possible to make profits of $5 million a month. World powers resumed the latest round of talks to reach a final agreement between Iran and the United States over reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, Russias envoy to the in Vienna said. Mikhail Ulyanov said the fifth round of talks had resumed in the Austrian capital and there was an understanding among the countries involved that the current round should be final, according to his tweet. In 2018, then-President Donald Trump pulled the US unilaterally out of the agreement saying that it was not broad enough and needed to be renegotiated. As part of a maximum pressure campaign, he reimposed sanctions and added additional ones on Iran in an effort to bring Tehran back to the table. Iran's economy was crippled by the move but it has refused new talks, instead retaliating by slowly and steadily breaking the restrictions of the JCPOA in an effort to pressure the other parties involved, thus far unsuccessfully, to come up with incentives to offset the American sanctions. Biden, who was vice president when the original deal was negotiated, has said he wants the US to rejoin but that Iran has to return to complete compliance. Iran has insisted that all American sanctions imposed under Trump be dropped, including measures that were taken in response to non-nuclear issues. Iran's violations include a significant increase in the purity and quantity of uranium it has been enriching. Over a dozen were arrested and scores of motorcycles were impounded after police sought to disperse protesters at Islamabad's Faizabad Interchange against the federal government's decision to hold in-person exams of classes 10 and 12 from June 23, despite a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country. Islamabad administration officials and the police said that the from Rawalpindi and Islamabad in groups started gathering at Faizabad Bridge in the afternoon and their numbers increased to 700 as they blocked the Islamabad Expressway, Dawn reported. The protesting demanded the federal and provincial education ministers to reconsider their decision in light of the ongoing coronavirus situation. They chanted slogans against the government, the federal minister for education and other officers of the education department. As the COVID-19 pandemic forced the educational institutes to remain closed, online classes were conducted only for a short period. Under such a situation, the students insisted that final exams should be taken online. As the protest turned violent, protesters started damaging private vehicles and also beat and injured the drivers of these vehicles, claimed officials. In response, the police resorted to baton-charge to disperse the protesters, Dawn reported. The students pelted stones at the police after which the police used tear gas to disperse them, taking over a dozen of protesters into custody. Later, the arrested students along with the bikes were shifted to different police stations. The officials said that during questioning those who were arrested failed to prove that they were students and enrolled in any educational institutes. They seemed to be miscreants and had joined the students' protest to disrupt law and order, they added. Meanwhile, a gridlock was witnessed on the expressway and other roads due to the protest by the students at Faizabad creating hardship for motorists, Dawn reported. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two people were killed and at least 20 people injured in a shooting outside a banquet hall in Hialeah, Florida, early on Sunday, officials said. The police said three people arrived in a white Nissan Pathfinder at the hall where an event was being hosted. The three exited the vehicle, began shooting into a crowd of people outside the venue and then fled, the police said. Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, eight were taken to hospitals and 12 victims took themselves to hospitals, the police said. At least one victim was in critical condition. Alfredo Ramirez III, director of the Miami-Dade Police Department, said the shooting was believed to be targeted. These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice, he said on Twitter. My deepest condolences to the family of the victims. Daniella Levine Cava, mayor of Miami-Dade County, said on Twitter that she was horrified and heartbroken by the news of the shooting. I urge our community to be safe and smart, she said. Please dont let any more lives end in senseless violence. This time is different may be the most dangerous words in business: billions of dollars have been lost betting that history wont repeat itself. And yet now, in the oil world, it looks like this time really will be. For the first time in decades, oil companies arent rushing to increase production to chase rising oil prices as approaches $70. Even in the Permian, the prolific shale basin at the center of the U.S. boom, drillers are resisting their traditional boom-and-bust cycle of spending. ALSO READ: Brent crude hits $70 as China energy demand outlook brightens The is on the ropes, constrained by Wall Street investors demanding that companies spend less on drilling and instead return more money to shareholders, and climate change activists pushing against fossil fuels. Exxon Mobil Corp. is paradigmatic of the trend, after its humiliating defeat at the hands of a tiny activist elbowing itself onto the board. The dramatic events in the industry last week only add to what is emerging as an opportunity for the producers of OPEC+, giving the coalition led by Saudi Arabia and Russia more room for maneuver to bring back their own production. As non- output fails to rebound as fast as many expected -- or feared based on past experience -- the cartel is likely to continue adding more supply when it meets on June 1. Criminalization Shareholders are asking Exxon to drill less and focus on returning money to investors. They have been throwing money down the drill hole like crazy, Christopher Ailman, chief investment officer for CalSTRS. We really saw that company just heading down the hole, not surviving into the future, unless they change and adapt. And now they have to. Exxon is unlikely to be alone. Royal Dutch Shell Plc lost a landmark legal battle last week when a Dutch court told it to cut emissions significantly by 2030 -- something that would require less oil production. Many in the industry fear a wave of lawsuits elsewhere, with western oil majors more immediate targets than the state-owned oil companies that make up much of production. Royal Dutch Shell Plc. (Photo: Bloomberg) We see a shift from stigmatization toward criminalization of investing in higher oil production, said Bob McNally, president of consultant Rapidan Group and a former White House official. While its true that non-OPEC+ output is creeping back from the crash of 2020 -- and the ultra-depressed levels of April and May last year -- its far from a full recovery. Overall, non-OPEC+ output will grow this year by 620,000 barrels a day, less than half the 1.3 million barrels a day it fell in 2020. The supply growth forecast through the rest of this year comes nowhere close to matching the expected increase in demand, according to the International Agency. ALSO READ: Opec sticks to 2021 oil demand growth forecast despite Indian Covid crisis Beyond 2021, oil output is likely to rise in a handful of nations, including the U.S., Brazil, Canada and new oil-producer Guyana. But production will decline elsewhere, from the U.K. to Colombia, Malaysia and Argentina. As non-OPEC+ production increases less than global oil demand, the cartel will be in control of the market, executives and traders said. Its a major break with the past, when oil companies responded to higher prices by rushing to invest again, boosting non- output and leaving the ministers led by Saudi Arabias Abdulaziz bin Salman with a much more difficult balancing act. Drilling Down So far, the lack of non-OPEC+ oil production growth isnt registering much in the market. After all, the coronavirus pandemic continues to constrain global oil demand. It may be more noticeable later this year and into 2022. By then, vaccination campaigns against Covid-19 are likely to be bearing fruit, and the world will need more oil. The expected return of Iran into the market will provide some of that, but there will likely be a need for more. When that happens, it will be largely up to OPEC to plug the gap. One signal of how the recovery will be different this time is the U.S. drilling count: It is gradually increasing, but the recovery is slower than it was after the last big oil price crash in 2008-09. Shale companies are sticking to their commitment to return more money to shareholders via dividends. While before the pandemic shale companies re-used 70-90% of their cash flow into further drilling, they are now keeping that metric at around 50%. The result is that U.S. crude production has flat-lined at around 11 million barrels a day since July 2020. Outside the U.S. and Canada, the outlook is even more somber: at the end of April, the ex-North America oil rig count stood at 523, lower than it was a year ago, and nearly 40% below the same month two years earlier, according to data from Baker Hughes Co. When Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz predicted earlier this year that drill, baby, drill is gone for ever, it sounded like a bold call. As ministers meet this week, they may dare to hope hes right. Communist Party of India Marxist MP Elamaram Kareem on Sunday alleged that the administration is trying to "hide reality" by delaying his party's delegation visit to the Union Territory to understand the current situation. He said that Additional District Magistrate (ADM) informed the CPI(M)'s delegation to "plan the proposed visit on a later date" considering the COVID-19 situation. Kareem taking to Twitter said, "A delegation of CPIM Kerala MPs have decided to visit to understand current situation. Today ADM informed us to "plan the proposed visit on a later date" considering COVID situation. They wanted to delay our visit and avoid world knowing ground reality. SaveLakshadweep." The CPI-M state secretariat has decided to stage a protest on May 31 in front of the offices in Beypore and Kochi accusing the central government of trying to abolish the special rights of Lakshadweep. Meanwhile, Lakshadweep Collector S Asker Ali defended the laws imposed by Administrator Praful Khoda Patel and said that these administrative decisions will help the union territory to develop like Maldives thereby benefiting local residents. Over the last week, several leaders have called for a new administrator in the Lakshadweep islands, including Lakshadweep MP and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Mohammed Faizal. Faizal accused Patel of implementing anti-people rules and regulations and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to 'listen to the outcry of the local people and send in a new Administrator'. Congress had written to President Ram Nath Kovind alleging that the current Administrator of Lakshadweep Praful Patel had taken "authoritarian measures" and demanded his recall. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leading automakers in the country are pursuing more and more digitisation across their processes in order to push sales at a time when prospective customers are not so willing to physically venture out to showrooms to make purchases. Carmakers like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Toyota, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Mercedes-Benz have taken to digitalisation with renewed vigour as lockdowns and curfews become the new normal amid the raging pandemic. "Digitalisation is the way forward. Given the unprecedented times, we have adopted a 'Phygital' approach for our sales initiatives at the dealerships. We have digitised 24 out of the 26 touchpoints involved in a car-purchase journey, except the test drive and delivery," Maruti Suzuki India Executive Director Shashank Srivastava told PTI. Digital contributes to more than 40 per cent of the enquiries, he added. Srivastava noted that the company has over 1,000 plus digital touch-points across India to assist customers through their car-buying journey, from enquiry to booking. The country's leading carmaker has partnered with leading online platforms like Google and Facebook bringing global digital expertise to dealer teams. "We are utilising targeted social media marketing, insightful content creation and immersive AR-VR experiences efficiently and effectively," Srivastava noted. Mahindra & Mahindra CEO Automotive Division Veejay Nakra noted that the company is witnessing a significant growth in digital channel month on month. "Looking at where we are today, the whole consumer journey is significantly going to shift into the digital world. Having said that, dealerships would continue to play an integral role, but the kind of role they would play is what would change," he said. Similarly, Tata Motors (Passenger Vehicles Business Unit) Head-Marketing Vivek Srivatsa stated that the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has understandably brought a lot of change in the buying and selling pattern of customers. "We, at Tata Motors, too have introduced a host of digitised interventions since the national lockdown of last year. We launched our e-commerce platform, Click To Drive to largely enable contactless end-to-end sales. We received a strong response throughout last year with noticeable spikes in interest as well as purchases, especially during the lockdown," he said. Currently, more than 40 per cent of the customers reach out to the automaker via digital channels, a significant increase from previous years, Srivatsa stated. South Korean carmakers Kia and Hyundai have also lined up digital initiatives. "At Kia, online sales and staying connected digitally with our new-age customers have been a priority since the launch of our very first product Seltos in the Indian market. The current pandemic has led to faster adoption of online sales across categories. Our robust end-to-end digital sales process has helped us offer our customers a contactless and hassle-free car buying experience from the comfort of their homes," Kia India Executive Director and Chief Sales & Business Strategy Officer Tae-Jin Park said. The company's dealership teams constantly remain in touch with prospective customers to help them navigate through the entire process for a smooth experience, assisting them at every step in their purchase journey, he said. Similarly, Hyundai Motor India AVP New Business Strategy Brijesh Gubbi noted that the company is witnessing a shift where advanced digital modes of sales and retail are gaining foothold among buyers and customers are now factoring in convenience to their purchase journey, even for high value products such as automobiles. "We started following the digitisation trend from an early stage with a focus on solving problems and cater the human side of enterprise. Even before the pandemic, Hyundai was active on all digital channels with numerous initiatives such as 'Click to Buy' to support its customers," he added. Launched in January last year, 'Click to Buy' is designed to facilitate end-to-end retail of Hyundai cars online. Japanese automakers Honda and Toyota have also beefed up their digital play. "With the emergence of Covid -19 pandemic last year, we have been single mindedly focusing on bolstering our digital initiatives for driving convenience and peace of mind of purchasing, owning and maintaining car from home, for our customers," Honda Cars India Senior Vice President and Director - Marketing & Sales Rajesh Goel said. The company is continually building on its digital platforms like 'Honda from Home' & 'Virtual Showroom' to offer end to end car booking, buying and ownership experience and solutions with more than 80 per cent of the sales process including backend steps have been digitised, he added. "Our digital platform has been designed to make it a simple, secure six step hassle free buying experience for our customers. We are enabling customers to digitally browse models via interactive 360-degree showcase for interior and exterior of our models, select their preferred dealership, request test drive, book or buy the car, and opt for home delivery of the car," Goel noted. The dealership staff are being extensively trained to facilitate car purchase at home for customers, he added. Similarly, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Senior Vice President Naveen Soni noted that digital interfaces have become the primary medium of reaching out to customers in today's time. "A key takeaway from this pandemic has been the importance of a resilient distribution network. We believe that a mix of large, small and digital formats covering the traditional and emerging markets is the right way to move ahead in 2021," he said. Digital interfaces, especially, are here to stay as they will be the pivot point to a quick revival into the "normal" and beyond, he added. "The ease of use and customer's growing trust on digital mediums even for a high value purchase like the automobile has vaulted the growth of this Covid inspired revolution," Soni said. German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz India MD and CEO Martin Schwenk said the company has integrated all its dealer partners seamlessly into its e-commerce ecosystem which has resulted in ease of purchase for the customers. "We believe that buying a Mercedes should be as easy as buying food online for our customers and underlining this shift in customer mindset, we already have more than 15 per cent of our sales volumes in the first quarter of 2021 from online bookings," he noted. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Large digital companies like and have begun updating their websites to reflect the appointment of the grievance officers under the new social media rules that came into effect recently. According to government sources, large social media companies like Google, and WhatsApp have shared details with the IT Ministry as per the requirement of the new digital rules, but is still not following the norms. The new rules require significant social media intermediaries - those with other 50 lakh users - to appoint a grievance officer, nodal officer and a chief compliance officer. These personnel are required to be resident in India. Industry sources said and WhatsApp have already shared their compliance report with the Ministry of Electronics and IT, and that the details of the new grievance officers appointed are being updated to replace the existing information on these platforms. Google's 'Contact Us' page shows details of Joe Grier as a contact person with an address from Mountain View, US. The page also contains details on the grievance redressal mechanism for YouTube. As per the rules, all intermediaries have to prominently publish on their website, app or both, the name of the grievance officer and his/her contact details as well as the mechanism by which a user or a victim may make a complaint. The grievance officer will have to acknowledge the complaint within 24 hours and dispose of such complaint within a period of 15 days from the date of its receipt; and receive and acknowledge any order, notice or direction issued by the authorities. The government sources on Friday had said that is not following the norms. has not sent details of the chief compliance officer to the IT Ministry, and shared details of a lawyer working in a law firm as a nodal contact person and grievance officer, they added. This when the IT rules clearly require these designated officers of the significant social media platforms to be employees of the company and resident in India, they pointed out. While Twitter did not respond to email queries on the issue, its website mentions Dharmendra Chatur as the 'Resident Grievance Officer for India (Interim)'. Google, Facebook and WhatsApp also did not respond to detailed email queries on the appointment of the personnel as required by the new IT rules. The sources had earlier said that besides Google, Facebook and WhatsApp, other significant social media intermediaries like Koo, Sharechat, Telegram and LinkedIn too have shared details with the ministry as per the requirement of the IT norms. Under the new rules, social media companies will have to take down flagged content within 36 hours, and remove within 24 hours content that is flagged for nudity, pornography etc. The Centre has said the new rules are designed to prevent abuse and misuse of platforms, and offer users a robust forum for grievance redressal. Non-compliance with the rules would result in these platforms losing the intermediary status that provides them immunity from liabilities over any third-party data hosted by them. In other words, they could be liable for criminal action in case of complaints. After the new norms came into effect on May 26, the IT Ministry had turned up the heat on significant social media companies, asking them to immediately report compliance and provide details of the three key officials appointed. The new IT rules also require significant social media intermediaries - providing services primarily in the nature of messaging - to enable identification of the "first originator" of the information that undermines the sovereignty of India, the security of the state, or public order. The large platforms have to also publish periodic compliance reports every month mentioning the details of complaints received and action taken thereon, and the number of specific communication links or parts of information that the intermediary has removed or disabled access to in pursuance of any proactive monitoring conducted by using automated tools or other reasons. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form The daily coronavirus case count in Maharashtra is on the decline, but these numbers are close to last year's peak levels, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Sunday. Addressing people of the state through social media, he announced that the lockdown-like restrictions currently in force in the state since mid-April, have been extended by a fortnight till June 15. He said he was taking a district-wise review of the coronavirus situation and curbs will be made stricter where the numbers are on the rise, while some relaxation will be given where the case count is on the decline. Expressing concern over the steep spike in infection count in rural parts of the state, the chief minister announced "My village-Corona free" initiative, and asked the people of the state not to let their guard down while bracing for the third wave of the pandemic. "Even though patient numbers are dropping in the state, we are still at the levels of last year's peak," Thackeray said. On September 17 last year, the state had reported the highest single-day figure of 24,896, while on May 26 this year, the number was 24,752, he added. Also read: COVID-19: Zydus Cadila plans trials for its vaccine in 5-12 years age group The CM said that imposing restrictions on people was the most unsavory thing to do, but it was necessary for their health and welfare. "There is a difference between the COVID-19 virus variant between last time and this time. It is more virulent now, spreading fast and taking longer for the patient to recover," he said. "We also have another devil to deal with: black fungus. We have 3,000 cases of mucormycosis in the state. The coronavirus task force is keeping track," he said. "Steep spike in rural areas is a cause of concern. The possible third wave of the pandemic has no date. All depends on our behaviour," he said in his address. He noted that sarpanch Popatrao Pawar of Hiware Bazar in Ahmednagar district has made his village coronavirus-free. Taking inspiration from him, more sarpanchs are taking a lead in ensuring that COVID-19 does not spread in their villages. Also read: COVID-19: Serum Institute to supply 10 crore doses of Covishield in June "If few sarpanchs are doing this, why can't all sarpanchs show the way in their respective villages. We can surely defeat COVID-19," he said, adding that other villages can follow the HiwareBazar's model of COVID-19 eradication. "I appeal to all villages to come forward. The government will provide all assistance," he said. The "My village-Corona free" is the latest addition in the state government's initiatives like "My family- My responsibility", "I am responsible" and "My doctor", the chief minister said. The 'My doctor' initiative of the state government will help reach out to family doctors to avoid overmedication and hospitalisation of asymptomatic cases, he said. Thackeray said to stop the spread of the virus, people's participation and awareness are also important apart from medical treatment. "People's participation is important, a government cannot fight the pandemic alone," he said. Thackeray demanded a uniform education policy in the country and stressed the need for revolutionary decisions in the field of education in view of the pandemic. "Education policy should be uniform for the country, especially for examinations that impact the future of students like Class 12. We have decided to cancel Class 10 exams and will soon take a decision on the Class 12 exams. But I would appeal to Pime Minister Narendra Modi to take a call on having a uniform policy in education sector," he said. The chief minister said his government will take a decision on rehabilitating children orphaned due to COVID-19. The CM also talked about the vaccine shortage saying even though the state's machinery is all geared up to expedite the vaccination drive, there are limitations in terms of the availability of doses and production of vaccine. Thackeray said over two crore citizens, out of the 12 crore population in the state have been vaccinated so far. "Due to the vaccine shortage, the vaccination of 18 to 44 year age group had to be suspended, butit will resume soon," he said. Thackeray said the government is fully geared up to tackle the possible threat of a third wave. In a veiled attack on the opposition BJP who is planning a state-wide protest on June 5 on the Maratha quota issue, Thackeray said dropping infection count does not mean we should be complacent again. "Those who threaten to take to the streets if their demands are not fulfilled, I would like to tell them that coronavirus is not a government scheme," he said. "Don't be a coronavirus spreader and invite a third wave," he said. Also read: Centre's FY22 GST compensation estimated to be higher than projected Rs 1.58 lakh cr: Opp-ruled states Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi had travelled to Dominica from Antigua with his girlfriend to spend some 'good time', but was caught by Dominician Police, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has said. In an interview, Browne said, "Mehul Choksi made a mistake and the information we are getting is that Choksi travelled with his girlfriend probably to spend some good time, but he was caught in Dominica and now he can be deported back to India." Choksi has alleged that he was abducted from Jolly Harbour in Antigua and Barbuda by policemen looking like Antiguan and Indian and taken to Dominica and tortured. However, Antigua and Barbuda's police chief has denied the allegations of abduction and torture of Mehul Choksi. Also read: Mehul Choksi repatriation: Private jet at Dominica airport from India, confirms Antigua PM Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted for allegedly siphoning Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB). While Modi is in a London prison after being denied bail repeatedly and is contesting his extradition to India, Choksi took citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 using the Citizenship by Investment programme before fleeing India in the first week of January 2018. Earlier, Browne had confirmed that India has sent a private jet to Dominica along with documents pertaining to the deportation of Choksi. He has also communicated to Dominican government that Choksi should be sent to India and not to Antigua. The Dominica High Court has stayed the removal of Choksi from its soil and placed a gag order on the developments until the matter is heard in an open court on June 2. The Indian government is looking for possibilities to deport Choksi directly to India from Dominica. Also read: COVID-19: Serum Institute to supply 10 crore doses of Covishield in June Become A Subscriber A subscription opens up access to all our online content, including: our interactive E-Edition, a full archive of modern stories, exclusive and expanded online offerings, photo galleries from Caledonian-Record journalists, video reports from our media partners, extensive international, national and regional reporting by the Associated Press, and a wide variety of feature content. Emergency personnel respond Friday afternoon to a traffic collision involving a motorcycle and a car on Highway 24 near the entrance to Brandywine Bay subdivision. (Mike Shutak photo) Photo: The Canadian Press Health Canada says it is extending the expiry date for thousands of Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine doses by a month. The federal department says it made the decision to help use up existing doses and stressed the move is backed by scientific evidence. Health Canada says the vaccine manufacturer made a submission earlier this week which supported extending the expiry date for two lots of vaccine from May 31 to July 1. It says that submission included "stability and mathematical modelling data" that showed the doses would still be safe and effective for seven months rather than the original six. A Health Canada spokesman says there are 49,000 doses across Canada that were previously set to expire on Monday. The extension came as a welcome development in Ontario, where pharmacies were rushing to exhaust stockpiles of AstraZeneca shots and keep them from going to waste before the old May 31 deadline. "This change will ensure that provinces and territories are able to use up their existing inventory and provide Canadians access to much needed doses of the vaccine," Health Canada said in a statement. Photo: pixabay The British Columbia Securities Commission (BCSC) is alleging that a Vancouver man and a company run by his father defrauded a B.C. investor and illegally distributed securities. In a notice of hearing, the BCSC details the relationship between Geoffrey Rajay Sidhu, an unnamed female investor, and a company of which Sidhus father is the sole officer and director, Bracetek Industries Group Ltd. Sidhu met the investor through a social network website and learned she owned a home mortgage-free and had a modest income. Sidhu offered to give her financial advice to improve her financial situation, and the investor accepted. Sidhu recommended that she obtain a mortgage against her home and use the proceeds to invest in real estate. Sidhu then helped the investor obtain a $2,070,000 mortgage from a private lender on a one-year term. $1.75 million of mortgage proceeds After she was approved for a mortgage, Sidhu introduced her to his fathers company. She was told that Bracetek had licensed the exclusive right to develop, manufacture and sell proprietary braces used in residential and commercial construction. Sidhu recommended that the investor invest $1.75 million of the mortgage proceeds in Bracetek, telling her that the value of the investment would triple in value when his father took the company public within a year. She followed Sidhus recommendation. $89.45 in the bank BCSC alleges that before the investment, Sidhu and Bracetek failed to disclose some important details to the investor about Braceteks financial condition: It had $89.45 in its bank account and no revenues. It owed over $300,000 in unpaid compensation, office furniture, rent and credit card debt. It had never paid for the technologies used in its braces. Bracetek used $900,000 of the womans investment to preserve an option to purchase another technology from companies controlled by Sidhu. It also used $150,000 to buy back shares owned by Braceteks co-founder. Neither expenditure was disclosed to the investor. In addition, Bracetek, with Sidhu acting as an agent, distributed its securities to the investor without filing a prospectus, a formal document that describes details of an investment. A prospectus exemption was not available for the transaction. The BCSCs allegations have not been proven. The commission has asked the parties to appear at the BCSCs offices on August 11, 2021, if they wish to be heard before the commission schedules a hearing. Photo: SAANICH POLICE Assault rifles, other weapons and drugs were seized from a Glasgow Avenue home that Saanich police said had been fortified from the inside. There were high-powered weapons and ammunition just inside an entrance, police said, and a rear door was altered so it could not be used from the outside. This was a very dangerous situation that posed a potential risk to the police or any member of the public that would have approached this residence, said Const. Markus Anastasiades. Police are looking into whether the case is related to organized gangs operating on the Island and the Lower Mainland. The Street Crime Unit started an investigation in January into a region-wide drug-trafficking operation allegedly based at the residence. It culminated with a search warrant executed Thursday that led to the arrest of three people. Along with the weapons, police seized thousands of dollars in cash and substances believed to be fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine. One person was arrested at the scene and two other were arrested at Hillside Shopping Centre. Two of the three remain in custody and are facing a number of firearms and drug-trafficking charges. Yoelvis Denis Hernandez, seen here on August 20, 2020, is charged with stealing nearly 200 "U.S. government-owned medical ventilators worth about three million dollars." I happen to know a big bunch of you are going to sleep in tomorrow, this because of Memorial Day when we celebrate our noble soldiers and Armed Forces women who gave up their tomorrows so that we might live a life each of the fallen dared for us. Tomorrow is not Veterans Day (Nov.11 this year) when we heartily salute those who have valiantly served our country, whereas Memorial Day is reserved for those who went with our flag and died for it. Because of the holiday, allow me to share some lazy vignettes that are too long for the Saturday Funnies but too short for a mainstream column * * * 14 THINGS IT TOOK ME OVER 50 YEARS TO LEARN By DAVE BARRY Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night. 1.Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night. 2. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings." 3. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness." 4. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them. 5. You should not confuse your career with your life. 6. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance. 7. Never lick a steak knife. 8. The most destructive force in the universe is gossip. 9. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight saving time. 10. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests that you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment. 11. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age eleven. 12. One thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down, we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers. 13. A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. (This is very important. Pay attention. It never fails.) 14. Your friends love you anyway. Thought for the day: Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. ** * FIVE MINUTES MORE, DAD .. JUST FIVE MINUTES MORE COME ON, over there, she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide. He's a fine looking boy" the man said. "That's my son on the swing in the blue sweater." Then, looking at his watch, he called to his son. "What do you say we go, Todd?" Todd pleaded, "Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes." The man nodded and Todd continued to swing to his heart's content. Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his son. "Time to go now?" Again Todd pleaded, "Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes." The man smiled and said, "O.K." "My, you certainly are a patient father," the woman responded. The man smiled and then said, "My older son Tommy was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now I'd give anything for just five more minutes with him. I've vowed not to make the same mistake with Todd. He thinks he has five more minutes to swing. The truth is, I get Five more minutes to watch him play." Life is all about making priorities, what are your priorities? Give someone you love 5 more minutes of your time today. (Author unknown) * * * THE BLUE-RIBBON EXERCISE A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in high school by telling them the difference they each made. Using a process developed by Helice Bridges of Del Mar, California, she called each student to the front of the class, one at a time. First she told them how the student made a difference to her and the class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon imprinted with gold letters which read, Who I Am Makes a Difference. After the teacher decided to do a class project to see what kind of impact recognition would have on a community, she gave each of the students three more ribbons and instructed them to go out and spread this acknowledgment ceremony. Then they were to follow up on the results. see who honored whom and report back to the class in about a week. One of boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby company and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon and put it on his shirt. Then he gave him two extra ribbons, and said, Were doing a class project on recognition, and wed like you to go out, find somebody to honor, give them a blue ribbon, then give them the extra blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person to keep this acknowledgment ceremony going. Then please report back to me and tell me what happened. Later that day, the executive went in to see his boss, who had been noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The boss seemed very surprised. The executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon and would he give him permission to put it on him. His surprised boss said: Well sure. The executive took the blue ribbon and placed it right on his bosss jacket above his heart. As he gave him the last extra ribbon, he said, Would you do me a favor? Would you take this extra ribbon and pass it on by honoring somebody else? The young boy who first gave me the ribbons is doing a project in school and we want to keep this recognition ceremony going and find out how it affects people. That night the boss came home to his 14-year-old son and sat him down. He said, The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me and gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine, he thinks I m a creative genius! Then he puts this blue ribbon that says Who I am makes a difference on my jacket just above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and asked me to find somebody else to honor. As I was driving home tonight, I started thinking about whom I would honor with this ribbon and I thought about you. I want to honor you. My days are hectic and when I come home I don t pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for not getting good enough grades in school and for your bedroom being a mess, but somehow tonight, I just wanted to sit here and well, just let you know that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the most important person in my life. Youre a great kid, and I love you! The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldn t stop crying. His whole body shook, He looked up at his father and said through his tears, I was planning on committing suicide tomorrow, Dad, because I didn t think you loved me, Now I don t need to -- "Chicken Soup for the Soul" A two-year-old boy was shot Saturday evening on Plumwood Road. At approximately 7:23 p.m., Chattanooga Police were advised that a person had arrived at a local hospital by private vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, officers confirmed a male child was suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound. Officers learned that the incident occurred in the 3400 block of Plumwood Road and were able to locate and secure a crime scene. Investigators learned that the child was inside a house when gunshots came through striking the child. Investigators with the Violent Crimes Unit responded to conduct an investigation.Investigators learned that the child was inside a house when gunshots came through striking the child. Ina Garten is known for her easy to make recipes. Garten prides herself on making recipes that even newbie cooks can master. Despite being an experienced chef with decades of cooking experience under her belt, there is still one recipe that the Barefoot Contessa wont make at home. Ina Garten | Mike Smith/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank Garten loves to cook at home. Shes famous for her dinner parties and giving dinner party ideas. But even Garten knows that there are some dishes that are simply better when someone else is making them. There are so many dishes I love to make at home, she once told Today. But there are some things I just dont make at home. I order them in restaurants, like cassoulet. Things that take, like, days to make and theyre so good. But they have a whole team of people to help them and its just me. RELATED: Barefoot Contessa: 3 of Ina Gartens Best Lunch Recipes for a Crowd You dont have to make everything from scratch In addition to leaving the cassoulets up to restaurants, Garten doesnt believe that cooks need to stress themselves out with making everything at home. You know, I think when you cook, theres so much to do. You have to shop, you have to cook, you have to clean up, you have to set the table. Theres too much to do, she said. If theres something that you can buy in a grocery store that you dont need to make yourself, like, say, vanilla Haagen Dazs, dont make it yourself, she continued. Go buy it. Theres great bread available, artesian bread. You want really good ingredients. But if you can buy Raos tomato sauce, why make a marinara yourself? Its really delicious. Ina Gartens favorite shortcuts There are a number of store bought things that Garten has suggested using over the years. If you are making Baked Alaska, use store-bought pound cake and vanilla ice cream. You can also buy your preserves for the Baked Alaska instead of making them yourself. If you are having a dinner party, Garten suggests using puff pastries for easy appetizers. Plating is also an easy way to spice up a basic meal. When Garten orders pizza, before she serves it to her guests, she puts it on platters so it feels more elevated than when eating out of the box. RELATED: Barefoot Contessa: Ina Gartens Easy Trick to Perfect Pasta Salad When frosting cakes, Garten also has a time-saving trick. Instead of icing each layer, Garten only worries about frosting the top. She showcased this while making her carrot cake recipe. This cake is a little different, Garten said. What Ive done is, instead of frosting the whole thing, which sometimes kind of makes a mess, Im going to frost the middle and the top. And then you can really see the carrot cake through the whole thing, Garten continued. And it certainly is easier. Garten has made a living off of making elevated recipes easy and accessible to new cooks and people who dont have much time. Her cookbooks like How Easy is That, Cook Like a Pro, and Make it Ahead are specifically focused on those things. BTS started 2021 off with a bang, and now the group is continuing the quest for world domination. Recently, BTS partnered with fast food giant McDonalds to offer fans a limited-edition meal. BTS decided to work with McDonalds because the group has special memories associated with the famed restaurants. In fact, the members say they practically lived at McDonalds when they were trainees. BTS | J. Merritt/Getty Images What is included in the BTS Meal at McDonalds On May 26, McDonalds released a limited-edition BTS Meal worldwide. The meal is available at McDonalds stores until June 20. The meal includes 10 pieces of chicken McNuggets, medium fries, and a Coke. What makes this combo special is that it also comes with dipping sauces from McDonalds restaurants in South Korea. Fans can try the McNuggets with Sweet Chili Sauce and the Cajun Sauce. BTS and McDonalds also teamed up to release a line of merchandise, including hoodies, T-shirts, and bags. BTS has a lot of memories with McDonalds RELATED: BTS Has 1 Secret Tip for Keeping the Group Together Despite the Members Different Personalities BTSs collaboration with McDonalds makes a lot of sense. As they shared in a new promotional video for the BTS Meal, the group has many fond memories associated with the fast food chain. There was a McDonalds about 10 minutes away from the dorm where we used to live before we debuted, Jin recalled. Its open 24 hours, so we would go there when we were hungry, and wed ask each other, How was your day? and have a good time. Meanwhile, Jimin revealed he also ate at McDonalds as a high school student. There was a McDonalds at the bus terminal he often visited, and he often stopped by that place on the way to classes. Suga also remembers McDonalds being a place he wanted to go to as a child. He shared, When youre young, if your parents tell you to tag along to the mall, by saying they would get me McDonalds fries, then I would go. BTS has collaborated with many brands over the years RELATED: BTS Reveals Who Spends the Most Money on Clothes in the Group BTS is one of the most popular musical acts in the world at the moment. They have a huge social media presence and a very loyal fan base. Because of this, brands know that working with BTS is a good strategy for getting more products sold and frequently seek the group out for collaborations. BTS has worked with numerous companies over the years. For example, the group members have been ambassadors for internationally-renowned brands from South Korea, such as Hyundai, Samsung, and LG. They have also collaborated with clothing and apparel companies, such as Fila, Reebok, and Skechers Recently, BTS also signed a deal with French fashion house Louis Vuitton. Aside from McDonalds, BTS has worked with numerous food companies. Dunkin Donuts, Baskin-Robbins, Starbucks, Chupa Chups, and Coca-Cola are just a few examples. BTSs popularity doesnt seem to be slowing down anytime soon, so fans will likely continue to see BTS land exciting advertising deals in the coming years. Many celebrity friendships stand the test of time. Some began as co-stars, like Friends actors Courteney Cox and Jennifer Aniston. Others, like Jon Hamm and Paul Rudd, met before becoming actors. Did Julianne Hough and Nina Dobrev meet before or after becoming famous? Julianne Hough worked on Dancing with the Stars Julianne Hough is officially hanging up her dancing shoes as a #DWTS judge: https://t.co/i7HJttNpfD pic.twitter.com/VUSZk8MmXa E! News (@enews) February 18, 2016 Hough grew up competitively dancing. In 2007, she was cast as a dancer in Dancing with the Stars, a role she stayed in from seasons 4 through 8. She won during her first two seasons, becoming the youngest dancer on the program to take home the mirrorball trophy. Hough has returned a handful of times over the years as a judge. In addition to DWTS, Hough pursued music and acting careers. Her 2008 self-titled debut brought mixed reviews but charted on the Billboard 200. Additionally, shes appeared in films such as Rock of Ages, Safe Haven, and Dirty Grandpa. Hough also starred in the 2016 TV special Grease: Live as Sandy. Nina Dobrev starred The Vampire Diaries It's official: Nina Dobrev is leaving 'The Vampire Diaries': http://t.co/GTyt7IaC08 [Insert crying emoji here.] pic.twitter.com/Ap61GWZWSv Entertainment Weekly (@EW) April 7, 2015 Dobrev began acting as a child growing up in Canada. She portrayed Mia Jones in the popular teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation starting in 2006, exiting after just two seasons as a central cast member. Dobrev also made a few minor movie appearances during this time. The actor left Degrassi for a good reason: She landed another, bigger gig. Dobrev starred in the CW supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries beginning in 2009. After leaving the show with season 6, she worked on several more films and even landed her first sitcom, the short-lived Fam, on CBS. They met via a mutual friend Nina Dobrev (L) and Julianne Hough onstage during the 2016 American Music Awards on November 20, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. | Kevin Winter/Getty Images Hough and Dobrev met after the formers DWTS days and the height of the latters TVD stardom via their hairstylist and friend, Riawna Capri. Julianne and I were both going through life crises at the time, and we were using that mutual friend as a free therapist, kind of, Dobrev said on The Drew Barrymore Show in May 2021. RELATED: Julianne Hough and Nina Dobrev May Be BFFs but Is One Richer? The actor continued. It got to a degree where she was so sick of hearing about our problems that were very similar that she was like, OK, Im going to put you guys together, and you guys can use each other for therapy, and I can remove myself. I feel like youll be best friends. And she was right, Dobrev finished. Dobrev and Houghs business venture From Lakers games to award shows, and from premieres to the Met Gala, Hough and Dobrev have spent a lot of time together in public over the years. They also frequently share photos of their joint vacations, including snowboarding with Dobrevs boyfriend, Shaun White. Now, theyve started a business together. I never knew how much hard work and FUN it would be to start a business, Dobrev wrote on Instagram. Doing it with my best friend was the best decision I could have made. Sharing this chapter with @juleshough makes the difficult days a breeze and the highs that much HIGHER. Starzs Power Universe has become one of the biggest franchises on television. Set in New York City, the original series centered James Ghost St. Patrick (Omari Hardwick), a New York kingpin on the verge of going legit. With a brand new mega-popular nightclub Truth, a beautiful wife Tasha (Naturi Naughton), and three beautiful children, James future as a legit businessman appears to be set in stone. However, what James does not anticipate is his high school sweetheart Angela (Lela Loren) reentering his life. He also doesnt realize that shes an FBI prosecutor until its too late. To make matters worst, James best friend and partner in his drug empire, Tommy (Joseph Sikora) has no interest in becoming legit, nor does he have much control over his violent temper. Power ended after six seasons with James dying at the hand of his son, Tariq (Michael Rainey Jr.). However, now that the show has spawned four additional spinoffs, Power Book II: Ghost and the forthcoming Power Book III: Raising Kanan, Power Book IV: Force, and Power Book V: Influence fans are convinced that Hardwick will return to the Power Universe at some point and reprise his role. Omari Hardwick | Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for CNN Why was Omari Hardwicks character nicknamed Ghost in Power? Born in Queens, New York, James learned to survive on the streets with his best friend Tommy from an early age. The pair got into the drug game as a means of survival. They began selling for dealers Kanan (Curtis 50 Cent Jackson) and Breeze. Eventually, James and Kanan killed Breeze and Kanan took over as boss until James plotted against him, getting him arrested and putting James and Tommy in the position to take over the empire. James earned his nickname Ghost from his early years of being on the streets and being able to vanish before being spotted by police. Prior to opening Truth, James was never photographed publically and many people knew very little about him. RELATED: Power Book II: Ghost Season 2: Release Date, Plot Details, and Everything Else We Know Will Omari Hardwick return to the Power Universe? James dies in the final season of Power. Power Book II: Ghost picks up where the original series left off with Tariq St. Patrick. James teenage son, Tariq trying to keep his life as a college student separate from his drug dealing with the Tejada family. Though we saw Tariq shoot James, and we watched him bleed out on the floor of Truth, some fans still arent convinced that the kingpin is dead. During a pivotal scene near the end of Power Book II Season 1, Tommy confronts Tariq at James grave, but Monet Tejana (Mary J. Blige) intervenes. Fans say that the only other time weve seen an ambulance is after Ghost was shot at Truth. This ambulance truck itself is referencing the fact that there was an ambulance that left Truth too early after Ghost had been shot, a Youtube video about this theory revealed. And of all places, where does this happen? At the supposed burial site of James St. Patrick. Fans also pointed out that a shadowy figure appears to get out of the car to watch Tariqs graveyard confession about killing his father. Omari Hardwick just landed a major movie role amid rumors he will return to the Power Universe As much as fans would love to see the Army of the Dead actor return to the Power Universe, it seems extremely unlikely. Hardwick just landed a major movie deal which will likely consume his schedule. Hardwick has been cast in the upcoming Netflix sci-fi movie, The Mothership, alongside Halle Berry, John Ortiz, and Molly Parker. The film will follow Berrys character Sara Morse, whose husband mysteriously disappeared a year prior. Sara then discovers an extraterrestrial object underneath her house which leads to a hunt to find her husband, as well as discovering the truth about his disappearance. It also looks like Hardwick could reprise his role in a sequel for Army of the Dead. Prince Harry has been living in California since 2020, when he and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, resigned from their roles as senior working royals. Since then, the pair have purchased their first home, signed major deals with Netflix and Spotify, and much more. Since their lives are so different from the British royal family, Prince Harry found out about Prince Philips death in a pretty shocking way. Prince Harry| Victoria Jones/PA Wire Prince Philip died at age 99 Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh died at age 99 on April 9, 2021. Though the prince had been hospitalized for some pre-existing health issues in the months prior, he had been doing well and was recovering at home with Queen Elizabeth II. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle, the Palace released in a statement. The queen also released a devastating statement as the world began to mourn the duke. It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Buckingham Palace announced. However, Prince Harry found out about Prince Philips death very differently. RELATED: Prince Harry Says an Argument With Meghan Markle Inspired Him to Start Therapy How did Prince Harry find out about Prince Philips death? Since California is eight hours behind the U.K., TMZ reports that Prince Harry was sleeping as the British royal family awoke to the news that Prince Philip had died in his sleep. As a result, the Palace had the U.S. Embassy dial the Sussexes home just before 3 a.m. California time. However, since the prince was sleeping, the Embassys calls went unanswered. As a result, the Embassy contacted the Santa Barbara Sheriffs Department, who then sent an officer to the Sussexes Montecito estate. The officer woke the prince up and relayed the news of the Duke of Edinburghs death. The prince later said that returning to London for his grandfathers funeral triggered some past traumas. I was worried about it, I was afraid about it, he told the Associated Press while promoting his new mental health program on Apple TV+, The Me You Cant See. Going through the motions and being able to lean on the toolbox, and lean on the learnings that Ive grown from over the past, it definitely made it a lot easier, but the heart still pounds. RELATED: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Are Closer to Oprah Winfrey Than Fans Realize Prince Harry paid tribute to Prince Philip After finding out about his grandfathers death, Prince Harry paid tribute to the late Royal Navy veteran. My grandfather was a man of service, honour, and great humour, he shared on the website for Archewell Foundation. He was authentically himself, with a seriously sharp wit, and could hold the attention of any room due to his charmand also because you never knew what he might say next. The prince went on to share some personal memories for the man who had been a pillar in the royal fold for most of his life. To me, like many of you who have lost a loved one or grandparent over the pain of this past year, he was my grandpa: master of the barbecue, legend of banter, and cheeky right til the end. Forty-one million Americans say they need life insurance but dont have it, according to LIMRAs 2020 Insurance Barometer Study. Others are insured but dont have enough coverage. As the 2021 Cheshire Memorial Day Motorcade Parade arrives, the Parade Committee would like to encourage all Cheshire residents along the Parade route to get ready to cheer on the military veterans who will be participating in cars throughout the town. Local veterans from all military branches who answered the call to service to their country will drive, or be driven, in this special motorcade that will set off from the Green at 1:30 p.m. today, May 30. Parade organizers are requesting all residents to place American flags on their houses or in their yards and come out to honor these veterans as they pass by. Most cars will have the names of the veterans or veteran organizations on the sides of the cars, and the cheers as they pass are very much appreciated. The Cheshire Veterans Council also asks for residents to use this time to teach the children in attendance to place their hands over their hearts and take off their hats or caps so they realize the meaning of Memorial Day. It is important for all to remember that this day is about honoring those who sacrificed their lives in service to our country. Organizers would like residents to continue to consider social distancing and not congregate in mass gatherings along the route, in deference to the pandemic, which is still affecting many in our state and in our town. The Veteran motorcade will travel the following route approved by the Cheshire Police Department: Start at Cheshire First Congregational Church Green/Wallingford Rd. Right on Woodpond Rd. Right on Strathmore Dr. Right on Wood Hill Rd. Left on Merwin Cir. Right on Radmere Rd. Right on Jinny Hill Rd. Left on Sperry Rd. Right on Cook Hill Rd. Through Elim Park Continue on South Brooksvale Rd. Right on Avon Blvd. Left on North Brooksvale Rd. Right on Towpath Ln. Left on Higgins Rd. Right on Sorghum Mill Dr. Right on Mountain Rd. Right on Cornwall Ave. Left on Timber Ln. Left on Rustic Ln. Left on Oak Ave. Left on Ives Row Right on Mountain Rd. Right on West Main St. Left on Lynwood Dr. Left on Peck La. Right on Cambridge Dr. Right on Chestnut St. Right on Sheridan Dr. Left on Carlton Dr., merge onto Westmore Rd. Left on West Main St. Left on Robin La. Right on Deepwood Dr. Left on West Main St. Left on Maple Ave. Left on Park Pl. Left on Lincoln Dr., merge onto South Rolling Acres Rd. Left on Overlook Dr. Right on Contour Dr. Left on Curve Hill Rd. Left on Highland Ave. Right on Creamery Rd. Right on Wolf Hill Rd. Left on Payne Dr., merge onto Redstone Dr. Left on Wolf Hill Rd. merge onto Country Club Rd. Right on Club La. Right on Greenwood Dr., merge onto Redwood Dr. Right on Greenwood Dr. Right on Wiese Rd. Right on Academy Rd. Left on Carriage Dr. Left on Far Horizon Dr. Left on Village Dr. Right on Wallingford Rd. Straight through Church Dr. Veterans who served our country in wartime and peacetime, from World War II through the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, will be part of this special motorcade which will travel throughout the town. The following veterans or veteran organizations will be taking part in the Memorial Day Motorcade of Veterans: Rene Gagnon (U.S. Navy Seabee) WWII, Korea, Vietnam Wars, 2021 Honorary Co-Grand Marshal Jim Hart (U.S. Army Air Force) WWII, 2021 Honorary Co-Grand Marshal John White (U.S. Navy) Vietnam; Parade Marshal Rabbi Micah Ellison (2021 Parade Chaplain) John Bate (U.S. Coast Guard/CT National Guard) Vietnam War era Steve Blake (U.S. Army) 1980-2003, Gulf War Leigh Cogle (US Army Reserves) 1994-2002 Phil Cogle (US Army) 1964-1967 Ford Cole (U.S. Navy) Vietnam War Joe Cordova (U.S. Navy) Vietnam War Fred Coughlin (U.S. Army) Korean War Irv Daubert (U.S. Army Air Force) WWII Ed Dobbins Jr., (U.S. Army) Desert Shield. John Dyer (U.S. Army) WWII Don Falk (U.S. Army) Vietnam War Jeff Falk (U.S. Navy) 1995-2003 Bert Finkel (U.S. Air Force) Vietnam, Gulf War Robert Formica (U.S. Air Force) 1979-1983 Jeff Hanke (U.S. Navy) 1994-2014, Afghanistan Bruce Humiston (U.S. Army) 1965-71 Vietnam War Era Dick Kelly (U.S. Air Force) Vietnam Jr Lauber (U.S. Marine Corps) 2004-2008 Iraq War; Purple Heart Recipient; Combat Vets Assoc. Jim Lauber (U.S. Marine Corps) 1974-1978 Vietnam War Era; Marine Corps League Scott Lavallee (U.S. Coast Guard) 1978-2001; Member of Nam Knights MC Theodore Mackey (U.S. Navy /Seal Team 2) Vietnam War Anthony Maniscalco (U.S. Air Force) Korean War Vin Masotta (U.S. Air Force) Vietnam War era Jay Polaski (U.S. Army) 1998-2001 Gulf War John Rose (U.S. Navy) Vietnam War Harvey Russell (U.S. Navy) 1976-1980; Navy Reserves 1980-1983 Greg St. Martin (U.S. Navy) First Gulf War Era 1987-1991; VFW Post 10052 Emily Trudeau (U.S. Navy) Amy Waraksa (U.S. Navy) 1999-2004, Operation Enduring Freedom & Operation Iraqi Freedom Bob White (U.S. Navy) Vietnam Marc Youngquist (U.S. Marine Corps/U.S. Army) Vietnam, Desert Storm, 9/11, Iraq Different veteran organizations will also be represented by other vehicles, as well as the Parade Vehicle acknowledging what Memorial Day is all about: Matt Pardee (Pause. Honor. Remember.) Memorial Day Tribute Car Escort Sue Bieler/Nancy Bracket (Representing Army Air Force Roundtable of CT) Hayley Falk (Representing Because of the Brave) Leslie Marinaro (Representing Cheshire Veterans Council/Parade Committee) The Cheshire Police Department will be leading and organizing the Motorcade The Cheshire Fire Department will follow the Motorcade B.R.A.V.E. Club, Cheshire High School All are urged to practice social distancing at areas where a crowd may gather. Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, For ever and ever. Amen. Archaeologist known for using the Bible as her guide, unearthing King Davids palace, dies at 64 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Eilat Mazar, one of Jerusalems foremost archaeologists who discovered King Davids palace in the City of David and once said, I work with the Bible in one hand and the tools of excavation in the other, has died at age of 64. A field archaeologist, a scholar and a lecturer at the Hebrew Universitys Institute of Archaeology in Jerusalem, Mazar is being remembered for her passion and compassion. Both as an archaeologist and a human being, she was deeply passionate and compassionate, recalled Etgar Lefkovits, a journalist at The Jerusalem Post. A lover of history and archaeology and an ardent patriot, her face would shine with light and her eyes sparkle as she detailed centuries past, and did the work to connect the dots that is archaeology, Lefkovits wrote. Mazars discoveries include some of the earliest known artifacts in the ancient city, dating as far back as the 12th and 11th centuries BCE, and she saw them as scientifically excavated evidence of the biblical united monarchy, The Times of Israel reported. At times, she would offer an interpretation that his academic colleagues disagreed with, especially the structure she excavated in 2005 in the City of David that is ascribed as King Davids palace. Strong like the bedrock she sifted through, she pushed ahead undeterred by her critiques, and buoyed by her spirit. She and history were intertwined as one, according to Lefkovits. I work with the Bible in one hand and the tools of excavation in the other, the journalist quoted Mazar as saying. The Bible is the most important historical source and therefore deserves special attention. After discovering the City of David, Mazar also found sections of King Solomons walls, clay seals belonging to King Hezekiah and possibly Isaiah the prophet, Lefkovits added. In 2018, Mazar wrote in an article in Biblical Archaeology Review titled, "Is This the Prophet Isaiah's Signature?" that that ancient Hebrew script found on a half-inch oval of clay, dating back to the eighth century B.C., could potentially have belonged to Isaiah the prophet. The book of Isaiah in the Old Testament describes prophecies about the coming Messiah hundreds of years before Jesus Christ was born, with the Apostle Matthew quoting Isaiah later on in the New Testament when talking about John the Baptist's ministry. The piece of clay, also called a bulla, was one of 34 of its kind originally found during the Ophel excavations at the southern wall of Jerusalem's Temple Mount in 2009. The seals were found in Iron Age garbage pits, originally located outside the wall. As a child, Mazar would often accompany her grandfather, professor Benjamin Mazar, in his excavations of ancient Jerusalem, particularly in the City of David and in the Robinsons Arch area near the Western Wall, according to The Times of Israel. Mazar talked about the historicity of the biblical text being a blueprint for her academic archaeological excavation. One of the many things I learned from my grandfather was how to relate to the biblical text: Pore over it again and again, for it contains within it descriptions of genuine historical reality, Mazar wrote in a 2006 Biblical Archaeology Review article. It is not a simple matter to differentiate the layers of textual sources that have been piled one atop the other over generations; we dont always have the tools to do it. But it is clear that concealed within the biblical text are grains of detailed historical truth. Pastor Greg Laurie shares how to overcome the devil in sermon on Revelation 11-12 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Greg Laurie, senior pastor and founder of the multi-campus Harvest Christian Fellowship in California, explained in a sermon how Christians can overcome the devil as all are in an invisible war, a spiritual battle. In the recent sermon based on Chapters 11 and 12 of the book of Revelation, Laurie asked the listeners, Are you overcoming the devil, or are you being overcome by the devil? Being overcome by the devil means when you find yourself captive to a sin and it gets you again and again and again. Referring to Ephesians Chapter 6, Laurie said we're not wrestling against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this age, a spiritual host of wickedness in heavenly places. Its a very real battle, the megachurch pastor stressed. To describe the battle, the pastor shared that in the Last Days, Jerusalem will be the center of End Times events. And for that to happen, Jerusalem must be in Jewish hands and the Third Temple must be rebuilt, he said, adding that the Antichrist will help the Jews rebuild their Temple, and then desecrate it. Here we are now, in 2021, and, as usual, the Middle East, Israel and specifically Jerusalem is in the news. Jerusalem ironically means the City of Peace, yet more wars have been fought at her doorstep than in any other city in the entire world. Laurie then shared two points that can help a Christian overcome the devil. One, the devil knows his days are numbered, he said. Hes working through his network of demon powers and we find this battle in Heaven, Laurie said. This is a heavenly battle between the angels of God under the direction of Michael the Archangel and Lucifer, the son of the morning, the powerful fallen angel, and his demon forces. So the devil and his angels cannot defeat these powerful angels from God, he added. Point No. 2, he said, is that the devil does not want Christians to know that his primary attack comes through accusation. He tempts you and, by the way, its not a sin to be tempted because temptation comes at the worst time, like maybe youre listening to a message like right now and all of a sudden an evil thought comes into your mind and then the devil condemns you for having an evil thought. Its not a sin to be tempted; its only a sin if you give in to the temptation. Its not the bait that constitutes sin; its the bite, he explained. The pastor continued, Hell say, No one will ever know. No one will ever be aware of what youve done. Go for it. Youll have fun. And, so, you go for it and then the devil comes back to you and says, You miserable hypocrite, you call yourself a Christian? The devil also tells us, Dont even pray. Dont even read your Bible; that would be the ultimate act of hypocrisy. Dont you dare show your ugly face in church. Laurie cautioned that Christians need to know the difference between Satans accusations and the Holy Spirits conviction. See, when a Christian sins and yes we will sin the Holy Spirit will convict or convince you of your sin. Why? To drive you into shame? No. To bring you back to Jesus, he explained. Laurie further said, God doesnt hear your prayers based on what youve done. He hears your prayers based on what Hes done sending the Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross in your place. So theres nothing I need to do to earn the favor of God. To conclude, Laurie encouraged the congregants not to listen to Satan. Hes a liar and the father of lies. God hears your prayers. God loves you and if youve sinned against Him, He will forgive you no matter what you have done. Satan does not want you to know that there is forgiveness through Jesus Christ. But heres what God says if you will confess your sin. Hes faithful and just, [and He will] forgive you your sin and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Postcard from Lewis and Clarks Fort Clatsop Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Almost to the day, I stood near where the American explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark first glimpsed the Pacific Ocean in November 1805. Lewis and Clarks Corps of Discovery reached this point, near present-day Astoria in northwest Oregon, after exploring lands acquired by the United States from France in the Louisiana Purchase. Their great exploration would be fundamental to the American experience. For this was a time when the sons of the Founding Fathers and other 1776 revolutionaries were coming of age and shaping the very American identity that would transform the U.S. into a fledgling world power within a century. The reconstructed Fort Clatsop, part of the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, sits near where the original fort is believed to have been built. It was here where the corps wintered before leaving in March 1806 to make their way back and give a report of their explorations to President Thomas Jefferson. Covering just 50 square feet, a short wooden palisade runs between two rows of log cabin barracks. In other words, this is not an imposing military fortification. While countless historical landmarks, sights and other attractions can be found across the 16-state Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, Fort Clatsop is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in learning more about this important chapter in American history the kind of history targeted by wokist cancel culture. In the summer, interpretive programs include authentically dressed reenactors and musket firings. From the fort, be sure to also drive down along the Oregon coast to Ecola State Park, where Clark and the legendary Sacagawea bartered with local Indians for 300 pounds of blubber and oil from a beached whale. Today, the beached whale is long gone, but the parks scenic trails lead to what at the time was called the most delightful views in nature. This description remains true today. Not to be missed is the 126-foot Astoria Column, the design of which was inspired by Romes Trajan Column. The view from the observation deck atop the columns 164 steps is incredible. If you go In Astoria one finds a charming town with a rich history dating back to her 19th century days as the company town of John Jacob Astors American Fur Company. For hotels, the Holiday Inn Express and Cannery Pier Hotel & Spa are recommended. The closest airport is in Portland, about 90 minutes by car from Astoria. Follow @dennislennox on Instagram and Twitter. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment When I was growing up, I remember being frustrated with seeing what appeared to be people getting away with lying. In his wisdom, my grandfather helped provide a nugget of wisdom I have never forgotten: "Truth is the daughter of time". In having lived a long life, he learned that time allows falsehood to fall and the truth to emerge. Jesus Christ similarly said, For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be known Luke 8:17 (KJV). Starting with the beginning of the COVID crisis last year until now, we are seeing time giving birth to truths that were previously attacked by the media as falsehood. As this has involved issues of utmost importance to the nation, we cannot allow the lessons to be lost. Its time for the mainstream media to stand down, soul search, and reform for the sake of the nation. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the mainstream media and progressive left dug in defending what they reported as certain truth about the origin of the virus: that it originated in a Wuhan wet-market and that was the only credible possibility. Dr. Anthony Fauci and associated experts, despite potential conflicts of interest in sending grants through an intermediary for gain-of-function research in Wuhan, pushed the wet-market theory. But the wet-market theory was beyond problematic: The characteristics of the virus appeared to come from gain-of-function and not nature and the bats alleged as the source of COVID-19 were from habitats around 1,000 miles away. Conversely, the theory that the virus originated in the Wuhan Institute of Virology lab was always much more likely: Doctors from the lab exhibited signs of the virus in 2019 and it was the only level 4 virology facility in China. Regardless, the media lampooned and criticized anyone suggesting COVID-19 came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology lab. A number of conservatives proposed that COVID-19 likely originated in the Wuhan lab. President Trump stated he believed the Wuhan lab was the source of COVID-19, and when the World Health Organization (WHO) appeared to back the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) wet-market theory, Trump decided to withdraw American support from WHO. When asked about seeing evidence of the Wuhan lab theory in May 2020, Trump said: Yes I have. Yes I have. And I think the World Health Organization should be ashamed of themselves" for following the CCP narrative. The media was unrelenting in attacking the Wuhan lab theory. The New York Times ran this headline: "Sen. Tom Cotton Repeats Fringe Theory of Coronavirus Origins". The Washington Post wrote this headline about Tom Cottons lab theory: Tom Cotton Keeps Repeating a Coronavirus Conspiracy Theory That Was Already Debunked. The Washington Post went so far as to write this article headline: "New research explores how conservative media misinformation may have intensified the severity of the pandemic". However, now more scientists are saying that COVID-19 likely did come out of the Wuhan lab. Dr. Fauci has finally acknowledged the real possibility of the Wuhan lab origin theory. The Washington Post ran a fact-checking article titled: How the Wuhan lab-leak theory suddenly became credible. Fox described the turnaround this way: but the environment changed over the weekend when the Wall Street Journal, citing U.S. intelligence sources, reported that three Wuhan researchers were hospitalized with Covid-like symptoms in November 2019 shortly before the first virus case was reported. What the conservative half of the nation sees is the constant media cycle of demeaning and lampooning those opposing the media's progressive party line. Anyone disagreeing is engaging in conspiracy theories or the big lie. Just as infuriating, when shown wrong, most in the mainstream media just move on to the next story without apology. To many, the media has become a propaganda arm of the progressive left. Its time for a mainstream media to stand down and start soul-searching to reform to become a trusted institution once again. Truth is the daughter of time, and so is trust. It will take time to birth trust. Craig Groeschel offers biblical wisdom for pastors feeling 'burnout' coming out of pandemic Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Life.Church Senior Pastor Craig Groeschel has encouraged church leaders who are feeling a sense of uselessness, exhaustion" and "burnout coming out of the pandemic to allow the needs of their communities and the power of the Gospel to compel them to fulfill their God-given mission. Our nation and many parts of the world are starting to function, not normally, but moving in the trajectory of normal again. I think it's a good time to reset it and take an account: What do we still have? What are our goals? How, in any way, do our goals differ moving forward? the Oklahoma-based pastor said during Exponential's Reset Summit last week. Pastors need to lead with confidence moving forward, Groeschel said, and will need to examine the whys behind what we do. Even though we don't have all the answers ... I am 100% confident in the power of the Gospel and 100% confident in the need for the Church and in the ability for the Church to endure and to thrive. I also believe that it's in times like this that the Church should be thriving. I both have unanswered questions like everybody else ... and confidence together. The bestselling author went on to identify some of the issues hes seen pastors and church leaders face as the pandemic slows and churches begin to reopen. He said that in some cases, hes seen some pastors struggle with feeling a sense of uselessness, exhaustion [and] burnout." In other cases, the pastor said church leaders are dealing with a sense of loss and grief as their churches reopen and attendance is low, while others have seen an increase in numbers over the last few months. No matter what the state is, I'm going to be mission-focused, mission-centric in everything that we do, and go back to: Why does the Church matter? Who is the Church to God? What is our calling in the world? How do we need to do Church? ... How do we think about church building, church planting? he said. I don't want to rebuild to the past; I want to build to the future, he added. Groeschel, who contracted COVID-19 last March, told pastors: You're not going to get everybody back that was coming 18 months ago. Just not gonna happen. I wouldn't wake up talking about getting everybody back; I'd wake up thinking, How do we reach the lost? How do we assimilate them into a larger Body of Christ? And let that mission overwhelm any grief you have of what you've lost. Let it move you past any sense of feeling displaced. We've got more work to do, he stressed. And very important work to do to minister to people that are ripe for the Gospel right now, meaning, I guarantee there are more people addicted than there was 18 months ago. There's more marriages hurting, there are more suicidal thoughts, there's more depression and more loneliness, more brokenness. The Gospel works in any environment ... it's desperately needed right now. Let the opportunity and the needs before you and the power of the Gospel drive you out of whatever pain you have to be compelled into a mission of doing what we're uniquely created to do. Groeschel, whose church has 90,000 attendees at its 34 campuses spread over 10 states, admitted that since the pandemic, hes had to work through the funk himself, admitting hes woken up so many times feeling confused and inadequate. But then I go back to, the Word of God is everlasting. His Church, the bride of Christ, will endure. We've endured more difficult times than this, and ... we may be moving into some shakiness and persecution. That's exactly what the Church needs to wake her up and to unify her, to go back to preaching the purity of the Gospel maybe in a way that we weren't as compelled to do before. The theme of this years Exponential's RESET Summit was Leading With Confidence in the Post-COVID Church. Other speakers included Francis Chan, Matt Chandler, and pastor and author Pete Scazzero. Chandler, head of Village Church in Texas, said during his session that though there is a growing hostility toward the Church, the Body of Christ was made for this moment and stressed the need for discipleship. God created us for this moment. Let's step into it with all the zeal of those who understand how the story ends, he said. If the Church believes it's over and we've lost, and it's over ... what an opportunity we just squandered, he said. People are more lonely, more desperate. Secularism has been exposed as lacking; our sexual ethics is starting to show the cracks in its ideology. What an opportunity to step in and be this plausibility structure that, life can be different than you see it, life can be different than you know it, and here's a group of people that embody that and believe it and pray and worship and love one another in a way that shows you there's something better than the life you're in. Paula Whites ex-husband says 'slanderous' Facebook post accusing her of affairs made by hacker Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A post on the Facebook account of Without Walls International Church leader Randy White accusing his televangelist ex-wife, Paula White-Cain, of having multiple affairs with married men during their marriage was an unfortunate and slanderous post resulting from a hack, his church said. Last night, the Facebook account of Bishop Randy A White, of Without Walls International Church, was hacked. As a result, a post of a very unfortunate nature was posted under his account. We at WWIC are aware of these events, as well as other recent attacks active in nature to personally destroy our pastor, and our church, the church noted in a statement Wednesday. We are currently working not only to make sure this does not happen again, but to identify the person responsible for these slanderous posts. WWIC is in a season of growth, and there are people that are unhappy about what God is doing. However, this being said, years of ministry has taught us that when the enemy attacks this much, there is a blessing on the way, the statement continued. The post attacking former President Donald Trumps spiritual adviser has already been shared on the social platform at least 4,500 times. For 10 years I have watched ppl listen to her lies, this was the night she begged me to tell the ppl we were getting a divorce ... I said no! But her mind was made up. She sent 10 men to my house and told me how wrong I was for divorcing her..... I said men you are talking to the wrong person. I wanted to stay married. But when she had at least 5 multiple affairs to all married men, she needed another way out. I can tell you now that 80% person of what she has said, preached and wrote about isnt even close to the truth!!! I know the whole truth because I had to live it..... want more??? let me know #betrayal #Paulawhitelies, the post on Randy Whites hacked Facebook account stated. The Christian Post reached out to the ministries of Paula White and her ex-husband Thursday morning but they did not immediately respond. The former couple announced their decision to divorce in the summer of 2007 after nearly 18 years of marriage. "It's the most difficult decision I've ever had to make in my entire life," Randy White told the congregation at Without Walls International in Tampa, Florida, which he and his then-wife co-founded. In its statement Wednesday, Without Walls International Church acknowledged Paula Whites contribution to the ministry and said she and her ex-husband currently enjoy a good relationship. First let us say, we at WWIC stand by our Bishop Randy White. Second we want to say, that Paula White was a vital part to the success of our church, and she has moved on with her life, ministry, and so has Bishop Randy A White," the statement added. "We wish nothing but the best for her. Bishop Randy has a good relationship with Pastor Paula. They are both focused on building Gods Kingdom. Let us all move on from these distractions, and focus on the Work of the Lord." The controversial post from Pastor Randy White's Facebook account remained live as of Thursday afternoon. Christian man told can't use 'Christ,' 'Jesus' on Sweden license plate, could 'cause offense' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Swedish officials blocked a Christian mans request to include the words Christ or Jesus on his license plate, claiming the move could cause offense to those opposed to Christianity. The Swedish Transport Agency rejected Cesar Kisangani Makombes application to add the word Kristus the Swedish word for Christ on his car registration plate, according to Swedish newspaper The Local. When he asked to use the name Jesus instead, he was informed that word was blocked, too. We deny any words that we believe can cause offense. Among other things, we say no to everything that has any religious connotations no matter which connotations," Mikael Andersson, press officer for the Transport Agency, said. Currently, theres no way for people to appeal the decisions made by the agency officials, who reportedly so far rejected 94 license plates. Makombe told regional newspaper Goteborg Direkt he would drop the request but said he did not understand the authority's decision. "As a Christian, you should not make war on those who make decisions in this country, instead we must pray for them," he said. He pointed out that Sweden is a Christian country that bears a cross on its flag yet claims displays of religiosity are offensive to the general population. There are more than 3,500 churches in Sweden and the Swedish Church (Svenska Kyrkan) says it has 6.3 million members. However, a recent study found that 75 percent of young adults in Sweden categorize themselves as non-religious, and only about 5 percent of the population actually belong to a congregation and are regular churchgoers. Religious liberty has come under threat in Sweden in recent years amid increasing secularization. Last year, Germund Hesslow, a professor of neurophysiology at Lund University, was investigated by his university after he spoke about the biological differences between men and women. The professor came under fire after he cited empirical research which supports the idea that there are differences between men and women which are biologically founded and therefore genders cannot be regarded as social constructs alone." Hesslow was later investigated after one female student complained that the professor had expressed his personal anti-feminist agenda, Academic Rights Watch reported. The church is not exempt from the push for political correctness: In 2017, the Church of Sweden sparked controversy after urging its clergy to use more gender-neutral language when referring to God and to avoid referring to the deity as Lord or he to avoid offense. "Theologically, for instance, we know that God is beyond our gender determinations, God is not human," Archbishop Antje Jackelen, who heads the former state church in Uppsala, said at the time. Back in 2009, the Church of Sweden consecrated its first lesbian bishop in the face of Eva Brunne, and in the same year, it voted in favor of blessing same-sex marriages. In 2005, Ake Green, pastor of a Pentecostal congregation in Kalmar, Sweden, was sentenced to one month in prison under the countrys law against hate speech for preaching a sermon condemning homosexuality as "a cancer on society. Church in Sweden names Greta Thunberg 'successor' to Jesus Christ Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Swedish church's tweet naming teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg as the "successor" to Jesus Christ has again received backlash after it was unearthed following the U.N.'s Climate Change Summit. Announcement! Jesus of Nazareth has now appointed one of his successors, Greta Thunberg, the Church of Limhamn wrote on Twitter on Dec. 1, 2018. Limhamn is a municipality in southern Sweden. This announcement, which was both lauded and criticized on Twitter, was unearthed following Thunberg's speech at the U.N.'s Climate Action Summit in New York City on Sept. 23. The church's support for climate activism was shared in nearby Malmo, where the Church of Sweden said it would be ringing its church bells in solidarity with the global climate strike that was held Sept. 20-27. In conjunction with the Global Climate Strike, church bells ring and we gather for prayer for the future of the earth, the church announced. We pray that we believe that man is responsible for nurturing and managing Creation so that children are given the opportunity for a future. We pray that we know that climate change affects the most vulnerable poor, children and women. We pray that we believe in mans ability to change and change. The Limhamn church retweeted Twitter users who supported what they described as a "humorous" post about the teenage activist being a successor to Christ, insisting that their use of the word was legitimate. Here you can read more about the word success and its different meanings /nuances, the church added in a post on Twitter on Dec. 3, 2018. Following a backlash on Twitter, however, the account was abandoned days later on Dec. 6, 2018, with a message saying: "Dear twitter, If we have hurt someone we apologize, it has never been our opinion. Our sense has been to talk about Jesus Christ in our own way. Now we leave the arena. Thank you for your commitment, joy and debate. God bless you! Jonas Persson, ward pastor." "The tweets have not been deleted, but the account was true to its word and has remained inactive since Dec. 6," the Washington Examiner noted Monday. The national church of Sweden is evangelical Lutheran but is no longer the Nordic nation's official religion. The 16-year-old Thunberg has over 2.7 million followers on Twitter. Thunberg's international activism has been both applauded and criticized in recent months. Environmental advocates and their supporters consider her words a powerful contribution to the fight against climate change. Critics say she is being used in an inappropriate manner by adults with an agenda of their own. People are suffering, people are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing, Thunberg asserted at the U.N. last week. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairytales of eternal economic growth. How dare you. Sweden discriminates against elderly with COVID-19; 'active euthanasia,' critics say Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Controversy is brewing in Sweden amid reports that elderly patients infected with the coronavirus were not only denied crucial medical care but pushed into premature death in the nation's nursing homes. According to Bioedge, health authorities in the Scandinavian nation have received many complaints about how their elderly relatives were treated while in such homes. Those suspected to have COVID-19 were quickly placed on palliative care, given morphine, and denied supplementary oxygen and intravenous fluids and nutrition. For many residents, this was essentially a death sentence. Approximately half of all coronavirus deaths in the Scandinavian country were residents of nursing homes, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. People suffocated, it was horrible to watch. One patient asked me what I was giving him when I gave him the morphine injection, and I lied to him, said Latifa Lofvenberg, a nurse. Many died before their time. It was very, very difficult. According to official guidelines in Sweden issued by the National Board of Health and Welfare when the pandemic began, it was suggested that doctors triage patients based on their so-called biological age, considering their overall health and the prospects for recovery prior to making treatment decisions. Sweden's response to the virus differed from many other nations in that the nation declined to shut down their economy and allowed citizens to continue living their lives relatively normally with some moderate precautionary measures; most bars, restaurants, schools, and retail stores were permitted to stay open. Swedish officials said earlier this year their goal was to reach "herd immunity." Regarding its medical facilities, the Scandinavian country's approach was to keep hospital intensive-care units from being overwhelmed with elderly patients who had a low chance of surviving and thus keep them open for younger people should a surge in the virus occur. Such a surge did not happen and the elderly were denied access to unused facilities. These guidelines have too often resulted in older patients being denied treatment, even when hospitals were operating below capacity, critics of the approach told the WSJ. Some critics went even further, asserting the approach amounted to euthanasia. Older people are routinely being given morphine and midazolam, which are respiratory-inhibiting, Yngve Gustafsson, a geriatrics specialist at Umea University, told Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet. That doctors were prescribing over the phone a palliative cocktail for the sick elderly left him aghast. Its active euthanasia, to say the least, he said. Echoing Gustafsson, the Discovery Institutes Center on Human Exceptionalism Wesley J. Smith noted in National Review last week that the Swedish policy is "what happens when there is an explicitly invidious health-care rationing policy." "The nuances get lost and the discriminated-against population are deemed better off dead." In the United States, more than 43 percent of COVID-19 deaths have come from nursing homes and other long-term care facilities though residents and workers there have made up only 11 percent of all U.S. cases, according to The New York Times. Still, stories have emerged of very elderly people contracting the virus and then recovering from it. 100-year-old World War II veteran Lloyd Falk of Virginia survived the coronavirus earlier this year following a 58-day stay in the hospital. Falk lost his wife of 74 years to the disease a few weeks prior to his recovery, according to local NBC affiliate WXII12. Similarly, 102-year-old Sophie Avouris survived a coronavirus infection in a Manhattan rehabilitation center, NPR reported in May. She had been in a nursing home recovering from hip replacement surgery when she fell ill. She was a newborn baby in Greece when the 1918 influenza spread across Europe. '60 Minutes' slammed for airing detransitioners who regret transgender medicalization Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A CBS "60 Minutes" segment highlighting the suffering of individuals harmed by transgender medicalization has raised the ire of LGBT activists and has others believing a shift in the debate over transgenderism is near. In its coverage about the various bills that have arisen across the country aiming to prohibit the use of experimental drugs and the performing of cosmetic gender surgeries on minors in several states, the Sunday broadcast featured an approximately 7-minute portion featuring detransitioners. Detransitioners are those who once identified as transgender but now regret their decisions to transition and have begun reintegrating with their biological sex. The segment featured veteran television journalist Lesley Stahl interviewing several young people who had undergone medicalized gender transition procedures. All of them said they were rushed into a decision and affirmed their transgender identities too hastily. "I didn't get enough pushback on transitioning. I went for two appointments and after the second one, I had my letter to go get on cross-sex hormones," said one young man named Garrett from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Stahl responded, with seeming disbelief: Two visits? While repeated assertions abound from transgender activists who argue that gender-dysphoric youth are at higher odds than the general public to commit suicide if not allowed to transition, Garrett said his depression worsened after he had his testicles removed and had surgery on his chest to appear more female. "I had never really been suicidal before until I had my breast augmentation," he said. "And about a week afterward, I wanted to actually kill myself. I had a plan and I was going to do it but I just kept thinking about my family to stop myself." Another detransitioner, Grace Lidinsky-Smith, chose to go on testosterone and have her breasts amputated during her 20s. She told Stahl how surprised she was at the ease and speed she could alter her body in pursuit of being a male and then revert to her natal sex. I cant believe I transitioned then detransitioned, including hormones and surgery, in the course of like, less than one year, she said. Not long after undergoing a double mastectomy, she said that she "started to have a really disturbing sense that, like, a part of my body was missing, almost a ghost limb feeling about being like, there's something that should be there." Following the segment, "60 Minutes" interviewed the president of the prominent pro-LGBT activist group Human Rights Campaign, Alphonso David. The activist argued that by highlighting the accounts of detransitioners, already marginalized trans-identified people are further harmed. Despite the broadly sympathetic coverage, transgender activists in the legal, psychiatric and medical fields were upset that detransitioners stories were given airtime in the broadcast. They took to social media to voice their complaints. "Lesley Stahl, [CBS journalists] Alexandra Poolos, and Collette Richards knew exactly the harm they were causing with last nights segment. They knew it was the wrong moment and a dangerous, unaccountable and limited angle. But they did it anyway. Thats on all of you," tweeted Chase Strangio, a transgender activist and attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. Jack Turban, child psychiatry fellow at Stanford University, stated on Twitter Monday that he spoke with CBS about the story and asked where the network found the detransitioners to profile. The network reportedly refused to tell him. "We still dont know if they searched for people on TERF forums, and transparency would be appreciated," he said. The term "TERF" is a derogatory slur that stands for "trans-exclusionary radical feminist" and is used to demean women who resist gender ideology. Screenshots captured by the trans-critical website 4thWaveNow.com revealed Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, one of the most infamous pediatric gender doctors globally, voicing her dismay in the comments section Wednesday on a post in the International Transgender Health Facebook page. She allegedly wrote that "so many of us worked hard to dissuade" CBS from airing the segment on detransitioners and referred to the network's decision to run it anyway as a "shameful" ploy for ratings. Olson-Kennedy, who heads a youth transgender clinic at Children's Hospital-Los Angeles, is a gender doctor among the recipients of a $5.7 million National Institutes of Health research grant. In one of her publications, it shows that mastectomies have been done on girls as young as 13. In a video clip that continues to be circulated online, Olson-Kennedy is seen on tape insisting adolescents have the capacity to make life-altering decisions, including having their breasts removed. "And here's the other thing about chest surgery: If you want breasts at a later point in your life, you can go and get them," she says in the video. A 2017 progress report on the NIH grant that was unearthed through a Freedom of Information Act request by concerned doctors revealed that for Olson-Kennedy's experimental study at CHLA, the minimum age for cross-sex hormones in youth was lowered from 13 to 8. For critics of the transgender movement, the breakthrough of detransitioners stories into the U.S. legacy media is a particularly crucial moment in documenting what some, including Harry Potter series author J.K. Rowling, call a burgeoning "medical scandal" of medicalizing gender in young people. "It is outstanding that 60 Minutes chose to air the voices of these young women (and one young man) whose bodies have been irreparably damaged by this vicious industry," said radical feminist activist Kara Dansky in an email to The Christian Post Wednesday. She serves on the steering committee of the U.S. chapter of the Women's Human Rights Campaign. "Most mainstream media outlets refuse to cover this issue fairly, but once the general public is able to hear from more feminists, gay rights activists, and those harmed by the industry, the gender identity industry will wither on the vine." Dansky has previously emphasized that the major media's framing of these issues in civil rights terms and the near-total blackout of left-leaning and lesbian and gay voices who oppose transgender ideology is calculated and intentional. She argued in a May 13 blog post that since the arguments of gender identity activists cannot withstand slight scrutiny, the press will not publish feminist or gay rights viewpoints that challenge them. Thus far, Stahl, whose reporting was subsequently highlighted by Fox News host Tucker Carlson, is defending her coverage of the issue. She said in a follow-up segment to the broadcast that it was a story worth telling. "Their point is that they were not getting proper healthcare," Stahl said. "That was their point and that's the point we wanted to emphasize: that these were young people that were not getting proper healthcare advice." High school backs down after opposing Christian language in student's graduation speech Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A high school in Michigan has reversed course after initially telling a graduating senior that references to her Christian beliefs were "not appropriate" for her upcoming valedictory speech, her lawyers say. After receiving a demand letter from the First Liberty Institute, officials at Hillsdale High School relented after pressuring student Elizabeth Turner to alter the valedictory speech for her June 6 graduation ceremony. "Im grateful I will be able to share my faith with my classmates, and I pray that God uses this situation to advance His kingdom," Turner said in a statement Thursday shared by First Liberty Institute, a legal nonprofit that defends First Amendment rights. The religious liberty group sent the letter to Principal Amy Goldsmith on Wednesday, asking her to allow the valedictorian to talk about her faith as she had initially planned. Graduation is a time for celebration not censorship, First Liberty Institute Counsel Keisha Russell said in a statement. Students retain their constitutional rights to freedom of expression from elementary school all the way through the graduation ceremony. All public schools should protect the private religious expression of their students." Turner, who was chosen as one of the school's valedictorian speakers, had planned to tell the crowd that her "future hope is found in my relationship with Christ." "By trusting him and choosing to live a life dedicated to bringing his kingdom glory, I can be confident that I am living a life filled with purpose and meaning," one section of the student's speech reads. "My identity is found by what God says and who I want to become is laid out in scripture. After reviewing a revised draft of Turners speech Monday, First Liberty reports that Goldsmith informed Turner that we need to be mindful about the inclusion of religious aspects. According to the demand letter, Goldsmith told the student that "These are your strong beliefs, but they are not appropriate for a speech in a school public setting." "I know this will frustrate you, but we have to be mindful of it," the principal was quoted as saying. In the letter, Russell and First Liberty Counsel Mike Berry criticized Goldsmiths assertion that Turners remarks about her religion were not appropriate for a speech in a public school setting, citing guidance from the U.S. Department of Education. The guidance, issued Jan. 16, 2020, states that when students or other private graduation speakers are "selected on the basis of genuinely content-neutral, evenhanded criteria" and "maintain primary control over the content of their expression," that "expression is not attributable to the school and therefore may not be restricted because of its religious (or anti-religious) content. The guidance acknowledged that in cases where school officials determine or substantially control the content of what is expressed, such speech is attributable to the school and may not include prayer or other specifically religious (or anti-religious) content. However, the guidance encouraged schools to avoid any mistaken perception that a school endorses student speech that is not in fact attributable to the school by making appropriate, neutral disclaimers to clarify that such speech (whether religious or nonreligious) is the speakers and not the schools speech. While Goldsmith never mentioned the First Amendment or the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution, Turners attorneys explained to her that student graduation speeches constitute private speech, not government speech, and private speech is not subject to the Establishment Clause. Citing the Supreme Courts decision in Westside Community Board of Education v. Mergens, the attorneys maintained that Ms. Turners statements do not transform into government speech simply because they are delivered in a public setting or to a public audience. Hillsdale High School must comply with the law by allowing private student religious expression during graduation, the attorneys concluded. By doing so, it will teach students that the government should treat religion neutrally. Citing the Supreme Courts decision in Good News Club v. Milford Central School, Berry and Russell told Goldsmith that any perceived danger in students seeing their classmates engaging in religious expression, including prayer, is no greater than the danger in students seeing religion banned from public view. They warned her that you are violating federal law which permits private religious speech at school events and requested that she allow Turner to express her private religious beliefs at the graduation ceremony. The attorneys also included screenshots of emails between Turner and Goldsmith indicating that the principal had already asked the valedictorian to make changes to her speech before she asked her to scrub its religious aspects. Turner expressed concern that she would not be able to deliver a genuine speech based on the stipulations laid out. I dont agree that we should avoid the topic of tragedy and death because that is a part of everyones future, Turner wrote. I understand what you are saying but for me, this is a time for my peers and I to evaluate our lives and to choose how we want to live since were not promised tomorrow and I dont want to write a speech that wont be meaningful just to check off the box. I believe it is celebratory to call people to a life of purpose and meaning and a call to action to live a life as well. Turner stressed that "my personal future relies on my faith and I also want the freedom to be able to address that in my speech if the opportunity arises. Goldsmith reportedly responded in a follow-up email, arguing that I think one can call for a life of purpose without using the words death and tragedy. While there is a degree of freedom to the content of your speech, there are also considerations of what the content and message should be at a commencement celebration and its appropriateness for the audience, she continued. When crafting a speech it is important to consider purpose and audience. Your speech has a good thesis, its the connotations of the word that you can avoid. Turner forwarded that email chain to her pastor, who then sent it to Russell. The demand letter was filed two days later. In a subsequent chat, also attached to First Libertys demand letter, Goldsmith asked Turner, what did you decide about presenting the speech? Turner informed Goldsmith that she was planning on giving it, to which the principal replied, You have added more content of a religious and focus on death nature so this was not clear to me. On Thursday, Russell praised the school's decision to "ensure that religious students can freely exercise their right to express their faith in a graduation speech." Elizabeth is thrilled that shell be able to celebrate her graduation without being censored," Russell said. "We hope that future graduates will be free from religious censorship. Abortions reached record levels in Scotland during COVID-19 pandemic Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Scotland's abortion numbers were at their highest since 2008 during the COVID-19 pandemic, latest figures show. New data from Public Health Scotland revealed that 13,815 abortions were carried out in 2020, up 209 from 2019 and a 12-year high. The abortion rate per 1,000 women, aged 15 to 44, also rose from 13.2 in 2019 to 13.4 in 2020, the highest rate recorded since regulations were changed in 1991 to require the sign off of two doctors. Figures show there were 209 disability-selective abortions last year, and a 10% rise in repeat abortions, rising to 5,020 from 4,581 the previous year. Pro-life group Right to Life U.K. attributes the increases to DIY home abortions, which were introduced after the start of the pandemic. The controversial use of abortion pills delivered by the postal service allows women to receive abortion pills in the mail after a phone or e-consultation with an abortionist. The scheme, which the Scottish government is considering extending, has come under scrutiny after anundercover investigation found evidence that abortion pills were sent to women who gave false personal information and gestation dates. Last year, a regional chief midwife at NHS England warned of the "escalating risks" of home abortions in a leaked email. Police also launched a murder investigation after a baby was aborted at home at 28 weeks. Catherine Robinson, the spokesperson for Right To Life U.K., said: "It is a national tragedy that 13,815 lives were lost to abortion in Scotland last year. "Every one of these abortions represents a failure of our society to protect the lives of babies in the womb and a failure to offer full support to women with unplanned pregnancies. "In 2020 Scotland came together as a nation and made great sacrifices to protect the vulnerable from COVID-19. Sadly, at the very same time as protecting one group of vulnerable people, we as a society have also ended thousands of young vulnerable lives through abortion. "This significant rise in abortions coincides with the temporary measures allowing 'DIY' home abortions in the U.K. Since governments permitted 'DIY' home abortions, many stories of illegal late-term abortions and safety abuses have come to light. "We are calling on the Scottish Government to end these 'DIY' home abortion schemes immediately." Originally published at Christian Today Coming from a family with baldness , Giovanni Bojanini decided to change his imminent future and undertake a business that until then was not so relevant and specialized: the treatment of alopecia . The entrepreneur knew that his destiny was marked by genetic inheritance: he did not see his father with hair; his brother at 23 was already showing signs of alopecia, and he was already beginning to lose hair significantly. Back then, around 1994, there were no medical advances that there are today. What's more, Bojanini assures that there were not even alternatives to address a problem that today affects 50% of men who are 40 years old or younger, and 3 out of 10 women in their 50s. Graduated in dermatology 27 years ago, he began his work in the field and decided to take the first step and open a laboratory and clinic in the name of his family . With Memorial Day weekend in full swing, public safety officials and boat rental firms are urging caution on Lake Conroe. At least four people have died on Lake Conroe this past year. The increase in drownings appears to come as the popular lake has generated more activity during the pandemic, including with boat rentals. But each year, there are boating incidents and accidents that could have been avoided if the boating public did its part in refraining from the use of drugs and alcohol and used their personal safety, according to the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constables Office Marine Division. The constables office has been participating in heightened safety awareness and enforcement during this holiday weekend in partnership with the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, the U.S. Coast Guard, Texas Parks and Wildlife and the San Jacinto River Authority. Pct. 1 Cpt. Joe Sclider encourages boaters to be familiar with the lake, the vessel, safety equipment, to have a co-captain and backup plan. You wouldnt believe how many times I have watched them lift up a seat, pull out the plastic packing that the life jacket came in and pull it out of that big zipper bag, Sclider said. If you need it, its not accessible. We try to educate them when they do that. A lot of people dont know where their fire extinguishers are, they dont know where the horn is or the whistle. According to state boating facts provided by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, January 2021 to April 2021 showed a 40% increase in boating fatalities from the same time last year. In 2019, the Coast Guard counted 4,168 accidents that involved 613 deaths, 2,559 injuries and approximately $55 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents. Where instruction was known, 70% of deaths occurred on boats where the operator did not receive boating safety instruction, the boating facts stated. Where boat length was known, eight out of every ten boaters who drowned were using vessels less than 21 feet in length. Where cause of death was known, 79% of fatal boating accident victims drowned, the information said. Of those drowning victims with reported life jacket usage, 86% were not wearing a life jacket. Tragic drownings Boating info For more information about boating safety, laws, and lake requirements,contact Montgomery County Constable Pct.1 at 936-539-7821 or the San Jacinto River Authority at 936-588-3111. See More Collapse On May 11, authorities recovered the bodies of a couple who drowned on Lake Conroe . A man dove from an unanchored, rented pontoon boat to rescue his girlfriend who reportedly fell into the lake. The Houston couple both became distressed. A third person who tried to save them was rescued by a nearby boater shortly after the couple disappeared beneath the water. None of the five people, including the couple, were wearing life jackets or knew how to swim, Sclider said. The drownings mark at least the third and fourth deaths on Lake Conroe this year. This fatality rate is approaching last years five drownings, which were four more than in 2019. In 2020, a Houston woman drowned on Lake Conroe when she fell off a float without a life jacket a day before her 21st birthday. Since 2010, more than 20 people have drowned on Lake Conroe. Aside from debris, areas of the lake can experience rough, choppy wakes, strong currents and sudden changes that cause an unanchored boat to drift and the bottom terrain to shift from 9 feet of water to 30 feet. That means a novice boater or even an advanced swimmer can unexpectedly find themselves in a fight for their life. I think a lot of people dont realize that, Sclider said. They think they are just on a boat and they are going to be fineand they have a false sense of security. Sclider said out of the recent Lake Conroe drownings, only one person was wearing a life jacket, and in that case the adult victim was wearing a life jacket that was the inappropriate size because it was intended for children. In many of the drownings, alcohol and drugs were also a factor, he said. The number one thing that contributes to these drownings are life jackets, Sclider said. It is inexperienced people or people who dont know how to swim that jump into the water and they think they are in a swimming pool and they can swim to the edge and they cant. Novice boat renters Stephanie Pauley Operation Manager of Einsteins surf and boat shop, which now rents through the Margaritaville resort, has observed a general lack of awareness among the lakes visitors. The one-stop shop that offers a floating store on the lake for gas and lake equipment takes boater education and has one of the highest standards of safety on the lake, she said. This is the most dangerous lake in Texas and we are aware of it and I think all too often people are just really entrusted, not only with expensive boats but their own safety when they have no cognizance of the lake or who have never driven a boat, Pauley said. Out of 100 rentals, she said approximately 35 have boat experience and another 10 have driven a boat at least once before, but at a minimum 50 percent of people who get on a boat for a rental company have never been on a boat before, Pauley said. We get a lot of novice renters for certain, Pauley said. We get a lot of people that have never driven a boat on the lake before. We have had people even to the extent of, Is this an ocean? Are there sharks in this water? They are completely unaware of the type of body of water they are getting into. A recipe for disaster Houston-based Amaro Law Firm Attorney James Amaro has represented a family whose loved one drowned in Lake Conroe. He said he wants to see an increase in awareness and enforcement of safety equipment on boats, including rentals. Inexperienced and unqualified people on the water, especially when mixed with drinking alcohol, creates a danger for everyone, Amaro said. If somebody falls off the boat, an experienced boater knows what to do, Amaro said. They know how to stop the boat, they know how to back it up without hitting somebody, and how to get close and how to throw a rescue flotation device to somebody. An experienced boater, first time on the boat, goes out on a pontoon and somebody falls overboard they have no idea what to do. Upgraded safety precautions Nautical Days Boat Rentals General Manager Josh Collazo said the boat rental business has upgraded its safety precautions and installed a new life jacket cage. The customers receive an AK1 life vest that goes around the neck and now every customer is required to wear a life jacket before they even step on the boat rentals docks. To rent a boat in Texas, a state law established in 2014 only requires a valid drivers license from those who were born in Texas before September 1, 1993. Those born after that are required to be at least 18, have a valid drivers license, complete a boaters education course and provide the physical copy to the boat rental company. The state law does not require boaters to wear life jackets at all times unless they are under the age of 13. Collazo said despite the safety policies and the $50,000 investment into its upgrades, that he constantly sees renters take the life jackets off as soon as the boat takes off. While some of the fatalities had boat rentals, he insists that companies are providing safety equipment such as life jackets, however the renters are making a personal decision not to wear it. At the end of the day, it is one of those things: how do you force someone to wear a life jacket? Collazo said. As a business, if I went out there and I made every customer come back that wasnt wearing a life vest we wouldnt be in business. He believes the boat rental industry is getting a bad reputation and believes people do not realize that the novel coronavirus pandemic has contributed to the increase in drownings. For our industry, we werent shut down, so a lot of people were finding out that Lake Conroe was in their backyard, especially for South Houston and Galveston Area, Collazo said. Theyve all realized that, oh man, there is Lake Conroe that we can go to and still go out and do something and our industries took off. And the increasing popularity of the lake are playing a role, Collazo said. With those numbers increasing and the number of people visiting Lake Conroe and visiting boat rentals of course, you are going to have a higher chance of something unfortunately like a drowning happening, he said. Einsteins extensive walkthrough Einsteins surf and boat shop is taking extra steps to keep people safe on the lake, including offering a water safety video and to participate in a walk through, Pauley said. The crew conducts a safety walk-through with a complete overview of the safety equipment and boat. The renters are required to stay in a certain area of the lake and to avoid high traffic areas. Pauley believes lawmakers can help prevent drownings by having a boater education or safety course as a requirement. I think if people really want to get out on the lake, they need to know all of the rules and regulations regardless of their age, Pauley said. I have staff that ranges across the necessary date for the boaters safety and we all take the course. There is no reason not to. The constables put it on once or twice a month and it is open to the public. They will in person teach the course and have you take the test right there. Education is key Sclider said he has seen a big increase in traffic on the lake during the pandemic. He stresses boater education, including with the courses offered at the constables office. Anything can happen on the lake, its like being in a car accident, Sclider said. You can be driving down the road and something can change in an instant. We can only do so much. I think education is the key to it. The inaugural Bear Crawl kicked off Saturday in Downtown Conroe and will continue Sunday in Montgomery. Sponsored by Office Evolution (Conroe/The Woodlands), the two-day event showcasing eight venues serves as a fundraiser to support the mission of Bear Etc to establish a bear and exotic animal sanctuary in Montgomery County. There are 1,000 bears in need of placement, and there are zero bear sanctuaries focused on bears out of the exotic pet trade in the United States, Bears Etc co-founder Kati Krouse said. They can go to some of the big cat rescues or they will have to be euthanized. From noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, patrons will have a chance to enjoy some of the best wine, beer and whiskey in the county while at Whitley Vineyards, Frakenboltzzzz Brewing Company and H-Wines. On Saturday, patrons had a chance to enjoy spirits at Conroes Blue Epiphany, Ferm Meadery, Southern Star Brewery, Bartletts Distillery and B-52 Brewery. It has been amazing, Krouse said. People are so excited, the venues are excited, our volunteers are excited. Everybody that I have talked to previous to this are like, This is a great idea, why isnt anyone else doing this? The patrons can tour the venues at their own pace, including Ferm Meadery which opened in March at 225 Simonton. I think it is a really good way for the community to come together around helping out the wildlife, Ferm Meadery co-owner Cathy Rape said. We are mead lovers and Conroe natives, and it is the most interesting, flexible alcoholic beverage there is. Montgomery resident Schelley Tucker, 63, shared she had a great time at the Bear Crawl and looked forward to having a bear sanctuary. I think it is really cool if it comes here. Ill visit, Tucker said. Conroe resident Lori Goodall, 62, purchased wine from Ferm Meadery and enjoyed learning about the process of making mead with honey. I think it is an awesome idea, Goodall said. We are willing to buy drinks to support bears. This is our first stop on the tour, and we didnt even know this place existed, so we are super excited to be here. The sanctuary would be the nations first bear sanctuary. The hope is to connect people with nature through education and awareness while providing a safe place for neglected, abused and unwanted bears that are a part of the exotic pet trade. The sanctuary would also serve as a permanent refuge for displaced, captive-raised exotic animals kept as pets or retired from performance, a previous article in The Courier said. Bear Etc began fundraising in 2018 and seeking 20 acres of land for the sanctuary. Since then, Krouse said the organization has raised a little over $35,000. She shared a landowner can provide the land as a gift and the organization could lease it for 10 to 20 years if they wanted to donate that lease for $1 a year as a tax write-off. The challenge being when we started, land was $20,000-$25,000 a square acre, and now it is $40,000-$45,000 a square acre, Krouse said. The cost of land has increased, which has increased our fundraising plan. Krouse is involved with multiple organizations and animal advocacy groups, including as the Bear Lady at the Big Cat Sanctuary Alliance. She recently played a role in helping a loose tiger in Houston get placed in a true sanctuary. If we had Bears Etc up and running, we could have provided placement for that tiger, Krouse said. I have talked to Congressman (Kevin) Brady several times about the Big Cat Public Safety Act that is in the senate at the federal level that is to stop private owners from having and breeding big cats, and that is very important to stop having tigers on the loose. Our first responders are not trained to handle tigers on the loose, but they are the ones to get called, she continued. Krouse said the sanctuary could see as many as 20,000-50,000 visitors a year who could also shop and eat at restaurants in Montgomery County. She strategically chose Montgomery County because of its location, which is within proximity to a major metroplex, as well as Texas A&M University and Louisiana State University veterinarian schools. We are bringing monies here by having this type of tourist draw, said Krouse, who shared she has fallen in love with her new home in Montgomery County. Purchase tickets online via the Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/Bearetc (http://bit.ly/3tzlhTt), the website: http://www.bearsetc.org/events.html or visit one of the participating venues during the event to register. Tickets are $50 per person and each participant will receive a souvenir glass, passport and wristband to start their two tastings at any location. (Sunday only for Whitley Vineyards and Saturday only for Bartletts Distillery.) mellsworth@hcnonline.com AP RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) An 18-year-old woman has been charged with murder after the body of a 69-year old man was found in a North Carolina cemetery. Raleigh Police on Saturday night announced the arrest of Maria Elizabeth Pena-Echeverria. She has been charged with murder and is being held at the Wake County Detention Center. Photo courtesy of GHBA Delbert and Amey Rice became the owners of the 2021 Greater Houston Builders Associations Chesmar Benefit home on Friday, May 21. Chesmar built its Hillcrest plan in Lago Mar with donated materials and services from GHBA members. This allowed the home to be built at low cost, ensuring that when sold, proceeds would go to two local charities Operation Finally Home and HomeAid Houston. Since the Project began 41 years ago, more than $12 million has been raised. The Hillcrest plan is a one-story design that features four bedrooms with a game room option; three baths, a two-car attached garage and a covered patio. NEWELL, W.Va. (AP) A large blaze erupted late Saturday at a petroleum refinery in West Virginia. Photos and videos shared by news outlets showed the fire at the Ergon plant in Newell. The community is located in the state's northern panhandle along the Ohio River. No injuries were immediately reported. Transportation officials closed Route 2 near the refinery while crews fought the fire. The cause was under investigation, but some local residents told WTOV-TV they felt an explosion. According to its website, Ergon is a company engaged in a number of industries related to the refining and marketing of specialty oils, asphalt, thermoplastic resins, petrochemicals, propane, and the necessary infrastructure to support those businesses. The company also experienced a fire at its Newell plant nearly two months ago. A news release from April 8 said an unoccupied maintenance shop caught fire but the damage was contained and didn't involve bulk chemicals. MERIDIAN, Miss. (AP) A summer program in Mississippi will teach middle school students about Freedom Summer of 1964, when civil rights workers came to the state to challenge segregation and register Black voters. The Meridian Freedom Project is sponsoring the program for sixth, seventh and eighth graders, with activities that started Friday and end July 2. The nonprofit organization opened in 2013 with a focus on empowering young people and developing leaders while exposing them to new experiences, the Meridian Star reported. CAIRO (AP) The International Criminal Courts prosecutor on Sunday urged Sudans transitional government to hand over suspects wanted for war crimes and genocide in the Darfur conflict, the Sudanese official news agency reported. ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda arrived in Sudans western Darfur region on Saturday to meet with authorities and affected communities in the region, the court said. Bensouda said she was inspired by the resilience and courage of the Darfur people. Among those wanted by the international court is former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who has been in jail in Khartoum since his ouster in April 2019 and is facing several trials in Sudanese courts related to his three decades of authoritarian rule. The conflict in Sudans Darfur region broke out when rebels from the territorys ethnic central and sub-Saharan African community launched an insurgency in 2003, complaining of oppression by the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum. Al-Bashirs government responded with a campaign of aerial bombings and raids by militias known as Janjaweed, who stand accused of mass killings and rapes. Up to 300,000 people were killed and 2.7 million were driven from their homes. The ICC charged al-Bashir with war crimes and genocide for allegedly masterminding the campaign of attacks in Darfur. Sudanese prosecutors started last year their own investigation into the Darfur conflict. Also indicted by the court are two other senior figures from al-Bashirs rule: Abdel-Rahim Muhammad Hussein, interior and defense minister during much of the conflict, and Ahmed Haroun, a senior security chief at the time and later the leader of al-Bashirs ruling party. Both Hussein and Haroun have been under arrest in Khartoum since the Sudanese military, under pressure from protesters, ousted al-Bashir in April 2019. The court also indicted rebel leader Abdulla Banda, whose whereabouts are unknown, and Janjaweed leader Ali Kushayb, who was charged last week with crimes against humanity and war crimes. Bensouda and her team met Saturday with Darfurs Gov. Mini Arko Minawi, who said the prosecutors main concern is to hand over those wanted by the court as soon as possible, and speed up the transfer of Harun since his case is related to that of Kushayb. In a Sunday meeting with officials in North Darfur province, the ICC prosecutor said they would continue demanding the government to hand over all those wanted by the court, SUNA reported. Sudans transitional government, which has promised democratic reforms and is led by a mix of civilian and military leaders, has previously said that war crime suspects including al-Bashir would be tried before the ICC, but the trial venue is a matter for negotiations with The Hague-based court. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) It had been eight years since a Republican candidate even stepped forward to challenge Democrat Roxanna Moritz as the top elections official in Scott County, Iowa. Running unopposed in 2016 and 2020, Moritz had become, over her four terms as auditor, the top vote-getter ever in this swing-voting county along the Mississippi River, the third most-populous in the state. Moritz's abrupt resignation last month came after months of tension that degenerated into personal attacks and threats of violence. Her departure and partisan moves since then are signs that an office long viewed as nonpartisan is now fair game in the political fight about trust in the nation's elections. We took a lot of crap in my office, all of us," Moritz said in an interview, describing angry, sometimes threatening calls from the public accusing her of fixing the 2020 election. It was all partisan intimidation. Republicans who control the Scott County Board of Supervisors said politics played no part in their criticism of Moritz's handing of a county finance matter last year that led to calls from voters for her resignation. She is accused of falsifying working hours for poll workers to justify paying them more before the June 2020 primary when the coronavirus pandemic made it difficult to recruit help. The state auditor, Democrat Rob Sand, is investigating. But the issue festered with a number of Republican voters in Scott County who were upset with the outcome of the presidential election nationally, even though Republican Donald Trump handily won Iowa over Democrat Joe Biden in his bid for a second term. Moritz said she and her team were subject to a stream of verbal harassment by phone, email and social media, from name-calling to physical threats before and after last years election. "Someone said they were going to come down and burn our building down, she said. It was three weeks before the election. And we took it seriously. Election administration, long viewed as quiet and nonpartisan, is now contentious, given Trumps persistent and false claims that widespread fraud cost him reelection. Trump and his allies, in their failed bid to challenge his loss, filed multiple lawsuits to slow down the formal vote certification process. Trump praised two Republicans on a Detroit-area election board for temporarily blocking the countys election results, in which Biden won by more than a 2-to-1 margin. As part of their nationwide effort to rollback access to the ballot, Republicans state lawmakers have pushed legislation to impose fines or criminal penalties on election officials for violating rules. In Iowa, officials now face a fine of up to $10,000 for a technical infraction of election rules as part of a new law. That current reality has led election workers to quit or retire, or has made this line of work unpalatable. A Republican on the Michigan state election board was not renominated by the party after he voted to certify Bidens win. A spokesman for the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania said about one-third of the state's county election officials have left their posts in the past year and a half. Threats, heavy workloads and misinformation are among the reasons. Robert Brandon, president and CEO of the Washington-based Fair Elections Center, said it is crucial for these positions to remain as nonpartisan as possible in order to preserve trust in elections. If we really had people that were motivated purely by partisan politics running elections, then you would be concerned about the legitimacy of an individual election, he said. It would be a terrible turn in this country to undermine what is the most important part of our democratic process. In Scott County, the GOP-controlled board appointed a Republican who is a former Davenport alderwoman as the new county auditor. The board opted against a special election out of concern for its cost and efficiency, said the chairman, Ken Beck. There was nothing political about this. An appointment is allowed by law," he said. I didn't think it was worth the money to have such a small percent of the electorate turn out. Is that a fair election? The party-line decision drew a rapid response by Iowa Democrats. With help from Iowa Democratic officeholders and national groups, the party is trying to collect more than 10,000 signatures to allow a special election. Elesha Gayman, the county's Democratic Party chairwoman, spoke of then outreach to organized labor, the NAACP, voting rights advocates and other groups with an interest in who is the auditor. Appointee Kerri Tompkins has said her mission is not to advocate for voting laws. This is a role that I dont set policy, she told The Quad City Times last week. My job is to follow the law. The political drama is just the latest to beset this small metro county at the center of the post-2020 election storm. The country's Republican chairman, former state legislator Dave Millage, was forced to resign in January after criticizing Trump's actions related to the Jan. 6 attack by the then-president's supporters on the U.S. Capitol. The county, which narrowly tipped to Biden, also is part of the 2nd Congressional District, where Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks beat Democrat Rita Hart by six votes. It was the closest U.S. House race in almost 40 years. ___ Izaguirre reported from Lindenhurst, New York. ___ Associated Press coverage of voting rights receives support in part from Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for this content. California's power grid operator said it's not anticipating energy supply outages over the next few days as temperatures are expected to soar to triple digits in the state's interior. There's enough electricity to serve the expected spike in demand, California Independent System Operator said in a statement Saturday, but it will monitor the grid closely in case it needs to call on the public to conserve. ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) A midshipman who had faced expulsion over social media posts critical of racial-justice protests has graduated from the Naval Academy and been commissioned as an ensign. Chase Standage graduated Friday in Annapolis as a member of the Class of 2021. CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) Nevada lawmakers introduced a proposal late Saturday to impose additional taxes on mining, opening the door for consensus between an industry that has long sought to protect its unique tax structure and reformers who want to increase state spending on education. Under a deal brokered by lawmakers from both parties, mining lobbyists and the states largest teachers union, the state will funnel more dollars from its Net Proceeds on Minerals tax to education and add a tax on gross revenue that is tiered and will only apply to mines that gross more than $20 million annually. Mines that report gross revenue of $20 million to $150 million will be charged 0.75% excise tax, while a 1.1% tax will be charged on mines that report any higher. The tax on gross revenue will only apply to silver and gold mines, excluding other minerals like gypsum, lithium or copper and earmark much of the funding for education. Tyre Gray, the president of the Nevada Mining Association, said he could not explicitly support a tax hike. But the measure introduced Saturday, which has no sunset clause, is really meant to be a definitive answer to whether or not mining pays its fair share, he said. There are those who will say that mining has not paid its fair share. This bill will guarantee that that argument is no longer viable, he said. He said the industry preferred the current proposal on the table to the three tax proposals introduced last summer, which would have raised $147 million to $607 million in annual revenue. Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson said Saturday's proposal would generate an estimated $170 million every two years. Battles over how to tax mining in the state have raged since prospectors struck silver in the 19th century. The state Constitution has since required mining businesses be taxed at less than 5% of what are called net proceeds profit minus deductions for certain costs. Mines in the state produced a $8.2 billion-worth of silver, copper and other minerals in 2019 more in non-fossil fuel minerals than any state. They collectively paid $61 million in taxes to the state that year. Because neither Republicans nor Democrats command the two-thirds supermajority required in Nevada to raise taxes, its passage will require support from both parties. In an impromptu Ways & Means Committee meeting held on the Assembly floor, lawmakers from both parties backed the introduction of the bill. But it still must clear both chambers with two-thirds majorities. Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro said there were still ongoing negotiations and didn't close the door on the resolutions passed last summer, should discussions deteriorate. She said she was optimistic about the prospect of providing schools additional funding. Asking for some additional revenue from mining I think represents an investment in our kids, she said. In the past, Republicans have argued the mining industry is a key part of rural economies and too much taxation could jeopardize thousands of jobs in both mines and the businesses that cater to employees and their families. Progressive activists point to how Nevada ranks compared with other states for per-pupil K-12 education spending ( 44th ) and healthcare spending per capita ( 48th ) and say mines can afford to pay more. They celebrated the introduction of the bill on Saturday evening as a step forward. While we will continue to push for what Nevadans truly deserve, this proposal will address the needs of the people in a meaningful way and allow our state the funding needed to maintain and build on critical public services immediately, said Laura Martin, the executive director of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. Mining tax reform fell one vote short of two-thirds approval needed to pass through the statehouse last summer. But as a consolation, with simple majorities, Democratic lawmakers decided to take the first step toward advancing mining tax proposals to the 2022 ballot. Throughout the latter half of the legislative session, mining industry representatives and Democratic Party operatives have both said they prefer reaching a the compromise deal in Carson City rather than risking the uncertainty of a ballot measure the presence of which could reverberate to other races up and down the ticket. Though Republicans are in the minority in both the state Senate and Assembly, they are hoping the two-thirds requirement for tax proposals will provide them power them to extract concessions from Democrats. In exchange for their support, Republican asks have included returning funding to education initiatives like Opportunity Scholarships, which the then-Republican majority created in 2015 to enable low- and middle-income families to pay private school tuition. Democrats elected to shrink the program in 2019 and the proposal reverses that decision. ___ Sam Metz is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AP) The remains of more than 300 sailors and Marines who died when the USS Oklahoma sank during the attack on Pearl Harbor 79 years ago have been identified thanks to the work of experts at Offutt Air Force Base. The six-year effort to identify 388 people who went missing when the USS Oklahoma capsized during the attack is wrapping up this week after 338 of them have been identified. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) Police are investigating an early morning stabbing at a bar in downtown Sioux Falls. Officers responded to a call about 2 a.m. Sunday at Tommy Jack's. Authorities say two people were stabbed. Their wounds are not believed to be life-threatening, KELO-TV reported. LONDON (AP) Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to build a national flagship to travel the worlds oceans promoting British trade and investment. But critics are suggesting it is he who is at sea. Johnson announced his plans over the weekend, saying the vessel would be the first of its kind and reflect the U.K.s status as a great, independent maritime trading nation. Every aspect of the ship, from its build to the businesses it showcases on board, will represent and promote the best of British a clear and powerful symbol of our commitment to be an active player on the world stage, he said in a statement. While Johnson didnt put a price tag on the flagship, British media reported it would cost about 200 million pounds ($233 million). The project harkens back to a previous golden age, where the royal yacht projected the majesty of Empire when Britannia ruled the waves. Thats precisely the problem, according to Peter Ricketts, a retired diplomat and independent member of the House of Lords. I think the fact that no other country has a ship like this is because the idea is now so long out of date and there are more modern ways of presenting the high tech face of Britain to the world, he said Sunday during an interview with the BBC. Besides, Ricketts said, if Britain needs a flagship it already has one the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. The 3 billion pound ($3.5 billion) vessel was christened in 2014. The Independent, an online publication, lampooned the proposal, accompanying its story about the announcement with a video of Johnson and a visiting European Union official climbing into a rowboat and paddling around a pond. Johnson said the bidding process for the contract to build the ship would begin later this year and the vessel will enter service sometime in the next four years. The ship, which will be crewed by the Royal Navy, could travel to international ports in conjunction with prime ministerial visits, provide a venue for international summits and host trade fairs, Johnson said. The opposition Labour party suggested taxpayer money could be better spent. We want to see public money used for targeted investment in a green economic recovery, resources for our (National Health Service) and supporting families to succeed, lawmaker Bridget Phillipson said. If this ship is going to be part of a genuine plan for Britains future, the government must set out clearly how it will boost trade, jobs and growth in every corner of our country. The last royal yacht, HMS Britannia, was decommissioned in 1997. It visited more than 600 ports in 135 countries during its 44 years of service. Mauritania receives second batch of China-donated COVID-19 vaccines Xinhua) 11:06, May 30, 2021 NOUAKCHOTT, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Mauritania received Saturday a second COVID-19 vaccine donation from China, as the country is looking to vaccinate more of its citizens against the virus. With the new donation, China will help Mauritania "ensure the continuity of the anti-COVID-19 vaccination campaign across the country," Mauritanian Health Minister Sidi Ould Zahaf said. Zahaf also took the opportunity to once again urge people to get vaccinated to allow for the relaunch of the country's economy. Chinese Ambassador to Mauritania Li Baijun said China and Mauritania enjoy a traditional friendship and have been engaged in fruitful cooperation in various fields, in particular anti-epidemic cooperation since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. Li added that the arrival of this vaccine donation confirms the important consensus of the leaders of the two countries on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. Mauritania has reported 19,463 COVID-19 cases, 463 deaths and 18,431 recoveries. China's first vaccine donation arrived on March 24. (Web editor: He Zhuoyan, Bianji) Eximbank CEO Bang Moon-kyu, left, poses after signing a credit agreement with CABEI Executive President Dante Mossi, at the former's headquarters in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Eximbank By Lee Min-hyung The Export-Import Bank of Korea (Eximbank) signed a credit agreement worth $50 million (55.75 billion won) with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), in a move to support anti-COVID-19 measures for five countries in the region, the Korean lender said Sunday. Under the agreement, CABEI will finance public sector purchases of medical devices and anti-coronavirus equipment for the countries: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic. "This is the first time that Eximbank has provided the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) for an international finance development organization," Eximbank CEO Bang Moon-kyu said. "We expect the five countries there to take proactive steps against the coronavirus, and the credit support will also contribute to mitigating the spread of the virus in the region." The Korean government established the EDCF in 1987 aiming to enhance economic cooperation with developing countries. Eximbank is responsible for operating the fund. CABEI Executive President Dante Mossi also spoke highly of the credit support from the Korean state-run lender. "This new facilitation will contribute significantly to addressing and mitigating the pandemic's effects in our region and, in turn, to structuring programs and projects to support national plans designed by health authorities," he said. "Undoubtedly, the Korean experience in handling the pandemic should serve as an example for us to replicate some of the measures and structures to face this type of crisis." CABEI also pledged for "timely financing" to support the emergency response to COVID-19 in the five countries. Korean financial authorities, such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Eximbank, have offered financing and non-reimbursable cooperation worth up to $750 million, according to CABEI. In 2019, Korea became a regional partner of CABEI and has since had a subscribed capital of $63 million. The Korean government has increased its financing or credit support for developed countries since early 2020 amid the pandemic shock. The government decided to set the EDCF support volume at $400 million in 2020 and raised the figure to $600 million in 2021 amid surging demand for financial support from developing countries due to the worldwide impact of the pandemic. In January, Korea also announced plans to hike the support to $1 billion until the end of 2025, which Eximbank expected will help Korean biotechnology companies expand their footholds in overseas markets. 3 1 of 3 George Walker IV/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 George Walker IV/AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3 SMYRNA, Tenn. (AP) Investigators on Sunday continued searching for the bodies of seven people believed killed in the crash a day earlier of a small jet into a Tennessee lake, including an actor who portrayed Tarzan in a 1990s television series. Rutherford County Fire Rescue Capt. John Ingle said in a statement Sunday that recovery efforts were ongoing at Percy Priest Lake near Smyrna. He said efforts also were focused on examining a half mile-wide debris field in the lake. BONNEY LAKE, Wash. (AP) A man stabbed his parents to death Sunday at a home in Washington state, police said. A neighbor told officers he heard screaming and saw a man down in the street in Bonney Lake and the man's son standing near him covered in blood, according to the Pierce County sheriff's office. The neighbor tried holding the 29-year-old man at gunpoint but the man ran inside. The neighbor then heard the man's mother screaming inside the home, KOMO-TV reported. The man's father died at a hospital. His mother died inside the home, sheriff's officials said. Sheriff's officials didn't release the identities of the victims or suspect. The man left the home and was arrested when deputies arrived. GREENWOOD, S.C. (AP) A small South Carolina town has lost track of nearly $200,000 worth of tickets, fine and fees and officials aren't sure if the money was never received or just never logged into the court system. Ware Shoals Councilwoman Valerie Jackson said at a recent Town Council meeting that the problem in the town stretches back to 2004, The Index-Journal of Greenwood reported. WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (AP) One of Wisconsin's major tourist attractions is making do during Memorial Day weekend with fewer workers, hoping that more will arrive during the summer. Tom Diehl is the president of the Attractions Association and Tommy Bartlett Inc. in Wisconsin Dells. He said they're ready to welcome visitors but labor is a problem. We dont have the young people that we used to have and then we put on top of that, the enhanced unemployment," Diehl said. Diehl said due to the pandemic, theres also a shortage of so-called J1 workers from other countries who come to the United States on work visas. He said they typically get 3,200 employees from around the world but said they're going to be lucky to get 1,000 workers this year, WMTV-TV reported. Noahs Ark Water Park General Manager Roland Reyes said the park is working to get back to a full staff of 500 waterpark employees. He said he expects more J1 workers as the summer continues. Were very optimistic, so much so, that weve added eight operating days to our calendar season, Reyes said. The water park will now be open on eight Tuesdays from June 22 through August 10, when they were previously planning to close. As embassies start to approve more applications, Diehl is hopeful new workers will come to start filling the gap. Weve got to hope and pray that by the first part of July we might be at 50 or 60% of the J1s, Diehl said. Could you pass a Memorial Day quiz? Try a few sample questions: 1) What was it originally called? 2) It initially honored lives lost in one specific war. Which one? 3) On what date was the holiday previously marked? 4) When was it moved to the last Monday in May? 5) What is flag protocol on Memorial Day? OK, howd you do? The answers are 1) Decoration Day; 2) the Civil War; 3) May 30; 4) Congress decided in 1968 to pass the Uniform Monday Holiday Act; 5) Flags are quickly raised to full-staff position, then slowly dropped to half-staff, remaining there from sunrise until noon. Too tough? Heres a more recent bonus challenge: 6) At what time on the holiday should we pause to honor those who died to shield our freedoms? The answer is 3 p.m., in accordance with the National Moment of Remembrance Act passed by Congress in 2000. Its OK to be somewhat unfamiliar with the trivia around this federal holiday, but its important to clearly recognize Memorial Days intent. History lacks precision on its origins. Sometime about 150 years ago, someone posited that time be set aside to contemplate the sacrifices of those who gave their lives for our nation. We shouldnt need such reminders, yet even with a date on the calendar, Memorial Day retains something of an identity crisis. Too many people confuse it with Veterans Day (thats Nov. 11) or the start of summer (a full three weeks from now). Barbecues, parties and appliance sales have been a distraction for decades. In Connecticut, other recent dates in our history 9/11 and 12/14 have become more synonymous as days of mourning. But the breadth of loss linked to Memorial Day remains impossible to process. The events of the past year of COVID-19 sparked a different call for personal sacrifice, from doctors, nurses, police, firefighters, EMS, educators, volunteers, store clerks, and yes, our military. We were also reminded routinely of the fragility of life itself, as daily death tolls were marked on charts as though we were engaged in a traditional war. We lost the tradition of parades in 2020, and some towns tentatively revived events this year. Its an opportunity to reconsider and revitalize a holiday that should never be taken for granted. Let this be a reset for Memorial Day. There are ways to honor our heroes, even in the absence of parades. Pause to contemplate the names engraved on monuments throughout Connecticut, or the flags that offer temporary splashes of color across acres of gray graveyards, like the sun peeking through rain clouds. Reach out to a veteran, or explore family history, to learn more about the people Memorial Day is intended to honor. If nothing else, celebrate your freedoms this Memorial Day, fully aware of those who died to preserve them. The only answer that really matters responds to one evergreen question: Are we closer to war or to peace? The Wuhan Institute of Virology might have been the source of the coronavirus pandemic. Or it might not. China should tell the world the truth. Florida, FL (34429) Today Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 76F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy overnight with thunderstorms likely. Low 76F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Bitcoin, Ethereum expected to define landscape for virtual asset market By Lee Kyung-min Participants of the cryptocurrency market are expected to realign investment interests around two top-traded digital assets, bitcoin and Ethereum, as illustrated by a growing number of global traditional financial service providers seeking to roll out virtual asset-related products. Bitcoin, the most popular and widely traded digital coin, however, consumes an enormous amount of electricity, a reason why the second-in-class Ethereum is emerging rapidly as an alternative mostly for its low energy consumption and greater scalability. Global investment bank JP Morgan is expected to release bitcoin fund products as early as this summer, the latest to join two other key industry players Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, both of which launched bitcoin funds for high-net-worth customers. Altcoins, an umbrella term encompassing almost all cryptocurrencies except for a few top-traded ones, will not be able to establish itself as a mainstream means of investment due to its sketchy manufacturing process and unreliable sustainability. Unlike investors around the world that mostly trade bitcoin, over 90 percent of crypto investments from Korea are made in altcoins, long criticized for a lack of accountability and high risk of losing money. This is because the non-mainstream coins take only minutes to be issued with a few lines of relevant program code to duplicate bitcoin or Ethereum, a reason why around one new coin is issued every 17 minutes leading to more than 10,000 different coins listed on crypto exchanges around the world. The figure quadrupled in less than two years, up from 2,457 in August 2019. It increased rapidly at the end of last year and early this year. The figure rose to 9,420 as of May 22, up by more than 500 from around 8,900 in March. Financial authorities are urged and likely to prioritize ways to prohibit the listing of low-rated shaky currencies, putting an end to exchanges making stable gains in trading fees amid a lack of consumer protection responsibilities over what could later be delisted causing enormous investor fraud. Top-rated bitcoin and Etherum may prevail in the long term. But the altcoin investment craze by people in their 20s and 30s will not recede any time soon, since they were practically driven to seek the digital asset after housing prices skyrocketed over the past few years due to dozens of failed government policies, notably tighter lending rules and heavier tax on owners of multiple homes. According to data from CoinMarketCap, a global cryptocurrency trading data service provider, Korea accounted for 10 percent of the global transaction volume. Over 4.62 trillion won has been invested from Korea as of February, a six-fold increase from a year earlier. About 94 percent is Altcoin investments, meaning bitcoin investments accounted for a mere 6 percent in Korea. This sharply contrasts with bitcoin's global market share of 51 percent, an indication that Korea is isolated from the global market. The number of altcoins is soaring due to a lack of requirement for issuers to provide the issuer's philosophy, intended use, market circulation and future plans in detail. In a nine-page white paper titled "Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System," the writer Satoshi Nakamoto outlined the conceptual and technical details of a payment system that?would allow individuals to send and receive payments without involving any intermediary financial institutions. Similarly, Ethereum has a 36-page white paper published by its founder Vitalik Buterin in 2013. By contrast, altcoins issued here have jumbled up words including the Fourth Industrial Revolution, artificial intelligence and blockchain, clearly lacking any originality. "Altcoins are issued and listed because issuers can rake in cash without any special technical excellence, This is underpinned by investors that blindly follow the craze seeking double- or triple-digit increase in value in just a few hours or days," said Park Sung-jun, head of the Blockchain Research Center and a professor at Dongguk University. Musk factor The price of bitcoin jumped about 4 percent last Monday (local time) after Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted that he was having "active discussions regarding the sustainability of the digital coin." Bitcoin was trading around $38,074 (42.5 million won), around 3:42 p.m. on May 27. But within minutes, the price had shot up over $39,500. Overall, the coin jumped more than 17 percent in the 24-hour period. Musk posted on Twitter: "Spoke with North American Bitcoin miners. They committed to publish current & planned renewable usage & to ask miners WW to do so. Potentially promising." Bitcoin sank to an all-time low in November 2019 when China cracked down on crypto businesses. Bitcoin exchanges in China, however, promptly relocated to neighboring countries to bypass a trading ban. Japan legalized cryptocurrencies as legal tender in 2017 following the passage of the Virtual Currency Act, under which cryptocurrencies are defined and described. They are treated as assets for accounting purposes and the Japanese government issued a list of government-approved virtual currencies. They are considered legitimate and therefore can be traded, sold or promoted to the public. Korea maintains that taxes of around 20 percent on gains derived from cryptocurrency trading will be imposed as planned. The finance ministry will impose the tax after recognizing the gains as "other income," an easier way for the government to levy the tax as opposed to property tax. One bitcoin traded for $33,941.8, and Ethereum $2,227.05, May 30. Bitcoin's market capitalization is 804 trillion won and Ethereum 352 trillion won, according to market trackers. Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701) Today Overcast with showers at times. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Overcast with showers at times. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. You will receive 5-day a week delivery of the Citizen Tribune newspaper to your home or business, plus full, ad-free access to CitizenTribune.com as well as full access to the Electronic Edition of the newspaper. ONLY $13.99 per month for the first 3 months! Only $16.00 per month after promotional period. Or ONLY $169.99 for a full year Only $198.95 per year after promotional period. Morristown, TN (37814) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Weather Alert ...OZONE HIGH POLLUTION ADVISORY FOR MARICOPA COUNTY INCLUDING THE GREATER PHOENIX AREA THROUGH SUNDAY... The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality in Phoenix has extended an Ozone High Pollution Advisory for the Greater Phoenix Area through Sunday. This means that forecast weather conditions combined with existing ozone levels are expected to result in local maximum 8-hour ozone concentrations that pose a health risk. Adverse health effects increase as air quality deteriorates. Ozone is an air contaminant which can cause breathing difficulties for children, older adults, as well as persons with respiratory problems. A decrease in physical activity is recommended. If it is a regularly scheduled work day, you are urged to car pool, telecommute or use mass transit. The use of gasoline-powered equipment should be reduced or done late in the day. For details on this High Pollution Advisory for Maricopa County, visit the ADEQ internet site at www.azdeq.gov/forecasting or call 602- 771-2300. ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST FRIDAY... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions. Afternoon temperatures 106 to 119. * WHERE...Portions of south central Arizona. * WHEN...Until 8 PM MST Friday. * IMPACTS...Very High Heat Risk. Increase in heat related illnesses, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Heat stroke can lead to death. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... An Excessive Heat Warning means that a period of very hot temperatures, even by local standards, will occur. Actions should be taken to lessen the impact of the extreme heat. Stay indoors and seek air-conditioned buildings. Drink water, more than usual, and avoid dehydrating alcoholic, sugary, or caffeinated drinks. Dress for the heat - lightweight and light- colored clothing. Eat small meals and eat more often. Monitor those with a higher vulnerability to heat, including small children. Check in on family, friends, and neighbors, especially the elderly. If engaging in outdoor activity, take longer and more frequent breaks and avoid the hottest parts of the day. Never leave kids or pets unattended in cars. Public cooling shelters are available in some areas. Consult county officials for more details, which may include guidance for proper social distancing measures. Recognize the signs and symptoms of heat-related illness. Early signs include thirst and muscle cramps. Heat exhaustion may include: cool, moist, pale skin; headache; dizziness; weakness or exhaustion; nausea. The most serious illness is heat stroke, which may include: vomiting; confusion; throbbing headache; decreased alertness or loss of consciousness; high body temperature (above 105F); hot, dry skin; rapid, weak pulse; rapid, shallow breathing; seizures. Heat stroke can be DEADLY. Treat as an emergency and call 9 1 1. Continue to monitor NWS forecasts, broadcast outlets, and local government for updates. && Grace Louise Archer, age 90, a resident of Aurora, Colorado, a former resident of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, at Shalom Park, Aurora, Colorado. Grace was born the daughter of Maurice P. Martin, Sr., and Margaret (O'Connor) Martin on October 10, 1930, in Chi Employees of Hyundai Card and Hyundai Capital attend a virtual meeting. Courtesy of Hyundai Card and Hyundai Capital Beachwood, OH (44122) Today Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low around 65F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low around 65F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Clinton, IA (52732) Today Mainly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 60F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 60F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) The mayor of Iloilo City is appealing to the COVID-19 Inter-agency Task Force to extend the citys modified enhanced community quarantine status, due to expire on Monday, because of rising coronavirus infections. RELATED: IATF places Iloilo City under MECQ until end of May Mayor Jerry Trenas told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Weekend that the city's healthcare facilities are currently overwhelmed because all COVID-19 patients in Panay Island are being brought to the citys hospitals. "Sa ngayon, mahaba na ang waiting list (At present, the waiting list is long) The DOH hospital, state university hospital, and private hospitals need additional nurses. The state university hospital needs additional doctors aside from nurses," said Trenas. The mayor added that he had written a letter to the Health Department requesting for the augmentation of hospital personnel and bed capacity in the city due to the spike in COVID-19 cases. "(Health) Secretary (Francisco) Duque said the DOH regional office in Region 6 is still studying the matter and will make recommendations in the next few days," he said. The DOH Western Visayas Center for Health Development has yet to confirm if they received Trenas' letter. Trenas cited the gradual reopening of the economy and relaxed domestic travel protocols as the reasons why Iloilo City is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases. "Ang Iloilo City, which is the regional center both for trade and government, lahat pumupunta dito kaya tumataas ang mga kaso namin (Iloilo City, which is the regional center both for trade and government, is where all the people go, that's why our cases are rising)," he added. As of Sundays DOH count, Iloilo City recorded a total of 7,769 confirmed COVID-19 cases, of which 1,489 are considered active. A local emergency operations center tallied 107 new cases in the city on May 29. The local government has placed the following areas under lockdown from May 28-31: Guzman-Jesena (portion of Block 1, JMI Village), Veterans Village (portion of Zone II), Bolilao (Block 47 Great Vision, Block 48 Angelica Store, Block 56), and Tabuc Suba (Tulihaw Street Modern Homes, #372 Maya Street, McArthur Drive). The Iloilo City Hall suspended its operations last May 24 after 26 workers contracted the coronavirus. U.S. Rep. Jason Crow is scheduled to appear on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday to talk about what he contends are the risks of failing to address the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, after Senate Republicans blocked a commission to investigate the attack. Crow, an Aurora Democrat and Army Ranger combat veteran serving his second term, on Friday called the Senate's failure to approve a bipartisan inquiry "nothing less than a dereliction of duty." Legislation to establish an independent commission modeled on the panel that investigated the Sept. 11 attacks, went down on a 54-35 vote Friday after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and former President Donald Trump called on Senate Republicans to oppose the measure. While six Republicans voted with every Democrat, supporters needed 60 votes to overcome a GOP filibuster in order to start debate on the bill. "Lets be clear here," Crow tweeted after the vote. "On 1/6, there was a violent assault on the Capitol & insurrection against our Democracy. We face a growing & violent domestic extremist movement. The Senates failure today to support a bipartisan commission is nothing less than a dereliction of duty." Others guests slated for Sunday's "Meet the Press" include Matthew Pottinger, a former White House homeland security adviser; Peter J. Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine; and former Republican Rep. Barbara Comstock of Virginia, according to the Associated Press. It will be Crow's second appearance on the Sunday version of the show, known as the longest-running program on American TV. One of nine House Democrats who prosecuted Trump's first impeachment trial, Crow has been outspoken insisting that the attack demands a thorough investigation. A strong, bipartisan commission will help us gather the facts and make the necessary changes to ensure an attack like this never happens again. The only way to move forward is with truth and accountability," he said in a statement last week after the House passed the measure. The day before the Senate took up the proposal, Crow described the stakes in stark terms. "We have a domestic terror movement in America. It has been enabled, it has been furthered, it has been legitimized by leaders at the highest levels of our country, starting with Donald Trump," he told CNN's Don Lemon in an appearance Wednesday on the cable news channel's "Don Lemon Tonight" show. "That's the sad reality. If we are not honest about what it is we're dealing with, if we're not honest about the dangers of that movement, we will not address it in a way that we need to and we will be at risk." Wife Kim Gui-yim (left) and husband Jung Tae-jin (right) smile under a "maesil" or plum tree in their orchard in Asan City, South Chungcheong Province, on May 25. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Older couple's orchard becomes one of Korea's best plum blossom attractions, but plunging price of fruit casts dark clouds over farm. By Kang Hyun-kyung ASAN, South Chungcheong Province Using her teeth, Kim Gui-yim, 68, bites into a fresh green plum that she picked from a tree in her orchard. Grimacing at its sour, pungent taste, she places in her palm the seed from inside the fruit, which had broken into pieces, as a way to teach the reporter about the right timing for picking the fruit. "It's not good enough to harvest yet. As you can see here, the seed is not hard enough," she said. "When the seed becomes as hard as a rock, so that it becomes unbreakable with our teeth, then it's time to harvest. This is how we, as farmers, figure out when to pick the fruit." She and her husband, Jung Tae-jin, are set to harvest their first batch this year of plums, called "maesil" in Korean, on June 6 in their 660,000-square-meter farm nestled in the foothills of a mountain overseeing the scenic Naengjeong Reservoir in Asan City, South Chungcheong Province. They originally named the farm, "Jung-mae-won" (meaning Jung's maesil farm), after the husband's surname, to honor the new business. Whenever they gaze at the scenic farm from atop the mountain, the grey-haired couple experiences a surge of mixed emotions. Wife Kim Gui-yim (left) and husband Jung Tae-jin (right), who are maesil farmers, look at nearly-ripened fruit in their orchard in central Korea. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul They are proud, because two decades of tireless work have eventually transformed the foothills into a breathtaking sea of plum blossoms that draw huge crowds of tourists each spring. But at the same time, deep down in their hearts, there's also a sense of regret. Thanks to their hard work and investments, the maesil farm now has around 8,000 trees that produce two tons of fruit each year. Nevertheless, the couple says they are also stuck in a vicious cycle of endless farm work and poor revenue. Like other professional farms, growing maesil is not that profitable. Plums have become one of the most sought-after summertime fruits because of the popularity of maesil syrup for its versatile use in Korean cooking as a healthy alternative to sugar. But few farmers make enough money from it, because the prices are not competitive enough to cover the labor costs and other expenditures. Depending on the quality, the price of maesil from Jung's farm ranges between 25,000 won and 45,000 won per 10 kilograms. The couple earns an average of 70,000 won from one tree. The couple sold its first batch of maesil in the market about a decade ago when prices had already sharply fallen. Since the health benefits of the fruit became known to the public in the early 2000s, demand was soaring. Maesil started being sold at competitive market prices, which prompted other farmers to jump on the bandwagon. Farmers all over the country rushed to plant maesil trees, hoping to earn lots of money. But four to five years later, there was a maesil glut and prices plummeted. Asked if they ever considered earning extra income, for example, by charging entrance fees to visitors to their orchard during the springtime, or by opening a cafe, the couple shook their heads. "We're happy to meet people who like our farm. We've never thought of charging an entrance fee, because their encouragement makes us feel proud of what we've done so far," said Kim. Life on the farm gets very busy during plum-picking season in June and July. "Once the fruit picking begins, my wife skips lunch almost every day because there are so many things to take care of," Jung said. "We already have hundreds of pre-orders from our customers either through direct phone calls or messages sent through our website, which is managed by our daughter living in Seoul. So once maesil picking begins on June 6, we send them fresh maesil based on a first-come, first-served basis." Farmer Jung checks ripening maesil trees in the couple's farm. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Before settling in the city of Asan, in the center region of Korea's western coast, Jung, 73, was a self-employed contractor responsible for building houses in Ansan City, Gyeonggi Province. Owning a small company, he recalled that every day was stressful and exhausting, mainly because of money. "Like other business, building houses is about money and relationships with other people," Jung said. "Once you sign a contract with your client and build a house, you need a lot of money to buy materials, pay construction workers, and other expenditures. Money from your clients doesn't always arrive one time. My cash reserve dried up, but I still had to invest in new housing projects. So most of the stress that I endured during all those years was due to money and relationships with my business partners and clients" As those stressful days went on, Jung began to think of his life after retirement. He had a long talk with his wife about their future and they agreed to grow maesil trees in a less-populated rural city. The city of Asan emerged as a top candidate, because the couple owned land there, which Jung had inherited from his ancestors. When they discussed what kinds of crops they were to grow for a living, maesil popped into their minds because the couple shared a fond memory of the fruit. Their daughter suffered from chronic diarrhea when she was little. Kim took her daughter to the hospital many times, but medicine didn't help ease the symptoms. The doctor said her daughter's ailment stemmed from a weak large intestine. Jung checks maesil in his farm. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul After hearing from someone that maesil is effective in curing gastrointestinal ailments, Kim made puree using the fruit and fed it to her daughter. The homemade puree worked. It was three decades ago when Kim and her husband experienced in person the benefits of maesil. But it wasn't easy to find the fruit in stores back then. Because of its strong, sour taste, maesil was not popular. However, the fruit was used as an ingredient in traditional herbal medicine. Kim went to Seoul's Gyeongdong Market, which is a haven for herbal ingredients used in traditional medicine, to obtain maesil for her daughter. The "mysterious healing power" of maesil that the couple experienced some three decades ago popped up in their minds when they were struggling to decide what to do with the rest of their lives. After relocating to Asan City, the couple started over from scratch. Kim's husband bought maesil seedlings in the town market and planted them along the foothills of their land. It took almost four years for the couple to eventually fill the 660,000-square-meter farm with some 8,000 maesil trees. And they continue to toil in the farm. "I thought I could find time to relax once tree planting was done. I was wrong. It turns out that the work is endless, even after the trees are planted. Once the super-busy plum-picking season is over, then we need to prune the trees. Nurturing the top soil, fertilizing the labor is never-ending. Once one task is done, then the next one pops up. This cycle is repeated all year round," said Jung. "Working all day long at the farm was okay when I was relatively young. But now, as I grow older, I find myself getting exhausted easily and it has become increasingly tough to do the same work every day." Asked if he has any other dreams that he wants to achieve, he said he only wants to take care of the farm for the rest of his life. Stay up to date on COVID-19 Get Breaking News Sign up now to get our FREE breaking news coverage delivered right to your inbox. Corsicana, TX (75110) Today A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. The Report includes the actual happenings together with the date and other relevant information. A significant highlight is the communal violence which took in New Delhi in February 2020 in which fifty-three people were killed and several hundreds were injured and most of them were Muslims. This violence was definitely state-sponsored. The Report noted quoting Human Rights Watch: Witnesses accounts and video evidence showed police complicity in the violence, Muslim academics, human rights activists, former police officers, and journalists alleged anti-Muslim bias in the investigation of riots by New Delhi Police. The Report also highlighted the way Muslims were targeted when the pandemic Covid-19 broke out in India; hateful rhetoric during pandemic focussed on the Islamic Tablighi Jamaat organization which had organised an international meeting in Delhi. The Tablighi was held responsible for spreading the coronavirus and there was constant use of the words terrorism and Corona Jihad by the members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some of the mainstream media outlets. The Report minces no words when it notes, There were reports of religiously motivated killings, assaults, riots, discrimination, vandalism, and actions restricting the right of individuals to practice and speak about their religious beliefs. The anti-CAA protests which rocked the country from the time the Government passed the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in mid-December 2019, also found prominent space in the Report. It stated that: Parliament passed the CAA in December 2019 to provide an expedited path to citizenship for Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian migrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who had entered the country on or before December 31, 2014. Similarly situated Muslims, Jews, atheists, and members of other faiths from these three countries were excluded from the CAA. "As of late 2020, the government had not yet enacted rules to implement the CAA. Domestic and international media, NGOs, religious groups, intellectuals, and some political parties criticized the exclusion of Muslims from the legislation, sparking widespread protests. Activists, NGOs, and political parties filed petitions against the CAA on the grounds that it added a religious qualification to the countrys historically secular citizenship laws. "None of the more than 100 legal challenges had been heard by the Supreme Court as of the years end. Commentators, members of some political parties, and activists said the CAA was part of an effort to marginalize Muslim communities throughout the country. They also questioned delays in hearing legal challenges to the legislation. "The government stated the legislation facilitated naturalization for refugees from religious minorities who had fled neighboring countries due to religious persecution and that Muslims could also apply for citizenship through other mechanisms. India has also gained notoriety with its anti-conversion laws which are clearly violative of Article 25 of the Constitution which guarantees every citizen the freedom to preach, practise and propagate the religion of ones choice. Perhaps the only democracy in the world which violates not only the rights of her people but also Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On the anti-conversion laws which exist in some States the Report states: Ten of the 28 states in the country have laws restricting religious conversion: Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh prohibit religious conversion by 'force,' 'allurement,' or 'fraudulent means' and require district authorities to be informed of any intended conversions one month in advance. "Himachal Pradesh and Odisha maintain similar prohibitions against conversion through 'force,' 'inducement,' or 'fraud,' and bar individuals from abetting such conversions. Odisha requires individuals wishing to convert to another religion and clergy intending to officiate at a conversion ceremony to submit formal notification to the government. In 2021, some States including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have introduced anti-conversion laws which are several times more draconian than the existing ones. It would be interesting to see what the US Report 2021 on Indias freedom of religion would contain. The Report also details other areas where minorities are selectively targeted solely because of their religious beliefs; these include the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act and the amendments to the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA). In October, the Allahabad High Court in Uttar Pradesh ruled that the state Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act was being misused against innocent persons and granted bail to a Muslim individual arrested under the act. One key point in the Report was its reference to Fr. Stan Swamy when it states: On November 5, a National Investigative Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai extended the detention of Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest and 84-year-old social activist, on sedition charges in connection with a violent demonstration that resulted in several deaths. NIA officers arrested him on October 8 at his residence on the outskirts of Ranchi, Jharkhand, and his communication with others during detention was strictly regulated. Swamy remained in jail at years end. After languishing in the Taloja jail for almost eight months, on 28 May, Fr Stan was finally allowed by the Bombay High Court the possibility to be admitted to the private Holy Family Hospital in Bandra for fifteen days for urgent medical treatment to address his deteriorating health. Jaishankar with Blinken in US Interestingly, more than a fortnight after the US State Department released this Report, the Government of India has not bothered to comment on it, leave alone issue a rebuttal; besides none of the mainstream media (most of it is still highly godified mouthpiece of the Government) have thought it necessary to make it part of the news. The bhakts in the US who enjoy freedom there and send money home to help the fascist agenda of Hindutva to thrive in India have not shown a whimper of protest. Truth is certainly hard to hide! A few weeks earlier on April 22, the US Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its Annual Report 202. The Report said: In 2021, some States including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have introduced anti-conversion laws which are several times more draconian than the existing ones. It would be interesting to see what the US Report 2021 on Indias freedom of religion would contain.The Report also details other areas where minorities are selectively targeted solely because of their religious beliefs; these include the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act and the amendments to the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act (FCRA). In October, the Allahabad High Court in Uttar Pradesh ruled that the state Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act was being misused against innocent persons and granted bail to a Muslim individual arrested under the act.One key point in the Report was its reference to Fr. Stan Swamy when it states:After languishing in the Taloja jail for almost eight months, on 28 May, Fr Stan was finally allowed by the Bombay High Court the possibility to be admitted to the private Holy Family Hospital in Bandra for fifteen days for urgent medical treatment to address his deteriorating health.Interestingly, more than a fortnight after the US State Department released this Report, the Government of India has not bothered to comment on it, leave alone issue a rebuttal; besides none of the mainstream media (most of it is still highly godified mouthpiece of the Government) have thought it necessary to make it part of the news. The bhakts in the US who enjoy freedom there and send money home to help the fascist agenda of Hindutva to thrive in India have not shown a whimper of protest. Truth is certainly hard to hide!A few weeks earlier on April 22, the US Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its Annual Report 202. The Report said: Religious freedom conditions in India continued their negative trajectory. The government, led by the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), promoted Hindu nationalist policies resulting in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. It particularly noted the passage of the religiously discriminatory CAA. The report indicated that there was seeming police complicity in the Delhi riots, adding, At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, disinformation and hateful rhetoricincluding from government officialsoften targeted religious minorities, continuing familiar patterns. Further, the report alleged that government action including the acquittal of all individuals accused of demolishing the Babri Masjid Mosqueas well as government inaction to address religious violence contributed to a culture of impunity for those promulgating hate and violence toward religious minorities. The recommendations on India by the USCIRF to the US Government were scathing, which included: 1. That India be designated India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for engaging in and tolerating systematic ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations. Those targeted sanctions be imposed on individuals and entities responsible for severe violations of religious freedom by freezing those individuals or entities assets and/or barring their entry into the United States. 2. That the administration advances the human rights of all religious communities in India and promote religious freedom, dignity and interfaith dialogue through bilateral and multilateral forums and agreements. 3. That ongoing religious freedom violations be condemned and support religious organizations and human rights groups being targeted for their advocacy of religious freedom. 4. That the US Congress should continue to raise religious freedom concerns in the U.S.-India bilateral relationship by hosting hearings, writing letters and constituting Congressional delegations. Short of declaring India as a CPC, the US State Department Report seems to have integrated several of the recommendations of the USCIRF. On expected lines. the Indian government rejected the USCIRF Report. A spokesperson from the Ministry of External Affairs went on the offensive saying, "Our principled position remains that we see no locus standi for a foreign entity to pronounce on the state of our citizens' constitutionally protected rights". So why has the Government of India has not responded to the State Department report is a big question! India cannot be selective in its foreign policy: buying rafale jets from France or arms and ammunition from the United Sates is also an interference in the internal affairs of our country; the Prime Minister going to Texas to canvas for Trump for another term of Presidency is also interference; hypocrisy, one-sidedness and double talk only lays bare the insidious agenda of a fascist regime. Indias foreign minister is currently in the United States and was absolutely pathetic when he stated, that India is being maligned on the international stage. A sad joke indeed! Yes, India is being maligned by those who rule the country today: who are unable to meet the basic health needs of the people, who waste tax-payers money constructing a grandiose Central Vista, who destroy the environment, like the pristine Lakshadweep to help crony capitalists to profit, who use religion to keep people divided, who spew venom and hate on the minorities and much more! In a systematic and pernicious way, the regime and their henchmen have attacked and destroyed all that is precious in India: Constitutional Rights, democratic values and the pluralistic fabric. The US State Departments 2020 International Religious Freedom Report should be an important reminder to the ruling regime that in a democracy, the freedom of religion is not only a right but also sacred. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, I do not expect India to develop one religion, i.e., to be wholly Hindu, or wholly Christian, or wholly Muslim, but I want it to be wholly tolerant, with its religions working side by side with one another. Whether those in power have the ability to listen and the courage to change is another question! --- *Human right, reconciliation & peace activist/writer India figured high up in the group of 56 countries which were referred to. On all counts, India is one of the very few democracies in the world today which pays scant attention to the religious freedom of her people almost on par with dictatorial regimes. A real disgrace on the international forum! The particularly long section on India is a scathing attack of how the Indian Government has been denying religious freedom to its minorities.In the Press Briefing during the release of the Report, Dan Nadel, Senior Official from the Office of Religious Freedom responding to a question on India said:The Executive Summary on India provides a detailed and in-depth coverage of the systematic, consistent attacks and human rights violations on the religious minorities (particularly the Muslims and Christians) and also on the Dalits. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Zounds! Gee-whiz! My goodness, what a twist! A couple of things, though. The original Destro simply wore a metal mask, which the movie established McCullen owns. No reason for the nanomites other than Because screw the cartoon. But then Cobra Commander just decides out of the blue that Jimmys name is now Destro and the only reason for that is because, say it with me, Its from the cartoon! What a load of shit. One of the best movies of all time. See? Jarring. And you know what really pisses me off about this scene? The fact that it might be secretly or accidentally brilliant. When the movie first came out, Christopher Eccleston was still remembered as the previous Doctor from Doctor Who, an alien with the power to regenerate into a new body whenever he gets seriously injured or whenever the actor playing him starts giving the showrunner too many notes. The character is literally just named The Doctor, which, interestingly, is also the name that the Cobra scientist was going by throughout the movie. So at the end of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, The Doctor helped The Doctor regenerate with a brand-new face. Stealth Doctor Who joke! Continue Reading Below Advertisement Regrettably, probably not. Theres nothing else in the movie that would hint at it having this level of self-awareness and geekiness. Stephen Sommers films are big, loud, and fun, but they arent clever enough to weave elaborate pop-culture puns into their story. Hiding stuff in plain sight is actually very difficult. Not everyone can pull it off. You know who can, though? Read the first letter of each paragraph in this article. No regrets. Follow Cezary on Twitter. Top Image: Paramount Pictures To enjoy our website, you'll need to enable JavaScript in your web browser. Please click here to learn how. President Moon Jae-in speaks during the inauguration event for the panel on climate change at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in central Seoul, May 29. Yonhap A major global summit on climate and sustainable growth is scheduled to open on Sunday under the initiative of South Korea. President Moon Jae-in will host the two-day 2021 P4G Seoul Summit via video links, joined by more than 60 other top government officials and heads of international organizations, according to his office. They include British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and John Kerry, U.S. special presidential envoy for climate. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria are also among participants. Cullman, AL (35055) Today Thunderstorms, some locally heavy early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall may reach one inch.. Tonight Thunderstorms, some locally heavy early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall may reach one inch. Kankakee, IL (60901) Today Scattered thunderstorms early. Skies will become mostly clear late. Low 64F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early. Skies will become mostly clear late. Low 64F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. The following items are based on information provided by officials in law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. President Moon Jae-in speaks during a ceremony to mark the establishment of the presidential committee for 2050 carbon neutrality at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Saturday. Yonhap By Nam Hyun-woo World leaders will share their commitments to tackle climate changes during the P4G Seoul Summit, which kicked off its two-day run online to pursue international cooperation for stronger environmental actions. P4G, short for Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, is a global initiative launched in 2017 to accelerate responses to climate change and the implementation of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As part of the initiative, member countries hold summits between heads of states and leaders of international organizations and businesses to form a coalition for sustainable growth. The P4G Seoul Summit is the second of its kind, and Korea's first hosting of a multilateral climate summit. Including 12 member countries, leaders of more than 40 countries will participate in the event. They include U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and a number of other state leaders. U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will also attend the summit. As the host of the summit, Korea will announce its plans to strengthen its coalition for environmental actions with like-minded countries, and present itself as one of the leading nations in climate responses. Technical Forecast for the Australian Dollar: Bearish Thanks to shifting fundamental forces weaker commodity prices and a relatively less hawkish RBA Aussie bears more control over price action across a number of AUD -crosses. Among the three AUD-crosses discussed in this report, AUD/NZD rates have the clearest bearish technical inclination. The IG Client Sentiment Index s uggests that the AUD-crosses have bearish biases. Australian Dollar Rates Week in Review The last week of May proved mostly bearish for the Australian Dollar, with five AUD-crosses moving in favor of Australian Dollar weakness (AUD/CAD, AUD/NZD, AUD/USD, EUR/AUD, and GBP/AUD) and only two proving favorable for Aussie strength (AUD/CHF and AUD/JPY). Despite many global equity markets proving strong, the growing Australia-China trade war is proving damaging, with the latest casualties seemingly being industrial base metals (of which Australia is reliant on as its major export). Declining commodity prices coupled with a Reserve Bank of Australia that is seemingly less hawkish than its commodity currency counterparts has set the stage for a weak start to June, where shifting narratives are beginning to give Aussie bears more control over price action across a number of AUD-crosses and bulls are failing too. AUD/USD RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (March 2020 to May 2021) (CHART 1) The last time we checked in on AUD/USD rates, it was noted that price action was forming into a bull flag. Accordingly, the breakout at the end of the week suggests that the period of consolidation has ended, and the prior interpretation of price action coalescing into a bull flag indeed correct. To this end, AUD/USD rates are still in the throes of the aforementioned bullish falling wedge, which eyes a return to the yearly high at 0.8007. The problem: AUD/USD rates never found follow-through to the topside, rendering the prior observation incorrect. Failure to gain traction outside of the bull flag produced a reversal scenario, sending AUD/USD rates back to consolidation support (not a surprise after a false breakout). But if AUD/USD rates were to lose flag support, it would also suggest that the aforementioned bullish falling wedge is no longer the primary technical thrust. AUD/USD rates are quickly losing momentum heading into June. The pair is below its daily 5-, 8-, 13-, and 21-EMA envelope, which is almost in bearish sequential order. Daily MACD has just started to slide below its signal line, while daily Slow Stochastics are creeping towards oversold territory. A deeper setback towards the 76.4% Fibonacci retracement of the 2020 high/low range at 0.7510 may begin soon. IG Client Sentiment Index: AUD/USD RATE Forecast (May 28, 2021) (Chart 2) AUD/USD: Retail trader data shows 57.89% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 1.38 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 5.57% higher than yesterday and 17.33% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 15.95% lower than yesterday and 9.68% lower from last week. We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-long suggests AUD/USD prices may continue to fall. Traders are further net-long than yesterday and last week, and the combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives us a stronger AUD/USD-bearish contrarian trading bias. AUD/JPY RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: DAILY CHART (MARCH 2020 to May 2021) (CHART 3) AUD/JPY rates may still be consolidating in an ascending triangle, but an important development has occurred: the pair has lost its uptrend from the March and November 2020 lows. AUD/JPY rates are hugging their daily EMA envelope following a rejection of the pandemic uptrend, suggesting that a shift in momentum may be beginning. Daily MACD is flat against its signal line, while daily Slow Stochastics are rising but still below their median line. Traders may want to watch lower timeframes (e.g. 4-hour, 6-hour) for technical evidence of topping patterns early in the week. IG Client Sentiment Index: AUD/JPY Rate Forecast (May 28, 2021) (Chart 4) AUD/JPY: Retail trader data shows 40.71% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders short to long at 1.46 to 1. The number of traders net-long is 6.56% lower than yesterday and 3.64% higher from last week, while the number of traders net-short is 9.78% lower than yesterday and 5.68% lower from last week. We typically take a contrarian view to crowd sentiment, and the fact traders are net-short suggests AUD/JPY prices may continue to rise. Yet traders are less net-short than yesterday and compared with last week. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current AUD/JPY price trend may soon reverse lower despite the fact traders remain net-short. AUD/NZD RATE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS: WEEKLY CHART (August 2017 to May 2021) (CHART 5) Among the three AUD-crosses discussed in this report, AUD/NZD rates have the clearest bearish technical inclination. The last full week of May produced a close below the rising trendline from the March and November 2020 lows, just a few weeks after establishing a lower high in 2021 relative to what was established in 2020. Combined with fundamental reasons to think that the RBA-RBNZ policy divergence has shifted in the Kiwis favor, AUD/NZD rates may now be in focus as a pair embarking on a longer-term decline. Not only does the weekly chart show the critical bearish close, but it also highlights the acute shift in momentum to the downside recently. AUD/NZD rates are fully below their weekly 4-, 8-, 13-, and 26-EMA envelope, which is not yet in fully bearish sequential order. Weekly MACD is dropping towards its signal line, while weekly Slow Stochastics are accelerating towards oversold territory. AUD/NZD rates may be beginning a decline towards the late-2020 swing low near 1.0400. CFTC COT Australian Dollar Futures Positioning (May 2020 to May 2021) (Chart 6) Finally, a consideration of positioning in the futures market. According to the CFTCs COT for the week ended May 25, speculators slightly increased their net-long Australian Dollar positioning to 3,002 contracts, up from the 2,416 net-long contracts held in the week prior. Positioning in the futures market remains rather benign, providing plenty of slack for the Australian Dollar to embark on a new trend without risk of overcrowding in the short-term. --- Written by Christopher Vecchio, CFA, Senior Currency Strategist This photo provided by the Department of Special Collections, McFarlin Library, The University of Tulsa shows an unidentified man standing alone amid the ruins of what is described as his home in Tulsa, Okla., in the aftermath of the June, 1, 1921, Tulsa Race Massacre. This file photo taken on April 30 shows a pack and vials of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson (JJ) COVID-19 vaccine at the ZNA Middelheim hospital in Antwerp, Belgium. Korea is set to receive the vaccine for 1 million people from the United States this week, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Sunday. AFP-Yonhap South Korea is set to receive the Johnson & Johnson (JJ) COVID-19 vaccine for 1 million people from the United States this week following Washington's pledge to donate vaccines for Korean troops, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum said Sunday. It is nearly double the volume that U.S. President Joe Biden vowed to provide, during a meeting with President Moon Jae-in earlier this month, to fully inoculate all 550,000 South Korean service members. "Our military aircraft will bring the vaccine home (within this week) to inoculate military-affiliated members, including reservists," Kim said, presiding over a government disaster management meeting. "The detailed vaccination plan will be announced later by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency," he added. In April, South Korea authorized the use of Janssen's single-shot regimen as the country's third approved vaccine, though this type of vaccine is yet to be administered. Around 10 million Americans, including members of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), have received JJ's. Of all South Korean troops, more than 114,000 in their 30s and older have already received AZ vaccines, while younger soldiers are supposed to receive Pfizer's vaccines. "I'd like to express gratitude to Biden and the U.S. government for the decision, which demonstrated the staunch Korea-U.S. alliance," Kim said. (Yonhap) When his Royal Highness Prince William made his statement, following the publication of the Dyson report, no one could have guessed just how searing a blow his words had on the very foundations of the BBC. If any person had behaved in a manner that fuelled an individual's 'fear, paranoia and isolation' and subsequently 'contributed substantially' to the breakdown of personal and family relationships and a marriage. If, using deceitful and corrupt practice made commercial gain; that was itself subsequently covered over by a 'leadership that looked the other way'. There is no doubt that person would find themselves in the most serious trouble and should face the full rigour of the law including jail. Obviously, the BBC can't be sent to jail. But the leadership that permitted such a calumny to be perpetuated about a woman and her family must face some consequence for those actions. It is the 'look the other way' leadership, the very top of the BBC that must answer for the Martin Bashir affair. It is not unusual for our media moguls to inhabit a strange layer in the world between the government and the governed. Anthony William Hall, Baron Hall of Birkenhead CBE. The Dyson report found that Lord Hall, when director of news at the BBC, had misled authorities over methods used by Martin Bashir Having a foot in both camps poses significant privileges and challenges. But this affair has exposed that it is a place that should no longer entertain the likes of Anthony William Hall, Baron Hall of Birkenhead CBE. The Dyson report found that Lord Hall, when director of news at the BBC, had misled authorities over the methods used by Martin Bashir for the BBC Panorama interview with Dianna Princess of Wales. Not some mishap but a most serious misdemeanour. The buck stops somewhere, and in my view, it must be at the top. This week in Parliament I posed the challenge to the government to find a way of stripping Lord Hall of his Peerage. This leadership man, a one-time god at the BBC, who not only looked the other way, but then took a double take and permitted the rehiring of Bashir in the full knowledge of what had occurred. Ian Paisley Jr arriving for the DUP meeting to ratify Edwin Poots as new leader of the party at the Ramada Hotel in Belfast. May 27, 2021 This just can't be allowed to blow over as if it was some unfortunate error. The BBC has been accused of contributing to the breakup of a relationship, creating fear and paranoia in a woman not just any woman - but one who could have been Queen of our nation. If this is how the BBC top brass can treat the very top of this society what hope has any other person at their mercy? Lord Hall has already very kindly resigned as Chairman of the National Gallery. Given the most successful 'Hold Still exhibition' at the Portrait Gallery next door organised by HRH Catherine one can understand why he wanted to scurry offside. But back to the Lords he cannot hide! His resignation suggests he already knows it is untenable for him to remain in a position of public trust. But he continues to be effectively one of our nation's law makers as a privileged Member of the House of Lords. Martin Bashir interviewing Dianna Princess of Wales for the BBC Panorama This week I asked Jacob Rees-Mogg, how can he be permitted to stay unchallenged in the Lords? I would have expected by now that the Lords Commissioner for standards to have commenced an examination of him. That failure to be proactive means that today I have written to the commissioner asking them to commence such an investigation. Failing that process, I will ask Jacob Rees-Mogg to consider the triggering of powers the House has to deal with a serious misdemeanour. In recent months Peers have been sanctioned for abusive language, they have even faced punishment for failure to participate in training schemes about self-awareness. If they want to be taken seriously, the authorities must move to strip Lord Hall of his title. A young woman who launched her 'dream' luxury pop-up picnic business in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic is now booked out months in advance. Paige Montgomery started Poppin Picnics in October 2020 with the intention to 'transform the conventional dine-out experience' and create stunning outdoor events customers can enjoy. The brand offers perfect luxurious picnic experiences in pristine locations across Sydney. The 28-year-old told Daily Mail Australia she had no previous business experience or knowledge, and never thought she would start her own company. The incredible Instagram-worthy picnics are the ideal setting for engagements, birthdays, anniversaries, bachelor or bachelorette parties, baby showers, proposals and special occasions. Paige Montgomery, 28, started Poppin Picnics in October 2020 with the intention to 'transform the conventional dine-out experience' The incredible Instagram-worthy picnics are the ideal setting for engagements, birthdays, anniversaries, bachelor or bachelorette parties, baby showers, proposals and special occasions Prior to launching the business, Paige deliberated whether customers would desire gathering outdoors all year round or not. Paige (right) launched the brand in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic 'Traditionally speaking people have always loved outdoor recreation because it's an undeniable element of Australian culture, but hosting a picnic event can be hard work,' she said. 'Events are much more enjoyable when you don't lose a wink of sleep because you know everything is taken care of - this was one main motive for the business.' The picnics look stunning with elegantly arranged cutlery, vases filled with flowers, candles, and soft cushions placed on top of large rugs. At the time Paige needed to act carefully to abide by Covid-19 restrictions regarding outdoor event spaces and activities. Customers can purchase packages with food and non-alcoholic drinks start at $320 for groups of 12 and under The brand has also recently introduced creative workshops, including how to make flower crowns, dreamcatchers and porcelain art, to cater to those with artistic flair PAIGE'S PICNIC STYLING TIPS: Consider the tone of the picnic and what it is for - such as whether guests are gathering for a wedding, birthday or baby shower Consider different themes that ooze beauty, class and expensive taste Make the table by beginning with the centre floral pieces and working outwards Consider adding texture, colour and elements of nature Stay open-minded Envision the bigger picture Advertisement Customers can purchase packages with food and non-alcoholic drinks start at $320 for groups of 12 and under. Groups larger than 12 will be charged a flat rate of $70 per head that's inclusive of set-up and food. 'We also offer add on packages of live music with the talented Aimes music, a mystery location home to five-acres of wildlife, breath-taking views and waterlilies ponds,' Paige said. The brand has also recently introduced creative workshops, including how to make flower crowns, dreamcatchers and porcelain art, to cater to those with artistic flair. The intimate picnics would be perfect for birthdays, engagements, proposals, anniversaries and other special occasions It is the signature flair and style that allows the brand to differentiate to other event businesses. 'Whether it's our French crystal goblets, paramount natural wooden picnic tables or assorted unique decor, I consider the aesthetic pleasure inescapable,' she said. Paige said she deters from purchasing cheap materials to set-up the picnics, as she desires creating a 'cultural experience' as if you were 'taking a step back in time'. It is the signature flair and style that allows the brand to differentiate to other event businesses Paige said she deters from purchasing cheap materials to form the picnics, as she desires to create a 'cultural experience' as if you were 'taking a step back in time' Paige now dedicates herself to the business full-time and says her weekends are always packed running around arranging the picnic decor, setup and catering. 'Weekends obviously are the busiest time but weekday picnics are becoming more popular too,' she said. 'The social aspect of collaborating with local artisans and creating a network employing and supporting other small business owners has been a real perk within this newfound industry.' 'Weekends obviously are the busiest time but weekday picnics are becoming more popular too,' she said When asked what she has planned next for the business, Paige said she hopes to develop the brand into a franchise When launching soon before the Australian summer, Paige said a huge challenge was working with the weather and environmental factors. 'The set-up is quite a physical challenge, and the summer humidity was unbearable at times,' she said, adding: 'The flies were also problematic and thinking of ways to solve this predicament took a lot of trial and error.' When asked what she has planned next for the business, Paige said she hopes to develop the brand into a franchise. 'For now, I am happy with the current servicing areas, but to expand in the future is a possibility,' she said. An American expat living in Australia has offered her amusing explanation about why she's convinced roundabouts are 'deadliest' thing she discovered Down Under. Meghan Maire who moved from Houston, Texas, to regional New South Wales shared a TikTok video warning foreigners who are planning to hit the road around the country to be on high alert when approaching roundabouts. 'Americans, we've always heard about the deadly, dangerous, killer animals that live in Australia. Sharks, crocodiles, box jellyfish, snakes, spiders and territorial kangaroos... But be warned,' she said in her video. 'There's one thing that blows all of these terrifying things out of the water. There's no way to prepare for it. There's no way you'll ever learn how to get through it alive. The only thing saving you is dumb, blind luck. 'What is this nightmare to which I'm referring to? This s*** - roundabouts.' American expat Meghan Maire (pictured) has offered her amusing explanation about why she's convinced roundabouts are 'deadliest' thing she discovered Down Under The young traveller explained why she found the whole experience of driving around a roundabout stressful. 'No one can see where anybody is going. You can't see across the damn thing because they fill it with trees, monument or signs,' she said. 'No one uses their indicators and worst of all, I mean the absolute kicker... we're driving on the wrong side of the road.' Her video has since been viewed more than 19,000 times, with many Aussies agreeing with her statement. 'Yep, I'm Aussie and the big ones in the city can be freaky,' one woman wrote. Another Aussie driver urged everyone to avoid the notorious Britannia roundabout in Adelaide, South Australia, which has been widely considered as one the nation's most dangerous roundabouts. 'Please do not attempt Britannia roundabouts. Lived here my whole life and used to use it daily. But literally no one knows how to master it,' she said. Another driver urged everyone to avoid the notorious Britannia roundabout in Adelaide, South Australia (pictured), which has been widely considered as one the nation's most dangerous roundabouts Others insisted roundabouts are 'easy' and you just need to 'give way' to traffic on the driver's right side, or cars that are already on the roundabout. 'First one there wins. Easy! If you both get there at the same time, the person to your right goes first, not rocket science,' one suggested, while another said: 'Give way to the right. That's all you need to know.' And one added: 'You don't need to see across them... Just any traffic approaching from your right.' Meanwhile, one person joked: 'Just do what we do at roundabouts: close your eyes, hope for the best and floor it.' According to a 2014 study by Austroads, Australian roundabouts are among the most dangerous in the Western world because they are designed for speed, not safety. The report found the design of Australian roundabouts encouraged drivers to speed through intersections and to 'look but not see' other motorists. Australian roundabouts are built according to a tangential design, which means that the driver has very good visibility as they approach the roundabout and is less likely to slow down, or check the roundabout closely as they approach the intersection. An American expat has listed the culture shocks she faced since moving to Australia - including the country's obsession with coffee and the speed limits in different states. Katie Payne left Iowa in the Midwestern United States in August 2019 for a four-month stint in Newcastle, 163 kilometres north of Sydney, but she enjoyed her time so much that she returned in January 2020. The 22-year-old has since been adjusting to a new life in Melbourne where she quickly noticed the differences between the US and Australia. 'As we know, my friends, Australians and Americans have very many differences but I wanted to hit you with something you might not think about,' she said in a TikTok video. 'What about the differences between Australians from an American's perspective? You didn't know you needed this, but here we go.' Scroll down for video American backpacker Katie Payne (pictured at the Sydney Opera House) listed the differences she's noticed about Australian states since moving down under In the TikTok video, Ms Payne said prior to moving to Melbourne she was 'warned' she would drink more coffee due to the city's massive cafe culture In the TikTok video, Ms Payne said before moving to Melbourne she was 'warned' she would drink 'a lot more coffee' due to the city's massive cafe culture. 'I was like "nah I don't drink that much coffee", wrong! I drink five a day and it's not even by choice,' she said. 'I'm just concerned for your kidney health.' Secondly, after going on a road trip across Queensland, Ms Payne noticed how people have a tendency to disobey the speed limit and drive faster. 'I went on a road trip around Queensland and those mother*****s were going 20 to 30km over the speed limit. I get to Melbourne and it seems as if no one's in a rush, ever. Not one time. I'm in a 70 (km/h) zone and everyone's going 50,' she said. 'Peachy keen going 50, what is that about? Speed the f*** up or don't.' She said another thing she thought was unusual was the way Australians pronounce the word 'baguette', which is a long type of French bread. 'To me it's bag-ette,' she said. Ms Payne (pictured) recently moved to Melbourne after living in Newcastle, New South Wales The video has been viewed more than 159,000 times since it was posted and has attracted attention from hundreds of Australians offering their take on the notable differences. Many said those who live in Melbourne have a tendency to drive slower because the city has 'the most speed cameras per capita and per square kilometre' compared to others. For Ms Payne, the differences came as a culture shock compared to what she has experienced in the US. In another TikTok video shared last year, Ms Payne revealed the unique Australian habits that make her swoon - such as 'cute' slang and the way people text. Ms Payne posted a clip fawning over Australians for their 'obsession' with KFC and electronic music, slang terms and penchant for signing off messages to people they like with a line of 'kisses'. She said it 'makes me die' when her Australian friends leave 'x's at the end of texts and had a similar reaction to use of the term 'lollies', which is the Australian word for candy or sweets. 'If you text me with an 'x' at the end of the message, I'm a die (sic). I can feel your kiss through the phone,' she says in the video. She adds: 'And your love for KFC... You know we forget about that in the US. It's kind of like 'oh, KFC' but you guys f*****g love it, and that's cute.' In another TikTok video, Ms Payne (pictured) said she loves when people say 'lollies', which is the Australian term for candy or sweets Standing testament to Ms Payne's self-professed love affair with everything Australian is her Instagram feed, which is filled with gushing tributes to the Land Down Under Standing testament to Ms Payne's self-professed love affair with everything Australian is her Instagram feed, which is filled with gushing tributes to the Land Down Under. Photos show her beaming as she soaks up the very best of Australia, posing in front of the Sydney Opera House at Circular Quay and gazing out over the Victorian coastline from the Great Ocean Road. Her TikTok video, which has been viewed 317,000 times since it was posted, has drawn hundreds of comments from Australians discussing their preference for food, music and writing style. Photos show Ms Payne beaming as she soaks up the very best of Australia's east coast beaches (pictured) 'All of us Australians are confused how the rest of the world doesn't sign off texts with 'x' and 'xx' when it's someone you really love,' one woman replied. 'Okay but Aussie KFC is unbelievably superior to any other KFC,' said a second. Another KFC enthusiast added: 'That's because we have like three fast food options and Wicked Wings and Zinger burgers just happen to be superior.' Others said the Australian obsession with KFC is 'probably because there's only Red Rooster as the other option for chicken'. Ed Miliband has ditched one of his famous two kitchens at his 2.5million north London mansion. The former Labour leader, 51, sparked a row in 2015 after he was filmed by the BBC with his wife, the High Court judge Dame Justine Thornton, drinking tea in an austere-looking kitchen in the run-up to the general election. It later emerged that the couple have a second, larger family kitchen, which led to claims he used the other smaller room to portray his family life as more humble than it is. Mr Miliband then sought to cool the row by insisting he prefers the 'functional kitchenette' upstairs - which a family friend revealed was used mainly for 'tea and quick snacks' - while the live-in nanny preoccupied the larger one. Ed Miliband has ditched one of his famous two kitchens at his 2.5million north London mansion The former Labour leader, 51, sparked a row in 2015 after he was filmed by the BBC with his wife, the High Court judge Dame Justine Thornton, drinking tea in an austere-looking kitchen in the run-up to the general election Speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine, the shadow secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy and MP for Doncaster North revealed he's since turned the smaller kitchen into a 'bathroom/laundry'. 'I can let you into a secret: theres only one kitchen now. The one the tabloids slagged off has gone its a bathroom/laundry. Our kitchen is in the basement and it's chaos,' he explained. The father-of-two added that his family is 'lively' in the mornings and want 'loud, meaningful conversations' while he is 'staggering about hoping for intravenous coffee'. At the time Mr Miliband denied choosing to be filmed by the BBC in the smaller kitchen because it was less imposing. It later emerged that the couple have a second, larger family kitchen, which led to claims he used the other smaller room to portray his family life as more humble than it is Speaking to The Sunday Times Magazine , the shadow secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy and MP for Doncaster North revealed he's since turned the smaller kitchen (pictured) into a 'bathroom/laundry' 'The house we bought had a kitchen downstairs when we bought it,' he told the Birmingham Mail. 'And it is not the one we use. We use the small one upstairs.' Pressed again on why he was shown in the smaller kitchen, Mr Miliband added: 'This is the kitchen Justine and I use.' He joked: 'I think Justine would probably say she wishes I'd spend more time in the kitchen.' Mr Miliband also revealed he learned to ride a bike during lockdown, at the age of 49, and now cycles to Westminster and to his mother's home. 'I was 49 before I learnt to ride a bike,' he said. 'My wife is very persistent. During lockdown she said I should try. I thought, "Absolutely no way". But I found I could ride an electric bike, sort of.' In his Christmas card in 2014, Mr Miliband posed with his wife and children in what appeared to be a larger kitchen At the time Mr Miliband denied choosing to be filmed by the BBC in the smaller kitchen because it was less imposing The politician has also been on a 'big fitness kick', enjoying cold-water 5:30am swims in Highgate Pond. Mr Miliband, who has penned a new book entitled Go Big: How to Fix Our World, out this week, also opened up about the pain he endured following the 2015 election defeat. After putting his 'heart and soul' into it, he admitted it took a 'long time' to get over it as he struggled with a sense of 'terrible emptiness'. 'As leader every second is scheduled by your support team and people hang on every word. Suddenly they dont give a damn,' he recalled. 'I grew a beard and got into making muffins. What was I thinking? It was definitely post-leadership trauma.' His wife's career however took off, with Justine going from QC to High Court Judge. During lockdown he explained how he took on the role of homeschooling while working from home because she spent a lot of time in chambers. When his wife goes to bed, he revealed he stays up to make their two sons Daniel, 11, and 10-year-old Sam's packed lunches and starts working again. 'Gordon Brown used to send emails at 5am, so theres a lot to unlearn,' he said. 'I occasionally dream about prime ministers questions its more of a nightmare, to be honest. Im generally underprepared.' Advertisement Dreaming of a summer spent away from the hustle and bustle of city life? Does a remote staycation in a shepherd's hut on a Welsh hillside sound perfect, or would you rather hide away in a cottage only accessible by boat? There is plenty of scope for a secluded stay across the UK - and they're now easy to find, thanks to a new 'off-grid' map created by The Shackleton Whisky company, which focusses on adventures that will give you a chance to take time away from your screen. These unique homes all receive poor to zero 3G, 4G or 5G signal within the surrounding area, and although this may vary by providers, it is appealing for anyone who fancies a serious digital detox. According to a recent study, Brits spent over eight hours of their day glued to screens during lockdown - and, now that travel restrictions are easing, 34 per cent are looking for remote adventures with no interruptions from technology. These secluded retreats offer a chance to swap months of video calls, social media and emails for uninterrupted, signal-free getaways at forest cabins, tree-house retreats, and accommodation only accessible by boat or long hikes. Here FEMAIL reveals some of the most unique places around the UK for a remote staycation. Peanmeanach Bothy - Lochailort, Scotland Peanmeanach Bothy was built circa 1905 and requires a two-hour walk - or a 30 minute kayak trip - to reach it This little home requires a two-hour walk (or a 30 minute kayak trip) to reach it. With no electricity or water and just a few creature comforts - it's an adventure waiting to happen. Peanmeanach Bothy was built circa 1905, originally as the schoolmistress house when the village was a thriving township with a population of around 50. The bothy, which has no electricity or running water, costs 50 per night Friday to Sunday and 40 Monday to Thursday nights, and boasts no nearby neighbours for a secluded stay. It also has a wood-burning stove, magnificent views across the bay during the day, and if skies are cloudless, fabulous views of the stars in the evening. Guardswell Farm - Perthshire, Scotland This hillside dwelling is an off-grid haven for those who love stargazing and a chance to watch the world go by in peace This hillside dwelling is an off-grid haven for those who love stargazing, peaceful surroundings, and a chance to watch the world go by. Guardswell Farm is a 150-acre grassland farm situated on a south facing hill with panoramic views stretching from Dundee to Fife along the River Tay. The secret getaway, which sleeps up to four people and costs 100 per night, gives people a chance to immerse themselves in simple pleasures like running a micro-farm and leaving their digital dependence behind. The Lakehouse - Lancashire, England This lovingly restored barn conversion features its own private lake and woodland in the heart of Lancashire The Lakehouse is an off grid, lovingly restored barn conversion, set in three acres of land, features its own private lake and woodland in the heart of Lancashire. Powered by the wind and sun, with water alkalised and filtered from the on-site spring on Burn Fell, this really is a place to reconnect with nature and those around you. The home, large enough for seven guests, has a private spa for those who want to unwind after a days adventures. Prices start from 400 per night. Kudhva - Cornwall, England The Kudhva, which sleeps two, has been designed to offer shelter in a way which leaves you feeling calm and cared for The Danish Cabin sits above a 40ft waterfall in secluded deciduous woodland with a river running underneath the decking There are four Kudhva on site, completely off-grid and designed to offer temporary shelter in a way which leaves you feeling calm and cared for, just by the structure itself. They sleep two in a mezzanine bed, looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the views beyond, with prices starting at 125 per night. The Danish Cabin, which sleeps six, sits above a 40ft waterfall in a secluded deciduous woodland with a river running underneath its private deck. Kudhva, the Cornish word for 'hideout', describes the area perfectly, as it is set in a 45 acre abandoned quarry, overlooking the sea. The Lazy Duck - Cairngorms National Park, Scotland The Lazy Duck is a 25 year old organically grown retreat that has ecology at its core as it sits nestled in secluded woodland The Lazy Duck is a 25 year old organically grown retreat that has ecology and wellbeing at its core as it sits nestled in secluded woodland. Sitting on the waterside with only rare breeds of ducks for neighbours, the home features a wood burning stove and a stargazing window. The message behind the cabin is 'slow living' and this hidden gem features a wood fired hot tub and sauna 20 minutes away from the popular town of Aviemore. Adventurous days are followed by relaxing evenings, where yoga and massage are offered in the well being studio to really unwind. Cabin on the Lake - Powys, Wales This cabin sits on the banks of a small lake allowing guests to sit by the water and watch the wildlife pass by as they switch-off This cabin sits on the banks of a small lake allowing guests to sit by the water and watch the wildlife pass by as they switch off under the stars. Described as 'wild and wonderful in the heart of Wales', guests can relax in the hot tub or take a trip in the canoe and paddle around the island. Spending three nights at the cabin, arriving on Friday and departing on Monday, costs 465, while spending Monday to Friday there costs the same amount. Creeside Farm - Girvan, Scotland Creeside Farm and its Shephard's Hut are proud to celebrate that it can offer an off-grid experience in nature to guests Creeside Farm and its Shephard's Hut are set in over 200 acres of land situated on the edge of Galloway Forest Park, part of an officially designated UNESCO Biosphere, making it an ideal location to get offline. The hut, which sleeps two guests, is situated on a working farm, boasts uninterrupted views of the River Cree and the Galloway Hills in the distance. Taking things back to basics, the hut has no Wi-Fi or phone signal, but it does offer books, cards, board games and a radio to keep you entertained. Costing 65 per night, the hut has a wood burner for a cosy feel, and although there is a socket to charge a phone it has no mains electricity. Albion Nights - Norfolk, England Albion Nights offers a bespoke, hand-crafted cabin in a six acre wildflower meadow with a veranda for evening stargazing Albion Nights offers a bespoke, hand-crafted, off-grid cabin set in a six acre wildflower meadow. It's cosy and welcoming, with its own simple kitchen and en suite, so you can be completely self-sufficient. Located in the Waveney Valley on the Norfolk/Suffolk borders, it provides a secluded adult-only eco-retreat for a simple life getaway. The star attraction though is the private outdoor bath, on the cabin veranda, where you can while away your evening stargazing. One guest described the cabin, which sleeps two people, as a 'secret paradise'. Prices start from 100 per night. Laggan - Lochailort, Scotland Laggan is only readily accessible by boat and has no electricity but boasts stunning views to the Hebrides and small islands This place is seriously off-grid - think paraffin lamps, gas cooker, and fridge. It's only readily accessible by boat and has no electricity. Use of a boat and outboard engine are included in the rental price, so you can explore the coastline on foot and by sea. The nearest road is a three hour walk or a 10 minute boat trip away, so guests can have real peace and tranquility undisturbed from the outside world. Laggan sleeps five and has everything needed for those who love wildlife, the outdoors or a day by the beach thanks to its stunning sea views to the Hebrides and small isles. Two wood-burning stoves keep it feeling warm and home. Spending a week in the house to roam the surrounding 3,500 acres will set you back 950. Pilot Panther - Perth, Scotland The Pilot Panther is a restored 1950's showman's wagon which makes for a cosy getaway with stunning views over Loch Voil The Pilot Panther is a restored 1950's showman's wagon with an authentic retro vibe and wood-burner which makes for a rustic getaway with ever-changing stunning views over Loch Voil. The views from every window are of the spectacular loch which seems to change with the weather and provide a new sight every day. Showers and toilet facilities are a minute's walk away from the wagon, which can sleep up to four people and starts at 145 per night. The map was launched by The Shackleton Whisky, which also built a pop-up retreat in a secret location, in Scotland, for groups of up to six over the May bank holiday weekend. Actor Richard Rankin was the first guest at the secret location as he took a break from filming season 6 of popular TV series Outlander. He said: 'My screen time went through the roof over the last year. Everything had to be done on video calls from work to seeing family and friends. 'But now that travel restrictions are lifting, the opportunity to get offline is ideal - no signal, no Wi-Fi; just great chat and great whisky. 'For me, The Shackleton Whisky's off-grid getaway was the perfect balance of gritty adventure, relaxation, and the chance to explore the great outdoors and snap some of my own photos.' Kate Middleton is 'fast emerging as the jewel in the monarchy's crown' thanks to her ability to combine 'magic with a sense of the ordinary', royal experts have claimed. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph's Stella magazine, Camilla Tominey said the Duchess of Cambridge, 39, is on the path to becoming the Royal Family's greatest asset. Royal biographer Christopher Wilson added that her marriage to Prince William, 38, is strong because mother-of-three Kate has managed to stay grounded and makes no attempt to upstage her husband. He said the Duchess is 'not over-awed' by life as a royal, demonstrable in the way she approached Prince Harry at the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral and acted as peacemaker between him and his brother. Kate Middleton is 'fast emerging as the jewel in the monarchy's crown' thanks to her ability to combine 'magic with a sense of the ordinary', royal experts have claimed (pictured with William in St Andrews last week) 'What Kate has managed to achieve - and I think in a better way than Princess Diana did - is to combine magic with retaining a sense of the ordinary,' Christopher told Stella magazine. 'Diana went off the scale of stardom and disappeared into the stratosphere. Kate has kept her feet on the ground, coming from this determinedly middle-class family, which has in turn helped to ground William too. Their marriage is strong because of that.' Christopher pointed out that there is no jealously between William and Kate - unlike his father's relationship with the late Princess of Wales - and no question of one upstaging the other. He added that Kate's decision to speak to Harry and encourage a reconciliation between him and Prince William was a 'deft' move and in his opinion, 'entirely spontaneous'. Royal biographer said Kate's decision to speak to Harry at the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral and encourage a reconciliation between him and Prince William was a 'deft' move and 'entirely spontaneous' 'I didn't see that as being a staged thing,' he said. 'I thought it was entirely spontaneous and clever in making the two brothers talk to each other. It was a deft move that shows the Duchess is not over-awed by all that's going on.' Meanwhile Katie Nicholl, who wrote The Making of a Royal Romance about the couple's romance, claimed Kate has been William's 'rock' in recent months, which has seen Harry and his wife Meghan Markle make a series of shocking allegations about the Firm. During an interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duke and Duchess and Sussex accused the Royal Family of institutional racism and a lack of support when Meghan felt suicidal while pregnant with their son Archie, now two. Katie Nicholl said Kate has been William's 'rock' in recent months In his new AppleTV+ series with Oprah, The Me You Can't See, Harry went further, accusing the royals of 'total neglect' and criticising his father Prince Charles of leaving him alone to suffer the trauma of the death of his mother, Princess Diana. A friend told The Mail on Sunday that William was disappointed and 'greatly concerned' after Harry's latest fusillade and fears his brother's 'truth-bombing' will go a step too far and further damage relations with the Firm. Describing Kate as a 'pillar of strength', Katie said the Duchess is now taking on the role of guide and mentor that William has previously been for her, helping him through tough times. Referencing a speech made by the Duchess in November last year which revealed the key findings of a Royal Foundation report into childhood, Katie said that demonstrated the faith both her husband and the institution has in her. Royal expert Camilla said Kate's role, both as the wife and mother of future kings, has never been more pivotal. 'Her skillful handling of royal crises in recent months suggests that she is fast emerging as the jewel in the monarchys crown,' she wrote. Yesterday Kate shared a photograph of her getting her first Covid-19 vaccination at London's Science Museum, and thanked 'everyone who is playing a part in the rollout'. The Duchess wore a blue face covering with a short-sleeved cream top and light blue jeans as a medic jabbed her in the arm at the South Kensington site yesterday. It came just 10 days after her husband Prince William had his first shot from NHS medical staff at the same location. Prince William was struck down by coronavirus in April 2020 and 'struggled to breathe' during his battle with the virus. But the public only found out later because the Royal did not want to alarm them. Yesterday Kate shared a photograph of her getting her first Covid-19 vaccination at London's Science Museum, and thanked 'everyone who is playing a part in the rollout' He is understood to have caught it just days after his father Prince Charles announced he had Covid and shortly after Boris Johnson was struck down by it. The royal was forced to self isolate at Anmer Hall in Norfolk as he shook off the virus as doctors helped him through it. On Friday William and Kate issued a personalised thank you card dedicated to the people who made their recent tour in Scotland 'so special'. The thoughtful note featured a sketch of St Andrews - the university town where the couple met while both studying - which Kate drew in 2002. Despite all the glitz and glamour, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie always struck me as very sensible parents. They kept their brood out of the spotlight and seemed determined to allow them to have as normal an upbringing as possible. Im baffled, though, by what happened. They have been locked in a lengthy and bitter court battle for almost five years, with Brad Pitt finally being given joint custody of five of their six children this week (the eldest, Maddox, 19, is not subject to the custody decision). But now Angelina is appealing against the judgment. Is all the fighting really worth it? The unedifying custody battle reminds me of so many warring parents I have seen over the years, who, often thinking they are doing the best for their children, spend years and fortunes fighting each other in the courts. Brad Pitt has been given joint custody of five of the six children he shares with Angelina Jolie, after years of being locked in a lengthy and bitter court battle. Pictured: Brad and Angelina The parents, licking the wounds of their failed relationship, convince themselves that what they are doing is right. Yet the emotional scars, the uncertainty, conflict, rifts and split loyalties result in lasting damage to their children. As a doctor, I am sick and tired of seeing children taking the brunt of the emotional fallout from failed marriages, messy divorces and warring parents. On AND off over the past 15 years, I have worked in A&E covering mental health, as well as in child psychiatry. So Ive seen the impact of affairs and bitter marriage breakdowns countless times: young children and teenagers with emotional and behavioural problems, with eating disorders, with unexplained physical illnesses that are really manifestations of emotional distress. And those are just the very worst cases. Speak to any teacher and they will tell you of the low-level, insidious damage done that never makes it to the doctors waiting room. I should say from the outset that I completely accept that marriages fail. In the UK, some 42 per cent of marriages end in divorce. People change and so do relationships and its just a fact of life that sometimes things dont work out in the way couples hoped they would. There is nothing to be gained by staying in a loveless marriage. There is no doubt that for many childrens mental health, it is preferable for their parents to separate and live amicably apart rather than remain together and subject everyone, including the children, to a horrible, fractious home life. Dr Max Pemberton (pictured) said it makes his blood boil that well-meaning mothers and fathers fail to understand that expensive purchases for their children don't matter if their home life isn't stable Even so, the potential for damage to the children in acrimonious divorces and custody battles is considerable. Research shows that the sense of instability children experience at home triples the risk of them developing emotional problems, compared with children from stable backgrounds. Time and again I have seen parents grown adults bent on revenge ignore the effects of the chaos they create. Im not talking about neglectful parents here. It makes my blood boil that well-meaning mothers and fathers, who apparently care so much for their children that they buy them the latest gadgets and expensive trainers, feed them only the best organic food and send them off for extra tuition classes, fail to understand that none of this matters a jot if their home life isnt stable. Children are much more resilient than we think. They can withstand many things. Research has shown time and again that, in fact, the one and only thing a child really needs in order to develop normally is stability. It doesnt matter about the make-up of the family or the material possessions they have, provided home life is stable. Gordon Ramsays daughter Holly has spoken about having PTSD after she was sexually assaulted aged 18. Too often, the sentences given to perpetrators are pathetic. They dont take account of the deep psychological damage an attack can cause. The most important job a parent has is providing that sense of security. Its that simple, yet people seem to find it so hard to grasp. I understand the rage and fury they feel towards a former partner. I understand that, to them, an ex can appear cruel, heartless, uncaring, even evil. Any concession or compromise makes it seem as if you are handing the other person a victory. It stinks of unfairness and injustice. You feel wronged and wounded, and the desire to feel vindicated and victorious can often be overwhelming. Custody battles often revolve around a failure to appreciate that someone can be a bad partner even a dreadful one and still be a good parent. They might not care about their ex-wife or ex-husband, they might even despise them, they might have done stupid, hurtful or callous things to them, but that doesnt mean they dont care about their children. Ask any lawyer and theyll tell you most custody battles are really about one parent punishing the other. The children, blinking, confused and alone, are reduced to pawns in their parents game of emotional chess. If only parents would understand that in so many of these acrimonious splits, there are never any real winners and the biggest losers are almost always the children. Reward yourself like Joan Dr Max said he often encourages his patients to treat themselves to something to remind them that they're doing their best. Pictured: Joan Collins I love Joan Collins. Headstrong, confident but always with a self-deprecating wink. And Im an even bigger fan now after hearing this week that she buys herself jewellery as a reward. I think more women should do it you dont have to wait for men, Joan explained ahead of an auction of her jewels next month. Treating ourselves is something I often encourage my patients to do. Whatever it might be, we all deserve a treat to remind us were doing our best. Ive done this myself after each book Ive written, Ive bought a piece of art to reward myself for the hard work and remind me that, despite convincing myself I would never get the manuscript finished in time, I did it. Its great motivation. Michael Caine has given up alcohol in order to have more time with his grandchildren. The actor, 88, said that being a grandfather has given him a new lease of life and so hes given up booze in a bid to live a bit longer. What a smart way to look at things. Rather than telling yourself you are denying yourself something, its far better to reframe this thinking as giving yourself something else. Most of us have an inner saboteur that kicks in when we try to abstain from something we enjoy. So at the first sign of difficulty or in response to stress, our good intentions go out of the window. The simplest way to challenge this is to flip it on its head: stop thinking of denying yourself and focus on how its going to make your life better. Dr Max prescribes... Wild Swimming Dr Max said swimming in a lake or pond is great exercise and makes you feel closer to nature (file image) Theres something exhilarating about swimming in a lake or pond. If you have any underlying health issues, do check with your GP first, but its great exercise and does make you feel closer to nature. If youre looking for somewhere to try it, Fritton Lake is a family-run retreat set in 1,000 acres of woods on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. Frittonlake.co.uk My mother was rebellious from the start. Born into an English/Irish family in London during the war, she was evacuated as a baby then sent, aged seven, to a convent boarding school in the country. Her parents ran a series of pubs, working all hours to save the money needed to move to Ireland, where they hoped to buy a farm. But by the time this dream was realised, my mother had discovered the dancing dens of Notting Hill, the coffee bars of Soho, and was in no mood to leave. She was 17 when she met my father, the artist Lucian Freud, who was 20 years her senior. And although her parents insisted she spend the final year of her education in a convent outside Cork, as soon as she was free, she returned to London to be with him. A year later, she was pregnant. I asked once if she was shocked to find herself an unmarried mother at 18, and she said no. She was in love, had assumed shed have a baby and there was nothing she felt more clear about: she wanted a different life to the conventional ones her parents led, in the shadow of the Catholic church. Esther Freud revealed the challenges her mother faced after getting pregnant when she was age 17, with Lucian Freud, who was 20 years her senior. Pictured: Esthers mother as a child (left) with her sister and mother in 1950 Her parents would have been appalled. But they didnt know: she kept the news from them even when she became pregnant for a second time, two years later, with me. And maybe they would never have discovered our existence if, a year or so later, a relative hadnt spotted her waiting at a bus stop in Camden with two small girls my sister Bella and I. The relative had seen her, quite by chance, as shed been travelling across London, and had written to her parents in Ireland: I didnt know your daughter was married! Of course my mother wasnt married, and she waited with trepidation for what might happen next. Indeed, soon after, a letter arrived: Youve made your bed, her father wrote, now you must lie on it. But lie on it she was never going to do. It was many years before she saw her parents again, or visited Ireland. In the meantime, already separated from Lucian, she found a nursery for us and a job in an antiques shop, and did her best to thrive. But life was hard for a single mother in England in the 1960s. Even with the ring she sometimes wore for appearances, even with her name changed to align with ours, she still faced whispers, sharp looks and disapproval. How hard this must have been without the support of her family, the only one of whom shed told was her younger sister. She was still only 24 when friends invited her to join them on a journey to North Africa, and she jumped at the chance for all three of us to go. Disillusioned with Catholicism, she hungered for another, more spiritual path, and once in Morocco she embraced Sufism a mystical side of Islam wrapping herself in a caftan, kneeling to face Mecca as the call to prayer rang out across Marrakech. Esther (pictured) said her grandmother was utterly committed to her husband, believing husbands were forever while children grew up and moved away This adventure lasted 18 months and gave me the inspiration for my first novel, Hideous Kinky; for my latest, I Couldnt Love You More, I found myself exploring the ways in which three women from three generations appro-ached love and mothering. My grandmother, whom I eventually came to know and love (we were finally introduced to our grandparents on returning from Morocco), was utterly committed to her husband, her loyalty undisputed. Husbands were for ever; children grew up and moved away. My mother, and many women of her time, born during the war and raised with the privations and strictures that followed, were intent on discovering themselves. They paved the way to emancipation and work, leaving my own generation as well as taking advantage of the new equalities to focus, like never before, on our children. Men, wed learnt, were more likely to abscond; it was our children we should prize. When my own three children were small, their father [Esther was in a relationship with actor David Morrissey for 25 years] suggested, quite reasonably, that we pose a united front. But history had taught me that this attitude was dangerous and I struggled to agree. If I felt the slightest hint of doubt, I was unable to pretend. This isnt to say my children didnt sometimes drive me to distraction, but whatever happened, my inclination was always to be on their side. I thought of this as I examined the rift between my own mother and her parents. How my Nanas loyalty to her husband nearly lost her her eldest daughter. I didnt know it then, but once in Morocco my mother had ceased to be in touch with her parents, and as the months passed, then the years, my grandmother was made ill with worry, leaving my grandfather furious on her behalf. Esther said girls in trouble were at great risk of being punished by the all-powerful Catholic Church in 1960s Ireland. Pictured: Bernardine with her daughters Esther (left) and Bella in 1965 It wasnt until our return to England that communication resumed. I was six when I met them and aware it was imperative I behave. When the time came at a hotel in London, I became so nervous I got down on the floor and pretended to be a dog. To their credit, these austere, and alarmed, strangers opened their hearts to us, and from then on many summers of our childhood were spent in Ireland on the farm, bringing in the harvest, taking trips to Ardmore beach, drinking lemonade and eating crisps in the car park after Sunday Mass. My mother would take us over on the ferry, returning after several weeks to collect us. When she arrived, there was no denying the atmosphere of tension. Her father had always disapproved of her, she said. She was fiery and determined, much like him, and theyd clashed from the start. But had her mother never backed her up? Or was it that she had no choice but to agree with her husband? In 1960s Ireland, girls in trouble were at great risk of being punished by the all-powerful Catholic Church. Secreted away in homes for morally defective women, they were told to change their names and not speak of the shame theyd brought upon themselves. Esther (pictured) said girls 'in trouble' were punished for the hurt they'd cause God and made to work far into their pregnancies They were made to work far into their pregnancies, tarring roads, clipping lawns with nail scissors, toiling in the infamous Magdalene Laundries, punished for the hurt theyd caused God. During labour, they were denied pain-relieving drugs. None of this would have happened, the nuns were quick to scold, if theyd kept their legs together nine months before. No wonder her parents were fearful on her behalf. What seemed repressive may have been a desire to protect, and during research for my novel a story inspired by what might have happened if my mother had ended up in one of these homes it transpired my grandfather had his own reasons for being vigilant. His own mother (or so the story goes) had eloped, aged 16, running away to the disapproval of her family, becoming entangled with a man whom she later discovered already had a wife. Youll turn out like your grandmother, had been his fearsome warning; but this only served to strengthen my mothers resolve to become whomever she was destined to be and for me, holding tight to her hand as she spun forever forward, it made her resourceful, intrepid and inspiring. I Couldnt Love You More by Esther Freud (Bloomsbury, 16.99) is out now in hardback and audio. We first meet Melissa over Skype. She and her husband, Chad, are in Chicago and my husband and I are in London. Were hugely, nail-bitingly nervous. Will they like us enough? What do you even say? Whats the appropriate way into the very first conversation with the woman you hope will carry your baby for you? We went for HI!!!!! with the enthusiasm of five count them exclamation marks. Its difficult to gauge Chad and Melissas response because their mouths are moving but no sound is coming out. There follows an awkward few minutes of staccato mime before we establish Melissas volume isnt working and we need to regroup on a different device. I can feel a panic attack edging at my subconscious. Mr B and I are already well down this route we never thought wed find ourselves on. It began with my breast cancer diagnosis ten years before, at the age of 30, and the astonishing realisation that somewhere along the line someone forgot to offer me my egg-freezing option. Sophie Beresiner who was left with no function in her ovaries after having chemotherapy, reveals the challenges she experienced while trying to have a baby. Pictured: Sophie with her daughter Im not sure Id have said yes, knowing now that it would have delayed treatment by a few weeks, but I still wake in the night sometimes and obsess over that neglect. In any case, after chemotherapy I was left with no function in my ovaries. It was a horrible situation. But infertility neednt be the full stop we all presume it to be. I picked myself up from it and decided to become pregnant using donor eggs and Mr Bs sperm. It didnt work. For 18 months, I flew to and from IVF clinics in Saint Petersburg, Russia (where the difference in laws around egg donation mean more donors are available than in the UK) and underwent five separate embryo transfers. But when all failed to implant successfully, the surly Russian doctors appeared to lose interest in us, and my oncologist at the Royal Marsden hospital in London banished the idea of any more attempts. Id taken time off the hormone-suppressing drugs I needed to keep my breast cancer from returning and instead had taken IVF drugs that boosted that same hormone to sky high levels. My body badly needed a break. It was another bitter blow. But there was no stopping now. If I cant do it myself, and I cant give up, then what comes next is . . . Melissa. Which is why were here now, face-to-face, courtesy of a very expensive, but allegedly very professional, American surrogacy agency. By this point, weve already created new embryos, via The Agencys in-house service, which matched Mr Bs sperm with the egg donor, known only to us as donor no. 234 the anonymous me part of the equation. After genetic testing for chromosomal abnormalities, weve got three perfect embryos for freezing. Three rolls of the dice. Sophie who is a magazine journalist, said the relationship with American surrogate Melissa, became strained not many weeks in. Pictured: Sophie with baby Marlies Luckily, that first phone call goes brilliantly and I adore Melissa. She tells us she is done with having her own children, but just loves being pregnant, so acting as a surrogate provides the perfect solution, along with a healthy pay cheque of course. Weve been told by The Agency that the fees will add up to no more than $90,000 (63,000) including Melissas $40,000 (28,000) compensation but, to be honest, when youre talking such huge figures, it feels almost abstract, like Monopoly money. I work as a magazine journalist. Mr B is a produce designer. We really dont have unlimited funds, but not trying this is inconceivable to me. Its not as though Im being frivolous here. I want to be a mother. Thats all. Please. So we remortgage the house, start a spreadsheet and hope against hope that this time, I will be. ******************************* I can cope with spending all this money our future childs inheritance but there has to be a child in the end Not many weeks into our relationship with Melissa, however, it starts to become strained. As part of the IVF process she has a series of medical scans, and its discovered she has a cyst on her ovary, and then later fluid in her uterus. We have to wait for both to resolve, and I start to feel guilty putting her through stress and worry. When the cyst goes, and things seem more hopeful, she starts IVF drugs and her attitude towards me becomes increasingly odd. Maybe its that were largely communicating on Whats App, and perhaps her tone is lost in translation, but I feel like Im in a declining relationship with a boy that Im trying hard to convince not to leave me. She keeps telling me how put out she is by everything, like the annoying journey to the chemist to pick up the meds. Or how big the needle is and how much she knows its going to hurt. All the time the costs are mounting. The clinic weve chosen is in Miami but Melissa and Chad are in Chicago. Every surrogacy-related trip they take of course incurs expenses, which come to us through The Agency, and which we, of course, need to cover. But some of them also seem odd. Two $90 (63) airport taxi expense claims twice what the journey is supposed to cost with lost receipts? Plus a loss of earnings claim for both she and Chad, who went with her for a one-night round-trip scan of her ovaries, requiring her sister to take on the childcare, which came to $500 (352) apparently. Sophie said Melissa didn't reply to the message she sent after being informed that she wasn't a 'viable surrogate'. Pictured: Sophie and her daughter For many reasons, the U.S. is considered the gold standard in commercial surrogacy. Its a huge business worth 1.8 billion, so its highly regulated. In the UK, paying money to a surrogate (other than reasonable expenses) is against the law. The only way to do it here is to hope to find an angel to bear your child out of pure altruism, which means competing against all the other infertile couples for one of the approximately 35 known UK surrogates. That wasnt for us and neither, after my experiences in unregulated Russia, were the less expensive packages on offer in Ukraine (30,000) and Greece (65,000). I needed rules, regulations, accountability and contracts hence the U.S.. So I convince myself I am probably paranoid about the expenses and try to fill myself with positivity instead. On the day of the embryo transfer all medical problems apparently resolved Mr B and I sit in our South London kitchen full of nervous excitement while Melissa heads to the clinic in Miami. The tension is extraordinary. Positive and negative stress crammed into the same heart chamber. Right now our embryo is being prepared to become someone. How utterly amazing! And then Melissa is typing on WhatsApp: Have you spoken to the doctor? Im a mess. It was exhausting and frustrating and it felt deeply unfair to fail in all the ways that we did I go cold. I darent look at my husband who, sure enough, just picked up the phone to the doctor in Miami. They did a scan (2,000) before they began to thaw the frozen embryo, thank goodness, because Melissas uterus is filled with fluid again and he recommends that we stop. Stop this transfer, stop this IVF cycle, stop our connection with Melissa, full stop. She most likely isnt a viable surrogate. I have a stiff drink and a cry, and then I think of how bad she must be feeling and send a message telling her not to worry, to take care of herself and well speak soon. She doesnt reply to say she hopes we are feeling OK, to recognise our pain too, or to check in on us. She doesnt reply to say she will try to keep her chin up, or even with a misguided attempt to apologise. In fact, she doesnt reply at all. ******************************** Surrogacy has always been represented as an exotic way to start your family: Cameron Diaz welcomed a new baby into her family, via a surrogate, Elton Johns surrogate is pregnant with twins. You never hear the agonising IVF backstory that achieves those headlines. So no one really thinks about it going the other way. No one prepares you for it. Later, we are assured by the doctor at the clinic that Melissa is healthy and happy. We on the other hand are broken and straight up broke. There is a cost to this particular loss, and it is heartbreakingly wasteful. Sophie (pictured) said two embryos transferred to their next American surrogate Lydia, failed to progress before they found out she was going through a divorce With our match fee, the medical package, the hidden extras, the flights and the scans, weve spent 26,000 on Melissa, who doesnt get her full fee but has been receiving increments at every stage. Add in the creation of the embryos, legal fees and insurances, all in all weve already surpassed the cost that The Agency laid out to us at the beginning. But we both know it is impossible to stop, because then this will all have been for nothing. I think I can cope with spending all this money our future childs inheritance on its own existence, but there has to be a child in the end because the more we spend trying to make it happen, the more we stand to throw away if we decide to stop. ******************************** Three months later, the agency finds us another American surrogate Lydia. You know when youre house-hunting and youre devastated when you lose out on the dream home? The one you actually end up with is always so much better, right? So much so that you cant believe you were ever upset about losing out on that one before. Thats Lydia. Our first call lasts for two hours and shes so lovely. Shes so honest and open and friendly, to the point we feel like weve known each other forever. We do indeed get much further with Lydia than we did with Melissa. Over the course of four months, two of our precious three embryos are transferred to her womb. Both fail to progress. I start to lose hope. I hate that Im in this position. I feel broken, emotionally battered. Before we begin with the third transfer our last chance the relationship starts to spiral out of control. Again. Lydia tells us she is getting a divorce and, in fact, her marriage has been faltering for six months long before she agreed to be our surrogate. A relationship actively breaking down is incompatible with surrogacy it is too disrupting and stressful, and it affects success rates. All the rules are supposed to protect a surrogates mental and physical health against just this kind of situation. We now have a horrible aggravating factor that might be the reason it hasnt been working with Lydia so far. Sophie who spent 150,000 on trying to make surrogacy work in the U.S, had her daughter carried by UK surrogate Rebecca. Pictured: Sophie with her daughter I am furious with The Agency communication has now all but broken down between us and I am sad for Lydia, but we have no choice. With just one roll of the dice left, we need to call it a day with her, too. ******************************** The thing with infertility is that each case is unique. There are too many emotions and people and feelings and hurdles to make it comparable to anyone elses experience. Mr B and I have reached the end of this as quite different people, changed by the four years it took us to get here. As I sit here writing this, in the room next door lies my one-year old daughter asleep in her cot. She was carried for us here in the UK by the angelic Rebecca the kind of woman we dreamt of knowing a couple of years ago before we resorted to America. How did we find Rebecca? She found us. Id been writing about my surrogacy experiences in a national newspaper and one day she emailed me to say she would be my surrogate if Miami didnt work out. After Lydia, we got in contact with Rebecca, who lives in North London, and it turned out she and her husband Jack were the real deal, altruistic, hugely positive people who wanted to help us. In August 2019, Rebecca and I flew to the U.S., where our last embryo was transferred to her uterus, and seven weeks later we sat in a London clinic and watched our babys tiny heartbeat flutter on a screen. For Mr B and I, this was our eighth attempt to get pregnant. We owe everything to Rebecca. She easily cleared every hurdle wed previously fallen at. Because she was here in the UK I went with her to scans. I felt our baby kicking inside her. Our relationship became, and is, intensely close we were two empathetic women collaborating on one womb. And because of that bond, its now glaringly obvious to me why there are such divided schools of thought on altruism versus commercialism when it comes to UK surrogacy laws versus U.S.. How can you ever make sure that the motivation of a person is true and clear when a significant amount of money is on the table? And yet it is the UKs archaic surrogacy laws that push people like us into the American system. There is little to no legal protection in the UKs approach for either the surrogate or the parents-to-be. You can draw up an agreement, sure, but it wont stand up in court and if the surrogate decides to keep the baby, she can simply walk away with it. We spent two years and, in the end, when every bill was added up donor eggs, creation of the embryos, failed transfers 150,000 trying to make it work in the U.S. It was exhausting and frustrating and it felt deeply unfair to fail in the ways that we did. And yet . . . now that we are parents, of course, we wouldnt have done it any other way. The shockingly difficult lesson we learned? When you find good people, you hold on to them for dear life. Our daughter was loved by so many good people right from the start of her story. She had an entourage before she had a heartbeat. Im 41 now and hope we can have another child. Weve signed up with a new not for profit organisation called My Surrogacy Journey (here in the UK) to help us. Rebecca and Jack and Mr B and donor 234 and all the IVF doctors here and in the U.S . . . these were the people who at last made me a mother. Some names have been changed to protect identities. Adapted by Alison Roberts from The Mother Project by Sophie Beresiner (HarperCollins, 14.99). Sophie Beresiner 2021. To order a copy for 13.34 go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3308 9193. Free UK delivery on orders over 20. Offer price valid until 14/06/2021. A group of foreign student volunteers carry charcoal briquettes for impoverished residents in Busan, in this Jan. 13, 2016 photo. Korea Times file Korea's residents of foreign nationality see disparities between Korea's image, reality By Bahk Eun-ji Merita, an Iranian national working at a Korean company here, has been in Korea for 10 years. Although she speaks Korean quite well and has adapted to Korean culture, she feels she is still regarded as an outsider. "Being fluent in Korean helps me to be closer, but at some point it stops, and I have never been close or intimate with Koreans," she told The Korea Times. "Koreans don't accept us, they see us as 'aliens,' no matter if you speak Korean or if you marry a Korean," Merita said. "(Despite my 10 years of stay), I don't feel a real connection (with Korean nationals) and none are categorized as my best friends." Merita is one of many foreign residents here who has experienced the downsides of living and working in Korea despite her best efforts to assimilate. A recent survey by InterNations, the world's largest online expat community, claimed Korea is not a country where foreign residents can settle, feel at home and make friends easily. In an index based on a survey of the favorability of general living environment and conditions, Korea ranked 47th out of 59 countries. Korea ranked almost last in the "Ease of Settling in" category, with those responding about Korea giving poor evaluations in the subcategories of, "feeling at home" and "friendliness." More than 50 percent said they had difficulties in making friends with locals here. Residents with foreign nationalities are tested at a COVID-19 testing station in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, in this May 6 photo. Some local governments, including Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, faced strong protests from foreign national residents earlier this year as they ordered mandatory testing of all foreign workers, which was called discriminatory. Yonhap The surveyed people also complained of long working hours and poor work-life balance in the country. "Working hours are crazy here. They're so demanding and so crazy," Merita said. "I don't have time to do my own thing." Jorge Mattheou, an American professor at Nam Seoul University, said he thinks Korea remains very much a "closed society" when it comes to residents with other nationalities making friends, networking and generally being integrated into society. "Many expats come to Korea and feel resentment at the situation of being perpetually a 'foreigner' and always judged thusly. I do not mind it, but I know that it's alienating for some expats," he said. Mattheou said there is also disparity between the image of Korea portrayed in other countries and the reality, and it is different from what foreigners may have been told by Korean media, job recruiters or academic departments. "I assume the disparity between this image of Korea abroad and the reality is probably much greater among expats from Southeast Asia who have grown up on K-dramas and come to Korea and seen a much darker view of Korean society than privileged business professionals, English teachers or foreign students," he said. Multicultural family members participate in a flower-planting event hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in Mallidong Square, May 9. Yonhap Freya Tollefsen has become accustomed to parrying intrusive questions from strangers about her mothers age. Sometimes its a bit awkward, she concedes, because people ask you over and over again Is this your grandmother? Once, Mum and I were on holiday in Turkey and a lady said: Its very nice of your granny to bring you with her, and I said: Shes not my gran. Shes my mum! Freya remembers her indignation. And when people ask me what I think about having an elderly mum, I say: Well, shes the only one Ive ever known. She smiles shyly. Freya is 13 and her mum, Sue Tollefsen, is 70. In 2008, she became Britains oldest first-time mother when she gave birth to her only child at the age of 57. As such, she is well-equipped to observe supermodel Naomi Campbell who last week shared the news that, just before turning 51, she had become a first-time mum. Announcing on social media that she felt blessed and grateful, the model posted a winsome photo of her hands cradling her (unnamed) babys feet. Little is known about the circumstances of the birth of Naomis baby but one obvious possibility is that she employed a surrogate. Sue is nothing but positive about this idea. And why not if you have the money? she says. I presume shed had her eggs frozen and thats quite sensible. Science has decreed that you can have a child when you want and shes taken advantage of that. Shes very affluent. She can hire nannies. She can take all the good bits and delegate all the tiring and stressful parts of being a mum. And I dont think 50 is so old today. Freya Tollefsen, 70, with her 13-year-old daughter Freya who says she is well used to parrying intrusive questions from strangers That said, having an IVF baby isnt like buying a designer handbag. Theres a lot to think about. You have to consider health issues and whether youre likely to have the energy to look after a toddler and be around for 20 years to see your child grow up. But Naomi will never be vulnerable, never without a support network. Shes in a different position from most of us who strive to bring up a child alone. There is a special poignancy in Sues comments because little in her life has panned out as she had planned. When she became pregnant on her third IVF attempt, she was living with her long-term partner Nick Mayer, 11 years her junior, at her neat semi in suburban Essex. A special needs teacher, having worked hard for 40 years, she had salted away savings to ensure a comfortable lifestyle and secure Freyas future. She felt fit, vigorous; almost invincible. But four years later, she and Nick split up. It was amicable, she says, but nevertheless it left Sue, approaching pensionable age, bringing up their longed-for child alone. Since then, the catalogue of misfortunes that has befallen her has been nothing short of catastrophic. Today, she subsists on pensions of 1,800 a month and lives in a rented house, having lost her own home and all her money. How an intelligent, resourceful, articulate woman reached such a desperate situation makes for a heart-breaking story. First Sue, who reproaches herself for being naive, gullible and trusting, handed over a staggering 165,000, between 2012 and 2016, to an internet conman she met on a dating website. Believing she was paying the money to a personable widower called Glenn, she was actually handing it to swindlers who had stolen his identity. She sold a property, a flat in Sweden, cashed in all her savings, sold treasured family heirlooms and even borrowed 32,000 from friends: all to feed the insatiable financial demands of a bogus businessman she never actually met. Naomi Campbell last week shared the news that, just before turning 51, she had become a first-time mum And she did so because she firmly believed the stranger had become her friend, and was convinced by his promises that he would repay her generosity with a greater prize: a half share in a 1 million land deal that would secure her adored daughters future long after Sue had died. I have met Sue four times now our acquaintance stretches back almost ten years and I believe her to be kind, honest and utterly without guile. A Christian, she sees the best in everyone: a trait that leaves her vulnerable to the greedy and unprincipled. Add this to her gullibility and you have an explosive mix. Sue told me why she fell for the palpably false promises of conman Glenn. He kept telling me what a good person I was, how whenever he needed help, Id been there, she says. Thats why I believed him when he said hed sold a parcel of land and wanted to share the proceeds with me in recompense for my kindness. I was convinced Id have 500,000 and Freya would never have to worry about money, and that was very reassuring for a single mum of my age. But, of course, this promised largesse never materialised. Sue was bled dry; fleeced so comprehensively, in fact, that she was forced to return, aged 66, to full-time teaching just to make ends meet. You might imagine she would have learnt from this disastrous error of judgment. She did not. She tried to redeem her parlous financial situation by digging herself into deeper trouble. When I next met her in 2016, she was virtually destitute having entrusted 50,000 to a binary trading company. She had raised the money by releasing equity on her 290,000 two-bedroom home near Romford, Essex, having spotted an advert promising her such a healthy return on her money each month she believed she would be able to look after Freya and never work again. In the event, because the trader was also a scammer, she forfeited virtually everything. I blame myself for being so naive. Ive lost 50,000 and now we might even lose our home, she told me five years ago. And tragically, when I meet her this week, this had proved to be the case. Sues life had taken another shattering downturn. Outwardly resilient and cheerful, she tried to find a way out of the debt shed become mired in. Having sold her home, in March 2018 she and Freya decamped to Derby where property rental prices are cheaper and, resigned to full-time teaching again, decided to supplement her income by fostering. So she completed a fostering course, rented a five-bedroom house and furnished it with a view to welcoming her first intake of children. But all did not go to plan. Stranded in a town far from her support network of friends, Sue became isolated and depressed. I was very lonely, she confesses. When youre an elderly single woman with a child, you tend not to be invited out. And when Freya went away for a few days to see her dad, I felt as if the walls were closing in. She saw a psychiatrist and was diagnosed as bi-polar and put on medication. Vulnerable and depressed, in September 2019 she abandoned her fostering project and moved back to more familiar Essex, where she lives now with Freya and their two adored dogs. Sue, who worked full-time until she turned 70, has now retired. Freya, recently diagnosed as dyslexic, was miserable at school and Sue wanted to teach her at home. They both meet me at the station when I visit, Freya courteously opening the car door for me. Dressed in jeans and a jersey, she is sweet-faced and impeccably well-mannered. If Id ordered a daughter made-to-measure it would be Freya, says Sue. Shes the best thing that ever happened to me. The affection is mutual. Sometimes I wish Mum was younger, says Freya, her blue eyes swimming with tears, just because Id have her for longer. Sue stretches out a hand to clutch her daughters, then shes briskly deflecting the sadness, joking about the misapprehensions that often crop up in their lives. In 2008 Sue Tollefsen became Britains oldest first-time mother when she gave birth to her only child at the age of 57. I usually sense it when people are wondering if Im Freyas granny and sometimes I just put them out of their misery and say: Actually, Im her mum. Then I laugh and say, Better late than never! Indeed, Freya was born after Sue and Nick had given up hope that shed become pregnant and after Sue had spent her childbearing years looking after her terminally ill father and then her ailing widowed mum. I didnt know Id be looking after my mum for 17 years and I didnt think I could juggle a child, a sick parent and a full-time job. I dont resent it. Id never have said: Lets stick them in a home. Old people fare better with family, she says. But she doesnt expect Freya to make similar sacrifices. I wouldnt wish it on her. I didnt have a child to be my carer, she says. But I wouldnt mind looking after you, Mum, says Freya. Dont worry. I intend to be the oldest swinger in town! chuckles Sue, who looks youthful in jaunty spotted socks, casual trousers and a top embroidered with little pearls. Her hair is thick and curly; her eyes, blue as cornflowers and she wears a tiny diamond in a nose piercing. Shes intent on being a modern mum with frank talks about periods and sex and she keeps up with teenage musical trends. I like Little Mix, says Freya. And Dua Lipa. And you like Sam Smith, prompts Sue. She loves my music, too: Motown, The Beatles, she adds and Freya nods her agreement. Smiley though she is, Freya admits that the pandemic, house moves and home schooling have meant a falling off of friendships. Sometimes Im a bit lonely, she says. And I used to wish for a brother or sister. Sue confesses that she briefly toyed with the idea of trying for a second child but decided against it: Even though I ran in the parents race when Freya was at nursery school and I didnt come last! She has a habit of deflecting sadness with humour, but in unguarded moments she admits to worrying about what will happen to Freya if she is ill or incapacitated. Shes had two knee replacements. And twice in recent years she has fallen; once when she was in Derbyshire, away from the support of friends. I fell on my back in the ice and snow and I started to panic. I was worrying about Freya, walking home from school across two busy main roads on her own. You realise how important it is to have friends around you can call. And again, a couple of months ago, I missed my footing and fell downstairs. I was just starting to recover when I went to Chelmsford and fell flat on my face. My first thought is always: What will happen to Freya if Im not here to look after her? But shes such a help. She finished the ironing for me; she helps with the cooking Freya sees her dad Nick, 59, a delivery driver intermittently, but it is clearly Sue to whom she cleaves. I ask her if her mums age has ever been an embarrassment and she replies: No, but I was upset when a girl at school said: I bet shes your grandma pretending to be your mum. And once a teacher put up a big picture of me and Mum on a whiteboard and said my mum was the oldest in Britain. That did make me a tiny bit embarrassed, she concedes. Sue bridles at this. The teacher broached my age without my permission. That definitely shouldnt have happened. I was cross about that. But she does not harbour resentment. Patience and kindness are central to her ethos and she strives to imbue Freya with these qualities. She never asks for the latest trainers. One Christmas I bought her three bales of hay and a sack of carrots to give to a donkey sanctuary. Freya attends Norwegian Church with Sue, helps with coffee mornings and cooking for the homeless. Like her mum, she speaks Norwegian. Her ambition is to go to performing arts school and become an actor Sue supports her aspirations, wanting only that she is fulfilled and happy. One day, adds Freya, I hope to have kids: maybe when Im 29 or 30. I wont wait as long as Mum. Sue smiles. It is her most fervent wish that shell be around to see the day. I hope Ill be there for her wedding and, yes, perhaps I might even live to be called grandma. Cruella Cert: 12A, 2hrs 14mins Rating: Frankie Cert: 12A, 1hr 40mins Rating: The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It Cert: 15, 1hr 52mins Rating: Earwig And The Witch Cert: PG, 1hr 22mins Rating: Now pay attention, because this is complicated. Cruella is a live-action prequel to the 1996 film 101 Dalmatians, memorably starring Glenn Close as the dog-napping Cruella de Vil, which itself was a live-action remake of the 1961 Disney cartoon adaptation of Dodie Smiths much loved 1956 childrens novel. But perhaps the important things you need to know are that there are only three dalmatians in it, its really rather good, and it finally explains why Cruella holds those beautifully spotted canines in such appallingly low regard. Turns out (parents be warned, rather shockingly) its quite a good reason, too Both pace and interest levels dip as events take us to London, and Estella falls in with two streetwise chancers, with Hollywood star Emma Stone (above) taking over in the central role The 1996 production styled Cruella as a cruel, fur-loving fashion fiend, the imperious head of the House of DeVil; Cruella (which is available on Disney+ Premier Access as well as in cinemas) essentially tells the story of how she got there. Beginning with her birth in the late 1950s and helped along by a knowing, plummily vowelled narration that instantly brings Julie Andrews and Bridgerton to mind, we get off to a fabulous, well-conceived start. We discover that Cruella was born Estella, had a mother who adored her and could be a lovely little girl when she was in the right mood. But when shes picked on either for her spirited attitude or for her striking monochrome hair (yes, the iconic black and white was there from birth) thats when her destructive alter ego, Cruella, comes out. Emily Beecham, playing the mother, and Tipper Seifert-Cleveland as the young Estella, are terrific in these early scenes. However, both pace and interest levels dip as events take us to London, and Estella falls in with two streetwise chancers and embarks on a new life of Oliver Twist-style petty crime, with Hollywood star Emma Stone eventually taking over in the central role. By now, the creative Estella is more interested in making costumes and disguises for each caper rather than in the caper itself, so its no surprise when fate leads her to a well-known London department store (no, not that one but still a jarring bit of commercial pluggery) and a job at the ultra-exclusive House of Baroness. Suddenly its Phantom Thread meets The Great British Sewing Bee, with costumes, hair and make-up getting better with every scene and stitch, and Emma Thompson having a high old time and being fabulously good as the haughty Baroness. Ah, but is the Baroness about to be upstaged? Yes, director Craig Gillespie has delivered a film that is at least 15 minutes too long but the last hour is tremendous, with Stone raising her game, some wonderful, post- punk Vivienne Westwood-inspired frocks, and classic cars being written off at an alarming rate. Still only three dalmatians, though. On paper, Frankie looks tempting for cinema-loving grown-ups. Theres Isabelle Huppert as an ailing French film star, a classy supporting cast led by Brendan Gleeson and Marisa Tomei and, best of all, a Portuguese setting that holds out the prospect of some real sunshine. The reality, though, as this overwritten family reunion drama slowly unfolds is, barring one gently touching scene, seriously tedious. And surprisingly cloudy too. At least The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is honest, being content to be no more than it is a commercial, Exorcist-style horror flick and a third outing for those well-known demon-chasers Ed and Lorraine Warren, once again played perfectly well by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga. This time, after an exorcism goes horribly wrong, theyre trying to get a young man off a murder charge on the grounds of demonic possession. Its nothing new but it is well done. In 2004, the renowned Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli took a novel by the British fantasy writer Diana Wynne Jones and produced a work Howls Moving Castle that visually, at least, was stunning. In 2021 they take another Wynne Jones novel, Earwig And The Witch, and demonstrate that sometimes the movie magic just doesnt happen. This is slow, slight and disappointing. Shame. Walden Harold Pinter Theatre, London Until June 12, 1hr 45mins Rating: Walden is a thumbs up for our theatres tentatively re-opening, a thumbs down for our planet. We are all doomed! The pandemic is a doddle compared to the meltdown evoked in this new play, set in the not-so-distant future. The Earths climate has hit PONR (point of no return). Temperatures are soaring, a tsunami has left a million dead, refugees swarm, nukes are ready to launch. The play stars Gemma Arterton, a good actress swathed in former Bond girl glamour. She plays Stella, who has quit Nasa and now lives with her environmentalist fiance (Fehinti Balogun) in a cabin in the woods. Temperatures are soaring, a tsunami has left a million dead, refugees swarm. The play stars Gemma Arterton (above), a good actress swathed in former Bond girl glamour The shack is inviting tarry timbers, off-grid, with homebrew and breathable mountain air. But the couples low-carbon seclusion is about to be upended by the arrival of Stellas twin sister Cassie, who has returned from a year on the Moon, growing veg in a space colonisation programme. The estranged siblings both float in a grieving orbit around the void of their dead dad. Prickly and rather prissy, Artertons Stella reminded me a tad of fusspot Thelma from The Likely Lads. Her more go-ahead sister (the excellent Lydia Wilson) gets all twinkly with Stellas huggable fiance. Unlike Cassie, he thinks we should fix Earth before we go littering up Mars. American newcomer Amy Berrymans play takes an old device the sibling reunion and loads it up with a vision of grim things around the corner. How ironic that the astro-boffin eco-idealists should elect to live in the backwoods, killing deer and drinking beer, just like Trump supporters. As a story of imminent ecocide its certainly not uninteresting but its all talk and lacks the fiery whoosh of full dramatic lift-off. Looking cool in Cornwall: Breton top, Saint James; dress, LA collection, and Sunglasses, Givenchy If there was ever a year when we all needed a holiday, its this one. I cannot wait to walk down an aeroplane aisle in a chic white dress and hear those magic words: This is your pilot speaking welcome aboard! This week Ive been craving a break more than ever after a horrible dream that more or less summed up the past 14 months. Still vividly clear days later, in my dream my home city of London was under siege by rioters, and as a safety precaution Boris decided we must go back into full lockdown immediately. And, just as infuriating, my husband told me he agreed with him. I woke up full of rage, aware Id been babbling and ranting in my sleep, and with those ghastly old feelings of uncertainty and fear doing a jig on my chest. From that morning on, Ive allowed myself to dream and plan a holiday. Whether youre staycationing or flying off somewhere, its wonderfully therapeutic to plan your wardrobe in plenty of time. Even quietly thinking about what to pack is an escape in itself. Rather than dread packing, indulge in it, fantasise about being the best holiday version of yourself, and enjoy the whole process. After all, this has been a long time coming. This year my holiday look will be inspired by Tilda Swintons wardrobe in the movie A Bigger Splash, set on the remote Italian island of Pantelleria. I loved her backless maxi dresses and jumpsuits in whites and linen stripes, and also the blue cotton shirts she casually wore on the beach over simple black swimsuits. She also carried a brown leather bag similar to the ones by The Row, and a wicker basket for shopping in the local market, with lemons and herbs artfully poking out. So Im planning a Tilda holiday version of myself this year. And, of course, I wont be forgetting the delicious travel toppings: strappy tan footwear, hats wide-brimmed and finished with a black ribbon, plus jewellery in gold with shells and pearls. Even though I havent gone anywhere yet, just thinking about holiday dressing has been a real tonic. If youre planning a trip to the British seaside this year, dream about gorgeous breton stripes and white jeans rolled at the ankle. Or a pair of pre-loved Levis with a white T-shirt or shirt. Come evening, imagine dressing up in chic dresses and cosy cashmeres or wearing your swimsuit as a top with your favourite maxi or midi skirt. Feeling more relaxed already? Follow me on Instagram @thestylistandthewardrobe Perfect for summer wafting. Pair with strappy sandals and sunnies. Dress, 220, aspiga.com Chic enough to wear with a long skirt or wide-leg trousers. Swimsuit, 210, Haight, net-a-porter.com Left: Talk about a headturner! Hat, 310, Eugenia Kim, net-a-porter.com. Right: Off to a market or beach? Grab this. Bag, 39, arket.com This chic shell isnt just for holidays but all summer long. Necklace, 125.50, monarcjewellery.com Light, airy and a must for your holiday suitcase. Jumpsuit, 89, cosstores.com Alone with her grief, the Queen at St Georges Chapel for the funeral of Prince Philip, her husband of more than seven decade Its not just losing a husband. Its losing a shared secret language, a lifetime together and even your own identity. Jane Thynne knows all too well the lonely place she and the Queen inhabit widowland One day, a few months after my husband of 27 years (the author Philip Kerr) died, I was having lunch with an old friend. After commiserating with me about Philips death, he said, Wed love to have you to dinner. I was about to accept enthusiastically when he added, But Im afraid we only have couples to dinner. I cant deny that it was a shock. Could it be that at the age of 56 I had stepped into a new category in life? It seemed being widowed had not only filled me with grief but changed the very essence of me. Walking back from lunch, I remember thinking: Im living in Widowland now. I had known my husband for 30 years when he died at the age of 62 in 2018. We met when I was a journalist on a national newspaper and he was employed at an advertising agency, spending as much time as possible sloping off to public libraries to write his novel. I had been working on a story about the IRA, and the day after we met I received a phone call at my desk from a mysterious man with an Irish accent. He purported to be an anonymous informer, setting up a meeting, to which I avidly agreed. When I arrived at the appointed venue, however, it turned out to be Philip who, as well as having a dry sense of humour, was also an excellent mimic. In 2017, the nagging back pain that Philip had been downplaying became dramatically worse. He had refused to discuss his fatigue, and for too long had ignored symptoms. Eventually the long succession of doctors who assured him that there was nothing wrong were outflanked by the cold, monochrome truth of an MRI. In July of that year, in the inappropriately sunny office of a London cancer clinic, an oncologist told us that he had stage 4 metastatic cancer and it was incurable. With characteristic courage, Phil asked the doctor how long he had. Between one and two years, she suggested. In the event, he had eight months. I was an outlier among my friends in suffering an early bereavement but the pandemic plunged thousands more women into unexpected widowhood. As Ive watched the TV footage, Ive counted myself blessed that together with my three children and Philips sister, we were able to nurse my husband at home. Because surely the worst aspect of this trauma has been to see so many barred from their spouses deathbed. That lunch with my friend was the first time I had properly considered the word widow. I had never thought of myself as one. The term sounds old-fashioned to 21st-century ears, conjuring images of Queen Victoria, who dressed in black for the rest of her long life after her husband, Prince Albert, died aged 42. Yet every time I had to tick a box or fill out a form requiring marital status, up the word would pop, eventually prompting me to explore its etymology. I discovered that widow comes from the Old English widewe which itself stems from an Indo-European root meaning to be empty. Another root is the Sanskrit vindh meaning to be destitute. The Latin viduus means bereft. All these terms, in their different ways, suggest something missing. In the world of printing, a widow is a single, unsightly word on its own in a line, to be expunged if at all possible. None of this fits our contemporary idea of grieving, in which the remaining partner should be joining a choir or internet dating as soon as possible and doing their best to get over it. Yet the origin of the word contains a deep truth. People who lose long-term partners do have something missing. The journalist Katharine Whitehorn described the uncertain terrain of widowhood as another country, where youre an unwilling refugee. The feeling that she expressed of the stubborn inability to believe that the dead person is really gone is commonplace. The vicar and presenter Richard Coles, who lost his husband in 2019, wrote a book, The Madness of Grief, about the strange insanity that accompanies intense loss. For me at this time, the madness was lightened by dark humour, especially in the sitcom-like world of the funeral parlour, with its lavish coffins accessorised like showroom cars. How long does this unreality last? For the American writer Joan Didion, the time after her husbands sudden death generated a state close to derangement that she labelled The Year Of Magical Thinking. She refused to give away her husbands shoes because she insisted that he would need them. Three years on, when I receive a piece of news, my fingers still instinctively reach to text him. It took me two years to part with his suits. For a year I would not have been at all surprised if he had walked casually back into the room. The fact that he had been a well-known writer made his death at once worse and better. While I never worry about forgetting what he looked or sounded like because there are numerous videos of him on YouTube, I still havent brought myself to watch them. More than anything, in the past few months it was the image of the Queen, sitting alone at Prince Philips funeral, that became emblematic of what disappears at the end of a marriage. Its not just an intimate friend whos vanished but part of yourself. Your partner is the custodian of memories that only the two of you shared, so their death can feel like losing a chunk of your identity. A deep vault of knowledge is gone. A whole archive of in-jokes. A universe of facts, ranging from the profound to the extremely trivial, from how you like your tea to the ridiculous things your children did, and your private couple-etiquette when bored at parties. Marriage is its own country, whose customs and language are known only to its two inhabitants. The image of the solitary Queen was also a potent reminder of the scientific truth that wives, more often than husbands, are the ones left standing. This year that fact is exacerbated by Covid, which killed proportionately more males than females, so numerous women are now navigating the twin challenges of single parenting and the tedious yet hugely important probate with all its phone calls and bank statements and certificates. Jane with her husband Philip in 2015 If these womens social circle once centred on couples, they are also discovering the invisible forcefield that divides the married from the newly single. Widows have statistically fewer opportunities to remarry a fact pointed out to me forthrightly by a 93-year-old former Law Lord I met at a party. The judge in question was famously direct, if not slightly rude, but I was still surprised by his jovial response on discovering that my husband had died. Ah, a widow! We know lots of widows. I was a widower once too, but only for a short time. Widowers get snapped up very quickly. Hes right. His remarks brought to mind a dinner in Long Island, where Id been placed next to a businessman who had lost his wife to cancer only months earlier. We had plenty to discuss but as we did, I couldnt help noticing a blonde lady observing us with hawk-like intensity from the opposite side of the table. Thats my wifes best friend, said the man sorrowfully. Shes been so kind. She comes everywhere with me. She never lets me out of her sight. Needless to say, the two of them were shortly afterwards joined in matrimony. In modern times widow is a transitional term. Mostly we prefer the word bereaved because it suggests something that happens to a woman, rather than an event which defines her. Traditionally, though, while women have sometimes been liberated by the deaths of their husbands, generally they have had a harsher lot. Contemplating historical attitudes to widowhood reminded me of research Id done about the treatment of older German women in the final stages of the Second World War, when rations for civilians were cut to the bone. Widows without children were given the nickname Friedhofsfrauen cemetery women. They were allocated the meanest rations and the lowest calorie count, because they were useless to society. The afternoon following that fateful lunch, as the thought went through my head, Im living in Widowland now, another idea occurred. How interesting it would be if Widowland was a real place, rather than just a metaphor. What if a place existed where older women, already marginalised by society, were banished? I began a novel, an alternative history set in 1953. In this dystopia, England has formed an Alliance with Nazi Germany and a female caste system has been implemented. The most savage aspect of this hierarchy concerns widows and childless single women over 50 who are confined to rundown places on the edges of towns called Widowlands. Therein lies the irony. The inhabitants of these Widowlands may be marginalised by society, but the fact of their loss has unlocked a freedom and fearlessness. They have discovered an independence that they never knew they possessed. Having written the last chapters of Widowland, a real-life dystopia engulfed the world. For me, the events of 2020 turned out to be yet another example of how lives can be transformed in the blink of an eye, and people can adapt to changes that they had previously found unimaginable. Widowland by C J Carey (Janes pseudonym) will be published by Quercus in hardback on 10 June, priced 14.99. To pre-order a copy for 13.34 until 14 June go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3308 9193. Free p&p on orders over 20. Look at her on the left totally spark out and without any of the apps, gadgets or gizmos we have these days. Why? Because you dont need fancy tech to help you nod off the answers are all in your head, says former insomniac Kate Mikhail Lack of sleep is a huge problem. Studies suggest that at least 30 per cent of the issues GPs face are directly or indirectly related to it. Yet just one Briton in ten talks to their doctor about insomnia, despite 30 per cent taking medication to try to deal with it. I know, I was one of them. I could never take sleep for granted. I can remember the knot in my stomach and the rising anxiety and exhaustion that came with still being awake at 3am, knowing I had to get up for work just a few hours later. I tried an eye mask, ear plugs and lavender oil. Sleeping pills were my last resort not that they were any match for a good nights sleep. They left me feeling leaden come morning, but having a few hours sleep was better than nothing. Even when I did get enough sleep, going to bed ridiculously early or playing catch-up with a lie-in, I still woke feeling exhausted, weak and hollow. There were times when I just hit a wall, burnt out and too weak to do anything. Sporadically, I asked that my doctor run tests for deficiencies and conditions that didnt exist. What changed was stumbling across a book written by my great-great uncle, Richard Waters, a pioneer in cognitive therapy and the far-reaching effect thoughts and words can have on our emotions, behaviour and health. At the time my sleep was worse than ever, which is why the insomnia segment jumped out at me. Waters wrote about sleep and the power of thoughts and words. He believed that in combining the biology of sleep with the power of suggestion the brain is very suggestible you can harness both the conscious and the unconscious mind with amazing results. I decided to investigate and what I learned not only dismantled my chronic insomnia but also set up a strong sleep pattern that I hadnt enjoyed since I was a young child. TALK TO YOURSELF NICELY There are many mind-boggling behavioural-science experiments out there that expose how suggestible we all are. For example, I can tell myself, I feel excited, when, in fact, I feel sick to the stomach with anxiety and my brain will miraculously buy into this. So when it comes to sleep you have to change the story you tell yourself. The problem with calling yourself an insomniac, rather than just someone who is having trouble sleeping well right now, is that it feels like a done deal: its part of your identity that you have to live with. Instead, youre better off seeing your sleep issue as something that might affect you today but doesnt have to tomorrow. So rather than repeating youre a bad sleeper, tell yourself I might not be sleeping easily right now, but I am someone who sleeps easily. It is possible to change things. The brain is not fixed. HALT THOSE THOUGHTS If your overactive mind is keeping you awake at night, thought-stopping can help. This means trying to break obsessive or intrusive thoughts such as Im never going to sleep, Tomorrow is going to be ruined, Im going to be exhausted again which can set off negative feelings. Thought-stopping is a gentle but firm way of holding up a hand to stop the chatter a mental shhh. Even thoughts that are not negative, such as planning tomorrow or next weeks to-do list, need to be stopped. These sort of thoughts used to be one of my worst sleep habits, and it is the same for many people. If we dont pause or catch our breath during the day or have any alone time, going to bed can end up becoming our window to reflect, ruminate and solve problems. I managed to put an end to my bed is my time to think habit by writing down my to-dos and work schedule before I went to bed, so I could tell myself, Thats all been dealt with, I dont need to go over it now. I can think about it tomorrow. If unwanted thoughts do creep in, I either swap them for mentally listing things I am grateful for (which research shows gets concrete sleep results after just a few weeks increasing sleep duration by nearly an hour) or just say (in my mind): Stop! Enough of that. Its time to sleep. The cue Stop! is effective because it distracts you (breaking that habit sequence) and because it is recognised by the brain as a ticking off and a punishment-orientated command. By punishing yourself when you find unhelpful thought patterns or sleep-blocking mental loops taking over, you weaken the habit. The more frequently you do this, the more effective the cue. GET WITH THE SCIENCE Having a basic grasp of the biology of sleep can really help. For example, I know that deep breathing at night dramatically slows down my brainwaves, as well as setting up the rest-and-digest state I need to be in to nod off, so I try to visualise the way the slow-down message is sent around my body. While I know stress and overstimulation disrupts this slow-down process, creating chemicals in my brain that prevent me from sleeping, I also know there are things I can do to counteract this. During the day, for example, I can opt for a morning walk, mindful pause, mini reward, chat with a friend anything to up the levels of the happy chemicals that promote sleep. I know staring into a pitch-black bedroom will also produce chemicals that help to turn off my awake state, and that by sticking my hands and feet out from under the duvet I will bring down my core temperature, which is needed for sleep and is useful if I wake from overheating in the middle of the night. By being aware that we sleep in roughly 90-minute cycles, I can dispel panic about broken sleep if I wake between cycles, and nod off for another cycle when waking too early. Similarly, understanding that there isnt a hard line between deep rest and sleep, between the conscious and the unconscious, takes the stress out of feeling that youre only half asleep. I tell myself, Youre getting more sleep than you realise and I find this reassuring and calming to the extent that any niggling insomnia panic immediately backs down and I can relax into sleep and leave my conscious mind behind. WRITE A SLEEP SCRIPT A sleep script is, quite simply, a form of self-hypnosis or auto-suggestion. Hypnotherapy has been shown to work in a number of medical situations one study of 1,000 patients with IBS showed that after 12 weekly clinical hypnotherapy sessions, 76 per cent reduced their symptom severity by half. But self-hypnosis can be just as effective. While this isnt a silver bullet, when it is combined with other positive sleep behaviours, an understanding of the biology of sleep, the power of suggestibility, and the physiological changes that words can have, it can help to change your attitude towards sleep and prepare you mentally before bed. The sleep script works best when you listen to it, so you can either record yourself reading it, or have someone else read it. But it needs to be read slowly, with lots of pauses, to slow you right down, to make you more receptive and give your brain time to absorb the messages. Ideally, you should listen to a script in the same place at the same time each day, as the associations wrapped up with a particular setting send a very clear signal to the brain. If you can choose a particular armchair, room or park bench, your brain will know whats about to happen and youll feel more relaxed and in the zone, even before the script starts to roll. That wasnt an option for me, although I did set a 5pm alarm on my phone to anchor the script to this part of the day, and I would try to listen to it then or soon after. A 6pm or 7pm reminder might suit your lifestyle better, but only you will know the most convenient early evening time slot for you. Why hormones are sleeps worst nightmare Hot, bloated, uncomfortable, in pain... when it comes to sleep, women have extra obstacles thrown at them. These might include the cramps of the monthly menstrual cycle or, generally more disruptive, the hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety and insomnia that can come with perimenopause and menopause, which can last for decades. Up to 90 per cent of menopausal women in the West suffer from hot flushes and night sweats that ruin their sleep. And while the average age for menopause is 51, the range is anything from 45 to 55 years and the lead-up to this, known as perimenopause, begins four to six years before, with sleep problems sometimes starting then and subsequently dragging on. The bodys thermostat goes slightly haywire during the perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause thanks to fluctuating hormones and a drop in oestrogen. Previously, oestrogen worked to keep the bodys heat on an even keel, but now, with lower oestrogen levels, the body cools itself down by releasing heat via a hot flush. Night sweats are the nocturnal version of this, where sleepers wake up to find themselves soaked in sweat, and its these broken nights due to waking up hot that women say is the main reason their sleep falls apart, leaving them exhausted during the day. So what can you do? First of all, set up your bedroom to be a cooling space use light, natural fibres for bedding and nightwear and consider a wool mattress topper, which can disperse body heat effectively. Keep a fan, wet flannel or cool pack close to hand if needed. Hot flushes are very responsive to the way we breathe. So if you wake up feeling like youre overheating try some controlled breath work: inhaling slowly to the count of five and slowly exhaling to the count of five. This will bring the number of resting breaths down from 12 to 20 per minute to around just six, and can be incredibly effective in subduing hot flushes. At the same time, challenge and replace any sleep-panic thoughts by saying to yourself, This will pass and I will get enough sleep to manage. For the best rest In my book there are other, longer sleep scripts, but this short one, written by Richard Waters, is the one that I used to listen to religiously at around 5pm when I was trying to sort out my sleep. Tonight, as soon as I decide to go to bed, my sense of the realisation of bedtime will be followed by strong and sustained action throughout my system, which will prepare me for sleep. As I move off to my room, I will commence automatically to relax in mind and body. All the nervous strain and tension of the day will drop away and as I undress and generally prepare for bed, I will be inwardly preparing for rest and sleep even more completely. Thus, I will find myself in bed, restful in mind, functionally restful in body, and as this good habit of changing my state every night develops ever more fully, I will obtain ever more complete, full and restful sleep. This is an edited extract from Teach Yourself to Sleep: An Ex-insomniacs Guide by Kate Mikhail to be published by Piatkus on 10 June, price 14.99. To order a copy for 13.34 until 14 June, go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3308 9193. Free UK delivery on orders over 20. book extract edited by Claire Coleman. The Maas Gallery, London/Bridgeman Images Tom heads out for some beach-hut seafood... in the heart of the capital Gloriously fresh langoustines are bathed in garlic butter, while scallops are sweet and fat, washed down with icy cool rose So here we are, sitting in a smart wooden beach hut, all bright stripes and faded timber. But instead of screeching gulls, theres the incessant beep of horns. While the gentle lap of wave upon sand is replaced by the rather less soothing din of drill upon hard concrete. Along with the insidious cacophony of an eternally reversing truck. Because this is Londons Belgravia rather than Norfolks Brancaster, although things could be a whole lot worse. Theres a roof over our head, heaters to blast through the unseasonal chill, and a couple of glasses of the palest pink rose, icy as a North Sea dip. If you are going to take lunch in an urban beach hut, then make sure its one built by The Berkeley hotel. Smooth, slickly smiling service, a mainly piscine menu to please even the prissiest of palates. And the easy company of an old friend. First, a toasted sandwich, oozing with Tunworth cheese and a few chopped asparagus heads. Green shoots of hope, still held firmly in winters grasp. Very spring 2021. Spiced snapper wings turn out, after a little initial confusion, to come not from poultry, rather fish, more specifically the bits of flesh around the gills, deep fried. Damned good they are, too, while scallops, still opaque in the middle, are sweet and fat and buttery. Hardly cheap, at 24 for two, but they are big old bruisers. And this is The Berkeley, after all. Sea trout, so much better than the environmentally ruinous farmed salmon, is pristinely cooked, and comes with a Sicilian-accented orange and fennel salad, while langoustines, gloriously fresh but a touch overcooked, come bathed in garlic butter. We pick at some artichoke hearts, baked with tomatoes and broccoli. Perfectly OK, but with chips on the side, crisp and hot, to balance out too much clean-eating smuggery. By this time, though, the food is all but irrelevant, as we sink deeper into a decent (and decently priced) claret, well-aged gossip and two-bottle philosophy. A final glass of Calvados, then a Covid-friendly hug (is there such a thing?) and a gentle totter home. And while I cant wait to get back indoors, a faux beach hut outside one of Londons most civilised hotels will do just fine. About 60 a head. The Berkeley Beach Huts, The Berkeley, Wilton Place, London SW1; open daily from noon, last sitting 9.30pm. Book at the-berkeley.co.uk Drinks: Ollys joyous gins The gin balloon continues to rise. This month launched the worlds first distillery at sea aboard P&O Cruises MS Iona with Marabelle Gin. The character of gin comes from botanicals, often with a nod to where its made. Gins headline flavour is a punchy hit of juniper, and London Dry is my choice for summertime refreshment. Whether a G&T or a cocktail, choosing the right gin can lift your mood to the moon. GIN OF THE WEEK 58 Gin London Dry (43%), 29.95, master ofmalt.com. Perfect purity to sip neat as well as mix, this gin is a lightning strike of sheer refreshment. Heston Lazy Sunshine Gin (40%), 25, Waitrose. Brilliant for a dry martini with an olive; botanicals include olives, basil and rosemary. Edinburgh Gin Classic (43%), 28, Tesco. Silky, zesty and minty; superb value for a great all-rounder for this summer. Wyrd Dry gin (42%), 37, wyrdspirits.com. Ace in a negroni due to its powerful aromatic presence think liquorice. A Bank Holiday Monday morning is not the ideal moment for people who have been working from home to contemplate a return to the office. But sooner or later and unless new variants delay the unlocking, it will be sooner home workers will need to pack away their tracksuit bottoms and squeeze back into their suits. As the months have ticked by, WFH has become embedded. What started as an emergency health measure is now seen by some as a positive development that should be adopted permanently, but by others as a skivers' charter, 'shirking from home'. Battle lines are being drawn up. The home front: Sooner or later home workers will need to pack away their tracksuit bottoms and squeeze back into their suits My suspicion is that the pre-pandemic status quo will reassert itself sooner than we think, once we are confident the virus is in retreat. Most of us carried on going out to work even in the teeth of the lockdowns, though the experience was very mixed. WFH is socially divisive. Affluent professionals in the south were far more likely to have done so than those in less well-off areas in the north. The Office for National Statistics found that just over 46 per cent of people in London had worked from home at some stage during 2020, compared with only 14 per cent in Middlesbrough. Even among the professional classes, not everyone benefits. It's commonplace that WFH is damaging for the young, who miss out on mentoring, but congenial for more senior staff with established networks and a lovely big house with a book-lined study. Among large firms, the consensus is that 'hybrid' working will be the norm post-Covid, with staff coming in two or three days a week and offices acting as a space for collaboration. How, though, will they deal with the fact no-one will want to schlep in on a Monday or a Friday? Fights over who works which days are going to make the war zone that is the Christmas rota look amicable. Re-purposing offices as collaborative hubs sounds great but has a big flaw. Creative ideas spark spontaneously when colleagues are together. Eureka moments cannot be conjured up to order because it's 2pm on Wednesday and that's the designated weekly time. Many companies have got through the crisis by drawing on their accumulated social capital, the existing bonds and understanding between colleagues. That, however, is a rapidly depreciating asset. There is a difference between Zoom colleagues and real live ones, just as there is between Facebook friends and proper pals. Above all, people are being lulled into a false sense of security. Employers who encourage home-working are not being philanthropic: they have a beady eye on the bottom line. They think they can save overheads on office space and facilities such as providing and staffing a canteen and maybe by shedding UK staff and replacing them with new workers in cheap locations overseas. Traditional working has plenty of obvious drawbacks: the commute, the crowds, the presenteeism, the high property prices in London and other cities. It's certainly worthwhile reflecting, post-Covid, on how this can be improved and modernised. But the only reason to advocate continued home-working as a mainstream practice is if it would bring compelling benefits for firms, staff and the UK economy. WFH and furlough have supported the economy through a dark time but the risk is they create a culture of entitlement. Martin never thought he'd end up living in the roof space of his workplace at 48 years of age. The father from Port Macquarie on the NSW mid-north coast moved out of the house he shared with his partner after she tried to choke him. He claims an AVO taken out on him by his now ex-partner was based on her false allegation of assault. Martin said he was trying to remove her from the house after she attacked him while their young son slept. 'I'd just been assaulted by her jumping on my back and trying to choke me, so I called the police,' Martin told Daily Mail Australia. 'But she said I pushed her first and the police walked in front of me and said, "if shes got a mark on her, youre going to jail".' Martin is now locked in an ongoing custody battle for his son and despairs at not being able to live with him. 'I was the one who got up to him at night, took him for walks, totally did the dad thing,' Martin said. 'Someone needs to hear our voice. I dont condone what some of these blokes are doing (in domestic violence incidents) in any way, shape or form, but being on the other side, the way Ive been treated, I see how they get to that state of mind. 'There's nothing else left.' Rob left his partner while she was pregnant with their second child because she was repeatedly hitting him to the point where friends' couches were preferable to the family home. 'She was physically violent, she was emotionally violent,' the Brisbane man said. 'She made three significant attempts to finish me off, with knives and with a car. 'It was alcohol that unlocked the physical violence in her she just used to hit me a lot. She used to punch and kick me in the nuts, it would carry on for hours. 'Her favourite party trick was when I'd go to sleep in the spare room, which was unlocked. She was an insomniac so she'd come in every 20 minutes and pull me out of the bed by my feet, and this would continue until 2am or 3am. Then she'd fall asleep and now, you're not sleeping.' Women's violence towards male partners is not given prominence despite being a part of Australia's domestic violence problem The focus on domestic violence in Australia is rightfully on women, with one murdered by a current or former male partner every week in Australia. The Facebook page Counting Dead Women Australia reports that 13 women have died due to family and domestic violence in 2021. It was 56 in 2020. Victims such as Hannah Clarke, Karina Lock and Fabiana Palhares are now recognisable names across Australia after their horrific deaths at the hands of their partners. But women's violence towards male partners is not given prominence despite being a part of Australia's domestic violence problem. One man a month died at the hands of a current or former partner from 2012-2014, and two men were hospitalised each day after being assaulted by their spouse or partner in 2014-15 (compared with eight women a day in the same period). Daily Mail Australia spoke to men who described serious acts of violence and coercive control by female partners. What emerges from their accounts is a shared sense of shame and humiliation when reporting the abuse, a common reaction of disbelief from police, lawyers and courts to their claims, and an almost total absence of support services. These men allege physical injury, sexual violation, emotional torment, coercive control and falsehoods designed to make them look like the perpetrator. Melissa Oates (left) was jailed in April for dangerous driving resulting in the death of her partner Jari Wise (right). Jari's mother Faith Tkalac started a #justice4jari campaign after his death Faith Tkalac (left) with her son, Jari, who she said was brought to her by police numerous times due to violent acts by his partner Faith Tkalac started a #justice4jari campaign after her son Jari Wise was hit and killed by a car driven by his former partner Melissa Oates at Huonville, south of Hobart, in February 2020. Oates was arrested at the scene and charged with four breaches of a police family violence order. In April 2021 she was convicted of dangerous driving and imprisoned for eight months. Oates had been three times over the legal limit and wasnt wearing her glasses, a condition of her licence. She left the scene and returned to a house where she and Wise had attended a party, where she pointed out the damage to her van to friends. She had returned to the scene of the fatality by the time police arrived. Ms Tkalac has since become a fervent advocate for recognising that men can also be victims of domestic violence but once they complain, are diverted into 'perpetrator' treatment programs. 'Where does all the funding go? Faith said. 'If a man rings up for some help just say my Jari had made a phone call, he probably would have been asked, "What caused you to carry on like this? What has caused your behaviour?" 'Then they'd refer you to a service that can help "correct" your behaviour. 'There are no services for men, there isn't anything.' West Australian man Aaron said the final straw in his relationship was when his wife inserted an object into him while he was asleep. 'She raped me and I left the relationship a day later,' Aaron told Daily Mail Australia. 'Throughout our entire relationship she was sexually abusive. 'She tried to get me to have sex with her friends in front of her. For my 40th birthday she hired a prostitute, took me to a brothel and wanted me to have sex with the woman in front of her. 'She had a tracking app put on my phone, she had all the passwords for my social media, including my business social media, my computers for work' A letter from a child of West Australian man Aaron, who said he was abused during his marriage before the break-up led to a restraining order against him Aaron claims he has been prevented from seeing any of his children because of a restraining order taken out against him. 'There's now been eight attempts at trial and more than $400,000 spent to keep me away from my children,' he said. 'The only ones I can now fight for are my two youngest. They wont even entertain me seeing any of my other kids.' Jarred Castel (left) died after his wife Katie Anne Castel (right) threw a knife at him and it lodged in his chest. She was convicted of manslaughter and jailed for nine years in 2019 Castel's father Tony said outside court that domestic violence 'goes the other way, as well' Craig Bennett recently described his experience as a victim of domestic violence in a submission to the NSW Joint Select Committee on Coercive Control. Bennett described a 'journey of physical, verbal, spiritual, financial and emotional abuse' after he collapsed at work with viral encephalitis and was hospitalised for two months. He told the committee he was constantly taunted by his wife because he was unable to work due to the illness. 'A real man wouldn't be begging his wife for money but would be out working instead of being a lazy x-y-z,' he reported her saying. 'I was denied a shower chair because "real men do not sit in the shower",' Bennett continued. 'I would have to sit on the shower floor and crawl out and hoist myself up on the toilet to stand up. The number of times she would verbally mock me for not being a "real man" as I was sitting there and say, "Why don't you do everyone a favour and kill yourself?" 'She would refer to me as "big bad daddy" to the kids because I was "too lazy to work". She would sharpen knives in the kitchen saying one day she would stab me if I did not go back to work.' In other tragic cases, Brisbane fashion designer Katie Anne Castel, 38, killed her husband Jarred Castel, 35, when she threw a 20cm kitchen knife at him which hit him in the chest in 2017. Mr Castel had arrived home later than expected, sparking an argument. Ms Castel was slashing her own arms and said shed kill herself before she threw the knife at her husband. He died from blood loss as a result of the wound. Ms Castel was sentenced to nine years jail for her 'deliberate and very dangerous' act in 2019 but was given early parole eligibility in 2020 after appealing the length of her sentence. 'Domestic violence is growing, unfortunately, in our country,' Jarred's father Tony said after Ms Castel's sentencing. 'The statistics the impression is that it is men beating up women, it goes the other way as well and it doesn't matter the gender, we've got to protect our people.' His siblings testified in court that their brothers wife had been 'psychologically abusing' him by alienating him from friends and family. This is a common refrain among male victims of female domestic abuse. Sydney man Jeff Lindsell died from burns suffered when he was caught in a fire while he slept at Gymea in 2017. His former partner Amanda Zukowski was charged with his murder after being accused of lighting the fire. Zukowski was found dead in non-suspicious circumstances in January 2020, three weeks before the trial was to begin. Mr Lindsell's mother Kathy later told the local paper: 'We had no idea Jeff was in a DV relationship because he kept it secret. We should have realised when his personality changed and he withdrew from his family and friends.' His sister Corinne added, 'It upsets me that domestic violence by women against men is viewed as less significant. I don't understand why a man's life is less important.' Jeffrey Lindsell died in a fire which his former partner was accused of setting in 2017 Lindsell was asleep in the granny flat at the Gymea home. His family said his relationship with Amanda Zukowski had involved domestic violence Amanda Zukowski was charged with Lindsell's murder in 2018. She was later found dead in non-suspicious circumstances before her trial was due to begin For the first time, a Senate Inquiry into Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence has recommended any national plan should reflect the diversity of victim-survivors, including men. Recommendation 54 asked for the Federal Government to 'commission research into the prevalence of family, domestic and sexual violence against men, and its impact on male victim-survivors...' and that 'the Department of Social Services review the adequacy of advice and referral services for men as victim-survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence'. 'There are male victims of domestic violence out there - quite a lot of them, Greg Andresen of the One In Three campaign said. 'They need to be recognised, and services put in place to look after them. None of them wanted to be a victim.' Mensline 1300 789 978 Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732 Lifeline 131 114 Notorious gangster Dave Kelleher once offered a damning character assessment of himself while on trial for trafficking heroin. 'There is not going to be any brass band after I die singing, "For he's a jolly good fellow",' he told a jury of his peers. 'I am not a good person in any respect. I have been a criminal all my adult life. My ethics are in the gutter.' For the past week Sydney's old underworld has been distracted by rumours that time had finally come for Kelleher and the 68-year-old was dead. The story went that Kelleher had died on a yacht at Yarra Bay in the city's south-east but police have no records of any such event. It seems rather than dying on the water he has been calling himself J'adore - like the Dior perfume - and relocated to Thailand. Kelleher, sometimes known as 'Blond God' - or just BG - is one of Australia's most complex felons. In recent years he has dramatically changed his appearance and taken to cross-dressing. Sydney gangster Dave Kelleher is calling himself J'Adore and moved to Thailand. Kelleher, sometimes known as 'Blond God' - or just BG - was one of Australia's most complex felons and in recent years has decided to live his last days as a woman Kelleher was one of the first drug traffickers in Australia to be sentenced to life in jail and among the last of his 1970s and 1980s criminal coterie still standing. He was in custody on drug charges when his prostitute girlfriend Sallie-Anne Huckstepp (pictured) was murdered Kelleher distributed heroin for Neddy Smith (right) in the 1970s and spent time in jail with armed robber Graham 'Abo' Henry (left). Henry wrote in his memoir A Dangerous Live that Kelleher was extremely vain and liked to keep to himself The private school graduate had been one of the first drug traffickers in Australia to be sentenced to life in jail and is among the last of his 1970s and 1980s criminal coterie still standing. In his heyday the onetime bikie ran with some of Sydney's most infamous gangland figures. Square-jawed, sharp-witted and strongly built, he was respected by hard men and popular with women. Among Kelleher's girlfriends was prostitute Sallie-Anne Huckstepp, who was found strangled and drowned in Busby Pond at Centennial Park in February 1986. A former Drug Squad detective who knew Kelleher said he was a smart operator who kept a radio scanner tuned into local police districts in his car. 'He knew where we were all the time,' he said. The scanner was attached to a tape recorder to gather intelligence and evidence. Kelleher also always carried a pair of handcuffs in his vehicle. 'I had them so I could handcuff myself to the car steering wheel if anybody tried to take me,' Kelleher once explained. Retired armed robber Graham 'Abo' Henry once described Kelleher as 'a real old-school crim' who never gave up other villains - or willingly walked past a mirror. 'He was an extremely vain person who was always working out and keeping himself fit and health,' Henry wrote in his 2005 memoir A Dangerous Life. It is understood Henry's view of Kelleher as a 'solid' crook has shifted drastically in recent years. Kelleher was involved in distributing heroin imported from Thailand by Neddy Smith in the late 1970s. Smith was moving 11kg of heroin a month, an estimated 15 per cent of Sydney's needs. Among his other distributors were Eustace, Danny Landini and Victor Spink (above) Victor Spink (above) was a major figure on Sydney's crime scene for decades from the 1970s. He was jailed for his organising role in a $225million importation of hashish in 1994. He died of a suspected meth overdose aged 76 in a cheap Sydney CBD hotel room in January 2019 David John Kelleher, who later changed his name behind bars to Joe Duxerty, came from a respectable Sydney family and was educated at Trinity Grammar. After school he hung around Kings Cross looking for trouble and found plenty when he joined bikie gang the Galloping Gooses. Kelleher was sentenced to ten years' prison October 1973 for taking part in the pack rape of a woman with other members of the gang but claimed he was not guilty. Henry, one of Sydney's toughest old-time gangsters who could fight like a threshing machine, spent time in jail with Kelleher in the 1970s. 'Dave did his sentence hard,' Henry wrote. 'He was a loner who simply enjoyed his solitude but a lot of people didn't like him for it. 'The other crims thought he was up himself. I thought he was a rather funny bloke when he relaxed and dropped his guard, which was not often. Usually he took things far too seriously.' Retired armed robber Graham 'Abo' Henry described Kelleher as 'a real old-school crim' who never gave up other villains - or willingly walked past a mirror. His opinion of Kelleher as a solid crook changed in recent years Kelleher was granted parole in December 1977 he soon linked up with Henry's later partner-in-crime, the rising Sydney drug dealer Neddy Smith. The pair was involved with a syndicate nominally headed by William Sinclair, the founder of Wings Travel, distributing heroin imported from Thailand. Smith was moving 11kg of heroin a month, an estimated 15 per cent of Sydney's needs. Among his distributors were Kelleher, Tony Eustace, Danny Landini and Victor Spink. The syndicate used Newtown Jets halfback Paul Hayward, who was Smith's de facto brother-in-law, and onetime apprentice hairdresser Warren Fellows as couriers. Drug dealing proved extremely lucrative for Kelleher who Henry wrote was earning 'a fortune' by the late 1970s. 'Still, for someone with that much money to splash around, he was the tightest bloke I ever met,' Henry wrote. 'If he lent you any money he would chase you to the others side of the world for it. Money was Dave's god and the only thing he truly respected.' Kelleher had been in a relationship with prostitute Sallie-Anne Huckstepp. One of Huckstepp's earlier partners, drug dealer Warren Lanfranchi, was shot dead by detective sergeant Roger Rogerson (pictured) at Chippendale in June 1981 Kelleher was granted parole in December 1977 he soon linked up with rising drug dealer Neddy Smith. The pair was in a syndicate nominally headed by William Sinclair. Sinclair (right) is pictured in Thailand after the arrest of couriers Warren Fellows (left) and Paul Hayward (centre) It was about this time Kelleher got his nickname, according to Henry. 'The Blond God was the nickname given to him by a Playboy reporter who saw him in a bar in Thailand with Neddy Smith and a few other known criminals,' Henry has written. 'Dave had a whole lot of women clinging to him at the time and the reporter asked Neddy who "the blond god was" and the name stuck. The name might have stuck but the good times with Smith didn't. Hayward and Fellows were arrested at the Montien Hotel in Bangkok in October 1978 with 8.4kg of heroin. Fellows was jailed for life and Hayward for 30 years. When Keller was arrested - and late cleared over the Hayward-Fellows affair - newspapers reported he was a dry cleaner from Strathfield. Hayward was released in April 1989. He had become a heroin addict in jail and died of an overdose in Sydney in May 1992. Fellows was released in January 1990. Neddy Smith used Newtown Jets halfback Paul Hayward, who was Smith's de facto brother-in-law, and onetime apprentice hairdresser Warren Fellows as couriers to bring heroin in from Thailand. Fellows is pictured with his infant son Adrian Simon Hayward (pictured) and Fellows were arrested in Bangkok in October 1978 with 8.4kg of heroin. Fellows was jailed for life and Hayward for 30 years. Hayward was released in April 1989. He had become a heroin addict in jail and died of an overdose in Sydney in May 1992 In early 1983 Kelleher was involved in two armed rip-offs of mafia-grown marijuana crops in the Tallaganda State Forest near Queanbeyan. Kelleher described his role in the cannabis raids in a statement he made to the 1990 coronial inquest into the 1989 murder of Australian Federal Police assistant commissioner Colin Winchester. Kelleher gave a statement at the inquest into the 1989 murder of AFP assistant commissioner Colin Winchester in 1990 He claimed the rip-offs were organised by corrupt police who later tried to kill him. When that plot failed he was 'loaded up' with half a pound (about 225 grams) of heroin but charges were dismissed. The drug dealer found a second calling as a self-styled whistleblower, bombarding police with letters threatening to expose their corruption in a bid to protect his own criminal interests. Finally, Kelleher was charged in September 1985 with conspiring to import 11kg of heroin worth about $11million. He was on remand awaiting trial when Huckstepp was killed and had been trying to bribe police through her to have his court case fixed. Huckstepp's daughter Sascha claimed her mother feared Kelleher would have her killed if he learnt she had been sleeping with a federal policeman called Peter Smith. Kelleher always denied he had anything to do with killing Huckstepp, who called him Blond God or BG, and claimed she had been murdered by police. One of Huckstepp's earlier partners, drug dealer Warren Lanfranchi, had been shot dead by detective sergeant Roger Rogerson at Chippendale in June 1981 after being driven to a meeting by Neddy Smith. Kelleher's associate Tony Eustace (pictured) was shot dead by hitman Chris Flannery near the Airport Hilton at North Arncliffe in April 1985. Flannery disappeared a month later and is presumed dead Christopher Dale Flannery, known as Mr Rent-a-Kill, was a Melbourne hitman who relocated to Sydney disappeared in May 1985. NSW State Coroner Greg Glass found in 1997 that the key to solving his presumed murder lay with former detective Roger Rogerson At Huckstepp's coronial inquest Kelleher denied he had buried $13million encased in Glad Wrap at Narrabeen on Sydney's Northern Beaches before his 1985 arrest. Kelleher's spent years on remand before his drug trial and conviction. In September 1988 he was sentenced to life imprisonment but in 1996 that term was re-determined to a minimum 13 years. Sallie-Anne Huckstepp's boyfriend Warren Lanfranchi (pictured) was a drug dealer who met Neddy Smith in prison In January 2001, eight months before he was to be set free, Kelleher was riding a bicycle from Long Bay jail to City Tattersalls Club as part of a work release program when police pulled him over at Kingsford. He was wearing pink tights and found to be carrying ecstasy tablets worth $20,000. In his diary were pictures of his old flame Huckstepp. Kelleher told police another inmate had asked him to deliver a package in exchange for $200 which he needed to buy his latest girlfriend a birthday present. The otherwise model prisoner pleaded guilty to supplying drugs and was sentenced to a further four years, with an 18-month non-parole period. While in custody he had tattoos removed from his body at the taxpayer's expense. Kelleher, who was once married and has an adult son, walked free from prison in December 2004 and has kept a low profile in recent years. He had lived on a boat on the Hawkesbury River before taking the vessel up to the Gold Coast. Sources said the boat had more recently been moored at Balmain and Drummoyne. Neddy Smith (left) has been in prison since December 1988. He is serving life for the July 1983 murder of brothel keeper Harvey Jones (right) and the October 1987 road-rage murder of tow truck driver Ronald Flavell at Coogee Former associates said Kelleher now dressed in women's clothing, had his eyebrows tattooed and underwent cosmetic surgery to appear female. 'You wouldn't recognise him,' one said. Another was startled to see Kelleher wearing a pink helmet, shorts and T-shirt while he rode a motorcycle with a white fluffy dog for company. A Drug Squad veteran who knew Kelleher in his prime had heard the rumours of his death but was 'very confident' he had embarked on a new life as J'adore in Thailand. According to another Sydneysider in the know, Kelleher had 'decided to go away for whatever reason' and chose the country where he used to source his heroin. One erstwhile confidante said Kelleher had long ago discussed having surgery to transition into a woman but did not think he had done so. A retired detective who once arrested Kelleher had been stunned when he learnt of his lifestyle changes. 'I nearly fell off my chair,' he said. Another former narcotics investigator said Kelleher had been 'fixated' with transsexuals and transvestitism since the 1980s. 'He wasn't a bad looking bloke,' the ex-copper said. 'But I hear he's a particularly ugly woman.' President Moon Jae-in speaks during a luncheon with party leaders at Cheong Wa Dae, Wednesday. Moon said it may be difficult to carry out a South Korea-U.S. military joint drill that involves a large number of military personnel, due to the current pandemic situation. Yonhap By Kwon Mee-yoo An annual combined military exercise between South Korea and the United States, scheduled for the second half of the year, is likely to be once again staged in a scaled-back manner, with President Moon Jae-in remaining skeptical of conducting a large-scale drill, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During a luncheon meeting with the leaders of both the ruling and opposition parties, to share the results of the Korea-U.S. Summit in Washington, Wednesday, Moon said it may be difficult to carry out a field exercise involving a large number of military personnel, due to the current pandemic situation. Moon added that the two countries will decide on how, when and at what level to hold the joint exercises in a prudent manner, but he did not comment on the possibility of normalizing the South Korea-U.S. joint drills this year, even after the U.S. vowed to supply vaccines for Korean soldiers. During the Korea-U.S. summit earlier this month, U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to provide full vaccinations for all 550,000 Korean troops "both for their sake, as well as the sake of the American forces." Biden's remarks sparked hopes of normalizing the joint drill in the second half of this year, if the vaccines are distributed and Korean soldiers are inoculated quickly. The South Korea-U.S. joint exercises are usually held twice a year, but the first one in 2020 was canceled due to the pandemic and two subsequent drills were downsized. Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Martin Meiners told Yonhap News that joint military drills are a key measure for ensuring the readiness of South Korean and U.S. forces, adding that the scope and timing of future exercises will be determined through close consultation between the two allies. Shin Beom-chul, director at the Center of Diplomacy and National Security at the Research Institute for Economy and Society in Seoul, said COVID-19 should not be an excuse for delaying or downsizing the joint drills. "If the vaccine comes from the U.S. in June, there should be no problem with conducting the joint military exercise in August. It is not logical for President Moon to cite COVID-19 as the reason for delaying the joint drill," Shin told The Korea Times. "It is not advisable for the South Korean government to imply downsizing the joint drill right after pledging to strengthen Korea-U.S. relations." Shin recognizes that it might be difficult to hold a full-scale military exercise amid efforts for inter-Korean reconciliation, as North Korea will denounce the combined drill as the rehearsal for an invasion. "However, the joint exercise could be scaled down to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table. The U.S. is also making efforts to reach out to Pyongyang, and if North Korea signals its return to dialogue, there should be a flexible diplomatic approach toward the joint drill," Shin said. When Yvonne Fletcher's second husband died in 1952 mourners lined up outside their cramped Sydney homes to pay their respects as the funeral procession passed. Neighbours gossiped about the similarities between Bertram Henry Fletcher's sudden death and that of her first husband five years prior, Desmond George Butler, who spent nine months in agonising pain with nerve, organ and brain damage before he passed away. Bertram, 30, had been aggressive and violent to Yvonne and his two step-children Ray and Ellen before he got sick over a matter of weeks and died - their fights were easily heard through the walls of their small terrace house at 57 Ferndale Street, Newtown. Residents were suspicious enough to raise the alarm with police following his death, which gave authorities enough ammunition to exhume Desmond's corpse and test for traces of a popular rat poison at the time, thallium. The tests came back positive, and the platinum blonde 30-year-old mother was arrested on May 19, 1952 - almost exactly 69 years ago - and sentenced to death. She became the first Australian to be convicted of murder by thallium poisoning. Pictured: Yvonne Gladys Fletcher with her second husband Bertram Henry Fletcher before she poisoned him to death Thallium is an odourless, colourless and tasteless poison which was available at all supermarkets, pharmacies and hardware stores in Sydney to help curtail the rodent infestation in the late 1940s and early 50s. Some councils were so keen to eradicate the problem that they gave vials of thallium away until a pattern of deaths began to emerge. Between 1952 and 1953 there were about ten deaths and 36 hospital admissions as a result of thallium poisoning in New South Wales. But Tanya Bretherton, who researched the deaths for her book The Husband Poisoner which was released in January, thinks the death toll is more likely to hover around 50. Ms Bretherton told Daily Mail Australia that Yvonne's highly publicised case marked a series of copycat cases of poisoning in Australia, mostly by women, because thallium was the perfect murder weapon. 'The victims were always in hospital by the time they died - far away from the killer - so they appeared to have died as a result of a medical complaint that was never really diagnosed,' she said. Yvonne Fletcher was sentenced to death for murdering her two husbands, Bertram Fletcher (left) and Desmond Butler (right) with rat poison 'Some cases of thallium poisoning were dismissed as complications to do with diabetes, and others were attributed to stomach ulcers or old age - it was the perfect murder.' In November 1947, Desmond Butler started to get sick. The symptoms of thallium poisoning often present as gastro, or a really bad flu, which is likely how doctors explained the 29-year-old's illness at first. As the months wore on, his condition worsened to include excruciating stomach cramps, debilitating leg pain, hair loss and impaired cognitive function - he was slowly going mad. His pain grew to the point where neighbours could hear his screams down the street, until he was eventually sent to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Doctors were stumped and put his physical symptoms down to a manifestation of his mind and diagnosed him with melancholia, which is now called depression. Desmond was eventually sent to the Callan Park mental hospital in Lilyfield for what experts thought was a nervous disorder before he was sent back home to Newtown a month before he died in 1948. Upon hearing her husband would return home, neighbours told the courtroom that Yvonne said: 'They are sending Dessie home. I don't want him. They can take him back I won't look after him.' No one suspected Yvonne was guilty. Thallium was sold as 'Thall-Rat' to curtail Sydney's growing rodent infestation. It was sold cheaply, and sometimes given away for free Ms Bretherton said no one knows why Yvonne killed Desmond, but she explained the pair were deeply unhappy and it was almost impossible to get a divorce at the time. 'Desmond wasn't violent, but he drank all their savings, he liked the company of other women, and they just didn't get along,' she said. When the mother-of-two repeated her murderous behaviour with her second husband Bertram in 1952, it attracted a lot of attention. Police noticed that he appeared to be dying of the same mysterious illness as Desmond, and Bertram told officers his wife was poisoning his morning toast. 'He worked out that something bad was happening to him and, because their marriage was so bad, he thought she was poisoning him,' Ms Bretherton explained. Along with his breakfast, Bertram believed his wife was adding poison to the thermos he took for lunch. Pictured: Veronica Monty, who poisoned her rugby payer son-in-law Bob Ludlam. The pair would have sex while her daughter was at Sunday mass Police launched an investigation after his death, prompting scientists to develop tests for thallium poisoning which were eventually used in the trial against Yvonne. Because Ferndale Street was small and the houses were built very close together, neighbours heard the couple fighting and testified against her. On September 24, 1952, Yvonne was sentenced to death in the Central Criminal Court. Reports at the time said she went white upon hearing the verdict, swayed and collapsed in the dock. The judge, Justice Kinsella, acknowledged that Yvonne had suffered greatly at the hands of her second husband, but said there was no evidence to suggest she was mistreated by her first. Pictured: Caroline 'Aunty Thally' Grills, who tried to kill multiple family members 'The crime of murder is a terrible one, but when the killing was by means of poison secretly administered which destroyed him mentally and physically, it is an atrocious thing,' he said, according to a Sydney Morning Herald report. 'For the crime of murder, the law of this state has one sentence: Death.' When the death penalty was abolished in NSW in 1955, Yvonne's sentence was changed to life in prison and she was eventually released. She remarried in the '60s and lived a quiet life. It is believes her children ended up as wards of the state. Yvonne's case was high profile and likely triggered a wave of copycats. Ms Bretherton said we will never full understand the scope of thallium poisonings because many went undetected. Not so the case of Ruby Norton, 50, who lived in Cowra, central western NSW. Tanya Bretherton (pictured) wrote The Husband Poisoner, published in January 2021 Ruby had mentioned Yvonne's case to others before she was tried for the murder of her daughter's fiancee Allen Williams, 25. He died in Cowra Hospital in 1952 and, despite allegations against her claiming that she hated all the men in her family, she was eventually acquitted. Pictured: The Husband Poisoner, by Tanya Bretherton In 1953, Veronica Monty decided to start poisoning her rugby player son-in-law Bob Ludlam amid a lurid affair that saw the pair have sex while her daughter was at Sunday mass. Bob didn't die, but his nerves were severely impacted by the poison and it ruined his career. Veronica killed herself with thallium in 1955. But the most prominent case following Yvonne's conviction was Caroline Grills, known as 'aunty thally', who tried to kill several of her husband's blood relations in 1953. She was sentenced to life in jail after three family members and a close family friend died. None of the women convicted of thallium poisoning ever pleaded guilty to murder. Australians who want to have $1million in superannuation savings by the time they retire should start saving at a young age - or you'll need to punish yourself later in your working life. From July 1, compulsory employer superannuation contributions are increasing to 10 per cent from 9.5 per cent. The start of the next financial year will also allow workers to deposit up to $27,500 a year into their retirement savings, up from $25,000, and only pay 15 per cent tax. That is half the usual marginal tax rate of 32.5 per cent for most workers earning between $45,001 and $120,000 a year. Australians who want to have $1million in super savings by the time they retire really need to start saving at a young age, or punish themselves later. Money expert Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon, the author of How to Get Mortgage-Free Like Me, said putting away a few hundred a month from young 20 was the key to being able to retire in luxury with seven figures in superannuation savings How much YOU should put aside every month to retire as a millionaire if you're starting out as a super saver Age 20: $381 a month Age 30: $820 a month Age 40: $1,921 a month Age 50: $5,778 a month Source: Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon Advertisement Australians should have at least $500,000 in their super to retire comfortably - but even that goal is proving difficult for most workers. Those who want to live a more lavish post-work life will have to be strategic and disciplined should they want retire with $1million in superannuation. Money expert Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon, the author of How to Get Mortgage-Free Like Me, said putting away a few hundred a month from a young age was the key to being able to retire in luxury with seven figures in superannuation savings. 'If we could travel overseas anytime soon, a million dollars would take you good places,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'It certainly would afford you a more opulent retirement. 'If you start tipping in later, it's going to be a really hard slog to get to that magic million.' Age 20 Ms Pedersen-McKinnon, a former finance journalist now based on the Sunshine Coast, said a 20-year-old university student living with their parents was in a better position to put aside $381 a month, and benefit from long-term compound interest. 'Those amounts that you put in earlier grow the most,' she said. A 20-year-old university student living with their parents was in a better position to put aside $381 a month, and benefit from long-term compound interest 'The most powerful, wealth building tool you'll ever have is sponging off your parents. 'You are going to start seeing your income ratchet up as you get your qualifications and get your specialty in terms of what your actual vocation is going to be.' From July 1, 2022, the $450 a month earnings threshold is being scrapped, which will particularly help younger Australians, in part-time and casual employment, start building their nest egg. 'That is an incredibly important move. It's particularly advantageous to women who may be out of the full-time workforce because they're raising children,' Ms Pedersen-McKinnon said. Many people entering their thirties may be taking on a mortgage or starting a family. Those who haven't started boosting their voluntary super contributions by 30 need to put aside $820 a month Age 30 By this time of life, many people entering their thirties may be taking on a mortgage or starting a family. Ms Pedersen-McKinnon said putting aside $820 a month when raising the first child and paying down a home loan was certainly a challenge for those who hadn't started boosting their voluntary super contributions. 'That's when it's going to be most difficult to tip extra into investments,' she said. 'It's probably recommended to try and do that earlier before you have children.' By the later stages of youth, savers on average incomes are advised to cut back on nightclub, bar and restaurant visits and expensive holidays to have more money to put into their super. 'Thankfully, children remove a lot of the opportunity to go and do that fun, discretionary spending,' she said. 'That's a removal of the temptation to spend excessively on that.' Those who delay topping up their super at age 40 need to put aside $1,921 a month. That monthly savings goal is equal to current mortgage repayments on a $500,000 house with a 20 per cent deposit factored in Age 40 Those who delay topping up their super at age 40 need to put aside $1,921 a month. That monthly savings goal is equal to current mortgage repayments on a $500,000 house with a 20 per cent deposit factored in. Ms Pedersen-McKinnon said putting aside almost $2,000 a month for super contributions would be impossible unless someone earned a six-figure salary and didn't live in Sydney or Melbourne. Ms Pedersen-McKinnon said putting aside almost $2,000 a month for super contributions would be impossible unless someone earned a six-figure salary and didn't live in Sydney or Melbourne. An average income earner on $89,000 a year could only achieve that goal of saving up $63 a day for retirement if they didn't have a mortgage. 'You'd be hard pressed to get that if you didn't have a significant salary,' she said. 'That gets pretty unachievable for many mere money mortals.' Australians who want to actively boost their super and own a house would have to move to move to a provincial capital city or a regional area where real estate is more affordable. 'There's very little wriggle room if you live in Sydney and you have a property,' Ms Pedersen-McKinnon said. 'Certainly, we're seeing lots of people move to those more affordable regions and cities, so really arbitraging the price difference and taking advantage of the fact they now can because of this massive work decentralisation because of Covid.' Those who don't actively boost their superannuation, after employer contributions, by age 50 would need to put in a hefty $5,778 a month to achieve that $1million retirement savings goal Age 50 Those who don't actively boost their superannuation, after employer contributions, by age 50 would need to put in a hefty $5,778 a month to achieve that $1million retirement savings goal. 'That's assuming you're starting from scratch,' Ms Pedersen-McKinnon said. When can Australians access their super? For those born before July 1, 1960, it's 55 The rises to 56 for baby boomers born between July 1, 1960 and June 30, 1961 It's 57 for those born between July 1, 1961 and June 30, 1962 It's 58 for those born between July 1, 1962 and June 30, 1963 It's 59 for those born between July 1, 1963 and June 30, 1964 It's 60 for anyone born after July 1, 1964 Source: moneysmart.gov.au Advertisement The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia recommended a single Australian have $535,000 tucked away to live in a bit of style while couples needed $640,000 for an equivalent lifestyle. During the March quarter of 2021, ASFA calculated elderly singles would need to draw down $44,412 a year, compared with $62,828 annually for couples, with both measures rising by 0.4 per cent since the start of 2021. Many Australians are a long way from achieving that savings goal with official Australian Bureau of Statistics data showing average super balances of just $286,800 in the final decade before retirement. Tax office data showed women aged 60 to 64 had even less, with average balances of $280,000 compared with $345,000 for men in the years just before retirement. Across all age groups women have a lot less than men and are being urged to top up their superannuation. Their average balances stood at $73,139 in December 2020 - a 17.8 per cent gap compared with the average male balance of $88,934, Colonial First State data showed. Figures from Colonial First State's 750,000 accounts showed its average super balances for all age groups stood at just $82,163 in December 2020. Nonetheless, Ms Pedersen-McKinnon said it paid to take advantage of compounding interest and the 15 per cent concessional tax rate to reach that magic million goal. 'Superannuation is just a tax haven.' UFC superstar Israel Adesanya has gone from being bullied at school for being an 'anime nerd' to smoking weed with Snoop Dogg and surfing with Kelly Slater. The Nigerian-born Kiwi and UFC Middleweight Champion has become one of the biggest names in mixed martial arts because of his unique personality, which he says is built from his obsession with Japanese animation. 'I was just this nerd who likes cartoons and anime, now I use it as an expression to f*** grown men up,' he told Daily Mail Australia. He has Australia's greatest fighter Robert Whittaker in his sights and revealed the location for the Anzac superfight between the two champions will be at the famous Eden Park. Adesanya will face Marvin Vettori at UFC 263 who he's beaten in the past, but he says 'that fight doesn't exist' and he has a stern warning for the Italian. 'I'm just going to f*** him up.' UFC superstar Israel Adesanya has gone from being bullied at his New Zealand school for being an 'anime nerd' to smoking weed with Snoop Dogg and surfing with Kelly Slater Adesanya spends most of his time at home in Auckland - and wants to fight Australian nemesis Robert Whittaker at Eden Park (pictured with Aussie UFC star Alex Volkanovski) Adesanya was born in Nigeria before moving to Auckland in New Zealand via Ghana when he was 10 years old. He says he was often bullied at school for being a foreigner so he preferred to stay at home and watch Japanese anime - something that has shaped his fighting career. 'It's part of my character, part of my intrigue. I'm this nerd who loves cards and anime and now I use it to express myself in fights,' the 31-year-old said. 'I like blending the lines between fantasy and reality and making them seamless.' The anime influences are evident in the UFC Middleweight Champion's fighting style, with his unique grace and flair. He resembles a video game character. 'If you watch my fights, even in my last fight there was a drunken fist in there. That was influenced by Jackie Chan.' 'Smoking weed with Snoop Dogg at Staples Centre is definitely up there. The bigger I get, I kind of get used to it but that one was a weird bucket list item' 'With Kelly, I caught two waves that day. I haven't had time to surf since but I definitely will pick it up later in life' Adesanya says he still spends the majority of his time at home in Auckland 'hanging with his dogs and partying'. The last time he fought in Australia was in 2019 against UFC legend Anderson Silva in a match that was a passing of the torch in the middleweight division. Before the match there was a special moment where the two got to the floor to bow to each other, before trading spinning head kicks in succession during the match that brought the crowd to its feet. 'That was some movie type s***. It was like when Kobe played Michael Jordan. It was the young guy coming up against the old legend,' he told Daily Mail Australia. His superstardom has recently taken him to a series of 'bucket list' places where he's found himself hanging out with Snoop Dogg and even surfing with Kelly Slater. 'Smoking weed with Snoop Dogg at Staples Centre is definitely up there. The bigger I get, I kind of get used to it but that one was a weird bucket list item. 'With Kelly, I caught two waves that day. I haven't had time to surf since but I definitely will pick it up later in life.' Adesanya vs Vettori headlines UFC 263 on June 13 at Gila River Arena in Glendale, Arizona from 12pm AEST. A retired Melbourne schoolteacher has made astonishing claims about how he was threatened by government thugs over what is regarded as Australia's greatest UFO mystery, before being contacted by federal agents close to the American president. On April 6, 1966, about 200 Westall High School students, teachers and Clayton South residents witnessed a large silver cigar-shaped 'flying saucer' hover above the school's oval and the nearby Grange Reserve. The incident has been recounted before, immortalised in UFO-shaped play equipment for kids to climb on at the reserve and even retold in a documentary, but one of the teachers who witnessed the extraordinary events has since revealed new details of what happened next. An apparent photograph of the supposed Westall UFO encounter where more than 200 students and teachers allegedly witnessed an unexplained flying object descend onto a nearby open wild grass field in 1966 Andrew Greenwood, one of the teachers at Westall High School, during the UFO encounter has described bizarre encounters he had with Australian government officials who demanded he keep quiet over what he saw A newspaper clipping outlining what several witnesses at the school saw on that fateful day in 1966 Andrew Greenwood, who taught science to Year 9 students at Westall, detailed attempts made to silence him - and how he was contacted by someone at the very top of the US government. 'I saw a craft. A mechanical object intelligently controlled hovering above me,' Mr Greenwood told a 7NEWS Spotlight documentary, which airs on Sunday and features several other witnesses. Mr Greenwood also said five small planes hovered around the object. Terry Peck, who was a student at Westall, shows a drawing of what she saw hovering above her school in April 1966 Within 40 minutes airforce and army personnel in their trucks poured into the area and formed a security barrier around the reserve. But knowing the area well, Mr Greenwood and others were able to sneak in and see what was going on. '[We saw a] circular area, like the trampled grass,' he said. 'And there were guards around it and there were people in there with equipment'. Mr Greenwood spoke to local news reporters about the incident but became frightened about speaking out when two weeks after the incident two men claiming to be government officials knocked on the door of his home. 'One in plain clothes, and the other one, senior air force,' Mr Greenwood said. The men told the teacher he was mistaken about what he saw and had he 'really seen anything'. 'Absolutely, I was threatened. I was told that I should not say anything about it,' Mr Greenwood said. 'When I tried to explain to them that they weren't there, I was and I knew what I saw, well, the first suggestion was that you'd be ill advised to go on saying that because clearly you were drunk on duty and will have to be reported to the education department and of course you will lose your job.' Terry Peck, one of the Westall students who features in the new interview about the UFO sighting from 1966 A Westall witness discusses documents relating to the incident with a journalist A year after the Westall incident Mr Greenwood was interviewed by an American physicist, Dr James E. McDonald, who was known for his study of UFOs - he says at he instruction of the office of the then-President of United States, Lyndon B Johnson. 'The president had authorised the establishment of a board of inquiry, or an inquiry to inquire into issues of unidentified flying objects, and that they were sending out someone,' he said. The US began investigating UFO sightings and the phenomenon soon after the Second World War, when sightings began. Mr Greenwood is adamant that the Australian government covered up the incident at the time and has refused to tell anyone what really happened since. 'What really strikes me is that 55 years on, these people are very certain about what they saw,' he said. 'It just beggars belief for me in Australia we've never had an official investigation. And flatly I think there has been a cover-up, I really do. 'I think someone has buried the Department of Supply report which I know exists.' 7NEWS Spotlight: The Phenomenon airs tonight at 7pm on Channel 7 and 7plus. Asking dogs to follow their noses won't work anymore in states that have legalized marijuana. As Virginia prepares to legalize adult possession of up to an ounce of marijuana on July 1, drug-sniffing police dogs from around the state are being forced into early retirement, following a trend in other states where legalization has led to K-9s being put out to pasture earlier than planned. The measure, which was signed into law by Governor Ralph Northam this past April, will also allow Virginians to legally grow up to four cannabis plants. Virginia is the first state in the South to legalize weed. In Virginia, the rush to take marijuana-detecting dogs out of service began even before lawmakers voted last month to accelerate the timetable for legalization. A separate law that went into effect in March prohibits police from stopping or searching anyone based solely on the odor of marijuana. Virginia state police are retiring 13 K-9s, while many smaller police departments and sheriff's offices are retiring one or two dogs. Virginia State Police K-9 officer Tyler Fridley works his dog Aries at State Police headquarters in Richmond on May 10. Drug-sniffing police dogs from around Virginia are being forced into early retirement as the state prepares to legalize adult recreational use of marijuana on July 1 Fridley poses with his dog Aries outside State Police headquarters in Richmond, Virginia in this May 10 file photo Most are in the process of purchasing and training new dogs to detect only illicit drugs, including cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines. Some departments are unable to afford up to $15,000 to buy and train a new dog, so they are disbanding their K-9 units. The dogs trained on multiple drugs alert in the same way for all of them, so it's impossible to tell whether they are indicating the presence of marijuana or an illicit drug. The dogs also cannot distinguish between a small, legal amount of marijuana or a larger, still-illegal amount of the drug. Aries, detects and tosses a test rag during a training exercise at State Police headquarters in Richmond For police, that means they can no longer be used to establish probable cause for a search. 'We won't use our dogs trained in marijuana because that could be a defense an attorney would raise for a client, to say, "Which odor did the K-9 alert on - was it marijuana or was it an illegal drug?"' said Bedford County Sheriff Mike Miller. Using a dog that has been trained to detect all drugs except marijuana can help 'guarantee he didn't hit on marijuana, that he found heroin or something else,' Miller said. Miller's office retired one dog and is now using a second dog for tracking and apprehension duties only, not for drug detection. His office also bought a new dog not trained on the scent of marijuana; that dog will be used to detect other drugs. Miller said he'd like to purchase a second drug-sniffing dog, but isn't sure when he will find the money in his budget. Other states that legalized marijuana earlier have had to make similar adjustments. 'The trend is everywhere,' said Don Slavik, executive director of the United States Police Canine Association. 'Once you train a behavior in a dog, that never goes away. They don't want any mistakes, so that is why they want to bring in new dogs,' he said. A 2017 ruling from the Colorado Court of Appeals solidified concerns that using marijuana-trained dogs in places where the drug is legal may not withstand legal challenges. Kilo, a Moffat County Sheriff's Office dog trained on multiple drugs, alerted on a man's truck during a 2015 traffic stop. Officers found a methamphetamine pipe containing white residue. The court found that Kilo's alert was not a reliable indicator of illegal activity because the dog could not differentiate between marijuana and an illegal drug. The court overturned the man's drug possession conviction, finding that police did not have legal grounds to search his truck. The ruling was later upheld by the Colorado Supreme Court. In Massachusetts, where recreational marijuana became legal in 2016, the Quincy Police Department shifted two dogs from drug detection to patrol work, then retired them about 18 months later. Virginians will be able to legally possess up to one ounce of marijuana under the new law which goes into effect on July 1. The file photo above shows James MacWilliams pruning a marijuana plant in Portland, Maine in this December 2017 file photo Lt. Bob Gillan, the department's K-9 Unit Supervisor, said drug traffickers quickly figured out how to raise doubt about the legality of a search by a dog trained to detect marijuana. 'Usually, when they're delivering their illegal drugs, they will always have marijuana burning in the car. Any defense attorney worth his or her salt will say, "Well, your dog hit on a legal substance," (not the illegal drugs),' he said. Sgt. Scott Amos, the canine training coordinator for Virginia State Police, said that with the July 1 legalization date approaching, police are busy training new dogs to detect MDMA, also known as ecstasy; cocaine, heroine and methamphetamines, while also getting 13 dogs ready for retirement. Apollo, Aries, Bandit, Blaze, Jax, Kane, Mater, Nina, Reno, Sarge, Thunder, Zeus and Zoey are being adopted by their handlers, Amos said. Cumberland County Sheriff Darrell Hodges said his office recently had to retire its drug-detecting K-9, a Belgian Malinois named Mambo. He said his 17-person department doesn't have the money to purchase and train a new dog. 'You work with them day in and day out, and they become part of you, and to just take it away is kind of tough,' he said. Hodges said all turned out well for Mambo, who was adopted by his handler. 'The dog is actually living a wonderful life,' he said. 'He has his own bedroom in a house and is getting spoiled rotten.' Mike Pompeo, the former CIA director and secretary of state, has said that Wuhan Institute of Virology was conducting secret military research and claims there is 'enormous evidence' that the virus that causes COVID-19 escaped from the lab. Donald Trump's former top aide also warned that the dangerous experimentation is ongoing at the lab, raising the specter of another potentially deadly virus leak. 'What I can say for sure is this: we know that they were engaged in efforts connected to the People's Liberation Army inside of that laboratory, so military activity being performed alongside what they claimed was just good old civilian research,' Pompeo told Fox News on Saturday. 'They refuse to tell us what it was, they refuse to describe the nature of either of those, they refuse to allow access to the World Health Organization,' Pompeo said. 'That coverup alone suggests that there's a lot more that we need to know.' 'That virology lab is still up and running. It's still probably conducting the same kinds of research it was conducting that may have well led to this virus escaping from that laboratory,' he said. 'Only the Chinese Communist Party knows the answer, the world deserves the answers and they have to tell us, I hope there will be bipartisan push to demand and hold accountable,' said Pompeo. Mike Pompeo, the former CIA director and secretary of state, told Fox News Friday that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was conducting secret military research Workers in the Wuhan Institute of Virology are seen in February. The lab has come under new scrutiny as experts finally take seriously a lab leak as a possible origin of the pandemic He spoke after President Joe Biden ordered an intensive 90-day probe to reinvestigate the possibility of a lab leak origin in the pandemic. 'It's really unfortunate they took the position early on that there was nothing to see here,' Pompeo said in response to the new probe. 'I'm glad now that they're looking at this. I hope it's a serious investigation when they say they are giving 90 days for the intelligence community to look at this. The intelligence community has been looking at this for an awfully long time,' he said. Pompeo, a former CIA spy chief, has promoted the lab leak theory since the early days of the pandemic, a theory that until recently much of the U.S. media and academia scoffed at as a fringe conspiracy theory. 'I've known since spring of last year, 2020, when I first spoke about this that there is enormous evidence that this escaped from that laboratory in Wuhan,' he said on Saturday. 'We know there were people who got sick there, scientists who got sick there, we know they were doing the gain of function research -- essentially taking viruses and making them more contagious, potentially more lethal, this administration has to get after this.' 'This administration has to get after this. I hope they will continue the work that we were engaged in,' said Pompeo. 'This is important work. We have to know how this happened so we can make sure it never happens again.' It is not the first time Pompeo has claimed links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and the Chinese military. In the final days of the Trump administration, the Pompeo-led State Department issued a statement stating 'the United States has determined that the WIV has collaborated on publications and secret projects with China's military.' 'The WIV has engaged in classified research, including laboratory animal experiments, on behalf of the Chinese military since at least 2017,' the department said. It also that that 'a laboratory accident could resemble a natural outbreak if the initial exposure included only a few individuals and was compounded by asymptomatic infection.' It follows word of an explosive new study that purports to show that Chinese scientists created COVID-19 in a Wuhan lab, then tried to cover their tracks by reverse-engineering versions of the virus to make it look like it evolved naturally from bats. DailyMail.com exclusively obtained the 22-page paper which is set to be published in the scientific journal Quarterly Review of Biophysics Discovery. In it, researchers describe their months-long 'forensic analysis' into experiments done at the Wuhan lab between 2002 and 2019 The paper's authors, British Professor Angus Dalgleish and Norwegian scientist Dr. Birger Srensen, wrote that they have had 'prima facie evidence of retro-engineering in China ' for a year - but were ignored by academics and major journals. The shocking allegations in the study, obtained by DailyMail.com before publication, include accusations of 'deliberate destruction, concealment or contamination of data' at Chinese labs. Biden on Wednesday ordered the 17 National Labs run by the Department of Energy to assist the intelligence community in a 90-day sprint to examine whether the virus leaked from a lab in China . The labs have been tapped 'because of their ability to crunch massive amounts of data' with their advanced supercomputers, a White House official told CNN . The government is not revealing exactly what kind of data is being submitted for analysis, but experts say it is likely previously gathered intelligence such as signal intercepts or biological evidence. Intelligence agencies regularly collect more raw data than their analysts are able to effectively pore through, and the application of advanced algorithms to seek patterns in the massive data set could offer new breakthroughs. President Joe Biden has ordered the government's premiere research laboratories to join the search for the true origins of the COVID-19 pandemic Equipment is seen at Livermore National Laboratory in California, one of the 17 National Laboratories to been called in to assist intelligence agencies in crunching data 'We want the science to be a big part of this,' the White House official told CNN. 'We are going to use the full resources of our intelligence and scientific community to try to get to the bottom of this.' Biden is also urging U.S. intelligence agencies and those of allies to hunt for new information that could shed light on whether China covered up a lab leak. Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, said the Biden administration's response was 'better late than never, but far from adequate.' 'Our intelligence community has been looking at this now for 15 months. They've done good work on it, but in the end the answer lies in the hands of Chinese communists, not people working for American intelligence agencies,' he told the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Cotton said that officials in Beijing have not been forthcoming about how the pandemic began. 'We should be insisting that they come clean, that they provide us a clear and unvarnished look at what was happening in the Wuhan labs,' he said. Circumstantial evidence has long raised questions about the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where researchers were known to be conducting experiments on bat coronavirus strains similar to the one responsible for COVID-19. China insisted early and often that the virus did not leak from the lab, claiming that crossover to humans must have occurred at a 'wet market' in Wuhan that sold live animals. Perhaps driven by animosity for Donald Trump, who embraced the lab leak theory early on, the mainstream U.S. media and academics heaped scorn on the possibility, calling it an unhinged conspiracy theory. But new evidence, including reports of three workers at the Wuhan lab who fell seriously ill with COVID-like symptoms in November 2019, has forced a sober reassessment among doubters. Frustration with China increased this week after Beijing said that it would not participate in any further investigations by the World Health Organization. Biden rebuked China in his announcement of the new intelligence review, calling on allies to help 'press China to participate in a full, transparent, evidence-based international investigation and to provide access to all relevant data and evidence.' A heartbroken daughter has issued a poignant message to others after her 'biggest fear' came true when her pilot father was tragically killed while she was living abroad. Trevor Badger, 55, died when his light plane crashed in a paddock on the family's farm in Western Australia's Great Southern region on Saturday. Bystanders rushed to the scene to free the grain and sheep farmer from the wreckage and perform first aid, but he sadly could not be saved. His daughter Chelsea, who has been living in New Zealand, said 'the pain is unlike 'anything I've ever experienced', in a tribute to her father on TikTok. Chelsea Badger (pictured) has urged others to cherish every moment with their parents after her father was tragically killed on Saturday Trevor Badger, 55, (pictured) died when his light plane crashed on the family's Pingrup farm The Australian expat said it was always her 'biggest fear' that something would happen to her parents while she was overseas. But they encouraged her to pursue her travel dreams, saying her trepidations should not hold her back. 'Both of my parents always said to me " That is not a good enough reason for me not to go travel and live my life",' Ms Badger said. '[But] unfortunately over the weekend my worse dreams came true. 'So please, next time you see your parents, hug them tightly and tell them that you love them.' Mr Badger, an experienced pilot, was the only person in the recreational plane when it crashed on Nyabing-Pingrup Road about 2.30pm. Within 48 hours of learning the devastating news, Ms Badger and her partner flew from Auckland to Perth before making the four-hour drive southeast to her family's Pingrup home. Tributes have poured on social media for the local farming icon, who has been remembered as a 'family man' and 'community minded'. Ms Badger, who has been living in New Zealand, shared a tribute to her father on TikTok The Australian expat urged others to hug their parents tightly and tell them 'I love you' 'I lost a second very good friend to an aircraft accident. Its impossible to describe the devastation I feel. He was a great man in every way,' one friend wrote. 'Trevor was a wonderful family man, very community minded and an incredible fighter for his industry.' Police have seized the aircraft to investigate the cause of the accident and a report will be prepared for the coroner. Anyone who saw the plane, which has a yellow and green tail, before the crash is urged to contact Crime Stoppers. Former BBC boss Lord Hall should be stripped of his peerage over the Martin Bashir scandal, an MP has told Parliaments ethics watchdog. The DUPs Ian Paisley said the peer should not be allowed to hide in the House of Lords, adding: Authorities must move to strip Lord Hall of his title. Mr Paisley has written to the House of Lords Standards Commissioner to complain about Lord Halls conduct over the Panorama interview with Princess Diana, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Ian Paisley has written to the House of Lords Standards Commissioner to complain about Lord Halls conduct over the Panorama interview In a blistering attack, Mr Paisley said: It is untenable for him to remain in a position of public trust. But he continues to be effectively one of our nations lawmakers as a privileged member of the Lords. This month the independent review by Lord Dyson heavily criticised Lord Hall for leading a woefully ineffective internal probe in 1996 that cleared Bashir of wrongdoing. Lord Hall was the BBCs director of news and current affairs from 1993 until 2001. When this newspaper first reported allegations about fake documents used by Bashir to obtain the interview in 1995, Lord Hall led the investigation which exonerated Bashir and described him as honest and honourable. Lord Hall went on to become BBC director-general for seven years until August 2020. Lord Hall led the 1996 investigation which exonerated Bashir after the interview with Diana (pictured) In an article for MailOnline today, Mr Paisley writes: This leadership man, a one-time god at the BBC, not only looked the other way, but then took a double-take and permitted the rehiring of Bashir in the full knowledge of what had occurred. This just cant be allowed to blow over as if it was some unfortunate error. The BBC has been accused of contributing to the break-up of a relationship, creating fear and paranoia in a woman not just any woman but one who could have been Queen of our nation. Following the publication of the Dyson report, Lord Hall resigned as chairman of the National Gallery, saying he did not want his presence to be a distraction. Mr Paisley also told The Mail on Sunday he may introduce a private members Bill to strip Lord Hall of his peerage if the Lords Commissioner does not do it or ask the Leader of the Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, to consider triggering powers the House has to deal with a serious misdemeanour. The BBC faces paying out up to 1 million in compensation to the graphic designer whose career was wrecked after he blew the whistle on the Martin Bashir scandal. The Mail on Sunday can reveal that director-general Tim Davie will meet Matt Wiessler on Thursday and personally apologise for how he was hounded out of the Corporation after sounding the alarm about disgraced Bashirs 1995 interview with Princess Diana. Mr Wiessler was asked by Bashir to mock up fake bank statements, which the reporter then showed Dianas brother Earl Spencer as part of his bid to secure the bombshell Panorama interview. BBC lawyers will discuss compensating Matt Wiessler (pictured) for his loss of earnings during this weeks meeting Later, Mr Wiessler approached bosses because he was concerned that he might have unwittingly played a role in obtaining the interview by deception. But instead of praising him for blowing the whistle, documents from 1996 released last year revealed how Tony Hall, the then head of news and future director-general, blacklisted him from working for the Corporation. Lord Hall told the-then BBC director-general Lord Birt: We are taking steps to ensure that the graphic designer involved Matthew Wiessler will not work for the BBC again (when a current contract expires in the next few weeks). The MoS understands that BBC lawyers will discuss compensating Mr Wiessler for his loss of earnings during this weeks meeting. Sources last night said the Corporations payout to him could be up to 1 million. He has asked all along for a clear apology from the BBC and it has not been forthcoming to date, a close friend said. He is very much hoping that this meeting on Thursday will at least result in an apology and perhaps push forward his claim for compensation. Mr Wiessler was an award-winning star of the BBCs graphics department who helped mastermind the graphics for the BBCs 1992 Election night coverage while still in his 20s. He worked with presenters Peter Snow and David Dimbleby to reinvent the so-called swingometer used during General Election coverage. Director-general Tim Davie will meet Matt Wiessler on Thursday ahead of a possible payout Matt was one of the top TV graphic designers of the time, his friend said. An important part of putting facts across to people was using graphics, particularly in current affairs programmes like Panorama. It was a very particular skill and he was acknowledged by everybody to be one of the best. Mr Davie last week admitted to being shocked at how Mr Wiessler and other whistleblowers had been treated. He said: The very person who raised this and I know many staff feel very strongly about this the very person who raised this as an issue, suffered enormous impacts, which were very sorry for. Asked if he thought the BBC owed the graphic designer compensation, Mr Davie said it needs to go through a legal discussion. He added: Well engage in that discussion because clearly we were at fault. A report by former Supreme Court judge Lord Dyson earlier this month concluded Bashir engaged in deceitful behaviour by commissioning the fake bank statements ahead of the Diana interview Three other former Panorama journalists Tom Mangold, Mark Killick and Harry Dean who approached the programmes editor Steve Hewlett with their concerns over Bashir could also pursue claims for compensation. Writing in last weekends MoS, Mr Mangold said he fared badly after raising his concerns, adding: I was let go and a shame-faced BBC paid me peanuts as compensation. A devastating report by former Supreme Court judge Lord Dyson earlier this month concluded that Bashir engaged in deceitful behaviour by commissioning the fake bank statements and accused Hall of overseeing a woefully ineffective internal probe into the issue. Lord Dyson praised Mr Wiessler, who is now the co-owner of a Devon bicycle design business, for acting responsibly and appropriately by blowing the whistle and said nobody has criticised him for accepting the commission to mock up the bank statements The BBC last night said it was unable to comment. Police have identified the head found along a Louisiana highway in 2018 as that of a missing 58-year old Texas woman. Sally Ann Hines, 58, was last seen December 2017 in San Antonio before going missing. On March 1, 2018 her head was found in a plastic bag by a sheriff's team picking up litter along Highway 27 in Cameron Parish. Investigators used dental records to identify Hines after they received a tip last week about a missing person who looked like a computer-generated image of the head, Cameron Parish Sheriff Ron Johnson said. Johnson told the San Antonio Express-News that killers leave bodies in the marshlands where Hine's head was found because 'they believe that if they dump a body here, the alligators will eat it and they will disappear. Tragically this isn't unusual for us.' Sally Ann Hines, 58, (pictured) was last seen December 2017 in San Antonio before going missing Investigators used dental records to identify Hines after they received a tip last week about a missing person who looked like a computer-generated image of the head The anonymous tipster recognized Hines' face from a composite image from LSU's faces lab and a missing person's flyer. Police said after years of intense investigations the case was ultimately solved through a random tipster who has an interest in trying to match missing people online. 'The irony of the cases though, even though we were getting to the very detailed forensic examination, the case was basically solved by just an individual looking on the internet,' Cameron Parish Corner Kevin Dupke told KPLC-TV. The identification was confirmed on Wednesday through dental records and Hines' next of kin was notified. In 2018, Hines' husband Harold said his wife of 35 years just disappeared. 'When I got up she was gone, she hadn't come back, put it that way, ' Harold told Fox San Antonio. Police said Hines suffered from a medical condition and was under a doctor's care. Her husband told Fox San Antonio that his wife went missing without her medication, leaving behind her purse, cell phone, and car. Hines's sister Barbara Gauthier said she hopes that investigators find out what led to her death. 'There are no words to express our heartache and emotions that we feel,' she told KPLC-TV. 'We can only pray that they find out what happened to her and whoever did this horrific act pays for what they did to her. We will not rest until we know what happened.' Johnson said the positive identification might bring closure to the family. 'We are very happy that we have the head ID'd but I am sure for the family, they are very sad about the negative news,' he told Express-News. 'Perhaps this helps them have some closure.' A U.S. Forces Korea service member is under investigation for allegedly assaulting three South Korean men while under the influence, police said Sunday. The 34-year-old staff sergeant, stationed with the Eighth Army in Pyeongtaek, was apprehended by police in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon late Saturday and transferred to the military police. The unnamed soldier is accused of first punching a 20-something man in the face on Itaewon's streets and then knocking a 40-something man from his motorbike before assaulting him further, according to the police. Minutes later, he allegedly punched a third man in his 30s who came after him. "The suspect was so inebriated that we had to call emergency medical services on him," a police official said. "We have booked him on assault charges and are investigating him." (Yonhap) Rep. Dan Crenshaw and Sen. Tom Cotton have launched a new initiative to prevent 'woke ideology' taking hold in the US military. The Republican politicians announced their joint effort on Saturday, sharing a 'whistleblower' form for military members to fill out should they encounter any far-left training materials. Crenshaw wrote on Twitter Saturday: 'Enough is enough. We won't let our military fall to woke ideology. We have just launched a whistleblower webpage where you can submit your story. Your complaint will be legally protected, and go to my office and @SenTomCotton'. He shared a link to the whistleblower form, and added: 'For too long, progressive Pentagon staffers have been calling the shots for our warfighters, and spineless military commanders have let it happen. Now we are going to expose you.' The campaign comes just two weeks after ex-Space Force Commander, Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier, claimed that the Pentagon had sent servicemembers a video saying that 'whites are inherently evil'. Lohmeier was recently removed from his plum post after blasting diversity and inclusion training in the military as 'critical race theory rooted in Marxism'. Crenshaw - a former Navy Seal who lost an eye in combat in Afghanistan, - condemned Lohmeier's removal, stating at the time: 'We need to be preparing our warriors to fight and win battles, not how to be (social justice warriors)'. Rep. Dan Crenshaw and Sen. Tom Cotton have launched a new initiative to prevent 'woke ideology' taking hold in the US military Crenshaw announced the campaign on Twitter Saturday, sharing a string of messages The whistleblower form is pictured. Crenshaw wrote: 'Your complaint will be legally protected, and go to my office and @SenTomCotton' Lohmeier was ousted after he appeared on a conservative podcast to promote a self-published book titled 'Irreversible Damage: Marxism's Goal of Conquest and the Unmaking of the American Military'. During the podcast he stated: 'Since taking command as a commander about 10 months ago, I saw what I consider fundamentally incompatible and competing narratives of what America was, is and should be. 'That wasn't just prolific in social media, or throughout the country during this past year, but it was spreading throughout the United States military. And I had recognized those narratives as being Marxist in nature.' Lohmeier later told The Washington Times: 'What you see happening in the U.S. military at the moment is that if you're a conservative, then you're lumped into a group of people who are labeled extremists, if you're willing to voice your views. 'And if you're aligned with the Left, then it's OK to be an activist online because no one's gonna hold you accountable.' He also appeared on Sean Hannity's Fox News show where he claimed controversial videos 'were sent out to every base [and] servicemember' who was 'asked to watch [them] in preparation for... discussions on race.' Lohmeier alleged that the videos 'taught that the country was evil, that it was founded in 1619 and not 1776, and that whites are inherently evil.' He did not disclose the name of the video. Lt Col. Matthew Lohmeier has been removed from his post after blasting diversity and inclusion training in the military as 'critical race theory rooted in Marxism' In addition to Crenshaw and Cotton, other Republican politicians have also expressed alarm about left-wing activism in the military. Last week, Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers released a statement which read:' The United States Armed Forces should be focused on preparing to face and win any battles against the threats posed by China and other foreign adversaries and not imposing political beliefs on those who chose to serve in uniform.' And earlier this month Sen. Ted Cruz blasted the US Army after it released a 'woke' recruitment video telling the story of Cpl. Emma Malonelord, a serving soldier who describes how she came to choose a life in the military. The colorful, animated recruiting clip describes how she defended freedom by attending LGBTQ marches and grew up to join the U.S. Army. 'People sign up to join the military because they want to keep us safe, they don't want to sit around a circle, emoting and passing daisies back and forth,' Cruz stated. He later contrasted the US Army recruitment video with one from Russia, which showed soldiers leaping from planes and firing weapons in combat. Cruz said that the U.S. military was the greatest in the world but 'woke media are trying to turn them into pansies'. Sen. Ted Cruz blasted the US Army after it released a 'woke' recruitment video telling the story of Cpl. Emma Malonelord, a serving soldier who describes how she came to choose a life in the military (pictured) The colorful, animated recruiting clip describes how she defended freedom by attending LGBTQ marches and grew up to join the U.S. Army Fox News pundit Tucker Carlson has also claimed that the military has been overtaken by 'woke' political activists. After The Pentagon unveiled its new 'diversity and inclusion plan' published by the Special Operations Command back in March, Carlson lashed out, claiming it was evidence that the military has become preoccupied with gender, race, and sexuality. 'If you're wondering whether our military leadership has gone woke, consider that question settled for good. The Pentagon is now the Yale faculty lounge, but with cruise missiles,' Carlson tartly stated. He implied that the strategic plan appeared likely to prioritize women, people of color and those from the LGBTQ community, even if they were not the most qualified. 'The one thing we know about that plan is it will result in the dramatic lowering of standards within our elite ranks. It probably already has. How will that make America safer? The generals never said.' Carlson also railed against recently updated guidelines for maternity flight suits and permissible hair styles. 'So we've got new hairstyles and maternity flight suits. Pregnant women are going to fight our wars. It's a mockery of the U.S. military,' Carlson said. 'While China's military becomes more masculine as it has assembled the world's largest navy, our military needs to become, as Joe Biden says, more feminine, whatever feminine means anymore, since men and women no longer exist Again, this is a mockery of the U.S. military and its core mission, which is winning wars,' he stated. Boris Johnson will be defying British voters if he presses ahead with a trade deal with Australia that sells out the nations farmers, a new poll reveals. The warning comes amid claims that International Trade Secretary Liz Truss is trying to railroad the controversial agreement through before a promised new food and trade watchdog is up and running. Ms Truss faced a flood of protests from farmers earlier this month after The Mail on Sunday revealed the Government was on the brink of signing a deal that could see tariff-free Australian beef flooding the UK market. Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers Union, warned that the deal would make it almost impossible for British family farms to compete with vast volumes of imports from the Southern Hemisphere produced in a very different manner. Despite the concerns, the Prime Minister has now thrown his weight behind Ms Truss by insisting that the agreement was a fantastic opportunity for British farmers to exploit post-Brexit markets around the world. Liz Truss faced a flood of protests from farmers earlier this month after The Mail on Sunday revealed the Government was on the brink of signing a deal that could see tariff-free Australian beef flooding the UK market (file image) But a new poll has revealed that a majority of British voters back protecting our farmers over new trade deals. The Opinium survey reported that 61 per cent of people want British farmers to get priority, with only 20 per cent agreeing that new trade deals were more important. The poll, for pro-internationalist group Best For Britain, said support for farmers was found across both people who had backed leaving the EU in 2016 and Remainers. The survey, based on a nationally-representative poll of more than 1,500 voters last week, comes amid mounting concern that details of the proposed deal are being unveiled before a long-promised new trade and agriculture watchdog is operating. In a major concession last year to The Mail on Sundays Save Our Family Farms campaign, the Government vowed to put a Trade and Agriculture Commission on a full statutory footing to scrutinise future trade agreements. But MPs are now demanding to know why the new body had still not been set up. Senior Tory MP Neil Parish, chairman of the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, wrote to Ms Truss to ask why the Commissions membership was still not in place when all the while, the clock is ticking, negotiations are on-going with Australia, and we need the Commission to be in place as a matter of urgency. In a major concession last year to The Mail on Sundays Save Our Family Farms campaign, the Government vowed to put a Trade and Agriculture Commission on a full statutory footing to scrutinise future trade agreements. Pictured, Ms Truss He also warned that Parliament could not be unsighted on the principles of the deal and had to be reassured that any deal will uphold our high domestic production standards on imported meat, especially from Australia. Emily Thornberry, Labours international trade spokesman, said: There is no credible explanation for the delay in setting up the statutory Commission other than Liz Truss wanting to avoid its scrutiny. Naomi Smith, chief executive of Best For Britain, said: Any trade deal agreed with Australia must receive proper scrutiny and approval by Parliament. Sources close to Ms Truss said they were not dragging their feet on the new body or trying to avoid scrutiny. They insisted farmers would benefit from trade deals and said Ms Truss was doing brilliant work to improve access for Britains world-class food to the fast-growing consumer markets in the Asia-Pacific region. Burns victim Sophie Delezio has shared an emotional interview with a fellow survivor who was beaten, doused in petrol and given a five per cent chance of survival. The 20-year-old bonded with Lauren Huxley, 34, during one of her first interviews since starting her dream job with Newscorp last weekend. Ms Delezio has been recruited by Body+Soul magazine to interview fellow survivors of trauma and bring 'justice to their stories' in her feature articles. Both Ms Delezio and Ms Huxley have lived through traumatic life experiences as young women. 'Speaking to her, I quickly realised you dont have to have the same disability or history to have experienced the same pain,' Ms Delezio wrote in the Daily Telegraph. Ms Delezio has been recruited by Body+Soul magazine to interview fellow survivors of trauma and bring 'justice to their stories' in her feature articles The 20-year-old bonded with Lauren Huxley, 34 (pictured), during one of her first interviews since starting her dream job with Newscorp last weekend Ms Delezio was just two years old when a car slammed into her Sydney daycare centre in 2003. Just three years later another car hit her when she was crossing the street in her wheelchair. Both incidents left her with burns to 85 per cent of her body, brain damage and missing both feet. Ms Huxley was only 18 when an intruder broke into her Northmead home, in western Sydney, beat her and doused her in petrol in 2005. She was found bound and unconscious and so severely beaten that she spent six months in hospital, underwent nine major surgeries and was left with partial brain damage. Doctors feared Ms Huxley would pass away from her injuries and only gave her a five per cent chance of survival. Ms Huxley opened up on her long road to recovery to Ms Delezio and how she lost out on important years of her life because of it. 'Going through five years of operations and rehabilitation, I was just focusing on getting better, so I missed out on a lot,' she told the Daily Telegraph. 'My friends are at different stages now. Some never really understood or they stayed around for the wrong reasons, wanting the spotlight but not being there for me once it was gone.' Ms Huxley said despite the long and difficult journey ahead she tried her best to maintain a positive attitude. Ms Delezio was just two-years-old when a car ploughed into her Sydney daycare centre in 2003 and another car hit her when she was crossing the street in her wheelchair in 2006 Both incidents left Ms Delezio with burns to 85 per cent of her body, brain damage and missing both feet She said the key was to 'take it slow' and push on not only for herself, but her family. 'You never realise how strong you and your family can be until an experience really tests you,' she said. 'Family is everything. All their love and support theyve given me over the years... I dont know where I would be without them.' Her sister Simone was also present during the interview to provide support as Ms Huxley suffers from memory loss. Simone called for tougher sentencing of criminals saying that the attacker, who the pair do not wish to be named, should never have been freed. Ms Huxley's attacker was sentenced to more than 20 years behind bars. Simone said the attacker already had 26 convictions and was on bail and parole when he attacked her sister. 'If he was in jail this never would have happened,' she said. Ms Huxley was only 18 when an intruder broke into her Northmead home, in western Sydney, beat her and doused her in petrol in 2005 Campaigners are predicting a surge in cheating this summer because universities are running unsupervised online exams that allow students internet access and even as much as a week to complete their tests. Only a small minority of subjects including medicine, nursing, law, engineering and accounting will have traditional closed book, timed online exams that are invigilated. Many university chiefs have rejected more rigorous measures due to fears about invading student privacy (file image) This invigilation may involve videoing students, tracking eye and body movements and timing toilet breaks. Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, said: Unsupervised DIY exams are an open invitation to cheats and it is honest students who will be penalised. Many university chiefs have rejected more rigorous measures due to fears about invading student privacy. The Queen will have a plus one for her official birthday parade in Windsor next month as the Royal Family continues to rally round the bereaved Monarch, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Her Majesty cut a solitary figure last year at a scaled-back parade also known as Trooping the Colour in the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle. The pandemic meant it was switched from its usual venue at Horse Guards Parade in London. She also touched the hearts of the nation when coronavirus rules meant she had to sit alone at the funeral of her husband, Prince Philip, in April. However, for this years Trooping the Colour on June 12, the Queen will be accompanied by her cousin, the Duke of Kent. He was with her at the 2013 ceremony when Prince Philip was recovering from surgery. The Queen will be accompanied by her cousin, the Duke of Kent, at this year's Trooping the Colour in June Palace sources say that after the limitations imposed by the pandemic and a period of mourning for the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen will be increasing her personal engagements. As well as Trooping the Colour, which will feature more military personnel than last year, she will meet US President Joe Biden when he arrives next month for the G7 summit of leading industrial nations. While plans are still to be finalised, it is believed the Queen, 95, will travel to Cornwall where the summit is being held so she can also meet the presidents and prime ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. As part of a strategy to impress the world leaders, it is expected that the Monarch will be joined by Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Charles, an avid environmentalist, has told aides he is keen to meet Mr Biden, who in February reversed the decision by his predecessor Donald Trump to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, a legally binding international treaty to tackle climate change. The Duke of Edinburgh, pictured at Trooping the Colour in 2012, died in April this year Having senior Royals travel to Cornwall for the summit, held at Carbis Bay between June 11 and 13, would avoid the challenges of arranging a state visit for Mr Biden in London under any Covid-19 restrictions. It is thought the President will be invited for a full state visit at a later date. He will be the 14th US leader to meet the Queen. Since 1951, she has met every occupant of the White House apart from Lyndon B. Johnson. As is customary, the Queen sent a private letter to Mr Biden before his inauguration in January. A Royal source said the Queen had genuine enthusiasm for more live engagements. She was pictured smiling last weekend during a visit to the new Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth. There is a strong desire to return to normal duties and for the country to return to normal too, said the source. Advertisement The sister of a Belizean police officer who died in mysterious circumstances while in the company of a wealthy American socialite has told DailyMail.com that her brother would never have taken his own life and had 'a gunshot behind his ear like an assassination'. The lifeless body of police chief Henry Jemmott, 42, was found floating off the coast of San Pedro on Friday morning with a single gunshot wound to the head. Prior to his death, Jemmott had been drinking with Jasmine Hartin - a 38-year-old US national who is the daughter-in-law of British billionaire and politician, Lord Michael Ashcroft. Hartin is currently being held for questioning at a local police station, as rumors about what happened on the fateful evening circulate across the island. Some theorize that Jemmott was accidentally or deliberately shot dead, while other say he could have killed himself. However, Jemmott's sister, Cherry Jemmott, 48, an Assistant Superintendent with Belize Police, told DailyMail.com: 'My brother would never ever kill himself. He had his plans. In September he was to be promoted to Senior Superintendent and he was to be transferred to another unit. My brother is a very top cop with a big dream.' She said the father-of-five who has one boy, six, and four girls ages 9, 11, 12 and 14 had been fishing with friends on the day of his death before calling their other sister to say he was tired and going to bed. 'The news was saying that when he was shot it was only himself and Jasmine on the pier,' she said. 'His body was found in the water and his personal revolver was found on the pier. She was found with blood on her hand and blood on her feet.' She added: 'He had a gunshot behind his ear like an assassination. He is so skillful after 24 years [as an officer], he would never have left his guard down. He was a top cop. I don't know how he let down his guard to be shot with his own gun.' Cherry said a security guard heard a single shot. Cherry said she believes her brother, whose nickname was King because he was his parents' only son, and Hartin knew each other because she does business in San Pedro and he was the officer in charge of the area two to three years ago. Henry Jemmott's sister, Assistant Superintendent Cherry Jemmott, 48, are pictured together at a holiday party in 2019. She told DailyMail.com that her brother would never have taken her own life American Jasmine Hartin, whose father-in-law is British billionaire businessman and politician Lord Ashcroft, was drinking with Jemmott before he died Jasmine Hartin is pictured with her husband Andrew Ashcroft at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new resort on May 7 Jemmott's body is seen being brought to shore on Friday morning after it was seen floating in the sea earlier that day Henry Jemmott's other sister, Marie, told 7 News Belize she similarly believes that her brother would ever end his own life. 'My brother would never kill himself. My brother had a passion for life. He looked forward for his children, his five children, and his fiancee, and me and the other family members.' She added: 'I believe he was killed, the investigation can tell me otherwise but I believe he was killed. He was already in his room when we spoke. Why was he out there? I don't know.' Meanwhile, Henry Jemmott's niece, Renisha Martinez, wrote on Facebook: 'I know for a fact my uncle would never do a suicide. He was murdered and we need justice. That man loved his job so much that he wouldn't even take days off!' She added: 'First and foremost my Uncle is a dedicated man when it comes to his job. He is a caring and supporting dad, uncle and friend. He loved being out and working hard. He believed that hard work came with alot of discipline. 'My uncle was a great man in my eyes and anybody else who knows him would feel how I feel.' Police are trying to understand how Henry Jemmott ended up dead, shot with his own police service weapon; a single bullet hole piercing the skin behind his right ear Henry Jemmott's niece, Renisha Martinez, wrote on Facebook: 'I know for a fact my uncle would never do a suicide. He was murdered and we need justice. That man loved his job so much that he wouldn't even take days off!' Hartin and her husband, Andrew Ashcroft, share two children together. They spend much of their time in Belize, where they own a luxury hotel named Alaia. It only opened for business earlier this month. According to Belize Police Commissioner Chester Williams, Hartin left the hotel late Thursday evening and walked a short distance down a beach to a small wooden jetty. She met up with Jemmott, who was reported to be an old friend. Commissioner Williams confirmed the two were alone, drinking alcohol, and breaking the island's 10pm to 5am Covid curfew. 'They were both fully dressed,' he told reporters. 'They were known to each other. They were drinking for a couple of hours before the incident occurred.' He added that the incident appeared to be "rather personal and not an attack" and the pair were friends who had been drinking at the time. Hartin was in custody in a holding cell at the San Pedro police station jail which one local described as 'hell on earth'. He added: 'She is a lady who is used to luxury. Whenever you see her she is always perfectly dressed, her children are always perfect. She is a nice lady, very polite and beautiful. I can't imagine her in there. I have been inside that jail. The cell floors are made of dirt and the whole place smells of urine.' Late on Thursday evening, Hartin left her luxury hotel, Alaia (pictured) and walked a short distance down a beach to a small wooden jetty to meet Jemmott Police tape marks the area where the shooting took place on Friday morning Last night, Jemmott's family claimed that a post-mortem examination had ruled out an accident or suicide. The police could not be contacted for comment, but the results of the examination are due for release tomorrow. There is a possibility that Hartin will appear in court as early as tomorrow. In the bars and coffee shops around downtown San Pedro, speculation about what had happened was rife. 'I've heard lots of theories,' one woman told Daily Mail. 'That they were drinking and maybe she was playing around with his gun and it accidentally went off. Or maybe they were playing a game and she didn't think it was loaded. I don't think he killed himself because you wouldn't shoot yourself behind your right ear.' According to one source, a local security guard raced to the scene when he heard the gunshot and alerted police who arrived to find Hartin 'deeply distressed and shaking'. The police commissioner confirmed Hartin had been found with blood on her hands, arms and clothing. Another unconfirmed report claimed she told the first officers on the scene the gunshot had come 'from a passing boat'. One source offered a potential explanation for Hartin being covered in blood. 'After the gun went off, Jemmott fell on top of her and so she pushed him off and that's how he ended up in the shallow water by the pier,' he suggested. 'His gun was found there on the pier. People have been speculating there was some sort of romantic relationship between them but I don't believe that, the family doesn't think that. I knew Henry [Jemmott], he was a big bear of a man, grossly overweight. 'He's a good guy and I know he was friends with several members of the Ashcroft family. He got to know them well when he was living here on the island. It's a small island, we all know each other.' According to one source, a local security guard raced to the scene when he heard the gunshot and alerted police who arrived to find Hartin 'deeply distressed and shaking' Hartin's husband, Andrew Ashcroft, 43, has lived in Belize for over 20 years, he said. His father is Lord Ashcroft, a well-known British political donor and former deputy chairman of the British Conservative Party Lord Ashcroft, 75, a former deputy chairman of the British Conservative Party and philanthropist, has invested heavily in Belize for decades and has dual Belizean and British citizenship. Lord Ashcroft's long-time lawyer, the nation's former attorney general Godfrey Smith, was seen visiting the prison on Friday afternoon after flying in from mainland Belize. It is not known whether she will appoint her own criminal lawyer and provide an explanation. The shooting has stunned islanders who say the Ashcroft family has been part of the fabric of Belize formally British Honduras for generations. Lord Ashcroft was raised there as a child and returned in the early 1980s, took Belizean citizenship and built up a series of hugely successful businesses including banks, telecommunications firms and tourism ventures. 'Lord Ashcroft spent most of Covid here in Belize,' said a source. 'He only left a short while ago. 'The Ashcrofts are integral to Belize. Many people are grateful to Lord Ashcroft for all the millions he has invested in this country. 'He has created thousands of jobs but, like anywhere, there is also some resentment and a lot of politics going on. 'He is embedded in the culture and has made a lot of money from his businesses here and some people aren't happy about that.' The Ashcroft's latest venture in partnership with hotel giant Marriott is the gleaming new hotel Alaia, which was completed during lockdown and opened just three weeks ago. The Ashcrofts are also building a condominium building on nearby land. 'That hasn't broken ground yet,' said a source. 'But Andrew remains committed to Belize. This is his home and it is where he is raising his kids. 'He used to have a different accent but now he sounds like a local. He loves this island and he does everything to fit in. The new hotel has created 300 jobs for the island. We love him. This has all come as a terrible shock.' The sister of Allison Baden-Clay has opened up about the extreme control her brother-in-law had over his wife before he murdered her and dumped her body in a creek. It's been 11 years since the Brisbane mother-of-three's death shocked the nation when her body was found on a creek bank in April 2012 - 10 days after her husband reported her missing. Real estate agent Gerard Baden-Clay had killed his wife, 43, so she wouldn't find out he was cheating on her. He was charged with her murder two months later and is now serving life imprisonment. Vanessa Fowler has revealed a startling new insight into her sister's unhappy 15-year marriage as she prepares to ramp up the coercive control campaign in her new role as co-chair of Queensland's Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council. She and her family discovered the horrific extent of Baden-Clay's control over his wife during his murder trial after police found Allison's personal journal. Mum of three Allison Baden-Clay (pictured) was killed by her controlling husband in April 2012 The journal revealed Ms Baden-Clay often felt lonely being married to an unkind and insulting husband. 'I'm not sure that she was aware of the level of control that he had over her,' Ms Fowler told the Sunday Mail. She doesn't know if her sister would have ended the marriage even if she was more aware about coercive control, and may have opted to stay in the unhappy relationship for the sake of her three daughters, Ms Baden-Clay was a gifted ballerina and an ambitious businesswoman with a flourishing career in human resources when she first met her husband. Her family began to see the worrying signs of increasing control Baden-Clay gained over his wife after she had their first child. 'She was a stay-at-home mum and I think that's where most of the control started because he had her where he wanted her,' Ms Fowler told the publication. Gerard Baden-Clay and Allison Baden-Clay painted a picture of newlywed bliss on their wedding day. Worrying signs began to emerge after Allison had their first child She recalled how Baden-Clay listened in on his wife's conversations through the baby monitor, controlled their finances, deleted the numbers of her relatives on her mobile and blocked them from calling the home phone. Allison hid her pain by putting on a brave face for others and was always smiling and well-dressed, making it hard for family and friends to pick up on the true extent of what was happening behind closed doors. Ms Fowler looks forward to her new role as co-chair of the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council, which comes into effect on Tuesday. She hopes to use the 12-month stint to educate and open up the public conversation about coercive control following a recent spate of tragic deaths of Queensland women. 'I want to get the message out to our young people, educate people to change the way they think about gender and talk to them about recognising the signs of coercive control,' Ms Fowler said. Allison Baden-Clay's sister Vanessa Fowler (pictured) is the new co-chair of Queensland's Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council Ms Fowler also continues to run the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation set up in her sister's honour to raise funds for the development of domestic and family violence programs. Ms Fowler was appointed in her new role by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who has always admired her great courage and tenacity. 'Having suffered the heartbreak and the dreadful loss from her sister Allison's murder at the hands of her husband, Vanessa stepped up as a passionate advocate for all the victims and survivors of the shocking scourge of domestic violence,' the Premier said in a statement. 'The strength that she and her family have shown in the wake of such a tragedy is inspiring. 'Her measured and calm manner reassures us - that by working together we can and will bring about change for the better.' 'Vanessa brings a whole new perspective to the Council's vital role of promoting greater community action to stamp out the scourge of domestic and family violence. 'She is a person of outstanding calibre and with a passionate commitment to help drive the on-going roll-out of our critically important domestic and family violence reforms.' Allison Baden-Clay (pictured) put a brave face in public to mask her unhappy marriage Allison Baden-Clay was reported missing by her husband 10 days before her body was found dumped on a creek bank. Pictured is the Baden-Clay residence in Brosbane's semi-rural outskirts Baden-Clay was initially found guilty of his wife's murder in 2014 but had his conviction downgraded to manslaughter in the Court of Appeal after his lawyers argued he could have unintentionally killed her during an argument. Queensland's Director of Public Prosecutions immediately launched an appeal to be considered by the nation's highest court. The five-judge bench in the High Court unanimously ordered Baden-Clay's original murder conviction to be reinstated. Baden-Clay was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum jail term of 15 years before he is eligible for parole. He has since spent his life at Wolston Correctional Centre in Wacol among other murderers, sex offenders and criminals He bonded with fellow inmate, millionaire businessman John William Chardon, 73, who was jailed for 15 years over the manslaughter of his wife Novy before Chardon died of a suspected heart attack last October. If you or anyone you know needs support, call 1800RESPECT or Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636. Vanessa Fowler (left) will take over from Kay McGrath (right) as co-chair of the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council. Also pictured is Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk A billionaire coal baron forced his kids to pass alcohol and drug tests to inherit a stake in his fortune after he died. Mining tycoon Ken Talbot, 59, was killed in a light plane crash in the Congo in 2010, leaving behind his wife of 15 years Amanda, four children, and a $1.1billion dollar estate. But his kids, Liam, Courtney, Alexandria, and Claudia - then aged 27, 25, 11 and eight respectively - were not immediately granted a slice of his wealth, due to a list of provisions penned into his will when it was written in 2002. In a bid to keep them on track after his death, the Queensland businessman stipulated his children could not access their inheritance until they reach 30. Mining tycoon Ken Talbot, 59, (pictured with his widow Amanda) left a list of provisions in his will that would need to be met for his four children to access their inheritance At that point, the will states three independent doctors must then provide 'written confirmation' that they 'are not alcoholics or drug users', the Courier Mail reports. 'I consider that the worst thing I could do is to give any beneficiary for example a $1m payout at age 21,' Mr Talbot wrote in a two page letter accompanying his will. 'As a consequence beneficiaries will be kept on the drip feed until maturity.' Mr Talbot also warned his progenies that they will have 'many new friends of a temporary nature' as a result of their endowment, and insisted they pass a diploma course for company directors in Australia before accessing the funds. Up until their 30th birthdays, when they are eligible to receive 10 per cent of their inheritance, Mr Talbot's capital will only cover education fees, board and lodging, and premium health care, the will states. Amanda (centre), Liam (left), Courtney (far right) and Alexandra and Claudia at Mr Talbot's funeral in Brisbane in 2010 He specified their remaining 90 per cent of his legacy could only be obtained ten years after his death or after their 36th birthday, with the latter to apply. There is no suggestion that any of Mr Talbot's beneficiaries suffer from drug or alcohol problems. Mr Talbot designated 30 per cent of his estate towards a charitable foundation to be set up by his five beneficiaries, while Liam, 38, and Courtney, 36, his children from his first marriage, received 24 per cent each. The remaining 52 per cent was allocated to be divided among Amanda and her daughters Alexandra, 22, and Claudia, 19. The entire board of the Western Australian mining company Sundance Resources and Mr Talbot died when their plane crashed in the Congo in June 2010. They had been on route to visit a mine site. At the time, Mr Talbot had a multi-million property portfolio, including a $12million villa in Italy's Lake Como, an $8.5million home in Brisbane's Bulimba, a $5.3million Shanghai apartment and a $50million Learjet. Liam, a race car driver, married Hi-5 star Charli Robinson (pictured together) in 2016 He was also facing corruption charges over payments made to disgraced former Queensland government Minister, Gordan Nuttall, however, the proceedings were dropped after his death. Despite his prosperity, friends say Mr Talbot described himself as a 'simple coal miner', whose favourite drink was rum and coke, which was served at his wake. More than a decade on the management of his fortune, which skyrocketed when the entrepreneur sold his business Macarthur Coal for $860million in 2008, is yet to be settled and has been plagued by legal fights initiated by Mrs Talbot. The details about Mr Talbot's estate came to light after a Supreme Court action was filed amid a bitter family dispute over how to manage his assets. Amanda, Claudia and Alexandra and their half-sister Courtney called on the court to permit a two-foundation model, citing past and 'likely future' conflict, disputes and 'differences' within the family. Mr Talbot's family recently launched a Supreme Court action amid a bitter family dispute over how to manage his assets. Pictured: Liam and Charli The court heard Amanda, Claudia and Alexandra were unwilling to work with Liam or Courtney, and Courtney said she could not work with the three women, while her brother argued a single-foundation should be launched with an independent board. Justice John Bond ruled each party will run a foundation, with one managing 60 per cent of the $36million so far allocated towards the project. The other will manage the remaining 40 per cent of the money. It's not known at this stage which party will be handed the larger sum of money to look after and what each foundation's name will be. Liam, a race car driver, married Hi-5 star Charli Robinson in 2016. The couple share two daughters Kensington Claire Talbot and Theadora Elle Talbot. The family of a 26-year-old woman who fell from the fire escape from a five-story building in Manhattan paid tribute to 'an awesome young lady' Tyler Marie Thorp, 26, fell from the five-story building at East 28th Street in Kips Bay on Friday. Family paid tribute to Thorp, who was the second young woman in a week to die after falling from a building in the city. 'She was an awesome young lady,' her mother Leslie Stewart, 51, told the Daily News on Saturday. 'Very artistic. Very talented young lady... It was horrible. We had to identify her just now.' Family remembered 26-year-old Tyler Marie Thorpe (pictured) as 'an awesome young lady' The medical examiner removes the body of Tyler Marie Thorp, 26, who fell from the five-story building in Manhattan A friend said Thorp was headed to the top floor of the building with several friends to hang out when she slipped and fell through the staircase Thorp lived with her mother and grandmother in the Bronx. 'She was the apple of my eye,' Thorp's grandmother Annette Davis, 69, told Daily News. 'It was always just the three of us. The three of us were going to take a photo for a 70th birthday, and that's not going to happen.' 'She wasn't a party animal type of person,' her grandmother added, 'She was an introvert. She was very homebodied. It's such a loss to our family. It hurts so bad.' The New York Post reports that Thorp fell from the fifth-floor fire escape into a courtyard at the back of the building and she was found unconscious by police, before being declared dead at the scene. A friend told the Daily News Thorp was headed to the top floor of the building with several friends to hang out when she slipped and fell through the staircase. Thorp fell from the fifth-floor fire escape into a courtyard and she was found unconscious by police, before being declared dead at the scene Family remembered Tyler Marie Thorp, 26, (pictured) who fell from a Manhattan building on Friday Tyler Marie Thorp, 26, fell from the five-story building at East 28th Street in Kips Bay (pictured) on Friday Thorp's mother recalled her final conversation with her daughter before she took a cab with her friend to go to Manhattan the night she died. 'I was sitting right there on that couch,' the mother told the Daily News. 'I said, ''I love you, Booch.'' And she said, ''I love you mom.'' I said, ''You guys be safe.'' Thorp's death comes less than a week after finance worker Cameron Perrelli, 24, fell down an airway between the two buildings in the early hours of Saturday morning at a boozy rooftop birthday party on the deck of an apartment building in East Village. The NYPD said Perrelli might have been trying to jump to the next building when she fell down the airshaft between the 202 building and its neighbor. They have since said they're still investigating after an uncle said she might have simply slippe. The devastated mother of three children who were mowed down by a drug driver has blasted cowards for destroying a memorial set up in their honour. Leila and Danny Abdullah lost their three kids Antony, 13, Angelina, 12 and Sienna, 9, who died alongside their cousin Veronica Sakr when they were hit by an out of control 4WD in Oatlands, near Parramatta, on February 1 last year. The children were on their way to buy icecream when intoxicated driver Samuel Davidson ploughed into them on the footpath after spending the day indulging in alcohol and drugs. Now the family has been left shattered once again after callous vandals desecrated a memorial set up at Bettington Road were the four children were killed. Grieving Sydney mother-of-six Leila Abdullah, who lost three of her children in a horrific car crash last year, has blasted cowards who desecrated her kids' roadside memorial Ms Abdullah said 'it felt like a knife was put in her heart' when she drove past the crash site on Saturday night and discovered the wreckage. 'Somebody had the nerve to strip down my kid's pictures and strip down the temporary memorial,' Ms Adullah wrote in a Facebook page dedicated to the four children. 'Obviously they didn't have the courage to do it in the day. It was done at night. 'It disappoints me that the person(s) wouldn't have the decency to reach out and talk to me.' Of the thousands of memorials for car crash victims across Australia, Ms Abdullah said she has never heard of anyone trying to get rid of one. The mother-of-six said the shrine, which is legally permitted as it is on public space, is one of the remaining connections she has left with her three kids. Siblings Sienna Abdallah (second from the left), eight, Angelina, 12, (far right) and Antony, 13 (second from the right) and their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11, (far left) lost their lives in the horror crash Ms Abdullah said it felt like she had copped a 'knife to the heart' after she discovered the memorial (pictured) had been vandalised 'This the last memory I have with my children,' the post continued. 'Memorial or no memorial that place will always be reminded of those beautiful children having there lives cut short. Ms Abdullah said she hopes and prays a permanent monument will be installed soon, and urged others to practice gratitude instead of dwelling on matters that do not concern them. 'Count your blessings on what you have and [don't] worry about four pictures on the side of the road that mean so much to grieving parents and the greater community. 'There are worse things to worry about.' The heartless act comes after the Abdallah family were devastated by a break-in at their western Sydney home last month, with valuable keepsakes of their children, including a phone with photos were stolen. Ms Adbullah said the memorial was the 'last memory' she has of her children (pictured) Ms Abdullah said the thieves stole her bag, and jewellery but the 'biggest think they took' were the family's memories of Antony, Angelina and Sierra. Davidson, a professional truck driver, was given a 25 per cent discount to his sentence for pleading guilty to manslaughter and three charges for the injuries caused to three other children. He was sitting poolside with his housemates drinking Vodka Cruisers and beers, having his first drink about 7am before taking drugs and getting behind the wheel on the day of the fatal crash. Three other children survived the crash but one was so badly injured he suffered permanent brain damage and now needs help for performing basic tasks. The Abdullahs captured the hearts of the nation when they responded by forgiving the man behind the wheel, with the two families involved launching i4give Day, to be held every year on the anniversary of the deaths of the children. In May, Ms Abdullah was named 'Mother of the Year' by Christian organisation FamilyVoice Australia, for inspiring others to forgive in the face of hardship. She dedicated the award to all other 'bereaved mothers'. Davidson was jailed for a minimum of 21 years in the Parramatta District Court for four counts of manslaughter. With time already served, he will be eligible for release in January of 2041. Evans Fordyce Carlson was quite special among the foreign journalists to Yan'an. Other than being a passionate, committed journalist who risked his life marching and fighting with the Eighth Route Army, he was also a truth-seeking American military officer who brought the CPC's art of war to the other side of the Pacific. In September 1937, Edgar Snow returned to Shanghai from his secret visit to Yan'an. There he met Carlson, then a military observer of the Battle of Shanghai. After reading Snow's draft Red Star Over China, Carlson became enchanted with what he saw in the book and decided to go to Yan'an himself. It was not easy, but Carlson managed to get a military pass. In Yan'an, he met Mao Zedong and other members of the CPC leadership. He also took a picture with Mao. In his memoirs, Carlson said Mao was a humble, kind and lonely genius who, in the darkness of the night, searched for peace and justice for his people. Mao Zedong and Evans Fordyce Carlson After Yan'an, Carlson went to the Eighth Route Army headquarters in Shanxi. He had heart-to-heart talks with Zhu De and developed a family-like relationship with the Commander-in-Chief. Unlike other journalists, Carlson was very interested in how the CPC commanded and trained its army. To learn more about this, he moved from the headquarters to the frontline. By living, marching and even fighting with the Eighth Route Army soldiers, Carlson grasped the essence of guerrilla tactics - dispersion and covertness. He travelled with the guerrillas through the mountains in Western China, maneuvering with and fighting the Japanese based on information from the locals. Once a 700-strong Japanese taskforce sneaked into the resistance base. An Eighth Route Army squad followed the Japanese into a valley, where 500 Chinese soldiers were ambushing from a vantage point. The battle went on for a day and night and ended with 90 Japanese bodies and the rest fleeing. The Eighth Route Army reported zero casualty. Guerrilla tactics were so effective that the Eighth Route Army, even when outnumbered, were able to impose huge costs on the enemy with minimum loss of their own. Carlson also learned the importance of education, both political and tactical. The soldiers must understand the nature and objective of each operation and develop faith in the cause they were fighting for. That was the only way to build an army with loyalty, fortitude and courage. In an interception operation, Carlson tagged a squad for more than 90 kilometers overnight, where each soldier was loaded with 32 pounds of equipment. The hard trip took 32 hours and the combat mission was accomplished with great success. Even with the US Marine Corps training he had received, Carlson barely managed to keep up with the squad. He was astonished that none of the Chinese soldiers fell behind though they were as exhausted as he was. He asked one of them how he did it. The solider answered, a man with just two legs would fall behind, but he had two legs and his brain. He understood how great the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression was, and he knew what the operation meant to the War. From the words of the soldier, Carlson saw the power of guerrilla tactics plus ideological education. When the soldiers joined forces, no enemy was invincible. During his eight-month observation of China's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, Carlson travelled more than 8,000 kilometers throughout Yan'an and all the resistance bases in Northern China. Based on his experience, he came to a world-shocking conclusion: the guerrilla tactics would lead China to victory and the CPC and the Eighth Route Army carried China's hope. Carlson was deeply impressed by the ideological education courses of the Eighth Route Army. There were no "officers and soldiers", only "cadres and soldiers". There was no distance among different ranks of the army, only trust between sworn brothers. Before each operation, a meeting would be held to brief the soldiers on the operation's nature and objective as well as each person's duty and potential risks. After the operation, they would analyze the causes of victory or defeat and how that particular operation was related to the overall objective - victory of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. Everything here seemed different from the rigid hierarchy within the US army. When the Pacific War broke out, Carlson was summoned back to US Marine Corps. Applying the military minds he gained in China, he created the close-combat Marine commando known as Carlson's Raiders. Carlson broke with the US army conventions and introduced the Chinese communists' egalitarian approach. He made himself a common soldier, standing guard, queuing in canteen and camping in the field. The Raiders, as the Chinese communists did, allowed every soldier to criticize the training arrangements during weekly meetings. Captain James Roosevelt, son of President Franklin Roosevelt, delivered situational reports as the political commissars did in the Eighth Route Army. Carlson combined guerrilla tactics and ideological education in training. He told his men why and who they were fighting for. Carlson's raid on Japan's at-sea supply depot Makin Island, a major victory of the US since it declared war on Japan, was a classic example of the Chinese communists' raid tactics. Carlson's Raiders was a legend in WWII and Carlson, the Pacific War hero, was awarded three Navy Crosses. Stories of Carlson's Raiders were made into movies and told around the world. Carlson is decorated with the Navy Cross by Five-Star Admiral Chester William Nimitz for his victory on Makin Island Physical disability resulting from the wounds in war caused General Carlson's retirement in 1946. In his last days, Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai sent letters of gratitude, in the name of the Chinese people, for his indelible contribution to introducing China's democracy to the world. Carlson passed in May 1947. His "Chinese brother" Commander-in-Chief Zhu De sent his message of condolence. Evans Fordyce Carlson is always remembered by the Chinese people for his persistent pursuit of truth and justice, and for his sympathy and support to the revolutionary cause of the Chinese people. President Moon Jae-in speaks during the P4G summit at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on Sunday. Yonhap A major global summit on climate and sustainable growth got underway in South Korea on Sunday, with the host country seeking to play a bigger role in the field. The two-day 2021 P4G Seoul Summit is taking place both online and offline with the theme of "Inclusive Green Recovery towards Carbon Neutrality." President Moon Jae-in is chairing the session, to be joined by more than 60 foreign leaders and heads of international organizations, largely via video links. Speaking during the opening ceremony at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul, Moon announced Seoul's plans to expand support for developing nations, including a significant increase by 2025 in its official development assistance (ODA) associated with climate and green projects. "We will also create a Green New Deal Trust Fund worth $5 million at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)," he said, referring to the organization based in the South Korean capital. He added that South Korea will offer $4 million in new grants to P4G for the sake of its sustainable operation. P4G stands for Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030, a multilateral initiative for inclusive solutions to challenges in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. Moon also made public South Korea's bid to host the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) in 2023. He reaffirmed the country's commitment to further raise its carbon emission reduction target as part of efforts achieve the goal of going carbon neutral by 2050 and to halt official financial support for construction of new overseas coal-fired power plants. "South Korea will play a responsible role as a bridging nation between developing and advanced nations, going forward as well," the president stated. Soon after the ceremony, the Leaders' Session was held, featuring a series of pre-recorded video speeches by dozens of global leaders and heads of international organizations. They included British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria were also among the participants. They were united in stressing the urgency of international cooperation and solidarity to address the problem of climate change. They called for expanding the development and use of renewable energy. Moon and some other participants, including John Kerry, U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, are scheduled to present their views during the Leaders' Dialogue forum to be steamed live on Monday night. They plan to adopt the Seoul Declaration to sum up the results of their discussions. The P4G summit is the second of its kind following the inaugural meeting held in Copenhagen in 2018. Cheong Wa Dae noted that 2021 marks the first year for implementing the Paris Agreement and South Korea's carbon neutrality goals. It is especially meaningful that South Korea is hosting its first environment-focused multilateral summit amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the presidential office added. (Yonhap) Vice President Kamala Harris has been accused of 'disgusting' disrespect by members of the military after tweeting 'Enjoy the long weekend' ahead of Memorial Day without mentioning fallen soldiers. The post included a candid photo of herself smiling and comes hours after she posted a tweet praising Midshipman Sydney Barber who made history as the first black woman to serve as Brigade Commander at the U.S. Naval Academy. Harris also spoke at the U.S. Naval Academy's graduation and commissioning ceremony on Friday during which she called the United States military 'the best, the bravest, and the most brilliant.' However, critics were quick to point out that her tweet failed to mention the reason for the long weekend is Memorial Day - a federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May honoring soldiers who died while serving in the military. Her post included a candid photo of herself smiling with the caption: 'Enjoy the long weekend' Vice President Kamala Harris has been accused of 'disgusting' disrespect by members of the military for her tweet ahead of Memorial Day The tweet came hours after she praised Midshipman Sydney Barber -the first black woman to serve as Brigade Commander at the U.S. Naval Academy Air National Guard Lt. Colonel Adam Kinzinger blasted her tweet as 'tone deaf.' 'Enjoy your freedom purchased by many who died for it. Tone deaf,' he tweeted. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that even her seven-year-old son 'understands what this weekend is about.' 'Show some respect for the heroes who paid the ultimate price for our freedom,' the former press secretary for Donald Trump tweeted. Beth Baumann, a political reporter and editor at The Daily Wire, tweeted: 'This isn't a 'long weekend.' It's a weekend where we honor the fallen.' Kimberly Klacik, a former Republican congressional nominee, called Harris 'stupid' for the tweet. 'Long weekend? I know many are upset & saying this is disrespectful, but I believe you are really just stupid,' she wrote. The Texas Federation of College Republicans posted a document with facts about Memorial Day. 'It's just a 'long weekend' for this fraud. I have several dead buddies that disagree,' wrote retired Air Force pilot Buzz Patterson. Tony Lederer, whose Twitter account identifies him as a Master Chief Petty Officer in the Navy, paired his tweet with a picture of the Vietnam Memorial. 'Don't forget why we have a long weekend!' Lederer wrote. People on Twitter react to Vice President Kamala Harris' tweet on Saturday Another person, using the Twitter account @JR_justJR, posted an image of an image of a woman lying on grave at Arlington National Cemetery with an infant. 'It is Memorial Day weekend - nor for enjoying - but for memorializing our fallen. Our brothers and sisters, who 'gave the last full measure of devotion'. Please try to respect that,' the account wrote. In a tweet to Rep. Brian Mast, another Twitter user called her tweet 'disgusting' while thanking him for his service. Mast, of Florida, retired from the U.S. Army with a number of awards including: the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. On Friday, President Joe Biden addressed service members and their families at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia in which he largely praised his son Beau - who earned a Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq. The younger Biden, who attained the rank of Major in the U.S. Army and National Guard, joined the military in 2003 and and deployed to Iraq in 2008 while he was the Attorney General for the state of Delaware. 'And so, he gave up the seat and had the courage to appoint a fellow who had been a Republican attorney general as attorney general while he while he went. The proudest thing he ever did proudest thing he ever did,' Biden said. 'And he he spent a year in Iraq. And it was it was one of the great honors of his life to do it. Won the Bronze Star, the Conspicuous Service Medal, and other awards like many of you have but he never, ever talked about it.' Later in the speech, Biden thanked members of the military and told them he 'sincerely' supports them. 'So my message to all of you is quite simply: Thank you. Thank you. Not 'thank you for your service' just thank you for who you are, because it's contagious. Thank you for choosing a selfless service to your country,' Biden said. In another part of the speech, he said: 'I always want you to know always that the issues you and your family are facing, we need to know how we can support you better. I mean it sincerely from the bottom of my heart: support you better.' CNN's Jake Tapper has slammed colleague Chris Cuomo for joining strategy calls advising his brother Gov. Andrew Cuomo on how to respond to sexual harassment allegations. Tapper - who is widely seen as CNN's biggest star - told the New York Times that Chris' behavior put network employees in 'a bad spot'. 'I cannot imagine a world in which anybody in journalism thinks that that was appropriate,' the 52-year-old anchor stated in an interview conducted on Friday. 'Chris, in his apology that he delivered on air, said that he put us in a bad spot. I would also agree with that.' Tapper continued: 'I work very hard to be fair and to be ethical and to not cross lines. And I certainly understand the love that Chris has for his brother... but that was not a fun day.' In recent months, multiple women have come forward accusing New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment. An independent investigation into the allegations is ongoing, but over 120 New York State legislators have called for his resignation. Last week, Chris admitted on his primetime CNN show that he had been 'looped into calls' about how his high-profile brother should handle the allegations. Some of Chris' staffers were also on the phone at the time. 'I understand why that was a problem for CNN,' Chris groveled. 'It will not happen again.' CNN's Jake Tapper has slammed colleague Chris Cuomo for joining strategy calls advising his brother Gov. Andrew Cuomo on how to respond to sexual harassment allegations Last week, Chris Cuomo (right) admitted on his primetime CNN show that he had been 'looped into calls' about how his brother, Gov Andrew Cuomo, should handle sexual harassment allegations. The brothers are pictured together in 2018 However, many CNN employees are said to be enraged that Chris damaged their image of impartiality. 'I'm very disappointed in the network,' a woman who works on-air at CNN told The Daily Beast. 'I think some disciplinary action, at a minimum, was required in this situation.' 'As a woman who works here, I feel a little let down, to be honest,' she said. 'Chris Cuomo's concern for his brother is admirable but working to discredit the multiple women who have accused Andrew Cuomo of sexual impropriety is both journalistically and morally immoral,' another regular on-air guest told the outlet. Andrew made numerous appearances on his Chris' show last year, for lighthearted interviews that featured brotherly banter Chris Cuomo never covered the sexual harassment allegations made against his brother on his program, despite the fact the New York Gov. frequently appeared on the show for lighthearted segments last year. During those appearances, Chris would praise Andrew for his handling of New York's COVID-19 pandemic, before the pair would clown around together. One anonymous CNN staffer told Fox News that: 'It's the height of hypocrisy for Chris to have [his brother] on there for the good news but doesnt have him on to discuss the bad news. 'It's laughable for him to be so judgmental of other people for their wrongdoings and hes sitting there enabling and coming up with excuses for someone with sexual misconduct allegations.' Last week, CNN President Jeff Zucker said he personally spoke to Chris to express his displeasure, and ordered him to make the on-air apology. Zucker reportedly told colleagues that Chris 'did cross a line', but ultimately decided not to discipline him. Advertisement Hundreds of black gun owners marched through downtown Tulsa to honor of the lives lost during the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. Members of the Black Panther party and over a dozen gun clubs marched down North Tulsa chanting 'Black Power' and 'Black Lives Matter' on Saturday afternoon. The 2nd Amendment Armed March commemorated the 100th anniversary of the notorious massacre that saw whites in the Oklahoma City attacking the prosperous black Greenwood district and its residents. Members of the Black Panther Party and other armed demonstrators gathered on Saturday ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre The Elmer Geronimo Pratt Gun Club of Austin, Texas and The New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense organized the march on Saturday A Tulsa police officer talks with members of the Black Panther Party and other armed demonstrators during commemorations of the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre on Saturday A man raises his fist in support of the 2nd Amendment Armed March that commemorates the 1921 massacre that is said to have killed 300 black people An official death toll lists 26 black and 10 white victims, although as many as 300 black people are feared to have been murdered. Viola Fletcher, 107, her brother Hughes Van Ellis, 100 and Lessie Benningfield Randle, 106, are the only known survivors of the racist bloodbath. The Elmer Geronimo Pratt Gun Club of Austin, Texas and The New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense organized the march, KJRH.com reported. Toni Frank with the Elmer Geronimo Pratt Gun Club said the march brought together different groups. 'We have multiple gun clubs including multiple branches of Black Panthers who don't even like each other that are going to be here together, with each other, in a unified march to commemorate our ancestors,' he told KJRH.com Armed demonstrators (pictured) marched down North Tulsa on Saturday during the 2nd Amendment Armed March Members of the Black Panther party and over a dozen gun clubs marched down North Tulsa chanting 'Black Power' and 'Black Lives Matter' on Saturday Two men talk it out during the Second Amendment Armed March commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre on Saturday Two young boys (pictured) look on as the Black Panther Party holds the 2nd Amendment Armed March to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre The second amendment march took place after it was announced the flagship commemoration event to mark the 100th anniversary of the massacre was scrapped after three survivors raised their fees to appear. Monday's Remember & Rise event - which was also set to feature John Legend and Stacey Abrams - was called off on Friday after survivors Fletcher, Van Ellis and Benningfield upped their appearance fee from $100,000 each to $1 million each. Lawyers representing the trio also demanded seed money for a reparations fund be boosted from the agreed $2 million to $10 million, with Oklahoma State Senator Kevin Matthews saying organizers were unable to meet their revised demands. The trio will participate in other programs instead, although it is unclear if they will be remunerated for those. Onlookers hold up their fists in solidarity with marchers at a Second Amendment march during centennial commemorations of the Tulsa Race Massacre on Saturday A band marches through Tulsa to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre on Saturday Women from the Huey P Newton Gun Club organization (pictured) embrace at the The 2nd Amendment Armed March in Tulsa on Saturday Attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons told The Associated Press that he submitted a list of requests to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission in order to have the survivors attend the 'Remember & Rise' event Monday at ONEOK Field in Tulsa. Solomon-Simmons is representing the survivors and their descendants in a lawsuit against the city of Tulsa and other defendants seeking reparations for the destruction of the city's once thriving black district. Reparations for black Americans whose ancestors were enslaved and for other racial discrimination has been debated in the U.S. since slavery ended in 1865. Now they are being discussed by colleges and universities with ties to slavery and by local governments looking to make cash payments to black residents. A California restaurant owner is fining his patrons $5 for wearing a mask or 'bragging' about COVID vaccine - which he says he'll donate to charity. Chris Castleman, the owner of Fiddleheads Cafe in Mendocino, has been a vocal critic of the coronavirus restrictions since early in the pandemic, often making the news for his controversial stances. California and Hawaii are the only two states which still require masks indoors for those who have been vaccinated after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said vaccinated people do not have to wear a mask in most settings. Fiddleheads, which displays a 'Don't Tread On Me' flag in the window, posted signs on its windows on Monday announcing its latest policy, SF Gate reported. The sign reads: '$5 FEE ADDED TO ORDERS PLACED WHILE WEARING A FACE MASK.' Chris Castleman, the owner of Fiddleheads Cafe in Mendocino, pictured, has been a vocal critic of the coronavirus restrictions since early in the pandemic Castleman posted a sign on Monday that reads: '$5 FEE ADDED TO ORDERS PLACED WHILE WEARING A FACE MASK' The message included fine print underneath the bold text revealing that people caught 'bragging' about their COVID-19 vaccines would pay the same price. 'An additional $5 fee will be added if you are caught bragging about your vaccine. Proceeds will be donated to local charities assisting domestic abuse victims,' the fine print reads. Castleman told Fox News that charities working to combat domestic abuse, suicide and poverty 'have been overwhelmed by collateral damage of the government lockdowns.' 'I've been asked this entire time to put on a mask and that that's not a large request, all I'm asking is a $5 donation to charity and I don't think that's too much,' he said. Castleman told Fox News that so far about 100 patrons have been 'more than willing' to pay the fee after learning it's going to charity - while others 'are really upset by it.' 'You can see outside they were about to come in and they see the sign and they turn away,' he said. Castleman plans to keep the signs up 'for at least a couple of months,' he told SF Gate. He said he doesn't believe Mendocino County officials will rescind its mask mandate anytime soon. Castleman's neighbors have been less-than-thrilled about his latest headlines, noting locals have been directing their anger at his policy at their businesses. Meredith Smith, who owns the neighboring restaurant Mendocino Cafe, told SF Gate that people keep confusing her business for his - even leading her to confront him over his ongoing shenanigans in April. 'I get a lot of feedback directed at him. They think I'm him, we're across the street from one another,' Smith told the outlet. Fiddleheads made headlines again in mid-March when Castleman posted a sign that read: 'Throw your mask(s) in our trash bin and receive 50% off your order' Another sign posted to Yelp in March shows a sign that tells patrons to 'please respect their freedom to breathe' if people are not wearing masks Last May, during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Castleman made a blog post in which he said he would not comply with ordinances that were taking effect across California and the country. 'I respect everyone who has been taking actions over the past few months to protect their family, friends, coworkers, and the community. But protecting our health does not just end with COVID-19,' he wrote. 'There are serious negative effects of an economic shutdown and lack of social interaction on a person's mental well being. Depression, suicide, child abuse, domestic abuse, substance abuse, etc. These sometimes permanent consequences have been researched and documented for decades.' Castleman appealed to his patrons to 'consider our concerns for mental sanity and financial freedom during this unprecedented crisis.' 'Just because our solution is different than yours doesn't make it wrong, and it certainly should not make us criminals. I love and care for Mendocino, which is why I will not close my doors to those in this town asking me to keep them open,' he said. In the post, he said he 'will not cover my business in plexiglass and plastic tarps' and 'will never be forced to hide my smile.' Then last June, Mendocino County officials fined him $10,000 for his defiance of a countywide health orders, The Press Democrat reported. 'In general, the stance I have on all this is it's about personal responsibility and personal choice. It's not about me being a police officer,' Castleman told the outlet. The outlet noted at the time that Castleman had posted signs in front of his business that read: 'Our freedom doesn't end where your fear begins.' The Press Democrat reported that Castleman then faced a second $10,000 citation for violating the county's health order. Castleman decided to board up his Fiddleheads Cafe instead of forcing his seven employees to wear masks or otherwise comply with his county's health order, the outlet reported. A code enforcement officer with the county had ordered him to stop operating his business unless he agreed to comply with coronavirus restrictions. Castleman put wooden boards over his windows spray-painted the words: 'Closed by order of Mendocino County,' the outlet reported. It was not immediately clear when he decided to reopen his Fiddleheads Cafe. County officials at the time contested Castleman's claim and told the outlet they did not order the restaurant to close. 'We've done everything we can to work with the employer. What I heard from him is he's not willing to agree to the state's requirements,' Supervisor Ted Williams said. Fiddleheads Cafe made headlines again in mid-March when SF Gate reported that Castleman had posted a sign that read: 'Throw your mask(s) in our trash bin and receive 50% off your order.' The sign went viral after it was posted on TikTok and received at least 39,000 likes and almost 1,700 comments, the outlet reported. Castleman told the outlet at the time that customers were split on his stances, but he received a slew of fake negative reviews online from people who had not even visited Fiddleheads. 'It's very alarming how people have gotten all up in arms about this sign the sign isn't breaking any law or any ordinances,' Castleman told SF Gate. He added: 'My point is, if you don't like me, that's fine. I respect that opinion of yours, and you can go anywhere else in this county right now to eat and pretend that you're in a safe environment.' In a sign that Australia's property market boom is still no closer to settling down, 600 people turned out at an auction on the Gold Coast on Saturday. The four bedroom home in Burleigh Heads sold to the highest bidder for $3.75million in what has been dubbed 'the biggest ever on site auction on the Gold Coast'. By 10am, gates at the property had to be closed and latecomers were forced to stand on the streets, as an estimated 600 people crowded into the ground floor of the luxury two-storey home. Footage shared during the auction showed people milling about the property's living and dining areas and spilling onto the outdoor patio. The four bedroom home in Burleigh Heads sold to the highest bidder for $3.75million in what has been dubbed 'the biggest ever on site auction on the Gold Coast' Footage shared during the auction showed people milling about the property's living and dining areas and spilling onto the outdoor patio The sale price is well above the suburb's median price for a four bedroom home, which was about $1.08million as of May 28, according to realestate.com. The suburb is, however, considered a 'high demand' market at the moment, with an average of 1,781 visits per listed property. Agent Conal Martin of Kingfisher Realty told news.com.au that neither he nor other agents in the area could believe the turnout. 'The gates to the property were shut at 10am, people turned up afterwards but they were too late. They had to stand outside and watch the live stream on their phones.' The uptick of prospective buyers can, at least in part, be related back to the nation's Covid crisis, with southerners increasingly flocking from Victoria and New South Wales to sunny Queensland for the past 18 months. The sale price is well above the suburb's median price for a four bedroom home, which was about $1.08million as of May 28 The home, named 'The Palms' boasts four bedrooms, three bathrooms and four car spaces It is fully furnished and just minutes' walk from the beach, while also featuring a luxury pool, outdoor kitchen equipped with a barbecue and entertainer's haven Mr Martin said he experienced more enquiries in a six month window than in his 17 year career from southern states at the height of the pandemic. When Victoria went into lockdown this week, the enquiry picked up again the day they went into lockdown,' he added. The home, named 'The Palms' boasts four bedrooms, three bathrooms and four car spaces. It is fully furnished and just minutes' walk from the beach, while also featuring a luxury pool, outdoor kitchen equipped with a barbecue and entertainer's haven. Six registered potential buyers were among the 600 guests on Saturday, but interest was narrowed down to two buyers by the time bidding began. What your home is worth now: The suburbs where median house prices have increased by up $300,000 in just three months - here are the boom areas around Australia By Stephen Johnson for Daily Mail Australia House prices in some Australian suburbs have surged by up to $300,000 in just three months, despite many of them being kilometres away from public transport and even further from the CBD. Between January and April Sydney's median price for a home with a backyard increased by 11.2 per cent. But upmarket suburbs on the Upper North Shore, the Northern Beaches and the Sutherland Shire had price growth that was double that in the same period of time, CoreLogic data showed. Brisbane and Melbourne also saw double-digit increases in upmarket areas, but didn't have any suburbs within the top ten for quarterly price increases. House prices in rich suburbs have surged by more than $300,000 in just three months and they weren't all near the beach. South Turramurra (pictured), a post-war suburb which is more than 3km from the train station, saw its mid-point house price soar by 22.8 per cent to $2.1million On the edge of the Northern Beaches, Terrey Hills property prices surged by 20.8 per cent to $2.5million, in a suburb where entrepreneur Dick Smith keeps a helicopter. On Sydney's North Shore, Turramurra, South Turramurra and North Turramurra, despite being more than 20km and 30 minutes by train from the city, took out three spots on the top ten list for property price surges. Where Sydney property prices have surged in just three months South Turramurra, Upper North Shore: up 22.8 per cent to $2,101,118 Terrey Hills, Northern Beaches: up 20.8 per cent to $2,483,300 Kurnell, Sutherland Shire: up 19 per cent to $1,429,800 Clareville, Northern Beaches: up 18.9 per cent to $3,155,207 Cromer, Northern Beaches: up 18.1 per cent to $1,938,976 North Turramurra, Upper North Shore: up 16.8 per cent to $2,227,529 Turramurra, Upper North Shore: up 16.2 per cent to $2,240,409 Point Piper, Eastern Suburbs: up 15.9 per cent to $2,695,872 Yowie Bay, up 15.9 per cent to $1,842,591 Grays Point, Sutherland Shire: up 15.4 per cent to $1,584,099 Source: CoreLogic data for April 2021 showing quarterly dwelling price rises Advertisement South Turramurra, a post-war suburb which is more than 3km from the train station, saw its mid-point house price soar by 22.8 per cent to $2.1million. The suburb with a high school only has three townhouse complexes, no apartments and is surrounded by bushland. As recently as August 2020, a 1960-built house on Maxwell Street that had been in the same hands for almost 40 years barely sold at auction beyond its reserve price of $1.5million. The Upper North Shore suburb near Lane Cove National Park was once home to Nine TV personality Richard Wilkins and former Labor premier Barrie Unsworth. More than 8km away at North Turramurra, near Bobbin Head and Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, property prices surged by 16.8 per cent in three months to $2.23million. At nearby Turramurra, home to crooner Kamahl, home prices climbed by 16.8 per cent to $2.24million. On the edge of the Northern Beaches, Terrey Hills property prices surged by 20.8 per cent to $2.5million, in a suburb where entrepreneur Dick Smith keeps a helicopter. The Northern Beaches had three spots on the top ten list with exclusive Clareville, overlooking Pittwater and Scotland Island, seeing its mid-point house price climb by 18.9 per cent in three months to $3.2million. Cromer prices surged by 18.1 per cent to $1.9million. In the eastern suburbs, property prices at Point Piper soared by 15.9 per cent to $2.7million where former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has a Sydney Harbour waterfront mansion. The suburb has old-style apartments with waterviews, along with houses, giving it a lower median price than parts of the Northern Beaches. Kurnell, the former home of a Caltex oil refinery and the site where Captain Cook landed in 1770, saw its median home price surge by 19 per cent in just three months to $1.429million. In the eastern suburbs, property prices at Point Piper soared by 15.9 per cent to $2.7million where former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has a Sydney Harbour waterfront mansion Brisbane's double-digit performers Pullenvale, Brisbane's west: up 12.4 per cent to $1,439,327 Amity, Brisbane's east: up 10.4 per cent to $586,777 Seven Hills, Brisbane inner south: up 10.4 per cent to $1,073,394 Source: CoreLogic data for April 2021 showing quarterly dwelling price rises Advertisement The Sutherland Shire, where Prime Minister Scott Morrison has a house and is the local member for Cook, had three spots in the top ten list. Kurnell, the former home of a Caltex oil refinery and the site where Captain Cook landed in 1770, saw its median home price surge by 19 per cent in just three months to $1.429million. Rounding out the top ten list, Yowie Bay property prices climbed by 15.9 per cent to $1.8million as nearby Grays Point's median dwelling value rose by 15.4 per cent to $1.58million. Brisbane's best-performing suburb Pullenvale, in the city's leafy west, saw its median property price surge by 12.4 per cent in three months to $1.439million. The Queensland capital also saw double-digit increases with home prices rising by 10.4 per cent to $586,777 at Amity in Brisbane's east and by 10.4 per cent at Seven Hills, on the inner south side, to $1.073million. Melbourne's mighty home surges St Andrews Beach, Mornington Peninsula: up 12.8 per cent to $1,183,327 Fingal, Mornington Peninsula: up 10.9 per cent to $1,259,036 Blairgowrie, Mornington Peninsula: up 10.7 per cent to $1,242,708 Rye, Mornington Peninsula: up 10.7 per cent to $947,936 Sorrento, Mornington Peninsula: up 10.4 per cent to $1,775,712 Warrandyte, outer east: up 10.3 per cent to $1,399,703 Park Orchard, outer east: up 10.2 per cent to $1,715,503 Kinglake, outer north east: up 10.2 per cent to $607,871 Somers, Mornington Peninsula: up 10.1 per cent to $1,083,751 The Basin, outer east, up 10 per cent to $796,157 Advertisement Melbourne had ten suburbs enjoying double-digit increases over three months, with six of them in the Mornington Peninsula and three in the outer east. St Andrews Beach in the Mornington Peninsula saw its median price rise by 12.8 per cent to $1.183million. The Mornington Peninsula, south-east of Melbourne, was the best performing slice of the Victorian capital. Fingal's mid-point property price surged by 10.9 per cent to $1.259million It comes after Marjorie Taylor Greene compared the discrimination unvaccinated people face to the discrimination Jews experienced in Nazi Europe The Nashville hat store announced they were selling 'Not Vaccinated' yellow stars for $5 a pop last week in an Instagram post that has now been deleted Western apparel maker Stetson announced it was no longer in business with the store following the social media post promoting the patches Demonstrators gathered outside HatWRKS on Saturday and condemned the hat store for selling stick-on yellow stars featuring the words 'Not Vaccinated' Western apparel maker John B. Stetson has pulled its products from a Nashville hat store after it sold 'Not Vaccinated' patches styled on Star of David badges Jews were forced to wear by Nazis. Demonstrators gathered outside HatWRKS in Nashville on Saturday and condemned the hat store for selling stick-on yellow stars featuring the words 'Not Vaccinated'. The hat store announced that the offensive patches were on sale in a post shared to Instagram last week. 'Patches are here!! They turned out great. $5ea. Strong adhesive back... we'll be offering trucker caps soon,' the post - which has since been deleted - read. On Saturday, the shop shared on Instagram: 'In NO WAY did i intend to trivialize the Star of David or disrespect what happened to millions of people. that is not who i am & what i stand for. my intent was not to exploit or make a profit. 'My hope was to share my genuine concern & fear, and to do all that i can to make sure that nothing like that ever happens again. i sincerely apologize for any insensitivity.' The products are modelled on the yellow stars Jews were forced to wear in Nazi-occupied Europe during the 1930s and 40s. Those yellow stars were used to identify, isolate and humiliate Jewish people. A demonstrator outside Nashville hat store hatWRKS carried a sign that read: ''Nashville condemns hatWRKS!' on Saturday A 'No Nazis in Nashville' banner (pictured) was hung on the front of Nashville hat store hatWRKS on Saturday in protest of Star of Davis patches that said 'Not Vaccinated' being sold at the store On Saturday demonstrators gathered outside the store with signs that read 'No Nazis in Nashville' and 'Nashville condemns hatWRKS' A demonstrator has carries a sign that reads; 'The Holocaust is not a joke' in front of hatWRKS in Nashville on Saturday A demonstrator carries a sign that reads: 'Please don't appropriate Jewish pain for your profit' in front of hatWRKS in Nashville on Saturday On Saturday demonstrators gathered outside the store with signs that read 'No Nazis in Nashville' and 'Nashville condemns hatWRKS,' WSMV.com reported. 'We're here to protest hate and ignorance with regard to what she's doing in selling yellow stars that are a symbol of the greatest atrocity the world has ever seen, which is the loss of 6 million human beings,' Nashville resident Ron Rivlin told WSMV on Saturday outside the hat store. 'I think I understand what she was trying to do, but the way she did it was just, she doesn't understand how offensive it is to the Jewish community and to everybody,' Rivlin added. 'It's a terrible idea. It's a terrible thing,' Roger Abramson, an attorney from Brentwood, Tennessee, told WSMV. 'There's no way you could reasonably associate choosing to go without vaccinations for COVID...and assuming that you're in the same spot as a Jewish person in Nazi Germany.' 'To me, it's willful ignorance,' Abramson added. 'The information is out there. People are willfully ignoring facts, information and history because it doesn't fit what they want to believe or it doesn't fit some narrative they have.' Western apparel maker Stetson announced it was no longer in business with the store following the social media post promoting the patches. 'As a result of the offensive content and opinions shared by hatWRKS in Nashville, Stetson and our distribution partners will cease the sale of all Stetson products,' the company said on Twitter. The apparel company also said they were taking the matter seriously and investigating complaints 'Along with our distribution partners, Stetson condemns antisemitism and discrimination of any kind,' the company tweeted. 'Patches are here!! They turned out great. $5ea. Strong adhesive back... we'll be offering trucker caps soon,' an Instagram post from hatWRKS- which has since been deleted - read HatWRKS was blasted by a number of public figures on both the left and the right. 'I am ashamed to know that I've given these people business in the past; I've sent people there. This is vile and repulsive. They trumpet that they're proud to 'Stand Up Against Tyranny' Well, I am proud to say GO F**K YOURSELF. I'll purchase my chapeaus elsewhere,' actor W. Earl Brown wrote. Republican commentator Ana Navarro concurred, writing: 'I could not believe this could be for real. I like to think such stupidity, insensitivity and ignorance in America cannot be commonplace. Its real.' Elsewhere, former Senior Advisor to Donald Trump, AJ Delgado, said that the products were 'beyond disgusting'. Ivo Daalder, the former US Ambassador to NATO, wrote: 'As a young school girl in Holland, my mother was forced to wear a yellow star by the Nazis to identify her as a Jew. Its beyond grotesque to sell this evil symbol to proclaim ones not vaccinated. Where does this end?' The Nashville hat stores 'Not Vaccinated' stars appear to have been inspired by a recent reference Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene made comparing Covid-19 guidelines to the Holocaust. 'Vaccinated employees get a vaccination logo just like the Nazi's forced Jewish people to wear a gold star,' Taylor Greene wrote on Twitter earlier this week. US security agencies are keep a close eye on two Iranian warships that may be headed toward Venezuela. An Iranian frigate and a former oil tanker known as the Makran are currently sailing south along the east coast of Africa, anonymous sources told Politico on Saturday. Intelligence officials remain mystified by Iran's motivations with the two vessels and they are unsure what kind of cargo they may be holding. However, if the ships do end up in Venezuela it could be a sign Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is trying to intimidate Washington. The 755-foot long Makrtan was commissioned this year. Iranian officials have boasted of the its missile and weapons capabilities, and it can allegedly carry up to six helicopters. Both Iran and Venezuela are under heavy sanctions from the United States, and they have become closer allies in recent years. US security agencies are keep a close eye on two Iranian naval vessels that may be headed toward Venezuela. The former oil tanker, Makran, is one of two ships currently sailing south along the east coast of Africa Iran has sent multiple fuel tankers to Venezuela as the country faces crippling gas shortages. Iran has also established both a car assembly plant and a huge cement factory in Venezuela. However, according to Politico, President Nicolas Maduros government has 'been advised that welcoming the Iranian warships would be a mistake'. The presence of the Iranian vessels so close to the United States - less than 1,500 miles - could complicate Joe Biden's plans to begin negotiations with the Islamic country. Iran and Venezuela have become close allies in the past decade. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is seen at left. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is seen at right Back in 2018, former President Trump abandoned the Iran Nuclear Deal that Obama struck with Tehran. Earlier this month, Senator Pat Toomey, a Republican, demanded Biden keep sanctions in place against Iran after the country's elite Revolutionary Guards released a chilling propaganda video which depicts the United States Capitol being blown up by a missile and its soldiers liberating Jerusalem. The Islamic Republics Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) broadcast the video on Iranian state-run television before a televised speech to the nation by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Toomey stated: 'The Biden admins priority should be ensuring Iran cannot carry out such an attack, not capitulating by removing sanctions.' Jacinda Ardern has welcomed Scott Morrison to New Zealand with the traditional hongi greeting, for the Australian prime minister's whistlestop visit. Mr Morrison and his wife Jenny were treated to a powhiri, a welcoming ceremony, at Queenstown's Rees Hotel after arriving in the city on Sunday afternoon. After shaking hands, Ms Ardern and Mr Morrison leaned in to press their noses against each other, a Maori tradition which symbolises 'sharing the breath of life'. Queenstown is playing host to the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders Forum, with Ms Ardern choosing the South Island ski town to highlight the best in Kiwi tourism to Australians. The opening of the trans-Tasman bubble last month means Aotearoa (the Maori name for New Zealand) is the only international destination that Australians can visit with ease during the pandemic. Mr Morrison lauded its opening, and the reconnections it has allowed. New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (left) and her partner Clarke Gayford (2nd left) posing for pictures with visiting Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison (right) and his wife Jenny Morrison (2nd right) in Queenstown Jacinda Ardern welcomed Scott Morrison to New Zealand on Sunday with a hongi, a sacred Maori greeting where two people touch noses and share breath (pictured) 'Quarantine-free travel not only means the Prime Minister and I can hold our annual talks in person, it highlights that our travel bubble is seeing friends and family reunite across the ditch,' he said. The coronavirus outbreak in Victoria had led to speculation the Liberal leader would call off the trip as it may have been a bad look to travel internationally during a crisis at home. 'He did a runner to Hawaii during the bushfires (in December 2019) thinking it was under control, and it backfired on him,' Jennifer Curtin, politics professor at the University of Auckland, told AAP. Instead, 'Shark One' touched down at Queenstown airport just after 3pm NZST for the 24-hour visit. Mr Morrison met Ms Ardern at the Rees Hotel, where Maori leaders led the heartfelt and sometimes humorous powhiri - or formal greeting. Edward Ellison, representing Ngai tahu and New Zealand, likened Mr Morrison to a special but rare bird not often seen. Mr Ellison noted long-lasting ties between the two lands that pre-dated the official founding of either nation. 'We liked you then and we like you now,' he said. Jenny Morrison, hongi's with New Zealand Labour MP Anette King at a powhiri at Queenstown's Rees Hotel on Sunday 'We wish you well in your talks ... clearing away any pebbles between us.' Representing Australia, Kiwi Foreign Affairs official Martin Wikaira sang a Maori version of Waltzing Matilda that had Ms Ardern laughing. Ms Ardern and Ms Morrison then shared the hongi - the sacred Maori greeting where two people touch noses and share breath - before exchanging a kiss on the cheek. The two leaders and their partners will have a private dinner tonight, ahead of formal talks on Monday. There's plenty to gain for both leaders over the 24 hours that Mr Morrison is in Queenstown. They'll talk about dealing with China, the Pacific and their pledge to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine to the region, deportations, and more. There will be plenty of photo opportunities - from which they both benefit. With an election in less than a year's time, Mr Morrison will no doubt enjoy standing alongside Ms Ardern - who has been consistently voted by Australians as their favourite politician since her election in 2017. And Ms Ardern can put her country in the spotlight, tempting Aussies into trans-Tasman travel. Ski fields, hotels and hospitality businesses are licking their lips at the prospect of Aussie dollars returning after a lean 2020. British intelligence operatives now believe it is 'feasible' the coronavirus pandemic began with a leak from a research laboratory in Wuhan. They are now investigating the possibility that a leak from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a Chinese research facility, sparked the global crisis which has sparked more than 3.5 million deaths. Western intelligence agencies had seemingly written off the 'remote' chance that the laboratory - where research into bat-derived coronaviruses is conducted - had played a role, but a recent reassessment has meant the leak theory is considered 'feasible', sources say. The development, which Beijing has angrily denied, has prompted US diplomatic sources to share their concerns 'we are one wet market or bio lab away from the next spillover', The Sunday Times reports. Chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, Tom Tugendhat, said: 'The silence coming from Wuhan is troubling. We need to open the crypt and see what happened to be able to protect ourselves in the future. That means starting an investigation, along with partners around the world and in the WHO.' Last week US President Joe Biden told intelligence agencies to look into the lab leak theory, along with other possible origins for the coronavirus, and deliver a report to him within 90 days. Western intelligence agencies had seemingly written off the 'remote' chance that the laboratory - where research into bat-derived coronaviruses is conducted - had played a role. Pictured: Researchers in a lab at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province, February 2017 British intelligence is working alongside their US counterparts. A western intelligence source familiar with British involvement said: 'There might be pockets of evidence that take us one way, and evidence that takes us another way. The Chinese will lie either way. I don't think we will ever know.' Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said a World Health Organisation investigation must be able to fully investigate the origins of the pandemic. He told Sky News: 'I think it's really important that the WHO is allowed to conduct its investigation unencumbered into the origins of this pandemic and that we should leave no stone unturned to understand why - not only because of the current pandemic that has swept the world but also for future-proofing the world's capability to deal with pandemics.' Scientists who had called for an inquiry into the lab leak theory say they have been silenced by colleagues and journals over the past year. Jamie Metzl, human genome editing advisor to the WHO, said: 'Since the earliest days of the pandemic there were a small number of leading scientists who took it upon themselves to enforce this kind of orthodoxy. 'We were ostracised and called conspiracy theorists.' The origins of the virus are under fresh scrutiny with the collapse of the scientific consensus that it emerged from human contact with an infected animal, with some experts now arguing that the virus was man-made. David Asher, who led a task force investigating the origins of Covid, said evidence pointed to a leak from a biological weapons program at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which the Chinese government has repeatedly denied. President Biden ordered the intelligence community to re-examine how the virus originated, including the lab accident theory. He ordered a 90-day intelligence push to get to the bottom of the question. In an interview earlier this month President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser, Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, agreed that a lab escape was 'a possibility'. He said he would also back a second investigation by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Pictured: The Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) His announcement followed the revelation that a previously undisclosed intelligence report had been made to the White House, claiming that several researchers at the Wuhan institute were hospitalized with illness in November 2019. The document was uncovered this week by the Wall Street Journal. Both the US and Britain are stepping up demands for the World Health Organisation to take a closer look into the origins of the virus, including a new visit to China where the first human infections were detected. US health officials have also come under fire for allegedly funding researchers' controversial and risky experiments at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. US House Republican Whip Steve Scalise and more than 200 of his GOP colleagues have also called for Nancy Pelosi to direct her Democrat-led committees to investigate China's complicity in causing the Covid pandemic. In a letter to the Democratic House Speaker, the Republicans said there is 'mounting evidence the pandemic started in a Chinese lab' and the Chinese Communist Party 'covered it up'. 'If that is the case, the CCP is responsible for the deaths of almost 600,000 Americans and millions more worldwide. These questions about the CCP's liability are not a diversion, as you falsely claimed,' the letter reads. Dr Shi Zhengli (pictured) is known as 'Bat Woman' by her colleagues because of her pioneering virus-hunting expeditions to bat caves in remote parts of China over almost two decades Meanwhile, an explosive new study claims Chinese scientists created Covid in a Wuhan lab, then tried to cover their tracks by reverse-engineering versions of the virus to make it look like it evolved naturally from bats. The paper's authors, British Professor Angus Dalgleish and Norwegian scientist Dr. Birger Srensen, wrote that they have had 'prima facie evidence of retro-engineering in China' for a year - but were ignored by academics and major journals. Dalgleish is a professor of oncology at St George's University, London, and is best known for his breakthrough creating the first working 'HIV vaccine', to treat diagnosed patients and allow them to go off medication for months. Srensen, a virologist, is chair of pharmaceutical company, Immunor, which developed a coronavirus vaccine candidate called Biovacc-19. Dalgleish also has share options in the firm. The shocking allegations in the study include accusations of 'deliberate destruction, concealment or contamination of data' at Chinese labs, and it notes the silencing and disappearance of scientists in the communist country who spoke out. The journal article, obtained by DailyMail.com, is set to make waves among the scientific community, as the majority of experts have until recently staunchly denied the origins of COVID-19 were anything other than a natural infection leaping from animals to humans. While analyzing COVID-19 samples last year in an attempt to create a vaccine, Dalgleish and Srensen discovered 'unique fingerprints' in the virus that they say could only have arisen from manipulation in a laboratory. They said they tried to publish their findings but were rejected by major scientific journals which were at the time resolute that the virus jumped naturally from bats or other animals to humans. Even when former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove spoke out publicly saying the scientists' theory should be investigated, the idea was dismissed as 'fake news'. Over a year later, leading academics, politicians and the media finally flipped, and have begun to contemplate the possibility that COVID-19 escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China - a lab where experiments included manipulating viruses to increase their infectiousness in order to study their potential effects on humans. Dalgleish and Srensen have authored a new study, which concludes that 'SARS-Coronavirus-2 has no credible natural ancestor' and that it is 'beyond reasonable doubt' that the virus was created through 'laboratory manipulation'. In the 22-page paper which is set to be published in the scientific journal Quarterly Review of Biophysics Discovery, the scientists describe their months-long 'forensic analysis', looking back at experiments done at the Wuhan lab between 2002 and 2019. Is this finally proof Covid DID leak from Wuhan lab? The sample with a 96% match with the virus, a young medic's damning findings, and bat cave trip that killed three miners... the Mail dossier that can no longer be ignored Wall Street Journal reported conclusions from U.S. intelligence report last week Reported that 3 researchers from the WIV were hospitalised in November 2019 Had with symptoms 'consistent with Covid-19' at least a month before Beijing officially reported the existence of virus Revelation gives impetus to claims SARS-CoV-2 came via leak in a Wuhan lab By John Vidal for the Daily Mail There can't be many jobs more hellish than that given to three Chinese miners in the mountainous province of Yunnan in April 2012. Tasked with cleaning out an abandoned copper mine in the county of Moijang, they found themselves in caves knee-deep in piles of guano a foul-smelling combination of bat faeces and urine. As horseshoe bats roosted overhead, and rats and shrews scurried around in the droppings and muck, the men dug for hours at a time in the stinking, airless space. After two weeks all three had developed a severe, pneumonia-like disease. Three younger men were dispatched to take over but soon they, too, were suffering breathing problems, coughs, and fevers in excess of 39c (102f) symptoms later described in an obscure Chinese medical paper and which are strikingly similar to the disease we know now as Covid-19. The six miners were moved to the No 1 School of Medicine at Kunming Medical University more than 100 miles away in the provincial capital where they were put on ventilators. Within months, three were dead. Blood samples from the victims were sent for analysis to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in Hubei Province, a world-renowned centre for coronavirus research and the only laboratory in China permitted to handle deadly viruses such as ebola, bird flu and HIV. There can't be many jobs more hellish than that given to three Chinese miners in the mountainous province of Yunnan in April 2012 (file image of a mine, not the one cleaned out by the Chinese miners) There the blood was analysed by Dr Shi Zhengli, a famous scientist known as 'Bat Woman' by her colleagues because of her pioneering virus-hunting expeditions to bat caves in remote parts of China over almost two decades. She concluded that the men had died of a fungal infection caused by a pathogen lurking in the fungus that covered the bat guano. Nine years on and the miners of Mojiang are suddenly generating headlines worldwide after the Wall Street Journal reported conclusions from a confidential U.S. intelligence report last weekend. The newspaper reported that three researchers from the WIV were hospitalised in November 2019 with symptoms 'consistent with Covid-19'. That is at least a month before Beijing officially reported the existence of a new respiratory illness to the world on December 31, 2019. The revelation gives fresh impetus to long-standing claims that the novel coronavirus virus official name SARS-CoV-2 originated not at the Huanan seafood and wildlife market in Wuhan, or at any of the other suggested 'ground zeros', but via a leak in a Wuhan laboratory. So could the virus (or a related variant) that infected the miners and which is known to have been studied in Wuhan be the cause of a global pandemic that has caused 168 million confirmed cases and at least 3.5 million deaths to date? It is a substantial leap to make in what is a complex narrative, but there are grounds for serious consideration, not least the genetic similarities between the Moijang cave virus and SARS-CoV-2 as I shall explain. British scientist Dr Peter Daszak (far right) with Dr Shi Zhengli (left), known as 'Bat Woman' Of course, this isn't the first time that the 'lab leak' theory has been mooted as the cause of the pandemic. For many, the likelihood of a novel virus emerging in the very city where labs specialising in coronavirus research were located was always too much of a coincidence. But such claims were dismissed more or less from the start. The Chinese aggressively condemned the finger-pointing 'politicisation' of the pandemic, and experts worldwide seemed to favour the 'zoonotic spillover' theory. This holds that the virus had most likely jumped from bats (a known reservoir of coronaviruses) to an intermediary animal and then to man. Indeed, this is how most viruses that infect humans evolve. Now, however, the scientific community and world leaders are thinking again. On Thursday President Joe Biden ordered intelligence officials to 'redouble' efforts to establish the origins of SARS-CoV-2 and report back in 90 days. In an interview earlier this month his chief medical adviser, Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, agreed that a lab escape was 'a possibility'. He said he would also back a second investigation by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The first investigation in January by Western scientists, which was strictly supervised by Beijing from start to finish, resulted in a report that a Wuhan laboratory incident was 'highly unlikely' to have caused the pandemic. However, closer scrutiny of the report found that the 'investigation' largely revolved around presentations given by Chinese scientists. While WHO scientists spent three hours interviewing Dr Shi she stated that there was no coronavirus in the Moijang caves, and the miners had 'probably' died of a fungal disease their questions were later criticised as cursory. No independent research was permitted, nor were WHO officials allowed to scrutinise lab data, safety logs or records. Even WHO's director-general, Tedros Ghebreyesus, agreed that the resulting report was unsatisfactory. Fourteen countries, including the U.S. and UK, issued a joint statement expressing concerns that the investigation had not been sufficiently thorough. This week, Ravi Gupta, professor of clinical microbiology at Cambridge University and an adviser to the UK Government told The Telegraph that the 'lab leak' theory had not been properly explored. And in a letter to the journal Science earlier this month, 18 of the world's leading epidemiologists and geneticists, called for an independent inquiry into the origins. Intriguingly, one of the signatories was Professor Ralph Baric, an American epidemiologist and microbiologist who had worked with Dr Shi Zhengli ('Bat Woman') and her colleagues in Wuhan to create an artificial coronavirus that infected human cells in the lab. He has said 'more investigation and transparency are necessary to define the origin of the pandemic'. Naturally, China which has repeatedly denied that the virus escaped from one of its labs is furious with new suggestions that a lab leak in Wuhan is a factor. Its state media says that American claims of illness among Wuhan scientists were 'a blatant lie, a conspiracy created by U.S. intelligence agencies and the media'. The first investigation in January by Western scientists, which was strictly supervised by Beijing from start to finish, resulted in a report that a Wuhan laboratory incident was 'highly unlikely' to have caused the pandemic. Pictured: Scientists at the WIV in 2017 Following Biden's calls for further investigations, the Chinese Embassy in Washington said: 'Smear campaigns and blame shifting are making a comeback, and the conspiracy theory of 'lab leak' is resurfacing.' So exactly what do we know about the 100 or so SARS-like viruses that the Wuhan Institute of Virology is thought to have stored in its freezers? And, in particular, those obtained from that old copper mine in Yunnan? An analysis of scientific studies suggest that at least four teams of Chinese virologists collected samples from the mine after the miners fell ill. Nine viruses are reported to have been found and were sent to WIV for analysis. One of the viruses, originating from the anus of a horseshoe bat, was given the name RaTG13 by Dr Shi. RaTG13 is a 96.2 per cent match for SARS-CoV-2 (the cause of Covid-19), which makes it ten to 15 mutations away from the Covid-19 virus, and by far its genetically closest relative. Adding to the intrigue is a new analysis of the Moijang outbreak and of Chinese genetic sequencing data by virologist Jonathan Latham, director of the New York-based Bioscience Resource Project, a research and analysis consultancy. In an article published earlier this month on Bioscience's website, Independent Science News, Dr Latham revealed how he had come across a 2013 postgraduate thesis by a young medic entitled: The Analysis Of Six Patients With Severe Pneumonia Caused By Unknown Viruses. One of the viruses, originating from the anus of a horseshoe bat (pictured), was given the name RaTG13 by Dr Shi Once translated, it became clear that the author, Li Xu, had been supervised in his research by Professor Qian Chuanyun, who worked in the emergency department at Kunming Hospital where the sick miners were treated. The paper concluded that the most likely cause of the outbreak was a coronavirus. '....perhaps most startling of all the findings to emerge from the translation was that the symptoms of the miners closely resembled those of Covid-19,' Dr Latham wrote. He suspects a 'cover-up' by the Chinese because this is the only research paper that he has been able to find that mentions the 2012 outbreak that killed the miners. According to Latham, the answer to the pandemic 'whodunnit' may lie in the Wuhan Institute's collaboration with the EcoHealth Alliance, a U.S. government-funded science group run by a British scientist, Dr Peter Daszak, which for several years had financially backed the WIV in its hunt for new viruses in a bid to better predict emerging diseases. Latham says that Chinese and U.S. researchers have been collaborating for years on risky research that had never been made public for security reasons. Chinese scientists, he says, 'have been isolating, culturing, and studying unpublished coronaviruses found in the cave. It may be the tip of an iceberg... Numerous labs [may be] isolating, culturing, or studying unpublished coronaviruses'. One hypothesis put forward by Latham is that Covid-19 evolved in the lungs of the miners who became ill. Viral samples were later worked on by researchers in a Wuhan laboratory and somehow the virus escaped and spread via the Huanan market which was just two miles from the institute. Another hypothesis from Chinese virologist Li-Meng Yan is that RaTG13 was genetically modified for use in what is known as 'gain of function' experiments. This allows virus sequences to be combined, thereby adding to their virulence or enabling whole new viruses to be developed. Such work is controversial, often done in secret, and known to be used by the military. A yet-to-be published report by British and Norwegian scientists is expected to claim that, starting around 2008 in China, a pattern of research can be traced that shows the 'engineering' of coronaviruses. 'The WIV and the EcoHealth Alliance have not shared what is apparently in their own freezers and databases,' says Latham. 'The less openness scientists at the WIV and the EcoHealth Alliance show, and the more they appear to dodge the key questions, the more the suspicion will unavoidably grow of their collective culpability for whatever really happened in Wuhan in late 2019.' Meanwhile, the numbers of those demanding to know the exact sequence of events is mounting day by day. Richard Ebright, a molecular biologist at Rutgers University and leading expert on biosafety was one of the 18 leading scientists who signed the Science letter mentioned above. This week he called for American lawmakers to subpoena the four U.S. government agencies who paid the Chinese laboratory to research coronaviruses to find out what they know and demanded to see what information the EcoHealth Alliance had collected about coronaviruses in China. At the same time, and in what is seen as a significant move, Facebook has lifted a ban on posts claiming the virus was man-made. Unless Chinese scientists agree to open up their databases to Western investigators, the prime suspect for the emergence of the diseases remains a natural spillover from a wild or farmed animal to human beings. Since Covid emerged, Chinese virologists have tested more than 80,000 animals on farms, in markets and in the wild in a bid to find the intermediary animal, so far without success. And the biggest hole in the natural spillover theory remains that no SARS-CoV-2 reservoir has been identified in either bat colonies near Wuhan, or in an intermediate host. 'We just can't find the bloody thing anywhere,' said Stanley Perlman, professor of microbiology and immunology, at the University of Iowa. 'It's turning out to be more complicated than one might think.' Which brings us back to the lab leak theory. The rapidity with which this theory was dismissed in the early days of the pandemic has been blamed on the assumption that the pandemic was intentional perhaps even a manmade virus released on purpose rather than the altogether more likely explanation that it was accidental. (That, together with President Trump's endorsement of a lab leak as a source of 'the Chinese virus' riled many Left-leaning academics.) Writing in The Spectator this week, science writer Matt Ridley said two different theories have been confused: '....that the virus might have escaped from a laboratory openly doing research that was intended to prevent a pandemic, or that a secret project to create a nasty virus for use as a bio-weapon had either gone wrong or succeeded all too well. The latter theory remains implausible; the former has never been so.' And lab leaks are not unknown. In 2003/2004, researchers working on the first (and much less infectious) Sars virus contracted the disease in laboratories in Taiwan, Singapore and Beijing. However, other scientists remain sceptical. Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Georgetown Center for Global Health in Washington DC, is among many who continue to dismiss the lab leak idea. '[It is] a conspiracy theory which requires many people conspiring to hide it in order to be true. There are many safeguards in place to ensure [a lab escape] does not happen. Not only would I not be able to cover it up, it would be unlikely to occur at all because of the training and safety protocols. It couldn't be hidden. 'There is no new data indicating that it is the cause. A lab escape had always been plausible but there is no new evidence. Proponents have treated old evidence as though it's new. That doesn't suddenly give it fresh credibility it didn't have before.' Whatever the truth, determining whether Man or Nature is responsible for unleashing this virus on the world, is vital in preventing or combatting the next pandemic. Labour MPs faced a backlash today after launching bitter jibes about Boris Johnson's wedding to Carrie Symonds. Keir Starmer sent a gracious message to the happy couple as the news emerged last night, saying he wished them a 'happy life together'. But some senior members of his party were not as tactful. Former frontbencher Jon Trickett tweeted saying it was a good way to 'bury this week's bad news' on coronavirus and the No11 flat refurbishment. Meanwhile, shadow justice minister Karl Turner swiped that weddings were meant to be 'happy events' but people were asking 'who paid' because they assumed the PM was up to 'some sort of fiddle'. And Veteran Labour MP Barr Sheerman tweeted: 'Where did the Prime Minister's previous marriages take place should there be blue plaques?' Boris Johnson married girlfriend Carrie Symonds in a secret ceremony yesterday morning, the Mail on Sunday can reveal Labour former frontbencher Jon Trickett tweeted saying the PM's wedding was a good way to 'bury this week's bad news' on coronavirus and the No11 flat refurbishment Shadow justice minister Karl Turner swiped that weddings are meant to be 'happy events' but people were asking 'who paid' because they assumed the PM was up to 'some sort of fiddle' Veteran Labour MP Barry Sheerman mocked the PM for being married three times Tory MP Paul Bristow lashed out at Labour MPs 'pouring scorn' on the newlyweds Mr Johnson, 56, exchanged vows with Ms Symonds, 33, in Catholic Westminster Cathedral in front of a handful of close friends and family yesterday - becoming the first Prime Minister to marry in office since Lord Liverpool married Mary Chester in 1822. It comes just six days after the couple - who became engaged on the Caribbean island of Mustique in December 2019 and have baby Wilfred, aged one - sent out save-the-date cards to guests telling them to keep Saturday, July 30, 2022 free for a marriage celebration. Despite sending out the cards, the couple are understood to have been secretly planning the small ceremony for six months. Under current Covid rules there is a limit of 30 guests at weddings - although the cap is expected to be lifted on June 21st - 'freedom day' - when most restrictions are set to be lifted. With Mr Johnson pegged to be back at work next week, it looks unlikely the couple - who will make their debut appearance as husband and wife at the G7 summit in June - will have a honeymoon. One-year-old Wilfred attended the wedding, as did two official witnesses. Ms Symonds shared a picture of their son yesterday in a field of bluebells - which some speculated was a nod to the tradition of 'something blue'. Mr Johnson's sibling's Rachel, Jo and Leo Johnson are also understood to have attended, along with his father Stanley. Responding to the news, Sir Keir said: 'Congratulations to Boris & Carrie. Whatever our political differences, I wish them a happy life together.' But Mr Turner posted: 'A couples wedding day is meant to be a wonderfully happy event. So isn't it awful that when our PM gets married people ask 'who paid'. It is, I think, even more tragic that people jump to the question because they fully expect our PM to be involved with some sort of fiddle.' He added a shrug emoji. Mr Trickett wrote: 'Boris ''secret wedding'' - a good way to bury this weeks bad news: COVID Indian variant; Dom Cummings testimony; ''who should we allow to die?''; fishy goings on in No 10 flat; the Richest get even richer etc etc.' But the MP faced angry responses to the swipe, with social media users accusing him of 'class hatred' and trying to 'politicise a wedding', and pointing out that Sir Keir had been far more 'gracious'. Tory MP Paul Bristow said: 'Some Labour MPs are pouring scorn on Boris and Carrie. 'What sort of world view do these Labour MPs have? 'If youre unable to wish a newly wed couple well, then just dont say anything.' Mr Johnson, 56, exchanged vows with Ms Symonds, 33, in Catholic Westminster Cathedral (pictured) in front of a handful of close friends and family - becoming the first Prime Minister to marry in office since Lord Liverpool married Mary Chester in 1822 Ms Symonds shared a picture of their son yesterday in a field of bluebells - which some speculated was a nod to the tradition of 'something blue' Mr Johnson's father, Stanley, was photographed outside No10 last night with his daughter Julia, shortly after attending the service It comes just six days after the couple sent out save-the-date cards to guests telling them to keep Saturday, July 30, 2022 free for a marriage celebration. Pictured: Guests leaving Downing Street after the wedding. It is not clear what their relation to the newlyweds is Despite sending out the cards, the couple are understood to have been secretly planning the small ceremony for six months. Pictured: A guest leaving Downing Street after the wedding. It is not clear what their relation to the newlyweds is Musicians were also seen leaving Downing Street last night. Ms Symonds wore a white dress, without a veil, for the ceremony and walked down the aisle to the strains of classical music The ceremony was officiated by Father Daniel Humphries (pictured). He baptised the couple's one-year-old son Wilfred last year and gave them their pre-marriage instructions. How can divorced people get married in a Catholic church? Carrie Symonds is a practising Catholic. Boris Johnson has also been baptised as a Catholic - a first for a sitting PM. Mr Johnson had earlier abandoned his mother's Catholicism, becoming an Anglican while at Eton. He said deeming himself a 'serious, practising Christian' would be 'pretentious' in a 2015 interview. But the PM - who is twice divorced - yesterday married Ms Symonds, 33, in Catholic Westminster Cathedral. They kissed after exchanging their vows for Father Daniel Humphreys, who baptised their son Wilfred into the faith at the same cathedral last autumn. He also gave the newlyweds their pre-marriage instructions. The Roman Catholic church does not allow divorcees to be married in its churches - but there are a couple of ways the newlyweds could have gotten around the rules. Catherine Pepinster, Catholic author and broadcaster, explained that as Boris Johnson was himself baptised a Catholic but married previously in non-Catholic settings, the church did not recognise his previous marriages. She said: 'As far as the Church is concerned, this is his first marriage. 'They don't need to be annulled. They didn't happen, according to Roman Catholic canon law.' In the eyes of Catholic law, civil divorces do not have any bearing. Those who are officially divorced are still married in the eyes of the Catholic church. As someone cannot be married to more than one person, divorcees cannot technically re-marry. But, previous marriages can be annulled in the eyes of the church. This relies on the church finding that the marriage was never properly entered into in the first place. The church recognises that divorce is sometimes necessary for none Catholics to settle civil matters, such as childcare. Advertisement During Covid, many couples have held a small marriage ceremony with just close friends - while arranging a larger celebration for after the end of all restrictions. The 30 guests were invited at the last minute, with only a handful of church officials involved in the preparations for the service at 2pm yesterday. Armed police stood guard as visitors were ushered out half an hour earlier by staff who told them the building was going into lockdown. Ms Symonds wore a white dress, without a veil, for the ceremony and walked down the aisle to the strains of classical music. They kissed after exchanging their vows for Father Daniel Humphreys, who baptised Wilfred into the faith at the same cathedral last autumn. He also gave the newlyweds their pre-marriage instructions. Last night, cathedral chaplain Father Michael Donaghy admitted even he didn't know the identity of the VIP bride and groom until it was all over. He said: 'It's been kept very confidential.' One witness told how the party was 'bundled into a car' after leaving the cathedral Ms Symonds is a practising Catholic. Mr Johnson was also baptised as a Catholic - a first for a sitting PM - although he later became an Anglican. A Westminster Cathedral spokesperson told the Sunday Times: 'On Saturday 29 May, the wedding of Carrie Symonds and Boris Johnson took place in Westminster Cathedral. 'The bride and groom are both parishioners of the Westminster Cathedral parish and baptised Catholics. 'All necessary steps were taken, in both church and civil law, and all formalities completed before the wedding.' Mr Johnson had earlier abandoned his mother's Catholicism, becoming an Anglican while at Eton. An image of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus appears above the altar in the cathedral's Lady Chapel, where the couple were wed. One guest described Ms Symonds as looking 'extremely happy' and Mr Johnson as 'very smart and dapper....he didn't take his eyes of her'. While their official guest list is still under lock and key, Mr Johnson's father, Stanley, was photographed outside No10 this evening with his daughter Julia, shortly after attending the service. Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster was the first political figure to send her best wishes, writing on Twitter: 'Huge congratulations to Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds on your wedding day.' Tory MP Ric Holden posted: Big congratulations to our Prime Minister @BorisJohnson and Carrie on getting married Very best to both them and to Wilfred for the future!' President Moon Jae-in speaks during the opening ceremony of the P4G Seoul Summit at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Sunday. The two-day event was streamed online and participated by 34 heads of states, high-ranking government officials and 20 international organization leaders. Yonhap Seoul to bid for UN Climate Summit in 2023 By Nam Hyun-woo President Moon Jae-in pledged Sunday to strengthen Korea's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for greenhouse gas reduction for 2030 as the country's intermediate goal ahead of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Also, the President unveiled Seoul's plan to host the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) in 2023, while promising to expand the nation's official development assistance (ODA) focused on developing countries' climate actions and green growth as well as joining international regimes for biodiversity. The pledges came from Moon's opening ceremony speech for the P4G Seoul Summit, which kicked off its two-day run online to pursue international cooperation for stronger environmental actions. P4G stands for Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030. "Korea will additionally raise its national greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2030," Moon said. "As an intermediate goal for last year's declaration that Korea will achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, Korea will strengthen its NDCs for 2030 and present it at COP26 slated for November." The NDCs specifically delineate how each country will reduce national carbon emissions and meet the common climate goals within the global framework. Korea presented its NDCs to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change last December, pledging to cut the country's carbon emissions by 24.4 percent by 2030 from 2017 levels. To expand its contribution to the Paris Agreement, the government is planning to further update its NDCs before pursuing carbon neutrality by 2050. Along with the goal of stronger NDCs, Moon made official the nation's bid to host COP28 in 2023. The host of the 28th edition of the event will be determined among Asia-Pacific countries at COP26 in Glasgow, the U.K., this November. "Korea will play a responsible role as a bridging nation between developing and advanced nations, and spare no efforts to make this summit a place where leaders can facilitate feasible visions and strengthen their cooperation," Moon said. Also, Moon said Korea will expand support for developing nations, including a significant increase by 2025 in its climate- and green project-related ODA. "Also, Korea will help developing nations to make the energy transition from fossil fuels," Moon said. "By 2025, the country will significantly increase its climate- and green project-related ODA and create a Green New Deal Trust Fund worth $5 million at the Global Green Growth Institute." . From 2015 to 2019, 19.6 percent of Korea's total ODA went to Rio and Climate Marker projects while the average calculated by the OECD's Development Assistance Committee stood at 28.1 percent. Following Moon's pledge, Korea will make efforts to exceed the average rate. Along with the trust fund, Moon added that Korea will offer $4 million in new grants to P4G for the sake of its sustainable operation. Along with the economic movements, Moon promised to enhance the country's efforts to preserve biodiversity. He also said the country will join the Leaders' Pledge for Nature, the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People and the Global Ocean Alliance, to ensure the success of COP15's Convention on Biodiversity. President Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook, right of Moon, applaud during the opening ceremony of the P4G Seoul Summit at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Sunday. The P4G Seoul Summit is the second of its kind, and Korea's first hosting of a multilateral climate summit. With 12 member countries, leaders of more than 40 countries and international organizations have participated in the event. They include U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and a number of other state leaders. U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry also plans to attend the summit. During the leaders' session after Moon's speech, heads of state also shared their commitments to tackle climate change through pre-recorded video speeches. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaks during his pre-recorded video speech for the P4G Seoul Summit, Sunday. Captured from P4G Seoul Summit live streaming During his speech, U.K. Prime Minister Johnson thanked Moon for holding the summit before COP26, saying no single government can achieve a green industrial revolution and that international cooperation is required to secure resources for climate actions. He added the U.K. will support the transition towards a green economy through R&D investments and technological developments. Premier Li also said China, as the largest developing nation, will achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 and pledged the country's greater contribution to low emissions and green recovery. German Chancellor Merkel stressed climate change is posing as much threat as the COVID-19 pandemic to humanity and world economies, thus the world needs to phase out fossil fuels. Moon and some other participants, including U.S. special envoy Kerry, will present their views during the Leaders' Dialogue forum to be streamed live on Monday night. Then, the leaders will adopt the Seoul Declaration. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang speaks during his pre-recorded video speech for the P4G Seoul Summit, Sunday. Captured from P4G Seoul Summit live streaming The parents of kidnapped Belarus student Sofia Sapega have begged Putin to release her from jail. Sapega, 23, is the partner of dissident journalist Roman Protasevich and was travelling with him on a flight from Athens to Vilnius, in Lithuania, when Belarus scrambled a military jet and forced their plane to land in Minsk. It comes as flight data shows that airspace over Belarus is virtually empty following the incident which has drawn international criticism. Russian national Sapega is being held in a pre-trial detention centre in Minsk. A day after her arrest Belarusian state media released a video showing her confessing to having organised 'mass riots' in Belarus. She also 'admits' to having edited the social media channel that has published personal information about Belarusian police officers. Her parents say the confession is false, and that Sapega did not attend mass anti-government rallies in Minsk last summer, and only met her boyfriend in Lithuania in the New Year. Roman Protasevich (left), a journalist who reported on protests against Lukashenko, and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega (right) have been in jail in Minsk since Sunday Flight data shows that airspace over Belarus is virtually empty after Belarus scrambled a military jet and forced a plane carrying dissident journalist Roman Protasevich and his partner to land in Minsk Her stepfather Sergei Dudich told the Sunday Telegraph: 'I hope they will realise that she is just a girl. 'She's just a 23-year-old, and I hope those people won't shatter her whole life like this.' Speaking of her boyfriend, who was already wanted by the Belarus government, Mr Dudich said: When we found out who he was, the charges he was facing, we warned her She said she was in love.' According to Mr Dudich, Sapega's mother Anna Dudich wrote a plea to the Kremlin earlier this week asking for their daughter's release. The EU has banned Belarusian airlines, urged EU airlines not to cross Belarusian airspace and threatened tough economic sanctions on Lukashenko's Kremlin-backed regime. The British government instructed all UK planes to cease flying over Belarus. Flight data shows that the airspace over the state is virtually empty following the incident. Vladimir Putin and Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko have 'agreed a loan deal' during a yacht tour in Sochi amid international uproar over the hijacking of a Ryanair flight to detain a dissident journalist. The Russian President and Mr Lukashenko held a second day of talks - as well as a yacht tour - in the southern Russian city of Sochi on Saturday. The former-Soviet superpower will move ahead with a second 352million loan to Belarus next month amid the latest standoff with the West. Lukashenko ordered the hijacking of a Ryanair plane as it crossed Belarusian airspace so he could arrest dissident blogger Roman Protasevich and girlfriend Sofia Sapega this week. Putin is the only world leader to defend Lukashenko over the hijacking. Russia promised Belarus a 1.06billion loan last year as part of Moscow's efforts to stabilise its neighbour and longstanding ally. Minsk received a first installment of 352million in October. Several Western countries accused Belarus of piracy this week after Belarusian air traffic control informed the pilot of the Ryanair passenger jet of a hoax bomb threat. Vladimir Putin and Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko 'agreed a loan deal' during a yacht tour in Sochi amid international uproar over the hijacking of a Ryanair flight to detain a dissident journalist Minsk scrambled a MiG-29 fighter plane to escort the jetliner down, and then arrested Protasevich, a blogger and critic of Lukashenko who was on board. Arrested with Protasevich was his girlfriend, a Russian citizen. Putin on Saturday raised the topic of Sapega, the TASS news agency reported, citing Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov. 'President Lukashenko informed his Russian colleague in detail about what happened with the Ryanair flight,' TASS cited Peskov as saying. 'On the initiative of the Russian president the topic of the Russian citizen, who was detained, was raised .... Naturally, we are not indifferent to her fate,' Peskov was cited as saying. He added the Kremlin would take note of the fact that Sapega also has a Belarusian residency permit. Putin and Lukashenko completed the day of talks with a yacht tour in Sochi. A video appeared to show the two leaders laughing and spotting dolphins off the Russian coast. The Russian President and Mr Lukashenko held a second day of talks - as well as a yacht tour (pictured) - in the southern Russian city of Sochi on Saturday The former-Soviet superpower will move ahead with a second 352million loan to Belarus (the leaders on the yacht tour, pictured) next month amid the latest standoff with the West Most of Belarus's neighbours and many other European nations have banned flights by Belarusian national airline Belavia following Sunday's forced landing of the Ryanair jet, which was en route to Lithuania from Greece. The issue of air travel for Belarusian citizens was raised during Saturday's meeting, Peskov was cited by Interfax as saying, adding the transport ministries of Moscow and Minsk had been tasked with helping Belarusian citizens currently in Europe to return home. Yesterday, the EU offered to give 2.8billion to Belarus if Lukashenko steps aside and the country peacefully transitions to democracy. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the 'development funding' is ready once 'the democratic choice of the Belarusian people' is respected - after elections last year which Lukashenko claimed to have won but is widely thought to have lost. Von der Leyen said: 'To the people of Belarus: We see and hear your desire for change, for democracy, and for a bright future. 'And to the Belarusian authorities: No amount of repression, brutality or coercion will bring any legitimacy to your authoritarian regime.' It comes after Lukashenko ordered a Ryanair flight to divert to Minsk so he could arrest a dissident journalist and his girlfriend who were on board (pictured) The West had already slapped sanctions on Belarusian officials involved in the vote and crackdown against protesters and is now promising more. Many observers warn that Lukashenko has become easy prey for the Kremlin, which may use his isolation to push for closer integration. 'Lukashenko is scared, and the Kremlin may demand payment for its political support by pushing for the introduction of a single currency, the deployment of military bases and more,' said Valery Karbalevich, an independent Minsk-based analyst. 'In this situation, it would be much more difficult for him to resist and bargain with Putin.' Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the top opposition candidate in Belarus' last election who left the country under official pressure, charged that Lukashenko was acting out of a sense of impunity in diverting the flight. 'The European Union has to be stronger, braver in its resolutions and decisions,' she said after meeting Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague. Moscow has helped buttress Belarus' economy with cheap energy supplies and loans, but the ties have often been strained with Lukashenko scolding Moscow for trying to force him to relinquish control over prized economic assets and eventually abandon Belarus' independence. In the past, the 66-year-old Belarusian leader has tried to play the West against Russia, raising the prospect of a rapprochement with the EU and the United States to wring more aid out of Moscow. Such tactics no longer work after Lukashenko's brutal crackdown on protests last fall in the wake of a vote that handed him a sixth term but opposition said was rigged. Belarusian President Lukashenko and his son Nikolai on the boat trip with President Putin More than 35,000 people were arrested amid the protests and thousands beaten - moves that made him a pariah in the West. The flight's diversion has now cornered the Belarusian strongman even more. Some in the West have alleged Russia was involved in the Ryanair flight's diversion - something Moscow angrily denies - and warned that it could exploit the situation to draw Belarus ever closer and possibly even incorporate it. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis charged Thursday that 'Lukashenko is playing with Putin, and trying and helping Putin to annex the country,' adding that 'we should send the signals to Russia as well that annexation wouldn't go well with Europe.' On Friday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the EU's decision to ask European airlines to avoid Belarusian airspace as 'utterly irresponsible and threatening passengers' safety.' As European airlines seek to skirt Belarus, Russia has refused some requests to change the flight paths of service to Moscow over the past two days in an apparent gesture of support for Lukashenko but allowed some flights to proceed Friday. Austrian Airlines, for instance, canceled a flight from Vienna on Thursday, though the carrier said it was given permission to avoid Belarus for flights on the route Friday, according to the Austria Press Agency. It is still awaiting word on further flights. Air France canceled flights from Paris to Moscow on Thursday and Friday. Boris Johnson's poll lead has plummeted in the wake of the onslaught from Dominic Cummings - as Keir Starmer warned the Tory civil war is putting June 21 'freedom day' at risk. The Conservatives' advantage has more than halved in a fortnight as the bitter row between the PM and his former chief adviser escalated. Research by Opinium puts the party's support on 42 per cent, down two points, with Labour up five points on 36 per cent. Mr Johnson's net personal approval rating has also slumped from plus six to minus six. The stark findings emerged as Sir Keir stepped up his attack on the government, accusing ministers of being too busy 'covering their own backs' to combat the Indian coronavirus variant. Following Mr Cummings' explosive evidence to MPs about 'failures' in the pandemic response, Sir Keir said 'mistakes are being repeated' as the Government considers whether the roadmap can go ahead as scheduled. An Opinium poll found the Conservatives' advantage has more than halved in a fortnight as the bitter row between the PM and his former chief adviser Dominic Cummings escalated Mr Johnson's (pictured on Friday) net personal approval rating has also slumped from plus six to minus six 'Weak, slow decisions on border policy let the Indian variant take hold,' he said. 'Lack of self-isolation support and confused local guidance failed to contain it. 'We all want to unlock on June 21 but the single biggest threat to that is the Government's incompetence.' Writing in the Observer, Sir Keir said Mr Johnson's reluctance to impose a second lockdown in autumn last year meant 'avoidable and unforgivable' deaths in the second wave of the virus. 'The first wave we faced an unprecedented crisis. Decision making was undoubtedly difficult. Mistakes were inevitable. And the British public understand that. 'But by the summer, we knew much more about the virus. 'The Prime Minister was warned to prepare for a second wave. He did not do so. And over twice as many people died in the second wave than in the first.' Mr Cummings, the Prime Minister's former adviser, told MPs on Wednesday that 'tens of thousands' had died unnecessarily because of the Government's handling of the pandemic and accused Health Secretary Matt Hancock of lying about testing for care home residents discharged from hospital a claim he denied. Sir Keir said the situation in care homes had been a 'betrayal', adding: 'We may never know whether Boris Johnson said Covid 'was only killing 80-year olds' when he delayed a second lockdown. 'What we do know is that the man charged with keeping them safe showed callous disregard for our elderly, as he overlooked the incompetence of his Health Secretary.' Sir Keir net approval rating was minus nine in the Opinium poll, the same as a fortnight ago. And despite only a fifth of those surveyed saying they trusted Mr Cummings to tell the truth, it seems many of the specific claims made during his seven-hour testimony to MPs were believed. Some 66 per cent said they believed the Government pursued a herd immunity strategy at the start of the pandemic, with 20 per cent saying they did not. The poll found 60 per cent thought it was plausible Mr Johnson thought coronavirus was a 'scare story' and called it 'the new swine flu'. Mr Cummings, the Prime Minister's former adviser, told MPs on Wednesday that 'tens of thousands' had died unnecessarily because of the Government's handling of the pandemic Some 56 per cent were convinced Mr Johnson went on holiday in February 2020 without paying attention to the erupting crisis. And a majority 52 per cent to 34 per cent thought Mr Johnson had been distracted by his personal life and was unable to concentrate on the decisions that needed to be taken. Some 49 per cent gave credence to the disputed allegations that Matt Hancock lied about whether people would be tested before being discharged from hospital to care homes, with 28 per cent saying that was false. In a worrying sign for the health secretary, 44 per cent suggested he should resign as health secretary, compared to 30 per cent who wanted him to stay. Adam Drummond, Opinium's head of political polling, said: 'Whilst Dominic Cummings is seen as one of the least trustworthy men in Britain, the public do see some truth in the allegations he made against Boris Johnson's government, puncturing the Conservatives' post-Hartlepool bounce and reversing a recent spike in the prime minister's approval rating. 'However, there are strong reasons to believe that this won't last though as the underlying approval figures for the vaccine rollout, which has driven voting intention since the beginning of 2021, are unchanged and remain very strong.' :: Opinium Research surveyed 2,004 UK adults online from May 27-28. Results have been weighted to representative the wider population. Chilling details have emerged of the sexual assault allegations levelled against a star TV producer behind some of Britain's biggest comedy shows. Charlie Hanson, 68, who has worked on After Life, Extras, Desmond's and Birds of a Feather, faces accusations of misconduct from 11 women. The alleged victims wrote a letter to Netflix and Bafta about incidents between 2008 and 2015 including claims of unwanted sexual advances. It is claimed Mr Hanson preyed on them when they were younger 'promising them a starry career under his wing'. Charlie Hanson, 68, (pictured with Diana Chire and Aggy Adams) who has worked on After Life, Extras, Desmond's and Birds of a Feather, faces accusations of misconduct from 11 women. There is no suggestion the women pictured are the accusers Ten of the women have also spoken to Channel 4 News, claiming Mr Hanson had a 'conveyor belt of young women' he would groom with promises of career progress before sexually assaulting them. One woman, named as Emma, says Mr Hanson acted as a 'mentor' when she was starting out and gained her trust over years, but after going for a drink one night her memory became hazy shortly before Mr Hanson walked her home. She said: 'He does gain your trust, and it's only when you have a moment of vulnerability that he abuses that, and thats why it comes as quite a shock. My memory is very blurry, I remember he took my clothes off and I pushed him away or tried to push him but he persisted and said shhh, its ok. It was like I was blacking out and every time I woke up he was engaging in sexual activity with me.' Ten of the women have also spoken to Channel 4 News , claiming Mr Hanson had a 'conveyor belt of young women' he would groom with promises of career progress before sexually assaulting them. Pictured: Mr Hanson with After Life star Ricky Gervais in 2016 Amma Asante, who was previously married to producer Charlie Hanson, called the allegations against him 'devastating', adding that she stood 'wholeheartedly' with the victims Ricky Gervais, with whom Mr Hanson has worked on After Life and Extras, said he was 'shocked and appalled' to learn of the historical allegations Another woman, Jemma, was a performer working on the acting circuit and says Hanson would introduce her to industry figures. At the time I didnt think anything of staying on his sofa, I kind of considered this person a friend', she said. 'He specifically said to come and share the bed, its more comfortable you know, you can trust nothing is going to happen. I was on the edge of the bed, he came over right behind, put his arm around me that felt very uncomfortable. It was a really horrible experience because everything that I had believed up until then came crashing down at that moment. Jemma still fears speaking out with the allegation due to Mr Hansons power in the industry. He seems to have a conveyor belt of young women who he does the same thing to, hell offer to develop projects for them, give the impression that hes going to help them with their career. The producer (pictured with Shanon Finley in 2014) has denied all the claims made against him and said he would assist any formal probe into his behaviour. There is no suggestion the woman pictured is one of the accusers The producer has denied all the claims made against him and said he would assist any formal probe into his behaviour. Hanson said in a statement: 'I have been made aware of allegations made against me concerning improper conduct towards women dating back many years. 'Based on the summaries that have been provided to me, I understand that many of these accusations are made anonymously and are demonstrably false. 'I have not had one complaint in decades of work in the media industry. I categorically reject any wrongdoing on my part and strongly refute the allegations that have been levelled at me. I will also cooperate with any formal enquiries.' He has since been dropped by streaming giant Netflix and lost his membership with Bafta. 'Whilst the allegations are unrelated to his time on the show, we immediately removed him from the production and referred the matter to the police.' A spokesman for Bafta said: 'We have been presented with a number of very serious detailed allegations about an individual and while we are not their employer we immediately took the decision to suspend their membership. 'Bafta is an arts charity and does not have the power to investigate historic claims of abuse therefore we have referred the matter to the police. 'The behaviour that these accounts allege is abhorrent, in complete opposition to Bafta values and has no place in our industry.' Charlie Hanson (pictured with Amma Asante and Abbie Cornish in 2018), who worked on After Life, Extras, Desmond's and Birds of a Feather, faces accusations of misconduct. There is no suggestion the women pictured are the accusers The 68-year-old Golden Globe winner (pictured with Ricky Gervais in 2017) is in the spotlight after 11 women wrote to Netflix and Bafta about incidents between 2008 and 2015 The alleged victims say Mr Hanson (pictured with Diana Chire and Aggy K Adams in 2018) preyed on them when they were younger 'promising them a starry career under his wing'. There is no suggestion the women pictured are the accusers Advertisement People have been taking advantage of the much anticipated Bank Holiday weekend, celebrating the end of some lockdown restrictions with the added bonus of some sunshine. Pictures show that party-goers were out in force across the country, celebrating the arrival of some late spring sunshine and being able to meet up with friends in bars following the relaxation on some of the lockdown rules on May 17. City centres such as Leeds, Birmingham and Newcastle were particularly busy, with pictures showing people enjoying their first proper night out of the year. Some were seen taking off high heels at the end of their night, particularly painful after a year in lockdown in flat shoes, while others were captured hugging each other since the relaxed rules on contact were announced. Other images showed the sheer amount of people descending on pubs, bars and restaurants. Leeds City Centre was particularly busy with boozed up party-goers meeting to celebrate the long weekend Revellers in Leeds were out in force on Saturday evening to celebrate the long-awaited Bank Holiday weekend when lockdown restriction rules could be relaxed. Pictured - four friends meet up to celebrate in Leeds city centre Hen parties were finally able to go ahead again in style across the country, like this one in Newcastle on Saturday night Pictured a man lies on the floor laughing with another woman, who were among those celebrating their reunion with friends It was a happy occasion for all and reunions all around on Saturday evening in Leeds City Centre Some people were up to their old antics as they marked the special occasion. Pictured a girl points a wet floor sign at a boy, who is laughing and lifting his leg. He holds a face mask in his hand, which has now become part of the new normal Not only were crowd delighted to reunited with others, they also got the added bonus of some live music to accompany them to the pubs and bars, with buskers performing and people dancing their way down the street in Leeds. It was also a night of celebration for Chelsea fans after the club's Champions League win, and sun worshipers as temperatures hit 23C. It's likely that the good weather will remain with us over the long weekend, with forecasters predicting highs of 25C in some parts of the country on Bank Holiday Monday. The warm weather is expected to stay with us for the first half of June, with the Met Office predicting a heatwave which will continue for the first half of June. The long-anticipated late arrival of spring sunshine comes after the third stage of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's roadmap to freedom was launched on May 17. It was the first gathering since restrictions on hugging were lifted. Pictured two girls throwing their arms around each other. Revellers enjoy a Saturday night on the town as drinkers make the most of the Spring Bank Holiday weekend in Newcastle. In the background, a busker plays piano to accompany people who are walking through the city centre But the night proved to be too much for some people, particularly those wearing heels, who needed to sit down on a bench Pictures show friends having long-awaited reunions with pubs, bars and restaurants in Leeds on Friday evening Wearing heels may have been a bit of a challenge after spending so much time in lockdown last year. Pictured two girls sit in a bus stop to remove their painful shoes A busker played his guitar for party-goers on Saturday night in Newcastle while they reunited in the street A woman carried a bottle of booze while a man throws his arms around her in an exciting reunion weekend for all Three girls join the crowds of people out to celebrate reunions and the spring sunshine in Leeds city centre People gathered in Newcastle on Saturday evening to listen to buskers and celebrate the long Bank Holiday weekend Girls were captured sitting on grass verges in their going out gear as they contemplated where to go next Three women walk and chat, with two holding each other as restrictions on physical contact have lifted this month Since then, people have been able to hug friends and family members, sit inside with them, and jet off on holiday abroad. All restrictions are set to lift on June 21, meaning life will return to the closest to normal since lockdown began, with clubs reopening, sport events and festivals being able to take place and social distancing rules being scrapped. It is thought that working from home and wearing masks in public spaces will still be enforced. There are concerns a return to normality could be delayed due to the spread of the Indian mutation. Earlier this week, eight areas of England were put under stricter restrictions amid spikes in cases of the Indian variant of the virus. People have been warned not to travel Bolton, Blackburn with Darwen, Kirklees, Bedford, Burnley, Leicester, Hounslow and North Tyneside amid cases in those areas. It was a particularly joyous occasion for many who may well have been reunited for the first time since lockdown rules eased All the fun and alcohol proved to be a little much for some people, who may have sore heads on Sunday morning Revellers made it clear that they were delighted to be together again on the Bank Holiday weekend in Newcastle Two girls in Leeds pictured getting ready for their Bank Holiday night out with crowds of others behind them doing the same Some people had to remove their shoes after a long time at home in comfortable footwear, with many carrying theirs home It was all smiles as people reunited and met others again for the first time following the relaxation of the rules For some in Newcastle, it was the first time they were able to physically hug each other after the relaxation of rules Three girls in Newcastle get together with their arms around each other to pose for the camera Revellers enjoyed a boozy night on the town in Newcastle as the long Bank Holiday weekend kicked off on Saturday Pubs, bars and restaurants welcomed punters back with open arms on the Bank Holiday weekend in Newcastle However, Britain's vaccination programme means that three-quarters of adults will have received at least one Covid jab within days and almost half will be vaccinated with both doses before the end of the week. Official figures showed earlier this week that 39,068,346 people have had their first shot and 24,892,416 have had the second. The number of Covid patients being treated in hospital also continues to fall. But deaths and hospital admissions have risen slightly. In the past seven days, 59 Covid-related deaths were recorded, up 44 per cent on the previous week, and 870 new hospital admissions, up 23 per cent. Cases have also risen 23 per cent week on week, with 21,469 recorded in the past seven days. A jihadi who planned to kill Brits after travelling to Syria to join a terrorist group with links to Al-Qaeda is to be released from prison four-and-a-half years early - returning to Britain's streets. In May 2013 Yusuf Sarwar, 29, then a student from Birmingham, left a note telling his mother he had gone to Syria fight against 'Allah's enemies'. His mother Majida Sarwar showed the note to the police, and her son, who travelled to the war zone to join Islamic extremists with former postal worker Mohammed Ahmed, was arrested on his return in January 2014. A parole board has ruled Sarwar will be released next month after serving eight years of his 12-year-8-month sentence. Chris Phillips, former National Counter Terrorism Security Office chief, told The Sun: 'What type of system puts the public at risk like this? This is yet another disaster waiting to happen.' Yusuf Sarwar, 29, will be released next month after serving eight years of his 12-year-8-month sentence A Ministry of Justice spokesman told The Sun: 'Our new laws mean terrorists will spend longer behind bars. 'If released they face strict conditions including GPS tags, curfews and restricted internet access, and can be returned to prison if they breach them.' Judge Michael Topolski QC told Woolwich Crown Court at the time of Sarwar's sentencing that the men 'willingly, enthusiastically and with a great deal of purpose, persistence and determination embarked on a course intended to commit acts of terrorism.' The judge said they believed in 'violent Islamist extremism' and had made a careful plan 'to join the ranks of the Islamist forces', adding 'before travelling, you both went to some trouble to fabricate cover-stories'. Yusuf Sarwar and Mohammed Ahmed said they were travelling to Turkey as part of a two-week trip organised by Birmingham City University (pictured at Heathrow), they then went to Syria Mohammed Nahin Ahmed (pictured), who admitted spending eight months in Syria fighting alongside an al Qaida-linked terrorist group with Yusuf Sarwar He added that he could not be sure the defendants planned to launch attacks in Britain, but noted 'the retention of the disk, containing detailed instructions of how to make an IED, is a deeply disturbing feature'. Traces of 'military-grade explosives', including TNT and nitro-glycerine were found on the men's clothes and trainers as they were arrested on their return to England. The men told officers they had been doing humanitarian work but a camera containing 'thousands' of images, including some of them posing with guns on the front line, was found in their luggage. The judge said both men 'intended to be martyred on the battlefield in Syria' and plotted 'to attack Assad's forces, with the obvious risk that these intended attacks may have resulted in both military and civilian losses'. A note written from Sarwar to his mother before leaving for Syria in May 2013, in which hailed the Taliban He also discussed a note written from Sarwar to his mother, which hailed the Taliban. 'Its contents provide an insight into the true purpose of your journey. This was not a spontaneous response to travel to a humanitarian crisis. Without any doubt, it shows you were travelling to Syria intent on jihad'. Later this month another terrorist Rangzieb Ahmed, 43, who was jailed for life at Manchester Crown Court in 2008 for directing terrorism, will be considered for release. The convicting jury heard that he headed a three-man Al Qaeda cell which was preparing to commit mass murder. Usman Khan, who was imprisoned six years for terrorism offences before he carried out the attack on London Bridge Ahmed was jailed for life with a minimum term of ten years after the Manchester Crown Court after a jury found him guilty of being a member of Al Qaeda with his associate, Manchester taxi driver Habib Ahmed. The news follows just days after an inquest jury found Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, 'unlawfully killed', when they were stabbed to death by Usman Khan at a rehabilitation event in London in 2019. The jury identified mistakes from police, MI5 and the probation service that let the fanatic kill. Mr Merritt's father David said he blamed the authorities for not preparing for Khan's release or carrying out an assessment of his danger. Khan was released on licence after served six years of his 16-year sentence for terror offences before carrying out the attack. David Merritt said: 'Roles and responsibilities were unclear, communication between the agencies was inadequate and leadership and co-ordination were weak.' 'The probation and police teams directly responsible for Khan's supervision were staffed by officers with little or no experience of terrorism offenders.' Boris Johnson launched an expletive-laden rant at Matt Hancock over care home testing failures as Covid spread, it was claimed today. The PM is said to have raged at the Health Secretary over the lack of screening for people discharged from hospitals into homes when he returned to work after his own near-miss from the disease in March last year. Mr Johnson is alleged to have shouted 'what a f****** mess' at Mr Hancock. However, the premier resisted calls from other ministers to sack him, saying losing a health secretary during a pandemic would be 'intolerable', according to The Sun on Sunday. The latest evidence of chaos in government during the early phase of the crisis emerged after Dominic Cummings accused Mr Hancock of 'lying' to colleagues about whether people would be tested before returning from hospitals to care homes. He insisted he and Mr Johnson only realised that had not happened when they returned to work after recovering from coronavirus. Mr Hancock has rejected the accusation, insisting his 'recollection' is that he committed to building capacity for testing so residents could be screened. Boris Johnson (left) is said to have raged at Matt Hancock (right) over the lack of screening for people discharged from hospitals into homes The latest evidence of chaos in government during the early phase of the crisis emerged after Dominic Cummings accused Mr Hancock of 'lying' to colleagues about whether people would be tested before returning from hospitals to care homes - something he denies The extraordinary salvo launched by Mr Cummings during a hearing with MPs last week appears to be taking its toll on the government, with a new poll suggesting the Tory lead has been slashed by more than half. Keir Starmer tried to turn the screw today, accusing Mr Johnson and his ministers of being busy 'covering their own backs' to combat the Indian coronavirus variant. The Labour leader said 'mistakes are being repeated' as the Government considers whether to go ahead with easing restrictions on June 21. 'Weak, slow decisions on border policy let the Indian variant take hold,' he said. 'Lack of self-isolation support and confused local guidance failed to contain it. 'We all want to unlock on June 21 but the single biggest threat to that is the Government's incompetence.' Writing in the Observer, Sir Keir said Mr Johnson's reluctance to impose a second lockdown in autumn last year meant 'avoidable and unforgivable' deaths in the second wave of the virus. 'The first wave we faced an unprecedented crisis. Decision making was undoubtedly difficult. Mistakes were inevitable. And the British public understand that. 'But by the summer, we knew much more about the virus. 'The Prime Minister was warned to prepare for a second wave. He did not do so. And over twice as many people died in the second wave than in the first.' Mr Cummings, the Prime Minister's former adviser, told MPs on Wednesday that 'tens of thousands' had died unnecessarily because of the Government's handling of the pandemic and accused Mr Hancock of 'lying' about testing for care home residents discharged from hospital a claim he denies. Separately, the Sunday Times highlighted an email dated March 26 from social care leaders warning Mr Hancock that homes were being 'pressured' to take patients who had not been tested and had symptoms. Lisa Lenton, chair of the Care Provider Alliance at the time, told Mr Hancock managers were 'terrified' about 'outbreaks'. 'The following action MUST be taken: All people discharged from hospital to social care settings (eg care homes, home care, supported living) MUST be tested before discharge,' she wrote. However, the government's guidance on testing was not updated until April 15. Instructions issued by the Department of Health and the NHS on March 19 2020 said 'discharge home today should be the default pathway', according to the Sunday Telegraph - with no mention of testing. An Opinium poll found the Conservatives' advantage has more than halved in a fortnight as the bitter row between the PM and his former chief adviser Dominic Cummings escalated An insider told the Sun on Sunday on the spat between Mr Johnson and Mr Hancock: 'Boris returned from convalescence at Chequers when he heard the news. He was incensed. 'Matt had told him point blank tests would be carried out. He couldn't understand why they hadn't been. For a moment he lost it with Matt, shouting ''What a f***ing mess''. 'At least three ministers told Boris Matt should be sacked.' However, Mr Johnson refused to axe Mr Hancock reportedly saying that losing the health secretary during a pandemic would be 'intolerable'. Sir Keir said the situation in care homes had been a 'betrayal', adding: 'We may never know whether Boris Johnson said Covid ''was only killing 80-year olds'' when he delayed a second lockdown. 'What we do know is that the man charged with keeping them safe showed callous disregard for our elderly, as he overlooked the incompetence of his Health Secretary.' Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas and acting Premier James Merlino have unleashed on the federal government for not providing any financial help to Victorians during another Covid-19 lockdown. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt fought back, pointing out there are a number of schemes already in place for people in need, such as the $1,500 pandemic leave disaster payment. Mr Pallas announced a $250 million support package for small and medium-sized businesses that are suffering as the result of a seven-day lockdown to battle a growing number of infections. Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas (pictured) unleashed on the federal government for not providing financial help to Victorians during another COVID-19 lockdown Mr Merlino said he asked Mr Morrison and federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg to chip in with financial support for workers, as the JobKeeper wage subsidy is no longer available but they said 'no.' 'We asked multiple times [for] the federal government to support workers during this period, and the unrelenting answer has been no,' he said. 'For the Prime Minister and the federal Treasurer to say 'no' is a disgrace and it should make every Victorian angry.' Mr Pallas said he was 'angry ' and 'disappointed' at the federal government's response. 'What we needed was the Commonwealth to make at least a comparable offer of support to working people,' he said. 'Empathy means nothing unless your words are matched by tangibles. 'I am angry, and I'm disappointed disappointed because the language talks about a partnership but delivers nothing in real terms for the people who need it most. 'This idea that we are working hand in glove, when they have never put their hand in their pocket, is nothing short of a disgrace.' Acting Victorian premier James Merlino (pictured) said it was disgraceful the federal government was picking and choosing when they support Victorians Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) fought back, saying out there are a number of schemes already in place for people in need Mr Merlino - who reported a further five infections in the state, including an aged care worker - said it was disgraceful the federal government was picking and choosing when they support Victorians and Victorian businesses. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government gave $45 billion to Victoria in Covid support. 'I note that the Queensland government and the Western Australian governments when they were in similar circumstances, took on those responsibilities, having decided to go into those lockdowns.' he said. 'They took on those responsibilities and I commend them for that. 'We will continue to support Victoria to get Victoria open and to do everything we can to ensure Victoria doesn't close itself again.' Health Minister Greg Hunt told reporters in Canberra after he and health secretary Brendan Murphy received their second AstraZeneca jab, 4.2 million vaccinations had now been completed with just under 600,000 in the past week. 'I think that is an extremely important step that more people are being vaccinated at a faster rate than ever before,' he said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government had $45billion to Victoria in Covid support. Pictured: A normally busy Bourke Street Mall is seen on May 28, 2021 in Melbourne But comments by Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, who is sticking to the prime minister's line that it is 'not a race' to get people vaccinated, didn't help the growing friction between Melbourne and Canberra. 'Look, I have said consistently, the way out of this pandemic is the successful rollout of the Commonwealth's vaccine program and the establishment of an alternative quarantine facility, not just in Victoria but elsewhere around the country,' Mr Merlino said. Mr McCormack, who is acting prime minister with Mr Morrison on an official trip to New Zealand, also does not believe there is hesitancy in getting the Covid-19 jab, pointing to 120,000 people being vaccinated on Saturday and a similar number the day before. 'It is not a race, it has to be systematic,' he told Sky News' Sunday Agenda program. 'It has to be rolled out in a way that Australians obviously need to know that they have to get the jab but we can't have everybody going and getting it at the same time.' Victoria is undergoing a seven-day lockdown in response to a cluster of Covid-19 cases. Pictured: People line up at a mass coronavirus vaccination hub in Melbourne on May 28 Trade Minister Dan Tehan tried to downplay the use of the word 'race' when interviewed on ABC's Insiders program. 'You don't describe a vaccine rollout as a race. The Melbourne Cup is a race. We are trying to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as we can,' he said. Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese jumped on the comments, saying what is happening in Victoria is the result of the complacency of the Morrison government. 'They could start with a decent public information campaign,' Mr Albanese told reporters in Sydney. 'Those ads that have been used, frankly, people would have slept through them.' Pictured: Seven-year-old Aishwarya Aswath The devastated father of a seven-year-old girl who died from infection while waiting in a hospital emergency room has called for the state's health minister and all medical staff involved to resign. Aishwarya Aswath spent two hours in the waiting room at Perth Children's Hospital for a fever on April 3, before she was triaged in the second-least urgent category. Her parents begged for her to be assessed by doctors after her eyes became cloudy and her hands turned cold, but it was too late - she died after she was finally seen by a specialist. On Saturday, the little girl's father Aswath Chavittupara, 39, made a petition calling for Western Australian Health Minister Roger Cook, and everyone working on the evening of his daughter's death, to stand down. A report by WA's Child and Adolescent Health Services found Aishwarya died of sepsis after contracting an infection in group A streptococcus. The distraught dad said he has been contacted by many people with similar stories of 'neglect' and 'poor service' since Aishwarya's shock death, and petitioned for Premier Mark McGowan to make changes to WA Health. 'We call on the WA Premier to undertake the following actions: The resignation of the Health Minister Roger Cook,' he wrote on change.org. Aswath Chavittupara, 39, and Prasitha Sasidharan, 33 (pictured) say they were treated without compassion during their time at Perth Children's Hospital West Australian Health Minister Roger Cook addresses the media during a press conference at Dumas House on April 27 in Perth Mr Cook has been fending off calls for his resignation since Aishwarya's death, including from Australian Medical Association president Andrew Millar who said there had been 'four years of failure in health in Western Australia'. Mr Chavittupara also asked for all medical professionals working on the day of his daughter's death to quit, along with the chief executive of the Children and Adolescents Health Services, Aresh Anwar. Dr Anwar tried to stand down in mid-May but his resignation was rejected by Health Department bosses, who said his departure would be too destabilising. On Sunday, Police Minister Paul Papalia expressed his sympathies to the Chavittupara family, but said 'mass sackings' were not the answer. Aishwarya Aswath, seven, (pictured) waited for two hours in the emergency room of Perth Children's Hospital only to die soon after she finally received treatment The little girl's family called on staff at Perth Children's Hospital (pictured) to stand down 'I understand everyone will hope that we don't have to see this sort of an incident again, and the best thing we can do to tackle challenges that are confronted by the health system is not to have mass sackings,' he said. 'You don't want to lose all of your skill sets and your knowledge and your experience, that would be completely counterproductive.' Mr Papalia also stood up for Mr Cook and added there is 'no one in Western Australian politics with as much knowledge of the health system' as him. In the petition, Mr Chavittupara also suggested changed to the health care system to be 'more cognisant of parental concerns' and 'systemic changes to all aspects of patient care to be more inclusive'. Within 20 minutes of arriving, Aishwarya's hands were cold, her eyes were discoloured and her respiratory rate and heart rate were significantly elevated AMA WA president Andrew Miller (pictured) also called on health minister Roger Cook to step down 'Aishwarya's death must not be in vain,' he wrote. The petition almost garnered 1,000 signatures within the first 24 hours. The CAHS report in mid-May also found emergency department staff missed a 'cascade' of opportunities to escalate the seven-year-old's care as she succumbed to a fatal infection on Easter Saturday. Aishwarya's parents sought help on five separate occasions while in the waiting room. Within 20 minutes of arriving, her hands were cold, her eyes were discoloured and her respiratory rate and heart rate were significantly elevated. But the severity of her condition wasn't recognised until an hour and 17 minutes later, when a doctor noticed she had cold peripheries and slurred speech. A report found a 30-minute period where it was left to one nurse to watch over eight waiting room cubicles as Aishwarya continued to deteriorate (pictured: parents of Aishwarya Aswath) She entered a resuscitation bay but was pronounced dead within two hours. The report highlighted a 30-minute period where it was left to one nurse to watch over eight waiting room cubicles as Aishwarya continued to deteriorate. Mr Chavittupara and his wife Prasitha Sasidharan, 33 said the an internal report raised more questions than answers, and renewed calls for an independent inquiry into their daughter's death. 'We didn't get the answers that we were looking for,' an emotional Mr Chavittupara told reporters last week. 'We knew they would only look at some of the areas and ignore the rest. That's why we've been pushing for an external inquiry.' He also said Mr Cook's apology was 'not good enough'. 'I think some of the staff were ignoring us... they didn't even pass on the message to their superiors so they could decide,' he said. State Premier Mark McGowan said of the incident: 'We do have issues occur and this is clearly a big issue' 'We found the staff were a bit rude and we found that the level of humanity that they had was very low.' The McGowan Government insists the hospital was adequately staffed. Mr Cook described his commitment to the little girl's family as 'unswerving'. 'I promised to get to the bottom of what happened to Aishwarya and to take whatever action is necessary to prevent it from happening again,' he said in a statement. The grieving couple have no doubt their seven-year-old daughter Aishwarya would still be alive if their concerns had been addressed 'The root cause analysis made 11 recommendations. They are all being acted on.' The CAHS report made 11 recommendations which the government agreed to implement at PCH within the next six months, including improvements to triage policy. An independent inquiry will also be held into the PCH emergency department. In meetings with hospital executives dating back to October last year, emergency department staff raised concerns around the safety of children in the waiting room. Plans for the new hospital to have a triage support nurse who would check patients' vital signs did not progress after it opened in 2018. New DUP leader Edwin Poots today accused the EU of using Northern Ireland as a 'plaything' to punish the UK for Brexit. Mr Poots stepped up his attack as he pointed out that once grace periods end more checks will be carried out on goods from Britain than take place in Rotterdam. He accused the EU of doing 'demonstrable harm to every individual in Northern Ireland', warning that Boris Johnson has grounds to suspend the protocol automatically. But European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic - who has been negotiating with Brexit minister Lord Frost over changing the rules - dismissed the criticism, making clear that axing the protocol is not on the cards. There have been rising concerns that the post-Brexit rules agreed by Boris Johnson are fuelling sectarian tensions in Northern Ireland, amid unionist anger about obstacles to trade with the UK mainland. New DUP leader Edwin Poots (right) accused the EU of using Northern Ireland as a 'plaything' to punish the UK for Brexit, but European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic (left) made clear the protocol will not be axed There have been rising concerns that the post-Brexit rules agreed by Boris Johnson are fuelling sectarian tensions in Northern Ireland. Pictured, Loyalist protests in Belfast last month Appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Mr Poots said the UK Government has grounds to trigger Article 16 to put the brakes on the Protocol due to 'economic and societal damage'. 'We have violence on our streets in Northern Ireland, which hasn't been the case for years, and that's on the back of this Protocol,' he said. Mr Poots also said while the European Commission over the years 'put their heart and soul into winning peace in Northern Ireland', they currently 'don't seem to care for the peace process that really needs to change, that attitude needs to change'. 'This is the European Union seeking to punish the United Kingdom. As a consequence, Northern Ireland is being used as a plaything for the European Union,' he said. 'I can assure you Northern Ireland should be nobody's plaything, we are citizens of the United Kingdom, we were citizens of the European Union and we deserve to be treated with the same respect as everyone else.' On the same programme, Mr Sefcovic said they searched for four years for the 'best solution to the very sensitive situation in Northern Ireland'. He said for the EU and the UK it was 'very clear' that was the Northern Ireland Protocol. He also urged a focus on policies and politics that unite than divide and to look at the Protocol as an 'opportunity' for Northern Ireland. Mr Sefcovic said he wants to meet the Northern Ireland Executive parties before the next Joint Committee, which is expected to take place in the middle of June. 'I would like to hear from Mr Poots himself but also from other leaders of the political parties who form the Northern Ireland Executive and discuss with them what we can do better,' he said. Mr Sefcovic mooted a Switzerland-type agreement on a temporary basis which would 'get rid of 80 per cent of checks'. 'I think it would be the right thing to do, it would calm down the situation,' he said. He reiterated his opposition to a hard border on the island of Ireland and called for more co-operation between the EU and the UK. However, Mr Poots responded by saying he wanted to see a permanent solution. 'The permanent solution is to take the barriers away between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and provide security in terms of the single market that goods that are entering the European Union from Great Britain have the appropriate checks,' he said. 'I believe we can eradicate virtually all of the risks to the single market by having checks on the goods that are going to the European Union based in Northern Ireland. That deals with the single market issue and it still allows all of the food and all of the medicines that are travelling to Northern Ireland from Great Britain without huge costs, 25 million per year, being added to the public purse.' Health experts have warned that the June 21 unlocking is still 'too early' - despite the 'remarkable' progress in the country's vaccine rollout. New figures show that more than half of people in their 30s in England have received a coronavirus vaccination in a period of little over two weeks. NHS England said that, since it began opening up the vaccine rollout to this age group on May 13, some 53 per cent of those aged 30 to 39 have been given at least one dose. People aged 30 to 31 were the most recent group to be invited for their jab - from Wednesday - with more than five million appointments made through the national booking service within 72 hours. NHS England confirmed that in the two weeks since opening up vaccines to people aged 30 to 39, some 53 per cent have been given at least one dose. Pictured: Alex Morton receives her Covid-19 jab at the Life Science Centre International Centre for Life in Newcastle Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, has said June 21 is 'too early' to lift coronavirus restrictions in England It means the government continues to be on track to hit the deadline of offering a vaccine to every adult by the end of July. The continued success of the rollout is also one of the government's four tests to allow a further easing of restrictions, with the final one in just over three weeks time. But Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, has said June 21 is 'too early' to lift coronavirus restrictions in England. She told Sky News: 'I really think that it is too early to be charging ahead. I would like to see several more weeks' data.' She said the planned date is 'very ambitious', adding: 'The 21st of June is very soon and I think to avoid more preventable deaths... we really need to be cautious at the current time.' Figures from May 28 show that 39,068,346 people have had their first shot in Britain. 3,398 Covid infections were recorded yesterday, a jump of 25 per cent, while deaths increased slightly to seven It comes as a scientific adviser warned confusion over the Government's handling of Covid restrictions was undermining efforts to control the virus. Professor Stephen Reicher, a psychologist on the Sage sub-committee advising ministers on behavioural science, said the Government was in a 'pickle' because it appeared to have abandoned the 'data not dates' principle. The NHS, meanwhile, is asking people aged 50 and older, as well as those who are clinically vulnerable, to bring forward their second Covid-19 vaccination to help combat the spread of the B1.617.2 variant first identified in India. It follows the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommending earlier this month that the second dose interval be shortened from 12 weeks to eight for people in priority cohorts. NHS England said that, so far, 600,000 people have been invited to rearrange their second jab through the national booking service, with around a quarter moving their appointment earlier. Overall, more than 32 million people have been vaccinated with a first dose in England, almost three-quarters of the total adult population, while more than 21 million people have had both doses. NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: 'It is remarkable that, in little over two weeks since people in their 30s began getting their invites, more than half have now had their first dose. 'This success is no happy accident but the result of months of careful planning and the sheer hard work and dedication of NHS staff. 'The Covid-19 vaccine is our most effective weapon against coronavirus and the best way of protecting yourself and loved ones, so, if you do one thing this bank holiday weekend, book your lifesaving jab and, crucially, if you're contacted by the NHS to do so, bring forward your second dose of vital protection.' Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he is 'absolutely thrilled' at the progress in the 30s age group and thanked those coming forward 'to do their bit to defeat the virus'. He added: 'As we enjoy the reopening of pubs and restaurants again, vaccines will play a crucial role in protecting us and those around us. 'Vaccines are the best way out of this pandemic and I urge everybody to take up the offer when eligible.' Meanwhile, British intelligence operatives reportedly now believe it is 'feasible' the pandemic began with a leak from a research laboratory in Wuhan, China. The Times says the development, which Beijing has angrily denied, has prompted US diplomatic sources to share their concerns 'we are one wet market or bio lab away from the next spillover'. By Marcel Beukeboom and Tomas Anker Christensen Tomas Anker Christensen Marcel Beukeboom A family returning to the UK have said staying in a quarantine hotel was their 'worst ever experience' after a mother and baby were left needing hospital treatment. Abby Pansegrauw, 34, and her one-year-old baby son both had to be treated in hospital, the latter for three days, as a result, they say, of food given to them at Novotel London Heathrow Airport in April. Staying with her husband, Etienne, and two other children, Mrs Pansegrauw was returning after four months stranded in South Africa's Eastern Cape as a result of the country being placed on the UK's red list. They had initially visited family for a short trip in December. Mr Pansegrauw, 41, who moved to the UK from South Africa in 1999, said: '(Mrs Pansegrauw) ended up on a drip, because she was so dehydrated.' The hotel refused to acknowledge it and refused to apologise. Pictured: Etienne Pansegrauw with his wife Abby and their children who said staying in a quarantine hotel was their 'worst ever experience' after Abby and their son were hospitalised 'I would say it's the worst experience I've ever had - not just hotel experience.' The family, who split their time between southwest London and Tadpole Village, Wiltshire, said Mrs Pansegrauw could have theoretically spread a Covid-19 variant to two London taxi drivers who transported them. Mr Pansegrauw said the family had to wait two hours for the hotel to organise transport to the hospital, which they claimed 'would be sanitised' but ultimately was a 'regular taxi'. 'When the taxi showed up there were wrappers of crisps lying in the backseat, cans of soda, it was filthy,' Mr Pansegrauw added. At the hospital, Mrs Pansegrauw was placed in a ward with Covid patients - then when she was discharged, she was returned to the hotel by a different taxi and driver. 'That seems ridiculous, doesn't it really... when you're dealing with people who you suppose could have Covid,' said Mr Pansegrauw. The family say a medical report shows hospital doctors cited food poisoning as likely cause The Pansegrauw family say they paid 2,400 to stay at the Novotel hotel at Heathrow Airport 'They were very, very unprepared for it.' A doctor's report shared by the family indicates doctors at their hospital believed food poisoning was a likely cause for the mother and son's illnesses while at Novotel Heathrow. However, a spokesperson for Novotel said that the company 'conducted a detailed investigation' and claimed an attending paramedic 'found food poisoning to be unlikely with there being no other cases at the hotel'. All travellers entering England from the Government's red list of countries must immediately quarantine for 10 full days in one of a number of hotels. Despite stays costing over 2,000, excluding flights, some travellers have complained about poor customer service and Covid protocols. The cost of the Pansegrauws' stay was 2,400 which, on top of 2,000 for their flight, required them to max out their credit cards. Pictured: photo of examples of the food given to the Pansegrauw family while in quarantine Despite this, guests had to clean their own room and pay extra per item for their clothes to be washed, Mr Pansegrauw said, and the family's only kitchen facilities were a mini-fridge and kettle. The pub owner added there was 'nothing healthy' for his children to eat and they were refused requests for 'simple things' like spaghetti. 'I've never been in prison before, but (the hotel conditions) felt like that was the closest thing to it,' Mr Pansegrauw said. Quarantine hotels are organised on behalf of the UK government by Corporate Travel Management (CTM), which Mr Pansegrauw also described as 'absolutely useless'. When organising the trip, Mrs Pansegrauw's phone records show she had to call CTM almost 20 times over three weeks without reply before they could speak to the company. Two travellers from India said they also felt the quarantine system placed them in environments where Covid variants could spread. The Pansegrauw family paid 2,400 to stay at the Novotel Heathrow Airport hotel for 10 days It was also revealed that several other travellers who complained about the hotel food, with Paresh Bhundia stating that Novotel Heathrow gave him and his wife several meals with meat despite explicit requests for vegetarian cuisine. A CTM spokesperson said it has made bookings for more than 27,900 people returning to the UK, and received complaints about the service in hotel quarantine for 1.6 per cent of bookings. 'We are adapting our resources to manage very high volumes of calls from travellers returning to the UK,' they said. 'We are sorry for the long wait times that some travellers have experienced in trying to contact us.' A spokesperson for Novotel said the company was 'disappointed' to hear the Pansegrauws' feedback, adding that feedback from other guests has overall been 'overwhelmingly positive'. 'We of course recognise these are challenging circumstances and we have done all we can to make the experience as comfortable as possible for our guests, including enabling guests to order take-away food deliveries during their stay,' the spokesperson said. Pictures show double beds squeezed into a single room to accommodate the three of them 'Any service that falls outside of that, such as security and transport, is the responsibility of other suppliers contracted by the Government.' It comes after a family of three who got stuck abroad for three months after taking a 10-day holiday in February to Dubai complained of the 'inhuman' conditions at their 3,000 quarantine hotel in Luton. Shabana Shah and her children Rida, 15, and Raiyman, 20, left Britain on February 14 for the getaway but after a series of flight cancellations and a 10,000-mile voyage, only arrived back home on Tuesday. Ms Shah, 48, claims just four days into her stay, Etihad Airlines cancelled her flight to Manchester Airport, leaving them stranded. She then booked flights home via Turkey on March 15, but her daughter became ill and was too sick to fly. Ms Shah then arranged new flights for April 15, but tested positive for Covid and had to isolate. Shabana Shah (pictured) and her children left Britain on February 14 for the getaway but after a series of flight cancellations and a 10,000-mile voyage, only arrived back home last week She managed to secure three seats on a plane flying to Heathrow on May 4, but had to scrap her plans because all the quarantine hotels were full. So she decided to divert to Istanbul, in Turkey, where she had to stay in the country - then on the UK's travel green list - for 10 days before being allowed to fly back to the UK. The government then added Turkey to the red list on May 7, forcing the trio into a quarantine hotel in Luton when they finally touched down on May 15. She said the worst aspect was her stay in the Holiday Inn Express at Luton Airport. Ms Shah said: 'That was just awful. We were all in one tiny room and the food was awful.' When Sabana complained to hotel staff about the conditions, she was told to contact Australian firm Corporate Travel Management (CTM) Ltd, which has the contract with the government. She said: 'They were just blaming each other and were just playing games. We were in there for 10 days and nothing was done. We were treated really badly.' The Shah family were put in a 'family room' at the Holiday Inn at a total fixed cost of 3,050. Pictures show two double beds have been squeezed into a single room to accommodate the three of them. With luggage taking up what little floor space that is left, the trio have been forced to climb across a bed to get to the bathroom. It is understood they could get an additional room at a further cost of 650 but have declined. They family said they were permitted to leave for fresh air for only 15 minutes at a time. A spokesperson for IHG Hotels and Resorts, which owns the Holiday Inn Express brand, said: 'We are unable to share any comment as the approach to quarantine is a matter for the DHSC (Department for Health and Social Care). In response to both cases, a Department of Health spokesperson said: 'Our top priority has always been protecting the public and the robust border and testing regime we have in place is helping minimise the risk of new variants coming into the UK. 'The Government continues to ensure every person in quarantine gets the support they need, and all managed quarantine facilities are accommodating the vast majority of people's requirements. 'Hotels do their utmost to take any necessary steps to address concerns raised by guests.' The boss of Heathrow Airport has urged the government to reveal its green list of summer holiday destinations to save families from the misery of soaring prices and reduced options. John Holland-Kaye warned that keeping the list of safe destinations for July and August under wraps would lead to operators scaling back on scheduled flights which would lead to a huge rise in seat prices. He pointed to popular destinations such as Spain and its Balearic islands where Covid infections are low, suggesting they were 'coming into the green zone' but may not be announced for weeks. There are only 12 locations that have so far been added to the green list, but Portugal, Gibraltar and Iceland are seen as actual holiday destinations. There is set to be an expansion of the list on June 7, with Jamaica, Finland, and the Canary Islands seen as possibilities, although Boris Johnson has warned that the list will not expand 'very rapidly'. Heathrow Airport's chief executive has urged the government to reveal its green list of summer holiday destinations to save families from the misery of soaring prices and reduced options John Holland-Kaye warned that keeping the list of safe destinations for July and August under wraps would lead to operators scaling back on scheduled flights which would lead to a huge rise in seat prices Mainland European destinations such as Spain, France and Italy are also expected to be much further off. Mr Holland-Kaye told The Telegraph: 'I fear the Government is going to drag its feet on Spain. I think that will be a mistake and the reason for that is that very few people are flying in spite of all the hype we see. 'From the week before travel opened up with the first green countries, we went from 7,000 passengers departing a week to between 10,000 and 11,000. People were being very disciplined and following the guidance. Currently there are only 12 destinations on the government's 'green list' 'If we don't put Spain on the list soon, then people will face a dilemma. Do I not go on holiday at all and face another rainy summer in the UK? Or do I break the rules and go to an amber country against guidance? People don't want to break the rule The chief executive said the government ought to be doing holidaymakers 'a service' by giving them enough warning that Spain, while not given the green list next week, will be possible in July. But if the government leaves an announcement until June 'it will be too late'. It comes as a report from the CEBR economic forecasting group warned that the UK is set to miss out on billions of pounds of spending from passengers arriving into Heathrow if the green list is not extended as part of the upcoming travel review. Business and leisure passengers arriving at the airport are estimated to spend over 16 billion a year across the UK, sustaining jobs at thousands of businesses. US visitors travelling through Heathrow are the largest source of inbound tourism revenue for the economy, with these passengers accounting for 3.74 billion, said the report. There is a risk that US visitors could go elsewhere, as countries such as Italy and France prepare to welcome them back, it was warned. Paul Charles, chief executive at The PC Agency, included Grenada, Morocco and Finland as green on his unofficial traffic light system based on current infection rates and the percentage of people who have been vaccinated Mr Holland-Kaye said the government ought to be doing holidaymakers 'a service' by giving them enough warning that Spain, while not given the green list next week, will be possible in July The report was published as Heathrow is working with the Government to launch a dedicated red list arrivals facility, creating more capacity for arrivals from an expanded green list. The facility will be launched on June 1 in Terminal 3 before being moved to Terminal 4. John Holland-Kaye said: 'This research shows just how many businesses across the UK are losing out because of the Government's restrictions on access to overseas visitors and markets. 'The Government has the tools to protect both public health and the economy and ministers must unlock more low-risk destinations across Europe, as well as the US, as part of the next review on June 7.' Pictured: Samantha Lyndell Azzopardi A serial conwoman who has a history of inventing bizarre fake identities once kept a young American traveller locked in a cabin for eight days and got her thrown in jail. Samantha Lyndell Azzopardi was jailed for to two years in Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday on fraud and child stealing charges, with a non-parole period of one year. With the 576 days she has already spent in jail, the compulsive liar could soon be released back into the community. On the day of the sentencing, Emily Bamberger - who was duped by the conwoman while holidaying in Sydney at the age of 18 - said she felt 'very empathetic and sad' to hear about other families who were tricked like she was. Ms Bamberger met first Azzopardi at a hostel in 2014 when the fraudster was calling herself Annika Dekker. She told her new friend that she was royalty who was kidnapped as a child and looked after by Interpol agents. Ms Bamberger was skeptical but thought the fantastical tales were largely harmless, until she got an email from an address ending with @interpol.com by a man claiming to be Azzopardi's 'keeper', according to news.com.au. The email, which was actually written by the conwoman, said the pair were being followed and should leave Sydney. Alleged fake au pair Samantha Azzopardi admitted she defrauded families by lying about her identity LIFE AND TIMES OF A SERIAL CONWOMAN In 2013, Azzopardi showed up in central Dublin claiming to be a teenage sex trafficking victim from Eastern Europe. It cost the Irish government hundreds of thousands of dollars before her true identity was exposed. After being deported she showed up in Canada, where she said she was a victim of sexual assault and torture. In Australia, she convinced a Perth family she was a Russian gymnast named Emily whose entire family had been killed in a murder-suicide in France. She's been caught in Sydney, passing herself off as a schoolgirl more than half her age. Advertisement According to the traveller, the email contained information about her that she had never told anyone in Australia. 'It's the strangest thing that's ever happened to me,' she previously told the publication. 'She knew my family, my addresses.' When she went to the RMS to get fake ID's for herself and Azzopardi, she was terrified. 'I've never felt so scared. They sent me some documents and we went down to RMS. I got a new ID, my name was Amy Fisher. I was freaked out, I thought "this is real".' Ms Bamberger has since questioned why she didn't escape while she could, but said it was in her nature to want to help, so she travelled with her new friend to Brisbane. One night, Azzopardi awoke complaining of a headache. Ms Bamberger called an ambulance but when paramedics arrived, the conwoman told them she was 14 and the American traveller was her sister. She was lost for words and went along with the fantasy, until police arrived, accused her of kidnapping and hauled her into an interview room and spent hours asking her questions. 'They asked me if I thought I was in danger and I nodded yes but said no into the recorder. I spent two days in jail and they charged me with fraud over the fake ID. I was fined a lot of money.' Azzopardi then fled her hospital bed with her catheter still in her arm and boarded a plane with Ms Bamberger back to Sydney. Samantha Azzopardi has been sentenced in Melbourne over child stealing charges She took the terrified American to the house where she grew up in Cambelltown in south-west Sydney, which the fraudster called a 'safe house'. For eight days, Ms Bamberger was kept in a cabin and not allowed into the main house. She was denied access to wi-fi and could not tell her family if she was OK. 'I can't believe how creepy that was looking back on it,' Ms Bamberger said. 'Nobody knew where I was.' When her tourist visa was about to expire, she flew to New Zealand to apply for a new one but was questioned heavily by border control in Australia and New Zealand. Upon arrival back in Australia, she was deported and has never set foot in the country again. Azzopardi still has all her belongings, including her $1,000 camera. Samantha Azzopardi (pictured) has had more than 40 different aliases and has conned people for several years within Australia and around the world At the sentencing on Friday, Magistrate Joanna Metcalf had little choice but to add to Azzopardi's prison sentence after she refused to accept a community-based order. The order would have ensured Azzopardi got treatment for her mental illness, which Ms Metcalf accepted contributed to her crimes. The court heard the compulsive liar planned to leave Victoria immediately upon her release, but refused to tell authorities who she would live with. Doctors held little hope that Azzopardi would not commit more crimes once let loose back in the community. If granted parole, conditions can be placed upon her to ensure she continued to seek treatment for her mental condition. She told her lawyer she wants to live with an aunt in northern NSW, but has refused to hand over any specific details. Azzopardi had duped Melbourne couple Tom and Jazze Jervis into believing she was a qualified au pair named Harper Hernandez. While claiming to be from a rich American family, Azzopardi had received $6,500 while working for the Jervis family for six months. Samantha Azzopardi has been sentenced over a series of bizarre kidnappings in 2019 A French couple living in Melbourne was also duped by Azzopardi, believing she was an au pair named Sakah. Police found Azzopardi with identification documents belonging to 19 different people, including a child, when they eventually caught up with her. A doctor would later claim the fraudster suffered from a severe borderline personality and a condition called pseudologia fantastica, which resulted in 'extreme lying'. The matter was scheduled for a contested preliminary hearing after Azzopardi challenged the nature of the fraud she was alleged to have committed. She orginally faced 55 charges, including child stealing, before agreeing to plead guilty on Monday to charges of child stealing, obtaining property by deception and theft. Six witnesses were due to give evidence at the hearing, including Jazze and Tom Jervis, who employed Azzopardi between December 2018 and June 2019. Azzopardi's lawyer argued her client should have received a good behaviour bond due to the length of time she had already spent in custody. Samantha Azzopardi appeared in a Melbourne court on Friday and was sentenced to two years in jail She had claimed Azzopardi never intended to harm or deprive the parents of the children. She was arrested in November 2019 at a Myer store in Bendigo - in country Victoria - where she allegedly took a 10-month-old girl and a four-year-old girl without their parents knowledge. CCTV footage allegedly showing Azzopardi with the children was aired on Channel 9 at the time. It showed Azzopardi wearing what appeared to be a school dress and sunhat, holding the baby while her four-year-old sister walked behind. Police had alleged Azzopardi posed as an au pair and moved into the family home in Pascoe Vale just weeks before the CCTV was captured. She allegedly told the children's parents that she was taking them for a day trip, but ended up in Bendigo. The alarm was raised when Azzopardi was allegedly spotted inside a mental health centre and detectives swooped. The girls were returned unharmed in the bizarre kidnapping. CCTV footage showing fake au pair - Samantha Azzopardi - in Bendigo with two children she took off with At a hearing in June, the court heard Azzopardi was accused of calling herself Harper Hernandez and stealing the drivers license of a woman who hired her to look after her young children. She allegedly helped the woman apply for a new passport but kept the original. She was further accused of using the womans drivers license to book into a motel as part of a second con, which saw her allegedly portray a woman named 'Marley' to convince a 12-year-old girl to undertake a series of bizarre tasks. Azzopardi allegedly told the girl she was a casting agent auditioning for a voice-over role for an upcoming Disney Pixar movie in Sydney. In 2013, Azzopardi showed up in central Dublin claiming to be a teenage sex trafficking victim from Eastern Europe. It cost the Irish government hundreds of thousands of dollars before her true identity was exposed. After being deported she showed up in Canada, where she said she was a victim of sexual assault and torture. John Constable's The Hay Wain could be based on a wooden cart parked in a north London 'equine service station', an art expert has claimed. Neil Titley made the astonishing discovery while researching the history of Hampstead for his book Under Ken Wood and claims the famous 1821 oil painting actually depicts Whitestone Pond. The reservoir, which is today no more than an aquatic atoll in the A502, was previously known as Horse Pond and was an 'equine equivalent of a motorway service station'. Art historians have long believed Constable's inspiration for the painting was the view from his retreat on the River Stour in Suffolk, making the buildings in the background Flatford Mill and Willy Lot's house. But, Titley claims The Hay Wain must in fact depict the unassuming Whitestone Pond because Constable was not in Suffolk at the time it was painted and was therefore 'more likely' to have relied on a real-life model much closer to his Hampstead home. Slide me John Constable's The Hay Wain could be based on a wooden cart parked in a north London 'equine service station',art expert Neil Titley has claimed The painter lived in Number 2, Lower Terrace, Hampstead - about 200 metres from Whitestone Pond - for three years between 1819 and 1821. During this time he completed the 6ft by 4ft painting, apparently from memory. But, Titley's research has uncovered letters which show Constable was concerned about completing The Hay Wain to a tight five month deadline ahead of the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy without first returning to Flatford Mill. On April 1, he wrote: 'My picture goes to the Academy on the loth. I have yet much to do to it.' Desperate not to rely on previous sketches and memory, Constable wrote to his Suffolk apprentice John Dunthorne and requested a drawing of a high sided hay wain. But, Titley claims, the finished article looks nothing like the sketch requested of Dunthorne. John Constable lived in Number 2, Lower Terrace, Hampstead - about 200 metres from Whitestone Pond - for three years between 1819 and 1821 Art historians have long believed Constable's inspiration for the painting was the view from his retreat on the River Stour in Suffolk, making the buildings in the background Flatford Mill and Willy Lot's house (pictured) He told the Telegraph: 'It is far more likely that Constable relied on a real-life model much closer to hand. 'Each time he left his house, he would have seen stationary horses and carts standing up to their axles in the water at Whitestone Pond. 'Every type of wagon was present within a two-minute walk of his home and his easel. 'It may be significant that his own title was a more ambiguous Landscape: Noon the popular name of The Hay Wain was only attached later by others.' Titley's discovery was termed 'entirely plausible' by the former curator of Tate Britain, Simon Wilson. He also said the theory was 'a fascinating contribution' to studies of Constable's work. The discovery comes after The Hay Wain was voted Britain's second greatest masterpiece earlier this year. Ministers were told about the arrival of the Indian coronavirus variant in Britain two weeks before they told the British public. According to the Sunday Times, the Government was told about the variant's presence in Britain on April 1 but no official statement was made until April 15. India was also not placed on the 'red list' of banned countries until April 23, meaning that for a further eight days potentially infected travellers were allowed to come into the UK. By contrast, last December a travel ban was imposed on South Africa within just two days of officials discovering that the infectious strain from that country had entered Britain. The fast-spreading Indian B.1.617.2 strain is now behind up to three quarters of all cases in the UK, and has been found in more than 250 of England's 300-plus authorities. Ministers were told about the arrival of the Indian coronavirus variant in Britain two weeks before they told the British public By late March, the variant was spreading quickly across India, with the country's health officials warning it was highly infectious and may undermine the newly-developed vaccines. Reports suggested the imposition of border restrictions on travellers from India may have been delayed to maintain good relations with India before key post-Brexit trade talks take place. There was also said to be concern that India might prevent vaccine supplies being sent from its factories to the UK if the Government placed the country on the red list. However, the new revelations will raise further questions about the UK's border policies, which were labelled a 'joke' by Boris Johnson's former chief adviser Dominic Cummings last week. Home Secretary Priti Patel also claimed in January that she had argued for the borders to be closed in March last year. Indian health officials first announced the detection of its 'double mutant' virus strain on March 24. On April 1, Public Health England then designated it a 'variant under investigation' and told ministers straight away. But when the Government added Pakistan and Bangladesh to its red list a day later, it refused to do the same for India. Pakistan and Bangladesh were added to the list even though infection rates were a tenth those of India. On April 15, when the Government finally announced the presence of the Indian variant in the UK, there were 77 confirmed cases. But it then took another four days for the Government to announce that India would be placed on the red list. The measure wasn't actually imposed until April 23. It meant that there was a rush of potentially infected travellers from India. The country was at that point seeing more than 300,000 cases and 2,300 deaths a day. Prior to the rules coming in, travellers could arrive from India as long as they had a negative test within three days of leaving, had filled out a locator form and had agreed to self-isolate for ten days once in Britain. This meant that potentially infected travellers could have mingled with other passengers at airports and on public transport when making their way to their hotel accommodation. A Whitehall source told The Sunday Times that the borders were kept open to keep vaccine supplies flowing. They said: 'The government was told that if they effectively closed our border with India and put them on the red list, it would be much harder for us to access their vaccines and that was the reason for the delay. 'It had nothing to do with the trade deal. The data was presented by officials, which suggested that India should have gone on the red list much sooner.' By contrast, India suspended all flights to and from the UK when the British Government issued a warning about the Kent strain. A PHE official confirmed to the Sunday Times that they informed ministers about the Indian variant on April 1. A Downing Street statement said that before India had been placed on the red list, 'anyone coming to the UK had to test negative and quarantine for ten days.' Public Health England analysis shows of the 12 people who have died with the variant in the country, eight were unvaccinated, two had a first dose, and two had both doses of a vaccine NHS Test and Trace data yesterday showed the majority of people testing positive for Covid in the UK were in the younger age brackets It comes after latest figures showed that coronavirus cases again crept up slightly yesterday, with 3,398 tests recorded in the country a 26.1 per cent rise on last week. It continued an 11-day trend of rising case numbers, although overall the infection rate remains low despite the rapid spread of the Indian variant. Deaths with Covid also increased to seven up from just six on Saturday last week a slight rise of 16.7 per cent. Meanwhile, Britain's mammoth vaccination drive has continued at pace, with 197,146 first doses dished out on Monday, taking the overall number to more than 39million. Some 414,364 second doses were also given out yesterday, with more than 23.2million people in the country now fully vaccinated. The successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia will not be named after the late Duke of Edinburgh as Prime Minister Boris Johnson had hoped. Costing up to 200 million, the boat will be used to host ministerial summits and diplomatic talks as part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's plan to build links with other countries following Brexit. It will be the first national flagship since Britannia, which was decommissioned in 1997, but the new vessel will be a ship rather than a luxury yacht. Boris Johnson has announced a successor to the Royal Yacht Britannia to promote British trade on the world stage following Brexit (an artists impression of the new national flagship) The old vessel is currently berthed in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was hoped that the ship would be named after the Prince Philip, who died in April at the age of 99, but the PM's plan was rejected by the royals. A senior Whitehall inside had said the ship would be named after Prince Philip, who played a role in designing the original Britannia, if Buckingham Palace agreed to the plan. But, a royal source said the suggestion was 'too grand' and added 'it is not something we have asked for.' The Royal Family will not be using the new ship for personal travel or holidays, as they previously did with the former Royal Yacht Britannia, but will be able to use it to undertake overseas visits at the request of the government. The Royal Yacht was particularly important to the Royal Family, who used it as a private getaway for holidays and honeymoons for more than 40 years. It is understood that the Queen, 95, no longer undertakes overseas travel because of her age. The Royal Yacht was particularly important to the Royal Family, who used it as a private getaway for holidays and honeymoons for more than 40 years. When it was decommissioned the monarch, who it has been reported was happiest on board the yacht, was seen shedding a tear in public. Buckingham Palace has not been involved in the decision to commission the ship but a source said 'we respect it'. It will be the first national flagship since Britannia (pictured), which was decommissioned in 1997, but the new vessel will be a ship rather than a luxury yacht Construction of the new ship is expected to begin as soon as 2022 and it will enter service within the next four years. The tendering process for the design and construction of the vessel will launch shortly, with an emphasis on showcasing British design expertise and the latest innovations in green technology. It is expected to be in service for about 30 years, and will be crewed by the Royal Navy. Mr Johnson said: 'This new national flagship will be the first vessel of its kind in the world, reflecting the UK's burgeoning status as a great, independent maritime trading nation. Mr Johnson (pictured) said: 'This new national flagship will be the first vessel of its kind in the world, reflecting the UK's burgeoning status as a great, independent maritime trading nation' 'Every aspect of the ship, from its build to the businesses it showcases on board, will represent and promote the best of British - a clear and powerful symbol of our commitment to be an active player on the world stage.' Shadow Treasury chief secretary Bridget Phillipson said: 'Right now our country faces huge challenges, and there's no sign the government has a plan for the recovery. 'We want to see public money used for targeted investment in a green economic recovery, resources for our NHS, and supporting families to succeed. The old vessel ((pictured) is currently berthed in Edinburgh, Scotland 'If this ship is going to be part of a genuine plan for Britain's future, the government must set out clearly how it will boost trade, jobs and growth in every corner of our country. 'We'd want to see it built in Britain, supporting jobs and skills in shipyards here, and with a real focus on value for money at every stage.' A 13-year-old girl has been in intensive care for two weeks with third-degree burns after setting herself on fire while trying to copy a TikTok stunt. Destini Crane, from Portland, Oregon, seriously burned her neck and right arm while apparently trying to copy a trick where someone draws a shape with hairspray or alcohol on a mirror, before setting it on fire. In the home bathroom where the seventh grader attempted the risky stunt on May 13, her mother found a candle, a lighter and a bottle of rubbing alcohol, which is believed to have exploded in the poorly-ventilated space. Destini Crane, from Portland, Oregon, seriously burned her neck and right arm while apparently trying to copy a trick where someone draws a shape with flammable liquid on a mirror before setting it on fire. She is pictured in intensive care 'I was in the living room talking with my mom, and I heard her scream my name,' Kimberly Crane told ABC News. 'So I went and opened the bathroom door and everything was on fire. Destini was on fire. Things in the bathroom were on fire.' Kimberly took her daughter outside and managed to remove her burning shirt while a neighbor called 911. Destini, who Kimberly said 'lived for TikToks', was taken to intensive care where she has been ever since. She has not been able to speak since the incident but her family pieced together what had happened by what they found and speaking to friends. Her phone was still recording footage after the explosion. Kimberly said she hopes Destini will be able to move into a burn unit soon, but she is expected to need several months to recover and regain mobility in her neck, shoulders and fingers, as well as the use of her arm. 'That is just going to be a lifelong thing, of her doing physical therapy to keep her mobility,' Kimberly said. She added that she wanted to share what had happened to raise awareness of the danger of similar stunts. In the home bathroom where Destini (pictured) attempted the risky stunt on May 13, her mother found a candle, a lighter and a bottle of rubbing alcohol, which is believed to have exploded in the poorly-ventilated space Destini's mother, Kimberly, (who she is pictured with in an undated photo) took her daughter outside and managed to remove her burning shirt while a neighbor called 911 The minimum age for TikTok is just 13, and the app has been linked to a series of injuries among child users. Last March, a 13-year-old Jersey boy was left badly hurt in hospital after a 'skull-breaker challenge', a dangerous game that involves someone before tricked into jumping in the air as someone else kicks their feet from under them. Two teenage boys were charged with third-degree aggravated assault and third-degree endangering an injured victim for their part in the challenge. Stacy and Mark Shenker's 13-year-old son, a Cherry Hill middle school student, was rushed to the hospital after he fell victim to the challenge. Mark said: 'Just because you see that something looks funny doesn't mean when you try to do it, that it's going to be.' Also last year 15-year-old Oklahoma girl who died after overdosing on Benadryl as part of another 'challenge' in which teens took large doses of the anti-allergy drug to hallucinate. Chloe Marie Phillips of Blanchard died in the early morning hours of August 21. Chloe Marie Phillips, 15, of Blanchard, Oklahoma, died in the early morning hours of August 21, 2020 after she overdosed on Benadryl following a TikTok challenge Janette Sissy Leasure, Chloe's great aunt, posted a now-deleted message on Facebook urging families to be on alert for kids taking part in the 'Benadryl challenge.' 'This needs to stop taking our kids or putting them in the hospital,' she wrote on Facebook. 'Don't let it take any more kids...I don't want to see any families go through what we are going through right now,' she wrote. Parents are able to restrict what content their children can see by enabling the platform's 'restricted mode'. Dailymail.com has contacted TikTok for comment. Ministers want all over-50s to get second coronavirus jabs by June 21 amid fears over whether higher infection rates could stop 'freedom day' going ahead. Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi highlighted the target as he said the government will wait for the latest data on June 14 before deciding whether to proceed with the unlocking as planned. Government advisers have been warning that Boris Johnson is 'likely' to scale back the axing restrictions next month, with signs that the order to work from home where possible and wear face masks could stay in place. NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson said today that hospitals are under 'worrying' pressure with uncertainty over the transmissibility of the Indian variant and the number of people not fully vaccinated. Asked in interviews whether the remaining restrictions will be eased if cases are still increasing, Mr Zahawi told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show: 'What I'm saying to you is we have to be cautious. We have to look at the data and share it with the country. 'Are we still vaccinating at scale? Big tick. Are the vaccines working? Yes. But are infection rates too high for us to then not be able to proceed because there are too many people getting into hospital? I don't know the answer to it. 'But we will know it on, hopefully on the 14th, a few more weeks.' He said that as the virus becomes endemic 'we're going to have to live with a certain amount of Covid being transmitted'. Pressed on whether there could be a partial lifting of restrictions, with mask-wearing and working from home continuing, Mr Zahawi said: 'We need to look at the data.' Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi highlighted the target as he said the government will wait for the latest data on June 14 before deciding whether to proceed with the unlocking as planned Ministers want all over-50s to get their second coronavirus jabs by the June 21 'freedom day' Current data suggest that although hospital admissions are rising in some parts of the country affected by the Indian variant, they are at a very low level compared with the winter peak. Between May 19 and 25, 870 people went into hospital with coronavirus, an increase of 23.2 per cent compared with the previous seven days. Meanwhile, the reproduction number the R value for England is 1 to 1.1, up from 0.9 and 1.1 the previous week, suggesting the epidemic is growing. Mr Hopson warned that although hospitals were not expecting to be overwhelmed by a surge of Covid-19 cases, they were already stretched by going 'full pelt' on dealing with the backlog of cases built up during the pandemic and urgent care needs. Hospitals are operating under reduced capacity due to Covid-19 restrictions and increased numbers of coronavirus patients will add to difficulties by requiring wards to be reconfigured, he added. But he said it was 'very significant and important' that the evidence suggests the success of the vaccination campaign means much lower levels of hospital admissions, serious illness and death than previously experienced. 'Significant numbers of Covid-19 hospital inpatients will adversely impact care backlog recovery,' he said. '(The) current degree of pressure on hospitals is worrying especially since we saw clear summer demand surges in the two years before Covid-19. 'But if, as evidence above suggests, success of (the) vaccination campaign means much lower levels of hospitalisation, serious illness and mortality, even with (the) new variant, that is very significant and important. This means there is a difficult decision to make for June 21.' He also suggested the Government needs to consider the increased burden on hospitals in UK holiday hotspots in coming months with people not travelling abroad, saying one trust chief on the south coast had warned they will 'struggle' to meet the 'significant extra demand'. One adviser involved in assessing emerging figures told the Sunday Times: 'If I was to call it now, I'd say step four is highly likely to be delayed.' Dr Mike Tildesley, a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (Spi-M) Government advisory panel, said there was still 'quite a lot of uncertainty' around the June 21 date. He told LBC: 'We are starting to see signs of course that cases are going up, but at the moment we're still obviously reporting hospital admissions and deaths at very low levels.' He highlighted there can be a delay of a week or two between case increases and hospital admissions possibly rising, but said the country was in 'a very different place' to where it was in January. Mr Johnson is expected to delay a honeymoon after his wedding as he grapples with whether the unlocking can go ahead amid rising cases of the Indian variant He said scientists had 'an awful lot of work to do' to analyse data on the link between cases and hospital admissions, while bearing in mind the situation with the Indian variant, to give evidence to the Government. And he warned that if a big wave of cases was allowed to build, that could give rise to new, more dangerous, mutations. 'The problem is, if you have huge numbers of cases, then that increases the risk of the virus mutating, and it may be that you might get a variant emerging that all of a sudden evades the vaccines completely.' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer suggested the biggest risk to easing the lockdown on June 21 was 'incompetence' in the Government. He said 'weak, slow decisions' by the Government on border policy had allowed the Indian variant to spread. Allegra Stratton was appointed as the PM's press secretary despite an interview panel recommending another candidate for the job, it was claimed today. The respected former journalist was handed the key role fronting televised press briefings for the government last Autumn - although they were eventually scrapped last month without a single one being held. But a leaked civil service document suggests that the interview panel actually backed BBC political correspondent Ellie Price. According to the Sunday Times, it indicates that Ms Price was seen as 'calm, concise and authoritative where required - and that she showed the strongest appreciation of the opportunities and risks of [the] role and how it could be used to set the agenda'. In contrast, Ms Stratton was seen as 'needing significant preparation' and 'a risky appointment'. The document reportedly said: 'She took a firm and authoritative tone. At points this raised the temperature and made things more combative.' However, the PM had the final decision, and Ms Stratton was chosen after Mr Johnson allegedly told colleagues that his then-fiancee Carrie Symonds 'wouldn't accept' Ms Price getting the job. Allegra Stratton (left) was appointed as the PM's press secretary despite an interview panel recommending Ellie Price (right) for the job, it was claimed today. Ms Stratton was handed the post after Mr Johnson allegedly told colleagues that his then-fiancee Carrie Symonds (pictured together in May last year) 'wouldn't accept' Ms Price getting the job Downing Street has always denied that Ms Symonds - now Mrs Johnson - wields undue influence over appointments and policies. The row was the flashpoint for a long-running power struggle at the heart of government that saw Dominic Cummings and his Vote Leave faction ousted. Former communications director Lee Cain was said to have backed Ms Price, 38, for the role. But Ms Stratton, 41, was asked directly by the premier to apply, having previously been special adviser to Rishi Sunak at the Treasury after leaving journalism. A source told the Sunday Times: 'Boris said Carrie would go bananas if she didn't get her way.' Ms Stratton was due to face the nation on a regular basis from a TV briefing room revamped at a cost to the taxpayer of 2.6million. But after the PM got cold feet about the plan she was shunted sideways into helping Cop26 president Alok Sharma promote the global climate initiative. There were thought to have been about half a dozen candidates in the frame for the role which came with a salary of more than 100,000. Ms Stratton was expected to start the regular press briefings last October, but the launch date was regularly pushed back amid the pandemic, and the plan was ditched altogether last month. The No 9 briefing room, which was installed with microphones, control desks, cameras and computers, will instead be used by the PM, ministers and officials to present press conferences themselves. Ms Stratton left her role as co-presenter of the Peston on Sunday programme on ITV in April 2018 after two years in order to spend more time with her two young children, Vaughn and Xanthe. She had reportedly returned to the show just six weeks after the birth of Xanthe in May 2017, initially taking her baby with her to work. She also served as national editor at ITV News, a role she left in April last year in order to become Mr Sunak's director of communications. She was credited with helping to boost the Chancellor's public profile and increasing his popularity during the coronavirus crisis. Downing Street's plans to introduce the briefings suffered a set back at the end of August after it emerged that Sky News and the BBC may not always cover the events. The UK's two major broadcasters were expected to only show the briefings based 'on merit' which means they could cut away early or fail to show them at all if they are judged not to be newsworthy. Vladimir Putin and Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko greeted one another with a warm embrace during a yacht tour in Sochi. The tour comes amid international uproar over the hijacking of a Ryanair flight to detain a dissident journalist. The Russian leader hugged Mr Lukashenko as they greeted each other for a second day of talks - as well as a yacht tour - in the southern Russian city of Sochi on Saturday. The Russian President and Mr Lukashenko held a second day of talks - as well as a yacht tour - in the southern Russian city of Sochi on Saturday. Vladimir Putin and Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko greeted one another with a warm embrace during a yacht tour in Sochi The Russian leader hugged Mr Lukashenko as they greeted each other for a second day of talks Lukashenko ordered the hijacking of a Ryanair plane as it crossed Belarusian airspace so he could arrest dissident blogger Roman Protasevich and girlfriend Sofia Sapega this week. Putin is the only world leader to defend Lukashenko over the hijacking. Russia promised Belarus a 1.06billion loan last year as part of Moscow's efforts to stabilise its neighbour and longstanding ally. Minsk received a first installment of 352million in October. Several Western countries accused Belarus of piracy this week after Belarusian air traffic control informed the pilot of the Ryanair passenger jet of a hoax bomb threat. Vladimir Putin and Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko 'agreed a loan deal' during a yacht tour in Sochi amid international uproar over the hijacking of a Ryanair flight to detain a dissident journalist Minsk scrambled a MiG-29 fighter plane to escort the jetliner down, and then arrested Protasevich, a blogger and critic of Lukashenko who was on board. Arrested with Protasevich was his girlfriend, a Russian citizen. Putin on Saturday raised the topic of Sapega, the TASS news agency reported, citing Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov. 'President Lukashenko informed his Russian colleague in detail about what happened with the Ryanair flight,' TASS cited Peskov as saying. 'On the initiative of the Russian president the topic of the Russian citizen, who was detained, was raised .... Naturally, we are not indifferent to her fate,' Peskov was cited as saying. He added the Kremlin would take note of the fact that Sapega also has a Belarusian residency permit. Putin and Lukashenko completed the day of talks with a yacht tour in Sochi. A video appeared to show the two leaders laughing and spotting dolphins off the Russian coast. The Russian President and Mr Lukashenko held a second day of talks - as well as a yacht tour (pictured) - in the southern Russian city of Sochi on Saturday The former-Soviet superpower will move ahead with a second 352million loan to Belarus (the leaders on the yacht tour, pictured) next month amid the latest standoff with the West Most of Belarus's neighbours and many other European nations have banned flights by Belarusian national airline Belavia following Sunday's forced landing of the Ryanair jet, which was en route to Lithuania from Greece. The issue of air travel for Belarusian citizens was raised during Saturday's meeting, Peskov was cited by Interfax as saying, adding the transport ministries of Moscow and Minsk had been tasked with helping Belarusian citizens currently in Europe to return home. Yesterday, the EU offered to give 2.8billion to Belarus if Lukashenko steps aside and the country peacefully transitions to democracy. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the 'development funding' is ready once 'the democratic choice of the Belarusian people' is respected - after elections last year which Lukashenko claimed to have won but is widely thought to have lost. Von der Leyen said: 'To the people of Belarus: We see and hear your desire for change, for democracy, and for a bright future. 'And to the Belarusian authorities: No amount of repression, brutality or coercion will bring any legitimacy to your authoritarian regime.' It comes after Lukashenko ordered a Ryanair flight to divert to Minsk so he could arrest a dissident journalist and his girlfriend who were on board (pictured) Belarusian President Lukashenko and his son Nikolai on the boat trip with President Putin The West had already slapped sanctions on Belarusian officials involved in the vote and crackdown against protesters and is now promising more. Many observers warn that Lukashenko has become easy prey for the Kremlin, which may use his isolation to push for closer integration. 'Lukashenko is scared, and the Kremlin may demand payment for its political support by pushing for the introduction of a single currency, the deployment of military bases and more,' said Valery Karbalevich, an independent Minsk-based analyst. 'In this situation, it would be much more difficult for him to resist and bargain with Putin.' Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the top opposition candidate in Belarus' last election who left the country under official pressure, charged that Lukashenko was acting out of a sense of impunity in diverting the flight. 'The European Union has to be stronger, braver in its resolutions and decisions,' she said after meeting Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague. Moscow has helped buttress Belarus' economy with cheap energy supplies and loans, but the ties have often been strained with Lukashenko scolding Moscow for trying to force him to relinquish control over prized economic assets and eventually abandon Belarus' independence. In the past, the 66-year-old Belarusian leader has tried to play the West against Russia, raising the prospect of a rapprochement with the EU and the United States to wring more aid out of Moscow. Roman Protasevich (left), a journalist who reported on protests against Lukashenko, and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega (right) have been in jail in Minsk since Sunday Such tactics no longer work after Lukashenko's brutal crackdown on protests last fall in the wake of a vote that handed him a sixth term but opposition said was rigged. More than 35,000 people were arrested amid the protests and thousands beaten - moves that made him a pariah in the West. The flight's diversion has now cornered the Belarusian strongman even more. Some in the West have alleged Russia was involved in the Ryanair flight's diversion - something Moscow angrily denies - and warned that it could exploit the situation to draw Belarus ever closer and possibly even incorporate it. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis charged Thursday that 'Lukashenko is playing with Putin, and trying and helping Putin to annex the country,' adding that 'we should send the signals to Russia as well that annexation wouldn't go well with Europe.' On Friday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the EU's decision to ask European airlines to avoid Belarusian airspace as 'utterly irresponsible and threatening passengers' safety.' As European airlines seek to skirt Belarus, Russia has refused some requests to change the flight paths of service to Moscow over the past two days in an apparent gesture of support for Lukashenko but allowed some flights to proceed Friday. Austrian Airlines, for instance, canceled a flight from Vienna on Thursday, though the carrier said it was given permission to avoid Belarus for flights on the route Friday, according to the Austria Press Agency. It is still awaiting word on further flights. Air France canceled flights from Paris to Moscow on Thursday and Friday. Seoul in the early 20th century / Courtesy of Diane Nars Collection By Robert Neff After several weeks of anxiousness, young Imperial Prince Yeong managed to recover without serious disfigurement or blindness from the visit of The Guest. On June 4, the palace gates were opened once again. However, the malevolence still lurked about the palace and soon the young prince was stricken with another bout of sickness this time it was measles. Once again, planned celebrations and audiences with foreign diplomats and guests were canceled. Court physicians were summoned and prayers were offered at various temples for the prince's speedy recovery. It was not cheap. According to an article appearing in the 1903 edition of The Korea Review, an English-language magazine published in Seoul: "When the young prince was ill with a complaint that frequently follows after small-pox prayers were offered up at all the monasteries of the land, and twenty palace women sought out the houses of mudang and p'ansu and had prayers said for the prince. The total cost was about 30,000 Korean dollars." Apparently it was money well spent, for on July 26, a great banquet was held at the palace and in various government offices to celebrate the prince's complete recovery. "Many munificent gifts were presented by the Emperor to his officials." Gate to the palace in the early 20th century / Robert Neff Collection By his birthday on Oct. 20, the prince was completely recovered and to ensure he stayed that way, 20 shamans held religious services for him at the palace and offered prayers for his long life. With his good health came a return of his mischievousness. William Franklin Sands, an American adviser to the Korean emperor, recalled that while on duty at the palace, he heard "a most indecorous noise" in the courtyard: "a heavy running, the scolding of eunuchs and little squeals of some child's laughter." According to Sands, he immediately knew it involved a "privileged character": the baby prince. He was unaware of who the prince's tormented victim was until suddenly, "into the room burst the emperor's uncle, the 'Fat Prince,' [Yi Chae-sun] panting and perspiring and gasping, 'that child will be the death of me,' and after him, the baby with a cat in his arms and a flock of disturbed palace eunuchs." Yi Chae-sun was terrified of cats and once even fainted at the American legation "because of a kitten hidden behind a curtain, which he could not see, but felt to be there." The little prince may have been pleased with his little prank, but not long after, Yi Chae-sun was dead. Some say he was a victim of pneumonia while others claim he was a victim of displeasing the emperor. There were other evils in the air. On Feb. 8, 1904, the Russo-Japanese War began, which was also the first step in the loss of Korea's independence. A few months later, on the night of April 14, a large part of Deoksu Palace was burned to the ground. It was shortly after the fire, while the palace was being repaired, that the young prince's mischievous character was again demonstrated. Lillias Underwood recalled the first time her family was visited by the emperor's "youngest and much petted child. He was only seven and looked less, but he strode in with great dignity though he arrived on a man's back and insisted on shaking hands all round, and in following polite foreign custom, so far as he was informed." Japanese troops march through the streets of Seoul in 1904. / Robert Neff Collection Of course, the prince went nowhere by himself and was always "surrounded by a crowd of eunuchs, officials and palace women whom he ordered about in a lordly way." He was especially smitten with the Underwoods' 14-year-old son, Horace (but commonly called Harry by his mother), who visited frequently. Perhaps he had heard tales about Horace from his imperial father who had entertained, "petted and feasted" with the young American boy in the palace not too many years earlier. Or perhaps it was his older half-brother, Crown Prince Sunjong, who had his own encounter with the brash young American boy. When asked how old he was, Horace responded he was nine, and then asked the crown prince in impolite Korean how old he was. The crown prince, taken aback by Horace's question and the manner in which he asked, merely turned around and walked away. Horace would later complain to his mother that he never did learn the crown prince's age. Japanese Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi and Imperial Prince Yeong, circa 1907 / Library of Congress, public domain At first Imperial Prince Yeong's visits thrilled the young American teenager but they soon became so frequent that he began to rue them. After all, he had very little in common with the young prince and was growing tired of being at his beck and call. So he sought to avoid him. This didn't always work. "One of the officials near his small Highness, a man of thirty or forty who, like all his attendants, was robed in immaculate white silk garments of very delicate texture, was imperiously ordered to climb a tall persimmon-tree, where Harry had seated himself among the higher branches, and so thither the unfortunate man was obliged to go, it need scarcely be said to be the great demoralization of his flimsy and spotless robes." The young despot also tried to command Harry in the manner he did his servants. Harry refused. At first the prince was shocked that anyone would refuse his command, but then was pleased with the novelty of it. A compromise was reached: he would continue to visit but would issue no commands to the older American boy. Although the prince may have been overly privileged, he was nonetheless compassionate. He bought treats for workmen and coolies, worried when other children were hurt while playing and expressed a great deal of affection for Lillias Underwood. When she sprained her ankle, he visited frequently to inquire how she was feeling, and "sent fruit and such dainties as his kind little heart suggested might be appreciated." Children grow up quickly, especially when they are under the sway of adult politics. In December 1907, Imperial Prince Yeong was taken to Japan to attend school. Apparently, at first, the Japanese emperor took a fondness to the young Korean prince, but soon grew distant after Japanese Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi was assassinated. Palace grounds in the early 20th century / Robert Neff Collection A desperate search is underway for a 15-year-old girl who has been missing for more than 24 hours. Rose Burns was last seen in Bicton, south-west Perth, at 2pm on Saturday. Police described her as being 170cm tall with a very slim build and shoulder-length blonde hair. Rose Burns was last seen in Bicton, south-west Perth, at 2pm on Saturday She was last seen wearing green track pants, a white T-shirt with green writing, a black rain coat and light-coloured trainers. The teenager is known to frequent the Melville area, near where she went missing. Detectives urged anyone who sees her to call police immediately. A former Bandidos bikie has been charged after police found a loaded handgun, steroids and $300,000 worth of vintage Toranas and jet skis in a hidden laboratory. During a search at a home at Werrington Downs in Sydney's west at about 7am on Thursday, police allege they seized more than $34,000 cash and a large amount of steroids. The 39-year-old former bikie was charged with three counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, two counts of possessing a weapon contrary to a prohibition order, and one count of drug possession. Police searched storage sheds at St Marys in Sydney, where they claimed to find $300,000 worth of vehicles including two Holden SS Torana vehicles, two Yamaha dirt bikes, two jet skis (pictured) and a trailer A former Bandidos bikie has been charged after police found a loaded handgun, steroids and $300,000 worth of vintage Toranas and jet skis in a hidden laboratory Later that afternoon, police also searched storage sheds in St Marys in Sydney, where they found $300,000 worth of vehicles including two Holden SS Torana vehicles, two Yamaha dirt bikes, two jet skis, and a trailer. They also allegedly found 5kg of Xanax tablets and about 1.1kg of alprazolam powder, with a combined estimated potential street value of $300,000. A loaded handgun, knuckle dusters, and prescription medications including fentanyl and steroids were also seized, police alleged. During a search at a home at Werrington Downs in Sydney's west at about 7am on Thursday, police said they seized more than $34,000 cash and a large amount of steroids A loaded handgun, knuckle dusters and prescription medications including fentanyl and steroids were also seized, police said Investigators allegedly uncovered a hidden drug lab in one of the storage sheds where they established a crime scene. After the search at the storage sheds, the ex-bike was hit with nine more charges. These included dealing with proceeds of crime, possessing equipment to manufacture drugs, possessing ammunition without a licence and possessing an unauthorised pistol. The man faces 15 charges all and is next due to appear at Penrith Local Court on June 10. Former NSW opposition leader Michael Daley has put his hand up for a second stint as Labor leader, likely prompting a party leadership ballot. Mr Daley took over from Luke Foley as Labor leader in late 2018 and led the party to its 2019 state election defeat - making two decisive gaffes in the final week of campaigning - before moving to the back bench. However he told reporters on Sunday that he'd look to regain the Labor leadership following the resignation of Jodi McKay on Friday. After staring down threats to the party leadership for six days, Ms McKay abruptly fell on her sword on Friday, leaving the top job vacant. Former NSW opposition leader Michael Daley has put his hand up for a second stint as Labor leader, likely prompting a party leadership ballot Mr Daley has since expressed his view that Ms McKay was unfairly treated and should never have been 'forced out' of the leadership. He also said Labor members must have a say in the next NSW leader. He said the winner of any Labor leadership ballot must help the party 'bury the hatchet' over Ms McKay's departure, and focus minds on the 2023 poll. '(Members) own the party, not the apparatchiks,' Mr Daley said. 'Please help me heal our party and win government in 2023.' Ms McKay on Friday said she was not asked to resign, but made it clear she was quitting under duress and accused others of internal 'destabilisation'. Privately and publicly, allies say she was white-anted as opposition leader. 'If a ballot was held today I can tell you I would win,' Ms McKay told reporters. The leadership ambitions of former shadow transport minister and Ms McKay's rival in the 2019 ballot, Chris Minns, are no secret. Mr Minns is yet to formally put himself forward for the leadership but if he does so, it will trigger a new leadership contest with Mr Daley. Since 2013, Labor party rules require that the caucus and the rank-and-file members vote to elect a leader if more than one person contends. That would likely leave the party in turmoil for weeks, and without a leader when the Berejiklian government hands down its budget in late June. Mr Daley said he had not spoken with Labor head office over the leadership. However federal opposition leader Anthony Albanese on Saturday said he was unperturbed by NSW Labor's leadership dilemma. The relevance of last week's Upper Hunter by-election defeat was greatly overstated, he said, and he backed Labor to sort its issues out. Labor's Upper Hunter first-preference vote dipped from 29 to 21 per cent. Mr Daley was elected to parliament in 2005 as the MP for Maroubra and served on the NSW front bench before Labor's 2011 election defeat. Mr Daley with wife Christina concedes defeat of the 2019 NSW Election at the NSW Labor Election reception at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, in Sydney, on 23 March 2019 In the final week of the 2019 election campaign he was caught on tape accusing Asian migrants of taking local jobs, and also stumbled over key Labor education policy numbers in a live television debate. 'Our young children will flee and who are they being replaced with? They are being replaced by young people from typically Asia with PhDs,' he said at the time. 'So there's a transformation happening in Sydney now where our kids are moving out and foreigners are moving in and taking their jobs.' Mr Daley said he'd long ruminated on his failures and was keen to make amends. 'We all make mistakes... I paid a price for mine (and) I've thought about them more than you can imagine,' Mr Daley, a lawyer by trade, said. 'I had four months in the job and I want another opportunity to get it right. 'I intend to heal the party if I'm the leader (and) look after, as I've always done, the ordinary people in NSW who've been forgotten.' Adam Searle, who leads the opposition in the upper house, is acting leader. Two people have died and up to another 25 left injured after gunmen fired indiscriminately into a crowd gathered for a concert in south Florida in the early hours of this morning. Just after midnight three people armed with assault rifles and handguns pulled up to the El Mula Banquet Hall in Northwest Miami-Dade in a white SUV and began shooting. The banquet hall in the Hialeah area had been rented out for the concert and some concert-goers were outside when the gunmen stepped out the Nissan Pathfinder vehicle and gunfire erupted. Police said that two concert-goers died at the scene and as many as 25 people went to various hospitals for treatment with some traveling in their own vehicles. At least one is in critical condition. Two people have died and up to another 25 left injured after gunmen fired indiscriminately into a crowd gathered for a concert in south Florida in the early hours of this morning Authorities believe the shooting was targeted, but no arrests were immediately announced. After the shooting, the trio of gunmen then got back into the car and fled the scene. Footage from 7 News Miami shows several of the injured being taken to hospital and investigators combing the El Mula Banquet Hall parking lot. Many of the victims were taken to Jackson memorial Hospital where a crowd of friends and relatives had gathered this morning to pray and wait for news. Footage from 7 News Miami shows several of the injured being taken to hospital Police tape blocks the scene of the mass shooting near the banquet hall that was rented for the rap concert 'I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence, where over 20 victims were shot and 2 have sadly died,' police director Alfredo 'Freddy' Ramirez III tweeted. 'These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice. My deepest condolences to the family of the victims.' Miami Police Chief Art Acevedo called for the justice system to 'throw the book' at criminals caught with illegal firearms. 'Most (of) these cowardly misfits don't fear death, they do fear long prison sentences,' Acevedo tweeted Sunday morning. 'Firearms belong in the hands of law-abiding Americans of sound kind, more (must) me done to keep them out of the wrong hands.' Acevedo called for 'serious prison time' for anyone caught using a firearm during the commission of a crime. A mother of one of the victims Angelica Green told NBC Miami that her son had phoned her in the middle of the night to say he was on his way to the hospital. Angelica Green told NBC Miami that her son had phoned her in the middle of the night to say he was on his way to the hospital after being shot 'He called us frantic, telling us he had been shot, that it hurts, it hurts and that he loves us and wants us to know,' she said. 'My husband is like 'no stay with us, stay with us.' We hop in the car and we're talking to him to keep him alert.' Police were seeking help from the community to identify and arrest the shooters. American businessman and philanthropist Marcus Lemonis tweeted that he will contribute $100,000 for information that leads to capture and arrest of the shooters. Authorities believe the shooting was targeted, but no arrests were immediately announced Many of the victims were taken to Jackson memorial Hospital where a crowd of friends and relatives had gathered this morning tp pray and wait for news 'I'm offering a $100,000 reward to help authorities in my hometown @MiamiDadePD arrest and convict the suspect/suspects .. pass this on,' he wrote. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called for 'swift and severe' justice. 'We mourn the loss of the two victims and are praying for the recovery of the more than 20 people injured at El Mula Banquet Hall near Hialeah,' he wrote in a tweet. 'We are working with local authorities to bring justice to the perpetrators.' Gun-related homicides have surged across the United States over the past year. On Wednesday, a public transit worker shot dead nine people at a California rail yard before turning his gun on himself as police arrived. Mass shootings have occurred in recent months at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, an office building in California, a grocery store in Colorado and at several spas in Atlanta. Advertisement President Joe Biden paid tribute to his son Beau on the sixth anniversary of his death as he delivered remarks commemorating Memorial Day in Delaware on Sunday as he previewed his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 'This is a hard day for us,' Biden said while speaking to veterans and families of fallen military members during remarks at Veterans Memorial Park near the Delaware Memorial Bridge. 'Six years ago today, Hunter lost his dad, and I lost my son,' Biden said of losing Beau in 2015 to brain cancer. 'Beau didn't die in the line of duty, but he was serving a Delaware National Guard unit in Iraq for a year,' the president continued. 'That was one of the proudest things he did in his life.' 'So thank you for allowing us to grieve together today.' President Joe Biden delivered remarks at the Veterans Memorial Park near the Delaware Memorial Bridge on Sunday to commemorate Memorial Day The president was joined at the event by his grandson Hunter (left), the son of the late Beau Biden. Biden is also marking the sixth anniversary of his son's death on Sunday Biden stands and puts his hand over his heart for the National Anthem during an annual Memorial Day Service in Wilmington, Delaware Biden arrives with Delaware Governor John Carney to his left. The memorial behind him lists the names of military members from New Jersey and Delaware who died in the line of duty Back in Washington D.C. on Sunday, motorcyclists participate in the 'Rolling to Remember' demonstration in front of the Lincoln Memorial on May 30 to commemorate Memorial Day and honor American prisoners of war and those missing and killed in action Riders take part in a 'Rolling to Remember' motorcycle rally during Memorial Day weekend in Washington DC Memorial Day weekend is a national holiday in the United States for mourning military personal who have died serving the United States Armed Forces A member of the public looks at the Vietnam War Memorial during Memorial Day weekend in Washington DC A member of the public looks at a temporary war memorial on the steps of the Lincoln memorial during Memorial Day weekend in Washington DC US Army Spc Joseph Wolfe looks at the names on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on May 30 in Washington D.C. Veterans visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on Sunday to mark Memorial Day Beau Biden, who attained the rank of major, joined the Delaware Army National Guard in 2003 and attended JAG School at the University of Virginia. He deployed to Iraq in October 2008, the month before his father was elected vice president to serve with Barack Obama for his first term. Beau returned from Iraq in September 2009 after completing his yearlong stint on active duty. Biden pictured with son Beau in 2009 at Camp Victory on the outskirts of Baghdad. Beau died May 30, 2015 of brain cancer He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq. He was posthumously awarded the Legion of Merit for his service in the Delaware National Guard and the Delaware Conspicuous Service Cross. President Biden also reminded the audience that he carries a card with him at all times with the 'exact number of American troops' who died in Afghanistan and Iraq over the last 20 years of war 7,036 military members, he said. During the 10-minute remarks, Biden said that the U.S. would continue fighting for human rights around the world, making reference to a two-hour call he had with Chinese President Xi Jinping about that exact American initiative. The president also previewed his upcoming bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which will take place at the G7 summit in the United Kingdom in June. He said during the meeting he will 'make it clear that we will not stand by and let him abuse those rights.' Delaware Governor John Carney introduced Biden and praised him for coming to Delaware, his home state where he served as a senator for decades, for Memorial Day. He also lauded the administration's COVID-19 vaccination efforts. 'Little cold somebody said, 'normally on Memorial Day events, we don't have coats and sweats on.' I was just happy to be there without a mask on, to be honest with you,' Carney said to laughter from an audience of about 100 people fathered under a tent to shield from the rain. Biden's grandson came to the service at the memorial, wearing a mask. The president assured that Hunter had received one shot and would be getting the second soon, saying he was keeping on his face covering to ensure others' safety. Biden is seen by his son's gravesite earlier on Sunday embracing grandson Hunter (right) on the sixth anniversary of Beau's death Biden attended early morning mass at St. Josephs on the Brandywine on Sunday Following the service, the president walked arm-in-arm with Beau's son Hunter as they went to visit his grave on the grounds of the church First lady Jill Biden carries flowers to lay near Beau's grave Earlier on Sunday morning, Biden went to the 7:30 a.m. mass service in Wilmington. After the service, Biden, first lady Jill, their daughter Ashley and Beau's son Hunter walked to Beau's grave, which is located on the grounds of St. Joseph on the Brandywine. Beau, who was attorney general of Delaware for eight years, died May 30, 2015 at the age of 46 from brain cancer. Biden spends most of his weekends away from Washington, D.C. at his home in Wilmington, Delaware. The trip almost always includes Biden attending at least one church service. After visiting Beau's grave, Biden went to the Veterans Memorial Park in Wilmington where delivered remarks to commemorate Memorial Day. Biden and his family walk around St. Joseph on the Brandywine in Wilmington, Delaware to visit his son Beau's grave near the rear of the church Biden shakes hands with a priest following the 7:30 a.m. service Vice President Kamala Harris has faced intense backlash for her Memorial Day tweet on Saturday where she posted a candid image of herself and wrote: 'Enjoy the long weekend.' Critics were quick to point out that her tweet appeared self-serving and made no mention of the federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May honoring soldiers who died while serving in the military. The tweet was slammed as 'disgusting' and 'tone deaf.' The post also came hours after she tweeted praising Midshipman Sydney Barber who made history as the first black woman to serve as Brigade Commander at the U.S. Naval Academy. Harris also spoke at the U.S. Naval Academy's graduation and commissioning ceremony on Friday during which she called the United States military 'the best, the bravest, and the most brilliant.' Anne Marie Oto kisses her father's tombstone Air Force Korea war veteran Godfrey Thomas at the South Florida National Cemetery Sunday in Lake Worth, Florida., as volunteer at the cemetery will be placing U.S. flags on some 25,000 graves where members of the military are buried in preparation for a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday Volunteer Anneka Howell holds American flags as her daughter Adrianna Howell place American flags in front of members of the military tombstone at the South Florida National Cemetery Sunday A group of volunteers walk as the American flags stand alongside headstones of members of the military at the South Florida National Cemetery on Sunday U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Carlo Fulgenzi place an American flags in front of members of the military tombstone at the South Florida National Cemetery From left, U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Mia Levine, 14, and flag Zoie Quevedo, 13 salute to honor veterans graves after placing American flags on Sunday in Lake Worth, Florida Army veteran Mike Kelly next to his wife's tombstone pictured at the South Florida National Cemetery on Sunday, Veterans pay their respects at the Vietnam War Memorial during Memorial Day weekend in Washington DC epa09237953 Veterans pay their respects at the Vietnam War Memorial during Memorial Day weekend in Washington Hollywood actor Steven Seagal, a long-time admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has joined a pro-Kremlin party, the party said on Sunday. Seagal received a party membership card of an alliance named Just Russia - Patriots - For Truth on Saturday, a video released by the party showed. It was formed earlier this year, when three leftist parties, all of which support Putin, merged into one. Seagal, a Russian citizen since 2016, proposed a crackdown on businesses which damage the environment. 'Without being able to arrest people, when we just fine them, they are probably making more money of the production of the things that are defiling the environment,' said in his welcome speech at a party event. Hollywood star Steven Seagal received a party membership card of an alliance named Just Russia - Patriots - For Truth on Saturday, a video released by the party showed Seagal, a Russian citizen since 2016, proposed a crackdown on businesses which damage the environment. He is a friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, an avid martial arts fan The party controls a faction in the lower house of the Russian parliament and plans to take part in a parliamentary election in September. Seagal, a US-born martial artist, is best known for producing and starring in action movies, while Putin, who granted him the citizenship, is a fan of martial arts. At Saturday's ceremony, Seagal posed for pictures next to one of the party leaders, Russian writer Zakhar Prilepin, who enrolled in an army of pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and admitted to commanding a combat unit in a conflict which has killed 14,000 people in seven years. In 2018, Russia tasked Seagal with improving humanitarian ties with the United States at a time when relations between the two countries have deteriorated to their worst level since the Cold War. As a Russian representative, Seagal visited Venezuela earlier in May and presented a samurai sword to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Former federal Labor MP Emma Husar has threatened to sue the Labor Party, claiming political operatives made up sexual harassment claims to ruin her career. Ms Husar claimed people within the party leaked false allegations she exposed herself to MP Jason Clare in a 'Sharon Stone' move in Canberra in 2017. After that claim and other allegations of workplace bullying were published by Buzzfeed in 2018, she announced she would not stand for re-election in 2019. Emma Husar fought tears when she announced she would not stand for re-election in 2019 Ms Husar reportedly said if she did not receive an apology from Labor leader Anthony Albanese (pictured) she would sue the party for sexual harassment and discrimination The former MP for Lindsay in Sydney's west said she was traumatised by the incident, comparing it to the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins in Parliament House. Ms Husar said if she did not receive an apology from Labor leader Anthony Albanese she would sue the party for sexual harassment and discrimination, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. 'This is a human rights violation. I had the right to go to work, the right to be treated with respect. I had the right to be given fair consideration, natural justice processes and procedural fairness that everyone else is entitled to,' she said. 'And also, to not have my sex, my gender, any of that weaponised and used against me for political gain this is why they are reluctant to do anything because it's a political problem. Same as in Brittany's case.' Buzzfeed and Ms Husar settled out of court on July 2019. The media outlet retracted the story and apologised for not seeking comment from her before publishing. Ms Husar (pictured) has launched a defamation lawsuit against BuzzFeed which was settled out of court Ms Husar said when she googled the word 'sl*t' during the court proceedings, her own name came up. 'Sl*t came up and then my name and my articles were next,' she said. 'I was being dehumanised, like people were talking and saying things about me as though I didn't exist, as though I wasn't someone's mother, someone's daughter, or someone's friend.' On an ABC show in 2020, Ms Husar got fired up at Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce, comparing her treatment to that of him and federal minister Alan Tudge, who both had affairs with their media advisors. 'It is galling to watch these men continue in their jobs. In Tudge's case he got caught with his pants down, Barnaby is the same,' Ms Husar said on Q&A. 'Mine was all over innuendo. There was a man that was wielding that agenda because I'd fired him.' She said she was hounded out of politics and had to leave her home because of rumour and innuendo, while male politicians who had affairs got to keep their jobs She called the Labor party's treatment of her 'completely unjust.' 'I had media cameras parked out the front of my house for weeks on end while I had young children inside,' she said. 'I was chased across my front lawn with a camera and a mic shoved in my face, asking if I was an slut and if I was Sharon Stone.' Mr Barnaby defended himself, saying: ''I don't know anything about Emma's life and Emma most certainly doesn't know anything about mine.' 'I'm disappointed with Emma pointing her invective at me. I have down nothing but support Emma in what happened to her,' he said. 'I completely find what they said about you from your own side appalling.' A 'disrespectful' phone call from Martin Bashir left Princess Diana sobbing 'how could he be like that?', her former butler Paul Burrell claims. In a five-minute phone call to Diana's butler at Kensington Palace, Mr Burrell claims Bashir brashly pushed him for information on the princess's whereabouts and which 'boyfriends' she'd met with - as she secretly listened in. Mr Burrell told The Sun on Sunday that Diana had been 'gobsmacked by his [Bashir's] irreverence' as the reporter had always politely addressed her as 'Your Royal Highness' to her face. The former butler claims that Bashir repeatedly rang him to win him over and gain information on Diana's movements, but that his job was too valuable to him to disclose information about the princess. A 'disrespectful' phone call from Martin Bashir left Princess Diana (left) sobbing 'how could he be like that?', her former butler Paul Burrell (right) claims On this particular day in 1996 Diana had allegedly walked in to the butler's pantry mid-conversation and overheard the reporter's probing, mouthing 'shh' to Mr Burrell she then pressed her ear to the phone to hear the pair's conversation. Mr Burrell told Sun on Sunday: 'Martin was being very disrespectful, everything was 'she' this and 'she' that. He was asking where she was and 'Has she been out with one of her boyfriends again?' 'He also spoke as if she was flighty. He was complaining she wasn't taking his calls and wasn't sharing as much with him as he wanted her to. It was a very uncomfortable moment.' At this point Mr Burrell claims Diana was so 'shocked' and 'betrayed' to hear how Bashir spoke about her that she burst into tears and ran out of the room. Mr Burrell claims Martin Bashir (pictured in 1995) brashly pushed him for information on the princess's whereabouts and which 'boyfriends' she'd met with - as she secretly listened in Mr Burrell claims that this was the moment Diana severed her friendship with the reporter, who had allegedly told her before securing the 1995 Panorama interview with her that he had 'not got much money' and needed help bolstering his career at the BBC. The butler - who served Diana from 1987 to 1997 - previously recounted how the BBC presenter was like a 'small child excited in a sweet shop' when he led Bashir into Kensington Palace to meet with Diana ahead of the interview. He said the journalist was 'all too happy,' to talk to Diana after she had refused similar interviews with other broadcasters, but said Bashir had been 'deceitful.' Diana and Prince Charles' two sons have both condemned the interview following the Dyson Inquiry into the actions of the BBC and Martin Bashir regarding their mother's 1995 interview. The Duke of Cambridge said Bashir's deceit in obtaining his 1995 interview with Princess Diana hastened his parents' divorce and 'hurt countless others' in an unprecedented broadside against the shamed BBC. The BBC presenter was like a 'small child excited in a sweet shop' when he led Bashir into Kensington Palace to meet with Diana ahead of the interview, Mr Burrell claimed His brother Prince Harry - who is based in California - also responded to Lord Dyson's damning report into how the interview was obtained, saying his mother 'lost her life because of this'. But by the beginning of 1997, her relationship with the reporter was changing, with Diana telling royal correspondent Richard Kay that she had signed a book deal with the publisher Random House. The book was to be a collection of her speeches, illustrated with photographs of her at the events with 'estimated sales will be 2 million to 3 million worldwide', of which Bashir was due to get a '100,000' cut, she told Mr Kay. Diana told Mr Kay: '[Bashir] was always complaining about money, that he didnt get paid enough by the BBC'. She later added: Whenever Paul [Burrell] drives him, he pumps him for information, wanting to know who I see, what I do. Mr Burrell claims Diana pulled out of the book deal after overhearing the 1996 phone call from Bashir. A delicate china doll that served as the lucky mascot for a British tank crew and miraculously survived the war in one piece has been discovered 76 years later. The small doll, called Little Audrey, had been given to Captain Lionel 'Bill' Bellamy by his then girlfriend Audrey before he set out for Normandy in 1944 with the Royal Armoured Corps. She was adopted by the troop and was attached to Capt Bellamy's Cromwell tank's searchlight to the right of the turret and became a good luck charm - and they needed her. Fierce fighting followed in numerous battles as the tank crew fought through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Capt Bellamy survived being shot through the beret and was nearly blown up when his tank drove through a minefield. In one attack in Holland, the 5ins tall doll was knocked from her position by a tree branch. This delicate china doll named Little Audrey that served as the lucky mascot for a British tank crew and miraculously survived the war in one piece has been discovered 76 years later The doll was given to Capt Bill Bellamy by his sweetheart and accompanied him throughout the war, attached to his tank. Pictured: Bellamy, left and right, receiving his Military Cross Astonishingly, so loved was Audrey that the troop of three tanks stopped and another tank leader leapt into the open and at great risk, to retrieve her. Capt Bellamy later wrote: 'As I was about to give the signal to move, I saw Sergeant Bill Pritchard leap out of his tank, he rushed back to the hedgerow, picked up Audrey, clambered on the back of my tank, handed her to me and shouted 'I'm not going without her!' 'I knew that she had become a very much-loved mascot, but until that moment I hadn't realised he full extent of her role!' Capt Bellamy, who was awarded the Military Cross for rescuing wounded colleagues while under heavy fire, split up with Audrey after the war but kept the porcelain doll. He died in 2009 and Little Audrey has been donated by his family to the Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset, for a new exhibition. David Willey, curator of the Tank Museum, said: 'Sometimes it doesn't take an object as big as a tank to tell a powerful story. Pictured: David Willey, curator of The Tank Museum, with Little Audrey who is now on display Pictured: A Cromwell tank which is the same type upon which Little Audrey went into battle 'Here we have a small delicate object, it's amazing that she survived at all because she is porcelain and could have been so easily broken. 'Bill's family have been astonishingly generous to loan her to us for our exhibition, World War Two: War Stories. 'To see the doll alongside the huge tanks is perhaps a little unexpected but the aim of our new displays is to bring veteran stories to the public, humanising, personalising the stories. Audrey does just that. 'Bill visited the museum on a number of occasions, depositing with us an account of his incredible war service. He later published his war memoir Troop Leader to wide acclaim. 'After Normandy Bill fought the dangerous but retreating Germans through France, Belgium and Holland. 'He even got to Berlin where he managed to wander around the Reichstag and take some souvenirs. A Cromwell tank in Europe after D-Day - the same type Little Audrey sat as a mascot for crew 'During the fighting, with Audrey at his side, Bill was wounded in the head, but after a few stitches remained at his post. 'He also managed to drag a number of survivors from two armoured cars that he saw being hit by enemy fire, right under the noses of the Germans. 'He thought the Germans could see him and knowing he was trying to rescue wounded men let him carry on unmolested. 'Then in November 1944 he came under small arms, mortar and artillery fire, so he engaged the enemy posts and took out three of them. 'Machine gun bullets hitting his tank caused molten lead to splatter in his face. 'He became aware that there was something different with his tank - it was not made of proper armour plate and was only mild steel training tank. The Royal Armoured Corps of the British Army. Bill Bellamy is pictured second left in front row 'He was offered a new one but being lighter his tank was fast - and he had lucky Audrey with him so he stuck with it. 'Later he drove over a minefield, miraculously missing all the lethal ordnance and on another occasion he almost burned to death when petrol ignited and set his bedding on fire but he managed to get himself and his crew to safety. 'He then discovered his beret had two bullet holes in it. Proof perhaps that Little Audrey was keeping him from meeting his maker. Bill had a strong faith and he said it was a great comfort to him. 'Bellamy was awarded the Military Cross by Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery himself in a ceremony in March 1945 and he stayed in the army until 1955 and then had a successful business career. 'He split up with his girlfriend Audrey but kept his good luck Audrey doll. He went on to marry and have four children, with son Andrew following him into the Queen's Royal Irish Hussars. 'His memoir is one of the best books to come from someone who served in tanks. 'Audrey was present through all his remarkable military service and that Bill kept her until he passed away in 2009 shows how much he loved her.' The exhibition is now open and runs until further notice. US companies that have been producing masks and protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic are in danger of going out of business following a severe drop in sales caused by Chinese imports. Industry experts have noted that products from China are priced so low that it will be almost impossible for domestic companies to compete and many have already begun laying off workers. Owners of these companies warn that the effect could be devastating for the United States if the country were to face another national health emergency. A report by The New York Times has revealed that at least three companies have halted production of surgical masks and medical gowns. Industry experts have noted that products from China are priced so low that it will be almost impossible for domestic companies to compete and many have already laid off workers Others have been forced to scale back production, including a year-old surgical mask-maker in Virginia that has laid off most of its 280 employees. 'Our industry is in break-glass mode,' Brent Dillie, the co-owner of the company named Premium-PPE told the New York Times. 'Six months from now, many of us won't be around and that won't be good for America the next time there's a national health emergency.' At the start of the pandemic, a number of start-ups including Premium-PP stepped in to help tackle the dangerous shortage of protective equipment for frontline workers that health experts say most likely contributed to the high rates of infection. China stopped exports of protective gear at the start of the pandemic, but has since returned to the market with prices that are sometimes just a tenth of what US factories now charge for comparable products. The Biden Administration is now under pressure to ensure that healthcare workers are adequately protected if another crisis were to hit the United States. Luis Arguello Jr., vice president of DemeTech, a medical-suture company in Florida that earlier this month laid off 1,500 workers who made surgical masks is pictured on the factory floor DemeTech fears that another 500 other workers who make N95 masks will also likely be let go in the coming weeks A year-long study conducted by The Guardian and Kaiser Health News entitled Lost on the FrontLine found that more than 3,600 US healthcare workers died in the first year of the pandemic. The series of investigative reports found that many of these deaths could have been prevented and identified widespread shortages of masks and other personal protective gear as one of the major contributing factors to the increased risk faced by healthcare workers. According to Tim Manning, the White House Covid-19 supply coordinator, the administration is addressing the challenges facing domestic producers of PPE, but companies say they need more substantial trade policies and supply-chain reforms in order to stay afloat. Earlier this month, the CDC updated its recommendations and said fully vaccinated Americans don't have to wear masks outdoors and indoors, in most circumstances. Those who aren't vaccinated are still at risk and required to continue to wear masks and social distance. Masks are still required on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation in US as well as transportation hubs such as airports and train stations. The easing of mask mandates has caused a slump in demand for protective gear, but industry insiders say the influx of inexpensive Chinese equipment is even more damaging. The trade group The American Mask Manufacturer's Association told The New York Times said its 27 members had already laid off half of their work force. The group is planning to file an unfair trade complaint with the World Trade Organization stating that much of the equipment being imported from China is selling for less than the cost of production in the United States. Masks are produced at United Safety Tech startup. At the start of the pandemic, a number of start-ups stepped in to help tackle the shortage of protective equipment for frontline workers Workers labor in a factory of medical masks and jumpsuits in Nantong, Jiangsu province, China, in January 2020. China exported more than 220 billion face masks last year China exported more than 220 billion face masks in 2020, helping the country to become the only major economy in the world to grow last year. In January, vice-minister for commerce Qian Keming told reporters that in addition to masks, China exported 2.3billion pieces of protective gear and one billion test kits last year. The mask shipments alone were worth 340 billion yuan (38.5billion), a customs official revealed. '(The volume) is equivalent to providing nearly 40 masks to each person in the world outside China,' said customs spokesman Li Kuiwen. Luis Arguello Jr., vice president of DemeTech, a medical-suture company in Florida described the influx of inexpensive Chinese products as 'full-on economic warfare'. Earlier this month 1,500 workers who made surgical masks for DemeTech were laid off and another 500 other workers who make N95 masks will also likely be let go in the coming weeks. He told The New York Times: 'China is on the mission to make sure no one in the industry survives, and so far they're winning.' By Cho Byung-jae The positive results of the South Korea-U.S. summit are expected to encourage a resumption in dialogue between the United States and North Korea, as well as between the two Koreas. However, prior experience warns that hard work and creativity are required to go beyond mere engagement in dialogue and to achieve tangible progress in relations with North Korea. In their joint statement on May 21, the U.S. and South Korea agreed to pursue diplomacy and dialogue "based on previous inter-Korean and U.S.-DPRK commitments, such as the 2018 Panmunjeom Declaration and Singapore Joint Statement" a move that I also recommended in my previous Korea Times article on Feb. 18. The acknowledgement of the Singapore Joint Statement is particularly meaningful because it specifies the "complete denuclearization" not only of "North Korea," but of "the Korean Peninsula," which is more reciprocal and comprehensive. The term "denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" was first coined in 1991, when South Korea and the U.S. pressed North Korea to accept IAEA inspections, as part of its obligations to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and to forgo nuclear reprocessing, while North Korea demanded the withdrawal of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons from South Korea and the creation of a "Nuclear-Free Zone" on the peninsula. In addition to reaffirming previous inter-Korean and U.S.-North Korea commitments, the U.S. and South Korea agreed to a "calibrated and practical approach" toward North Korea in their joint statement. This agreement comes across as an attempt to set realistic goals and as an acknowledgement that the denuclearization process is bound to take time. North Korea is likely to view the results of these talks positively, given that it has considered the Singapore Joint Statement to be one of Kim Jong-un's key diplomatic achievements. However, resumed dialogue does not immediately guarantee progress in bilateral relations. As a precondition to dialogue, North Korea has demanded the withdrawal of the U.S.' "hostile policy." What North Korea means by "hostile policy" is still unclear. While the withdrawal of a "hostile policy" certainly seems to include the suspension of U.S.-South Korea military exercises and the lifting of economic sanctions, these conditions alone have not proven to be sufficient. For instance, previously, the U.S. announced the cessation of U.S.-South Korea military exercises at the Singapore summit, and expressed a willingness to lift certain sanctions against North Korea in Hanoi. Nevertheless, the Hanoi summit ended up being a "no deal" meeting. If the memoir of John Bolton, the former U.S. national security advisor, is accurate, the fundamental cause of the breakdown in talks in Hanoi was the difference in approaches by the two sides. Kim Jong-un wanted a step-by-step approach. He proposed a trade-off between the complete dismantling of the Yongbyon nuclear complex and the lifting of five U.N. sanctions against North Korea. He suggested that the remaining issues be resolved successively with the development of mutual trust. Trump's approach was different. He requested Kim Jong-un to submit a "full baseline declaration" of all nuclear, chemical, biological, and ballistic-missile programs, and asserted that this would be the starting point of any disarmament talks. Kim refused. In his point of view, such a declaration in the absence of mutual trust one-sidedly exposed North Korea to potential U.S. attacks. Should the U.S.-North Korea dialogue resume with the same U.S. demand for a full baseline declaration, it is likely to end up in the same stalemate that we witnessed in Hanoi. As hard as it sounds, exploring ways to engage North Korea without demanding a full baseline declaration as a starting point will be critical in determining future progress in bilateral relations. In this regard, U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken has suggested that the U.S. policy on North Korea follow the example of Iran. One of the most prominent features of the Iran nuclear deal called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was the incorporation of "sunset" provisions, in which key nuclear restrictions expire after years 8, 10 and 15, allowing Iran to build up its uranium enrichment capability legally. These provisions allowed for a certain degree of uncertainty around Iran's nuclear future, against the backdrop of expectations that Iran would go through a major transformation over the next 10-25 years. Although leaving an element of uncertainty could seem like an appealing proposition, the situation with North Korea is notably different from that with Iran. North Korea, unlike Iran, is already a nuclear state. Leaving its nuclear future open-ended is not politically viable. After all, the JCPOA faced much criticism and failed to obtain the endorsement of the U.S. Congress specifically because it left this room for uncertainty. Constructing a roadmap for the complete denuclearization of the peninsula while allowing mutual respect is a difficult task. In this regard, some advocate a "limited arms control approach," focused on "preventing the threat from getting worse" rather than pushing to eliminate the threat immediately and completely. In the end, finding a new formula for mutual threat reduction will be crucial for South Korea and the U.S. in taking a "calibrated and practical approach" on the North Korean issue. Cho Byung-jae (bjcho81@gmail.com) is a visiting professor emeritus at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies of Kyungnam University. Cho was a career diplomat and his last position in the Foreign Ministry was as the chancellor of the Korean National Diplomatic Academy. Brett Daniel Puett, 35, is accused of killing Debra Childers, and dumping her body in a duffel bag and leaving it in a storage unit A 35-year-old Arizona man killed his 64-year-old female roommate last November, dumped her body in a duffel bag in a storage unit and took her car and made withdrawals from her bank account for the past nine months, police say. Brett Daniel Puett, 35, was arrested Friday and booked into jail on suspicion of second-degree murder, abandonment and concealment of a dead body and fraud in the death of Debra Lynn Childers, 64, Kingman City Police Chief Rusty Cooper said. It is believed the pair had a platonic relationship, and met last summer while they were both living in their cars. They had been sharing a motel room last September in the 3200 block of East Andy Devine Ave, Kingsman, when Childers was shot and killed, police say. It was only after her son reported her missing to the Mohave County Sheriff's Office on May 12 that the alarm was raised. Authorities searched two storage units in the 3100 block of Harrison St in the city that belonged to Childers on Friday, May 28. That was when the Kingman Police Department made the grisly discovery that Childers' body had been placed in a duffel bag and left in a storage unit. According to police, Puett has admitted involvement in Childers' death and using her card to withdraw cash. Childers' body was left in a storage unit on this block of Harrison St, Kingman, Arizona, for six months before it was located by police on Friday Police say Childers and Puett were living together in a motel last September on the 3200 block of East Andy Devine Ave, above, when she was shot and killed. The pair had a platonic relationship according to police In a statement, the Kingsman Police Department said they became concerned for Childers' welfare after detectives realized someone had been making cash withdrawals from her bank accounts. During the ensuing investigation, detectives determined Puett had been driving around in Childers' car. Becoming increasingly concerned for Childers' welfare, they executed a search warrant on Friday on two storage units belonging to her. 'Once inside detectives located a dead body believed to be Debra Childers,' Kingsman Police said in a statement. 'The body had been concealed in a large duffle bag and appeared to have been inside the storage unite for several months.' Investigators said they are awaiting formal confirmation of the body from the Mohave County Medical Examiners Office, but believe it belongs to the missing woman. Childers family has been notified. 'Puett has admitted involvement in the killing and subsequent money withdrawals, as well as transporting and concealing her body,' the police said. Puett has been booked into the Mohave County Adult Detention and no additional suspects are being sought. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Kingsman Police Department detectives. The Ministry of Defence's new 110,000-a-year diversity chief is taking aim at 'sexist' ranks in the armed forces including rifleman, airshipman and airman. Samantha de Forges, who was appointed in the new role in February, is leading a review into military titles which will happen next year. The former First Sea Lord of the Royal Navy, Lord Alan West, who may be forced to give up his title, last week described demands to change ranks as 'ultra, ultra-woke pressure'. Women have been allowed to serve across all roles in the armed forces since 2018 and decisions about rank names were left up to individual units. Samantha de Forges (pictured), who was appointed in the new role in February, is leading a review into military titles which will happen next year The head of the Royal Navy, Lord Alan West (pictured), who may be forced to give up his title, last week described demands to change ranks as 'ultra, ultra-woke pressure' Senior defence sources told The Sunday Times: 'The exercise is looking at [ranks and titles] that may be considered dated. 'Part of that review gives consideration to rebranding those ranks that may not be considered gender-neutral.' Lord West warned that if new titles are created which complicate the hierarchy of the armed forces it could undermine its ability to protect the UK. The MoD told the publication: 'We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.' A heartbroken mother has issued a warning 10 years after her teenage daughter died 'from eating too much chewing gum'. 'Bubbly' teen Samantha Jenkins, 19, from Felinfoel, south Wales died suddenly in June 2011 after complaining about an upset stomach which she blamed on a bottle of fizzy drink. She collapsed and was put into an induced coma and later passed away, with doctors believing she had been poisoned. However, an autopsy revealed 'four or five bright green lumps' of chewing gum in her stomach and a coroner ruled that it could have played a part in Samantha's premature death. Bubbly' teen Samantha Jenkins, aged 19, (pictured) from Felinfoel, south Wales died suddenly in June 2011 after complaining about an upset stomach Now 10 years since Samantha's death, her mother Maria Morgan has recalled the horrifying incident and paid tribute to her 'bubbly, vivacious, fun loving' daughter. She said: 'I remember it like it was yesterday. I was making tea in the kitchen and there was just normal banter around the table. 'She continued to say she didn't feel well. I said, "You have been out in the sun, come and drink some water, it's been boiling today, you're probably just a bit dehydrated." 'I told her to go and have a lay on the bed and take a bottle of water with her as she probably had too much sun. Then I heard this thud. An autopsy revealed 'four or five bright green lumps' of chewing gum in her stomach and a coroner ruled it could have played a part in her premature death 'Me and my other daughter got up and went to the door and I said, "What the hell was that?" 'And she shouted downstairs, "Is this what it's like to die?" and then we heard a thud again.' Samantha was found having a fit and was rushed to hospital where she was put into an induced coma and never woke up. Maria said: 'She never came back. We were basically told as far as they could see that something had poisoned her. 'It was just about trying to fathom out what it was so they could possibly save her. 'One day, my other daughter mentioned that Samantha used to chew chewing gum, so I mentioned that to the coroner's office because she did used to chew gum a lot.' Now 10 years later, her heartbroken mother Maria Morgan (pictured, left, with Samantha) has issued a warning about the dangers of excessive use of chewing gum When her devastated family searched her bedroom, they found dozens of chewing gum wrappers and boxes - evidence that she chewed multiple chewing gums every day. 'Me and my daughter went into her bedroom and just emptied everything and went through everything in her bedroom to see if I could find something. 'Every bag that she had and every drawer in her bedroom there were chewing gum wrappers, empty chewing gum boxes. 'I couldn't have told you how much she chewed, but I could say what I found - evidence that she was chewing them every day and was buying at least a packet a day on the way to work, sometimes two packets.' She said that years later there are still so many 'whys' around Samantha's death, the biggest one being, 'Why on earth have I lost my daughter to chewing gum?' When Maria researched the gum she was horrified to discover that it contains dangerous aspartame and sorbitol which causes the body's salts to drop drastically. Maria said: 'The coroner wouldn't put down that it was definitely from chewing gum, but aided from chewing gum. 'Ten years on there are so many "whys" for me, but the biggest why is why on earth have I lost my daughter to chewing gum? I mean chewing gum, come on, it's ridiculous. 'I still can't get my head around it. She was such a loss. Bubbly, vivacious, fun loving, wouldn't harm a fly.' A Missouri man who was caught on film sucker-punching a 12-year-old boy who was dancing on the sidewalk last summer has been sentenced to seven years in prison. Cedric Charles Moore Jr of Cape Girardeau pleaded guilty to second-degree assault on May 10, the Southeast Missourian reported last week. He changed his plea from earlier this month. Moore is the 28-year-old man seen getting out of a black SUV near the intersection of Main Street and Independence Street in downtown Cape Girardeau one evening last July. As Ethan Hagler dances on a sidewalk near his teacher, Michael Curry, and another boy, Moore quietly sneaks up behind him and winds up his right arm, delivering a blow to the childs face. Curry and another friend are seen chasing Moore as he rushed back to the waiting SUV which drove off. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT Last July, Ethan Hagler, 12, was dancing (far left) on a sidewalk as Cedric Charles Moore Jr (right) got out of an SUV at the intersection and started sneaking up behind him in Cape Girardeau, Missouri Moore (right) gets closer to Hagler (left) and begins to wind up as if he is about to hit the boy, who doesn't see him coming Moore then delivers a vicious blow to Hagler from behind as Hagler's dancing instructor, Michael Curry (sitting down in a white t-shirt), and another boy look on Days later, Moore was arrested by police. Earlier this month, he pleaded guilty to second-degree assault. He will serve seven years in prison In the video, Hagler is seen stumbling in an apparent daze after the sucker-punch. Hagler, who is a dancer at Fingerprint Dance Studio, suffered a bloody nose and a minor concussion. He was treated at the hospital and then released a short time later. Curry told the Southeast Missourian that he is doing fine. Video of the horrific assault went viral after it was posted online last summer. The viral video shocked the internet and prompted Good Samaritans on Facebook to raise nearly $17,000 for the dance studio as well as any medical expenses that resulted from the assault. 'And all of a sudden I see him punch my kid, and instantly, my first reaction is, "What? Why?"' Curry told KSDK-TV in the days after the attack. 'You know, I tried to chase [Moore] back to the car. And as soon as I got the car, I saw there was two other people in the car. 'So I had to think about my child. Hes laying on the ground. 'And from there, it was a lot of people that came up to help, especially Shakers, the bar downtown that we usually set up in front of.' Hagler, who is a dancer at Fingerprint Dance Studio, suffered a bloody nose and a minor concussion. He was treated at the hospital and then released a short time later. The viral video shocked the internet and prompted Good Samaritans on Facebook to raise nearly $17,000 for the dance studio as well as any medical expenses that resulted from the assault Moore has a criminal record predating the assault on Hagler. In April 2019, he was sentenced to probation for domestic assault. That same year, he pleaded guilty to first-degree endangering the welfare of a child and driving while under the influence. The mother of his child was also granted an order of protection against Moore. Authorities said that the decision was made not to charge Moore with a hate crime because that would have led to a less severe penalty. The public has understandably expressed a desire to see Moore charged with a hate crime for this heinous crime, the Cape Girardeau Police Department said in a statement. In accordance with state statutes, this charge would only apply if the assault was categorized to a lesser degree, which would not be in the best interest of seeking true justice for the victim. A former English teacher is facing up to 12 years in prison after admitting to having a sexual relationship with a 17-year old student she previously taught at a Wisconsin high school. Abby Dibbs, 35, was charged with sexual assault after admitting to having sex with her student on two occasions at her home last weekend. According to the criminal complaint, the 17-year-old confirmed the relationship to detectives, stating he was 'in love' with Dibbs and was upset with the person who 'snitched' on their involvement. Portage PD Sgt. Max Jenatscheck revealed that Dibbs had said she and the student had discussed how they felt about each other and how there were lines that they could not cross. He added: 'Dibbs admitted that these lines were then crossed.' Abby Dibbs, 35, was charged with sexual assault after admitting to having sex with her student on two occasions at her home last weekend Court documents show that the teen's mother said she was glad the person who reported the inappropriate relationship did the right thing. Dibbs has been released on $3,500 bail under conditions barring her from contact with a 17-year old boy, stating no unsupervised contact with other children other than her own child, and a prohibition against being at Portage High School. The Portage Community School District released a statement Friday morning saying that Dibbs is no longer employed by the district. According to the criminal complaint, the 17-year-old student at Portage High School confirmed the relationship to detectives, stating he was 'in love' with Dibbs Dibbs has been released on $3,500 bail under conditions barring her from contact with a 17-year old boy and stating no unsupervised contact with other children other than her own child The statement made clear that she would not be returning to Portage High School without specifying how she separated from her teaching job. District administrator Joshua Sween said that his administration contacted law enforcement immediately upon learning about the relationship. He added that the district will not be commenting further to 'ensure there is no disruption to the investigation by law enforcement and to protect the privacy of others involved'. Rand Paul said Saturday that he is worried U.S. funding is still being used by the Chinese to develop biological weapons. 'I'm very worried that this stuff still goes on and that the U.S. government's been funding it,' Paul told Fox News' Jeanine Pirro on Saturday. Paul argued that China likely used the 'gain of function,' which means it mutated a virus that usually transmits just among animals so it could jump to humans and in dong so, potentially become more dangerous or deadly. 'We've got a lot of evidence pointing to this lab now,' the Kentucky senator argued, noting that when he proposed stopping funding to this research, all Democrats got on board. Both Paul and former CIA Director and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are warning that there is ongoing research and experimentation in the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), raising suspicions of another potential deadly virus leak. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul said Saturday that he is 'worried' China is still using U.S. funding to do biological warfare experiments that could lead to another virus leak as increasing evidence comes out that COVID-19 was leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology Comments come as increasing evidence emerges that coronavirus was developed in China and leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology as a biological weapon Pompeo told Fox News on Friday that WIV is conducting secret military research. The former Donald Trump aide also claimed there is 'enormous evidence' that the virus that causes COVID-19 escaped from the lab in China. 'What I can say for sure is this: we know that they were engaged in efforts connected to the People's Liberation Army inside of that laboratory, so military activity being performed alongside what they claimed was just good old civilian research,' Pompeo said in an interview with Fox. 'They refuse to tell us what it was, they refuse to describe the nature of either of those, they refuse to allow access to the World Health Organization,' he added. 'That coverup alone suggests that there's a lot more that we need to know.' 'That virology lab is still up and running. It's still probably conducting the same kinds of research it was conducting that may have well led to this virus escaping from that laboratory,' he said. 'Only the Chinese Communist Party knows the answer, the world deserves the answers and they have to tell us, I hope there will be bipartisan push to demand and hold accountable,' said Pompeo. Mike Pompeo, the former CIA director and secretary of state, told Fox News Friday that the Wuhan Institute of Virology was conducting secret military research Joe Biden ordered the government's premiere research laboratories to join the search for the true origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. The president delivers remarks at the annual Memorial Day Service at Veterans Memorial Park in Delaware on Sunday, May 30 He spoke after President Joe Biden ordered an intensive 90-day probe to reinvestigate the possibility of a lab leak origin in the pandemic. 'It's really unfortunate they took the position early on that there was nothing to see here,' Pompeo said in response to the new probe. 'I'm glad now that they're looking at this. I hope it's a serious investigation when they say they are giving 90 days for the intelligence community to look at this. The intelligence community has been looking at this for an awfully long time,' he said. Pompeo, a former CIA spy chief, has promoted the lab leak theory since the early days of the pandemic, a theory that until recently much of the U.S. media and academia scoffed at as a fringe conspiracy theory. 'I've known since spring of last year, 2020, when I first spoke about this that there is enormous evidence that this escaped from that laboratory in Wuhan,' he said on Saturday. 'We know there were people who got sick there, scientists who got sick there, we know they were doing the gain of function research -- essentially taking viruses and making them more contagious, potentially more lethal, this administration has to get after this.' Workers in the Wuhan Institute of Virology are seen in February. The lab has come under new scrutiny as experts finally take seriously a lab leak as a possible origin of the pandemic 'This administration has to get after this. I hope they will continue the work that we were engaged in,' said Pompeo. 'This is important work. We have to know how this happened so we can make sure it never happens again.' It is not the first time Pompeo has claimed links between the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and the Chinese military. In the final days of the Trump administration, the Pompeo-led State Department issued a statement stating 'the United States has determined that the WIV has collaborated on publications and secret projects with China's military.' 'The WIV has engaged in classified research, including laboratory animal experiments, on behalf of the Chinese military since at least 2017,' the department said. It also that that 'a laboratory accident could resemble a natural outbreak if the initial exposure included only a few individuals and was compounded by asymptomatic infection.' It follows word of an explosive new study that purports to show that Chinese scientists created COVID-19 in a Wuhan lab, then tried to cover their tracks by reverse-engineering versions of the virus to make it look like it evolved naturally from bats. DailyMail.com exclusively obtained the 22-page paper which is set to be published in the scientific journal Quarterly Review of Biophysics Discovery. In it, researchers describe their months-long 'forensic analysis' into experiments done at the Wuhan lab between 2002 and 2019 The paper's authors, British Professor Angus Dalgleish and Norwegian scientist Dr. Birger Srensen, wrote that they have had 'prima facie evidence of retro-engineering in China ' for a year - but were ignored by academics and major journals. The shocking allegations in the study, obtained by DailyMail.com before publication, include accusations of 'deliberate destruction, concealment or contamination of data' at Chinese labs. Biden on Wednesday ordered the 17 National Labs run by the Department of Energy to assist the intelligence community in a 90-day sprint to examine whether the virus leaked from a lab in China . The labs have been tapped 'because of their ability to crunch massive amounts of data' with their advanced supercomputers, a White House official told CNN . The government is not revealing exactly what kind of data is being submitted for analysis, but experts say it is likely previously gathered intelligence such as signal intercepts or biological evidence. Intelligence agencies regularly collect more raw data than their analysts are able to effectively pore through, and the application of advanced algorithms to seek patterns in the massive data set could offer new breakthroughs. Equipment is seen at Livermore National Laboratory in California, one of the 17 National Laboratories to been called in to assist intelligence agencies in crunching data 'We want the science to be a big part of this,' the White House official told CNN. 'We are going to use the full resources of our intelligence and scientific community to try to get to the bottom of this.' Biden is also urging U.S. intelligence agencies and those of allies to hunt for new information that could shed light on whether China covered up a lab leak. Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, said the Biden administration's response was 'better late than never, but far from adequate.' 'Our intelligence community has been looking at this now for 15 months. They've done good work on it, but in the end the answer lies in the hands of Chinese communists, not people working for American intelligence agencies,' he told the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Cotton said that officials in Beijing have not been forthcoming about how the pandemic began. 'We should be insisting that they come clean, that they provide us a clear and unvarnished look at what was happening in the Wuhan labs,' he said. Circumstantial evidence has long raised questions about the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where researchers were known to be conducting experiments on bat coronavirus strains similar to the one responsible for COVID-19. China insisted early and often that the virus did not leak from the lab, claiming that crossover to humans must have occurred at a 'wet market' in Wuhan that sold live animals. Perhaps driven by animosity for Donald Trump, who embraced the lab leak theory early on, the mainstream U.S. media and academics heaped scorn on the possibility, calling it an unhinged conspiracy theory. But new evidence, including reports of three workers at the Wuhan lab who fell seriously ill with COVID-like symptoms in November 2019, has forced a sober reassessment among doubters. Frustration with China increased this week after Beijing said that it would not participate in any further investigations by the World Health Organization. Biden rebuked China in his announcement of the new intelligence review, calling on allies to help 'press China to participate in a full, transparent, evidence-based international investigation and to provide access to all relevant data and evidence.' Lawyers say they have already been contacted by parents to discuss appeals Parents of pupils awaiting teacher-assessed A-level results have already begun contacting lawyers ahead of an expected row. With exams cancelled due to coronavirus, teachers are assessing grades, which has left some parents worrying about bias or whether special educational needs or disabilities will be properly accommodated for, the Observer reported. The unease follows the scrapping of an algorithm-based determination which caused chaos last year and has left teachers, unions, parents and students anticipating more issues this summer. The results are due on August 10, but lawyers like education specialist Amara Ahmad at Doyle Clayton are already receiving inquiries about challenging them. 'People want to start preparing for appeals now,' she told the Observer. 'Some are in the dark about the grades their child has achieved throughout the academic year or what evidence the teacher-assessed grades will be based on.' Parents of pupils awaiting teacher-assessed A-level results have already begun contacting lawyers ahead of an expected row. Pictured: Emily Wallace (centre) smiles as students at Norwich School in Norfolk receive their A-level results last summer [File photo] Many within teaching are frustrated at the time it took ministers to develop ways to ensure fair comparison of pupils between schools - something they had been calling for for months. 'My concern is that teachers will just be left in the lurch by a secretary of state who has created this situation and then walks away saying 'teachers clearly can't assess pupils,' Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, told the Observer. Confusion remains around how the appeals process will work, Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders told the newspaper. 'We really didn't have to be here. Teachers, parents, students still don't know what the appeals process will look like. We tried to help the government get on the front foot. Here we are on the back foot again.' With exams cancelled due to coronavirus, teachers are assessing grades, which has left some parents worrying about bias or whether special educational needs or disabilities will be properly accommodated for, the Observer reported. Pictured: Sophie Lofthouse (left) and Hannah Walton-Hughes react as students at The Mount School in York get their results last summer [File photo] Last year, A-level students were left in limbo as their teachers scrambled to appeal against tens of thousands of 'unfair' downgraded results released just weeks before the deadline to apply for university. A chaotic race for places ensued after 280,000 results were downgraded despite record-high results. Some parents and lawyers are still fighting to get 2020 results changed. Exams regulator Ofqual has rejected appeals even in cases where the school has agreed results should not have been downgraded. 'In my experience parents have no power. There are a lot of parents who are really worried about this years system, but they are too frightened to speak out in case they make things worse for their children. For parents who are still fighting last years grades now it has become a full-time job,' Catherine Brioche, a mother and member of the A-level Grading Issues Support Group told The Observer. Many within teaching are frustrated at the time it took ministers to develop ways to ensure fair comparison of pupils between schools - something they had been calling for for months. Pictured: Students at Newham Collegiate Sixth Form react as they receive their A-Level grades in East London last year [File photo] While students unhappy with their grades this year can appeal, lawyer Ahmad said parents are worried that Ofqual has decreed that schools must make the appeals against their own grades. 'This is the school marking their own homework. And it's not clear to me what happens if the school says no to an appeal,' she told the Observer. Ofqual has said that schools are required to submit an appeal to the relevant exam board if a student requests they do so. A spokesman told the Observer that its analysis of last year's grades 'found no evidence of systematic bias against disabled students, other protected characteristics or those from disadvantaged backgrounds.' He added that Ofqual has this year updated guidance for teachers on how to avoid bias. Advertisement Millions of Americans are braced for a Memorial Day washout, with tornadoes and storms forecast from Colorado to Texas as dismal weather puts a dampener on the traditional start of the summer. Thunderstorms bringing rain and hail will hit much of the southern Plains on Monday, with downfalls of more than three inches possible in an area stretching from south-central Oklahoma to north-central Texas. The Big Bend is at the greater risk of destructive hail and tornadoes, according to the National Weather Service, which has issued an Enhanced Risk warning for severe thunderstorms on Monday. Millions of Americans are braced for a Memorial Day washout, with tornadoes and storms forecast from Colorado to Texas (pictured is a rainy day in New York) People visit the boardwalk as rain falls during Memorial Day weekend in Coney Island in New York Sunday, as forecasters predicted rain for much of the country throughout the three-day holiday weekend Rain has already drenched much of the Northeast and Midwest, with parts of southwestern Kansas at risk of flash flooding. In Chicago, where Lake Michigan was supposed to be open to swimmers again for the first time since 2019, but many beaches had to be closed waves reached up to 11 feet high. Northern New England and upstate New York are expected to be lashed by rain Sunday after previously enjoying dry and warn weather, with spotty showers also forecast for the Carolinas, the Gulf Coast, and southern Georgia. Unseasonably low temperatures are expected Sunday in New England and Massachusetts, with temperatures 20 to 30 degrees below average. Highs are forecast to only reach the upper-50s as far south as Virginia. Fortunately, the low pressure system should begin to exit the Northeast on Memorial Day and lead to increasingly pleasant weather as we head into the beginning of June. Meanwhile, a building upper-level ridge over the western U.S. will likely lead to the hottest temperatures felt so far this year throughout the West. Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories have been issued for northern and central California, where triple digit high temperatures are forecast today and Monday. This is also likely to exacerbate the growing extreme and exceptional drought conditions found throughout the region. It comes as more than 40 million Americans are on the move, kicking off what has been described as the summer of 'revenge travel', with citizens planning to make up for lost time by hitting the road and taking to the skies. Conditions were much better in Orlando, Florida, as millions of Americans were on the move for vacations and to visit family Those who remained in New York City' Friday, however, were left cold and damp. On Coney Island, a few forlorn beachgoers were spotted braving the rain and low-hanging clouds in heavy coats on the famed boardwalk, where temperatures barely cracked 50 and gusty wind made it feel even colder. Meanwhile, clouds and chilly temperatures hung over much of the Midwest, and hazardous conditions were forecast in the Great Plains, with rounds of thunderstorms stretching from eastern Colorado to West Texas predicted through Memorial Day. But in Florida, the skies were clear and temperatures hit the low 90s. Hours after Universal Orlando dropped its indoor and ride mask requirement for vaccinated guests on Saturday morning, parkgoers were spotted enjoying barefaced freedom. And in California, crowds flocked to the beaches as the sun came out. In Los Angeles - which was the global epicenter of the Covid crisis just months ago - thousands squeezed onto the Santa Monica boardwalk. The dreary weather is throwing a wrench in what many will be their first fully-vaccinated holiday with friends and family. Travel has surged for Memorial Day, with more than 1.9 million people passing through U.S. airports Friday. The daily number was widely expected to cross 2 million at least once over the long holiday weekend, which would be the highest mark since the start of the pandemic in early March 2020. At Miami International Airport, officials expected crowds equal to pre-pandemic levels. It was a similar story in Orlando, where airport traffic has reached 90 percent of 2019 levels as tourists flocked to theme parks that have recently loosened restrictions. Along the Florida coasts and around Orlando, many hotels were booked solid through the weekend. The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau is anticipating hotel occupancy levels to surge even above pre-pandemic levels, the agency's CEO Rolando Aedo told the Miami Herald. More than 40 million Americans are on the move, kicking off what has been described as the summer of 'revenge travel', with citizens planning to make up for lost time by hitting the road and taking to the skies. Pictured: Grand Central Terminal in New York The visitors bureau projects countywide hotel occupancy to be as much as 8 percent higher on Saturday than it was on the same day in 2019. 'Weve gone through so many crises as a destination, and the trend has been fairly consistent,' said Aedo. 'We tend to outpace other destinations in recovery.' But the crowds aren't just heading to South Florida. The Orlando area is also booming with travelers as the major theme parks have loosened some of the COVID-19 restrictions in place since they reopened last summer. 'Our Memorial Day holiday passenger forecast indicates that we are approaching 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels, which is a testament to the resiliency of Central Florida,' Phil Brown, Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, said in a news release. 'A combination of factors including the vaccines, availability of seats into the market and pent-up demand all point to a potentially strong summer travel season.' During last year's Memorial Day holiday weekend, Orlando International Airport saw 45,415 departures, compared to an anticipated 300,000 departures this year, Brown said. Rental cars are now scarce and expensive in most of Florida, after rental companies sold off inventory during the pandemic. 'Most areas in Florida, theyre seeing high demand and were definitely expecting sellout areas in Orlando, Tampa area, St. Pete area,' Jonathan Weinberg, the CEO and founder of AutoSlash.com, told Spectrum News 13 in Orlando. Meanwhile, much of the Northeast is expected to experience cool temperatures and intermittent rain through Memorial Day. New York: Heavy rain hits a deserted Coney Island on Memorial Day weekend in Brooklyn on Saturday Chicago: Waves up to 11 feet high crash into the lakefront trail near 31st Street Beach on the South Side, Friday afternoon 'Showers and locally heavy rain will make it difficult to stay dry if spending time outdoors, with a stiff northeast wind making conditions feel even more uncomfortable,' the NWS warned. 'These gusty winds may also lead to coastal flooding from Long Island to the Delmarva Peninsula. Coastal Flood Watches and Advisories are in effect,' the service said. 'A low pressure system is forecast to eventually develop along the aforementioned frontal boundary and swing into New England on Monday, subsequently leading to much of the Mid-Atlantic enjoying a drier and pleasant Memorial Day.' In Chicago, beaches were washed out by high waves on Friday, the first day the city was to reopen Lake Michigan to swimming since summer 2019. Waves reached up to 11 feet high, closing many of the beaches that had been set to open for the first time since September 2, 2019. A 'beach hazards' alert from the National Weather Service forecast 'life-threatening' swimming conditions through Saturday, when waves would lessen to 8 feet. Chicago's beach season typically runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, but the city had kept its 22 Lake Michigan beaches closed last summer as part of its COVID-19 precautions. Mayor Lori Lightfoot had announced Wednesday that the city would reopen all beach amenities, including concessions. But the weather service on Friday was telling people to stay away from the shoreline. The city also city shut down parts of its lakefront biking and pedestrian trail. High winds off the lake caused a tree to fall on two cars traveling along Lake Shore Drive, according to Larry Merritt, a Chicago Fire Department spokesman. A man who was in one of the cars, one of which was left mangled, was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in good condition, Merritt said. It was not clear what kind of injuries he had. In California, scorching heat is the concern, with Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories already issued across the Sacramento Valley and northern San Joaquin Valley for Sunday and Monday. Highs are forecast to reach the upper-90s and triple digits on Sunday throughout much of the Desert Southwest and California's Central Valley, the National Weather Service said. The high waves closed most Chicago beaches to swimming Friday, the first day they were to be reopened since closing over a year ago because of the coronavirus pandemic American Airlines will not resume serving alcohol to passengers in the main cabin until at least September following a wave of unruly passenger behavior on flights. In a memo, the airline stated that over the past week they had seen 'some of these stressors create deeply disturbing situations on board aircraft'. Vice president of flight service Brady Byrnes added: 'Let me be clear: American Airlines will not tolerate assault or mistreatment of our crews.' 'While we appreciate that customers and crewmembers are eager to return to 'normal,' we will move cautiously and deliberately when restoring pre-COVID practices.' American Airlines will not resume serving alcohol to passengers in the main cabin until at least September following a wave of unruly passenger behavior on flights American Airlines halted the sale of alcohol in economy in late March 2020 to limit interactions between passengers and flight attendants during the pandemic. The airline now says the ban will remain in place through September 13. This is the same date that the Transportation Security Administration plans to lift the mask mandate for all flights. The continued suspension by American Airlines follows a decision by Southwest Airlines to halt plans to return to selling alcohol to customers next month on Hawaii flights and in July on other flights. 'Given the recent uptick in industry-wide incidents of passenger disruptions inflight, we have made the decision to pause the previously announced re-start of alcohol service,' Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz said Friday. Mainz said the decision might disappoint some customers, 'but we feel this is the right decision at this time in the interest of the safety and comfort of all customers and crew onboard.' The airline has not determined new dates for selling alcohol. The bans follow a series of violent inflight incidents including one in which a woman punched a Southwest Airlines flight attendant, knocking her teeth out. She was charged with felony battery. Vyvianna Quinonez, 28, grew irate when she was told to buckle her seatbelt during a flight from Sacramento to San Diego and hit the flight attendant in the face, KTXL reported. Quinonez was escorted off the flight by Port of San Diego Harbor police as the flight attendant, who was not named, was left with a bloodied face and taken off the flight in a wheelchair. The bans follow a series of violent inflight incidents including one in which a woman punched a Southwest Airlines flight attendant (pictured), knocking her teeth out The president of the flight attendants' union, Lyn Montgomery, said this week that there were 477 incidents of 'misconduct' by passengers on Southwest planes between April 8 and May 15, and that her members were concerned about Southwests plan to resume selling alcohol on flights. Southwest and most airlines train flight attendants to de-escalate tense situations with unhappy travelers. Montgomery said those tactics are growing less effective and a small number of passengers are becoming bolder in challenging the authority of crew members. In a separate incident a few weeks ago, a New Yorker allegedly tried to rip a flight attendant's dress off, after flying into a rage about her garbage not being picked up. Chenasia Campbell, 28, reportedly lashed out on an American Airlines Miami to JFK flight. In March, two American Airlines passengers got into a squabble that turned physical over deplaning after landing in Phoenix, Arizona. Clips showed the aftermath of the altercation as the plane sat at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport after the brief flight from Los Angeles International Airport Sunday. Multiple people who shared videos noted that they almost missed connecting flights while waiting for the commotion to settle. The suspension by American Airlines follows a decision by Southwest Airlines to halt plans to return to selling alcohol to customers next month on Hawaii flights and in July on other flights Earlier this week, the Federal Aviation Administration reported that it has received almost 2,500 complaints of unruly behavior so far in 2021, including around 1,900 complaints about violations of mask mandates. It also fined five passengers, ranging from $9,000 to $15,000, including two accused of assaulting crew members. In comments to CNBC on Friday, the president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA Sara Nelson called the amount of unruly behavior on planes 'complete nuts'. 'This is an environment that we just haven't seen before, and we can't wait for it to be over,' Nelson said on Squawk Box. 'It's a constant combative attitude...it's got to stop.' Nelson noted that reports of unruly behavior are 20 times higher than that of a typical calendar year, and are likely linked to the 'political issue' of mask mandates. Nelson called for better messaging about the consequences of unruly behavior and said she would welcome a temporary restriction on the sale of alcohol. 'A lot of times these events are exacerbated by alcohol, so we've been asking the government and the airlines to make sure they're not selling alcohol right now because that's only adding to the problem that is clearly out of control,' she said. The former head of the Food and Drug Administration said on Sunday that the likelihood COVID-19 originated in a lab is growing while the odds that the coronavirus was transmitted from animals to humans grow longer. The challenge is that the side of the ledger that suggests that this could have come out of a lab has continued to expand, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who served as then-President Trumps FDA commission from 2017 until 2019, told CBS News. And a side of the ledger that suggests that this could have come from a zoonotic source, come out of nature, really hasn't budged. Gottlieb said that there is enough evidence to rule out the earlier theory that coronavirus originated from a wet market in Wuhan. Gottlieb added: And if anything, you can argue that that side of the ledger has contracted because we've done an exhaustive search for the so-called intermediate host, the animal that could have been exposed to this virus before it spread to humans. Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who served as then-President Trumps FDA commission from 2017 until 2019, said on Sunday that the likelihood COVID-19 originated in a lab is growing while the odds that the coronavirus was transmitted from animals to humans grow longer Gottlieb says China has key data that could shed more light on whether the coronavirus accidentally leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (pictured in April 2020) We have not found such an animal. Once dismissed as a fringe conspiracy theory promoted by the Trump administration, mainstream media has reversed itself in recent weeks as circumstantial evidence has surfaced indicating that it is possible coronavirus accidentally leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that lab technicians at the facility mysteriously fell ill with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 as far back as November 2019 - just weeks before the virus began to spread in earnest in China. The Chinese government did not officially report its first case of coronavirus until December 2019. In the initial stages of the pandemic, it was speculated that the virus may have been spread from animals sold at a local wet market in Wuhan. But Gottlieb told CBS News on SUnday that this theory has now been fully disproven. He said that China holds the key to understanding the origins of the virus. The government could provide evidence like blood samples of the lab technicians who fell ill as well as original source strains and early samples of the virus. 'If we assess that there is a probability or a possibility that this came out of a lab, it's going to affect how we respond to this,' he said. 'We're going to need to focus on trying to get better controls in this sort of high-risk research going forward and get better controls over these BSL-4, these high security labs that conduct this research.' 'BSL-4' is the highest biosafety level of containment for a laboratory. Gottlieb said that lab leaks arent rare and that mishaps have occurred - even in the United States. Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that lab technicians at the facility mysteriously fell ill with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 as far back as November 2019 - just weeks before the virus began to spread in earnest in China. The Chinese government did not officially report its first case of coronavirus until December 2019. The image above from the lab in Wuhan was taken in February 2017 He said getting to the bottom of what caused the pandemic is important since we need to also look at public health through the lens of national security. This was an asymmetric harm to the United States, Gottlieb said. COVID hurt the U.S. a lot more than it hurt many other countries. The former FDA commissioner warns the public may not ever know how the virus spread. 'We may never really determine with precision whether or not this came out of a lab,' he said. 'I think what we're likely to end up with is an assessment, a probability, unless we get very lucky and we either find the intermediate host, we find a colony of civet cats or pangolins where this is epidemic and it could have first spilled over into humans, or we have a whistleblower in China or regime change, which we're not going to have. 'I don't know that we're going to find out with certainty that this came out of a lab.' Biden orders 'unexamined evidence' that could show coronavirus leaked from China lab to be crunched by supercomputers at 17 elite research facilities President Joe Biden has ordered the government's leading research laboratories to join the search for the true origins of the COVID-19 pandemic by sifting through a massive trove of previously unexamined data, according to new reports. Biden on Wednesday ordered the 17 National Labs run by the Department of Energy to assist the intelligence community in a 90-day sprint to examine whether the virus leaked from a lab in China. The labs have been tapped 'because of their ability to crunch massive amounts of data' with their advanced supercomputers, a White House official told CNN. The government is not revealing exactly what kind of data is being submitted for analysis, but experts say it is likely previously gathered intelligence such as signal intercepts or biological evidence. Intelligence agencies regularly collect more raw data than their analysts are able to effectively pore through, and the application of advanced algorithms to seek patterns in the massive data set could offer new breakthroughs. President Joe Biden has ordered the government's premiere research laboratories to join the search for the true origins of the COVID-19 pandemic Equipment is seen at Livermore National Laboratory in California, one of the 17 National Laboratories to been called in to assist intelligence agencies in crunching data 'We want the science to be a big part of this,' the White House official told CNN. 'We are going to use the full resources of our intelligence and scientific community to try to get to the bottom of this.' Biden is also urging U.S. intelligence agencies and those of allies to hunt for new information that could shed light on whether China covered up a lab leak. Senator Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, said the Biden administration's response was 'better late than never, but far from adequate.' 'Our intelligence community has been looking at this now for 15 months. They've done good work on it, but in the end the answer lies in the hands of Chinese communists, not people working for American intelligence agencies,' he told the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Cotton said that officials in Beijing have not been forthcoming about how the pandemic began. 'We should be insisting that they come clean, that they provide us a clear and unvarnished look at what was happening in the Wuhan labs,' he said. Circumstantial evidence has long raised questions about the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where researchers were known to be conducting experiments on bat coronavirus strains similar to the one responsible for COVID-19. China insisted early and often that the virus did not leak from the lab, claiming that crossover to humans must have occurred at a 'wet market' in Wuhan that sold live animals. Perhaps driven by animosity for Donald Trump, who embraced the lab leak theory early on, the mainstream U.S. media and academics heaped scorn on the possibility, calling it an unhinged conspiracy theory. But new evidence, including reports of three workers at the Wuhan lab who fell seriously ill with COVID-like symptoms in November 2019, has forced a sober reassessment among doubters. Frustration with China increased this week after Beijing said that it would not participate in any further investigations by the World Health Organization. Researchers are seen at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Biden's new 90-day probe will examine whether evidence supports the lab leak theory of the pandemic Circumstantial evidence has long raised questions about the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where researchers were known to be conducting experiments on bat coronavirus strains Biden rebuked China in his announcement of the new intelligence review, calling on allies to help 'press China to participate in a full, transparent, evidence-based international investigation and to provide access to all relevant data and evidence.' UK intelligence agencies are assisting in Biden's new 90-day intelligence review, a senior Whitehall security source told The Telegraph. The source told the publication: 'We are contributing what intelligence we have on Wuhan, as well as offering to help the American to corroborate and analyze any intelligence they have that we can assist with.' British intelligence agencies have generally been skeptical of the lab leak theory, while Australia's spies have been more open to it. While Britain and Australia already share intelligence with the U.S. as part of the Five Eyes partnership, Biden's new probe could prod them to redouble their focus on sharing evidence related to a possible lab leak. Meanwhile, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise and more than 200 of his GOP colleagues have also called for Speaker Nancy Pelosi to direct her Democrat-led committees to investigate China's complicity in causing the COVID pandemic. In a letter to the Democratic House Speaker, the Republicans said there is 'mounting evidence the pandemic started in a Chinese lab' and the Chinese Communist Party 'covered it up'. 'If that is the case, the CCP is responsible for the deaths of almost 600,000 Americans and millions more worldwide. These questions about the CCPs liability are not a diversion, as you falsely claimed,' the letter reads. U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks after touring the Ford Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, Mich., May 18. Reuters-Yonhap By Kim Yoo-chul Two U.S. states Ohio and Texas are emerging as the candidates to house SK Innovation's (SKI) battery joint venture with Ford Motor, with Ohio gaining a slight edge over Texas, two sources told The Korea Times, Sunday. A few weeks ago, SKI and Ford said they signed a memorandum of understanding for a battery joint venture that would be called "BlueOvalSK." Production of battery cells as well as support modules is set to start by 2025, according to the companies. Sources and officials familiar with the issue said both SKI and Ford are expected to launch the venture firm by July at the earliest, and it is set to go online around 2025. At least three years are required to set up necessary equipment before the venture starts actual, "meaningful" operation. "Ohio and Texas are emerging as the candidates for the venture's new battery plant. But I would say Ford is apparently preferring to decide on Ohio as the venture's headquarters," an industry executive said. Ohio is considered one of the manufacturing hubs for U.S. carmakers. The state is the second-largest in terms of the total number of workers in the automotive industry. Over the last five years, Ford was the biggest automotive investor in the state of Ohio by investing some $1.37 billion, followed by General Motors, according to industry watchers. The state is also the home to an LG Energy Solution (LGES) battery joint venture with GM, which will become operational from next year. But the central point, according to the executive, is that Ford is aiming to minimize the effects of its business rearrangement plan, because the carmaker was planning to return to its earlier agreement to build a "next-generation vehicle" by 2023 at the Avon Lake Ford plant in Ohio. It is said to be moving a major project slated for 2023 from northeastern Ohio to its plant in Mexico. "Given Ford's commitment, which said earlier it would invest $900 million in a new project at the Avon Lake plant, and its moves to possibly rearrange its business plans by reducing fixed costs, if the new SKI-Ford joint venture is established in Ohio, that could fill the possible void of job losses and address concerns by labor unions in terms of job security, and that strategy makes sense to me," the executive said on condition of anonymity. At the time of Ford's 2019 commitment to invest $900 million in the Ohio assembly plant at Avon Lake, it promised to create more than 1,500 jobs. Plus, Ohio is home to several plants, which means the state is quite proven and stable in terms of relevant infrastructure such as electricity and water supply. Texas is also viewed as a possible candidate site given its aggressiveness to win foreign investors by offering a wider range of administrative and financial incentives. Texas hosts large companies such as Samsung Electronics, GM, Tesla and Toyota. As the state has an ample supply of experienced and skilled workers, the regional government is aiming to attract eco-friendly companies and those involved in similar business models. "Because of attractive tax benefits and proximity to Mexico, Texas is also cited as an attractive site for the BlueOvalSK headquarters," another industry executive said by telephone. Ford said that by 2030, it was expecting annual energy demand for its vehicles to rise to 140 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in North America and up to 240 GWh globally. Specifically, it hopes to catch up with its core rivals, including Tesla and GM, both of which are on track to localize their battery development in the United States. Three men who were arrested over the Italian cable car crash that killed 14 people were released from jail overnight, after a judge found a 'total lack of evidence' against two of them. Officials on Sunday said that service manager Gabriele Tadini was put under house arrest, while technical director Enrico Perocchio and the head of the cable car operating company, Luigi Nerini, were released. All three remain under investigation for suspected involuntary manslaughter and negligence over the tragedy. In Italy, judges must approve continued detention of suspects and usually order pre-trial detention only under special circumstances, for example when the accused is a flight risk. The three men were detained on Wednesday after Tadini admitted to investigators that he had deactivated an emergency brake system that could have prevented the crash. He said he did it because the system was malfunctioning and had halted service several times, and insisted that he acted in agreement with the two other suspects. Three men who were arrested over the Italian cable car crash that killed 14 people were released from jail overnight, after a judge found a 'total lack of evidence' against two of them. Pictured: Gabriele Tadini leaves Verbania prison for house arrest Officials on Sunday said that service manager Gabriele Tadini was put under house arrest, while technical director Enrico Perocchio (right) and the head of the cable car operating company, Luigi Nerini (left), were released. All three remain under investigation for suspected involuntary manslaughter and negligence over the tragedy. The three men were detained on Wednesday after Tadini (pictured) admitted to investigators that he had deactivated an emergency brake system that could have prevented the crash Pictured: The prison where the three men were being held in Verbania, Italy But judge Donatella Banci Bonamici found a 'total lack of evidence against Nerini and Perocchio', according to a ruling quoted by the Corriere della Sera newspaper on Sunday. According to the judge, Tadini tried to shift some of the blame on his two superiors after acting 'with total disregard for human life, with bewildering carelessness'. Tadini's lawyer Marcello Perillo said his client 'will have to face consequences' for his admission, adding that the extent to which the other two men had indeed being informed of his actions was yet to be established. 'There is no proof at present they were also responsible. They are people who should have known, but it's not clear if they did,' Perillo said. Perocchio has claimed he had no idea that the brakes had been blocked. 'I've got 21 years of experience with lifts that use cables, I know that's something you don't ever, ever do,' Perocchio said, according to La Repubblica. Local media reported that none of the men were ruled to be a flight risk and there was no risk of evidence being tampered with. The cable car crashed near the top of the Mottarone mountain on May 24, after its pull cable snapped and the car flew backwards, dislodging itself from a second, supporting cable Graphic shows the cable car's route after the cable snapped as the car neared the station at the top of the mountain Engineers 'tampered with' the braking system (circled) on the Italian cable car as part of a botched fix in order to avoid delays, prosecutors have said Prosecutor Olimpia Bossi said she would 'carefully assess' the judge's ruling, noting that it could be appealed, and said it would not derail investigations. 'The suspects remain the same, our work goes on,' she told reporters. The cable car crashed near the top of the Mottarone mountain on May 24, after its pull cable snapped and the car flew backwards, dislodging itself from a second, supporting cable. Had the emergency brake worked, the car would have remained hanging on the supporting cable. Investigators are still trying to ascertain why the first cable broke. The accident left a five-year-old boy from an Israeli family who lived in Italy as the only survivor. He lost his parents, younger brother and great-grandparents. After the crash, Eitan Biran was airlifted to a hospital in Turin in northwest Italy, where he was intubated and sedated and treated for multiple injuries. He regained consciousness on Thursday, and the hospital said on Sunday that his condition was 'significantly improving', reporting that he had resumed eating 'soft and light food'. The accident left a five-year-old boy from an Israeli family who lived in Italy as the only survivor. He lost his parents, younger brother and great-grandparents. Pictured: Eitan Biran (in striped shirt) was the sole survivor of the crash. He is pictured here with his father Amit, mother Tal and brother Tom, who were killed Alessandro Merlo and Silvia Malnati, 29 and 27, died in the tragedy. Friends said the couple had been engaged for 10 years and were planning to marry Angelo Vito Gasparro, 45, wife Roberta Pistolato (together left and right), died when the cable car plunged 65ft during a trip to the mountains to celebrate Roberta's 40th birthday Vittorio Zorloni and Elisabetta Persanini (together left, and Vittorio pictured right) were also killed in the accident, along with their five-year-old son Mattia. The couple were engaged and due to be married next month, Italian media reported 'At the moment the child remains in intensive care as a precaution,' with his aunt and grandmother assisting him, the hospital added. Among the dead were Eitan's family - parents Tal, 26, and Amit, 30, brother Tom, 2, and great-grandparents Itshak and Barbara Cohen, 82 and 70 - Alessandro Merlo, 29, his fiance Silvia Malnati, 27; husband Angelo Vito Gasparro, 45, and wife Roberta Pistolato; Vittorio Zorloni, his fiancee Elisabetta Persanini, 38, and the couple's five-year-old son Mattia; and couple Serena Cosentino, 27, and Mohammadreza Shahaisavandi, 23. The Mottarone mountain served by the cable car is a popular tourist location, as it offers scenic views of Lake Maggiore and of the more distant Alps. On the website of the cable car, it is advertised as 'one of Italy's most beautiful natural balconies'. The northwestern region of Piedmont, where the accident happened, declared a day of mourning on Sunday, and urged its residents to observe a minute of silence at noon (1000 GMT). Kamala Harris paid tribute to fallen American service members on Sunday after getting excoriated for posting 'enjoy the long weekend' on Twitter without mentioning Memorial Day. 'Throughout our history our service men and women have risked everything to defend our freedoms and our country,' the vice president tweeted. 'As we prepare to honor them on Memorial Day, we remember their service and their sacrifice.' Harris did not do anything for Memorial Day over the weekend, but usually the president and vice president make some sort of tribute on Monday the official federal holiday to commemorate those who gave their lives as part of the U.S. armed service branches. President Joe Biden gave 10-minute remarks at the Veterans Memorial Park near the Delaware Memorial Bridge in Wilmington on Sunday. First he attended a church service at St. Joseph on the Brandywine and visited his son Beau's grave there on the sixth anniversary of his passing from brain cancer. Vice President Kamala Harris sent a tweet honoring fallen U.S. service members on Sunday People visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. on May 30 where the names of military members who lost their lives during the Vietnam War are listed The Sunday post from the vice president came after she was excoriated on Twitter for her Saturday tweet included a candid photo of herself smiling with the caption: 'Enjoy the long weekend', without mentioning the reason for the federal holiday Harris also spoke Friday at the U.S. Naval Academy graduation ceremony in Annapolis, Maryland Harris' tweet comes amid intense backlash for a post the day prior where she did not mention fallen soldiers, instead telling people to 'enjoy' having Monday off. The post included a candid photo of herself smiling and comes hours after she posted a tweet praising Midshipman Sydney Barber who made history as the first black woman to serve as Brigade Commander at the U.S. Naval Academy. Harris also spoke at the U.S. Naval Academy's graduation and commissioning ceremony on Friday during which she called the United States military 'the best, the bravest, and the most brilliant.' However, critics were quick to point out that her tweet failed to mention the reason for the long weekend is Memorial Day - a federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May honoring soldiers who died while serving in the military. Air National Guard Lt. Colonel Adam Kinzinger blasted her tweet as 'tone deaf.' 'Enjoy your freedom purchased by many who died for it. Tone deaf,' he tweeted. Nikki Haley, who served as President Donald Trump's ambassador to the UN and is a potential 2024 presidential candidate, retweeted Harris's tweet and wrote on Sunday: 'Unprofessional and unfit'. But Haley's post came hours after Harris had tweeted about the meaning of the national holiday amid the backlash. For her part, Haley has not tweeted about Memorial Day as of Monday morning. Former U.S. ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has accused Vice President Kamala Harris of being 'unprofessional and unfit' after she tweeted 'Enjoy the long weekend' ahead of Memorial Day without mentioning fallen soldiers Haley, who served as President Donald Trump's ambassador to the UN and is a potential 2024 presidential candidate, retweeted Harris's tweet and wrote: 'Unprofessional and unfit' Harris' Saturday tweet came hours after she praised Midshipman Sydney Barber -the first black woman to serve as Brigade Commander at the U.S. Naval Academy Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that even her seven-year-old son 'understands what this weekend is about.' 'Show some respect for the heroes who paid the ultimate price for our freedom,' the former press secretary for Donald Trump tweeted. Beth Baumann, a political reporter and editor at The Daily Wire, tweeted: 'This isn't a 'long weekend.' It's a weekend where we honor the fallen.' Kimberly Klacik, a former Republican congressional nominee, called Harris 'stupid' for the tweet. 'Long weekend? I know many are upset & saying this is disrespectful, but I believe you are really just stupid,' she wrote. The Texas Federation of College Republicans posted a document with facts about Memorial Day. 'It's just a 'long weekend' for this fraud. I have several dead buddies that disagree,' wrote retired Air Force pilot Buzz Patterson. Tony Lederer, whose Twitter account identifies him as a Master Chief Petty Officer in the Navy, paired his tweet with a picture of the Vietnam Memorial. 'Don't forget why we have a long weekend!' Lederer wrote. People on Twitter react to Vice President Kamala Harris' tweet on Saturday Another person, using the Twitter account @JR_justJR, posted an image of an image of a woman lying on grave at Arlington National Cemetery with an infant. 'It is Memorial Day weekend - nor for enjoying - but for memorializing our fallen. Our brothers and sisters, who 'gave the last full measure of devotion'. Please try to respect that,' the account wrote. In a tweet to Rep. Brian Mast, another Twitter user called her tweet 'disgusting' while thanking him for his service. Mast, of Florida, retired from the U.S. Army with a number of awards including: the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart. On Friday, President Joe Biden addressed service members and their families at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia in which he largely praised his son Beau - who earned a Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq. The younger Biden, who attained the rank of Major in the U.S. Army and National Guard, joined the military in 2003 and and deployed to Iraq in 2008 while he was the Attorney General for the state of Delaware. 'And so, he gave up the seat and had the courage to appoint a fellow who had been a Republican attorney general as attorney general while he while he went. The proudest thing he ever did proudest thing he ever did,' Biden said. 'And he he spent a year in Iraq. And it was it was one of the great honors of his life to do it. Won the Bronze Star, the Conspicuous Service Medal, and other awards like many of you have but he never, ever talked about it.' Later in the speech, Biden thanked members of the military and told them he 'sincerely' supports them. 'So my message to all of you is quite simply: Thank you. Thank you. Not 'thank you for your service' just thank you for who you are, because it's contagious. Thank you for choosing a selfless service to your country,' Biden said. In another part of the speech, he said: 'I always want you to know always that the issues you and your family are facing, we need to know how we can support you better. I mean it sincerely from the bottom of my heart: support you better.' Kirsten Gillibrand said Sunday that she opposed all three of Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominees because she was afraid they would overturn Roe v. Wade and threaten women's rights to an abortion. 'I'm very concerned,' the New York senator told CNN's 'State of the Union' when asked how she felt about an upcoming case involving abortion laws. 'It's one of the reasons why I deeply opposed the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett. It's why I deeply opposed the nomination of Neil Gorsuch and Justice [Brett] Kavanaugh,' she continued to host Jake Tapper. 'These justices were put forward on a very political agenda, very purposefully by President Trump and by Mitch McConnell.' The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case in the fall regarding a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks, which is around eight weeks earlier than made legal under landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade. New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said Sunday that she opposed all of Donald Trump's Supreme court nominees because she was concerned it would lead to the overturning of abortion rights awarded through landmark case Roe v. Wade 'I'm very concerned,' Gillibrand said when asked how she felt about an upcoming case involving abortion laws. 'It's one of the reasons why I deeply opposed the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett' Gillibrand said she also opposed Justices Neil Gorsuch (left) and Brett Kavanaugh (right) for the same reasons She also slammed the then-Republican controlled Senate for blocking the nomination of Merrick Garland for a Supreme Court seat when one opened up under Barack Obama following the death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia. 'Back to the lack of good will, again Amy Coney Barrett was voted on moments before the next election just days. And we couldn't have Merrick Garland have a hearing more than a year out,' she lamented. At the time of Coney Barrett's nomination, however, Gillibrand admitted that even if the process was 'legitimate' she still opposed her confirmation because she is pro-life and against the Affordable Care Act. 'President Trump's nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court represents the further degradation of our democracy and the continued politicization of our judiciary,' she wrote in a statement in September 2020. 'Even if this process had been legitimate, Barrett's anti-choice views, opposition to the Affordable Care Act, and hostility to immigrant rights and civil rights make her completely unfit to serve on the Supreme Court. I vehemently oppose Barrett's nomination and will vote against her confirmation.' Earlier this month, the Supreme Court agreed to take up the case of a Mississippi state law that bans almost all abortions after the 15th week of pregnancy giving it the chance to substantially weaken the 1973 Roe. v. Wade decision. The case will be the first abortion case heard since the Republican Senate confirmed Justice Amy Coney Barrett in the last weeks of Trump's administration. The case is setting up to be a major test of the court's new 6-3 conservative majority. By hearing the case, the justices will look at whether to overturn a central part of the landmark ruling, a longstanding goal of religious conservatives. In the Roe v. Wade decision, subsequently reaffirmed in 1992, the court said that states could not ban abortion before the viability of the fetus outside the womb, which is generally viewed by doctors as between 24 and 28 weeks. The Mississippi law would ban abortion much earlier than that. The Supreme court agreed earlier this month to hear a case in the fall on a Mississippi law banning abortion at 15 weeks, which is around eight weeks or two months earlier than currently allowed under Roe v. Wade This will be the first abortion case heard by Coney Barrett since joining the court. It will also be a major test of the court's new 6-3 conservative majority The Roe v. Wade ruling recognized that a constitutional right to personal privacy protects a woman's ability to obtain an abortion. The court in its 1992 decision, coming in the case Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey, reaffirmed the ruling and prohibited laws that place an 'undue burden' on a woman's ability to obtain an abortion. Texas also furthered its restrictions on terminating a pregnancy by became this month the largest state with a law that bans abortions before many women even know they are pregnant. Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed the bill Wednesday that puts Texas in line with more than a dozen other states that ban abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, which can happen as early as six weeks into the pregnancy. There is also unique provision in the new law that essentially leaves enforcement to private citizens through lawsuits against doctors or anyone who helps a woman get an abortion, including nurses, front desk staff or even the person who drove the patient to the abortion appointment. There are no exceptions written into the Texas law for cases of incest or rape. Advertisement If it wasn't love at first sight, it wasn't far off. The Foreign Secretary leaves a Tory fundraiser and shares a glance with a young party campaign worker on the steps of the Natural History Museum. That was February 2018, and just three years on Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds this weekend sealed their relationship with marriage at Westminster Cathedral, their one-year-old son looking on. Throughout that time, be it in the glare of press photographers' lenses or on their private Instagram account, the world has watched on as the couple's relationship blossomed. Here, we take a look back at some of those most-striking images... February 2018: Carrie and Boris stand judiciously apart when leaving a Conservative fundraising ball held at the Natural History Museum but Boris's smitten look says it all June 2019: Days after police were called to a blazing row at Carrie's flat in Camberwell, south London, the couple are pictured all smiles in the Sussex countryside. It reassures the world that the Boris and Carrie show will go on September 2019: The couple cement their now much quieter relationship by adopting Dilyn, a Jack Russell cross rescue puppy, who proves invaluable on the election trail. However, his toilet training may not have gone as smoothly... October 2019: The couple share a kiss at the Conservative Party Conference at Manchester Central October 2019: The couple share a kiss at the Conservative Party Conference at Manchester Central December 2019: The couple arriving at the count for the seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip at Brunel University December 2019: Mr Johnson and Ms Symonds watch the 2019 Election results on the TV in his study in Downing Street December 2019: Following the Tories' general election victory, Carrie moves into No 10 as Boris's official partner making them the first unmarried couple to occupy Downing Street February 2020: Carrie announces in a post on Instagram that they're engaged and expecting a baby. A beautiful oval-cut emerald surrounded by diamonds and platinum, presented to her by Boris, seals the deal March 2020: Mr Johnson and then Ms Symonds pictured togetherat the England v Wales rugby Six Nations game March 2020: The couple arrive to attend the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in London April 2020: The couple's son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson is born shortly after the PM became ill with coronavirus August 2020: The family-of-three enjoy a quick family holiday to Scotland during an easing of coronavirus restrictions February 2021: The couple take part in a doorstep clap in memory of Captain Sir Tom Moore outside 10 Downing Street May 2021: The couple walk to a polling station at Methodist Central Hall in London to cast their votes in the local elections May 2021: Boris and Carrie pictured in the garden of 10 Downing Street after their secret wedding in Westminster Cathedral May 2021: The PM is pictured with rolled-up sleeves next to his new barefoot bride in the garden of 10 Downing Street British travellers will have to provide 'compelling reasons' to enter France from today as President Emmanuel Macron battles to suppress the Indian variant. Travel from the UK will only be permitted for EU nationals, French residents or those travelling for essential reasons such as bereavement or childcare. Those who are allowed to make the journey must take a pre-departure Covid test and quarantine for seven days on arrival. The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the new French rules apply to all air, car, ferry and train passengers. France is currently listed as an 'amber' destination by the UK Government, which means people are being advised against travelling there - while those who do must self-isolate for 10 days and take two tests on return. Stricter rules for visitors from the UK were first raised by French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian last week amid concern over the Indian variant. An explanation of the new rules on the website of the Consulate General of France in London said: 'Given the development of the so-called Indian variant, health measures have been tightened for people travelling to France from the UK.' It added that from this morning 'compelling reasons will be required for foreign nationals outside the EU not resident in France to travel to France from the UK'. The website said 'a PCR or antigen test less than 48 hours old will be required from anyone travelling to France from the UK' while on arrival 'travellers are obliged to self-isolate for seven days'. The information added that 'due to the low incidence of coronavirus in the UK, for the moment they will not be subject to systematic checks where they are staying'. France's move follows Austria, which said on Tuesday it was banning UK direct flights and tourists, and Germany, which said on Friday that anyone entering from the UK would have to quarantine for two weeks on arrival. It comes as France yesterday reported the number of people in intensive care units with Covid-19 fell by 35 to 2,993, while the overall number of people in hospital with the disease fell by 72 to 16,775. While reporting 8,541 new cases, the health ministry also announced 44 new coronavirus deaths in hospitals and said there had been 150,026 vaccinations over the past 24 hours. French President Emmanuel Macron gestures as he speaks in front of French nationals at the French Ambassador residence in Pretoria It comes as France reported the number of people in intensive care units with Covid-19 fell by 35 to 2,993, while the overall number of people in hospital with the disease fell by 72 to 16,775 Other European nations have welcomed British holidaymakers back to their beaches with open arms. Pictured: The 20 European destinations which will allow Britons to visit without needed to quarantine on arrival Travellers entering France from outside the EU, including the UK, have to sign a sworn declaration that they do not have Covid symptoms and that they are not aware of being in contact with someone with the disease in the 14 days before their journey. As well as proof of the negative pre-departure test for those aged 11 and over, a sworn declaration to self-isolate on arrival in France for seven days must also be made and a second PCR test taken after the quarantine. The consulate website said that people who had been vaccinated remain subject to the same rules, adding that people are 'strongly advised' to keep international travel 'to a minimum'. France placed the UK on its version of the 'amber list', meaning arrivals face isolation, supervised by police, with fines of between 1,000 and 1,500 for breaking the rules. The country follows Austria, which said on Tuesday it was banning direct flights and tourist visits from Britain, and Germany, which said on Friday that anyone entering from the UK would have to quarantine for two weeks on arrival. Britain joins a list of 15 countries already on France's mandatory quarantine list - including Brazil, India, Argentina and Turkey. Portugal and Gibraltar are on Britain's quarantine-free green list. Those coming back from European destinations on the amber list face having to quarantine for 10 days in Britain. How coronavirus cases per million people compare in the UK and France from March 2020 to May 2021 Portugal is the only major tourist destination on Britain's 'green list', meaning people can go without the need to quarantine 'The public deserve better': Tory MPs demand shake up of Border Force and call for it to 'step up and do its job properly' amid fears millions of holidays may be scuppered because staff won't be able to cope with influx of travellers Tory MPs have today turned on Border Force amid fears popular holiday islands in Europe will remain on the amber list after June 3. Henry Smith, whose constituency includes Gatwick, and former Brexit minister Steve Baker both took swipes at the agency after it emerged holidays face being scuppered because staff cannot cope with an influx of travellers. Mr Smith said it was 'completely unacceptable' and said it was time the officials 'stepped up and did their job properly'. Mr Baker said Britain needs a 'scaled up' Border Force the 'public deserve' and called for a cross-government Minister of State for the Border. Meanwhile Labour MP Ian Mearns pinned the blame on the government, saying it is an 'utter failure to properly plan to meet the needs of the aspirational datelines for the reopening of the economy'. Popular islands in Europe including the Balearics, Ibiza and Mallorca may stay on the amber list after June 3 if officials are unable to process the incoming passengers. Though some island destinations - such as Malta and some Greek and Caribbean islands - are expected to be added to the green list, the Spanish islands face being left off the list due to fears over high infection rates. With holiday hotspots possibly remaining on the amber list, which means people have to quarantine at home upon arrival, millions of trips overseas this summer could be scuppered. Government insiders said there were particular concerns over the Balearics because of the higher rate of traffic it has with the mainland compared with other islands. If left on the green list, thousands more travellers would likely fly to the islands - causing stretched Border Force officials to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of UK arrivals. Advertisement The French government's announcement is a blow to parts of the beleaguered tourism industry, which is desperate for a return to normal business ahead of the peak summer season. 'It's reasonable in terms of saving the French summer but will be very punishing for those regions which depend on British holidaymakers,' said Ge Kusters, owner of Le Paradis campsite in the Dordogne area and president of the regional campsite union. 'More financial support is going to have to follow.' The isolation will need to last seven days, Clement Beaune, France's junior minister for European Affairs, said on Twitter, adding visitors would also need to present a Covid-19 test carried out less than 48 hours before departure. British tourists had been due to be allowed to visit France without restrictions from June 9 if they carried a certificate of vaccination against Covid-19 or a negative PCR test. Some 13 million Britons visited France every year before the coronavirus crisis began in early 2020, more than any other nationality, according to official data. French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had raised the possibility of tougher restrictions for British tourists on Sunday. He suggested the UK could be put in a health category of its own, somewhere in between the strictest measures that France is imposing on visitors from India and 15 other countries, and more relaxed requirements being readied for visitors from the EU and some other countries. Without giving specifics, Mr Le Drian said there was potential for 'health measures that are a bit stronger' but Paris is watching the progress of the Indian variant before making final decisions. 'We hope that the variant can be controlled in a country which experienced real failures during the pandemic,' he said. 'However, the arrival of the Indian variant and the increase of cases of Indian variant in the United Kingdom pose a problem and so we are vigilant about this (and) in contact with the British authorities,' he added. 'It won't be the red treatment if we have to do it. It will be an intermediate treatment,' the minister said. 'But it is not excluded - this springs to mind because of British tourists - that we have health measures that are a bit stronger.' Rory Boland, Which? Travel Editor, said: 'France's decision to quarantine UK travellers in response to the Indian variant is a stark reminder of the unpredictability of international travel this year. 'People would have already been confused about what travel is safe and permitted due to the country's status on the UK's amber list, and this announcement will cause even more stress for those with an upcoming booking. 'Many will be surprised to find that changing entry requirements and mandatory quarantine at your destination won't always trigger a refund, especially for flights. 'This demonstrates just how important it is for anyone thinking about booking a trip in the next few months to do so with a holiday company that has the most flexible booking policies available, so they are protected against significant disruption to travel plans that can often occur at short notice.' Some 13 million Britons had visited France every year before the coronavirus crisis began in early 2020. Other European nations have since welcomed British holidaymakers back to their beaches with open arms. Heathrow chief says Government should reveal which countries will make it onto holiday green list to protect British tourists from shortage of flights and soaring prices The boss of Heathrow Airport has urged the government to reveal its green list of summer holiday destinations to save families from the misery of soaring prices and reduced options. John Holland-Kaye warned that keeping the list of safe destinations for July and August under wraps would lead to operators scaling back on scheduled flights which would lead to a huge rise in seat prices. He pointed to popular destinations such as Spain and its Balearic islands where Covid infections are low, suggesting they were 'coming into the green zone' but may not be announced for weeks. There are only 12 locations that have so far been added to the green list, but Portugal, Gibraltar and Iceland are seen as actual holiday destinations. There is set to be an expansion of the list on June 7, with Jamaica, Finland, and the Canary Islands seen as possibilities, although Boris Johnson has warned that the list will not expand 'very rapidly'. Heathrow Airport's chief executive has urged the government to reveal its green list of summer holiday destinations to save families from the misery of soaring prices and reduced options John Holland-Kaye warned that keeping the list of safe destinations for July and August under wraps would lead to operators scaling back on scheduled flights which would lead to a huge rise in seat prices Mainland European destinations such as Spain, France and Italy are also expected to be much further off. Mr Holland-Kaye told the Telegraph: 'I fear the Government is going to drag its feet on Spain. I think that will be a mistake and the reason for that is that very few people are flying in spite of all the hype we see. 'From the week before travel opened up with the first green countries, we went from 7,000 passengers departing a week to between 10,000 and 11,000. People were being very disciplined and following the guidance. Currently there are only 12 destinations on the government's 'green list' 'If we don't put Spain on the list soon, then people will face a dilemma. Do I not go on holiday at all and face another rainy summer in the UK? Or do I break the rules and go to an amber country against guidance? People don't want to break the rule The chief executive said the government ought to be doing holidaymakers 'a service' by giving them enough warning that Spain, while not given the green list next week, will be possible in July. But if the government leaves an announcement until June 'it will be too late'. It comes as a report from the CEBR economic forecasting group warned that the UK is set to miss out on billions of pounds of spending from passengers arriving into Heathrow if the green list is not extended as part of the upcoming travel review. Business and leisure passengers arriving at the airport are estimated to spend over 16 billion a year across the UK, sustaining jobs at thousands of businesses. US visitors travelling through Heathrow are the largest source of inbound tourism revenue for the economy, with these passengers accounting for 3.74 billion, said the report. There is a risk that US visitors could go elsewhere, as countries such as Italy and France prepare to welcome them back, it was warned. Paul Charles, chief executive at The PC Agency, included Grenada, Morocco and Finland as green on his unofficial traffic light system based on current infection rates and the percentage of people who have been vaccinated Mr Holland-Kaye said the government ought to be doing holidaymakers 'a service' by giving them enough warning that Spain, while not given the green list next week, will be possible in July The report was published as Heathrow is working with the Government to launch a dedicated red list arrivals facility, creating more capacity for arrivals from an expanded green list. The facility will be launched on June 1 in Terminal 3 before being moved to Terminal 4. John Holland-Kaye said: 'This research shows just how many businesses across the UK are losing out because of the Government's restrictions on access to overseas visitors and markets. 'The Government has the tools to protect both public health and the economy and ministers must unlock more low-risk destinations across Europe, as well as the US, as part of the next review on June 7.' A Melbourne restaurant owner has denied breaching coronavirus restrictions by hosting a large group of 'freedom fighters' ahead of an anti-lockdown protest. Authorities have launched an investigation into the alleged gathering at Moda Kitchen and Bar in inner-city Seddon amid claims the ringleaders of Saturday's protest attended the venue for a pre-event gathering. The state is in the middle of a seven day stage three lockdown as Melbourne battles a coronavirus outbreak which surged to 54 after 11 new cases emerged on Monday. Victorians can only leave their homes for five essential reasons with restaurant dining and public gatherings are among a host of banned activities. But a photo posted on encrypted communication app Telegram obtained by the Herald Sun shows a group of 15 diners, including protest leaders Monica Smit and Morgan Jonas sitting at a table enjoying glasses of wine, which has sparked public outrage. Moda Kitchen and Bar has denied illegally opening its doors for a group of anti-lockdown protestors (pictured), despite being tagged in a photo posted on on encrypted communication app Telegram 'Moda restaurant in Seddon. Getting on with business. Great hanging out with fellow freedom fighters,' an attendee captioned the photo. 'Loved having lunch with everyone afterward in Seddon. We were just finishing lunch when the business got a call the police were on the way. People who dob on business is such a low act in my mind. Let's all continue to support these types of businesses.' The photo has since been deleted as the restaurant owner denied opening its doors for the group. But they did admit staff were at the premises for cleaning. 'We were closed. We went there to clean but we were closed. I don't know what people are talking about,' the owner told the Herald Sun. The restaurant has since been inundated with dozens of negative online reviews. Moda Kitchen and Bar in inner-city Seddon (pictured) has denied the claims 'Broke Covid lockdown endangering public health,' one critic wrote. Other customers threatened to boycott the popular restaurant. 'I can no longer support a local restaurant that blatantly breaks covid laws. This puts our community at risk especially with Covid active in our community! Shame! The Department of Justice and Community Safety has confirmed the restaurant gathering will be investigated. 'This claim has been referred to the Victorian Government's High-Risk Industry Engagement and Enforcement Operation for investigation and it will take action as necessary,' a spokeswoman told the publication. Around 150 anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination protestors attended an illegal rally in Melbourne's CBD on Saturday Victoria Police has also confirmed officers attended the restaurant on Saturday afternoon following reports of 'a group not wearing masks' but found no one at the venue. Businesses caught breaching coronavirus restrictions will be slapped with a $9913 fine. Victoria Police made 14 arrests and issued 55 penalty notices worth $1652 each after 150 people gathered in the CBD on Saturday to protest against the state's latest shutdown. Ministers gave hope last night to hundreds of Afghan translators who feared being left behind at the mercy of the Taliban. In a significant victory for the Daily Mail's Betrayal of the Brave campaign, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced the fast-tracking of their applications to come to the UK. To protect those who served with British forces, the criteria dictating who qualifies to relocate has also been widened, giving fresh optimism to many hoping for a new life. Western troops are due to pull out of Afghanistan in weeks. Last night, Mr Wallace paid tribute to this newspaper's award-winning campaign, which has highlighted the cases of translators who fear they will be abandoned to the Taliban. He said: 'From the start, the Daily Mail has championed these brave Afghans. The Home Secretary and I are grateful for the work it has done to highlight the issue.' For the first time, at least 30 interpreters who worked with UK troops, but who were not directly employed by the Ministry of Defence, have been told they are likely to be granted sanctuary. This group is set to include around 15 who worked for a Special Forces unit that recruited interpreters directly and those working with British troops employed through a private company. They had feared they would not qualify. In another first, some interpreters whose service was terminated by UK forces for minor reasons will be approved for relocation. More than 1,000 interpreters had their service terminated without any entitlement to appeal. As many as 260 of these could qualify for sanctuary. Interpreters welcomed the amendments as a 'major step forward and concession'. Ministers gave hope last night to hundreds of Afghan translators who feared being left behind at the mercy of the Taliban. To protect those who served with British forces, the criteria dictating who qualifies to relocate to the UK has been widened. Pictured: Translator Mayar, 47, and the medics he worked with at Camp Bastion in Helmand province [File photo] The Government has rewritten the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) to recognise the worsening security situation in Afghanistan and the impending departure of international troops. Mr Wallace and Home Secretary Priti Patel are working to ensure as many interpreters and their families can be airlifted out of Afghanistan by mid July, when UK and US troops are due to leave. At least five coalition translators have been murdered this year and former UK interpreters have been attacked as emboldened jihadis step up operations. Mr Wallace said: 'As we withdraw our Armed Forces, it is only right we accelerate the relocation of those who may be at risk of reprisals. Nobody's life should be put at risk because they supported the UK Government to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan. 'We are doing everything to make sure we recognise their services and bring them to safety. It is the right thing to do.' The relocation policy offers interpreters a visa for five years' leave to enter the UK and the opportunity to apply for indefinite leave to remain at the end of that period. They may also be accompanied by a wife and dependent children. The scheme is open to any Afghan whose life is at risk as a consequence of their work for UK forces. An assessment of the threat will be made by staff at the British embassy in Kabul. The offer is regardless of their seniority while working with British troops, their length of service, employment status or role. The policy also includes paid travel to the UK, four months' accommodation and access to mainstream UK benefits. Mayar, 47, is waiting to leave Afghanistan having qualified to come to the UK. He worked with British medics at Camp Bastion in Helmand. The Mail revealed on Saturday that around 50 former translators, who have already been approved for relocation, have been placed on standby to fly to the UK with their families in the next 14 days. Last night, Miss Patel said: 'It is our moral obligation to recognise the risks they faced in the fight against terrorism and reward their efforts. I'm pleased we are meeting this fully by providing them and their families the opportunity to build a new life in this country.' Many interpreters feared their last chance of escaping the Taliban had gone. Last night they welcomed the latest concessions. In a significant victory for the Daily Mail's Betrayal of the Brave campaign, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (pictured) announced the fast-tracking of the translators' applications to come to the UK [File photo] One, Abdulzai, spent 16 months on the front line with British troops before being dismissed. The 29-year-old claims he resigned by telephone in August 2012 after his uncle was kidnapped by insurgents. He said they threatened to kill his family unless he stopped working for 'infidel forces' and said he only found out he had been dismissed in late 2020 when he applied, unsuccessfully, for relocation. Last night he said: 'This is wonderful news and will give us a chance of escaping the Taliban because if we remain they will find us and punish us. 'Like many colleagues, I have been the victim of an injustice. I hope that this can finally be put right before the Taliban find me.' A total of 1,010 interpreters out of the 2,850 used by UK troops during the military campaign a staggering 35 per cent had their contracts terminated between 2001 and 2014 without the right to challenge the decision or to appeal. Many interpreters claim they were wrongly dismissed. But in a significant concession, defence sources said last night: 'The Secretary of State has directed that, under the current circumstances, those dismissed for minor offences who would otherwise be eligible for relocation by default under ARAP can be considered for relocation with the presumption of approval where there are no other factors of concern. 'We are accelerating the pace of relocations.' Six Post Office staff may have committed criminal offences in their handling of the IT scandal, according to one of its own lawyers. More than 700 branch managers were prosecuted of crimes including fraud and theft when money went 'missing' from their accounts. The Post Office hounded them, bullying many into pleading guilty, and then squandered millions in public money trying to cover it up. Last month 39 postmasters had their convictions quashed following a decade-long fight. The Court of Appeal case revealed that key evidence which could have proven their innocence was not disclosed. One 2013 document, labelled a 'smoking gun', revealed that an expert witness had misled the criminal court in several trials but it became public only last year. Six Post Office staff may have committed criminal offences in their handling of the IT scandal, according to one of its own lawyers. Pictured: Post Office chairman, Tim Parker and Post Office chief executive, Paula Vennells Now a former legal adviser has blown the whistle. In a BBC Radio 4 documentary tonight, she says several staff could have a case to answer for perverting the course of justice. She said: 'Everyone involved in the prosecution process has a duty to comply with the rules, and a deliberate failure to comply with the rules usually amounts to a perversion of the course of justice. I can probably name half a dozen people, with hindsight, who should be very worried.' The comments have sparked fresh calls from MPs for a criminal investigation. The police are already investigating two Post Office IT boffins, which could lead to charges of perjury. The Government has launched a public inquiry with statutory powers to call and cross-examine witnesses. It will take evidence from former bosses, including Paula Vennells, who is blamed for the cover-up, and Alice Perkins, the 100,000-a-year chairman of the Post Office from 2011 until 2015. Last month 39 postmasters had their convictions quashed following a decade-long fight. The Court of Appeal case revealed that key evidence which could have proven their innocence was not disclosed. Pictured: Postmasters accused of theft celebrating outside High Court Tory peer Lord Arbuthnot, who has campaigned for postmasters for more a decade, said the Post Office 'perverted the course of justice and misled Parliament'. Labour business spokesman Chi Onwurah called for a criminal investigation, and Tory MP Lucy Allan added: 'For justice to be done, those responsible must be held to account.' There is growing pressure on Post Office chairman Tim Parker who last week stepped down as chairman of the National Trust after a revolt of its members over woke policies and finance chief Al Cameron to be sacked over their role in the failed High Court fight. Andy Furey, of the Communication Workers' Union, said: 'These people are responsible for spending taxpayers' money in trying to defend the indefensible.' Lord Arbuthnot added they 'should be sacked immediately'. The Post Office said: 'We continue to take determined action to address the past.' The Great Post Office Trial: The Reckoning will be broadcast at 8pm tonight on Radio 4 Questions were yesterday raised on how twice-divorced Boris Johnson was able to remarry in a Catholic church. Mr Johnson was baptised as a Catholic but was confirmed as an Anglican as a teenager when he was at Eton. His bride Carrie Symonds is a practising Catholic. Last night the Diocese of Westminster confirmed that, as someone baptised in the faith, Mr Johnsons previous marriages were not considered valid because they were not Catholic ceremonies. So this meant the Prime Minister could marry for the first time in a Roman Catholic church. Twice divorced Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds on their wedding day following a Catholic ceremony Despite explanations about how their wedding could have been held in accordance with Vatican doctrine, the subject was being keenly discussed yesterday by Westminster Cathedral worshippers. Some wondered whether Mr Johnson had needed to convert before the nuptials took place, while one even brought up Henry VIIIs troubled love-life as a potential precursor. But last night a Diocese of Westminster spokesman confirmed: With regard to divorced persons, a baptised Catholic who has contracted a marriage recognised in civil law but without observing the requirements of Catholic Canon Law is not recognised as validly married in the eyes of the Catholic Church. Austen Ivereigh, a Roman Catholic author, commentator and biographer of Pope Francis, said on Twitter: Many will ask how it is that the Catholic Church, famous for its vigorous commitment to the permanence of marriage, should be witnessing the marriage of a twice-divorced PM who is publicly notorious for the opposite? What kind of message does that send? The Prime Minister was married to first wife Allegra Mostyn-Owen for six years and Marina Wheeler for 27 years But Catholics have a right to the sacraments and if they fulfil the requirements in law, and properly enter into them, no one can stop them exercising those rights. Mr Johnson was married to first wife Allegra Mostyn-Owen for six years and to second wife Marina Wheeler for 27 years. A Westminster Cathedral spokesman added: The bride and groom are both parishioners of the Westminster Cathedral parish and baptised Catholics. All necessary steps were taken, in both Church and civil law, and all formalities completed before the wedding. We wish them every happiness. Police have launched a desperate search for missing siblings who vanished from a home in Sydney's western suburbs on Friday night. Mateisha Chandra, aged 16, and her brother, 15-year-old Keirat, were last seen at a home on Amos Street, Westmead about 6pm Friday. The pair never returned home that evening and haven't been seen all weekend. Police have launched an investigation into their disappearance and issued an alert in a desperate bid to track down the pair. Mateisha (right) Chandra, aged 16, and her brother, 15-year-old Keirat (left), haven't been seen since 6pm on Friday after disappearing from a home in Sydney's west Their family said it was unlike the siblings - who are of Indian heritage - to not come home without explanation. Mateisha, who is skinny with black hair, was last seen wearing a blue-coloured tracksuit jacket and dark blue pants. Her younger brother Keirat, who is taller than her and has a stocky build, was last seen wearing a black puma jacket and shorts. Police urge anyone with information on the whereabouts of either child to contact Burwood Police Station on (02) 9745 8499 or Crime Stoppers. Hyundai Motor and Kia Corp. headquarters in Seoul / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor By Kim Hyun-bin Korean business conglomerates are busy selling off assets in China as a series of events there have negatively impacted their businesses over the past several years. The pandemic and China's economic retaliation against the deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system in Korea deployment controversy have led to declining sales and forced Korean companies to restructure their business portfolios in China, industry officials said, Sunday. Hyundai Motor is seeking to sell its first Beijing plant. "Hyundai is in talks with the Beijing Shunyi district government to sell its plant," an industry official said. The plant was established in 2002 with an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles. It was the start of Hyundai's China endeavors and helped expand the company's market share in the world's largest car market. However, reports said the South Korean carmaker is on track to sell its plant to a Chinese electric vehicle (EV) startup called Li Auto for 6 billion yuan ($942.8 million). Li Auto is among the top three EV startups in China, and it reportedly plans to operate the facility starting in 2023, while aiming to generate annual sales of 30 billion yuan by 2024. Hyundai declined to comment. The plant has been suspended after Hyundai suffered sluggish sales in China due to lingering tensions between Seoul and Beijing following the THAAD deployment in Korea in 2017. Beijing has opposed the THAAD deployment in Korea, claiming that its powerful radar could be used to spy on China's airspace. Sales started to deteriorate swiftly after the THAAD deployment resulting in a total shutdown of the plant in April 2019. Even with the sell-offs, Hyundai will have four other plants in operation in China two in Beijing, and one each in Changzhou and Chongqing. The company also operates plants in the U.S., the Czech Republic, Turkey, Russia, India and Brazil with a combined annual production capacity of 5.5 million vehicles. SK Group also sold off its SK Beijing Tower recently to a local insurance company, Hexie Insurance, in a deal worth over 1 trillion won. The 35-floor tower is situated in the middle of Beijing's commercial district and since 2009 has been utilized as SK Group's China control tower. "The sell-off is aimed at expanding the ESG sector within China and as a portfolio restructuring means, but it is irrelevant to claims of curtailing our Chinese operations," an SK Group official said. Last year, LG Group was the first to sell off its Beijing Twin Towers for 8 billion yuan. Local Chinese media outlets claim that Korean conglomerates are selling off their assets in China due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, but many industry watchers point out that the THAAD deployment has worsened sales dramatically in the country, which led to the recent sell-offs. A frustrated Melbourne restaurant owner has hit out at Victoria's contact tracing and disastrous QR code rollout in an impassioned response to the state's latest Covid-19 lockdown. The Victorian government announced a $250million business support package on Sunday to help 90,000 companies impacted by the state's seven-day snap lockdown. Lucas Restaurants CEO Chris Lucas on Monday morning though called the financial aid 'a kick in the guts' - before tearing into the state government with four burning questions about its handling of the pandemic. The complaints focused on why Melbourne was repeatedly being locked down, why it has taken so long to enforce a uniform QR code system, administrative blunders by health officials and the speed of the state's contact tracing system. 'Why is this happening again and again and again?' he told the Today show before taking aim at Victoria's lax enforcement of venue sign-in rules. A health worker carries out a Covid-19 test at the Montague Street centre in South Melbourne on Friday. A Melbourne business owner has hit out at the Victorian state government's handling of the pandemic and asked 'Why is this happening again and again and again?' 'We're now facing in fourth lockdown and it's very, very devastating.' RESTAURANT OWNER'S FOUR QUESTIONS FOR THE VICTORIAN GOVT Why is this (Victoria going into lockdown) happening again and again? Why has it taken eight months to get a standardised QR Code system? Why has it taken a week for the government to work out they had listed the wrong 'hotspot' supermarket? Why is it that contact tracers constantly seem to be a week or two behind the eight ball? Advertisement Victoria only made it compulsory for hospitality venues to sign up to the state's uniform QR code system from Friday, six months later than New South Wales. 'Why has it taken eight months for us to get a standardised QR code system, when we could've very easily picked up the system from NSW or Queensland, almost a year ago?' he asked. 'Why has it taken almost a week for government to work out that they had told everyone that a hotspot supermarket was in fact the wrong supermarket? 'Why is it that our contact tracers constantly seem to be a week or two behind the eight ball?' Health officials wrongly listed Woolworths Epping instead of Woolworths Epping North as a Covid-19 exposure site on May 11 in the early stages of the latest outbreak. Mr Lucas also hit out at the Victorian government's tendency to send Melbourne or the whole state into lockdown over a few cases, whereas other states prefer localised restrictions in infected suburbs. 'Why is it that the State Government constantly reaches out for the lockdown mechanism when states like NSW are able to quarantine properly, are able to cordon off small suburbs or areas of the city, and be able to keep the state still afloat?' he said. Residents in the northern section of Sydney's Northern Beaches for example spent three weeks under stay-at-home restrictions over the Christmas period after a coronavirus outbreak. His impassioned interview came as the state braces for an extension to the harsh stage three restrictions after an aged care worker tested positive for the virus. Lucas Restaurants CEO Chris Lucas on Monday morning called $250million in state financial aid 'a kick in the guts' A small number of people cross the normally busy intersection of Flinders street and Swanston streets on Friday. The state is bracing for an extension to the harsh stage three restrictions There are more than 40 Covid-19 infections in the latest outbreak, with more than 180 exposure sites listed by government officials. The employee, who is in her 50s, was infectious for two days while she worked at the Arcare facility in Maidstone, before testing positive on Saturday. Contact tracers have been scrambling work out how she caught the virus because she has no known links to Victoria's other infections, which swelled to 40 after five more positive test results emerged on Sunday. University of South Australia chair of epidemiology Adrian Esterman said the next 48 hours will be critical in determining whether vulnerable residents were at risk, and whether the state's seven-day lockdown will be extended. Victoria is bracing for an extended lockdown with 40 infected, more than 180 exposure sites, and another looming aged care disaster Pictured: A Covid testing site in Melbourne on May 28. The number of cases ballooned to 40 on Sunday 'There is a very fine balance between things getting in or out of control If we see more mystery cases on Monday then alarm bells will be ringing,' he told the Herald Sun. Australian Medical Association president Omar Khorshid said there was a 'significant chance' the lockdown would have to be lengthened. 'We are very concerned with the Melbourne lockdown just due to the size of the number of people being contacted - last count was over 15,000 people,' he said. Deakin University's epidemiology chair Catherine Bennett described the outbreak was 'very worrying'. 'This isn't going to necessarily trigger anything wider like last time, but the last thing we want is those who are older and frail to become infected,' she told The Project on Sunday night. Kate Savage (pictured) died on July 23 after trying to take her own life Graphic suicidal sketches by a 13-year-old girl were dismissed as 'attention seeking' by a doctor in a children's hospital before she took own life. Kate Savage was on her way home from an appointment with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service when she tried to take her own life on Albany Highway in Perth on July 22. The teenager suffered critical injuries and her mother Meron made the excruciating decision to turn off her life support a day later. Kate had been hospitalised 10 separate times in the previous two months alone over suicide attempts, and was under the care of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service at the time of her death. Now it has been revealed the teenager had detailed the extent of her dark thoughts in drawings during her treatment at Perth Children's Hospital. In the pages of her diary, Kate drew some of the ways she could take her own life, with one dark entry listing 'reasons to live', The West Australian reports. She jotted down 'mum', 'dad' and 'granny', but had crossed out 'friends' and 'Year 12 graduation'. The teenager also sketched similar drawings on a chalk board in her hospital room in open view of staff, but her mother said she was released time and time again. And shortly before her death, she warned staff about the method she ended up using to try and take her own life. Kate went to Perth Children's Hospital ten times in the months prior to her death over suicide attempts but was repeatedly discharged Ms Savage said one doctor told her that her daughter was just 'attention' seeking, and she believes her daughter would still be alive if over-worked staff took her daughter seriously. 'They said she had no real intent of suicide,' she said. 'Every time she was discharged, within a day she had made another attempt. 'They assured us that she was not actually suicidal. Kate deserved better.' The revelation comes as the embattled hospital faces criticism after seven-year-old Aishwarya Aswath died after waiting two hours in the emergency department for treatment. Her parents said repeated requests for their feverish daughter to be seen were ignored, and she died from sepsis shortly after being seen by medical staff. An external investigation has been launched into Aishwarya's death. Ms Savage said the incident reminded her of her own experience with the hospital, claiming staff also disregarded her concerns about Kate. The devastated mother said parents know their children best and should be listened to by doctors when their kid is seriously ill. She has requested Kate's case be included in the probe into PCH. A report found Kate's situation escalated rapidly, with eight attendances at PCH emergency department and six admissions between June 3 and July 17. Each time, she was admitted into a ward for a few days before medical teams determined she was free to leave again. Meron Savage made the excruciating decision to turn off her daughter Kate's life support She was referred to an intensive program but was not due to start until September 2020. Recalling the last time she saw her daughter conscious, Ms Savage said Kate seemed 'really happy' after the appointment and stopped at the highway to smile back at her parents and sister. Ms Savage believes the mental health system in Perth let her daughter down. 'She was so severely suicidal by then that she was trying to take her life all the time anything, everything, constantly,' she said previously. 'The crisis was never over. She would come home and she'd have another attempt.' Western Australia's chief psychiatrist independently reviewed Kate's dealings with the state's mental health system, WA Today reported. The review focused on the clinical care Kate received and how mental health services can be improved for young Australians, Health Minister Roger Cook said. Ms Savage was not satisfied with the review and is now considering suing the hospital. Ms Savage has vowed to fight for a change to the system in Kate's honour following her death. For confidential help please call Lifeline 13 11 14, BeyondBlue 1300 22 4636 or Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 Olivia Culpo showed off her legs during a coffee run in Hollywood on Saturday morning. The 28-year-old supermodel was first spotted exiting a small cafe after picking up her drink while accompanied by a pal and her toy golden doodle, Oliver Sprinkles. The social media powerhouse then began pounding the city's bustling streets as she took in a stroll and soaked up all that the radiant California sun had to offer. Stepping out: Olivia Culpo wore a stylish Valentino ensemble while on a coffee run in Hollywood on Saturday morning Culpo wore a partially unbuttoned white Valentino shirt with several crimson floral decals that covered up much of her shapely frame. She contrasted her top with a stylish pair of high-heeled shoes that featured leather rows with several studs that rose to just above her ankles. The social media personality notably carried a bright red Valentino bag with a large gold clasp on its outer side. Her typically free-flowing brunette hair remained tied back in a ponytail as she made her way around Hollywood's streets. Accessorizing well: In addition to her eye-catching shirt, the supermodel also carried a striking red-and-gold purse with her during her trip Earlier this month, Culpo shared a set of images to her Instagram account that were taken during her appearance at the most recent Miss Universe competition. The influencer wore a button-up white shirt and a matching pair of high-heeled shoes that were both contrasted with a bright pink skirt in all of the shots. One of the burgeoning actress' photos showed her spending time with several contestants from this year's iteration of the competition. She also included a photograph that was taken when she won the worldwide beauty pageant in 2012. Back at it: Earlier this month, Culpo shared several images that were taken during her recent appearance at the Miss Universe pageant Past victory: The social media personality was previously crowned the winner of the competition in 2012 Culpo co-hosted the final ceremony with Mario Lopez, who previously led the event in 2007. The title of Miss Universe was ultimately bestowed upon Andrea Meza, who is originally from Chihuahua City, Mexico. The social media personality wrote a brief message in the post's caption to let her nearly 5 million followers know how she felt about being able to helm the pageant's final event. Top prize: This year's competition was won by Andrea Meza, who is originally from Chihuahua City, Mexico She began by writing: 'I will always have the deepest gratitude for what my experience as miss universe taught me and it's an honor to be back as a host this year!' Culpo also wrote about how she was happy to return to the competition and expressed that she felt as if she was back on stage in 2012. She noted, 'I cherish the MUO community and family so much and it's nostalgia overload for me this weekend! so crazy how life comes full circle like this. I feel very very lucky !!!!' Radio 4 star presenter Amol Rajan has revealed he took a sedative before his rather relaxed Today programme debut. The presenter started his job at Today on May 17 and admitted to having three shots of rum and a bit else ahead of the shows 6am start because he suffered from a panic attack followed by insomnia, thanks to pre-show nerves. This prompted fevered speculation that the a bit else he mentioned was marijuana, as he is known to be an advocate of legalising cannabis and other drugs. Radio 4 star presenter Amol Rajan has revealed he took a sedative before his rather relaxed Today programme debut. He later praised his wife, Charlotte Faircloth, right, for helping him with his pre-show nerves But last week Amol told me his drug of choice was legal, telling me: On the bit else, Ive had so many people asking about this, and havent said anything yet. So heres the scoop. It was sleeping pills. Theyre called Donormyl. I think that half a tablet is the normal dose. I had a quarter initially and then a half with the rum. Amol, 37, who left his job as Radio 4s The Media Show presenter in March in preparation for his job at Today, was cautious about promoting the sedative, which is the strongest sleeping pill available without prescription. He added: The reason I was a bit gnomic on Twitter, and again on Today, is that I dont really think I should be promoting sleeping pills generally, or any brand specifically. Amol has previously admitted on Twitter that he suffered badly from nerves. He said in a tweet to his 103,000 followers on the day of his first show: Last night I had a full-on panic attack. Worked myself up into a frenzy, catastrophising about first shift. Had three massive rums and a bit else. Got one hour kip, in at 3.45. Survived. Thank you so much for all the niceness and constructive criticism. To Amols credit, he tried various healthy and holistic methods before resorting to booze and pills. He added on Twitter: In the depths of my self-inflicted horror last night I downloaded various apps to help with sleep. I dont think Ive ever heard anyone talk in such detail about navigating the Bay of Biscay. And the act of downloading them intensified the doom spilling through my head. Whatever nerves Amol had over starting on Today, he and the BBC have shown courage in pressing ahead with a documentary about William and Harry titled The Princes And The Press even though they will now have to tackle the fiasco over Martin Bashirs infamous interview with Princess Diana He also took time to thank his Today co-presenters on Twitter: A massive thanks to the whole team for looking after me and to my wife, who sorted me out. Whatever nerves Amol had over starting on Today, he and the BBC have shown courage in pressing ahead with a documentary about William and Harry titled The Princes And The Press even though they will now have to tackle the fiasco over Martin Bashirs infamous interview with Princess Diana. The two one-hour-long investigative episodes will be about the brothers, their wives and their turbulent relationship with the media not least the BBC. The documentary will be presented by Amol, who is also fronting ten Radio 4 podcast episodes for BBC Sounds to go with it. And in a brave move, the release date has been put back to give the BBC time to include parts of Williams on-camera take-down of the BBC and Harrys statement lashing out at the Corporation. My source described the decision to keep the documentary on the schedule as gutsy in the light of Bashir. Amol tells me: Were now looking to air this autumn. We need to do more work on them to reflect the huge amount going on between the Royals and the media, not just the Bashir scandal, but Harrys recent interviews and everything else. Originally the series was intended to focus heavily on Harrys interview with US TV queen Oprah Winfrey. Kate Mosss wayward young sister Lottie appears to have been banned from America after sharing raunchy snaps with her fee-paying fans. Having returned to Britain temporarily last month, she now finds herself stuck here, and last week begged President Joe Biden to allow her back. Missing my LA family a lot pls let me back in POTUS, Lottie, 23, pleaded on social media. A friend tells me Lottie is hoping to go back to the US in August. I wonder if there was a problem with her perhaps using a tourist visa when she went to Los Angeles to shoot a variety of risque photos for the Dreams website? Lottie Moss has pleaded with Joe Biden on social media seeking permission to return to the United States Jilted Jean Campbell's heartbreak over split with soldier boyfriend Harry Brockbank There's trouble in paradise for aristo model Lady Jean Campbell. I hear the willowy 23-year-old broke up with her hunky soldier boyfriend Harry Brockbank during lockdown. Jean, who recently modelled with Kendall Jenner, was heartbroken over the split, Im told. It hasnt helped that she lives a jet-set lifestyle and he lives in Army barracks. Jean has, Im told, pleaded for another chance and last week posted a picture on Instagram of the pair at Yayoi Kusamas Infinity Mirrors show at TateModern, in the hope of cementing a reunion. On or off? Make your minds up, you two! There's trouble in paradise for aristo model Lady Jean Campbell. I hear the willowy 23-year-old broke up with her hunky soldier boyfriend Harry Brockbank during lockdown A Thea theory George Osborne is a surprise, albeit tentative, entry to my list. Villagers near his new country home in Bruton, Somerset, say his girlfriend Thea Rogers hasnt been seen there lately and may be spending less time with her fiance than one would expect for a woman about to have a baby with him. Thea isnt on the deeds to the 1.6 million house and is rarely seen at his London home either. George who was in Porto to support Chelsea in the Champions League final yesterday and Thea have cooled relations in the past, but always end up back in each others arms. Smoking hot... Sorry to say it, ladies, but handsome Piers Dunhill, the great-great-grandson of tobacco magnate Sir Alfred Dunhill, is off the market. Hes dating Made In Chelsea star Tabitha Willett and whisked her off to Mykonos last week for a romantic break after just a month of dating. Piers, 27, has stayed close to the theme of the family business by starting a cannabis-based CBD wellness brand. Tabitha has a daughter who turns two next week by ex-fiance Fraser Carruthers, who ran Prince Harrys favoured club Raffles in his party heyday. Sorry to say it, ladies, but handsome Piers Dunhill, the great-great-grandson of tobacco magnate Sir Alfred Dunhill, is off the market. Hes dating Made In Chelsea star Tabitha Willett and whisked her off to Mykonos last week for a romantic break after just a month of dating Poor rich boy THE Duke of Westminster is the most dashing young eligible bachelor in Britain and owns more property than the Queen, yet he still hasnt bagged a girlfriend. When I bumped into handsome Hugh Grosvenor, 30, at St Jacques in St Jamess last week, he admitted that he wasnt dating anyone special but added that he would never branch out into online dating on Tinder. Well, now we know where he lunches, so form an orderly queue, ladies. Surely theres a potential duchess out there who wouldnt mind accessing his 10 billion fortune. Any takers? Brooke Shields is focusing on the positive as she recovers from a serious leg injury, which included relearning how to walk. The 55-year-old actress has been giving her Instagram and Twitter followers updates on her physical therapy, along with some of the traumatic details of her accident. And on Friday, Shields shared X-rays taken shortly after she broke her right femur, otherwise known as the thigh bone, while using a balance board at a gym in New York City in January. Scroll down to videos Documenting road to recovery: Brooke Shields, 55, shared X-rays of her broken femur, while detailing the harrowing details of her fall during working out on a balance board at a gym in New York City in January 'Somewhere around the time these photographs were taken I realized it's never too late for a fresh start, a new outlook,' the Suddenly Susan star wrote in the caption. And she would need a mentally strong and positive attitude, considering she would end up enduring three surgeries. The first image shows the five metal rods that were inserted into the femur in a second surgery after the bone popped out. 'While this was one of the scariest moments of my life, it was also transformative. The beginning is now...' she added. One X-ray showed Shields' broken femur and the five rods and metal plate that were inserted during her second surgery Scary: Shields called the ordeal 'one of the scariest moments' of her life' Shields also posted a picture of the large incision in her right leg following surgery, a mirror selfie of her lying on a hospital bed, and another showing the large break in the femur in an X-ray. The New York City native attributed the fall to taking her focus off the board for a moment during a workout, which caused her to lose balance, fall in the air, and then land hard on the femur. 'It felt like it was all in slow motion. And then I just started screaming,' she told People in March. 'Sounds came out that I've never heard before. The pain was so excruciating.' The Suddenly Susan actress also posted a picture of the large incision in her right leg following one of her surgeries The New York City native attributed her fall to taking her focus off the board for a moment during a workout Frightened she may have seriously injured herself, Shields star told the EMTs '"I can feel my toes" because I was so afraid I was paralyzed' while being rushed to a local hospital, where she would undergo surgery and have a couple metal rods inserted into the broken bone. Things went bad to worse from there. The mother of two would have to go in for that second surgery where five new rods were inserted plus a metal plate to help stabilize the broken bone. The Pretty Baby star would eventually go home to recover, but after about two-and-a-half weeks she developed a nasty staph infection, forcing her to go back for an emergency surgery and three blood transfusions. She revealed doctors initially feared the infection might be MRSA, which is a type of bacteria that's resistant to antibiotics. 'Thank God it wasn't. If it had been, my doctor said it would have been a race against time. That's how you can become septic. It seemed unthinkable,' she said. More roadblocks: After two-and-a-half weeks recovering at home, Shields developed a staph infection, forcing her to go back for an emergency third surgery and three blood transfusions Scary moments: The actress revealed doctors initially feared the infection might be MRSA, which is a type of bacteria that's resistant to antibiotics, but that proved to not be the case Taking the steps: The mother of two has been sharing images of her road to recovery, including how to walk again with a physical therapist Back in February, she posted a video on Instagram showing her take some of her first steps with crutches in the hospital. That was followed by a video of her using maximum effort to climb a few stairs while working with a physical therapist in early March. 'One step at a time... Beginning is Now,' she wrote in the caption at the time. By sharing her story Shields hopes it will help inspire others to fight through any kind of serious adversity we all face in life at one time or another. 'If I can turn it into anything positive, or I can teach my girls, yeah, stuff is going to happen in your life, and how you respond is going to define you, and adversity will reveal you,' she told Deborah Roberts during an interview on Good Morning America on Monday. 'It won't make you as much as it will reveal you because you see who you are. You see what you're made up of.' They often enjoy going out on nights out together. And Molly-Mae Hague and BFF Maura Higgins were sure to turn heads as they made their way to the Ivy Restaurant in Manchester for dinner on Saturday. The Love Island star, 22, looked sensational as she went braless in a quirky grey suit while her gal pal, 30, sizzled in a sheer Fendi turtleneck top. Wow! Molly-Mae Hague went braless in a quirky grey suit as BFF Maura Higgins sizzled in a sheer Fendi turtleneck top for a night out in Manchester on Saturday Molly-Mae's ensemble teamed a matching blazer and trousers, and she opted to show off a glimpse of her cleavage by forgoing wearing a shirt underneath. She boosted her height in a pair of white heels and she kept her accessories to a minimum so that all attention remained on her ensemble. The blonde beauty's golden locks were styled into a sleek, straight style and her hair fell over her shoulders, while she wore a light palette of make-up. Maura, meanwhile, was sure to set pulses racing in her revealing ensemble that made her black bra visible. Revealing: Molly-Mae's ensemble teamed a matching blazer and trousers, and she opted to show off a glimpse of her cleavage by forgoing wearing a shirt underneath Fashionista: Molly-Mae boosted her height in a pair of white heels and she kept her accessories to a minimum so that all attention remained on her ensemble Stunning: The blonde beauty's golden locks were styled into a sleek, straight style and her hair fell over her shoulders, while she wore a light palette of make-up Maura slipped into a pair of PVC-style trousers that accentuated her slender legs and she stepped out in matching black heels. Her brunette locks were pulled back into a tight bun and she accessorised with a pair of silver hoop earrings. The Irish beauty kept her personal items in a small black handbag while Molly-Mae chose to offset her by carrying a white purse. Sizzling display: Maura, meanwhile, was sure to set pulses racing in her revealing ensemble that made her black bra visible Stylish: Maura slipped into a pair of PVC-style trousers that accentuated her slender legs and she stepped out in matching black heels Looking good: Maura's brunette locks were pulled back into a tight bun and she accessorised with a pair of silver hoop earrings Their outing comes after Molly-Mae's fans fans went into a frenzy earlier this week when a snap with her boyfriend Tommy Fury appeared to show they'd got engaged. And she took to Instagram on Saturday to hit back at rumours her beau, 22, had proposed during a candid Q&A with her followers. The Love Island star said: 'Do you really think we'll announce to you that we're engaged by a sneaky picture of Tommy wearing a ring?' 'I'm not engaged!': Their outing comes after Molly Mae took to Instagram on Saturday to hit back rumours beau Tommy Fury, 22, had proposed after a cryptic snap sent tongues wagging Molly had asked her followers to ask her questions while she procrastinated from her weekend tasks. And when one fan responded asking about 'sneaky engagements', the reality star took the opportunity to lay rumours to rest. Molly-Mae said: 'This really makes me laugh because I did see a few of you commenting on Tommy's last picture saying "he's wearing a ring". 'Like, do you guys really think we'll announce to you that we're engaged by a sneaky picture of Tommy wearing a ring? 'Like...no,' Molly added before pulling an exasperated face. 'HES WEARING A RING?': The Love Island star's fans went into a frenzy earlier this week when a snap with her boyfriend Tommy Fury wearing a ring The couple have been dating ever since they first met on Love Island in 2019 and moved in together shortly after dating. Back in April, Tommy told his 3.3 million followers that he was going to put a ring on his girlfriend Molly-Mae's finger 'sooner than you think'. When asked by a follower: 'When are you going to put a ring on Molly-Mae?' The reality star responded: 'Sooner than you think', while winking at the camera. Couple goals: Back in April, Tommy told his 3.3 million followers that he was going to put a ring on his girlfriend Molly-Mae's finger 'sooner than you think' On the subject of children another fan asked: 'When you gonna have some little Fury's?' Tommy went onto reveal he 'would like to have them sooner rather than later' and suggested asking Molly, 21, that question. 'Im not the person to ask that question too. I would like them sooner rather than later but maybe you should go and ask that to the Mrs.' She dropped a whopping 30kg after vowing to make 2020 her 'year of health'. ' And Rebel Wilson, 41, sent jaws dropping on Sunday after sharing an Instagram photo of herself looking slimmer than ever while boarding a private jet in America. The trim actress looked worlds away from her former self as she posed on the stairs of the aircraft in a loose-fitting T-shirt and trousers. Trim and terrific! Rebel Wilson, 41, looked almost unrecognisable after shedding 30kg as she boarded a private jet bound for Florida on Sunday She was joined for the photo by her friend, producer Sam Kennedy, who dressed down in an unbuttoned blue shirt and white shorts. 'Florida bound! Memorial Day Long Weekend,' Rebel captioned the post. After touching down in Florida, Rebel returned to Instagram to share a video from inside the jet. 'Florida, we're here!' After touching down in Florida, Rebel returned to Instagram to share a video from inside the jet Friends: Rebel turned the camera around and filmed her fellow passengers 'Florida, we're here!' she declared as she filmed herself and several other passengers inside the aircraft. Last week, Rebel again flaunted her trim figure, confirming she smashed her original weight loss goal by shedding even more kilos. She looked slimmer than ever while wearing a cheerleader uniform on the set of the high school comedy on Wednesday. On set fun: Rebel looked slimmer than ever while wearing a cheerleader uniform on the set of high school comedy Senior Year on Wednesday. Pictured with co-star Chris Parnell Fans would have noticed the difference in her toned figure as she shared a Boomerang clip to Instagram of herself with co-star Chris Parnell. The comedian wore a green, white and gold cheerleader costume, which had long sleeves and a short pleated skirt. She also wore white sneakers, and swept her blonde hair into a high ponytail secured with an oversized green bow. Bring it on! The comedian showed off her trim figure in a green, white and gold cheerleader costume, which had long sleeves and a short pleated skirt Both actors held the 'spirit fingers' cheerleader pose, made famous in the 2001 film Bring It On, with one arm up and the other swinging back and forth. 'Living my BRING IT ON fantasy in #SeniorYear,' Rebel wrote in the caption, as she revealed the film's March 2022 release date. According to Deadline, the movie follows a cheerleader (played by Rebel) who wakes after a 20-year coma and returns to high school. Impressive! Rebel lost 30kg after pledging to make 2020 her 'year of health', and it now appears she has smashed her weight loss goal by shedding even more kilos Rebel's character attempts to regain her status and claim the prom-queen crown which had eluded her two decades earlier. After a year-long break from acting, Rebel is one of the busiest actresses in Hollywood again with a number of projects in the works. She recently wrapped filming The Almond and the Seahorse in the UK with French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg. Emma Roberts looked cozy as she returned home from a shopping-filled day in West Hollywood, California on Saturday. The American Horror Story star, 30, was spotted getting out of her black SUV following her solo Memorial Day Weekend outing. Roberts, who welcomed her first child in December, cut a stylish figure in a long pale pink, white and baby blue quilted coat. Out and about: Emma Roberts looked cozy as she returned home from a shopping-filled day in West Hollywood Emma's coat featured a diamond-shaped patchwork pattern and hung to just below her knees as she stepped out of her vehicle. The coat is clearly one of her favorites since the new mom also was seen in it this past Mother's Day when she stepped out with her partner Garrett Hedlund, 36, and their four-month-old baby son, Rhodes. Roberts paired the coat with light wash blue jeans that had distressed hems and a white top. Stylish: She sported monogrammed navy blue and gold Louis Vuitton closed-toe flats with gold buckled straps as she strolled across the sidewalk She sported monogrammed navy blue and gold Louis Vuitton closed-toe flats with gold buckled straps as she strolled across the sidewalk. Roberts held her iPhone in one hand while closing the cap on a large Fiji water bottle before putting on her sunglasses. Her face was not covered with a mask and she appeared to be wearing minimal makeup. The blonde beauty's long hair cascaded down her back as she carried a large white shopping bag and a pink Jennifer Meyer tote bag into her home. Cute: The New York native shared an adorable photo on Instagram on May 9 to celebrate her first Mother's Day. In the snap, Emma is clad in a flowing white dress as she smiles while snuggling her baby boy, Rhodes, who is bundled in a blanket with his head covered in a beige cap Sweet: The niece of Julia Roberts also posted a photo of three Mother's Day cards The New York native shared an adorable photo on Instagram on May 9 to celebrate her first Mother's Day. In the snap, Emma is clad in a flowing white dress as she smiles while snuggling her baby boy, Rhodes, who is bundled in a blanket with his head covered in a beige cap. 'Happy Mothers Day,' she cheerily added in the caption with a sunflower emoji. The niece of Julia Roberts also posted a photo of three Mother's Day cards. Emma began a relationship with Garrett in March 2019 after splitting from Evan Peters, who she dated for seven years. In August 2020, she announced that the couple were expecting their first child. Roberts gave birth to Rhodes on December 27, 2020. She's played Jasmine Delaney on Home and Away since 2017. And Sam Frost was seen filming her scenes at Palm Beach last Tuesday, with the 32-year-old flaunting her trim figure as she jogged along the sand in skintight activewear. The former Bachelorette flashed her taut abs in a blue crop top and brightly-patterned leggings for the sun-soaked scene. Closer each day: Sam Frost was seen filming her Home and Away scenes at Palm Beach last Tuesday, with the 32-year-old flaunting her beach-ready figure as she jogged along the sand The bird-print leggings drew attention to Sam's toned gams. Her wavy blonde tresses were pulled up in a loose bun for the scene. Frost showed off her toned arms in the outfit as she paused between takes to check her script. Role: Frost has played Jasmine Delaney on Home and Away since 2017 Abs-olutely fabulous: The former Bachelorette flashed her taut abs in a blue crop top and brightly-patterned leggings for the sun-soaked scene The reality TV star capped off the sporty look with a pair of grey runners. The actress filmed scenes alongside her co-star Nicholas Cartwright, who was dressed in a police uniform. According to Home and Away's fan website Back to the Bay, Nicholas portrays Senior Constable Cash Newman. Learning her lines: Frost showed off her toned arms in the outfit as she paused between takes to check her script Good hair day: Her wavy blonde tresses were pulled up in a loose bun for the scene Active wear: The reality TV star capped off the sporty look with a pair of grey runners Sam's character gets up close and personal with the newcomer to the series. The pair of soap stars have been filming extensive scenes together over the past few months. It comes after Sam made headlines last year for uploading - and quickly deleting - two Instagram photos of herself posing in a tiny striped bikini. Controversy: The sighting comes after Sam made headlines last year for uploading - and quickly deleting - two Instagram photos of herself posing in a tiny striped bikini Statement: She wrote: 'It was just easier to [delete the photos], than deal with people's judgment about my body or their opinions about what I should or shouldn't be posting' Past: Earlier in the essay, the blonde shared details of her decade-long battle with body confidence Out of her shell: 'I spent my twenties hiding under a black cap, wearing baggy clothes,' she wrote A day after deleting the photos, Sam uploaded an essay to her website. She wrote: 'It was just easier to [delete the photos], than deal with people's judgment about my body or their opinions about what I should or shouldn't be posting.' Earlier in the essay, the blonde shared details of her decade-long battle with body confidence. 'I spent my twenties hiding under a black cap, wearing baggy clothes,' she wrote. Insecurities: 'I was wearing clothes like that because I felt extremely insecure about my body,' Sam added in the essay Meteoric: Sam rose to fame on on second season of The Bachelor Australia in 2014, before starring in the first season of The Bachelorette Australia in 2015 Action: Sam held her phone as she shot a scene for the long-running soap Co-star: The actress filmed scenes alongside her co-star Nicholas Cartwright [left], who was dressed in a police uniform 'I was wearing clothes like that because I felt extremely insecure about my body,' Sam added in the essay. 'I felt ashamed and uncomfortable,' she concluded. Sam rose to fame on on second season of The Bachelor Australia in 2014, before starring in the first season of The Bachelorette Australia in 2015. In this Sept. 25, 2019, file photo, Chinese troops take part in marching drills ahead of an Oct. 1 military parade to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at a camp on the outskirts of Beijing. As the world's largest military, needing hundreds of thousands of new recruits each year, the People's Liberation Army has been affected by China's wider fertility and ageing issues, and tried to counter them. AFP-Yonhap Cindy Crawford and her husband Rande Gerber celebrated their 23rd wedding anniversary on Saturday, May 29. And the legendary supermodel marked the occasion by sharing a loving tribute to the businessman on Instagram that included a throwback photo from their 1998 Bahamian wedding. 'This night 23 years ago was magicaland you're still the one! Happy anniversary! I love you @randegerber,' she gushed in the caption. Scroll down to video 23 and counting! Cindy Crawford, 55, and her husband Rande Gerber, 59, celebrated 23-years of marriage on Saturday, May 29 The photo showed the couple staring into each other's eyes as they danced barefoot. They exchanged their vows during a private beach ceremony at the Ocean Club in Nassau, Bahamas in front of about 90 guests. At this point during the wedding party, Gerber, 59, had his white shirt untucked over his black pants, while Crawford, 55, was decked out in a minidress. 'He knows me well': The legendary supermodel shared a photo of the flowers Gerber sent to her for their anniversary As part of their anniversary celebration, Gerber sent his ladylove an arrangement of Crawford's favorite flowers, which his wife showed off in a photo posted on her Insta-Story 'After 23 years, he knows me well! Thanks for my favorite colored roses to celebrate out anniversary,' the proud mother of daughter Kaia, 19, and son Preston, 21, wrote across the top of the image. He also posted the photo of the flowers on his Instagram Story along with a black-and-white video of Crawford frolicking on the beach with the headline: 'The secret to a happy marriage. Keep it fun. Happy Anniversary.' 'The secret to a happy marriage': Gerber also paid tribute to his wife with a black-and-white video of her frolicking on the beach in one-piece swimsuit Celebration: The mother of two got playful for the camera in the short anniversary clip The couple's 19-year-old daughter Kaia Gerber shared heartfelt words of respect in the tribute to her parents on their 23rd wedding anniversary The couple's 19-year-old daughter Kaia, who's already made a mark as a catwalk queen in her own right, took to social media to share a heartfelt tribute to her parents. 'I feel so lucky to have this example of true love in my life as a constant reminder,' she headlined a photo of the couple in a romantic embrace. '23 years and I've been lucky enough to witness most of them.' Fetch: Rande Gerber also posted a video of Kaia playing ball with one of the family's dogs Playtime: While playing with her dad, Kaia threw the ball into the pool at their Malibu home Nap time: The businessman revealed he and Kaia 'tired' out their dog with all the pool play It appears Crawford and Gerber spent part of their anniversary outside at their luxurious $7.5 million home in Malibu. Gerber, who launched Casamigos Tequila with George Clooney and Mike Meldman in 2013, posted a clip of Kaia playing ball with one of the family's dogs. The model could bee seen throwing a ball down into their pool and the eager pooch diving into the water to retrieve it. 'Tired her out,' Gerber wrote along with a photo of the dog taking a nap next him with her head resting on backgammon board. MasterChef Australia star Depinder Chhibber has spoken of her anguish at being unable to visit her extended family in India due to the pandemic. Speaking to News.com.au on Sunday, the pharmacist-turned-chef said most of her close relatives are currently living in India, some of whom are currently recovering from coronavirus. 'The only people [in my family] that are [living in Australia] are me, my mum and dad and my brother, everyone else is still in India,' she explained. Tragic: MasterChef Australia star Depinder Chhibber (pictured) spoke to News Corp on Sunday about her anguish at being unable to visit her extended family in India due to the pandemic 'It's like up to 80 people, there's just so many of them every time that I go back [to India], I make sure that I visit every single one of them, especially the older generation,' she continued. She finished: 'I get emotional when I talk about it as well because I wish I could go back, but it's hard.' Meanwhile, fellow MasterChef contestant Kishwar Chowdhury told News Corp on Sunday that her in-laws living in Calcutta, India, have been locked down for about 500 days. Family: She finished: 'I get emotional when I talk about it as well because I wish I could go back, but it's hard,' she said Kishwar's father-in-law is also currently battling with COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), making it extremely dangerous for him to contract coronavirus. India has struggled to cope with a recent spike in Covid cases in recent months. The wave of cases put huge pressure on the medical infrastructure, as overcrowded hospitals ran out of oxygen and medical supplies. Lockdown: Meanwhile, fellow MasterChef contestant Kishwar Chowdhury told News Corp on Sunday that her in-laws living in Calcutta, India, have been locked down for about 500 days The World Health Organisation has described the country's struggle as 'beyond heartbreaking'. Mortality data is also poor in India, as deaths at home and in rural areas often go unregistered. MasterChef Australia continues on Channel Ten, Sunday, 7.30pm. Kylie Jenner and baby daddy Travis Scott are continuing to fuel reconciliation rumors after they were seen jetting around on her private plane with their daughter Stormi. While on the flight, the 23-year-old makeup mogul documented their travels on her Instagram Story by posting an adorable video of their little girl, three, enjoying a scoop of vanilla ice cream with pink sprinkles on top. Additionally, the mother-of-one uploaded footage of the clouds outside her window, which surrounded the light pink wing of her jet, estimated to cost $50 to $70 million. Family time: Kylie Jenner and baby daddy Travis Scott are continuing to fuel reconciliation rumors after they were seen jetting around on her private plane with their daughter Stormi Her mom, Kris Jenner, also posted from the jet as they enjoyed an extravagant charcuterie board and drinks. On the table, a stack of cocktail napkins, embellished with the words 'Kylie Air' in pink lettering, were placed by the food. After touching down, Kylie and Travis, 29, hit a playground at night, according to the beauty's Instagram Story. Doting parents: After touching down, Kylie and Travis, 29, made a Target run with their toddler, who was dressed in all white for their travels Playing around: The parents showed off their silly sides as they hit a park at night together Lighting up social media: Fans were excited to see the duo playing together on the playground, with many tweeting that the video 'is the cutest thing' they've ever seen Footage showed the pair looking giddy as they swung around a jungle gym together. Fans were excited to see the duo playing together on the playground, with many tweeting that the video 'is the cutest thing' they've ever seen. Earlier, they made a Target run with their toddler, who was dressed in all white for their travels. Delicious: While on the flight, the 23-year-old makeup mogul documented their travels on her Instagram Story by posting an adorable video of their little girl, three, enjoying a scoop of vanilla ice cream with pink sprinkles on top The rapper sweetly carried Stormi in his arms as they checked out with a full cart of supplies for the long weekend. For the outing, he rocked a purple beanie, matching t-shirt, black bottoms and a face mask amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, Kylie denied claims she is in an 'open' relationship with Travis after TMZ reported they are a couple once again but are allegedly allowing freedom to see other people. Views: Additionally, the mother-of-one uploaded footage of the clouds outside her window, which surrounded the light pink wing of her jet, estimated to cost $50 to $70 million What a spread: Her mom, Kris Jenner, also posted from the jet as they enjoyed an extravagant charcuterie board, drinks She took to Twitter to set the record straight, writing: 'I'm not discrediting anyone who is in an open relationship but it's just careless and disrespectful to throw this narrative out there without knowing what's true.' In her denial tweet, she didn't clarify the exact status of their relationship. A report published by People magazine after Kylie's Twitter post echoed TMZ's claims that the romance is back on and they 'love each other,' but they are not entirely exclusive. Flying private: The Keeping Up with the Kardashians star, 65, appeared to enjoy her time on her youngest daughter's private jet Back on? Jenner recently denied claims she is in an 'open' relationship with Travis (pictured in 2019) 'They are not exclusive, but Kylie isn't seeing anyone else, either,' a source told the magazine. The source didn't address if Travis is dating other women. In recent days, the pair were spotted together as they enjoyed a family trip to Disneyland in Anaheim, California. In videos shared by fellow park patrons to social media, Kylie and Travis could be seen doting over their daughter as they seemingly jumped the line at one of many attractions in the park. He set pulses racing onscreen as sexy billionaire Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades film adaptations. But Jamie Dornan proved he can inspire adulation even on his days off, with the 39-year-old actor approached by fans during his lunch break in Adelaide Friday. The Northern Irish heartthrob, who is filming the Stan Original series The Tourist in the South Australian capital, was noticed as he left a local bookshop with a new purchase in hand. Celebrity sighting: Jamie Dornan proved he can inspire adulation even on his days off, with the 39-year-old actor approached by fans during his lunch break on Friday Jamie was rugged up in a blue puffer jacket for the outing. Looking a far cry from the dapper mogul for which he is so famous, the father-of-three sported a dark beard. He didn't appear to be put out when approached for a selfie, smiling and chatting to the woman for a while. Celebrity sighting: Jamie was exiting a book store with his purchases when he was approached by the fan who appeared to ask him for a photo Approachable: Jamie exchanges pleasantries with the fans Winter warmers: The star rugged up in a blue puffer jacket and black jeans Another woman took a snap of the pair outside the bookstore. After the photo was taken, Jamie and the fan exchanged pleasantries before the approachable star continued on his way. Elsewhere in the outing, Jaimie was spotted exiting a cafe clutching two take-away boxes of sushi. Rugged: Looking a far cry from the dapper mogul for which he is so famous, the father-of-three sported a dark beard Friendly A-lister: Jaimie was all smiles as he chatted with the fan on the footpath What's in the bag? The hunk clutched a shopping bag from a local bookstore In The Tourist, Jamie plays a Brit who finds himself stuck in the Australian outback. His character is injured in a hospital and unaware of his identity. He returns to the outback to find answers about his past. Jamie will star alongside Danielle Macdonald of Dumplin' fame, Doctor Doctor's Shalom Brune Franklin, Alex Dimitriades and Damon Herriman. Good day to you! After the photo was taken, Jamie and the fan exchanged pleasantries before the approachable star continued on his way Feeling hungry? Elsewhere in the outing, Jaimie was spotted exiting a cafe clutching two take-away boxes of sushi New role: In The Tourist, Jamie plays a Brit who finds himself stuck in the Australian outback Damon replaces Hugo Weaving's role as Agent Lachlan Rogers. Hugo pulled out of the project due to scheduling issues. Jamie previously said of the role: 'The Tourist are some of the most exciting scripts I've ever read. I can't wait to go to Australia with such a talented group of people.' Filmmakers Harry and Jack Williams of Two Brothers Pictures also said: 'We're hugely excited about this show. It's tonally breaking new ground for us, and having Jamie Dornan on board is the icing on the Australian cake.' Gripping tale: His character is injured in a hospital and unaware of his identity. He returns to the outback to find answers about his past Heartthrob: Jamie will star alongside Danielle Macdonald of Dumplin' fame, Doctor Doctor's Shalom Brune Franklin, Alex Dimitriades and Damon Herriman Danielle Macdonald added: 'I ended up reading all the episodes in one sitting because I couldn't put them down! 'I'm so excited to get to be a part of this incredible project and I can't wait to start filming alongside the amazing cast and production team.' South Australia has recently become a hotspot for exciting local productions, with Stan Original film Gold starring Zac Efron also recently filmed there. The Stan Original series The Tourist coming soon, exclusively on Stan. Replacement: Damon replaces Hugo Weaving's role as Agent Lachlan Rogers. Hugo pulled out of the project due to scheduling issues Matt Damon has been enjoying his time travelling around Australia, spending some time on the Gold Coast last week. Over the weekend, the American actor, 50, and his wife, Luciana Barroso, 45, flew into Sydney, and did a spot of shopping. Luciana headed to the David Jones department store in the CBD, where Matt played the dutiful husband while she looked through racks of women's clothing. Shop till they drop: Matt Damon has been enjoying his time travelling around Australia, spending some time on the Gold Coast last week. Over the weekend, the American actor, 50, and his wife, Luciana Barroso, 45, flew into Sydney, and did a spot of shopping. Both pictured 'He was being a very dutiful husband and helping Luciana shop for clothes,' an onlooker told Sydney Confidential on Sunday. The pair also grabbed some food at popular eatery Jimmy's Falafel, with Matt posing with the store's staff in the kitchen. Head Chef Simon Zalloua took to Instagram to share a photo of himself and his team with the actor. Helpful: Luciana headed to the David Jones department store in the CBD, where Matt played the dutiful husband while she looked through racks of women's clothing. 'He was being a very dutiful husband and helping Luciana shop for clothes,' an onlooker told Sydney Confidential He wrote in the caption: 'Matt Damon - "can't wait to try your falafel, I've heard they're world famous". Matt and his wife Luciana, who has been married since 2005, relocated to Australia in January along with their daughters, Isabella, 14, Gia, 12, and Stella, 10. The actor and his family are believed to be staying at a European-style home in Knockrow, just outside of Byron Bay. Matt is in Australia filming Thor: Love and Thunder, which has been in production in Sydney since January. A bite: The pair also grabbed some food at popular eatery Jimmy's Falafel, with Matt posing with the store's staff in the kitchen. Head Chef Simon Zalloua took to Instagram to share a photo of himself and his team with the actor (pictured) 'I'm so excited that my family and I will be able to call Australia home for the next few months,' he said in a statement shortly after his arrival. 'Australian film crews are world-renowned for their professionalism and are a joy to work with, so the 14 days of quarantine will be well worth it. 'Australia definitely is the lucky country, and I can't wait to show my family Australia's down to earth people, breathtaking scenery and diverse culture.' It was confirmed in April that Vanessa Valladares had split from actor Zac Efron. And on Sunday, the former waitress-turned-model was spotted arriving at Sydney Airport following a domestic flight from Byron Bay. The 25-year-old cut a low-key figure in a black cut-out top, teamed with a fitted white blouse that cinched in at her waist, and baggy grey trousers. Low-key arrival: Vanessa Valladares cut a low-key figure in a fitted white top and grey baggy pants as she jetted into Sydney from Byron Bay on Sunday, following her split from Zac Efron Vanessa added pristine chunky white sneakers, black gloves and a black face mask. She carried her essential items in a weekender bag, slung over one shoulder, and placed her hands in her trouser pockets as she made her way through the terminal. Vanessa's short wavy brunette locks framed her face, and she appeared to wear minimal makeup. Inside the terminal, Vanessa sorted through her beige handbag, and was later seen wheeling her large suitcase towards a waiting car. Details: The former waitress-turned-model added pristine chunky white sneakers, black gloves and a black weekender bag, slung over one shoulder, to the look Effortless: Vanessa's short wavy brunette locks framed her face, and she appeared to wear minimal makeup Touches of bling: The brunette added a delicate gold pendant necklace and coordinating earrings to the look According to various reports, Zac, 33, was introduced to Vanessa by her boss at Byron Bay's General Store cafe in June last year, and the pair hit it off straight away. Two months later, in August, Daily Mail Australia revealed Zac had cancelled his scheduled return flight to Los Angeles because he 'didn't really want to go back'. Within weeks, the genetically blessed couple had moved in together in Byron Bay. Zac confirmed their relationship in September when they were spotted holding hands in public. Over: It was confirmed in April that Vanessa had split from American actor Zac, 33 Reports: According to various reports, Zac was introduced to Vanessa by her boss at Byron Bay's General Store cafe in June last year, and the pair hit it off straight away Staying put: Two months later, in August, Daily Mail Australia revealed Zac had cancelled his scheduled return flight to Los Angeles because he 'didn't really want to go back' Vanessa would accompany her famous boyfriend as he travelled around Australia for various work projects from late 2020 to early 2021. But it was confirmed in April they had called it quits, with Kyle Sandilands announcing on his KIIS FM radio show: 'I can confirm [the break-up], after speaking with him yesterday.' Kyle also confirmed Zac had been dating Vanessa for much longer than reported. Speculation recently surfaced that the former couple knew each other three years before their 'official' first meeting at Byron Bay's General Store cafe last June. Essentials: While inside the airport terminal, Vanessa sorted through her beige handbag Luggage: The stunner was later seen wheeling her large suitcase out of the terminal Timeline: It was recently revealed that Zac had been dating Vanessa for much longer than reported Kyle, 49 - who is good friends with Zac - revealed on live radio that it wasn't just a rumour. The radio host confirmed on The Kyle and Jackie O show: 'They've been together for a lot longer than people realise.' 'I don't know where they met, but it wasn't recent. It's been going for a little while, but I don't know exactly how long' he added. Friends prior? Speculation recently surfaced that the former couple knew each other three years before their 'official' first meeting at Byron Bay's General Store cafe last June On radio: Kyle Sandilands - who is good friends with Zac - revealed on live radio that it wasn't just a rumour. He confirmed on The Kyle and Jackie O show: 'They've been together for a lot longer than people realise' Roxy Jacenko's daughter Pixie is certainly taking after her fashion-savvy mother. On Sunday, the 41-year-old PR queen shared a photo of herself and Pixie Curtis, nine, heading out to a family dinner with matching handbags. In the Instagram Stories post, the stylish pair both wore studded, black leather bags from the designer brand, Valentino. Like mother! Roxy Jacenko's daughter Pixie is certainly taking after her fashion-savvy mother. On Sunday, the 41-year-old PR queen shared a photo of herself and Pixie Curtis, nine, heading out to a family dinner with matching handbags Roxy had the medium size version of the Valentino Garavani Alcove handbag in grainy calfskin leather, valued at over $5600. Pixie had the small version of the exact same bag, in a more suitable size for a child, valued at $4900. The tot already has two successful product lines - Pixie's Bows and Pixie's Fidgets. Fancy! In the Instagram Stories post, the stylish pair both wore studded, black leather bags from the designer brand, Valentino Bag it! Roxy had the medium size version of the Valentino Garavani Alcove handbag in grainy calfskin leather, valued at over $5600. Pixie had the small version of the exact same bag, in a more suitable size for a child, valued at $4900 In May, Pixie's line of fidget toys sold a mammoth $200,000 worth in their debut month across Australia. In a recent interview with Confidential, Pixie revealed her mum wants her to invest her money into property. 'Mum keeps telling me to save the money to buy an apartment,' Pixie said. Loaded! In a recent interview with Confidential , Pixie revealed her mum wants her to invest her money into property 'But I told her to forget that because I want a double bed and an iPhone 12,' she added. According to the business savvy little girl, she came up with the idea after viewing the viral toys on social media app Tik Tok. 'At first I saw them on TikTok. I told mum we have to get them for my website,' she explained. Nice! In May, Pixie's line of fidget toys sold a mammoth $200,000 worth in their debut month across Australia Driving mum mad: In December last year, Roxy copped backlash from fans after she purchased a $84,500 car for her daughter. The PR mogul pointed out that obviously her daughter 'doesn't drive the car' Since finding success online, Pixie's pop up stores have appeared in Bondi Junction, Parramatta, Miranda and Narellan Town Centre. In December last year, Roxy copped backlash from fans after she purchased a $84,500 car for her daughter. The PR mogul pointed out that obviously her daughter 'doesn't drive the car'. Roxy shares Pixie with her husband Oliver Curtis, who she wed in 2012. They are also proud parents to six-year-old son Hunter. Vogue Williams looked upbeat as she walked through London in the sunshine wearing a floral maxi dress and funky round shades on Sunday. The presenter, 35, beamed as she embraced the warmer spring weather in sandals and sunglasses ahead of her latest shift at Heart FM and her role as host of Sunday Breakfast. Vogue looked gorgeous in the button-front dress, which featured an eye catching pink and yellow floral pattern. Pretty: Vogue Williams looked upbeat as she walked through London in the sunshine wearing a floral maxi dress and funky round shades on Sunday The Irish presenter paired the statement dress with brown leather sandals with gold detailing and an unusual toe strap. Styling her blonde tresses in gorgeous relaxed waves, Vogue smiled at onlookers in some large circular glasses. Looking the epitome of boho chic in the ensemble, she completed the outfit with a selection of gold chains, mini hoop earrings and a chunky watch. Upbeat: The presenter beamed as she strolled along in the summer weather in sandals and sunglasses The outing comes after Vogue revealed on Thursday that she was stung by seventeen bees while filming with Bear Grylls. Speaking on Steph's Packed Lunch, she said: 'Im terrified of bees. I got stung seventeen times. 'I was doing a show with Bear Grylls and I went for a wee in a bush. And there was a bees nest in front of me. And I said, "what is that thing?" And then yeah, seventeen times.' Radiant: Vogue looked gorgeous in the button-front dress which featured an eye catching pink and yellow floral pattern Steph asked Vogue if she was stung on her posterior, and she said: 'Everywhere. Worst place is on the bum.' Vogue is taking part in Running Wild with Bear Grylls, which sees a variety of stars go on 48 hour journeys with the adventurer. Alongside her new project, Vogue has also revealed that she plans to try for a third baby after the summer. Bombshell: Vogue styled her blonde tresses in gorgeous relaxed waves and smiled at onlookers in some large circular glasses The Irish beauty is mother to Theodore, two, and Gigi, 10 months, with her husband, Spencer Matthews, 32, and the couple are planning on expanding their brood later this year. Speaking on comedian Joanne McNally's podcast My Therapist Ghosted Me, Vogue told how she plans on getting pregnant in the coming months. Vogue and Joanne spoke about Wayne Lineker's appearance on this year's series of Celebs Go Dating and Vogue joked the pair should go out to Ibiza to visit his Ocean Beach club before she gets pregnant again. Stepping out: The Irish presenter paired the statement dress with brown leather sandals with gold detailing and an unusual toe strap She said: 'I'm going to try and get pregnant after the summer, I'm putting it out there and we have to go to Ibiza. 'I'm going to do it for the winter, I'll enjoy the summer and we have to go see Wayne before the summer is out. Even if it's for three nights, that's probably all I can take.' Vogue also discussed Spencer's body hair, admitting he is 'bald everywhere except his head'. Summer loving: She looked the epitome of boho chic and completed the outfit with a selection of gold chains, mini hoop earrings and a chunky watch She added: 'He hates having all that hair but I love it. He just gets rid of all of it. You should see the f*****g shower when he's finished.' Vogue and Spencer met when they both signed up to compete in the Channel 4 reality series The Jump in 2017. They married two years later at Westminster Boating Base on the banks of the River Thames after welcoming their first child Theodore in 2018. Gemma Collins was back in fighting form as she sipped on a glass of champagne after recently battling a mystery illness. The former TOWIE star, 40, told fans last week she was convinced she had 'some sort of virus' and was feeling 'so unwell'. However, Gemma looked in good spirits on Sunday as she shared a clip of herself enjoying a drink with a friend while out in the sunshine shortly after confirming she has her 'energy back'. Cheers: Gemma Collins was back in fighting form as she sipped on a glass of champagne after recently battling a mystery illness The reality star indulged in a bottle of Laurent Perrier champagne before she enjoyed some oysters and a steak for dinner. The GC sported a white shirt in the clip along with a pair of sunglasses while she styled her blonde locks into an updo. Gemma had previously shared a photo of a tube attached to her arm, writing: 'Sorry been quiet guys I have been very poorly but I am feeling like I am back on the mend.' On Saturday, the star reassured fans she was back to her old self as she shared a photo of herself posing in a field. Health: The former TOWIE star, 40, told fans last week she was convinced she had 'some sort of virus' and was feeling 'so unwell' Alongside the post, she wrote: 'ENERGY BACK I asked you answered UNIVERSE THANKYOU'. Gemma had a private nurse at her home, looking after her, and later took to social media to reassure her fans that she was 'slowly getting there.' Her father Alan was also on hand to look after her, and 'make tea,' with one post showing her dad sat at her side. This follows a difficult time for the TOWIE personality, whose friend Rhys Alan Smith was found dead in Tenerife last month. Luxury: The reality star indulged in a bottle of Laurent Perrier champagne before she enjoyed some oysters and a steak for dinner In a series of emotional Instagram posts shared last week, the reality star shared a glimpse of the flowers she'd purchased in honour of her late friend, and went onto reveal she spoke to him on the day he tragically died. Gemma added that she would 'give anything' to have her friend Rhys at her side again, after he was found dead at his apartment on April 22. Gemma shared a series of videos and snaps of Rhys during some of their happier times, including a sweet image alongside her parents Alan and Joan. Posting the montage to her grid, the star wrote: 'We all loved you so much if anyone is touched by this story please remember there is always a way there is always an answer there is always hope tomorrow is always another day.' 'Energy': On Saturday, the star reassured fans she was back to her old self as she shared a photo of herself posing in a field On her Stories Gemma also shared a snap alongside her pal Rhys, admitting it was going to be a difficult day. Posting a selfie with Rhys from a recent holiday, she wrote: 'Going to be a very tough day my Gucci @rhysalan I have been heartbroken recently you was like a little brother to me. 'I love you so much and I would given anything I have to magically bring you back. Everyone loved you and you was so special RIP I just can't believe you are gone but never forgotten.' Gemma also posted a video of Rhys during a night out together, where he attempted to show off his singing skills. Noel and Liam Gallagher came close to crossing paths on Saturday. The embattled Oasis bothers were both attending the Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto. While Noel, 54, made a public entrance, estranged sibling Liam, 48, went under the radar - with fans posting snaps of him to Instagram, blowing his cover. Near-miss: Noel and Liam Gallagher came close to crossing paths on Saturday. Noel, 54, made a public entrance [pictured] Estranged sibling: Liam, 48, went under the radar - with fans posting snaps of him to Instagram, blowing his cover Sporting a simple black jacket and sunglasses, Noel looked the picture of cool, despite the nerves that no doubt were running through him ahead of the all-England match. Noel paired his black top with a crisp pair of blue trousers as he stepped into the stadium and carried out a number of interviews. He also spent some time stopping to greet other Manchester City fans and take pictures with them. Liam, meanwhile, wore a blue windbreaker, often seen with the hood up, and tinted aviator shades. Disappointed: Liam wore a blue windbreaker, often seen with the hood up, and tinted aviator shades. He looked upset that his team lost the match Super fan: Sporting a simple black jacket and sunglasses, Noel looked the picture of cool, despite the nerves that no doubt were running through him ahead of the all-England match Snapped: Liam poses for a photo with a fan in the stands Meet and greet: He later skulked out after the match - which saw Chelsea win He was spotted in the stands, and took snaps with fans, before slinking out after the match - which saw Chelsea win. The result proved disappointing for the brothers - both life-long Manchester City fans, growing up supporting the team as children, with their dad before them a huge supporter of the team. Both the Gallagher brothers have been regular visitors at Manchester City's Etihad stadium over the years, with Noel also having been spotted celebrating on the pitch when City won the Premier League title in 2018. Crunch time: The result proved disappointing for the brothers - both life-long Manchester City fans, growing up supporting the team as children, with their dad before them a huge supporter of the team Chat: Noel took part in interviews ahead of the match One of the fans: Noel paired his black top with a crisp pair of blue trousers as he stepped into the stadium and carried out a number of interviews The final between Manchester City and Chelsea was the latest European competition finale to feature two English teams, with Tottenham and Liverpool recently having faced off against each other in 2019. And Manchester United also played in an all-English final against Chelsea back in 2008. The brothers' appearance comes after plans for a new Oasis compilation album and accompanying bonus disc of unreleased material have 'been scrapped' after feuding Noel and Liam failed to agree on the project's direction. The group disbanded in 2009 after a volatile backstage dispute led to guitarist and chief-songwriter Noel announcing he would no longer work with his younger sibling. Selfie time: He also spent some time stopping to greet other Manchester City fans and take pictures with them Boyhood club: Chelsea beat Man City 1-0 But amid growing calls for a reunion Noel hoped to capitalise on the band's enduring popularity by releasing a compilation of hits recorded during their arguably less popular second era, from 2000 to their eventual split. The album was expected to follow the 2020 release of Don't Stop..., a previously unheard acoustic demo recorded by Noel in the mid-2000s. He told The Sun: 'You know that Dont Stop demo we put up? We had planned to do an Oasis best of the 2000s because its a period of Oasis that the masses are not interested in but for the actual fans theres some great tunes. 'With Dont Stop it was like, "Well people are f***ing floundering, put that out, the fans will love it". Well, we did this best of and the bonus disc was gonna be all these unreleased songs. 'But, ha, unfortunately we couldnt agree on something and it got dropped by the wayside.' Summary/Objective Working closely with the Controller, the Accounts Payable Clerk is directly responsible for most payable functions. Direct responsibilities include: receiving, vouching and entering all accounts payable; performing weekly check runs; ensuring all internal/external controls and policies are adhered to; communicating closely with purchasing and receiving to resolve billing discrepancies; acting as backup to receptionist; communicating with vendors regarding payment status or discrepancy resolution; and credit card processing. Also assisting with the annual financial audit. Essential Functions Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Receives vendor invoices via mail, email, online, and/or fax. Matches GRN invoices with associated GRN receiving. Appropriately codes service or non-inventory invoices to the correct vendor and general ledger account number. Gets approvals where necessary. Verifies the invoice matches our PO. Verifies quantities received equal quantities invoiced. Enters all payables into Syspro, adding due dates. Performs weekly check runs. After the Controller makes the payment selections, runs a control total and creates batches for checks, ACHs, and credit card payments. Forwards ACHs to the Staff Accountant to process. Prints checks and forwards to CFO or Controller for signature. Contacts vendors to make credit card payments either via phone or online. Gets proper authorizations from managers before entering accounts payable. Makes sure all policies and procedures are being followed. Works closely with purchasing and receiving to resolve billing issues due to price discrepancies, quantity discrepancies, address changes. or any other questions that may arise. Acts as backup to the Receptionist. May occasionally spend time at the front desk performing receptionist duties. May perform backup duties from own desk if only for a short time. Communicates with vendors regarding payment status, discrepancy resolution, or any other questions or information requests that may arise. With direction from customer service and credit & collections, processes customer credit card payments. Assists with the annual financial audit. Prepares schedules and pulls backup as requested. Performs walk-throughs with the auditors. Competencies Attention to detail Ability to manage large amounts of data High level of organization Good verbal and written communication skills Ability to work independently Supervisory Responsibility None Required Education and Experience High School Diploma or equivalent Associate Degree in Accounting is a plus Minimum one year of previous bookkeeping, accounting or financial experience preferred Other Duties As required or assigned. Please note this job description is not designed to be a fully comprehensive listing of duties, responsibilities or activities that are required for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. COMPANY OVERVIEW: Located in Brooklyn Park, Mn, Engage Technologies Corporation is the parent company of Squid Ink, Eastey, AFM, and Cogent Technologies. Squid Ink is a manufacturer of coding and marking systems and fluids for product identification and traceability. Eastey is a leading manufacturer of heavy-duty shrink packaging equipment and automated case sealing systems for packaging applications. American Film & Machinery is a leading manufacturer and supplier of heavy-duty shrink sleeve labeling equipment, shrink tunnels, and shrink sleeve consumables. Cogent Technologies manufactures infrared drying systems used to dry ink in the industrial and graphics industries. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Engage Technologies is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship status, ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, family responsibilities, pregnancy, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, transgender, sex stereotyping, protected veteran or military status, and other categories protected by federal, state or local law. recblid 6721asyjukcxzfzipz2hcynhfokmx2 Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has said the medication she takes for Crohn's disease has led to body shaming and abuse. Speaking to Hello! magazine on Monday, Amy revealed that a high dose of intravenous steroids made her gain weight and that people have made 'spiteful' comments. The 30-year-old professional dancer first admitted she was suffering from the condition in 2019, in a bid to help others. Spiteful: Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden has said the medication she takes for Crohn's disease has led to body shaming and abuse after steroids caused her to gain weight Crohn's is described by the NHS as a lifelong condition in which parts of the digestive system become inflamed. People with the disease commonly experience phases of intense abdominal pain, severe vomiting, exhaustion and bloody diarrhoea, among other symptoms. And Amy revealed she has recently experienced a flare-up and the high dose of intravenous steroids she was given in hospital made her gain weight. She said: 'Although it made me feel better, it creates water retention, making my hips, thighs and bottom bloat and my face puffy. 'I want to look my best on the dance floor, but when you get photographed in an unflattering light and people make spiteful comments about your size, it can be very hurtful.' Amy added that she has been dealing with the effect of medication on her body throughout her career. She said: 'I was either too skinny and people assumed I was anorexic, or I'd bloat from my medication.' Tough: 'When you get photographed in an unflattering light and people make spiteful comments about your size, it can be very hurtful,' she revealed She recalled: 'I'd just come off the dance floor when a dressmaker in the changing room looked at me and said "She has a fat bottom and a thick middle" 'I felt so humiliated and embarrassed. I was only 21 and still trying to deal with my condition. As a dancer struggling to fit into tiny costumes, I became very self-conscious.' However, the pro dancer said the Strictly Come Dancing team are very supportive of her condition, adding: 'Everyone has been so kind. If I'm not feeling well, the boys are so thoughtful and say "Nobody's lifting Amy today".' Rock and a hard place: 'I was either too skinny and people assumed I was anorexic, or I'd bloat from my medication,' she added Out now: The full interview with Amy is in the latest issue of Hello! magazine She continued: 'Dianne [Buswell] is always checking on me and, when I had to go to hospital, Oti [Mabuse] got into a car the moment she finished filming and turned up at 11pm to see me. 'Another time when I was ill, Katya [Jones] took me to hospital and sat with me until 5am. 'I'm urging people to stop and think before they speak or write an unkind message. 'Some people are too quick to comment about the way someone looks. They have no idea what the target of their remark is going through.' The full interview with Amy is in the latest issue of Hello! magazine, out now. 'Everyone has been so kind': But the pro dancer said the Strictly Come Dancing team are very supportive of her condition and have even gone to hospital with her in the past She dropped a whopping 30kg in 2020 after proclaiming it her 'year of health'. And Rebel Wilson, 41, decided to stage an impromptu fashion shoot onboard a private jet on Sunday where her progress, quite simply, floored her 9.8million followers. The Pitch Perfect star sent jaws dropping as she worked all her best angles in designer threads by Saint Laurent and Balenciaga. So chic: Rebel Wilson [pictured] worked all her best angles in Saint Laurent and Balenciaga on Sunday as she showed off her slimmed-down frame onboard a private jet In the first image, Rebel looks every inch the Parisienne goddess as she posed in a black Saint Laurent faux fur trim top valued a $1523. The blonde bombshell ensured all eyes were on her stunning legs in a pair of logo-plaque knee-length shorts [$923], also from the classic French luxury house. Rebel kept her personal items close in a chic, monogrammed Saint Laurent chain bag [$2100] for the flight. When it came to footwear, The Hustle stunner opted for an always-fashionable pair of gladiator sandals by Spanish design house Balenciaga. Stylish: Rebel looked every inch the Parisienne goddess as she posed in a black Saint Laurent faux fur trim top valued a $1523 Pose: The blonde bombshell ensured all eyes were on her stunning legs in a pair of logo-plaque knee-length shorts [$923], also from the classic French luxury brand In vogue: Rebel kept her personal items close in a chic, monogrammed Saint Laurent chain bag [$2100] for the flight Waiter! When it came to footwear, The Hustle stunner opted for an always-fashionable pair of gladiator sandals by Spanish design house Balenciaga Earlier in the day Rebel looked worlds away from her former self as she posed on the stairs of the aircraft in a loose-fitting T-shirt and trousers. She was joined for the photo by her friend, producer Sam Kennedy, who dressed down in an unbuttoned blue shirt and white shorts. 'Florida bound! Memorial Day Long Weekend,' Rebel captioned the post. Trim and terrific! Rebel Wilson, 41, looked almost unrecognisable after shedding 30kg as she boarded a private jet bound for Florida on Sunday After touching down in Florida, Rebel returned to Instagram to share a video from inside the jet. 'Florida, we're here!' she declared as she filmed herself and several other passengers inside the aircraft. Last week, Rebel once again looked slimmer than ever while wearing a cheerleader uniform on the set of the high school comedy Senior Year. 'Florida, we're here!' After touching down in Florida, Rebel returned to Instagram to share a video from inside the jet On set fun: Rebel looked slimmer than ever while wearing a cheerleader uniform on the set of high school comedy Senior Year. Pictured with co-star Chris Parnell Fans would have noticed the difference in her toned figure as she shared a Boomerang clip to Instagram of herself with co-star Chris Parnell. The comedian wore a green, white and gold cheerleader costume, which had long sleeves and a short pleated skirt. She also wore white sneakers, and swept her blonde hair into a high ponytail secured with an oversized green bow. Bring it on! The comedian showed off her trim figure in a green, white and gold cheerleader costume, which had long sleeves and a short pleated skirt Both actors held the 'spirit fingers' cheerleader pose, made famous in the 2001 film Bring It On, with one arm up and the other swinging back and forth. 'Living my BRING IT ON fantasy in #SeniorYear,' Rebel wrote in the caption, as she revealed the film's March 2022 release date. According to Deadline, the movie follows a cheerleader (played by Rebel) who wakes after a 20-year coma and returns to high school. Impressive! Rebel lost 30kg after pledging to make 2020 her 'year of health', and it now appears she has smashed her weight loss goal by shedding even more kilos Rebel's character attempts to regain her status and claim the prom-queen crown which had eluded her two decades earlier. After a year-long break from acting, Rebel is one of the busiest actresses in Hollywood again with a number of projects in the works. She recently wrapped filming The Almond and the Seahorse in the UK with French actress Charlotte Gainsbourg. Rebel Wilson was the image of elegance while posing for pictures aboard a luxury private jet in her latest Instagram post. The 41-year-old JoJo Rabbit star showed off her trim and toned physique in a series of snaps from her weekend getaway to Miami Beach. Rebel stunned in an off-the-shoulder top with elegant maribou feathers along the neckline, looking every bit the movie star as she vamped it up for the camera. Wow! Rebel Wilson wowed while posing for pictures aboard a private jet on Instagram Sunday Rebel - who recently shed 60lbs - also donned high-waisted black yoga shorts that emphasized her fit figure with a black and gold belt that cinched her taut midriff The Aussie talent sported strappy black sandals with silver studs as she stood in the aisle of the sleek private jet. She accessorized with a pair of oversized tan cat-eye sunglasses. The blonde beauty's hair was swept into a high ponytail as she lounged back in her seat and stared out of the window of the plane ahead of her flight. 'The ascent! thanks Griffin for taking these photos after I quick changed in the toilet,' Rebel wrote in the caption, adding an emoji of a smiley face with its tongue sticking out. Stylish: Rebel sported strappy black sandals with silver studs as she stood in the aisle of the private jet. She accessorized with a pair of oversized tan cat-eye sunglasses Taking in the scenery: The blonde beauty's hair was swept into a high ponytail as she lounged back in her seat and stared out of the window of the plane ahead of her flight In the snaps she also showed off a moss green Yves Saint Laurent quilted crossbody purse with a braided gold chain and gold hardware. It may have been the same purse that Rebel was referring to in a recent interview with InStyle magazine when asked what she had been splurging on lately. 'I just bought a Yves Saint Laurent handbag after finishing The Almond and the Seahorse because Im trying to be healthier and treat myself with things that are not food anymore,' she told the magazine. The movie star was returning from a trip to Florida to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend. Going up! 'The ascent! thanks Griffin for taking these photos after I quick changed in the toilet,' Rebel wrote in the caption, adding an emoji of a smiley face with its tongue sticking out After her quick photoshoot, she took some selfies inside the plane along with a shot of the view outside her window and photo of her friends including actor Sam Kennedy who flashed a peace sign. Wilson oozed confidence after opening up to InStyle about her recent weight loss. She had declared on Instagram last year that 2020 would be her Year Of Health. Asked about how she stays motivated to exercise with such a busy schedule, Rebel said, 'During The Almond and the Seahorse, I was working with two incredible European actresses, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Trine Dyrholm, and they were amazed at my discipline because every morning I was up in the gym at the hotel working out for 90 minutes before a full day of filming. 'But thats just my life now,' she continued. 'I watched the Mark Wahlberg docuseries [Wahl Street] and saw how he gets up and trains every morning and manages his time, I was like, That's similar to what Ive been doing.' Traveling in style: The actress looked excited in selfies that she took on the plane Good times: Rebel's traveling companions looked like they were having fun with her pal actor Sam Kennedy flashing a peace sign in the background Taking off: Rebel took a photo of the view outside her window on the private jet 'Although I don't want to get up at 4 a.m. like Mark. [laughs] Quite a lot, I do have to get up at 6 a.m. though,' she added. Upon reflecting back on her Year Of Health, Rebel said, 'Now that I know I can do it, sometimes I feel sad that I didn't do it earlier. Maybe I should have tried when I was 30, not 40.' She went on to say, 'But everybody's journey is different, and it's not a race or competition. I've always been a bit of a late developer. I started acting when I was turning 19, which is quite late. And when I came to America as an actress, I was almost 30, which again, is quite late. 'So I try not to compare myself to other people. But I have a natural empathy for anyone who struggles with weight issues because that's something I've always struggled with. And that's why I put things on Instagram about my journey. 'Obviously, I have access to some amazing high-tech treatments, but what I learned is its really the little things that I do every day that make a difference,' Wilson told the magazine. Fun: While on her vacation, the Bridesmaids actress attended the World Pride Polo Tournament at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Miami Beach ahead of her departure. She had on the same black ensemble as she posed with actor Sterling Jones on the red carpet 'Like today, I went for a walk at Griffith Park [in L.A.] and that's free. Anyone can go on walks and drink more water and do little, consistent things thatll improve their lives. It's not too late to start, no matter what age you are. ' While on her vacation, the Bridesmaids actress attended the World Pride Polo Tournament at the Grand Champions Polo Club in Miami Beach ahead of her departure. She had on the same black ensemble as she posed with actor Sterling Jones on the red carpet. 'Yes we tongue kissed #worldpridepolo @grandchampionspoloclub,' Wilson captioned the shot, adding a trophy emoji. Amber Heard is not being investigated for perjury in Johnny Depp's ongoing defamation case against her, according to her attorney. The 35-year-old actress's lawyer, Elaine Bredehoft, is denying reports that the Los Angeles Police Department is looking into whether she staged injuries and fabricated a crime scene following an alleged altercation between the former couple on May 20, 2016. 'The statute of limitations for perjury in California is three years and has long since expired, so an investigation, much less charges, much less a conviction, much less jail time, are impossibilities,' Bredehoft said during a private hearing on Friday morning which was reported by RadarOnline. In light of the false investigation reports, Heard's lawyers requested a motion for dismissal of the 57-year-old actor's case against her, which was heard at a Fairfax, Virginia court. Not happening: Amber Heard is not being investigated for perjury in Johnny Depp's ongoing perjury case against her, according to her attorney. Amber is pictured with Bredehoft in July 2020 The London Fields star would face a reported maximum sentence of four years in jail if she were to be found guilty of perjury. Bredehoft also asserted in the Virginia court that the LAPD 'repeatedly denied there's any investigation of Amber Heard.' She claimed that the department 'does not even investigate perjury ever.' The LAPD appeared to corroborate her assertion, with a rep telling RadarOnline that they had never heard of the department investigating a perjury case before. Making an argument: Amber's attorney's also listed other reasons why the case should be dismissed including the financial burden that both parties had and would continue incurred with each allegedly spending $20 million in legal fees. Depp seen in 2020 above Bredehoft also argued that Heard would face additional emotional distress if the lawsuit were to continue. She told Judge Penney S. Azcarate that the case would result in 'more intentional fabrications and deliberate misinformation trying to confuse the public, prejudice the jury, inflict harm on Amber Heard and incite the Depp fans to violence.' Amber's attorney's also listed other reasons why the case should be dismissed including the financial burden that both parties had and would continue to incur with each allegedly spending $20 million in legal fees, Depp's recent court loss in his defamation lawsuit against British newspaper The Sun, the waste of judicial resources and the delay in court proceedings amid the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown. Heated: Bredehoft also slammed Depp's lawyer, Adam Waldman, declaring that he was 'trying to stir up the press and prejudice a future jury.' Pictured in 2015 Bredehoft also slammed Depp's lawyer, Adam Waldman, declaring that he was 'trying to stir up the press and prejudice a future jury.' At the end, Amber's team emerged victorious as Azcarate granted their request to dismiss for a third time in the event that she 'may be missing something.' However, she did warn Heard that she would be sanctioned if it was found that she wasted the court's time. Contentious: Amber and Johnny's rancorous legal battle has played out in the courts and the media after Heard filed for divorce in May 2016 following the infamous alleged fight. Seen in 2016 Amber and Johnny's rancorous legal battle has played out in the courts and the media after Heard filed for divorce in May 2016 following the infamous alleged fight. Amber said that Depp hurled a phone at her and trashed their Los Angeles apartment in drunken rage, later releasing photos showing bruises on her face. She testified against him in his suit against The Sun's parent company News Group Newspapers after an article in the paper deemed him a 'wife beater.' The judge sided with the defense saying that there was evidence that Depp was abusive. In early 2019, The Washington Post published an op-ed by Heard detailing the domestic violence that she alleges she experienced at the hands of Depp. Johnny went on to sue her for defamation. The pair met on the set of the 2011 film The Rum Diary in which they both starred and began dating in 2012 before marrying in February 2015. Their divorce was finalized in January 2017 with Amber pledging to donated the $7 million settlement she received to charity. Violent accusations: Amber said that Depp hurled a phone at her and trashed their Los Angeles apartment in drunken rage, later releasing photos showing bruises on her face. Pictured in 2020 She has amassed a large social media following thanks to her sultry snaps and stint on the 2018 series of Love Island. And Georgia Steel was sure to set pulses soaring in her latest slew of snaps that saw her promote Hunkemoller swimwear on Sunday. The reality star, 23, slipped into a light yellow bandeau bikini from the brand that highlighted her toned abs and lithe legs as she posed in front of a 4x4 car. Wow! Love Island's Georgia Steel set pulses soaring as she showed off her toned abs and slender legs in a high-waist bandeau bikini in snaps she shared via Instagram on Sunday Georgia's ensemble paired a ruched bikini top with high-waist bikini bottoms that also accentuated her slender figure. The brunette beauty pulled her hair into a stylish bun with locks pulled loose to frame her face, and she wore a light palette of make-up to highlight her stunning features. Georgia boosted her height in a pair of strappy white open-toe heels, and she added a glittering touch to the look by wearing silver hoop earrings. Legs for days: Georgia boosted her height in a pair of strappy white open-toe heels, and she added a glittering touch to the look by wearing silver hoop earrings The sizzling post comes after she enjoyed a luxurious spa day in Cheshire earlier in May with her mother. The reality star showed off her slender frame in a green bandeau bikini as she posed up a storm in between treatments at the Carden Park Hotel. Georgia's chic two-piece featured a knot positioned in the centre of her bust and a high-rise fit. The former Love Islander appeared to go make-up free as she perched on outdoor seating at the countryside resort. 'So happy to have my spa days back': The sizzling post comes after she enjoyed a luxurious spa day in Cheshire earlier in May with her mother She curled the ends of her honey blonde tresses and wrote alongside her stunning snap: 'So happy to have my spa days back.' Georgia put her slim physique and incredible abs on display earlier in the day as she posed in the mirror of the spa's changing room. The beauty wore her hair in a low bun and accessorised with hooped earrings. She also posed for a sweet snap with her mum as they donned dressing gowns for their pamper day, before enjoying a champagne lunch and relaxation by the pool. The day before, Georgia sent temperatures soaring again as she posed in just a towel after getting out the shower. Erin and Ben Napier, the stars of HGTV's hit series Home Town, have welcomed a baby girl named Mae. Reality star Erin, 35, announced the birth of her second daughter with her husband Ben, 37, by sharing a post with her Instagram followers on Sunday. 'Mae @scotsman.co,' she captioned the photo with a pink heart emoji, revealing the baby's name and tagging her husband. Congratulations! Erin and Ben Napier, the stars of HGTV's hit series Home Town, have welcomed a baby girl named Mae She took a photo of three Polaroid shots, one of which shows Mae wearing a white cap and bundled in a blanket with her name embroidered in pink thread. In another sepia-toned Polaroid, Erin is seen from behind as she leans over Mae who is laying on a bed while swaddled in a blanket. Ben can be seen cradling Mae in his arm on a brightly colored pillow in The third picture. Erin and Ben are already parents to a daughter, Helen, three. The pair met while they were students at The University of Mississippi and they married in 2008. The happy parents told People magazine, 'While we are excited to have another daughter to love, we are more excited to see the bond she and Helen will have. They're already so in love with each other!' People reported that Mae 'arrived at 8:23 AM on Friday, coming in at 7 lbs. 1 oz., and 19.5 inches.' She is named after Erin's aunt Mae Mae, who works at a home goods store owned by the Napiers in Laurel, Mississippi. Ben revealed his wife's pregnancy with a video that he shared on April 11 featuring his happy family that included scenes of Helen's birth, the duo playing with their child and Erin holding up a sonogram photo revealing that they were having a girl. Surprise! Ben revealed his wife's pregnancy with a video that he shared on April 11 featuring his happy family that included scenes of Helen's birth, the duo playing with their child and Erin holding up a sonogram photo revealing that they were having a girl. Seen in 2020 Expanding their family: Erin and Ben are already parents to a daughter, Helen, three. Helen seen here on May 10 Namesake: Mae is named after Erin's aunt Mae Mae, who works at a home goods store owned by the Napiers in Laurel, Mississippi. Seen in 2019 In the caption, he wrote, 'I grew up with built-in best friends. My 3 brothers and I speak our own language and know the dance when it's time to move a piano into a house together. Helen will have that with her little sister.' 'It makes me even happier to know that there'll be another Napier baby right around the corner from us.' Ben was referring to his brother and sister in law, Lauren, who are also expecting a baby that is due a few weeks after Mae. He continued,'There was a time when @erinapier and I didn't know if we would have kids. I would've been happy with just the 2 of us, or just the 3 of us, but I can't wait to see the 4 of us.' Erin also shared the video and described how she was able to hide the pregnancy while appearing on the show that follows the couple as they renovate historic homes in Laurel. Not showing much: Erin also shared the video and described how she was able to hide the pregnancy while appearing on the show that follows the couple as they renovate historic homes in Laurel, Mississippi. Pictured in 2017 She wrote in the caption, 'By now most of you know that in just a few weeks we will be adding another little face to our home videos and photo albums. Just like Helen did, her little sister has made it easy to keep her secret by being tiny even now, and I'm deeply thankful that we've had almost 8 months of keeping this our news just for our family and close friends. 'Last spring, I put away the changing table supplies because I no longer had an infant. I put it away in the guest room closet and then I cried because I thought how lonesome Helen must feel up there in her crib beside an empty room every night. A few weeks later, I watched my daddy and his brother standing at my grandmother's graveside. 'Two men with many differences strengthened each other. Two men who knew her better than any of us ever could. Siblings do that, they know and remember and keep the stories of a family alive. And we wanted that for Helen. Someone to stand with her when we can't someday. 'And now she'll have a cousin following just a few weeks behind her, too. We are so thankful. Even in our celebrating, I'm thinking of the would-be parents waiting for their own babies. For many it can be such a long and difficult journey and I pray for strength for you if that's where you are. God answers in His own time, not ours, awfully hard as that can be. Sending so much love to y'all today,' Napier concluded the post, adding a pink heart emoji. Busy: According to People magazine, the television personalities learned they were expecting while 'simultaneously filming Home Town in Laurel, Mississippi, and their new show, Home Town Takeover, about 200 miles away in Wetumpka, Alabama.' Seen in 2020 According to People magazine, the television personalities learned they were expecting while 'simultaneously filming Home Town in Laurel, Mississippi, and their new show, Home Town Takeover, about 200 miles away in Wetumpka, Alabama.' 'The last six months of 2020 really, you know, it was rough. It's all a blur,' Ben told the outlet when speaking of preparing for Mae's birth as well as shooting two shows.' Erin explained that she felt the same, saying she does not really 'remember anything' from the past year, but she was grateful that 'somebody was filming all of it. She hasn't been on the party scene this past year due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions. But Lisa Vanderpump more than made up for lost time as she attended Planet Hollywood CEO Robert Earl's 70th birthday bash at Mr. Chow Beverly Hills on Saturday night. The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star, 60, was a vision of glamour as she flashed some skin in a plunging black dress with a dazzling diamond necklace dripping into her cleavage. Va va voom! Lisa Vanderpump was a vision of glamour as she attended Planet Hollywood CEO Robert Earl's 70th birthday party at Mr. Chow Beverly Hills on Saturday night After a long year in lockdown, it's no wonder Lisa was beaming with joy at the event. Attendees were required to provide proof of vaccination at the bash, which ended up being a happy and healthy event. The Bravo star turned every head as she stepped outside of the eatery, hand in hand with her dapper husband, Ken Todd, 75. All eyes, however, were on the famous reality star and her immaculate dress. Lisa's black number cinched into her svelte waistline, and matched perfectly with her dazzling clutch. Mr. and Mrs.! The Bravo star turned every head as she stepped outside of the eatery, hand in hand with her dapper husband Ken Todd A vision of glamour! Lisa's black number cinched into her svelte waistline, and matched perfectly with her dazzling black clutch She worked a head full of loose curls which cascaded down towards her cleavage. Ken was looking smart in a midnight blue suit with a snazzy floral design on the lapel. Lisa provided an inside look of the party on her Instagram account, where she posted a photo of herself sitting beside the owner of Mr. Chow restaurants, Michael Chow. 'Perfect dinner companion @mrchow and that would be Mr Chow lol,happy birthday @realrobertearl a beautiful night,' she captioned the photograph. Friends in high places! Vanderpump posted a selfie taken with the owner of Mr. Chow restaurants, Michael Chow Strike a pose! Dorit Kemsley showed off her fabulous party look on her Instagram account on Saturday night Lisa was just one of numerous stars celebrating Robert's big day. The bash was certainly one to remember. A cake was gifted by Cake Boss star Buddy Valastro, and comedy was provided by comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, who had attendees roaring with laughter. Touching moments included Robert's 95-year-old father serenading the crowd with the Frank Sinatra classic My Way. Dropping jaws! Dorit flashed plenty of cleavage and leg in the fun, black-and-white look Soulmates: Dorit posed with her suited-up husband, Paul Kemsley Guest Dorit Kemsley shared video of the heartwarming performance onto her Instagram account, which earned a standing ovation from the crowd. She also shared the hilarious stylings of Sebastian. The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star also showed off her stunning party look on her Instagram account. Dorit looked simply stunning in a chic black-and-white dress that hugged her fabulous curves. She accentuated her long legs with black-and-white heels, and styled her blonde locks into a glossy, fun flip. His and hers! Rosie Huntington-Whitley put on a very leggy display in her black ensemble as she attended the bash with husband Jason Statham Man of style! Adrien Brody was looking smart in an all-black look that included a sharp leather jacket Aww! One of the touching moments included a performance by Robert's 95-year-old father, who serenaded the Frank Sinatra classic My Way Crowd pleaser! Robert's father earned a standing ovation from guests LOL! Sebastian Maniscalco had the crowd roaring with laughter Safe and sound: Guests were required to provide proof of vaccination 'Last night's glam for @robertearl 70th birthday bash @mrchow (black and white heart emojis). such a fun night! (champagne glasses emoji),' she captioned a slideshow of her look. Also in attendance was model Rosie Huntington-Whitley and her husband Jason Statham. The Victoria's Secret model put on a very leggy display in a black mini dress, strappy heels, and leather jacket. Happy birthday to you! The cake was gifted by Cake Boss star Buddy Valastro Make a wish! The tiered red cake was adorned with gold accents and flowers Adrien Brody exuded cool as he left the bash wearing all-black, including a sharp leather jacket. It's no wonder Earl has so many stars celebrating his special day. Earl is the founder and CEO of the restaurant chain Planet Hollywood and chairman of the Las Vegas staple, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. In addition to his hospitality work, Earl is also the host of the eponymous Cooking Channel show, Robert Earl's Be My Guest. Cheers! Earl is the founder and CEO of the restaurant chain Planet Hollywood and chairman of the Las Vegas staple, Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino (pictured at the Cosmopolitan restaurant Estiatorio Milos) A real treat! Earl also hosts his eponymous Cooking Channel show, Be My Guest Celebrity doctor Christian Jessen has said he is facing bankruptcy over a libel bill which could exceed 425,000 after tweeting false allegations that Arlene Foster was having an extra-marital affair. The TV host is asking his followers to help him raise money to cover his legal costs after Northern Ireland's First Minister took him to court for tweeting the false allegations. The 44-year-old was ordered to pay the outgoing First Minister 125,000 in damages by Mr Justice McAlinden in a ruling last week. Dr Jessen who appears on Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies, said he only has 20,000 to his name and cannot pay for an appeal without crowd-funding. Depression: Celebrity doctor Christian Jessen, 44, who appears on Embarrassing Bodies has said he is facing bankruptcy after being ordered to pay 125,000 in libel damages Arlene Foster's lawyer, Paul Tweed, told the Times that the judge at the High Court in Belfast had granted 'indemnity costs' against Jessen which means it is estimated that the doctor's total costs bill will exceed 300,000. Indemnity costs are rare and imposed to penalise a party for conduct during the litigation. Dr Jessen said his mental health is 'cracking' after a judge at the High Court in Belfast ruled last week that the tweet, published in 2019, was 'grossly defamatory'. Mrs Foster, former leader of the DUP, said it had caused her 'grave upset, distress, embarrassment and humiliation'. Dr Jessen has raised more than 4,900 on a Go Fund Me page but faced backlash on Twitter after asking for help. He is asking for 150,000 in total and has said he will donate any surplus to charity. His total legal costs, should he appeal, are likely to total 425,000. 'Obviously, I deeply regret it, and if Arlene Foster says the claim in the tweet isn't true, then I'm sorry for causing her any hurt,' he said. 'But I don't agree with the judgment. I'd been brutally honest about my mental health in court and the circumstances that led to the tweet, and for that to be dismissed is really concerning. 'I couldn't get together all my medical evidence of my depression. I have spent the last year living with my parents and not working due to the Covid pandemic and not having been in a fit mental state. It was just a stupid tweet.' Humiliation: Arlene Foster took Dr Jessen to court for tweeting false allegations in 2019 that she was having an extra-marital affair and a judge ruled last week it was 'grossly defamatory' Dr Jessen continued: 'I'm down to my last 20,000 and that won't last long. I don't have the money so if the crowd-funding doesn't work, I may have to declare myself bankrupt. 'It's obviously not helped my mental health in any way at all and while I'm keeping afloat at the moment I can feel it cracking.' He added: 'Being gay I've taken a lot of interest in the DUP stances on issues such as same-sex marriage that is why I've been aware of Arlene Foster for a long time.' In court, Judge Gerry McAlinden described the tweet as 'an outrageous libel concerning an individual of considerable standing'. It attacked Mrs Foster's 'integrity at the most fundamental level' and involved the 'trashing in a very public fashion of the relationship that Ms Foster holds dearest in her life'. Despite the increasing donations, Dr Jessen's tweet provoked a backlash on Twitter. 'You have done the crime but want everyone else to pay for your 'time' wow,' one of his followers wrote. Another posted: 'No. You've got a nerve. Your mess, you sort it out.' Charlotte Dawson was glowing on Sunday when she celebrated the Bank Holiday weekend with a lingerie-clad selfie. Proudly showcasing her postpartum figure in stylish lingerie four months after giving birth to her son Noah, Charlotte, 28, gushed on Instagram: 'Feeling Bank Holiday fabulous,' while posing in her Manchester home. The doting mother was sporting a full face of glam for the impromptu shoot and wore her glossy brown hair loose. Gorgeous: Charlotte Dawson, 28, was glowing on Sunday when she celebrated the Bank Holiday weekend with a lingerie-clad selfie shared on Instagram Behind the star - who donned a pair of fluffy slides - a glimpse of the stylish home she shares with fiance Matthew Sarsfield was visible. Incredibly bright and airy and decorated with chic marble tiling, Charlotte's snap proved she has an eye for detail. A white staircase could be seen behind the reality star and the stairs were covered in pristine grey carpeting. It comes after Charlotte called out vile trolls who mocked her four-month-old son. In April she hit back at a troll who said her baby son looked 'weird'. Radiant: The doting mother was sporting a full face of glam for the impromptu shoot and wore her glossy brown hair loose Posting a video to Stories, Charlotte explained how the cruel comments get to her more now she's a mum and even admitted she's felt like deleting her account. Charlotte shared a selection of the horrible messages she had been sent by the troll, with them replying to several of her posts. In one message the troll sent a slew of sick emojis in response to a snap of Noah and in another they said he mouth 'is weird. Get it checked, honestly'. The troll also targeted Charlotte, branding her 'orange' and asking why she feels the need to 'behave like this' after watching a video of her dancing in underwear. Mama and son: Last month, Charlotte shared the horrible messages she had received about her little boy, who she welcomed in January Hitting back at the awful comments, Charlotte said: 'I can't cope with people, if you've got nothing nice to say don't say anything at all. 'I know I put myself out there and I put my son out there because people say how nice it is to see Noah, but people like that You just feel like I'm not going to put anything on any more. 'I feel like deleting Instagram with these horrible trolls, it stresses me out so much - it's horrible. It never used to get to me, but now it gets to me. 'I think having a baby When you're calling my child; no baby and no child deserves to be slated, they're innocent little creatures and you must be an evil person to do stuff like that.' The new mum continued: 'There's a lot more messages I get but she made me laugh how she started being nice to me then she turned sour. I don't get it. 'I get a lot of requests and I miss all my nice messages because all the horrible messages end up at the top.' Actor Chris Hemsworth is reportedly considering running for office in Byron Bay after cutting his teeth in local politics by opposing a resort and tourism development at Seven Mile Beach. Some locals suspect Hemsworth's involvement in the eco-campaign is a sign he could one day run for Mayor of Byron Shire Council. 'The move has set tongues wagging that the Thor star could be gearing up for a role in politics in the future,' New Idea reports. Mayoral ambitions? Chris Hemsworth is reportedly considering running for office in Byron Bay after cutting his teeth in local politics by opposing a resort development at Seven Mile Beach Byron Shire's current Mayor is Michael Lyon. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Chris Hemsworth's Australian manager, Mark Morrisey, for comment. Hemsworth, 37, earlier this month voiced his opposition to a large-scale development at Seven Mile Beach, a long stretch of coastline in the Byron Bay area near his $30million mansion, saying the land is sacred to Indigenous Australians. He threw his support behind traditional custodians who want to stop the plans, as well as local environmental group Friends of Seven Mile. Campaign: Locals suspect Hemsworth's involvement in the eco-campaign is a sign he could one day run for Mayor of Byron Shire Council, according to New Idea. Seven Mile Beach is located south of Broken Head towards Lennox Head, and there is a development application to build 27 new eco-tourist cabins on the land and a wellness facility at Linnaeus Estate (pictured) Seven Mile Beach is located south of Broken Head towards Lennox Head, and there is a development application to build 27 new eco-tourist cabins on the land and a wellness facility at Linnaeus Estate. Hemsworth and his family began building their mansion, which is on Broken Head Road and overlooks Seven Mile Beach, in late 2017. A development application approved by Byron Shire Council estimated the cost of construction to be $18million. The home is now worth an estimated $30million, according to various reports. Daily Mail Australia is also not suggesting Hemsworth built his mansion on land that is sacred to Indigenous people. Hemsworth uploaded a video to Instagram on May 19 declaring his allegiance to Friends of Seven Mile, who are urging people to 'take action' against the proposed development. Activism: Hemsworth, 37, earlier this month voiced his opposition to a resort and tourism development at Seven Mile Beach, a long stretch of coastline in the Byron Bay area near his $30million mansion, saying the land is sacred to Indigenous Australians 'I stand shoulder to shoulder, in solidarity with Aunty Lois Cook in opposition to the tourism development at Seven Mile Beach,' he said. 'I fully support traditional custodians to be able to comfortably tell their people's stories, to preserve and protect their homelands. 'This proposed development would have a direct impact on these sacred and significant Indigenous sites.' Property: Hemsworth (pictured with his wife, Elsa Pataky) began building his mansion, which is on Broken Head Road and overlooks Seven Mile Beach, in late 2017. The home is now worth an estimated $30million, according to various reports He also shared a video of activist Lois Cook, a traditional custodian of Ngangbul Country in the Bundjalung Nation of eastern Australia who is backing the Friends of Seven Mile cause. 'I am shocked to hear the zoning had changed without consulting the community nor the Indigenous community,' Ms Cook said. 'We were promised this site would be used for educational purpose only... I do not endorse the development of this site.' Calling for change: Hemsworth marched alongside his daughter, India Rose, in a climate strike in Byron Bay in 2019, calling for action on the issue Hemsworth marched alongside his daughter, India Rose, at a climate strike in Byron Bay in 2019, calling for action on the issue. He shouted in the crowd: 'What do we want? Climate action. When do we want it? Now!' The star also wrote in a lengthy caption that we must 'move away from the burning of fossil fuels, no more new oil, gas, coal projects'. YAMHILL COUNTY CAREER OPPORTUNITY Leave and Benefits Manager (Management Analyst) Full Salary Range: $54,058 - $69,726/year (DOE) with Excellent Benefits Job #HR21-004 Recruitment closes June 3, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. The Leave & Benefits Manager This regular full-time position performs technical and professional-level management support functions in the daily administration of human resource services. Executes the Countys leave, benefit, and wellness programs at the direction of the Human Resource Manager. Works closely with the Risk Manager in workers compensation administration. Manages all leave of absence cases to include general administration, comprehensive case management, and program compliance with family medical leave, workers compensation, ADA, USERRA, and all related employment laws. Provides training and advice to supervisors and employees. Performs complex and confidential administrative and clerical support to Human Resource operations. Assists the Human Resource Manager in functional areas including leave administration and compliance, training and Qualifications The position requires graduation from a four-year college or university with major course work in human resources, organizational development, public administration, business administration or a related field; and two (2) years of increasingly responsible human resource professional-level experience related to this position; OR valid certification as a Professional in Human Resource awarded by the Human Resource Certification Institute, and three (3) years professional-level experience related to this position; OR five (5) years HR experience related to this position with three (3) of those years at the professional level. Preference will be given to candidates who are HRCI certified as a PHR or above; and candidates with public sector experience. development, employment, benefit administration, employee relations, compensation, and organizational development. Participates in coordination of activities, projects and ongoing maintenance of organized, efficient systems which support HR functions. Yamhill County is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and values diversity. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. A completed County application is required. Applicants are considered for employment based on their qualifications without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, medical condition or disability, or any other factor prohibited by law or regulation. Veterans are encouraged to apply. In order to receive Veterans Preference Points, please be sure to submit the required Veterans Hiring Preference Form. Please notify the Human Resources Office if you need accommodation or assistance with any part of our application process. recblid hq48comutvx8osf6i82k1sgt8gh3he Myanmar's "National Unity Government" has sought to bring anti-coup dissidents together with myriad ethnic rebel fighters to form a federal army to challenge the junta A shadow government in Myanmar seeking to reverse the February 1 coup has joined forces with a rebel group to "demolish" junta rule, it said Saturday. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy government and launched a brutal crackdown on dissent. A group of ousted lawmakers later set up a shadow "National Unity Government" which has sought to bring anti-coup dissidents together with Myanmar's myriad ethnic rebel fighters to form a federal army to challenge the junta. On Saturday, the rebel Chin National Front signed an agreement to "demolish the dictatorship and to implement a federal democratic system" in Myanmar, the NUG said in a statement. They pledged "mutual recognition" and to "partner equally" the statement added, without giving further details. A CNF spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment. The group -- which represents the mainly Christian Chin minority in western Myanmar -- signed a ceasefire with the country's military, also known as Tatmadaw, in 2015. In recent years its fighters have dwindled. "The CNF has no real military strength, so this move is symbolic," Richard Horsey, senior advisor on Myanmar to the International Crisis Group, told AFP. "But [it is] nevertheless significant as CNF has been quite prominent in the peace process, due to its well respected political leaders in exile." Several of Myanmar's rebel armed groups have condemned the military coup and the use of violence against unarmed civilians. Some are also providing shelter and even training to dissidents who flee into their territories. But the more than 20 outfits have long distrusted the ethnic Bamar majority -- including lawmakers affiliated with Suu Kyi's government. On Friday, the NUG released a video it said showed the first batch of fighters from its "People's Defence Force", formed to protect civilians, completing their training. Around a hundred recruits were shown marching across flat ground surrounded by jungle. None appeared to be carrying weapons. "Let all Burmese people be freed from military slavery," the recruits were heard shouting together. More than 800 people have been killed by the military, according to a local monitoring group, though the coup leader has given a much lower civilian toll. The junta has classified the NUG and the People's Defence Force as "terrorists", meaning anyone speaking to them -- including journalists -- can be subjected to charges under counter-terrorism laws. Coup leader Min Aung Hlaing has justified his February 1 power grab by claiming electoral fraud in November elections won by Suu Kyi's NLD party. New coronavirus cases under 450 on Saturday, just ahead of Memorial Day Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., walks to the chamber for final votes before the Memorial Day recess, at the Capitol in Washington, Friday, May 28, 2021. Senate Republicans successfully blocked the creation of a commission to study the Jan. 6 insurrection by rioters loyal to former President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Irvine-based Taco Bell will test the higher salary in select restaurants in the U.S. Midwest and Northeast, and will also try a new role for employees who want leadership experience but dont want to be in the management role. (NICK AGRO, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER) Dancehall artiste Style X a.k.a the Fatty Boss has made a triumphant return to Dancehall. For several years, he took a self-imposed sabbatical from the music industry because he was dealing with some family business. However, with the expiration of his previous contract with Claims Records, he is getting back in the Dancehall Game with a socially conscious single called Gal Clowna Virus, a humorous take on both the COVID-19 pandemic and the rash of killings involving women at the hands of their violent lovers. The single will be officially released on the Building Block Production/Bangology Records imprint this week, however, he premiered the video on CVM TVs Onstage with Winford Williams on Saturday night. I recorded the song about a month ago, and it was based on the violent acts being committed against women. The thing is escalating and getting out of hand so I had to talk about it and put my thoughts in words. The song is in a jovial context but there is a message which I hope will reach a wider audience, and humour is a useful device to use even though it is a serious topic, cause the song is jovial but still has an educational aspect about domestic violence. I try my best to balance so everybody can hold a joy with it, he told DancehallMag. In recent weeks, there have been several highly publicized incidents of savage and sometimes fatal domestic killings. There was even an incident where a man set his female lover on fire after he suspected infidelity. I hope that my song can connect with the men, I want it to reach a point where a man will say mi have vaccine so mi nah bother beat up Christine. I want men to understand that even though dem might feel say dem no have the Gal Clowna Virus, dem can look into themselves and whatever evil them plotting, dem can change dem mind , StyleX said. A 2018 United Nations survey revealed that one in four women in Jamaica experience intimate partner violence. In recent times, there has been an uptick in female killings. Khanice Jackson, 20, was allegedly killed by a 50-year-old mechanic who offered her a lift in Portmore, St Catherine. Clarendon teacher Natalie Dawkinss body was found dumped in a shallow grave in Clarendon. The educators motor vehicle was found in Bellas Gate, St Catherine, on Saturday, April 3, after two men attempted to sell it. The men engaged police in a shoot-out and one was subsequently killed, while the other escaped. The recent spate of violence has prompted Olivia Babsy Grange, minister of gender affairs, to call for stronger legislation to deter offenders. Style X has high hopes for Gal Clowna Virus as an agent of social change. I know it will reach peoples ears and force people to look into things. Mi know it ah go reach dem ears the impact it can create so it can change minds, that is my greatest wish, he said. StyleX first jumped into the public spotlight with Mi Love My Fatty, declaring an undiluted love for his fatty buxom, big-boned, ample-sized women who are a bit on the corpulent side. The song, first recorded as a freestyle, captured public attention and went viral, then the official single was recorded by Claims Records. The single became a fixture on street mixtapes and radio, earning him bookings on several top stage shows and the endorsement and backing of several veteran artists like Beenie Man and Shaggy. In fact, in 2017, Mr Boombastic endorsed the deejay and compared StyleXs sound and liberal use of humour to that of elder deejay Tiger, and looked forward to hearing more of his freestyles. He followed up with See Weh Dem Live in 2017, hoping to build on the momentum from the previous year. Although he achieved some amount of success with that single, not much was heard from Stylex after that. Mi do a part two to Fatty but it wasnt released because of certain circumstances, I just wasnt doing music at the time, I have many skills so I was doing other things, but people continuously ah ask me whats next. I have the Fatty Part Two, plus a Slimmy song but mi never get to voice dem. I had the whole package. I am going to unleash them soon under Building Block Production, look out, I have a lot coming, he vowed. Me shoulda never stop still, but 2021, Im gonna do some work and the people dem a go welcome me back. He hopes that he can recreate the magic that saw him lock major stage shows, earning four-corner forwards in front of huge crowds. Mi frighten fi see the feedback weh mi still get from people same way wid just the one song. Mi know people do millions of songs and dem nuh get the love weh me get, he said. Music is a thing weh, from yuh have the talent, yuh can just jump on back at any moment and pick up where yuh left off, especially when you still have the support of your fans. He is managed by Building Block Productions. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Mississippi legislators can do business the easy way or the hard way if they revive the state's initiative process that was recently invalidated by a state Supreme Court decision. The easy way would be to adopt the same process that Mississippi has used for decades, tweaking it only to resolve a problem pointed out in the court ruling. The hard way would be to open the process for lots of debate that could muck up an already complex system and make it even more burdensome for citizens petitioning to put issues on the statewide ballot. The biggest area for legislative mischief could be in increasing the number of signatures needed on petitions. The initiative process is in Section 273 of the Mississippi Constitution. It requires initiative organizers to gather a number of signatures equal to 12% of the total votes for all candidates in the most recent election for governor. Legislators could make the initiative process harder by either increasing that 12% margin, or by keeping the same percentage but applying it to the state's turnout for the presidential election, which is traditionally higher. In 2019, for example, 884,911 votes were cast for all candidates for governor; 12% of that is 106,189. In 2020, Mississippi residents cast 1,313,759 votes for all candidates for president; 12% of that is 157,651. Legislators could also tighten the timeline. Organizers now have a year to gather signatures, and most initiatives never make it to the ballot because organizers fail to get enough people to sign. A shorter timeline would make the effort even harder. The Supreme Court heard arguments about the initiative process because that was the central focus of a lawsuit that sought to block a medical marijuana proposal. Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler sued the state days before the 2020 general election, arguing that Initiative 65 was not properly on the ballot. Butler opposed Initiative 65 because it would have limited cities ability to regulate the location of medical marijuana businesses, but her court arguments had nothing to do with zoning. Instead, her attorneys questioned the validity of the signature gathering process. Mississippi requires initiative sponsors to collect one-fifth of their petition signatures from each congressional district. The process was set in the 1990s, when Mississippi had five districts. The state dropped to four districts after the 2000 census because of stagnant population, but legislators ignored attempts to update the initiative requirements. Recognition of the five districts/four districts problem is not new. The state attorney general issued a legal opinion in 2009 saying initiative sponsors should collect signatures from the five old districts. Butler's attorneys argued that because Mississippi has four current districts, it makes no sense to use the five old ones. They also said the constitution creates a mathematical impossibility: With four districts, more than one-fifth of the signatures must come from each. State attorneys argued that congressional districts have multiple purposes. They are used to elect members of the U.S. House, but the current or old districts are also used for choosing members to some state regulatory boards. A majority of justices agreed with Butler in the May 14 ruling. Before the that Supreme Court decision, Mississippi was one of the 24 states with an initiative process, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. About 1.3 million people voted in Mississippi in November, and more than 766,000 of them voted in favor of the medical marijuana proposal. Thats about 10,000 more residents than voted the same day for then-President Donald Trump, who easily won in Mississippi despite losing his race for a second term. More than 200 supporters of medical marijuana protested last week near the Mississippi Capitol and the state Supreme Court building, and many of them also marched past the Governor's Mansion. They demanded that legislators create a medical marijuana program, and that the state revive its process for citizen-led initiatives. ____ Emily Wagster Pettus has covered Mississippi government and politics since 1994. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus. The state Senate late Thursday voted to send contentious legislation to the governors desk that nudges towns to loosen restrictive zoning policies that proponents say drive up housing prices, keep many affluent suburbs exclusive and Connecticut one of the most segregated states. The legislation would require towns to allow single-family homeowners to convert parts of their dwellings or detached garages into so-called accessory dwelling units, nicknamed granny pods, without needing special permission from local officials but it allows towns to vote to opt out. The bill places limits on how many parking spaces a new home or apartment must have but also allows towns to vote to opt out. The bill also strikes current state law that requires zoning regulation to consider the character of the district with physical site characteristics that local officials must prescribe. The wealthy in Connecticut - forever -have always sought to insulate themselves from the rest of the state, Senate President Pro Tem Martin Looney, D-New Haven, said on the senate floor before the vote. This bill replaces the vague and often abused word character, and defending regulations that are restrictive and exclusionary, as preserving the character of the town. Thats shorthand for white and wealthy. The fact that we have so many land use decisions left exclusively to municipalities, acting to preserve the status quo and to keep change and equity outside their boundaries, creates the problems that we have seen. The Senate passed the bill after a four-hour debate in a 24-12 vote, with one Democrat, Sen. Joan Hartley, joining every Republican to vote against it. The House of Representatives passed the bill in a partisan vote last week. Approval didnt come without huge concessions from the original legislation, debated in the Planning and Development Committee, presumably to garner enough votes from suburban Democrats. Language was scrapped that would have required towns to allow the construction of multi-unit housing around some train stations and suburban towns commercial centers, as well as language that would have specified to each town how many affordable units they must allow but would leave it up to them and a monitor to ensure it happens. When the bill passed the house, House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, said it was painfully incremental because it had been scaled back so much. Several senate democrats made similar remarks before approving it. There were compromises along the way, said Sen. Norm Needleman, D-Essex, who led much of the debate for the proponents. Weve ended up with something that is a good start. We acknowledge there are significant equity issues in our state, and we also acknowledge that this does not solve all of the issues. But the voices out there are demanding solutions, and we have responded. While Im a bit frustrated at this bill, that its not as strong as it could be or should be, this vote tonight, and with the governors signature, is a very important step on our road to ensuring that Connecticut sheds itself from being one of the most segregated states, said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk. The bold reforms initially included in the bill drew outrage from several residents and legislators who said their property rights and local control were under assault. Hundreds signed up to testify on the controversial reforms, and the public hearing lasted 24 hours. Sen. Tony Hwang, a Republican who represents several well-off towns in Fairfield Country, led the opposition throughout the legislative session and during the Senate floor debate. I agree that we need to do more, that the status quo cannot stand, said Hwang, also the minority ranking member of the Planning and Development Committee. Hwang said towns are forging a path toward open more affordable housing and dont need what he characterizes as state mandates that are in the bill. Were going to take away what has been a demonstrated success by communities that have been sometimes, and I believe strongly, improperly maligned and unfairly characterized, and not recognized for their great efforts and innovation. Other Republicans agreed that such decisions should be left to home rule and local control. Towns know whats right for the individual towns, and I want to make sure that we protect the different areas that the town sees is important, that we protect our open spaces, that we protect just who we are in our towns, Sen. Dan Champagne, R-Vernon. A compilation of the zoning codes in every Connecticut municipality found that most communities allow single-family homes to be built without hassle, while many well-off towns dont allow any multi-family housing to be built or allow it in only a sliver of their town. That research conducted by Desegregate CT and its founder Sara Bronin, a professor at UConn School of Law also found that nearly one-third of the districts zoned to allow single-family homes still require minimum square feet, several in excess of 2,000 square feet, despite a decades-old Supreme Court ruling prohibiting such practices. Bronin and her coalition welcomed the Senate passage. We are united in the hope that communities across the state will be one step closer to the Connecticut we all deserve, she said. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription and are still unable to access our content, please link your digital account to your print subscription If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. By Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, Deputy Director General of the Information Office of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), answers reporters' questions at a regular press conference on May 27, 2020. (Photo: mod.gov.cn) (The following English text of the press conference is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.) First of all, I would like to announce two pieces of news. First, on the night of May 21, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit Yangbi County in southwest Chinas Yunnan Province, and later, in the early hours of May 22, a 7.4-magnitude quake jolted Maduo County in Guoluo Prefecture, northwest Chinas Qinghai Province. In response to the disaster, the Joint Operations Command Center of the Central Military Commission (CMC), together with related theater commands and troop units, activated the emergency response mechanism, promptly sent troops to carry out emergency rescue and disaster relief, and ordered the troops stationed nearby to stand by in case of emergency. At present, the disaster relief work has been carried out in an effective and orderly manner. Whenever the people are affected by disasters, the military will always come to their rescue. This is the purpose and responsibility of the Chinese people's armed forces. At present, all the troops involved are working hard on the frontline of earthquake relief and they will resolutely fulfill the missions and tasks entrusted by the Party and the people. Second, the 18th ASEAN Regional Forum Security Policy Conference (ASPC) was held via a video link on the morning of May 27, during which the participants exchanged views on international and regional issues, threats and challenges of emerging technologies to defense security, the buildup of mutual trust and development cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, etc. The head of the Office for International Military Cooperation of the CMC attended the event and talked about Chinas views on current international and regional landscapes. He emphasized that in dealing with unprecedented challenges, countries need to unite more than ever and stand on the right side of history to uphold true multilateralism. In addition, he commended the important role of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in safeguarding regional peace and stability, expounded Chinas positions on the military application of emerging technologies, and put forward suggestions on developing defense and security cooperation in the context of the global pandemic. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations. The Chinese military will continue to actively participate in relevant ASEAN-led defense security cooperation mechanisms to strengthen the China-ASEAN strategic partnership and make a greater contribution to regional peace, stability, development and prosperity. Question: After the sinking of the Indonesian Navys KRI Nanggala-402 submarine, China dispatched vessels to assist in the rescue and salvage in waters where the incident occurred. Could you please update us on Chinas rescue operations? Besides, some foreign media reported that China might take this opportunity to boost its regional influence and collect geographic data of relevant sea areas. Whats your comment? Answer: After the sinking of the Indonesian Navys KRI Nanggala-402 submarine, President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence to Indonesian President Joko Widodo to express deep condolences to the victims and extend sincere sympathies to the bereaved families. Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe also sent condolences to Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto. In early May, with the approval of the Central Military Commission, three Chinese vessels, namely the ocean salvage/rescue ship Yongxingdao (Hull 863) and the ocean tug ship Nantuo-195 sent by the PLA Navy (PLAN), and the scientific research vessel Explorer 2 sent by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), arrived at the sea area where the disaster happened in Indonesia to support the rescue and salvage operations. As of now, the Chinese vessels have conducted 18 dives of survey task and achieved phased results. They have basically figured out the underwater state of the wrecked submarine, and salvaged some of its components, which have been handed over to the Indonesian side in a timely manner. During the salvage operation, the Chinese task force has been in close communication and coordination with the Indonesian military and held four mission-based coordination meetings. On May 18, China and Indonesia held a joint news conference at Denpasar Naval Base in Bali, Indonesia, where they introduced the progress of the salvage work. Following the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind initiated by President Xi Jinping, the Chinese military carried out this humanitarian relief operation jointly with its Indonesian counterpart. This is the first international rescue practice of the Chinese submarine rescue force and it is of great significance to strengthening and deepening China-Indonesia comprehensive strategic partnership. An an old Chinese saying goes actions speak louder than words. The Chinese military will remain committed to enhancing strategic mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation with regional armed forces and making new and greater contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind. Question: It is reported that after the Biden administration took office, the US side continued to promote the Indo-Pacific strategy and made frequent military provocations against China. The strategy has a growing connotation of containing China. According to Americas Foreign Policy magazine, an anonymous U.S. Defense Department official said that the U.S. government intends to put in place more defense hotlines with China to manage security risks and prevent potential conflicts. Whats your comment on that? Answer: On the Indo-Pacific strategy, China believes that no strategy should go against the trends of peace and development of our times, and deliberately play up conflict and confrontation. A strategy emphasizing military presence and military competition will only heighten regional tensions and undermine world peace and stability. No strategy should instigate countries to establish selective and exclusive military alliances, or to create a New Cold War of confrontational blocs. A zero-sum game will only lead to more division, antagonism and chaos. No strategy should harm the well-being of people in regional countries, or put them in a dangerous situation. Seeking ones own selfish interests and unilateral absolute security will only do harm to others and lose the support. For a long time, the Chinese and American militaries have maintained communication through multiple channels, including the Defense Telephone Link (DTL). We believe that defense hotlines are set up to enhance trust, manage crises, and prevent conflicts. The US side should not, on the one hand, propose to put up new defense hotlines, while, on the other hand, keep stepping up military deployments in the Asian Pacific region, frequently conduct close-in reconnaissance against China, and even deliberately initiate dangerous circumstances between Chinese and US military aircraft or vessels. We urge the US side to keep their words with good faith and work together with the Chinese side to strengthen dialogue, properly manage differences and promote a sound and stable mil-to-mil relationship. Question: It is reported that the Japanese Defense White Paper 2021 will include for the first time the content that a stable Taiwan situation is of great importance to Japans security and world stability. It claimed that Chinas military actions have raised some concerns. The Japanese white paper also accused the activities of China Coast Guards vessels around the Diaoyu Islands" violating international law". Please comment on that. Answer: Recently, the Japanese side, in disregard of the basic norms governing international relations, has grossly interfered in Chinas internal affairs, deliberately played up the so-called China military threat, and groundlessly criticized Chinas legitimate maritime activities. China firmly opposes that and has lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side. The Taiwan question is Chinas internal affair and brooks no foreign interference. On this issue, what the Japanese side should do is to bear in mind the dire miseries its aggression against China has brought to the Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots. Japan should correctly review and deeply reflect on the history of aggression by Japanese militarists. China urges the Japanese side to follow the principle of learning from history and looking into the future, be cautious with its words and deeds and do not overstretch its arms on issues concerning Chinas national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and work with China to push bilateral relations along the right track. The Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islands are inherent territory of China. This is a fact solidly backed by historical records and legal documents. The Diaoyu Islands were illegally occupied by the Japanese imperialist in 1895 during the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895. After the end of WWII in 1945, sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands was returned to China in accordance with the international legal documents, including the Cairo Declaration in 1943 and the Potsdam Proclamation in 1945. Therefore, the China Coast Guards vessels have full right to carry out patrol and law enforcement in waters off the Diaoyu Islands as a legitimate way of exercising national sovereignty. International law is a just instrument that serves the whole world. It will not be tilted or distorted by any single countrys reckless and irresponsible talks for self-interests. Japans false accusation of Chinas activities as violating the international law exactly reveals its blatant contempt for the law. Those holding this view should go to read the Cairo Declaration and Potsdam Proclamation. China will continue to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and firmly defend the outcome of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the international order based on international law. Question: The 28th session of the Standing Committee of the 13th National Peoples Congress (NPC) held on April 29 adopted the Law of the Peoples Republic of China on the Promotion of Rural Vitalization. In recent years, the military has taken an active part in and made remarkable contributions to the nations anti-poverty war. What measures will the military take to support rural vitalization? Answer: President Xi said that rural vitalization is a major task for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. He called for solid efforts to consolidate and expand the achievements in poverty alleviation and align that with the rural vitalization campaign to lay a firmer foundation for poverty reduction and make the results more sustainable. The PLA is a peoples force under the absolute leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Serving the people whole-heartedly is the fundamental purpose of the PLA, and affinity and solidarity between the military and the people are our fine tradition. The armed forces will continue to consolidate and develop the fruits yielded in the militarys participation in the anti-poverty war, boost the effective convergence between poverty alleviation and rural vitalization, and accomplish the glorious tasks entrusted by the CPC and the people. Next, units at all levels of the military will act upon the decisions and instructions made by the CPC Central Committee, the Central Military Commission, and President Xi, and continue to do work well. First, we will assist in strengthening primary-level Party organizations. We will help train Party members in paired-up villages, assist in the cultivation of talented villagers in agricultural production and operation, public service, and village governance, empower them to play their role of yeast in leading the poor villagers to achieve a better quality of life. The military will intensify recommendation and cultivation of veteran-turned secretaries of Party branches and encourage excellent demobilized soldiers to work or start businesses in rural areas. Second, we will provide more educational assistance. Special efforts will be made to improve the conditions in rural schools of compulsory education. We will continue to build the brand of Bayi Aiming School and build more schools under it from the current 156 to 300. Third, we will do more in medical assistance. We will adjust and improve pairing-assistance between military hospitals and hospitals in counties which have shaken off poverty and aid 60 entitled hospitals by batches. Medical assistance programs such as hydatid disease treatment in Tibetan ethnic areas, health assistance Bayi action, and military doctors visits to old revolutionary base areas will be continued, dispatching military medical teams to conduct rounds of visits to provide medicine and treatment for villagers from the villages receiving targeted poverty alleviation assistance from the military. Fourth, Assistance should be provided to vitalize the rural areas through promoting consumption. We will make lists of agricultural and sideline products produced by the paired-up villages, and promote the assistance pattern through consumption by encouraging different types of military units, including leading organs, troop units and academies, to purchase the recommended quality agricultural and sideline products from areas receiving poverty alleviation. Fifth, we will help improve rural infrastructure. The military will take an active part in rural construction, and continue to help paired-up villages improve their infrastructure, including water supply, electricity, road, gas, communication, and radio and TV access. PLA troops stationed in border areas will build a batch of convenient courier stations at sentry posts of border defense companies to provide convenience to local people in their living, production and grazing. Finally, we will help build a more civilized society in rural areas. The military will join hands with the local people to carry out activities to raise socialist cultural-ethical standards, build and make good use of reading rooms and cultural activity centers in villages, conduct patriotic and national defense education activities, and assist in establishing civilized local customs, good family tradition and simple folk customs and morals. Question: It is reported that the Defense Security Cooperation Agencyof the US Department of Defense plans to announce the sale of the M109A6 self-propelled howitzer and other offensive weapons to Taiwan. It will be the first arms sale to Taiwan after the Biden administration took office. According to other reports, Taiwan air force recently test-fired the AIM-120 medium-range air-to-air missile in southeast Taiwan, which is the first time that the US has allowed Taiwan military to test-fire this type of missile in areas around the island after selling it to Taiwan. Whats your comment? Answer: The Taiwan question is Chinas internal affairs. We firmly oppose any country selling weapons to Taiwan or having military interactions in any form with Taiwan. The US arms sale to Taiwan seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces. We urge the US side to abide by the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, a basic norm of international relations clearly set out in the Charter of the United Nations and the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States, honor its solemn commitments to China on the Taiwan question, handle Taiwan-related issues carefully and properly, cease official exchanges and military contacts in any form with the island and stop arms sales to Taiwan. Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities colluded with and catered to external force and harmed the interests of the Chinese nation.Theyeven attempted to seek independence by force", which will only lead Taiwan compatriots into the abyss of disaster. We sternly warn the DPP authorities that any attempt or act of courting foreign supportfor separatist purposes is doomed to be futile and bound to fail. The PLA will take all necessary measures to resolutely thwart any separatist attempt for "Taiwan independence" and safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Question: According to the US media, the Commander of US Space Command recently claimed that China and Russia have developed weapons that can either disrupt or destroy US satellites and Chinas outer space capacity has posed a pacing threat to the United States. Whats the comment from the Chinese side? Answer: One of the outstanding features of such claims is to take opinions as facts and conjectures as conclusions. They are neither justified nor convincing. The real objective is to create "imaginary enemies" and then pretend to be a "victim" so that they can cook up a pretext for expansion of space armament and seeking absolute superiority. In fact, it is the United States that defines outer space as a "war fighting domain", establishes an independent space force and conducts frequent outer space combat exercises. At present, the weaponization and militarization of outer space has become an imminent threat to the international community, for which the US should be blamed. China opposes the weaponization of outer space and the arms race in outer space. We travel in the sea of stars for the purpose of peaceful use of the space. For many years, China, Russia and many other countries have devoted themselves to making the international legal instruments that prevent the arms race in outer space, thus ensuring that the outer space can become a new domain for promoting the well-being of mankind instead of a new battlefield full of competition and confrontation. The major countries should take their responsibilities and behave accordingly. We hope the US can take the responsibility of a major country and take concrete actions to maintain lasting peace and stability in outer space. Question: It is reported that Japan, US and France held joint exercises on the subjects of landing on offshore islands and urban warfare in southwestern Japan in mid-May. During the same period, the three countries, together with Australia, also conducted joint exercises in the East China Sea. Some analysts say that these exercises are aimed at deterring China. What's your comment? Answer: We have noted the relevant reports. Some countries claimto support freedom and openness", but are actually ganging up to put pressure on other countries. Such moves embody their obsession with the Cold War mindset and their enthusiasm for bloc confrontation, which go against the trend of the times for peace, development and cooperation. China pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, adheres to the path of peaceful development, and is committed to building a community with a shared future for mankind. We are willing to work with other countries to maintain world peace and promote common development. At the same time we will firmly safeguard China's sovereignty and protect Chinas security and development interests. At present, fighting the pandemic and economic recovery are two top priorities for regional countries and the international community. We hope relevant countries can make more concrete efforts for anti-pandemic cooperation and cause less trouble to regional security. Question: According to reports, Australian defense minister recently said that the possibility for a conflict in the Taiwan Strait should not be underestimated. The Secretary of Australias Department of Home Affairs warned of an increasing drumbeat to war and argued that Australia must be ready for that. What's your comment? Answer: There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an integral part of China. The one-China principle is a common understanding of the international community. Recently, the Australian side has taken a series of provocative actions, and some people have even incited confrontation and exaggerated the threat of war on Taiwan-related issues. Such actions are incredibly irresponsible. We express strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to that. Currently, China-Australia relations face serious difficulties. The responsibility lies squarely with the Australian side. We have noted some rational voices in Australia calling on the Australian side to remain calm and prudent on the Taiwan question. For example, former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd criticized the speculation about war with China as "pouring fuel on the fire unnecessarily". John Hewson, a former leader of Australias Liberal Party, wrote that the situation across the Taiwan Strait has nothing to do with Australia's national interests. We hope the Australian side will not go further down the wrong path and can do more things conducive to the relations between the two countries and the two militaries. Question: According to reports, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) recently stated that the Philippine government has planned to build the Zhongye Island into a logistics centre and install high-resolution monitor and control systems on the islands and reefs held by Manila, thus strengthening its control over the situation in the South China Sea. Whats your comment? Answer: We have noticed relevant reports. The Nansha Islands, including the Zhongye Island, are Chinas inherent territory. China firmly opposes the illegal construction activities by relevant countries on the islands and reefs they have invaded and occupied in Chinas Nansha Islands. The Chinese military will resolutely safeguard Chinas national sovereignty, maritime rights and interests, and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea. Question: According to reports, since the US and NATO began withdrawing troops from several bases in Afghanistan, terrorist attacks have frequently occurred in Afghanistan recently. Whats your comment? Answer: China calls on relevant countries to earnestly consider their moral responsibilities to the Afghan people and withdraw troops in a responsible and orderly manner, in a bid to ensure a smooth transition in Afghanistan and avoid bringing more turmoil and suffering to the Afghan people. China believes that the political reconciliation through an inclusive Afghan-led, Afghan-owned process is the only way of and a fundamental solution to achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan. China will continue to provide firm support for the Afghan government and people in fighting against terrorism and safeguarding national security and stability, and is also willing to make joint efforts with all parties in the international community to help Afghanistan achieve peace as early as possible. Question: Its reported that May 29 marks the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, on the occasion of which the Chinese military may hold commemorative events. Please brief us on the specific arrangement for the activities. Answer: On December 11, 2002, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly decided to designate May 29 as the International Day of UN Peacekeepers to pay tribute to all the men and women who have made outstanding contributions to the UN peacekeeping operations. To commemorate the 19th International Day of UN Peacekeepers, the Peacekeeping Affairs Center under Chinas Ministry of National Defense and the UN Resident Coordinators Office in China have scheduled to jointly host a reception via video link in Beijing on May 28. The UN agencies in China, representatives of major troop-contributing countries (TCCs) and fund contributing countries (FCCs)for the UN peacekeeping operations in China, and representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in China will attend the event. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the People's Republic of China's lawful seat in the United Nations. China is willing to join hands with all peace-loving countries across the world to defend and implement true multilateralism, uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and adhere to a global order based on international law so as to build a beautiful world of lasting peace and universal security. Question: Its reported that the military has launched the precise applicationfor bedding and clothing recently. Whats the feedback of the officers and soldiers? Will the troops stationed at high altitudes, in border areas, onislands, or other places also enjoy the benefits from the one-click ordering service? Answer: From May 11, the PLA and the Peoples Armed Police (PAP) have fully launched the precise application forbedding and clothing, which has brought new changes in the field of military bedding and clothing supply. For instance, the supply standard has changed from material standard" to "application index", the supply demand has changed from "unit application" to "individual application", and the supply procedure has changed from "step by step distribution" to "delivery as ordered", and the supply period has changed from "season-based distribution" to "real-time application and delivery". This personalized and refined new supply model is an important achievement in the militarys bedding and clothing supply reformas well as a concrete measure to release the dividends of deepening national defense and military reforms, which has been widely recognized by the officers and soldiers. Troops stationed in poor, remote areas have to be the key targets of the military bedding and clothing supply. Its learned that the officers and soldiers stationed in plateau areas, border areas, and islands can now apply for the bedding and clothes via a precise application service platform according to their dress needs in combat readiness training and daily life. Question: Its noticed that since May, the face-to-face exchanges between youths from military and local units on studying experience and personal growth inspirations have drawn much public attention. Please brief us on the details. Answer: To learn and internalize the spirit of President Xis important speech delivered during his recent visit to Tsinghua University, and to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission and the Chinese Communist Youth League Central Committee organized a total of 16 youth role models, some from the military and some civilians, in two groups to visit 12 places, including troops stationed in Zhejiang, Fujian, and Xinjiang, and some local colleges and universities. The two teams shared with the soldiers or college students in those places about the CPCs hard journey and great achievements in the past century. They also had in-depth exchange of experience in rendering meritorious service at their respective posts, and shared stories of their growth and success. At the same time, four service members from the border defense troops in the Karakorum went to visit several military or civilian units to share their stories of guarding the border and defending the motherland. The major features of these activities are as follows: First, the focus of the activities is on primary-level units. Among the 16 role models, there are elite and skilled soldiers, anti-epidemic pioneers, anti-drug heroes, elite female coast guards, and scientists dedicated to polar region research. They all come from primary-level units or work on the frontline in their areas. All the places they visited are also at primary-level. The role models used their own experience to inspire the young people there to perform their duties in the grassroots posts and make contributions to the society. Second, the emphasis of combat readiness. During the event, one group of the role models went to the coastal regions in southeast China, and the other group went to the Gobi Desert in northwest China, where they boarded fighting vehicles and warships, visited squads and border sentry posts. They went to combat positions and training grounds, where they joined the service members in training and guard duty, providing professional knowledge counseling and skill training to soldiers. The Karakorum border defense troops presented the Chinese national flag once raised on the Pangong Lake to the National Flag Guards, a way of conveying their enthusiasm for defending the motherland. Third, higher priority is given to mutual learning for mutual development. These youth role models were offered opportunities to have close-up experience of fine work styles, such as the spirit of manned spaceflight (characterized by hard work, great strength, solving key problems and dedication), the Karakorum spirit characterized by devotion to border defense, hard work, selfless dedication and tenacity, and the spirit of sea tigers (characterized by love for the Party and the motherland, selfless dedication, hard work, good military skills and caring for weapons, bravery and tenacity, capability to fight and win, unity and pursuit of excellence). They went to universities to visit historical venues and achievement exhibitions to gain a deeper understanding of the tremendous power of the fine tradition of the CPC. They also shared with the audience their own stories, the value of tough work, their dedication, and what theyve learned from military training and exercises. Relevant military and civilian departments will continue to organize youth exchange activities to inspire the sense of responsibility of our service members in defending the motherland and demonstrate the qualities of the young people in the new era. They will dedicate their youth to building a country with youthful vigor. ENGAGEMENT REPORTERS (3) The Sacramento Bee is looking for collaborative, audience-focused reporters for our service journalism team, whose mission is to help readers navigate life in Sacramento. These reporters will use engagement tools such as Google Trends to surface and answer questions readers are asking in the moment, will write stories that help readers connect with the news and will create and manage a library of search-friendly evergreen content. Experience with audience growth and engagement tactics such as headline writing and SEO is a must. Expertise in a particular subject area is not required, but the successful candidate will bring a deep understanding of whats important to local readers, preferably earned by working as part of an audience or engagement team at a local news outlet. Education: College degree preferred. Experience: At least 1 year of local news experience Skills needed: Experience with audience tools such as Google Trends. Ability to understand audience metrics and the tactics that move them. Passion for the written word as well as video, audio and motion graphics. Enthusiasm for experimenting and iterating, quickly and often. Strong writing and reporting skills. Excellent news judgment and journalism ethics. Strong collaborative instincts and a love of teamwork. Comfort with a job that will be demanding, fast-paced and constantly evolving. recblid gvzqyn5r52hikgc8ibbduh11kes3wp Bengaluru: Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday announced that the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown in the state will continue till June 7. "We have got general guidelines from GoI regarding how to follow containment measures till June 30. There will be no changes in ongoing restrictions till June 7", said Bommai. The minister also informed that Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will call for a meeting of ministers and experts in a few days to take the final call. "The positivity rate and the number of cases in the state have declined, and if every citizen supports, we can control the infection", Bommai added. The Karnataka government had initially announced a 14-day 'close down' from April 27 but has now imposed a lockdown in the state till June 7 owing to the rising number of infections. Karnataka CM had also announced a financial package of Rs 1,250 crore to provide relief to those whose livelihoods have been affected by COVID-19 induced lockdown. The total number of active cases in Karnataka is 350,087 while 21,89,064 people have been discharged so far. The death toll in the state has gone up to 28,298. A screenshot from the video going viral on social media. (Photo: Screengrab/ANI) Balrampur: Two men, one of them wearing a PPE kit, were caught on tape rolling down a coronavirus patient's body from over a bridge into a river in Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur district. The video was shot by some people who were driving by the spot. After the visuals surfaced, police registered a case. Balrampur Chief Medical Officer Vijay Bahadur Singh on Sunday said the body has been identified as that of Prem Nath Mishra, a resident of Sohratgarh in UP's Siddharth Nagar district. "Prem Nath Mishra was hospitalised on May 25 after he contracted COVID-19 and succumbed to the disease on May 28. The body was handed over to family members as per the COVID-19 protocol. In the video, which went viral on social media, it can be seen that the body was thrown into the Rapti river." He said a case has been registered at the Kotwali police station in this regard. Earlier in the month, several bodies were seen floating in the Ganga and Yamuna rivers in the state, triggering apprehensions that these were of COVID-19 patients. The authorities too had urged people not to dispose of bodies into rivers. Chandrashekar Rao expressed the confidence that the TRS will win the Huzurabad seat with a thumping majority when the bypoll is held. (DC file photo) HYDERABAD: The 'political moves' of sacked health minister Etala Rajendar reportedly hogged the limelight at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao at Pragathi Bhavan here on Sunday. Though the lockdown extension and Kharif agriculture season were the prime items on the cabinet agenda, political issues were discussed at length soon after the cabinet finished the official agenda. The Cabinet meeting started at 2 pm and ended at 7 pm. The agenda was completed in two hours. After this, officials were sent out of the meeting hall and the CM was closeted with ministers for about three hours to discuss the political developments against the backdrop of Rajendar's removal from the Cabinet. Incidentally, Rajendar was leaving for Delhi from Shamshabad airport amid speculations that he would meet top BJP leaders in the national capital and might likely join the saffron party. This triggered a debate on his political moves, at the cabinet meeting. Chandrashekar Rao reportedly told the ministers that Rajendar had committed several wrongs, both in the government as well as in the party, and he was forced to dismiss the Huzurabad MLA in the best interests of the party. The CM is learnt to have told ministers to ignore Rajendar and asked them not to comment on the issue without permission. He also reportedly told the ministers that Rajendar joining the BJP would have no impact on the TRS. The BJP has no future in Telangana and the recent MLC polls, the polls to Khammam and Warangal municipal corporations and the Nagarjunasagar Assembly bypoll proved how the BJP struggled even to retain its deposits, the CM pointed out. The performance of the BJP in Dubbak and GHMC elections was only a flash in the pan. The BJP could not retain its own seat in the GHMC bypoll held later for the Lingojiguda ward despite a sympathy wave and the TRS keeping off the poll following the BJP's request, the CM reportedly said. The CM told the ministers that the entire leader and cadre base of the TRS in Rajendar's constituency Huzurabad have decided to stay with the party and no major local leader or cadre extended any support to former minister so far after his removal from the ministry. Chandrashekar Rao expressed the confidence that the TRS will win the Huzurabad seat with a thumping majority when the bypoll is held. There was also discussion on disqualifying Rajendar from the Assembly and dismissing him from the TRS if he announced any plan to join the BJP without resigning his MLA post. Saint John's (Antigua)/New Delhi: Hitting back at Opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) for supporting Mehul Choksi, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne on Saturday accused it of supporting fugitive diamantaire in order to secure campaign funding. "After mischievously accusing my administration of harbouring Mehul Choksi, who has an Interpol Red Notice, they are now seeking to sanitize this fugitive to get campaign funding. My administration's revocation of Choksi's citizenship has been frustrated by a litigation brought against the state," Gaston Browne said in a statement. He further said: "We are determined to revoke Choksi's citizenship and to concurrently pursue his extradition to India to face criminal charges there. There has been no violation of Choksi's legal and constitutional protections, despite the decision of my administration to revoke his citizenship." United Progressive party reminded Prime Minister Gaston Browne that every citizen is entitled to constitutional protection and due process of law. UPP in a press release noted that Choksi, who is facing extradition to India by way of the normal legal and constitutional process, alleges that he was abducted and taken against his will to Dominica. Prime Minister Browne had indicated that Dominica should deport Choksi directly to India and not return him to Antigua and Barbuda because he would be protected by the Constitutional rights. Asserting that the country fully respects the jurisdiction of the court over this matter, Browne kept on saying that in a globalized world where cooperation among states is required to fight and defeat criminals and to deny criminals the use of the state apparatus for protection and advancement of their criminal conduct. "We live in a globalized world where cooperation among states is required to fight and defeat criminals and to deny criminals the use of the state apparatus for protection and advancement of their criminal conduct. That is precisely why we have and continue to encourage the government of Dominica, to make him persona non grata for illegally entering their country and to deport him to India where he is still a citizen." The Prime Minister further urged to consider the deportation of Choksi directly to India, as a form of state cooperation to apprehend a fugitive. "We respect the jurisdiction of the court over this matter. My request on behalf of the state, for Dominica to consider deporting Choksi directly to India, as a form of state cooperation to apprehend a fugitive, is perfectly acceptable," he said. "This request for state cooperation could never be construed by any law-abiding entity, of integrity and legitimate purpose to be an "ill considered utterance," he said, adding "additionally the claim that the request undermines the rule of law, or Choksi's constitutional rights is preposterous." If he (Mehul Choksi) is deported to Antigua, he will continue to enjoy the legal and constitutional protections of citizenship, he said further. Browne last week said that if Choksi flees the country his citizenship will be revoked. The UPP earlier in the day accused Browne of 'corrupting the rule of law' referring to Browne's request to the Dominican authorities to send Choksi to India directly and not repatriate him to Antigua and Barbados. "It was the Gaston Browne administration that granted citizenship to Choksi. As inconvenient and embarrassing as it may be for the government, Choksi is a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda - not India," the UPP said in a statement. Videos Duties Summary CUE salary ranges and travel required by location can be found here . This position receives on-the-job training as a field examiner. The training assignments prepare you to manage, supervise, and conduct examinations for a district of federal and federally-insured state credit unions. For more information regarding the Career Highlights of a Credit Union Examiner, click here . Learn more about this agency Responsibilities Credit Union Examiners plan, conduct, and complete examinations of federally insured and federally chartered credit unions. This includes analyzing credit union data to identify areas of concern, persistency of previous problems, and risk to the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund (NCUSIF). Some examinations are completed independently by an examiner while other examinations require working as part of a team. Credit Union Examiners at the CU-7 and CU-9 level are considered developmental positions. Individuals in these positions work under the close supervision of a Supervisory Examiner and are in a robust training program that includes: classroom training covering accounting, communications, credit union operations, examination procedures, analysis techniques, and administrative subjects; hands-on experience working with an on-the-job (OJT) trainer within his/her assigned district of credit unions; reading assignments pertaining to the laws, regulations, policies and directives which govern the operation of federal and federally insured credit unions; online training modules; and progressively responsible work assignments. Applicants may select up to three (3) duty locations in which you are willing to reside. Applicants are expected to reside close to their official duty station, normally within 40 miles. Where you live in relation to your official duty station MATTERS and more information can be reviewed by clicking here . Travel Required 75% or less - Travel is required to visit assigned credit unions in the geographic area and to participate in regional team examinations, training events, and conferences. Supervisory status No Promotion Potential 12 Job family (Series) 0580 Credit Union Examiner Requirements Conditions of Employment Must be a U.S. Citizen. Suitable adjudication of background/security investigation is required. A trial period is required. Mobility Agreement and Financial Disclosure forms are required. Must complete the initial Minimum Qualifications Questionnaire. Applicants must complete an assessment battery (i.e., Assessment Questionnaire and USA Hire Writing Assessment) via the USA Hire platform if notified to do so. You will be required to sign a Pathways Program Participant Agreement. Qualifications The ideal candidate for this position will have a degree in accounting, business, or finance; is skilled in using information systems and technology; is skilled in preparing written communications; and has good interpersonal skills. Proficiency in additional languages is also desired. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS For all grade levels, if you are found to meet the minimum experience and/or education qualification requirements below, you will be required to complete a USA Hire assessment battery (i.e., Assessment Questionnaire and Writing Assessment). You must achieve a minimum passing score on the Writing Assessment to receive further consideration for the position. See "How to Apply" for further information. To meet the minimum qualification requirements for the Grade CU-07, you must have one of the following (A, B, C, or D): A. EXPERIENCE: One (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to CU/GS-05 level (obtained in the public or private sector) that has equipped the applicant with the competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities) to successfully perform the duties of this position. This experience must have included preparing or analyzing financial statements and posting and/or balancing general ledger accounts in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and auditing work involved with examination and appraisal of financial records or statements for completeness and internal accuracy in accordance with Generally Accepted Auditing Standards. OR B. EDUCATION (Superior Academic Achievement): Completion of a full 4-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree or higher degree in economics, accounting, business, business administration, finance, marketing, or other directly related business field. This education must have included six (6) semester hours of course work in accounting (or equivalent courses) and three (3) semester hours of course work in introductory auditing* (or an equivalent course) for a total of nine (9) semester hours. For a more detailed description of qualifying accounting coursework, please see education section of this vacancy announcement. In addition to the above degree/course work requirement, you must also meet ONE of the definitions of Superior Academic Achievement listed below: A grade-point average of "B" (a GPA of 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduates courses or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. A grade-point average of "B+" (a GPA of 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study. Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university, or major subdivision. Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies . OR C. EDUCATION (Graduate-level) : One (1) full year (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours or the number of units the school you attended considers equal to one full year) of graduate education in an accredited college or university in accounting, business, business administration (MBA), finance, marketing, economics or other directly related field. This education must have included or been supplemented by six (6) semester hours in accounting (or equivalent courses) and three (3) hours in introductory auditing (or equivalent course) for a total nine (9) semester hours. These courses may have been at the graduate or undergraduate level and a description of qualifying accounting coursework can be found in education section of this vacancy announcement. OR D. COMBINATION : A combination of graduate level education and experience described in "A" and "C" above. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours or equivalent earned towards a graduate degree and divide by 18 semester hours or equivalent. Then take the number of months of full-time experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100 percent to qualify. To meet the minimum qualification requirements for the Grade CU-09, you must have one of the following (A, B, C, or D): A. EXPERIENCE : One (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to CU/GS-07 level (obtained in the public or private sector) that has equipped the applicant with the competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities) to successfully perform the duties of this position. This experience must have included assignments involved in the examination and auditing of credit unions or financial institutions through detailed examinations of accounting documents to verify accuracy of computations and to ascertain that all transactions are properly supported and are in accordance with pertinent laws and regulations. OR B. EDUCATION (Graduate-level) : Completion of two (2) full academic years of progressively higher graduate-level education, or a master's degree in an accredited college or university in fields such as accounting, business, business administration (MBA), finance, marketing, economics or other directly related academic field. This education must have included or been supplemented by six (6) semester hours in accounting (or equivalent courses) and three (3) semester hours in introductory auditing* (or an equivalent course) for a total of nine (9) semester hours. These courses must have been at the graduate or undergraduate level and a description of qualifying accounting coursework can be found in the education section of this vacancy announcement. OR C. CERTIFICATION : Possession of an active certificate as a Certified Public Accountant, obtained through written examination in a state, territory, or the District of Columbia. OR D. COMBINATION : A combination of education and experience described in "A" and "B" above. To combine education and experience, first take the number of semester hours or equivalent earned towards a graduate degree in excess of 18 semester hours and divide by 18 semester hours or equivalent. Then take number the number of months experience and divide by 12 months. Add the percentages together. The total must equal at least 100% to qualify. YOUR RESUME MUST provide specific details as to how your experience meets the specialized experience and support your responses to the online questionnaire as described in the vacancy announcement. When describing your experience in your resume, please be specific. We will not make assumptions regarding your experience. Please ensure that your resume includes the grade (if you are a current or previous federal employee), month and year that you began and ended for each position held or that position may not be credited toward meeting the specialized experience requirement. Full-time employment will be assumed unless otherwise stated on your resume. Part-time employment will be prorated in crediting experience. Failure to provide details will result in an ineligible rating. Your resume must also support your responses to the online questionnaire. Failure to provide support may result in a lower rating and/or you may be excluded from consideration. Your latest resume submitted for this vacancy announcement will be used to determine qualifications and supersedes previous submissions. Education PLEASE NOTE: To qualify based on the education qualification requirements listed in this vacancy announcement, you must complete those education requirements no later than August 31, 2021 . ACCOUNTING COURSEWORK: To qualify based on education for a Credit Union Examiner position at the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), your education must have included six (6) semester hours of course work in accounting (or equivalent courses) and three (3) semester hours of course work in introductory auditing* (or an equivalent course) for a total of nine (9) semester hours. These courses may have been at the graduate or undergraduate level and must have included coursework that provided instruction in the following: A. Basic accounting concepts and theories and the essentials of the accounting process (i.e., income determination and financial position; a fundamental understanding of the general ledger and subsidiary ledgers; evaluation of adjusting, closing, and correcting entries; analysis of financial statements and bank statement reconciliation; understanding of accrual and cash methods; awareness of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles); AND B. External financial reporting with emphasis on balance sheet valuations and their relationship to income determination; AND C. Principles of finance and their application to typical financial problems of business enterprises such as the measurement and disclosure problem associated with cash, receivables, fixed assets, and intangibles. Special emphasis on financial analysis, management of working capital, cost of capital, capital budgeting, long-term financing, dividend policy, and internal financing; AND D. Fundamental auditing concepts, such as, internal controls, separation of duties, independence of judgment, and verification of accounts; awareness of Generally Accepted Auditing Standards. *NOTE: Alternative Method To Meet Auditing Experience/Education Requirement: For applicants who do not possess the required auditing experience/education, NCUA will allow applicants an opportunity to complete the three (3) semester hours of course work in introductory auditing (or equivalent course) within ten (10) months after beginning employment at NCUA. This auditing course must provide instruction in the fundamental auditing concepts such as internal controls, separation of duties, independence of judgment, and verification of accounts; awareness of Generally Accepted Auditing Standards. The NCUA agrees to fund this course, if needed. Failure to successfully complete this course requirement within the required time period is cause for termination of employment at NCUA. The appropriate Regional Director may approve a waiver to extend the 10-month requirement (not-to-exceed a total of 18 months). Decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. All education must be achieved by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees received from schools by accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants may verify accreditation at the following website: Accreditation - All education claimed by applicants will be verified by OPM accordingly. FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to that gained in conventional/accredited U.S. education programs to be acceptable for Federal employment. For more information regarding Foreign Education, please click here . RECENT GRADUATE PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY: To meet the Pathways Recent Graduates program requirements for this position, you must have graduated from a qualifying educational institution or program within two (2) years of the date you submit your application or will graduate no later than August 31, 2021. ATTENTION VETERANS: A veteran, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 2108, who due to military service obligation, was precluded from applying to the Recent Graduates Program during any portion of the 2-year eligibility period shall have a full 2-year period of eligibility upon his or her release or discharge from active duty. In no event, however, may the individual's eligibility period extend beyond six (6) years from the date on which the individual completed the requirements of an academic course of study. PROGRAM COMPLETION AND CONVERSION ELIGIBILITY: Program participants MAY be converted, without a break in service, to a term, career or career conditional appointment upon completion of program requirements. To be eligible for conversion, Recent Graduates must:-Complete two continuous years of work experience acquired through a Recent Graduate Program;-Complete 260 hours of formal interactive training;-Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Recent Graduate will be converted;-Meet any NCUA specific requirements specified in the Participant's Agreement;-Demonstrate successful job performance that results in a rating of record of at least Fully Successful and a recommendation for conversion by the first level supervisor; and,-Be recommended for conversion by the first-level supervisor. Additional information Please Note: Pay will be set using NCUA's compensation policy. The salary range shown is NCUA's National Pay Rate (NPR) which includes a locality rate of 16.32% for the Rest of the U.S. (RUS) geographical area. Actual salary will be determined upon the location of the selectee and the applicable locality pay, per the NCUA's CU pay table. The locality rates, by location, can be found on the NCUA Careers webpage under the listed here . At the CU-7 and CU-9 levels, Credit Union Examiners are considered entry-level trainee positions. Entry level pay is typically set at the minimum of the pay range. Pay would normally be matched for current financial institution examiners performing similar work provided it falls within the applicable salary range. In certain rare circumstances, pay could be set higher, commensurate with the selectee's background and experience. For new hires at the CU-11 level, pay will be set based on the qualifications of the selectee. Candidates hired at the CU-7 or CU-9 level can expect to be non-competitively promoted to the next level after 1 year in each grade, up to the CU-11 level, if all promotion requirements are met. Click here for additional information about reaching the full promotion level of CU-12. Promotion is not automatic and is conditional on demonstrated ability to perform the higher grade level duties, a current written performance appraisal rating of "fully successful" or better, fulfillment of the necessary qualification requirements, and sufficient work at the higher grade level position. SELECTIVE SERVICE: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. You may register or check the status of your registration by visiting the Selective Service website at: (see application details) . This position is in the bargaining unit. NOTE: Effective January 1, 2010, OPM must authorize any employment offers we make to current or former (within the last 5 years) political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES (political) employees in the executive branch. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, or Non-career SES employee in the executive branch, you must disclose that to the point of contact listed on this vacancy announcement. Illegal drug use by individuals working for or on behalf of the federal government, whether on duty or off duty, is contrary to the efficiency of the service and in direct violation of the Controlled Substance Act and the Drug-Free Workplace Act. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCUA's current posture will not require employees to perform official travel or work onsite at NCUA offices or in credit unions any earlier than August 30, 2021. This date may be extended. If it becomes necessary for NCUA to request on-site work, NCUA may solicit volunteers for the assignment. Management reserves the right to request employees to perform on-site work in exigent circumstances. NCUA IS A COMPETITIVE SERVICE FEDERAL AGENCY. NCUA uses E-Verify, a web-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify , including your rights and responsibilities. More than the number of positions listed may be filled through this vacancy announcement. Read more How You Will Be Evaluated You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above. For Category Rating: Once the application process is complete, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be made and compared against your responses to the assessment questionnaire to determine if you are qualified for this job. If, after reviewing your resume and or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The category assignment is a measure of the degree in which your background matches the competencies required for this position. Your application package will be reviewed for completeness (resume, completed assessment questionnaire, and supporting documentation). You will not be considered if you fail to submit all the required documents as outlined in this vacancy announcement. If you meet the qualification requirements, your application will be placed in one of three categories: Best Qualified - Applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position. Well Qualified - Applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position. Qualified - Applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your responses to the initial Minimum Qualifications Questionnaire completed during the application process. Throughout the duration of the selection process, you will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics): Accounting Operations Compliance Interpersonal Skills Oral Communication Problem Solving Risk Management Self-Management Writing Please Note: After submitting an online application, you will be notified if you are required to take additional online assessments (i.e., Assessment Questionnaire and USA Hire Writing Assessment). You will be evaluated based on your responses to the Assessment Questionnaire and your performance on the USA Hire Writing Assessment (see How to Apply section for more information).You must meet all qualification (if qualifying by experience) and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Reference Checks: Reference checks will need to be conducted prior to an offer of employment for the top candidate(s) for this position. The reference checks will need to be conducted with current and former supervisors, if applicable, as a part of NCUA's selection assessment process. Application of Veterans' Preference: The category rating process does not add veterans' preference points but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligibles who meet the minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service connected disability of at least 10% must be listed in the highest quality category (except in the case of scientific or professional positions at the CU-09 level or higher). Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. Read more Background checks and security clearance Security clearance Not Required Drug test required No Position sensitivity and risk Moderate Risk (MR) Trust determination process Suitability/Fitness Required Documents You must submit a complete application package which includes your resume showing work schedule, hours worked per week, dates of employment and duties performed. In addition, please review the documents listed below to see if they are required based on your eligibility: NOTE: Failure to provide required documents may result in non-consideration for this position. TRANSCRIPTS (REQUIRED for all recent graduate applicants) - Unofficial transcripts are acceptable from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to verify that you meet the basic education requirement. You must submit a legible copy of transcripts or list of college courses with your name, school name, credit or semester hours, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking. Official transcripts are required upon selection if you qualified based on education. Please Note: Your transcripts must show the date the degree was conferred, or if you have recently graduated and the date the degree is conferred is not yet on your transcript, a letter from your educational institution verifying your degree completion and date (in addition to transcripts) is acceptable. Failure to provide transcripts may result in non-consideration for this position. You will be required to submit a copy of your official college transcript if you are selected. VETERANS: If you wish to receive consideration for veteran's preference you must submit a copy of your veteran's documentation including a DD-214 (member 4 copy preferred, however documentation provided must contain dates and character of service) along with a VA letter, SF-15 , etc., if applicable. If you are a current active duty service member, please submit an official statement of service from your command. Note: If you are a current active duty military member who does not have a DD-214 and is claiming preference under the Veterans Opportunity to Work (VOW) Act, you must submit certification from the Armed Forces indicating that you will be discharged or released under honorable conditions from active duty within 120 days from the date on the certification. Certifications must be on letterhead from the appropriate military branch and include the following information: military dates of service and expected discharge or release date, character of service, military rank, type of discharge and date when terminal leave will begin. Certifications must be signed by, or by direction of military members' military personnel offices, unit commanders or higher headquarters. CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT (CPA) License - If you are qualifying based on your active CPA license, you must submit a copy of the license. REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS: If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Writing Assessment, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here. ( (see application details) ) PLEASE NOTE: There are two options for submitting your documentation: (1) you may upload documents from your USAJOBS account; (2) or upload documents from your personal computer. Please follow the system prompts to submit your documents. Not all documents will apply and you only need to submit those applicable to your situation. Benefits A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new window Learn more about federal benefits . Review our benefits Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered. Fair & Transparent The Federal hiring process is setup to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance. Equal Employment Opportunity Policy The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants Read more Reasonable Accommodation Policy Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits. Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when: An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job. An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace. An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events. You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Learn more about disability employment and reasonable accommodations or how to contact an agency. Read more Legal and regulatory guidance Financial suitability Social security number request Privacy Act Signature and false statements Selective Service New employee probationary period POLITICS How much do elections cost in Delaware County? OPINION Why we need to honor cultural traditions Akshay Kumar's Next Prithviraj Targeted By Karni Sena, The Film's Title Is The Issue Akshay Kumar starrer upcoming historical drama Prithviraj has now fallen on the Karni Senas radar. The organization which has in the past opposed the release of many films has now expressed concern over the title of the Yash Raj Film. According to the Karni Sena Youth Wing President, Surjeet Singh Rathore the makers should use the full title of the historical figure and demanded that the title of the film be changed to Prithviraj Chauhan instead of being just Prithviraj as a show of respect, reports Times of India. The demands dont end there. The Sena also wants the film to be screened for them before its theatrical release. Singh also had a warning for the makers suggesting that if the organisations advice is not paid heed to then they could face the consequences like Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmaavat. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) Prithviraj also marks the debut of Manushi Chillar in Bollywood who will be seen playing Sankyuta in the film. The project went on floors in 2019 and is expected to arrive in theatres this Diwali on November 5 if all goes well. The Karni Sena has previously raised objections against projects like Tandav, Padmaavat, Laxmii, Aashram among others. There has been no response from the makers of Prithviraj on Karni Senas objections yet. Kiara Advani Channelizes Her Inner Mermaid; Shares A Motivational Message Kiara Advani has offered a treat to her fans and followers with a throwback picture from her underwater adventures offering a hopeful and motivational message in the times of despair brought upon by the Covid-19. The actress who has been using her social media prominently only to help people generate leads and create awareness in the recent past, has pleasantly surprised the internet with her picture. Embodying a mermaid, Kiara looks graceful swimming across the depths of the clear ocean in her throwback picture. Taking to social media, Kiara Advani shared, "You can't stop the waves but you can learn to swim #Throwback". View this post on Instagram A post shared by KIARA (@kiaraaliaadvani) One of the busiest actors in town, Kiara delivered varied performances across three releases last year and has multiple intriguing projects lined up including Shershaah, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Jug Jugg Jeeyo amongst others. Madhuri Dixit Celebrates Son Arin's High School Graduation, Shares 'Proud Parent' Moment With Fans With A Note Madhuri Dixits eldest son Arin has graduated high school and the actress celebrated this special moment with her fans on social media. A proud parent, the actress posted a picture with her husband Sriram Nene and two sons, Arin and Ryan, on social media along with heartfelt note to celebrate her sons milestone moment. The star also posted a video of her with Arin where she can be seen helping him put on his gradation gown and hat. In her note she wrote, A proud moment for Ram and I, as Arin graduates from high school with flying colors Congratulations Arin and to the graduating class of 2021. We appreciate how hard this year has been for all of you and we salute your resilience, strength, hardwork , and focus to rise above the situation and succeed. So, follow your passion and understand that one day you will have the power to make a difference, use it well. Wishing you success in everything you do. Love you always. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Madhuri Dixit (@madhuridixitnene) The actress has always been happy to share her special family moments with her fans and this once surly makes the mark. Madhuris son Arin is 18 and will be going abroad to pursue his higher education. Ranbir Kapoor's Niece Samara Sahni Makes An Adorable Debut On Instagram, Already Has Over 3K Followers Actor Ranbir Kapoors niece and Riddhima Kapoor Sahni daughter Samara Sahni has made her debut on Instagram. The young teenager is enthusiastically sharing fun pictures of herself and her family on her new handle and has already garnered over 3K followers. Samara who frequently made an entertaining appearance in many posts of her grandmother Neetu Kapoor and her mother Riddhima on Instgaram is now also being followed by them on her own account. While first post was one featuring her mom Riddhima, she also shared a family photo featuring her late grandfather Rishi Kapoor and her uncle Ranbir apart from her mother and grandmother. Captioning the post she wrote, I dont know when this was but I love my family. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Samara Sahni (@samarasahniofficial) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Samara Sahni (@samarasahniofficial) Recently Samaras mother Riddhima also opened up about not joining the movies like her parents and sibling. She revealed she got film offers while she was away in London studying but didnt make much of them and got married soon after returning to India. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Samara Sahni (@samarasahniofficial) When I was in London, I was getting a lot of film offers but I dont think I ever thought of it. Not that I even had a discussion about it with my family. I came back from London and got married. When I was studying, I remember my mother would tell me about the film offers coming my way and Id wonder what to make of them because I was only 16-17 at the time, Riddhima told Times Of India. She is married to Delhi based businessman Bharat Sahni since 2006. Suniel Shetty Wishes Paresh Rawal On His Birthday; Shilpa Shetty Shares A BTS Clip From Hungama 2 Sets One of the most versatile and adored veteran actors of the Hindi film industry, Paresh Rawal is celebrating his 66th birthday today. On the special occasion, his Hera Pheri co-star and buddy Suniel Shetty took to his official social media handle to wish him with a sweet post. Along with an unseen selfie, Suniel wrote: A very very Happy Birthday to you Paresh-ji. Wish you a year full of laughter. This picture has left us even more excited to see them together in Hera Pheri 3. Shilpa Shetty, on the other hand, decided to upload a behind the scene clip from the sets of Priyadarshans upcoming film Hungama 2, in which the actress will share the screen with Paresh. In the video, Shilpa is sitting behind the actor on a scooty. When someone screams All the best, Shilpa replies, Yeah we need all the best, considering Paresh ji doesn't know how to ride one. Shilpa laughs while the actor has an adorable reaction. Take a look: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shilpa Shetty Kundra (@theshilpashetty) Along with the funny clip, Shilpa wrote: Happy birthday, #PareshRawal ji!! I love how theres never a dull moment with you around May the year ahead be filled with great health, loads of love, and happiness. Biggggg hugggg!....#LaughRiot #legend #funtimes #hungama2 #onset. 10 Years of Blog Archive June 2021 (3) May 2021 (9) April 2021 (8) March 2021 (9) February 2021 (8) January 2021 (9) December 2020 (9) November 2020 (8) October 2020 (9) September 2020 (10) August 2020 (7) July 2020 (10) June 2020 (8) May 2020 (9) April 2020 (11) March 2020 (9) February 2020 (8) January 2020 (7) December 2019 (13) November 2019 (14) October 2019 (15) September 2019 (13) August 2019 (8) July 2019 (9) June 2019 (12) May 2019 (13) April 2019 (9) March 2019 (10) February 2019 (8) January 2019 (10) December 2018 (12) November 2018 (12) October 2018 (11) September 2018 (13) August 2018 (13) July 2018 (14) June 2018 (16) May 2018 (9) April 2018 (10) March 2018 (8) February 2018 (8) January 2018 (10) December 2017 (7) November 2017 (8) October 2017 (10) September 2017 (12) August 2017 (14) July 2017 (17) June 2017 (17) May 2017 (16) April 2017 (16) March 2017 (17) February 2017 (13) January 2017 (16) December 2016 (13) November 2016 (14) October 2016 (13) September 2016 (13) August 2016 (16) July 2016 (25) June 2016 (28) May 2016 (29) April 2016 (30) March 2016 (29) February 2016 (28) January 2016 (29) December 2015 (30) November 2015 (27) October 2015 (26) September 2015 (30) August 2015 (20) July 2015 (16) June 2015 (14) May 2015 (18) April 2015 (15) March 2015 (17) February 2015 (17) January 2015 (23) December 2014 (20) November 2014 (17) October 2014 (17) September 2014 (13) August 2014 (8) July 2014 (7) June 2014 (12) May 2014 (6) April 2014 (6) March 2014 (11) February 2014 (13) January 2014 (13) December 2013 (13) November 2013 (14) October 2013 (18) September 2013 (11) August 2013 (14) July 2013 (11) June 2013 (12) May 2013 (15) April 2013 (15) March 2013 (19) February 2013 (14) January 2013 (16) December 2012 (13) November 2012 (12) October 2012 (14) September 2012 (22) August 2012 (28) July 2012 (23) June 2012 (24) May 2012 (13) April 2012 (21) March 2012 (21) February 2012 (19) January 2012 (20) December 2011 (19) November 2011 (20) October 2011 (24) September 2011 (19) August 2011 (16) July 2011 (10) June 2011 (1) April 2011 (3) March 2011 (6) LPNs Five Star Residences of Noblesville is a beautiful community in Noblesville, IN, with more than 150 units offering independent living, assisted living, and Alzheimer's care. Starting Wage: $25.00 hourly $2,500 Sign On Bonus Key Responsibilities At this time, we are seeking Full Time Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) to join our team! Responsibilities: Institutes appropriate nursing intervention which might be required to stabilize a resident's condition and/or prevent complication. Makes daily resident rounds to interview physical and emotional status and to implement any required nursing interventions. Responds to resident and family concerns and ensures that each concern is documented and a resolution is initiated or communicated to appropriate staff. Coordinates admission, discharge and transfer of residents. Obtains report from nurse he or she is relieving, provides report to nurse coming on duty and keeps the charge nurse or others (as appropriate) informed about the status of residents and related matters. Prepares, administer and documents medications following accepted practices. Consults with licensed or registered nurse, physician or licensed independent practitioner. Clarifies any order or treatment regimen believed to be inaccurate, ineffective or contraindicated by consulting with the appropriate licensed practitioner. Other duties as assigned. Qualifications: Current Licensed L.P.N., preferably with experience in long-term care of geriatric nursing. 2-4 Years of experience required. Current CPR certification and additional certification in nursing specialty desired. Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables. Shift/Hours: Days/Evenings/Nights Our Core Values We Put People First We Act With Integrity We Mind the Business We Listen, Then Act Decisively We Work to be Our Best About Five Star Five Star Senior Living Inc., a national healthcare and senior living provider headquartered in Newton, Massachusetts, proudly offers the highest quality service and care with the warmth and hospitality of home. Founded in 2000, Five Star has two major operating division: Five Star Senior Living and AGEILITY Physical Therapy Solutions. The Five Star Senior Living division includes more than 280 Independent Living, Assisted Living, Alzheimer's/Memory Care, Healthcare Centers with Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Retirement Communities. With communities in over 30 states and more than 25,000 team members, Five Star is committed to maximizing our residents' independence and enhancing their lifestyles. The Ageility division provides both inpatient and outpatient services to over 150 communities. These services are provided both within Five Star and to customers externally. We offer Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy Services. Our specialty programs includes our Step up to Stop falls Program, "Connections" our memory care therapy program, and our executive functioning program that focuses on cognitive strategies aimed at keeping our residents independent in areas such as medication management and house hold functions. EEOC Five Star prohibits discrimination against any applicant or employee with regard to or on the basis of race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, ancestry, sex, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity and expression (including transgender), sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, military status, certain criminal records, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), HIV testing, a personal admission to a facility for the care and treatment of a mentally ill person and taking of parental leave or membership in any other category protected by applicable law. In addition to federal requirements, Five Star complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has communities and/or facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. In addition, Five Star expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, ancestry, sex, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity and expression (including transgender), sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, military status, certain criminal records, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), HIV testing, a personal admission to a facility for the care and treatment of a mentally ill person and taking of parental leave or membership in any other category protected by applicable law. We will not tolerate harassment of employees in the workplace, or in other settings in which employees may find themselves in connection with their employment. Improper interference with the ability of Five Stars employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge. Additionally, retaliation, including intimidation, threats, or coercion, because an employee or applicant has objected to discrimination harassment or retaliation, engaged or may engage in filing a complaint, assisted in a review, investigation, or hearing or have otherwise sought to obtain their legal rights under any federal, state, or local law is prohibited and will not be tolerated. recblid 1qss5asoypdaceqmufigi8nuzj022k iOS iMessage Engineer Santa Clara Valley (Cupertino) , California , United States Software and Services Summary Posted: May 27, 2021 Weekly Hours: 40 Role Number: 200251309 Imagine what you could do here. At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming great products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. We're looking for an engineer to help us add amazing and innovative new features to the iMessage application. You will be responsible for implementing exciting features to our existing iMessage application, as well as developing complex applications from top to bottom (user interface design to design and implementation of supporting frameworks.) Key Qualifications Strong development and design skills using object-oriented languages You will have detailed knowledge of Obj-C Ability to develop solutions using relational databases You will possess Framework or API development experience Go beyond industry norm and demonstrate creativity in problem solving, think dynamically Adapt quickly to new technical environments Description Please join us in taking the revolutionary iPhone to the next level. The iOS Communications Applications Group, an innovative and ambitious team who has played a large role in making the iPhone a success. We are looking for a proactive, highly motivated engineer with excellent development experience, to share their expertise in application and framework development. Along with excellent skills in object-oriented software design and programming, you are expected to have real-world experience optimizing the size and performance of applications and frameworks. Education & Experience BS Degree in CS, or equivalent Hospital services across the West and North West will face ongoing service disruptions into next week as a result of the ransomware attack on the HSE IT systems. Work is ongoing to get priority systems back including radiology, diagnostic and patient information systems which are essential for the delivery of safe care. Grainne McCann, General Manager at Sligo University Hospital said, Steady progress is being made in getting vital clinical systems back up and running. This has to be done in a very safe way and we anticipate it will take a number of weeks. For now maternity services, dialysis treatment, chemotherapy treatment and physiotherapy appointments are going ahead. Unfortunately we are not in a position to resume outpatient appointments, elective inpatient or day case procedures. A small number of these appointments may go ahead if they are time-dependent or if they dont require laboratory or radiology services. In these cases we will contact the patients directly to confirm that their appointment will go ahead. Where possible we are asking patients to bring their existing patient number or hospital number with them when they come to the hospital or any letter that they have received from the hospital as this will contain information which will make it easier for us to find existing medical records. Patients should also bring a current list of medications or prescriptions. We recognise how difficult these disruptions are for patients particularly those who have been waiting a long time for an appointment and we would like to thank patients and their families for their ongoing support at this time. We are working hard to find interim solutions and options so that we can reintroduce some services as soon as possible. As services resume, we will contact patients to let them know and we will update hospital service information on hse.ie and saolta.ie. Overview of current hospital disruptions: CANCELLATIONS Diagnostics including X-ray, CT scans, MRI appointments are cancelled. Elective inpatient and day case procedures are cancelled. A number of procedures may go ahead and these patients will be contacted directly. Patients are asked not to come to the hospital unless contacted directly. OUTPATIENT CLINICS Most outpatient clinics are cancelled. A small number of appointments may go ahead and these patients will be contacted directly. Maternity antenatal clinics are going ahead. MATERNITY SERVICES All maternity services including antenatal scanning and colposcopy are going ahead. DIALYSIS Patients should attend their dialysis appointments unless contacted and advised otherwise. CHEMOTHERAPY Patients should attend their chemotherapy treatments unless contacted and advised otherwise. EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT The Emergency Department is still open for all emergencies. Patients needing urgent care will be prioritised. Patients can expect significant delays in the Emergency Department as existing IT systems are not in use and the manual workarounds in place are time-consuming. We ask patients to contact their GP or GP Out Of Hours Service in the first instance if their health problem is not urgent. Readers Survey As our valued readers, we want to hear from you. Please take a moment to fill out the survey below. - Thank you, Eastern Arizona Courier Click Here Methuen - Michael V. Finn, a longtime resident of Lawrence, passed away unexpectedly and peacefully on May 25, 2021, at the age of 72 while doing something that he loved, playing golf. Known to many as "Mickey", he was born in Lawrence on April 20, 1949 to James L. and Margaret (Bateman) Fin Three suspects connected to the May 14 homicide in Clovis have been arrested, police said last week. Those in police custody include one adult 18-year-old Xavier Lucero and two juveniles. Lucero and one juvenile were located in Kern County in Bakersfield, Calif. Both wanted individuals will be held in custody awaiting extradition back to New Mexico to face the charges related to this homicide, Clovis police said in a news release. Another juvenile was recently arrested locally in connection with the death of 16-year-old Ricardo Gonzales. The release stated police are still searching for a 14-year-old boy wanted in connection with the case. He remained at large heading into the weekend. Officials have said Lucero and three juveniles all face murder charges. Assistant District Attorney Brian Stover said Friday the suspects arrested in California are awaiting extradition to New Mexico. I can't tell you when (they) will be back from California as the extradition process can take up to a month and maybe in as little as two weeks, Stover said. Gonzales died after multiple people opened fire on a vehicle in which he was a passenger, police have said. The driver of the car attempted to flee, but crashed into a utility pole. Officials said Gonzales died from injuries suffered in the crash. According to a criminal complaint filed last week in Curry County Magistrate Court: Police responded to Plains Regional Medical Center just before midnight on May 14 in reference to a car crash victim and a related gunshot victim. A witness at the hospital said the car crash stemmed from an argument that started at a party on the 1200 block of Brady Street and continued at the railroad tracks on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The witness said two vehicles a Dodge truck and a Mercedes sedan were waiting for the train when a gray sedan pulled up behind both. Multiple people came out and started shooting at both vehicles. One subject was hit by gunfire, and another was injured in a crash as they attempted to flee. A search of the site resulted in the discovery of 31 shell casings from at least three different firearms. The driver of the Dodge truck, Miguel Reyes, was struck by a round, treated at University Medical Center in Lubbock for a shattered scapula and later released. The driver of the Mercedes, Daniel Rivera, fled the scene on a railway service road and crashed into a utility pole. Gonzales, a passenger in the Mercedes, later died at PRMC; he did not have any gunshot wounds. In subsequent interviews, Lucero and others were identified as shooters. Officials have said it was not clear what started the argument, noting different witnesses have given different reasons and one or all of them may be true. Clovis police are asking anyone with information about the case contact them at 575-769-1921 and request to speak with the Investigations/Special Operations Unit. By the Staff of The News CLOVIS The Eastern New Mexico Water Utility Authority is heading to Portales in a few weeks. The authority, during its Thursday meeting, approved a construction agreement for the Finished Water 3A phase of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System. Beginning July 6, contractor Smithco Construction will begin work on the 11.5-mile portion of pipeline from Cannon Air Force Base to the Portales water system. The $19.284 million job requires Smithco reach substantial completion within 360 calendar days and final completion in 420 calendar days. The project, according to an authority release, will include a 20-inch transmission pipeline. We are very proud to have reached this milestone of connecting to Portales, said Portales Mayor and Authority Vice Chair Ron Jackson. This project brings jobs not only to a New Mexico company, but also to local sub-contractors, construction workers and businesses. We continue to move forward in a positive manner with this pipeline project. The entire Finished Water 3 project covers 16.5 miles to reach the Portales system. The remaining 5 miles will be part of Finished Water 3B, with the funds already set aside by the authority. The FW3A approval happened through five different meeting actions an engineer recommendation of the award to Smithco, an authorization for Administrator Orlando Ortega to sign notice of award, an execution of agreement with Smithco, an authorization for Ortega to sign the notice to proceed and an authorization allowing Ortega to approve change orders of $50,000 or less. In other business at the Thursday meeting: The authority approved a preliminary fiscal year 2022 budget. The budget includes $28.147 million in budgeted expenditures, much of it on the FW3 project, and leaves the authority with a $19.46 million estimated ending cash balance. The authority anticipates $312,000 in professional services and $276,732 in administration expenses. Total member contributions are $1.71 million. Texico City Councilor Max Carter was sworn in for a one-year term. According to the governing documents for the authority, Texico and Elida are represented on the authority with a rotating board position that flips every year. He replaces Elida Mayor Durward Dixon. The authority approved an annual renewal of an accounting contract with Hinkle & Landers, and approved a contract with DeAun Willoughby CPA, PC for 2021 fiscal year audit. A three-year office lease agreement was reached to keep the authority offices in the Sitterly Professional Center. The $13,980 expense for the year, Ortega said, is a $15 per month increase over the prior agreement. Description Salary $39,348.24 - $47,828.76 Annually Location Everett, WA Job Type Full-Time Department Human Services Job Number 2021-00211 Division Human Services Housing & Community Services Closing 6/6/2021 11:59 PM Pacific Description Join our Snohomish County Human Services Team! We have two full-time temporary positions in the Energy Assistance Program of our Housing and Community Services Division. These positions will work 100% with the Energy Assistance Program. These positions require working in the office or remotely when the office is closed due to COVID-19. Looking dynamic individuals with excellent math skills, ability to accurately review and calculate various income sources, able to work in a fast-paced environment, willing to communicate by phone, through SKYPE and email with a very diverse population including low-income, disabled, seniors, persons with limited English and veterans. This individual must have the ability to redirect communications professionally and effectively when encountering disgruntled customers and be able to consistently retain program-related information as expected for this position. NOTE: Any references to weatherization tasks or acquiring certifications in this notice are not applicable to this position. Human Services Department mission is to help all persons meet their basic needs and develop their potential by providing timely, effective services and building community. The Human Services Department includes 230 diverse, friendly, and dedicated employees who benefit from outstanding benefits and competitive wages. Employees are appreciated and have the opportunity to make a real difference in our community. Snohomish County is thriving and is a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family. We strive to not only provide a meaningful job, but a life-long career at Snohomish County. BASIC FUNCTION To interview low income clients and establish their eligibility for grant funded energy and weatherization programs. Process necessary documents for compliance with regulations. Job Duties STATEMENT OF ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES Assists clients in person and on the telephone in correctly completing forms; reviews forms for accuracy; requests additional information as needed; calculates eligibility and answers questions regarding eligibility. Answers telephone; respond to questions or routes calls to correct party. Reviews client files to ensure that all documents are signed and completed per contract compliance. Provides information and referral to Community Service Agencies. Enters information on the computer in specialized format, including application, program or financial data. Receives and routes incoming mail; may deliver mail to Post Office and maintain mail log. STATEMENT OF OTHER JOB DUTIES Provides client training in Energy Conservation. Assists client in budget counseling. Schedules phone interviews; assists elderly, handicapped and homebound clients with their eligibility. Assists with appointment scheduling. Performs related duties as required. Minimum Qualifications One (1) year of experience in Energy/Weatherization programs performing a variety of office work, interviewing and computer experience; OR , any equivalent combination of training and/or experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities. LIHEAP Energy Assistance Program experience preferred. Must pass job related tests. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS LIHEAP Energy Assistance Program experience preferred. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS A valid Washington State Driver's License is required for employment. Additional Information KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES Knowledge of: computers, data entry and standard software programs such as Microsoft Word and Excel standard office practices and procedures and all related office work standard human service client protocol including interview techniques, client confidentiality requirements, and professional conduct Ability to: perform mathematical computations communicate effectively with a diverse population learn and retain a complex series of rules and regulations to determine eligibility and benefits explain complex rules, policies and procedures in a concise easy to understand manner read, interpret and enter data accurately and rapidly maintain an organized work setting, tracking forms and applications work with minimum supervision in a fast paced setting meeting deadlines while coping with distractions and interruptions accurately follow oral and written instructions maintain accurate records and prepare required reports maintain a professional demeanor while exercising good judgment SUPERVISION Employees receive direction from a technical Lead Energy & Weatherization Assistant III, and supervision from a Human Services Specialist III or administrator as assigned. Objectives, priorities and goals/deadlines are established by the supervisor. Employees plan and carry out successive steps and resolve problems in accordance with instructions, policies and accepted practices. WORKING CONDITIONS The work is performed in the usual office environment with occasional field work when assisting clients. Snohomish County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities are provided upon request. recblid hyy5iwdwtcgmi9rhv492amm23vftkk Requirements None Effingham, IL (62401) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 71F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 71F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Instagram is making changes that might address censorship claims. The social network has confirmed to the Financial Times that it's changing its algorithm to rank reshared posts in Stories on an equal level to originals after Palestinians accused the company of censoring content. A Facebook spokesperson told Engadget there was no intended censorship, and that the tweak was a response to overall problems with the reach of reshared content, not just Palestinian material. There had been a broader increase in the number of reshared posts that had a "bigger impact than expected" on their reach, the spokesperson said. The representative added that it wasn't what people hoped for, and it was "not a good experience." Instagram still wanted to focus more on originals, the Facebook spokesperson said, but it would be "looking for other ways" to highlight them, such as creative tools. This change won't resolve every concern about alleged censorship. Users said Facebook was flagging posts with words like "martyr" and "resistance" for reportedly inciting violence despite innocuous content, and was even removing posts about the al-Aqsa mosque (where clashes have taken place) after incorrectly linking it to the similarly-named coalition of extremists. The FT noted that "as many as 50" Facebook workers had frequently drawn attention to possible suppression of pro-Palestinian material, including over 80 appeals on automatically removed content. The move could still have a significant effect on the kinds of Stories you see in Instagram. You may be more likely to see content for hot-button subjects. That might be problematic if people circulate misinformation (WhatsApp has been fighting this problem for years), but Facebook is clearly betting that equal rankings will ultimately help more people. Do you have a passion for technology and helping people with their website issues? Come join the LOCALiQ family and you, too, can be a part of giving back to our community. LOCALiQ, part of Gannett Co., Inc., is a company that values innovation, passion and a healthy work/life balance. Our employees have a drive for success and we strive to create a thriving company culture where you'll enjoy coming to work every day! We work to help local businesses all over the nation and world reach more customers online. The company has been listed as a Best Places to Work and are a Premier Google Partner. What we Offer: As a part of Gannett Co., Inc., the nation's largest media and marketing solutions company, we offer a dynamic, community-focused environment where individuals are rewarded for exceptional performance. We offer competitive salaries and benefits, including health care, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending account, 401(k), paid vacation time, personal and sick leave, and tuition reimbursement. Job Summary We are looking for a Website Services Consultant (WSC) to execute on service processes in support of our companys LOCALiQ website solution. This role will provide technical support and consultation in aid of our clients' digital marketing plan. The WSC will be responsible for providing post-launch support of our website solution. In this role, the WSC will help develop processes to support the delivery of the LOCALiQ website solution, execute upon website support requests, and provide general website support and consultation. The WSC will also assist with high-level domain troubleshooting, basic web development tasks, and light management of our CRM solution. Key Competencies: Experience with HTML, CSS, and WordPress Utilizing business processes, marketing and technology concepts Ability to quickly master a CMS environment Troubleshooting technical issues related to website support and configuration Ability to multi-task and handle multiple competing priorities Expertise in customer relationship management Ability to communicate and work with staff across multiple departments, to solve problems Strong verbal and written communication skills Good analytical and systematic problem-solving skills Incorporating constantly evolving technologies and processes into the client solution delivery process Job Requirements: ENID Celebration of life service for Richard Leroy Wood will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at Anderson-Burris Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Richard was born 5/28/1932 and passed away on 6/12/2021. www.andersonburris.com Click for the latest, full-access Enid News & Eagle headlines | Text Alerts | app downloads Mullin is an award-winning writer and columnist who retired in 2017 after 41 years with the News & Eagle. Email him at janjeff2002@yahoo.com or write him in care of the Enid News & Eagle at PO Box 1192, Enid, OK, 73702. The News & Eagle has traditionally published personal opinions of writers and readers through editorials, columns and letters to the editor on its Opinion Page. The opinions shared are those of the writers and not the newspaper. Submit your opinion for publication to editor@enidnews.com. Find out more about submitting letters to the editor at https://www.enidnews.com/opinion/. A police officer immediately went to Prince Harry's residence in Santa Barbara County after Prince Philip died. In a new report by Fox News, a spokesperson for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office detailed how one of their officers went to Prince Harry on April 9. Per the statement, an officer helped Buckingham Palace to get in touch with the royal prince as he did not know the saddening news yet. When Prince Philip died, the Palace reportedly had difficulties in getting in touch with him. Since he was unreachable via phone call, the U.S. Embassy in London, England, contacted the office instead. They asked the department to contact the Duke of Sussex at his home. The spokesperson revealed that one deputy from the sheriff's office responded to the request and immediately relayed the message to the head of security. The officer did not directly tell the news to Prince Harry. Instead, they advised him to get in touch with Buckingham Palace. What Happened Next? Due to the time difference between California and the U.K., the Palace found it hard to connect with him. Soon after Prince Harry learned about it, Buckingham Palace finally released the official statement. "It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen has announced the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning at Windsor Castle," the statement read. Prince Harry jetted back to his home country two days later to attend Prince Philip's funeral. Meanwhile, his wife was not able to attend as she is currently pregnant with their second child. The Duke of Edinburgh's remains currently lies inside a Royal Vault at the St. George's Chapel. READ ALSO: Simon Cowell's Bike Accident Could Have Been WORSE: 'AGT' Judge Almost Cut Back in Half According to The Telegraph, Prince Philip will be transferred to King George VI's memorial chapel once Queen Elizabeth II dies. He will lie alongside her when that time finally comes. The chapel holds the remains of Her Majesty's father, George VI, Queen Mother, and her sister, Princess Margaret. The central feature of the building shows "George VI" and "Elizabeth" names in gold lettering with their years of birth and death. The whole funeral only saw around 30 mourners avoid COVID-19 complications. At the same time, the event became the place for the royal family to celebrate the life of the late prince and his more than 70 years of service to the Queen and Commonwealth. READ MORE: Kim Kardashian COVID-19 Positive? 'KUWTK' Star Reveals Alarming Diagnosis That Affected Baby Bar See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles The city of San Antonio opened a shelter and several cooling centers after severe storms on Friday and Saturday knocked out power for thousands of residents. Over the course of a few hours, the San Antonio area got upward of 5,000 lightning strikes, wind gusts as high as 77 miles per hour and about 2 inches of rainfall, according to the National Weather Service. Thats a good amount, said Mack Morris, an NWS meteorologist. It definitely caused some issues. On ExpressNews.com: Comal River closed Saturday due to rain; tubing still available in Guadalupe River The weather knocked down tree branches and power lines and damaged transformers and other electrical equipment throughout Bexar County. CPS Energy crews had responded to 137 downed wires by Saturday night, according to the city-owned utility. The storm damage triggered as many as about 33,000 sustained power outages. By 8 a.m. Sunday, there were about 170 active outages and about 700 CPS customers were still without power as crews continued to make repairs. Restoration focus is on larger outages to bring the most customers back online first. This will take time as the storm caused significant damage to trees and equipment, officials said in a news release Saturday night. Officials said crews will work through Sunday and Monday to finish all the repairs and restore power to everyone who lost it. The city opened the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center as a temporary shelter on Saturday but no one used it, so closed it at 10 a.m. Sunday, said Laura Mayes, a city spokeswoman. But with many residents still without power and temperatures on Sunday expected to top 85 degrees, the city opened five cooling centers in area libraries from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The cooling centers are at Cody Library, Guerra Library, Mission Library, Semmes Library and Carver Library. Residents who need a ride to one of the cooling centers can call 311 for assistance. Theres a 20 percent chance of more thunderstorms on Sunday. Severe thunderstorms are expected for Monday, which is Memorial Day. Hail, heavy rainfall and damaging winds are expected early in the week. andy.picon@hearst.com | Twitter: @andpicon Edward A. Ornelas /San Antonio Express-News A 2-year-old boy was shot in the leg on Saturday night while playing with other children in an East Side park. San Antonio police said the boys guardian was with the children at a park in the area of Rigsby Avenue and Loop 410 when she heard the boy crying and saw him lying on the ground near the playground. When she went to check on him, she saw that he had a gunshot wound to the lower part of his right leg. JOHANNES EISELE, Contributor / AFP via Getty Images Two women were killed, while two people were left critically injured after an early Saturday shooting on the Northwest Side. Three women and a man were at the 4th Quarter Sports Bar off Wurzbach Road earlier in the night to mourn the death of a loved one, the San Antonio Police Department said. After a year in which we all seemed at war with an invisible enemy, we might have a firmer grasp of what Memorial Day means. For more than a year, Americans have experienced hardship and sacrifice and deprivation, some of the same burdens our fighting men and women have shouldered since the birth of this country. When the pandemic emerged in 2020, its insidious impact grew day by day, week by week. Coronavirus cases topped 60,000 by April of that year, surpassing the number of Americans killed in the Vietnam War Many of the Americans who fought in that war were part of the demographic most cruelly hit by the virus; 90 percent of the victims were 50 or older. By December, the death toll hit 300,000 in the U.S., exceeding heart disease as the leading cause of death in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These were our friends and loved ones, and from a distance, we saw them wither and die in isolation, their bodies and minds wracked by a force that seemed almost militaristic. We should remember that today, Memorial Day. We should remember the hardships we faced and continue to face because these are the hardships our brave men and women have faced for centuries. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it should be how to empathize for people we have never met and are never likely to meet. This includes our soldiers, people who face death to save us from facing death. With millions of Americans fully vaccinated, the daily average of COVID-19 cases has steadily fallen. The decline has been dramatic, but it has not faded, not yet, and the tragedy it has wrought should remind us of the tragedies our brave fighting men and women have faced since 1776. Americans are scared, and I lived with that myself, Coleen Bowman, whose husband died of cancer after serving in Iraq in 2013, told CNN last year. Bowman was referring to COVID-19, and to the parallel she saw between the pandemic and war. The similarities, she said, were striking, because she had experienced the impact of both an impact so stark and dramatic that she knew people, in both instances, who mourned before a friend or loved one had died. It was if they were trying to pre-empt the sorrow they knew was coming. Theres a constant fear that the worst is inevitable, and this anticipatory grief, well, thats what I felt when my husband went off to war, she said, and thats what Im seeing in my neighbors today. So, on this Memorial Day, let us salute the men and women who have saluted us through their courage and sacrifice our brave soldiers. And as we do that, let us salute them with extra love and vigor, because the pandemic has given us a window into what they have faced. Remember, Memorial Day is about us, all of us, those who have died and those who live because of the sacrifice our heroes have made. Without memory, there is no culture, Elie Wiesel, the great Nobel Prize laureate, once said. Without memory, there would be no civilization, no society, no future. More than 1 million Americans have died in battle throughout our history, and roughly 600,000 have died during the pandemic, almost 4,000 of them health care workers. In war, and in this pandemic, each loss is incalculable. So let us honor both today, our soldiers and our health care workers; we are here because they are not. Position Objective: Contributes to the provision of high-quality, cost-effective healthcare as a provider of direct and indirect patient care and by effective of the health care team. Functions as a competent member of the health care team. Essential Job Duties: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 1. Clinical Decision Making/Judgment Demonstrates clinical nursing knowledge and skill in the specialization of the unit. Demonstrates the ability to apply the nursing process effectively in the care of culturally diverse patients and families. Demonstrates the ability to utilize all applicable laws, policies, standards, guidelines and evidence-based practice in the provision of patient/family care. Organizes and reprioritizes patient care activities based on subtle and overt and/or environmental changes. Consistently and thoroughly assesses patients to collect data and identify learning needs according to established standards and policies. Utilizes a systematic, continuous and complete analysis of assessment data to develop individualized problem lists for assigned patients. Develops and individualizes a plan of care for each patient in accordance with established standards, appropriate prioritization of problems/needs, and mutually agreed upon goals. Efficiently implements the patient's plan of care in accordance with applicable standards, policies, procedures and guidelines. Demonstrates proficiency in medication administration, pain management and other unit or initiative specific skills. Continuously evaluates the effectiveness of the plan(s) of care, making revisions and recommendations based on analysis of patient responses to interventions. 2. Nurse-Patient Family Relationships Demonstrates the ability to assess the patient's/family's learning needs, readiness to learn, learning style, and presence of barriers to learning. Demonstrates the ability to develop, implement and evaluate teaching plans for patient populations in unit specialty in accordance with applicable standards. Demonstrates the ability to apply knowledge of growth and development across the life span to the care of patients. Provides direct patient care to patients and families in a culturally, developmentally and ethically appropriate manner. Plans of care address the physical, psychosocial, spiritual and learning needs of the patient/family. 3. Clinical Scholarship Participates in QI, CPI and risk management activities at the unit, department or organizational level. Demonstrates the ability to effectively perform and improve all processes in order to achieve excellence with regard to AAMC's quality standards and benchmarks. Supports the use of evidence based guidelines and organizational policies and procedures to promote safe patient care and a safe practice environment. 4. Clinical Leadership Participates in unit shared governance according to departmental standards. Participates in the education and orientation of new staff. Delegates patient care activities as appropriate; evaluates delegated activities for expected patient care outcomes. Employs real time computer documentation when completing patient record. Educational/Experience Requirements: Graduate of an accredited school of nursing Adherence to the credentialing requirements of AAMC as stated in the nursing bylaws. Required License/Certifications: Current licensure as a registered nurse by the Maryland Board of Nursing. CPR - American Heart Association Healthcare Provider certification Working Conditions, Equipment, Physical Demands: There is a reasonable expectation that employees in this position will be exposed to blood-borne pathogens. Physical Demands - Medium work. Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 30 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects. The physical demands and work environment that have been described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The above job description is an overview of the functions and requirements for this position. This document is not intended to be an exhaustive list encompassing every duty and requirement of this position; your supervisor may assign other duties as deemed necessary. Despite no evidence of substantial voter fraud in Texas, Republicans are preparing to pass sweeping voting legislation with new provisions that make it easier to overturn an election in which fraudulent votes are suspected and to lower the standard for proving fraud in civil court. The burden of proof for voter fraud charges in Texas is clear and convincing evidence. The bill would change that standard to preponderance of the evidence. A related measure would allow a judge to overturn an election if the total number of ballots found to be fraudulent exceeds the margin of victory. In such cases, a judge could declare the election void without attempting to determine how individual voters voted. UPDATE: The voting restrictions bill died in the Texas House about 11 p.m. Sunday If you dont have to show that they would have made a difference, then even illegal votes or fraudulent votes for your side get factored into that equation, said Tommy Buser-Clancy, staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas. This is just a perpetuation of the Big Lie, and as weve seen throughout the nation, this is a further weakening of the institutional strength of our democracy. The new provisions are last-minute additions to Senate Bill 7, legislation that has drawn the ire of Democratic and civil rights groups that have called it voter suppression since its first draft. The final version of the bill hadnt been posted online as of early Friday evening and was not made available to the public but the Houston Chronicle obtained a copy. WHATS IN SENATE BILL 7 No early voting after 9 p.m., eliminating 24-hour and late-night voting centers that Houston and Austin experimented with. Drive-thru voting banned. Early voting during Sunday limited to between 1 and 9 p.m. Requires driver's license or Social Security number to apply for an absentee ballot. Expressly prohibits using an absentee ballot because of an illness that doesn't prevent someone from being able to vote in person without assistance. Prohibits drop boxes. All absentee ballots returned have to be mailed or hand-delivered to an election worker. Bars any obstruction to partisan poll watchers to observe election activities. People who help three or more people who are not related to them get to polls to vote will be required to fill out papers and identify who they are. Bars people from helping one or more voters submit absentee ballot or absentee ballot applications to help a specific candidate or ballot measure. Lowers the standard in an election contest to make it easier for judges to overturn elections. WHAT'S OUT Provision to allow partisan poll watcher to video record in voting precincts. A plan to evenly distribute early voting sites that threatened to close some voting locations in Black and Hispanic communities. See More Collapse The compromise bill still contains a number of restrictions largely aimed at big cities, especially Houston, which came up with new voting expansions during the pandemic. It was also the major cities that heavily backed President Joe Biden and gave the Democrats their best showing in a presidential election in Texas in over 40 years. The bill includes limitation of early-voting hours and bans on drive-thru voting, mail ballot drop boxes and mass mailing of mail ballot applications. It also adds other new provisions, many of which will complicate voting by mail, such as a requirement that voters with disabilities disclose the type of impairment they have that renders them unable to vote in person. A few of the provisions most harshly criticized by opponents, meanwhile, have been removed. The bill no longer limits the number of polling places and voting machines in large Texas counties. Another provision that has been removed would have permitted poll watchers to make recordings of voters receiving assistance if they believed they were witnessing unlawful activity. The Republican authors of the legislation House Elections Committee Chair Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, and Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola have continually said their goal is to increase election integrity and assure that only legally eligible voters cast ballots. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox SB 7 is one of the most comprehensive and sensible election reform bills in Texas history, they said in a joint statement. There is nothing more foundational to this democracy and our state than the integrity of our elections. Even as the national media minimizes the importance of election integrity, the Texas Legislature has not bent to headlines or corporate virtue signaling. In a statement Saturday, Biden described the legislation as wrong and un-American and referred to it in the same light as measures approved in other states. As of May 14, 14 states had enacted 22 new laws with provisions that make it harder for Americans to vote, putting the country on track to pass the most voting rights restraints since 2011, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law. Today, Texas legislators put forth a bill that joins Georgia and Florida in advancing a state law that attacks the sacred right to vote, Biden said. Its part of an assault on democracy that weve seen far too often this year and often disproportionately targeting Black and brown Americans. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo also denounced the bill as undemocratic. Its gut-wrenching. Worse than the original bills. This CAN and must be stopped, Hidalgo wrote on Twitter. Everyone who believes in our democracy & protecting the legacy of those who fought and died for it must speak up. Late-night push draws complaint In a surprise maneuver, the Texas Senate voted along party lines Saturday night to scrap its usual rules and force a debate and vote on the bill after 10 p.m., over the objections of Democrats. The 13 Democrats in the Senate expected the bill to be debated and voted on Sunday until Hughes made the motion to push the bill through late Saturday instead. State Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, questioned why Republicans pushed to debate such a major bill in the dead of night on a holiday weekend when most Texans wouldnt be able to tune in. He noted major changes have been made to the bill, leaving lawmakers almost no time to communicate with elections experts in their home cities and counties. How did you decide 10 p.m. tonight was the right time? Menendez asked Hughes. If we are going to be getting into a 100-page bill that affects how everyone in this state is going to be voting, registering to vote, running elections, does that not seem like were really not doing it when the public can be watching? Though there are substantial changes that were made in closed-door private session with House members, Hughes said he will give Senate members a closed-door private briefing on all the changes one that neither the public nor the media would hear. Hughes said the public had a chance to weigh in on the bill back in March during a public hearing. The Texas House is expected to bring up the bill on Sunday. Although Texas had no reports of mass voter fraud in 2020, Gov. Greg Abbott and Republican leaders in the Legislature insist they have to make the states election systems more secure. For the GOP, its the fulfillment of a major priority after the 2020 presidential election, when former President Donald Trump falsely claimed that widespread election fraud cost him the White House. Even in Texas, Trump has said without proof that his margin of victory was probably bigger than what was reported. Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughs resigned last week after the Republican-led Senate failed to confirm her appointment. A top deputy of Hughs had publicly described the states 2020 election as smooth and secure, as lawmakers were gearing up to push legislation such as SB 7. MORE ON THAT: Did a smooth and secure 2020 election cost the Texas secretary of state her job? Cain, who is an attorney, was named chairman of the Elections Committee after he traveled to Pennsylvania to help Trumps legal team in its efforts to overturn the presidential election results last year. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also led an effort to reverse election results in four battleground states with a Supreme Court bid that was immediately rejected. This is the same person who was trying to participate in the overthrow of the 2020 election, who is now trying to make it easier to do the same in Texas, Buser-Clancy said. Its equally alarming. Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly described the type of court where voter fraud cases would have been held to a lower standard of proof under Senate Bill 7, which did not pass. The provision would have affected cases in which a candidate contests election results in civil court. taylor.goldenstein@chron.com jeremy.wallace@chron.com Moscow - Belgrade 09.05.2021, JU655, departing Sheremetyevo Airport at 22.00 This is my first trip report and I hope it will be interesting to read. Because of family connections I often fly to Moscow from Belgrade. This time, I made plans for my trip late, and I was surprised with the fares. Almost all nonstop flights were very expensive. So, I decided to wait a little bit more and it was a good decision because eventually Air Serbia increased its number of flights to Moscow and prices became more reasonable, but still higher than in the pre-covid era. I arrived at Nikola Tesla Airport at 5.30 am and quickly checked-in during which I had to show the agent a negative PCR test. After that, I quickly passed passport control. The airport wasn't crowded, and most of the people were on Air Serbias flights to Moscow and Paris. My plane for this trip was YU-APH Vlade Divac, Air Serbias only A320. Boarding was on time at gate C4. Boarding was conducted strictly in groups. First, passengers in business class, then those with seats in the first few rows and so on. I could say that the load factor was pretty solid and passengers on the plane were both Russians and Serbs. My seat was in economy class with a window view. The flight was comfortable and pleasant, and service was usual, with free small water and a few pieces of noblice. I enjoy flying with Air Serbia but must say that the complementary service offer on a flight that lasts 2h 40 minutes could be better. During the flight, passengers received a Covid entry form with routine questions which must later be given to Russian officers at the airport. Landing was pleasant, and both the passport and covid control at Sheremetyevo Airport were quick and efficient. One has to show their PCR test and their filled out form. Landing was pleasant, and both the passport and covid control at Sheremetyevo Airport were quick and efficient. One has to show their PCR test and their filled out form. My return flight was initially scheduled to depart at 23.00 with the Airbus A330, but later was changed for 22.00 with the Airbus A319. The timing was better, but I must say it would have been more interesting to fly with the new A330. I came to Sheremetyevo two hours before the flight, and Terminal D wasnt crowded. Passport and security control were quick and routine. Dont be surprised to undertake serious security control at the entrance of the terminal. This time my plane was YU-APJ named Dejan Stankovic. Boarding was a little late, and after more waiting on the taxiway, we took off at about 22.25. Flight was very comfortable and pleasant, and service was usual with a lot of interest for the food and beverage products on sale. The cabin crew were very kind as always on Air Serbia. I think that most passengers were Russians, and some of them were waiting for the morning transfer to Montenegro. We landed in Belgrade at the same time as the plane from Dubai, that made some extra crowds at passport control. After I showed my vaccination certificate, I passed passport control without problems. People who are planning a trip to Russia need to know that currently, because of the Russian laws, it is necessary to fly to Russia on a nonstop flight, and it is necessary to have a negative PCR test, not older than 72 hours. Visas are not required for Serbian citizens. All air companies that fly to Moscow are currently flying to Sheremetyevo. Transport from the airport is easy with aeroexpress train that goes to Belorusskaya railway station. Also it is good to know that yandex and uber prices are acceptable in Moscow. I can say that I enjoyed my trip and flight with Air Serbia. STAMFORD The citys Memorial Day parade, ceremony and Gold Star Family monument unveiling were postponed due to looming inclement weather. Officials posted the announcement to the city website Saturday afternoon indicating a new time and date would be announced shortly. We are disappointed. One pillar of Mayor David Martins platform is safety and tomorrows weather forecast poses concerns Mark McGrath, Stamfords Director of Operations said. The decision to postpone was made by the events organizers the Stamford Veterans Park Partnership, Veterans Council and Patriotic and Special Events Commission. Patricia Parry, the Gold Star Mother of Navy SEAL Brian Bill, said its disappointing for all of us, but that safety comes first. We want to be sure the event provides the best opportunity for everyone to join together to honor and remember those men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, and due to the weather, tomorrow is not that day, she said. JERUSALEM (AP) A former ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said he would seek to form a coalition government with the Israeli leader's opponents, taking a major step toward ending the rule of the longtime premier. The dramatic announcement by Naftali Bennett, leader of the small hardline Yamina party, set the stage for a series of steps that could push Netanyahu and his dominant Likud party into the opposition in the coming week. While Bennett and his new partners, headed by opposition leader Yair Lapid, still face some obstacles, the sides appeared to be serious about reaching a deal and ending the deadlock that has plunged the country into four elections in the past two years. Its my intention to do my utmost in order to form a national unity government along with my friend Yair Lapid, so that, God willing, together we can save the country from a tailspin and return Israel to its course, Bennett said. The pair have until Wednesday to complete a deal in which each is expected to serve two years as prime minister in a rotation deal, with Bennett holding the job first. Lapid's Yesh Atid party said negotiating teams were to meet later Sunday. Bennett, a former top aide to Netanyahu who has held senior Cabinet posts, shares the prime minister's hard-line ideology. He is a former leader of the West Bank settlement movement and heads a small party whose base includes religious and nationalist Jews. Yet he has had a strained and complicated relationship with his one-time mentor due to personal differences. Bennett said there was no feasible way after the deadlocked March 23 election to form a right-wing government favored by Netanyahu. He said another election would yield the same results and said it was time to end the cycle. A government like this will succeed only if we work together as a group, he said. He said everyone will need to postpone fulfilling part of their dreams. We will focus on what can be done, instead of fighting all day on whats impossible. If Bennett and Lapid and their other partners can wrap up a deal, it would end, at least for the time being, the record-setting tenure of Netanyahu, the most dominant figure in Israeli politics over the past three decades. Netanyahu has served as prime minister for the past 12 years and also held an earlier term in the late 1990s. In his own televised statement, Netanyahu accused Bennett of betraying the Israeli right wing and urged nationalist politicians not to join what he called a leftist government. A government like this is a danger to the security of Israel, and is also a danger to the future of the state, he said. Despite his electoral dominance, Netanyahu has become a polarizing figure since he was indicted on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in late 2019. Each of the past four elections was seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's fitness to rule, and each ended in deadlock. Netanyahu is desperate to stay in power while he is on trial. He has used his office as a stage to rally his base and lash out against police, prosecutors and the media. In order to form a government, a party leader must secure the support of a 61-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament. Because no single party controls a majority on its own, coalitions are usually built with smaller partners. Thirteen parties of various sizes are in the current parliament. As leader of the largest party, Netanyahu was given the first opportunity by the countrys figurehead president to form a coalition. But he was unable to secure a majority with his traditional religious and nationalist allies. Netanyahu even attempted to court a small Islamist Arab party but was thwarted by a small ultranationalist party with a racist anti-Arab agenda. Although Arabs make up some 20% of Israels population, an Arab party has never before sat in an Israeli coalition government. After Netanyahus failure to form a government, Lapid was then given four weeks to cobble together a coalition. He has until Wednesday to complete the task. While Bennett's Yamina party controls just seven seats in parliament, he has emerged as a kingmaker of sorts by providing the necessary support to secure a majority. If he is successful, his party would be the smallest to lead an Israeli government. Lapid already faced a difficult challenge, given the broad range of parties in the anti-Netanyahu bloc that have little in common. They include dovish left-wing parties, a pair of right-wing nationalist parties, including Bennetts Yamina, and most likely the Islamist United Arab List. Lapids task was made even more difficult after war broke out with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip on May 10. His coalition talks were put on hold during the 11 days of fighting. But with Wednesdays deadline looming, negotiations have kicked into high gear. Lapid has reached coalition deals with three other parties so far. If he finalizes a deal with Bennett, the remaining partners are expected to quickly fall into place. They would then have roughly one week to present their coalition to parliament for a formal vote of confidence allowing it to take office. Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, said Netanyahu will try to undermine those efforts until the end. Netanyahus main strategy, he said, would be to try to appeal to hard-liners in both Bennetts party and New Hope, another hard-line party led by a former Netanyahu confidant, to withdraw their support for the new coalition. A defection of just one or two lawmakers could prevent Lapid from mustering a majority and force another election. Anything might happen, Plesner said. I would wait for the final vote to go through. Even if Lapid and Bennett manage to put together a government, Netanyahu is unlikely to disappear, Plesner said. Netanyahu could remain as opposition leader, working to exploit the deep ideological differences among his opponents to cause the coalition to fracture. History teaches us it would be unwise to write him off," he said. ___ Associated Press writer Ilan Ben Zion contributed to this report. ROME (AP) The three suspects in Italys cable car disaster that killed 14 people were allowed to leave prison Sunday after a judge indicated that for now blame fell on just one: a service technician who intentionally disabled the car's emergency brake because it kept locking spontaneously. Judge Donatella Banci Buonamici said there wasn't sufficient evidence suggesting the owner of the Mottarone cable car company, Luigi Nerini, or the maintenance chief, Enrico Perocchio, knew that the technician had deactivated the brake on several occasions even before the May 23 disaster. After evaluating prosecutors' request for continued detention of the three, Buonamici determined there was no flight risk, ordered the managers freed while allowing the technician, Gabriele Tadini, to leave under house arrest. The three men, who remain under investigation, left Verbania prison early Sunday, accompanied by their lawyers. Fourteen people were killed when the lead cable of the Mottarone funicular overlooking Lake Maggiore in northern Italy snapped and the emergency brake failed to prevent the cable car from reeling at high speed backward down the support line. The cable car pulled off the line entirely after passing the support pylon, crashed to the ground and then rolled down the mountain until it was stopped by a stand of trees. The lone survivor, 5-year-old Eitan Biran, remains hospitalized but conscious, with his aunt looking after him. Eitan's Israeli-born parents, his younger brother and his great-grandparents were killed in the disaster and their remains were sent back to Israel. It isn't known why the pulling cable snapped. The Vipiteno, Italy-based company that maintains the lift, Leitner SpA, has said no irregularities were detected" during the November 2020 magnetic testing of the lead cable, and that every other annual check hadn't turned up problems either. Tadini admitted during questioning that he had left a fork-shaped bracket on the cable car's emergency brake to disable it because it kept locking on its own while the car was in service, said his lawyer, Marcello Perillo. Speaking to reporters outside Verbania prison, Perillo said Tadini never would have left the bracket in place if he thought doing so might endanger passengers. He is not a criminal and would never have let people go up with the braking system blocked had he known that there was even a possibility that the cable would have broken, Perillo said. He cant even begin to get his head around the fact that the cable broke. Based on Tadini's testimony, prosecutors had hypothesized that the managers knew about the jerry-rigged brake and had an economic reason in using it to keep the funicular running. Prosecutor Olimpia Bossi said the owner would have had to have taken the whole lift out of service for the more extensive, radical" repairs that were necessary. The lift, which features four large tram cars bringing passengers up and down the mountain, only reopened on April 26 after a lengthy COVID-19 shutdown and was gearing up for the summer tourist season in a picturesque part of northern Italy. But lawyers for Nerini and Perocchio said the two denied knowing anything about Tadinis maneuver and said they had no reason to let a cable car without a brake system operate. The judge concurred, noting that neither they nor Leitner, the maintenance company, would have had an interest in doing so. Nerini's attorney, Pasquale Patano, said the owner had no interest in not repairing the cable car since he paid a flat fee of 150,000 euros ($183,000) a year for unlimited maintenance from Leitner to keep the funicular safe and operational. Perocchio similarly denied any knowledge of Tadinis maneuver, according to his lawyer Andrea Da Prato, who suggested his client had been arrested because the prosecutor felt pressure to produce quick results in the investigation into the tragedy. As he left the prison, Perocchio said he was desperately sad" for the victims and never would have authorized disabling the emergency brake. Ive been working in cable cars for 21 years and I know theres no reason in the world to do that, he told reporters. The judge's ruling noted that Tadini had called Perocchio twice to send in repair crews since the lift reopened because of the brake problem, but that the problem persisted after the crews left. Even though Tadini insisted that Perocchio and Nerini knew about his patchwork repair, the judge said he likely was trying to share the blame on the people who could afford to pay damages, and wasn't a credible enough witness to warrant their continued detention. Leitner, the maintenance company of which Perocchio is an employee, has said that using the fork-shaped brackets was expressly forbidden" when passengers were in the cabin. The brackets are meant to be used when the cabin part of a transport system known as an aerial tram is parked in the station for the night or to do repair work. Leitner has provided investigators with documentation of the lift's maintenance record and declared itself an injured party in the case, saying it plans to donate any awarded damages to the families of the victims. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) A special congressional election is checking the political pulse of politics across the Albuquerque metro area and a few outlying rural communities in one of the few House campaigns since President Joe Biden took office. Four names are on the ballot in Tuesday's election to succeed Deb Haaland in Congress after her confirmation as secretary of the U.S. Interior Department. After weeks of early voting, polling locations are closed on Sunday and Monday before reopening on Election Day with allowances for same-day registration. New Mexico's 1st Congressional District has heavily favored Democratic candidates in recent years, shunning President Donald Trump with a gap of 23 percentage points in 2020 and reelecting Haaland with a margin of 16 percentage points as voter participation reached an all-time high. Those margins bode well for Democratic nominee and second-term state Rep. Melanie Stansbury, as she confronts Republican state Sen. Mark Moores. Republicans hope to erode the 219-211 Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of midterm elections in 2022. Stansbury, a consultant on land use and water policy, has embraced Bidens core agenda for post-pandemic economic recovery, free universal preschool and infrastructure spending that modernizes energy and transportation sectors to address global warming. In recent debates, she has endorsed a $15 national minimum wage, reforms to address police misconduct and systemic racism, and a more humanitarian approach to immigration. Moores has emphasized the need for aggressive drug interdiction and immigration enforcement along the U.S. border with Mexico and uninterrupted oil leasing on federal land as a crucial source of employment in New Mexico. His campaign has seized on concerns about public safety and crime as a core issue, backing more federal dollars for police body cameras that are required in New Mexico and voicing support for police officers. A hardline approach to crime by Trump in 2020 fell flat with Albuquerque-area voters after he sent federal agents to bolster local law enforcement efforts. Still, crime remains an issue for the city. Two additional candidates are vying for untethered voters in a state with strong currents of libertarian politics. Independent contender Aubrey Dunn Jr., a former Republican elected to statewide office as land commissioner who didn't seek reelection in 2018, has cast himself as a staunch defender of gun rights and an experienced steward of public lands. Libertarian nominee Chris Manning, who lives far outside the 1st District in Farmington, is campaigning on an unorthodox plan to reduce health care costs by eliminating employer-based coverage and insurance requirements. The potential for low turnout in the vacancy election adds an element of uncertainty and a sense of rare opportunity among Republicans, who account for 31% of registered voters across the 1st Congressional District. The voting district encompasses Albuquerque, rural Torrance County and other outlying areas that include the Indigenous community of Sandia Pueblo. Registered Democrats dominated early voting, casting roughly twice as ballots as registered Republicans as of Friday. Political science professor Lonna Atkeson, of the University of New Mexico, notes that both major-party candidates have delved into attack ads and negative campaigning a sign that neither campaign is confident. Nobodys felt confident enough that they can just ride it out in a positive way. So theyre both feeling a little stressed, Atkeson said. I mean, we never saw Deb Haaland do a negative ad. The Democratic National Committee brought Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, to New Mexico on Thursday to campaign on Stansburys behalf. At a rally with labor unions and other supporters, Emhoff acknowledged the thin margin Democrats have in Congress and said electing Stansbury would help to ensure the party's legislative initiatives make it to the president's desk. Moores has repeatedly sought to link Stansbury to the so-called BREATHE Act proposal from the Movement for Black Lives that would divest taxpayer spending from traditional policing agencies and invest in alternative approaches to public safety. And he says Stansbury voted in 2019 for a bill that benefitted her consulting client. Stansbury said she has stood by law enforcement in coordinating spending on police infrastructure and initiatives at the state Legislature. She has bashed Moores for opposing some pandemic relief measures while accepting $1.8 million in federal aid at his medical testing business. Moores frequently invokes Latino family ties that date back to the region's Spanish colonial era, in a state where Hispanic pride is an enduring staple of politics. Atkeson sees that as an overt push by Moores to win over socially conservative Latinos who might otherwise vote Democrat. The 1st Congressional District has been controlled by Democrats since 2009. The seat has consistently been a stepping stone to higher office for Republican and Democratic politicians, including now-deceased Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan Jr., former U.S. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. TULSA, Okla. (AP) In a century-old family story about a teenage aunt who liked to drive her luxury car down the trolley tracks of Tulsa, Kristi Williams still savors a tiny, lingering taste of how different life could have been for all Black Americans after slavery. On Monday, Tulsans commemorated the 100th anniversary of a two-day assault by armed white men on Tulsa's prosperous Black community of Greenwood, known around the country as Black Wall Street, calling attention to an era of deadly mob assaults on Black communities that official history long suppressed. But Williams, and other descendants of the freed Black people enslaved by Native American nations who once owned much of the land under Tulsa, say there's another part of Black Wall Street's history that more Americans need to know about. It's one that has important lessons for contemporary racial issues in the United States, including the long debated matter of reparations, descendants and historians say. That bit of the story: where much of the seed money that made Black Wall Street boom came from. Unlike Black Americans across the country after slavery, Williams' ancestors and thousands of other Black members of slave-owning Native American nations freed after the war had land, says Williams, a Tulsa community activist. They had opportunity to build a house on that land, farm that land, and they were wealthy with their crops." "And that was huge a great opportunity and youre thinking this is going to last for generations to come. I can leave my children this land, and they can leave their children this land, recounts Williams, whose ancestor went from enslaved laborer to judge of the Muscogee Creek tribal Supreme Court after slavery. In fact, Alaina E. Roberts, an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh, writes in her book "Ive Been Here All the While: Black Freedom on Native Land, the freed slaves of five Native American nations became the only people of African descent in the world to receive what might be viewed as reparations for their enslavement on a large scale. Why that happened in the territory that became Oklahoma, and not the rest of the slaveholding South: The U.S. government enforced stricter terms for reconstruction on the slave-owning American Indian nations that had fully or partially allied with the Confederacy than it had on Southern states. While U.S. officials quickly broke Gen. William T. Sherman's famous Special Field Order No. 15 providing 40 acres for each formerly enslaved family after the Civil War, U.S. treaties compelled five slave-owning tribes the Choctaws, Chickasaws, Cherokees, Muscogee Creek and Seminoles to share tribal land and other resources and rights with freed Black people who had been enslaved. By 1860, about 14% of the total population of that tribal territory of the future state of Oklahoma were Black people enslaved by tribal members. After the Civil War, the Black tribal Freedmen held millions of acres in common with other tribal members and later in large individual allotments. The difference that made is incalculable, Roberts said in an interview. Allotments really gave them an upward mobility that other Black people did not have in most of the United States. The financial stability allowed Black Native American Freedmen to start businesses, farms and ranches, and helped give rise to Black Wall Street and thriving Black communities in the future state of Oklahoma. The prosperity of those communities many long since vanished attracted Black African Americans from the South, built them up as a Black mecca, Roberts says. Black Wall Street alone had roughly 200 businesses. Meeting the Black tribal Freedmen in the thriving Black city of Boley in 1905, Booker T. Washington wrote admiringly of a community which shall demonstrate the right of the negro, not merely as an individual, but as a race, to have a worthy and permanent place in the civilization that the American people are creating. And while some tribes reputedly gave their Black members some of the worst, rockiest, unfarmable land, that was often just where drillers struck oil starting in the first years of the 20th century, before statehood changed Indian Territory to Oklahoma in 1907. For a time it made the area around Tulsa the world's biggest oil producer. For Eli Grayson, another descendant of Muscogee Creek Black Freedmen, any history that tries to tell the story of Black Wall Street without telling the story of the Black Indian Freedmen and their land is a flop. They're missing the point of what caused the wealth, the foundation of the wealth, Grayson says. The oil wealth, besides helping put the bustle and boom in Tulsa's Black-owned Greenwood business district, gave rise to fortunes for a few Freedpeople that made headlines around the United States. That included 11-year-old Sarah Rector, a Muscogee Creek girl hailed as the richest colored girl in the world by newspapers of the time. Her oil fortune drew attention from Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Dubois, who intervened to check that Rector's white guardian wasn't pillaging her money. The wealth from the tribal allotment also gave rise to Williams' family story of great-aunt Janie, who learned to drive by going behind the trolley lines in Tulsa, with her parents in the car, Williams' uncle, 67-year-old Samuel Morgan, recounted, laughing. "It was real fashionable, because it was one of the cars that had four windows that rolled all the way up, Morgan said. Little of that Black wealth remains today. In May 1921, 100 years ago this month, Aunt Janie, then a teenager, had to flee Greenwood's Dreamland movie theater as the white mob burned Black Wall Street to the ground, killing scores or hundreds no one knows and leaving Greenwood an empty ruin populated by charred corpses. Black Freedmen and many other American Indian citizens rapidly lost land and money to unscrupulous or careless white guardians that were imposed upon them, to property taxes, white scams, accidents, racist policies and laws, business mistakes or bad luck. For Aunt Janie, all the family knows today is a vague tale of the oil wells on her land catching fire. Williams, Grayson and other Black Indian Freedmen descendants today drive past the spots in Tulsa that family history says used to belong to them: 51st Street. The grounds of Oral Roberts University. Mingo Park. That's yet another lesson Tulsa's Greenwood has for the rest of the United States, says William A. Darity Jr., a leading scholar and writer on reparations at Duke University. If freed Black people had gotten reparations after the Civil War, Darity said, assaults like the Tulsa Race Massacre show they would have needed years of U.S. troop deployments to protect them given the angry resentment of white people at seeing money in Black hands. ___ Find APs full coverage of the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre: https://apnews.com/hub/tulsa-race-massacre Jeremy Clarkson says he wants to present British farming in a different light as part of his new TV series following his experience of running his own farm. The presenter, famed for his work on Top Gear and The Grand Tour, has owned the 1,000-acre Oxfordshire farm 'Diddly Squat' since 2008, but in 2019 announced that he would begin farming it himself. The eight-part series, airing on 11 June on Amazon Prime, follows Clarkson through his first year as he contends with the day to day challenges of farming amid the backdrop of an unexpected pandemic and some of the worst farming weather in decades. Clarksons Farm is a typical arable farm with wheat, barley, and oilseed rape in the rotation, but we also witness Jeremy taking on a flock of sheep and building his own farm shop. Whilst the show is gung ho and witty in Clarksons well-known style, it does successfully shine a light on the everyday challenges that face modern farmers. Speaking to FarmingUK, Clarkson explained that he wanted to present UK farming in a different light. I think some of the farmers around here were concerned that the show would ridicule agriculture, which it absolutely does not do it is a love letter to British farming, he said. I was fed-up with television only showing farming as either someone bottle feeding a lamb in a cosy barn or as massive intensive setups on the other side of the world. "What we wanted to do was to show what farming is actually like on an average farm. Clarkson also told us that he was taken aback by how difficult farming really is: In my mind, you put seeds in the ground, weather happens, and food grows, but that is simply not true, it is a very, very complex business. I know of no profession that requires you to be so multi-abled. You have to understand soil, weather, and science. You have to be a mechanic, a midwife, an agronomist, and a water diviner. You also have to be a gambler." As he struggles to turn his hand to the many skills required in running the farm, Jeremy enlists a handful of knowledgeable helpers including local lad Kaleb Cooper and land agent Charlie Ireland, who both play a major part on screen. He said that he would not have been able to run his farm without the local farming community: The farmers around here could not have been more helpful, he said. The series follows Clarkson as he contends with the day to day challenges of farming Whenever I needed to borrow something or do something they were always there. Kaleb was an absolute superstar. He is just fantastically wise, entrepreneurial, and funny. He knows everything, from understanding how the gearbox in my Lamborghini tractor works, to having the patience to deal me, and he is also extremely good on television. In the first episode of the series, we see a failed crop of oilseed rape that has been battered by flea beetle, and Jeremy said that the series tries to show how many challenges farmers are up against. He said: I could not have picked a worse year to start farming, we had five separate weather records, so it was particularly difficult in that sense. He continued: I was also shocked by government regulations. There is so much paperwork, and they are so specific. Every time I tried to do something, there would be a government regulation telling me to stop doing it. Whilst his farm is a traditional arable setup, Jeremy decided to turn his hand to sheep farming because, as he put it, How hard can it be?. He quickly discovered that it was far from straightforward. The broadcaster has owned the 1,000-acre Oxfordshire farm 'Diddly Squat' since 2008 There is simply no money in sheep farming, its a brutal existence. You have to pay somebody 1.45 to give a sheep a haircut, but the fleece is only worth 30p. "How can you run a business where youre losing 1.15 for every sheep you shear? Clarkson asked. The show does attempt to document the reality of sheep farming: Weve all seen Kate Humble in an agreeable stable, with fresh straw and a baby lamb, but I dont think many of us, myself included, have the first idea how their food gets to the table. "I didnt want to shy away from showing the sheep being castrated, or the deaths, and the disgustingness of it because thats how the lamb chops are made. Later in the series Jeremy builds and launches a farm shop to sell his own produce which offers an insight into how farmers are diversifying. He said that the shop has been a real success. People seem to like the milk and the eggs, and its good for local farmers to sell produce without going through a middleman or a supermarket. "One woman makes sausage rolls and scotch eggs, so shes got somewhere to sell them now, its great! It is a nice little business, and we now even have an online shop. Halfway through his first year on the farm Jeremy was hit with the unexpected challenge of the coronavirus pandemic, but he said that the first six weeks of lockdown actually proved to be some of the happiest he has had in his whole life. From a personal perspective, I was very lucky with my situation compared to many others over that period. Jeremy Clarkson said he was taken aback by how difficult farming really is "We were not stuck in a small flat, instead I was able to potter around a whole farm doing all of the jobs that needed doing, he explained. In terms of the series we were also quite lucky in the sense that if nothing had happened you would end up with quite a boring programme. "Ordinarily for something like the lambing, we would have had people there to help - because I do not know how to birth a sheep - but because of Covid we couldnt have anybody. So, I had to do it all night long with no idea what I was doing. Although the series has been completed Jeremy said that he does plan to continue his involvement on the farm. I am carrying on with it because I like it. I did a lot of the cultivating this year, though I have slightly stepped back from the sheep. "We have pigs now, and we are putting in polytunnels to grow chillies and tomatoes for the shop. I am still very much involved on a day to day basis. t took fifteen years for the cast of Friends to reunite for a show that completely blew our minds. We cried, we laughed, we even jumped and clapped along the cast as they reminisced about old times they spent together while shooting the ten seasons. As the show continues to be our favourite on the watchlist, we imagines what it would be like to have a remake of this classic sitcom made with some beloved Bollywood actors. So we look back and remember Monicas perfectly cook lasagna and her need to clean, Rachels evolution from a spoilt uptown girl to an independent woman, Phoebe finding the normal in her crazy life, Chandler overcoming her fear of commitments, Ross finding love that stays for eternity and Joey who finds his passion in his work. With all this, we pick 6 actors who would be perfect as a recast of these characters in the Hindi version of the FRIENDS. Scroll through to have a look at our picks. 1. Deepika Padukone As Monica Geller She was neat, she liked things done perfectly and she could go from sensitive to feisty at the drop of a hat. Yes, we believe this description works perfectly for both, Deepika Padukone and Friends beloved hostess, Monica Geller. Right from the start of the show, we saw Monica as the centre of the group, she hosted the parties, she was stylish but kept it classic, she only aged like fine wine as the show moved forward and of course, she loved to be prim and proper at all times. We associate all these traits with Deepika and shes showcased several of them on-screen beautifully before. Mix a little bit of Pikus responsibility, Cocktails Veronicas sass, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewanis Nainas dreamy eyes and Tamashas Taras search for true love and weve got ourselves the perfect Monica in Deepika Padukone. What do you think? 2. Alia Bhatt As Rachel Green Rachel Green was the baby of the group but she could totally own the room whenever she wanted. She took baby steps to become the independent perfect woman and we think Alia Bhatt can pull off that role with aplomb. They both have that sweetheart aura but will take you on in a fight if need be. If we were to pick traits from Alias characters that make her like Rachel, wed say Student of the Years Shanayas style, 2 States Ananyas survival instinct to make it on your own, Dear Zindagis Kairas philosophy of like and finally, Gullu Boys Safeenas fierceness. On top of this, weve already seen the lovely rapport Deepika and Alia share off screen so it will be fun to watch them play best friends/roommates in this Hindi version of the classic sitcom. 3. Anushka Sharma As Phoebe Buffay We couldnt think of a better fit than Anushka Sharma to play the eccentric Phoebe Buffays character. The nonchalance that Anushka Sharma has when doing any role will come in handy when essaying the most complex yet loveable character in Friends. Phoebe is the one friend we know we could bank on. Shes got her weird way and she finds joy in the little things in life. Her motto is clear, friends above all as she didnt have a family to love while growing up. She got the fun ensembles on, the strange stories in her kitty and the weirdest reaction to people around her. All this makes Anushka seem like a perfect fit. Shes played the dramatic, hilarious and sorted girl next door a lot for times and we believe shes crack Phoebe quite easily. More so, Anushka has described herself as weird and awkward in public so many times, it was easy to see Phoebe in her for this recast. 4. Ranbir Kapoor As Chandler Bing We have to say, since Deepika was Monica, we were quite stoked to have this on-screen chemistry complete with Ranbir Kapoor. The two have created magic on-screen so many times, it was only fair to their chemistry transcend into Monica and Chandlers fairytale love story. Chandler is the one with all the jokes and quips. His humour is his defence mechanism and his charm comes from his low profile presence and how unaware he is his sexiness. He sometimes clumsy but hes also someone who can take responsibility head on. Hes a lover but he likes to put on a hard front because hes a softie on the inside. Hes caring and one can go to him for advice when in need. Also, hes a true friend who will always be there for you with a few handy jokes up his sleeves, of course. We think Ranbir would breathe life into an Indian version of Chandler with much ease and quite the unmatched charm. 5. Varun Dhawan As Joey Tribbiani Hes the fun one but dont take his friendship, food and flirting lightly. He can swoon your girl away and you wouldnt even know what hit you. Joey Tribbiani is the bad good boy we all love and adore and hes got the sexy quotient turned up to max. Varun Dhawan, well, he fits the bill perfectly. The charm, the side smirk that can make you blush and that pretty face, wed totally giggle if Varun asked us how we were doin. Hes also the ladies man and we dont have to tell you how many hearts Varun Dhawan broke after getting married, do we? So, yes, its settled, Varun Dhawan is our Joey and we like it. 6. Ayushmann Khurrana As Ross Geller Hes got the job, hes got the bills paid in time, hes got that passion for work going on and hes got that complicated relationship with his ex-wife who is a lesbian to work with. Ross Geller is a mix of how a man can be so sorted yet have the strangest problems to deal with in life. But Ross kept us going with how he took life with a pinch of salt everything it his her in the knee. Ayushmann Khurrana seems to have that calm and chaos in his acting that would make him the perfect Ross. Wed love to see his chemistry with Alia who would play Rachel in this fictional remake and it would be fun Ayushmann being fine as he plays the sensitive yet scary Ross whose sandwich you much never touch. Award-winning industry veteran, Shailesh Dash, releases his autobiography on Amazon, nurturing young corporate leaders for Entrepreneurship. DUBAI, UAE, May 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Becoming a successful entrepreneur is everyone's dream but only a few strike a bit of luck as the majority abort the mission due to lack of Knowledge and Appropriate Guidance. With his new book, Shailesh Dash sets out to correct this wrong. A celebrated entrepreneur, Dash recently released his Autobiography on Amazon with an aim to enable young entrepreneurs, corporate leaders and aspirants to follow their dream with the right guidance. Dash, who set up many successful business ventures in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region is an ideator and mentor. His autobiography -- Entrepreneur: The Journey of a Lifetime, gives an insight into his personal experience of handling challenges and finding practical solutions in the cut throat world of business where staying self-motivated and focussed are of prime importance. Dash compiled a short and inspiring diary of the lessons he learned along the way, sharing his business experience. The book delves into facing obstacles, seizing opportunities, and managing expectations. Using his experience as a guide, he tells the readers how to learn from mistakes and climb the ladder of entrepreneurship, while balancing between work and life. "If you think you have a great idea which would help solve a problem faced by a large population, then you have the right idea for a StartUp. But to convert the idea to a successful business you need to take actions that will go a long way," Dash explains. A Compelling Read: In just 14 chapters, the industry veteran summarises his experience, corporate journey and future aspirations of grooming future leaders to secure success in every sphere of life. The book is a compelling read for young entrepreneurs who are looking to start their own venture and are bold enough to be different. "My purpose of life is to create successful businesses, taking great ideas and turning them into valuable and profitable entities," says Dash who credits his success to his insatiable hunger for discipline, consistency, and spirituality. "My core belief is based upon adding value to society through increasing employment and improving financial literacy, making people as financially independent as humanly possible," he adds. Dash describes entrepreneurship as a beautiful experience and says if someone has a unique idea and is ready to go all out to make it happen, then he should certainly give it his all. There is no substitute for hardwork, a lesson, Dash learned very early in life and since then has abided to. However, an idea isn't enough - one needs insights, research, objective, and sheer determination to make it happen. Yes, it takes an army! "A sound vision that helps meet a certain demand or provides services required by consumers with various actionable goals and implementations are some of the inherent requirements for setting up and the eventual success of any business," advises Dash who is also known for his philanthropic work across the region. The fortunate veteran said entrepreneurs should not be afraid to take risks and in order to achieve big in life. The art is to balance between bold risks - which are needed, relevant, and contextual. During the pandemic, as individuals and businesses struggle alike, Dash's book helps readers see the Silver Lining - for this experience is fortifying everyone into becoming better humans and entrepreneurs. "There is no substitute for experience and we should learn from seniors and take their advice to stay on course for a successful corporate journey," writes Dash in his autobiography that is now available on Amazon. Golden Advice: The outstanding entrepreneur also advised young corporate leaders to chalk out clear business targets, discuss them with the executing team, and map a strategy to achieve them within a certain timeline. "Don't be afraid of change or failure. Both are important to grow in life. It's the hunger to achieve and the lessons you learn with failure, rejection, and suffering which will be the stepping stones for your future success," he concludes. About the Writer: Shailesh Dash is a veteran of the MENA Alternative Investment sector with over 24 years of experience. In his career, he has executed more than 150 transactions of over $1.75 billion, raised in excess of $2.5 billion from investors, managed a cumulative $6 billion of assets under management and served on more than 15 boards of prominent private companies across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. About the Book Raw, gritty, and straightforward, the book -- Entrepreneur: The Journey of a Lifetime - reveals the author's deepest thoughts, struggles and risks taken as he conquered challenge after challenge, becoming a celebrated figure in the entrepreneurial world. The book is a compelling read for young leaders, especially those who aren't afraid to pursue their goals with every ounce of willpower, determination, and diligence they have. . Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1519902/Shailesh_Dash.jpg Manage the day-to-day administrative support and organizational activities associated with the department. Act as the primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders, and assist other members of the department in the prioritization and communication of multiple matters. Performs professional administrative support to the department. Provides administrative support to ensure that work is performed in accordance with company policies and procedures, project schedules and annual budgets by completing and/or entering Purchase Orders, Change Orders, expense requisitions, and corporate compliance tracking entries. Professionally and effectively interacts with stakeholders. May handle special assignments and projects related to file/database management, commitment tracking, and similar administrative tasks. Reports to the director of Asset Maintenance on the status of administrative tasks, corporate compliance items, sustainability efforts and other deliverables as requested. Effectively manages all administrative responsibilities of the department with limited supervision. Responsibilities Develop constructive and cooperative working relationships; communicate effectively with all employees by telephone, in written form, email and in person. Arrange, schedule and coordinate meetings, appointments and business travel for department staff. Maintains a daily working relationship to provide administrative support to department members, contractors and project teams to ensure the successful performance of work in accordance with project plans, permits, and company requirements. Actively supports the companys strategic initiatives in support of the companys mission, vision, and values Represents VELCO in a professional and effective manner through internal and external stakeholder interactions, as well as interactions with landowners and public Assist Director of Asset maintenance with all local, State and Department of Transportation vehicle permits and regulations. Develop, maintain and support various databases as necessary. Assist and support others with utilization of databases. Use the VELCO Asset Management tools including inputting data and generating reports. Performs other related duties as requested Education & Training An Associates degree (or higher education) in a relevant field is required. Experience At least 1 year of experience in administrative support, utility work or other relevant experience. Knowledge of the utility industry is preferred. Willingness to obtain professional licenses/certifications and attend regular personal development opportunities. Knowledge/Skills Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. Superior written and verbal communication skills. Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines. Excellent skills with Microsoft suite. Must have working knowledge of and able to perform basic work tasks associated with database entry and management. Strong ability to learn, understand, and follow internal and external processes and procedures. Strong teamwork, collaboration, problem solving, and relationship building skills. Other Physical/Mental Demands Must be able to withstand prolonged periods of sitting or standing at a desk while working on a computer. Must maintain a valid drivers license. Must be able to pass VELCOs background check and drug screening procedures. If you are interested in applying please visit the careers page of www.VELCO.com and submit an application. VELCO is an equal opportunity employer recblid 0f3dq646g1fflwq4zr1p9sfedqtlro LONDON, May 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fourteen leading rabbis in London published an open letter this week condemning some Jews who joined pro-Zionist rallies, and opposing those who lobbied the British government to take a side in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The letter, which was hung in all Orthodox synagogues in London and Manchester, condemned "provocative actions and public demonstrations by the Zionists, which can only create antagonism between our communities." In the wake of the recent war between the State of Israel and Gaza, which has unfortunately cost many casualties on both sides, pro-Zionist groups in England have held large rallies, sometimes leading to heated conflicts with Muslims. Additionally, a delegation led by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis held a meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street, where they urged action against some Muslim organizations, and asked the Prime Minister to recognize anti-Zionism as anti-Semitism. At the meeting, Marie van der Zyl, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, asked the government to call on social media companies to adopt the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, which includes anti-Zionism, and requested that Ofcom monitor firms' adherence to that standard. The London rabbis felt that these actions would not help to decrease anti-Semitism in England, and on the contrary, would only fuel the fire of hatred, since the Muslims would see that Jews are against them. As to the notion that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism, this is simply untrue; many great rabbis today and in past generations have been against Zionism. The Jewish people have lived in many countries over the past 2000 years, and having their own state is not intrinsic to their identity. One who opposes the current State of Israel does not necessarily oppose the Jewish people. The letter quoted the view of Rabbi Ephraim Padwa, the rabbinical authority of London's Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, "that we must not take part in any way in actions that initiate any conflicts with the nations of the world. We were commanded to 'seek the peace of the city' of our exile (Jeremiah 29:7)." The letter concluded, "For many years, we have lived peacefully and safely alongside all our neighbours; may G-d help that this continue. Whoever takes part in the above-mentioned actions does not represent us." PDF - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1521599/Rabbinical_Board_Open_Letter.pdf Tampa, FL (33646) Today Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 75F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 75F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. (CNN) -- Farrakhan Muhammad was extradited from Florida to New York City and charged Friday evening in connection to a shooting at New York City's Times Square earlier this month, according to police. Muhammad, a 31-year-old New York City resident, has been charged with attempted murder, three counts of assault, four counts of criminal use of a firearm and three counts of reckless endangerment, the New York Police Department confirmed to CNN Saturday. Two women and a 4-year-old girl were wounded during the May 8 shooting. Muhammed was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals at a McDonald's in Starke, Florida, on May 11, CNN affiliate WCJB reported. In an exclusive interview with WCJB at the Bradford County Jail, Muhammed denied his involvement in the shooting, saying he wasn't in New York City at the time. CNN has not been able to identify an attorney for Muhammad and has contacted the U.S. Marshals Service and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office for additional details. Purple Land ALTAIA: The Dawn Of Romance Fragrance Reviews Italian brand ALTAIA was founded by loving spouses Sebastian Alvarez Murena and Marina Sersale, famous for their first Eau dItalie perfume brand and the luxurious five-star Le Sirenuse hotel in Positano on the Amalfi coast of Italy. The history of the ALTAIA brand can be revisited from our 2015 interview - but the general idea is to convey (with fragrances) the story of love within one happy family, a love that was predetermined many, many years ago. After all, the name ALTAIA (an acronym for A Long Time Ago In Argentina) speaks to the meeting of their great-great-great-grandfathers in Argentina. The dawn of romance. A phone call of love across the continents, from the Old World to the Tropics by way of a satellite. Its winter in Italy, its summer in Ethiopia on the shores of Lake Chamo. A sea of purple frangipani is in bloom all around. A Purple Land turns into a Land of Love. The 2018 Purple Land ALTAIA was inspired by another episode in the couple's relationship history. Here's how it was, according to the brand: "The beginning of Marina and Sebastian's love story: Soon after they met, Marina went on a trip to Africa, leaving each of them secretly wondering if their budding relationship would survive time and distance. When the satellite phone rang in the middle of nowhere and Sebastian's voice came through, Marina knew it was for keeps." What does the scent of confident love smells like? Purple Land ALTAIA begins with purity and flowers. A bunch of snow-white lilies of the valley in May, similar to large pearls on green stalks. Clean air around lilies of the valley and some fruity accents. Then it smells of fragrant berries and fruits, both familiar (like black currants and citrus fruits) and completely unfamiliar, combining a sweet taste and an unusual tart green aroma. When stacked together, lilies of the valley and fruits create the illusion of tropical plumeria, jasmine and other white flowers, creamy and sultry. And also - after all these olfactory figures, slowly shimmering from white to green and purple - in Purple Land ALTAIA you can smell a warm flesh-colored accord, reminiscent of the warmth of the body with its soft lactone scent. Judging by its cosmetic musky shade, it is more feminine than masculine. Like most ALTAIA fragrances, Purple Land is a noble and tender floral scent, perfectly harmonious and polished, suitable for any situation and season - as it is deliberately devoid of any drama or opposition. For people looking for contrasts and strong statements, it may seem boring. This is another perfect perfume created by Annick Menardo of Firmenich, long-lasting and elegant. It's also an example of the mindfulness, understanding and love for each from other within the Positano family. When you love, everything around is filled with meaning. And if all happy families are equally happy, according to Leo Tolstoy, why not create an olfactory image of this happiness? ALTAIA fragrances are available in Eau de Parfum concentration in 100 ml bottles and priced 175 euros. Purple Land ALTAIA Top notes: Grapefruit, Guava and Papaya; Middle notes: Frangipani and Lily of the Valley; Base notes: Musk and Ambroxan. Keep the conversation about local news & events going by joining us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Recent updates from The News-Post and also from News-Post staff members are compiled below. Reference & Instruction Librarian General Information & Responsibilities RESPONSIBILITIES : The Reference and Instruction Librarian provides library instruction and reference services to students, employees, and community patrons; selects physical materials and digital content for the librarys collections; promotes the librarys collections and services via marketing and outreach; and develops and maintains the Librarys website and online resources. Description of Duties DESCRIPTION OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES : Assists library patrons with reference and research questions, in-person and virtually. Plans, develops, and teaches face-to-face information literacy classes and library orientations. Designs, implements, and facilitates online library instruction. Works with faculty to integrate information literacy skills and library resources into the curriculum. Collaborates with faculty and librarians to assess student learning outcomes regarding information literacy skills. Develops research guides, video tutorials, bibliographies, and other instructional materials to support student and curricular needs. Assists with selecting and deselecting materials for the librarys physical and digital collections. Promotes library resources and services via marketing strategies and outreach programming. Works with the College Webmaster on the design and maintenance of the library website. Maintains confidentiality of patron and materials records. Works evenings as required. DESCRIPTION OF OTHER DUTIES : Investigates, evaluates, and recommends new and emerging technologies that will improve or expand services, collections, and access to library resources. Serves as library liaison to instructional departments. Serves on committees and task forces as needed. Provides specialized research assistance or consultation to faculty, administration, college units, etc. as needed. Participates in professional development opportunities relevant to the needs of the position. Assists with circulation duties as needed. Performs other duties as assigned. OVERALL ACOUNTABILITIES: Demonstrates BHC core values. Accuracy and efficiency of work. Ability to work cooperatively with co-workers. Ability to communicate in pleasant manner with employees, students, and general public. Maintains up-to-date job knowledge. PRINCIPAL WORKING RELATIONSHIPS : Works directly with Director of Library Services Works directly with library staff. Works directly with students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community patrons. Education & Experience EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE : (To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.) ALA-accredited M.L.S. or M.L.I.S. degree required. Two years library experience required, academic library preferred. Experience assessing student learning preferred. Experience teaching information literacy in a traditional and online classroom setting preferred. Thorough knowledge of online research databases and print reference required. Computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office, required. Excellent communications skills and customer service skills required. Demonstrated oral English proficiency required. The above statements reflect the general details necessary to describe the principle functions of the described job; it is not an all-encompassing statement of all the work requirements that may be necessary to perform the job. Supplemental Information Typical work hours are Monday Friday, 7:30am 4:30pm Official transcripts will be required of any candidate hired for this position. Minimum salary $39,679 per year. BHC provides an outstanding benefits package with comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and Rx insurance on first day of employment, free life and LDT insurance, pension thru SURS, paid holidays, paid vacation, paid sick, and paid personal days, and much more! Black Hawk College does not sponsor employment visas. BENEFITS While you contribute your talent and enthusiasm to BHC, as an eligible employee you will have access to outstanding health benefits, ample time off, a pension plan, educational opportunities, and much more. Core Benefits Medical Prescription Drug Plan Mail Order Pharmacy Dental Vision Basic Life Insurance Tuition Waiver Employee Assistance Program Long-Term Disability Flexible Spending Account (FSA)/Dependent Care Account (DCA) Paid Holidays Free use of fitness center Sick Leave Vacation Personal Days Retirement Pension Plans State University Retirement System of Illinois (SURS): Employees working in a regular and continuous position or one in which services are expected to be rendered on a continuous basis for at least four months or one academic term, whichever is less, may be eligible to enroll in SURS. To learn more about SURS, visit www.SURS.org. Optional 403b Tax-Deferred Investment Program: Employees may set up a 403b plan through Edward Jones Investments/Mass Mutual. recblid ciq7c4sn3pjqni1pkmqmy2iugrmmoi Have any questions? Please give us a call at 907-352-2250 The officers cast Ellis as the aggressor, saying he punched the window of their cruiser and attacked them as they got out, according to statements from other officers cited in the charging documents. But two witnesses came forward with identical stories, saying the police attacked. An officer in the passenger side of a patrol car slammed his door into Ellis, knocking him down, and started beating him, they said. The witnesses described seeing a casual interaction between the officers and Ellis before Burbank struck Ellis with his car door there was no sudden, random attack by Ellis as the officers described that night to others, the probable cause statement said. In court Friday, Rankine's attorney, Bryan Hershman, sought to distinguish the allegations against his client from those against Burbank and Collins. My client was responding to a priority backup call. What happened prior to his arrival he had no knowledge of, Hershman said. He just knew there was a fracas when he got there. This image released by Disney Theatrical Productions shows promotional art for "Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation," featuring songs by the Grammy-winning Sherman Brothers with additional music from A.A. Milne, and will be told using life-size puppetry. (Disney Theatrical Productions via AP) Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 The Glendale Fire Department found 22 people stuck on the Desert Storm roller coaster stalled on a horizontal loop at Castles N Coasters. Milwaukee, WI (53187) Today Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 58F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Goshen, IN (46526) Today Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 64F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 64F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Magnolia, AR (71754) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 75F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 75F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Support Local Journalism The Malibu community needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please help keep us in print by making a contribution. Fastmarkets reported that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has banned the export of copper and cobalt concentrate. Fastmarkets confirmed with three companies operating copper and cobalt mines in DRC that they all received the notice, although the effective date of the order is not mentioned and trucks carrying the concentrates could still pass through the border as of last week. Roskill noted that the DRC has frequently threatened the cobalt market with a ban on the export of unprocessed copper and cobalt concentrates and ores. The government attempted to introduce similar bans in 2007, 2010, and 2013; each time the decision was reversed. In 2013, after reversing the decision, the government put heightened taxes on cobalt concentrate exports in place. Although an export ban could theoretically be used to stimulate more production of higher-value refined cobalt in the DRC, Roskill said, the country lacks the processing capacity and associated infrastructure to achieve this without considerable investment. With copper and cobalt revenues contributing so much to DRC GDP and local economies, it is highly unlikely that any ban will stick, Roskill said, adding that further changes to royalty rates are more likely. DRC President Felix Tshisekedi has previously suggested that the government may consider a renegotiation of mining licenses and contracts. If a ban were to stick, it would have some impact on the cobalt market, Roskill said. Almost all cobalt concentrate exports from the DRC are to China. These have declined significantly over the recent years (with most Chinese importers now favoring intermediate feedstocks), but the quantities are still considerable. The DRC exported around 50kt of gross weight Co concentrate to China in 2020 (96% of global exports). If this material was, even temporarily, removed from the supply chain, there would be knock-on effects, Roskill said. Support local journalism We are making critical coverage of the coronavirus available for free. Please consider subscribing so we can continue to bring you the latest news and information on this developing story. GREENWICH Despite the rain canceling the annual Cos Cob VFW Post 10112's Memorial Day ceremony, several people who did arrive paused at the memorial to reflect on the sacrifice of members of the military. MADISON People who depend on mass transit to get around will find it easier to visit five of Connecticuts most popular state parks under an experimental program Gov. Ned Lamont announced Friday, the traditional start of the summer vacation season. Those who can get on trains will be able to meet free shuttle buses at the Madison train station to take them to the two-mile stretch of sand and nature preserve along Hammonassett Beach State Park. That expanse served as the backdrop Friday for Lamont to highlight vacation opportunities. Passengers arriving at the Milford train station can take a similar shuttle to nearby Silver Sands State Park. Similar opportunities will be available for access to Fort Trumbull State Park in New London, while bus connections will take riders to get to within 10-minute walks to Bluff Point State Park in Groton and Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, where the tiny parking lot often reaches overflow levels early on summer mornings. Called ParkConneCT, the pilot program is a joint effort of the state Department of Transportation and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Its part of Lamonts goal to provide park access to those without cars, while also promoting tourism as the state economy recovers from the pandemic. During what turned out to be record attendance in the depths of the COVID pandemic last year, many people were discouraged by parks that closed to more cars early in the day because of pandemic restrictions. This transit option is very important, Lamont said in a news conference at a pavilion near the Middle Beach rotary, where, starting this weekend, shuttles will drop off pedestrians. We have a lot of kids in our state who havent been able to discover beaches like this. There are a lot kids down the street in New Haven who didnt always know how to get here and I really want them to have the opportunity to experience what we are all able to enjoy. Its valuable to have more ways for people to get to state parks, said Eric Hammerling, executive director of the Connecticut Forest and Parks Association, who did not attend Lamonts event. In a phone interview after the news conference, he predicted that 2021 will be busy. Parking lots last year were kept at 50 percent capacity, while this year there will be no such restrictions. The capacity is typically based on parking lot capacity, Hammerling said. Now with full capacity plus public transit options, it could be another record. Its time for us to get back to a new normal, said Katie Dykes, the DEEP commissioner. Over the last year a lot of us spent time kind of reflecting on things we had taken for granted, I think, and we saw that with respect to how people were rediscovering or connecting for the first time with all of the amazing state parks and state forests and wonderful recreation and land trusts all around our state. Dykes joined Lamont in announcing that many seasonal job opportunities remain in the parks, including lifeguard positions. Bryan Hurlburt, commissioner of the state Department of Agriculture, pitched the opportunities for agri-tourism, from shellfish operations to farmers markets and ice cream stands at dairy farms. Christine Castonguay, brand director and interim tourism director for the state Department of Economic and Community Development, said that research indicates a pent-up urge for travel, particularly in the Northeast, which should place the state in good position for long weekends and vacations. Castonguay announced that the states welcome centers in West Willington, Westbrook and North Stonington will reopen this weekend and those in Darien and Danbury will open on June 12 to greet visitors with travel resources. When asked how much funding she had in the state marketing budget with a month left in the fiscal year, she said about $1.2 million. But Lamont immediately corrected her and said he has budgeted $13 million over the next two years for marketing the state. Earlier this month the governor announced the newest marketing slogan: Say Yes to Connecticut. https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/State-Parks/Park-Connect and https://portal.ct.gov/DOAG/ADaRC/Publications/Agritourism---Farm-Fun-in-CT Say hello to the freshly-arrived Sony Xperia 10 III. This is Sony's midrange offering and it's one that may look simple to a fault, but is in fact stacked with everything you'd need. Let's unbox it and take it from there. The retail experience is a bit of a letdown for a phone that costs 399/429 at its pre-order. There's a USB cable, a 7.5W charger that feels straight out of 2008 and nothing else. A case would have been nice. But hey, Sony does bundle a free pair of Sony WH-CH710N noise cancelling headphones with a pre-order. The Sony Xperia 10 III doesn't make a memorable first impression, but it's a solid case of don't judge something by its looks. Everything about this phone is understated, yet capable. The display is of the classic Sony 21:9 aspect ratio and it's a 1080p OLED to boot. Sadly Sony wasn't able to tuck a fingerprint scanner underneath and instead there's a side-mounted one. Under the hood is an 8nm Snapdragon 690 that should do a good job of balancing performance with efficiency, which coupled with the well-sized 4,500mAh battery should provide ample running times. Then there's a complete array of cameras - wide, 2x telephoto and 16mm ultrawide. The camera hardware behind the lenses isn't the most impressive around but we expect the Sony processing to ensure good results as usual. Finally there are the 3.5mm headphone jack with LDAC and Hi-Res audio support and the IP68 water and dust resistance for peace of mind. Simple yet feature-rich Comparing the Xperia 10 III to its predecessor makes for a fun game of which is which. Upon closer inspection the III is slightly shorter than the II. It's a bit heavier too, which isn't immediately noticeable. What is likely to be noticeable is the 20% increase in battery capacity on the newer phone. Sony Xperia 10 III is shorter than its predecessor We've started our review of the Xperia 10 III so stay tuned! Ubisoft revealed its first gameplay footage of Far Cry 6 during a YouTube livestream. The PC version will be made available through the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft web stores. Far Cry 6 is set on the fictional Caribbean island of Yara and you will assume the role of Dani Rojas who will attempt to dismantle the corrupt regime of dictator Anton Castillo. To achieve this goal, you will join Libertad, a group of guerrillas in the area inspired by Cuba. With the help and expertise of spy master Juan Cortez, you can use customizable Resolver weapons that recycle discarded objects into weapons. This allows unique weapon combinations including a machine gun that can fire CDs. The addition of Supremo backpacks will also increase your firepower in addition to the many different vehicles. These so-called 'Guerrilla Rides' in this game are fully customizable and can be delivered for almost anywhere in Yara. Of course, you can also hijack almost any type of vehicle, from tanks to planes, boats, and horses. Silver SIL Global X Silver Miners ETF Fundamentals The silver miners stocks have mostly been consolidating high since last summer. While theyve enjoyed some sharp rallies, those have been within that sideways-grind trend. That lack of overall upside progress has left this tiny contrarian sector out of favor, with apathy reigning. But as their recently-reported Q121 operating and financial results revealed, silver stocks fundamentals and upside potential remain good. There arent many major silver miners in the world, and only a handful are primary silver producers that derive over half their revenues from silver. With such a small population, there are only a few silver-stock ETFs. The leading one is still the SIL Global X Silver Miners ETF, which is also this tiny sectors best benchmark. But nearing the end of Q121s earnings season in mid-May, it only held $1.3b in net assets. Following a mighty upleg that peaked in early August at SIL $51.53, the silver stocks have largely drifted laterally since. But their high trading range has been wide, encompassing both corrections and attempts at new uplegs. Plenty of speculators and investors are still interested in this obscure sector, as evidenced by an amazing episode in late January. That catapulted SIL a blistering 23.9% higher in just three trading days! That was when Reddits famous wallstreetbets forum appeared to be starting to discuss engineering a silver short squeeze with massive retail buying. At the time I wrote a whole essay analyzing that. For our purposes today, that fascinating event proved that the right catalyst can still ignite big inflows into silver and its miners stocks. Unfortunately SIL resumed correcting after that, slumping on balance into late March. But since then it has recovered, mirroring gold stocks march higher in a young upleg. By mid-May as last quarters earnings season was wrapping up, SIL had rebounded 18.7% in six weeks to $45.97. While that lagged gold stocks, it still made for a technically-sound upleg carving series of higher lows and higher highs. But back in Q1 SIL actually fell 12.5% despite that Reddit spike, fueling much bearish sentiment. How were the major silver miners actually faring fundamentally while their stocks corrected with silver? Their weak stock-price performance was reasonable, as silver was dragged 7.4% lower that quarter by golds own 10.0% slide. The silver stocks normally amplify material gold and silver moves due to their inherent profits leverage to those precious metals. But SILs Q1 slide wasnt fundamentally-justified. For 20 quarters in a row now, soon after earnings seasons Ive painstakingly analyzed the latest operating and financial results from the top 15 SIL component companies. These rarefied ranks include some of the biggest silver miners on the planet, and command fully 87.0% of SILs total weightings. While it takes a lot of time, effort, and expertise to digest these quarterly reports, the fundamental insights are well worth it. This table summarizes the operational and financial highlights from the SIL top 15 during Q121. These major silver miners stock symbols arent all US listings, and are preceded by their rankings changes within SIL over the past year. The shuffling in their ETF weightings reflect changing market caps, which reveal both outperformers and underperformers since Q120. The symbols are followed by current SIL weightings. Next comes these miners Q121 silver and gold production in ounces, along with their year-over-year changes from the comparable Q120. Output is the lifeblood of this industry, with investors generally prizing production growth above everything else. After that is a measure of silver miners relative purity, their percentage of quarterly sales actually derived from silver. Most silver miners also produce gold or base metals. Generally the more silver-centric a miner, the more responsive its stock price is to changing silver prices. So traders looking for leveraged silver exposure via its miners stocks should stick to the purer producers. Then the costs of wresting that silver from the bowels of the earth are shown in per-ounce terms, both cash costs and all-in sustaining costs. The latter subtracted from silver prices help illuminate profitability. That is followed by these miners hard quarterly revenues and earnings reported to securities regulators. Blank data fields mean companies hadnt reported that particular data as of mid-May when Q1s earnings season was winding down. And annual percentage changes are also excluded if they would prove misleading, like comparing two negative numbers or data shifting from positive to negative or vice versa. With the average silver price in Q121 rocketing up 55.8% year-over-year to $26.18, the silver miners should have reported excellent results. They delivered for the most part, although their silver production continued to wane. For many years now, the major silver miners have been increasingly shifting their capital into gold mining. Primary silver miners are slowly going extinct since gold is more profitable to produce. Overall the SIL-top-15 silver miners produced 61,471k ounces in Q121. That slumped a modest 2.0% YoY, which was the slowest rate of declining silver output since Q219. Out of those latest 20 quarters where Ive been advancing this research thread, Q1s SIL-top-15 production ranked near the bottom at 18th. The major silver miners collective output of their namesake metal continues to trend lower on balance. The SIL top 15s collective output peaked at 77,432k ounces way back in Q217. The last quarter where these major silver miners grew their silver production year-over-year was a slight positive blip in Q219. For the last seven quarters in a row, their silver mined has relentlessly shrunk. Relatively-pure silver deposits supporting primary silver mines are getting rarer, and they are challenging to operate profitably. The best-available fundamental data on global silver supply and demand is published once a year by the venerable Silver Institute. The latest World Silver Survey covering 2020 was just released about a month ago. It revealed that only 27% of all the silver mined worldwide last year came from primary silver mines. Nearly 3/4ths of all the silver produced was merely the byproduct of lead/zinc, copper, and gold mines! The major silver miners continued turning yellow last quarter, increasingly diversifying into gold with its superior economics. The SIL top 15s total gold production surged 8.3% higher YoY to 1,454k ounces! That is on the higher side, ranking as 6th out of the last 20 quarters. Most of the production growth these major silver miners saw in Q1 came on the gold side. A couple traditional silver miners led that charge. For decades SSR Mining was called Silver Standard Resources. While its silver production was flat last quarter, its gold output rocketed up 93.5% YoY to 170k ounces! That mostly resulted from SSRM acquiring the gold miner Alacer Gold last summer. Now this company operates three gold mines to just a single silver one. And that was an old mine winding down, although a new deposit nearby will extend its life. Fortuna Silver, which is included in SIL under its Canadian symbol FVI, reported decent silver-production growth of 5.2% YoY. Yet its gold output soared a colossal 242.6% YoY to 35k ounces! This company is ramping up its new third mine which recently finished construction, a gold operation. Instead of buying or building more silver mines, SSR Mining and Fortuna Silver both chose to buy or build gold ones instead. They certainly arent alone. First Majestic Silver, also under its Canadian FR listing in this leading silver-stock ETF, has long been the purest major silver miner in the world. But it just bought a company to acquire a gold mine which yielded 113k ounces last year. Once that deal is finished and that gold attributed to First Majestic, it too will overwhelmingly be a primary gold miner. The major silver miners are investing in gold. After watching this ongoing shift away from the white metal for years now by its traditional major producers, every quarter I wonder if I should keep analyzing silver stocks. As primary gold miners, the larger ones are also included in the big gold-stock ETFs. As that Reddit-silver-short-squeeze episode proved, there is still plenty of investment demand for silver miners. But their leverage to silver wanes with their purity. In Q121, the SIL top 15 averaged 47.8% of their quarterly sales coming from silver. This was mostly figured by multiplying silver production by silvers average price, then dividing that by revenues. In some cases where companies didnt report Q1 sales, they were approximated using gold and silver outputs and their average prices. Interestingly that relative silver purity was a considerable improvement, 4.6% better. But a couple factors skewed it higher. First silver way outperformed gold in Q1 in average-price terms, as the white metal soared 55.8% YoY compared to the yellow ones 13.4%. Thus silvers contribution to total revenues surged. Maybe this silver-outperformance trend will continue, but it is unusual compared to recent-years precedent. Second, a long-time explorer MAG Silver is transitioning into a new silver miner. It owns a minority stake in a big new silver mine under construction by silver behemoth Fresnillo. Even though that development ore only yielded 203k ounces of silver last quarter, that was 90.8% of MAGs implied sales. Without that high purity read, the rest of the SIL top 15 averaged a much-lower 44.2% of their revenues from silver. That is more in line with preceding quarters trend of 43.7% and 44.0% purity. Out of those 20 quarters Ive been analyzing the SIL top 15s latest results, only a single one clocked in over 50% in primary-silver-miner territory! The overall average was just 40.1% during that span. The lower the major silver miners silver purity falls, the less responsive their stock prices will be to silvers action. Silver stocks leverage to silver continuing to wane will likely erode investors interest in this sector. Silver-mining production trends are usually inversely proportional to unit mining costs, lower outputs lead to higher costs. Thats because silver mines operating costs are largely fixed. They can only process so much silver-bearing ore each quarter, which requires about the same levels of infrastructure, equipment, and employees. So less silver run through their fixed-capacity mills leaves fewer ounces to spread costs across. Cash costs are the classic measure of silver-mining costs, including all cash expenses necessary to mine each ounce of silver. But they are misleading as a true cost measure, excluding the big capital needed to explore for silver deposits and build mines. So cash costs are best viewed as survivability acid-test levels for the major silver miners. They illuminate the minimum silver prices necessary to keep the mines running. The SIL top 15s average cash costs blasted 16.8% higher YoY to $10.52 per ounce in Q121. That was way faster than waning output would imply, and the highest cash costs by far in the last 20 quarters. That dwarfed the previous record high of $9.01 in Q120. But this sector cost read was skewed high by Perus perpetually-struggling Buenaventura. Excluding its extreme outlying $19.39, that average retreats to $9.26. All-in sustaining costs are far superior than cash costs, and were introduced by the World Gold Council in June 2013. They add on to cash costs everything else that is necessary to maintain and replenish silver-mining operations at current output tempos. AISCs give a much-better understanding of what it really costs to maintain silver mines as ongoing concerns, and reveal the major silver miners true operating profitability. These major silver miners AISCs climbed 6.6% YoY to an average of $14.33 per ounce in Q121. That was still well under the peak of $15.36 in Q318, and was skewed higher by First Majestic Silver. It reported $19.35 AISCs, which were blamed on lower production to spread fixed costs across. The SIL top 15s average AISCs are generally volatile though, as the sample size of companies reporting them is small. But with major silver miners morphing into gold producers, we have to take whatever data we can get. At last quarters high average $26.18 silver prices, $14.33 AISCs are still very profitable. That implies these elite silver miners as an industry were earning $11.85 per ounce, which is the second-highest in the last 20 quarters after Q320s $14.77. This profitability proxy skyrocketed 253.4% higher YoY from Q120s $3.35! That furthers a five-consecutive-quarter trend where the major silver miners implied earnings climbed at impressive double-digit rates. That streak achieved 18.2%, 23.1%, 137.2%, 65.6%, and 253.4% YoY growth in quarterly average silver prices less SIL-top-15 average all-in sustaining costs! And those big numbers will continue in the current Q2, as silver was averaging a strong $26.12 quarter-to-date in mid-May. That was in line with Q1s high prevailing prices, which will lead to more big unit profits. While the major silver miners AISCs are something of a crapshoot since so few are reported, over the last four quarters they averaged $12.62. If Q221s come in anywhere close to that, the SIL top 15 will enjoy huge earnings growth for another quarter. The comparable earnings proxy a year earlier in Q220 was just $4.15 per ounce. The SIL top 15s hard financial results reported to their securities regulators under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or other countries equivalents confirmed their strong performances last quarter. These major silver miners collective revenues soared 40.8% YoY to $4,039m. That was the second-highest seen in the last 20 quarters, only trailing Q420s $5,044m. Higher silver and gold prices are a big boon. The major silver miners actual total bottom-line accounting earnings were good too, improving radically from the comparable quarter. The SIL top 15 reporting those numbers by mid-May had total profits of $379m. That was on the higher side of recent years precedent, and a colossal improvement from the $274m loss these companies suffered in Q120. Their increasing focus on gold is likely a major driver of this. Better precious-metals prices also really boosted operating cash flows generated by the SIL top 15. In Q121 they blasted up 33.2% YoY to $687m. That fed into the silver miners cash treasuries soaring 45.9% YoY to $3,968m. Operations spinning off so much cash will certainly drive more buying of mines and entire companies. Based on recent-years precedent though, most acquisitions will likely be gold-centric. So the dwindling major silver miners are faring well, as they certainly should be with such high prevailing metals prices. Their latest quarterly results were strong in some ways, but lackluster in others. Looking at this table, it is surprising how many of the SIL top 15 reported lower silver and/or gold output compared to Q120. That shouldve been an easy comp, as the COVID-19 lockdowns were starting late in that quarter. While we own a few of these better major silver miners in our trading books, it is hard to get excited about this sector. The long-time traditional major silver miners are increasingly primary gold miners, giving their stocks more affinity to the yellow metal than the white one. Maybe that doesnt matter, as silvers primary driver is golds fortunes. But it is getting more challenging to find pure silver-stock exposure for portfolios. The SIL ETF itself remains problematic too. Without many major silver miners to pick from, theres not a lot of options for this ETFs managers. Yet some of SILs bigger positions are confounding. Russias Polymetal was this ETFs second-largest holding at 11.5% in mid-May. Yet silver accounted for just 20.3% of its sales last quarter. And thats high for this company, as POLYs silver purity ran just 13.6% in Q420. And Korea Zinc at 5.1% should be booted from this silver-stock ETF posthaste. It is a large base-metals smelter that has nothing to do with mining silver! While it does smelt silver, that is still a relatively-small fraction of its business. Global X named their ETF the Silver Miners ETF, so having a non-miner like Korea Zinc in it with a high weighting really hurts its credibility. SIL is really another gold miners ETF in disguise. So despite excellent silver prices, silver-stock investing is a lot harder than it used to be. The major silver miners are pouring most of their growth capital into boosting their gold outputs. The opportunity costs for that are much less allocated to adding more silver production. The more gold traditional silver miners sell, the less silver drives their revenues. That leaves their stock prices much less sensitive to silver action. Straddling golds extended-correction bottom in recent months, we gradually filled up the trading books of our newsletters with fundamentally-superior precious-metals miners. But for the major silver miners that made that cut, I was more excited about their surging gold production from mine expansions, builds, and buys than their silver output. Silver is increasingly a byproduct even in this realm, fueling apathy among traders. At Zeal we walk the contrarian walk, buying low when few others are willing before later selling high when few others can. We overcome popular greed and fear by diligently studying market cycles. We trade on time-tested indicators derived from technical, sentimental, and fundamental research. That has already led to unrealized gains in this current young upleg as high as +64.9% on our recent newsletter stock trades! To multiply your wealth trading high-potential gold stocks, you need to stay informed about whats going on in this sector. Staying subscribed to our popular and affordable weekly and monthly newsletters is a great way. They draw on my vast experience, knowledge, wisdom, and ongoing research to explain whats going on in the markets, why, and how to trade them with specific stocks. Subscribe today while this gold-stock upleg remains young! Our newly-reformatted newsletters have expanded individual-stock analysis. The bottom line is the major silver miners of the leading silver-stock ETF generally reported good results in Q1. Continuing their years-old diversification trend, their silver production waned as their gold output surged. This ongoing shift continued to dilute the purity of the traditional silver miners, leaving their stock prices more dependent on gold than silver. While more profitable, these silver stocks trade more like gold stocks. The high prevailing silver prices did help drive big year-over-year surges in revenues, earnings, operating cash flows generated, and cash treasuries. Those good fundamentals should attract capital, especially as silver powers higher with gold. As that Reddit-silver-short-squeeze episode showed, traders still flock back to major silver miners when silver runs. While that lasts, these stocks should still amplify silvers gains. Adam Hamilton, CPA So how can you profit from this information? We publish an acclaimed monthly newsletter, Zeal Intelligence , that details exactly what we are doing in terms of actual stock and options trading based on all the lessons we have learned in our market research. Please consider joining us each month for tactical trading details and more in our premium Zeal Intelligence service at www.zealllc.com/subscribe.htm Questions for Adam? I would be more than happy to address them through my private consulting business. Please visit www.zealllc.com/adam.htm for more information. Thoughts, comments, or flames? Fire away at zelotes@zealllc.com . Due to my staggering and perpetually increasing e-mail load, I regret that I am not able to respond to comments personally. I will read all messages though and really appreciate your feedback! Copyright 2000 - 2019 Zeal Research ( www.ZealLLC.com ) 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Haiti - Social : Message from Lesly Conde on the occasion of Haitian Mother's Day Message from ex Chicago Consul Lesly Conde : "Dear compatriots and friends everywhere, The last Sunday of May of each year gives us the opportunity to celebrate the Haitian mother, and to reflect on the essential role she plays in our existence and in the survival of our Nation. It is the main guarantee of our proud traditions. She personifies tenderness and patience. With an indelible smile, she never ceases to pass on to us the experiences she has acquired in unenviable conditions. This year, let's take a closer look at the importance of this heroine and especially what we owe her. We cannot talk about Haitian mothers without taking into account the conditions in which almost all of them struggle to take care of their children. Caring for children is exclusively a maternal responsibility in our country. At the slightest minor injury or for the slightest fear, we look for mom's help. The latter is never too busy or too tired to listen to us and reassure us. We are, moreover, never too old to benefit from his advice or take refuge in his fortitude. I am, in fact, one of those who think that the Haitian mother deserves special consideration, a very special respect. She represents a symbol of courage, tenderness and devotion. She's, in the eyes of all who know her, an example of ingenuity and self-sufficiency. The often more than difficult conditions in which she operates make her even more worthy of praise, respect and affection. She's a caring mother, nurse, accountant, diplomat and more. Our society has always relied on its resilience, courage, optimism and imagination. She's the one who taught us not to be afraid to excel, to always aim high and never let ourselves be discouraged. The Haitian mother is far from being the weakest link in the home. It is simply irreplaceable. I respectfully bow to wish all the mothers in my country a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY. Thank you for your attention." Lesly Conde Former Consul General of Haiti in Chicago (August 26, 2004 - May 25, 2018) HL/ HaitiLibre Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up Email Password Password Username Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password. Stay logged in Help A Senate panel voted Wednesday to give themselves and their colleagues a big increase in their allowance and do it as soon as possible. You voted: Huntington, WV (25701) Today Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. State Police at Stroudsburg said Sunday they have entered Elizabeth M. Greico, 64, as a missing person, after her family said that she had left her home in Smithfield Township sometime May 24 and had not returned. At its monthly meeting before the primary, the committee voted to remove Bermingham as a member of good standing. They cited two reasons: Bermingham asked Republican voters to support a candidate who is suing the board he sits on, which includes fellow Republican candidate Anthony DeFranco, thereby violating bylaws that say he cannot openly oppose Republican candidates. Second, the committee considered a remark in his campaign video, I am a Republican but dont hold that against me, derogatory toward Republicans. Uniontown, PA (15401) Today A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Sign Up for the e-Edition! Get the newest edition of the weekly Shopper delivered to your inbox every Wednesday at 6am! So many peoples hearts have been touched by Derek, Andreas said. As far as whats happened to so many soldiers in a very recent conflict and conflict of many years gone by, it really is wonderful that people still keep us in their hearts, to remember all the people that have served. Multimedia Video Journalist Buffalo native trying to get her news on! Im a Multimedia Journalist here at Your Hometown Stations and I love what I do. Have a cool story idea? Im in! Just email me at ashelton@wlio.com or message my Facebook page. Thank you! You've reported this item as a violation of our terms of use. This content was contributed by a user of the site. If you believe this content may be in violation of the terms of use, you may report it. There is much to be said in favor of the pending buyout by Pemex of the half interest in the refinery at Deer Park that since 1993 has been held by Shell Oil Company. Pemex would control 100 percent of the refinerys crude oil purchases and output. But on balance it is a mistake. The full cost, including environmental and pension liabilities, would far exceed its $600 million price. The case in favor was presented during the two-hour, online press conference held by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Wednesday. Speakers were the director-general of Pemex, Octavio Romero, and Laura Itzel Castillo, an independent board member (and daughter of the late, pro-democracy activist Herberto Castillo). AMLO quoted an apocryphal letter from 1960 in which a former president hints at a future Mexican investment in refining in the United States. The technical metrics may be favorably compared to those of the Dos Bocas refinery, which is under construction. Where the cost for each barrel for the additional capacity at Deer Park is $3,500, the projected cost of the same barrel at Dos Bocas may exceed $30,000. The Houston-area refinery, which dates from 1929, is technologically superior to any Pemex refinery. But the technical metrics are not those that matter most to AMLO. What counts is the acquisition of Shells share of the refinery will advance his goal to make Mexico self-sufficient in refined products and increase the countrys energy security. The timing of the announcement has electoral overtones: AMLO vows to control prices of gasoline and diesel to protect the household economy of supporters who are expected to vote in the June 6 midterm elections. On HoustonChronicle.com: AMLOs oil commandments to vex Texas commerce There are many arguments against this purchase, starting with the questionable validity of its Soviet-era premise of the need for self-sufficiency in refined products. Why not also natural gas? His mantra of energy sovereignty is a head-scratcher. The second counterargument is that Pemex lacks the executive, managerial and technical talent to operate the refinery safely and efficiently. At home, Pemex operates its six refineries at an average of 40 percent of capacity, where Deer Park runs at 80 percent. Shell announced that it would reassign some employees to the chemical plant at the site and Pemex has said that it would offer jobs to refinery employees. High-value Shell refinery careerists would be reassigned. Shells press release dated May 24 assures the public that we will continue to work with them in an integrated way whatever that means. Shell has every incentive to make sure that the refinery is operated safely and efficiently as its chemical unit within the 800-acre site will need feedstocks such as ethane, naphtha and ethanol that are produced by the refinery. As Shell will not continue to be the operator, the legal responsibility for the refinery would fall on Pemex through its subsidiary PMI Holdings North America Inc., which has offices in downtown Houston. The president of PMI Holdings is Manuel Flores, a chemical engineer with an MBA from UT Austin, who is an AMLO appointee. In the dark Mexico has no counterpart to the Deer Park refinery, and PMI and Pemex lack the professionals needed to operate an integrated refinery in the United States. Its also doubtful that PMI and Pemex have more than a tourists knowledge of EPA compliance or how to negotiate with American labor unions. When I visited the refinery 20 years ago, among the visitors with Pemex Director-General Raul Munos Leos, I was asked, confidentially, by a Pemex executive in the refining division to alert Munoz that Shell was not sharing its technology and that Pemex onsite staff was not getting training and experience in the operations of the refinery. On HoustonChronicle.com: Why millions of residents in North-Central Mexico were freezing on Feb.15 As Shell carefully protects its intellectual property, PMI/Pemex technical staff may be as much in the dark today about Deer Park refinery operations as they were then. In short, Pemex appears unprepared to take operational control of the Deer Park refinery, potentially increasing the risks of industrial accidents and environmental degradation. The nationalization-by-purchase of Shells interest in the refinery wont make the situation any better, cutting off whatever flow of innovation and managerial expertise came for Shells worldwide refinery operations. For the Houston area, Pemex ownership poses enough of a risk that local officials and business leaders, including the Greater Houston Partnership and American Petroleum Institute, should ask the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which reviews transactions involving foreign investors, to block the buyout. Baker is the platform director of Energia.com and publisher of Mexico Energy Intelligence, an industry newsletter based in Houston May 25 marked the one-year anniversary of the death of George Floyd. His death rocked the nation so much so that protests, rallies and marches sprang up across the country despite the omnipresent threat of COVID-19. His death sparked outrage over police brutality and spotlighted systemic racism and brought with it a wave of renewed civil rights activism. And while his killer Derek Chauvin has been convicted of murder, questions remain about whether or not his conviction will impact crimes against people of color at the hands of police. Related: U.S. Rep. Al Green praises Biden's 'suite cred' following address to Congress U.S. Rep. Al Green grew up in the segregated South. Since becoming a member of Congress, he has devoted his work to leading civil rights activism for minorities and the underserved. Green reflected on Floyds murder and its impact on the future of America. Youve mentioned before that youre a son of the segregated South. Would you say those experiences of endemic racism and violence influenced you to become a leader in the civil rights movement? If so, how? As a son of the segregated South, I had firsthand experiences with invidious discrimination. I experienced overt and covert racism at an early age: its taste drinking from filthy colored only water fountains; its smell when forced to use noxiously nasty separate public restrooms; its sound when hearing my father called boy by the children of white men, passing the ethos of hate to the next generation. No human should suffer that measure of dehumanization in our country, which pledges liberty and justice for all. I didnt enlist in the fight for freedom from oppression; I was drafted at birth. When I became of age, I was determined to participate in peaceful resistance and to provide direction to prevent others from having to endure state-sanctioned and culturally accepted invidious discrimination. I am not a part time freedom fighter; I am, by birth, a fulltime freedom fighter. As an African-American, what did you feel when you heard about the murder of George Floyd? Did it stir any personal memories? Hearing about the murder of Mr. George Floyd, watching the video as captured by the courageous young Darnella Frazier, brought me to tears. I was flooded with memories of Jose Campos Torres, Ida Delaney, Rodney King, Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, too many women and men whose lives have been unjustly taken under the color of law. I knew Mr. Floyd had committed the crime of living while Black. Do you feel like justice was served when Derek Chauvin was convicted of murder? While it is a welcomed deviation from what we are accustomed to experiencing in this class of cases, Derek Chauvins conviction alone isnt justice. The bifurcated trial process leaves us on the edge of our seats wondering whether there will be accountability for this abhorrent crime. All too often, we have seen cases where the punishment does not fit the crime when the convicted was a police officer. This was the case with Houston resident Jose Campos Torres, who died under the color of law that meted a $1 fine as punishment. We cannot truly claim justice until we know that Derek Chauvins punishment fits his dastardly deed - the crime of murder. What were your observations on the reactions of the Black community to his murder? What observations do you have about the response from the white community? The death of Mr. George Floyd sparked a global protest movement, which was overwhelmingly peaceful (I am a supporter of peaceful protests). When we review the throngs of protesters in Houston and around the world, we saw more than a band of Black people. We saw a rainbow of human colors marching together; a chorus of humanity harmonizing for accountability with an ensemble of peaceful protesters demanding justice for a man who suffered a torturous death for 9 minutes and 29 seconds under the color of law. There was no color line, no gender line, no religion line. People from all different backgrounds, who may have never been together for any other purpose, marched peacefully for justice for Mr. George Floyd. As you know, its the one-year anniversary of Floyds murder. When you reflect on the past year, what really stands out to you? The quest for justice for George Floyd has ascended to lofty heights without submitting. Well-meaning doubting Thomases are starting to see what we, as African Americans, have been living. Circumstances that Black people have been calling to the attention of the public longer than Ive been alive are finally being realized by people of goodwill who questioned the possibility that police violence of this magnitude could transpire. On HoustonChronicle.com: George Floyd: One Year Later Do you think his murder will be a catalyst for change? Why or why not? I know it should be, and it can be if we have the will to cause it to be. During the memorial service of Mr. George Floyd last year at the Fountain of Praise Church in my congressional district, my grief confirmed something for me. As I sat and listened to Pastor Remus Wright begin the service, he said something that stuck with me. He said none of us is expendable. In that moment, it became conspicuously clear to me that as we advocated for justice with accountability for Mr. George Floyds wrongful death, we also needed to pursue a long-term solution. On June 4, 2020 - five days prior to this memorial service, I filed H.Res. 992 to establish a Cabinet-level Department of Reconciliation. Hearing Pastor Wright tell us that we were not expendable made me know this was the appropriate course of action. Our nation still needs to reconcile. We need a Department of Reconciliation with a Secretary of Reconciliation, whose job it is to work every day toward the elimination of racism and other forms of invidious discrimination. The Mr. George Floyds of the world are not expendable. As a white person myself, I can tell you that sometimes its hard to know what white people can be doing to help social justice for African-Americans. What would you say to white people that want to help but dont know how? We must all understand that our pledge of liberty and justice for all is more than a quixotic quest. It is a noble clarion call to action. To quote my friend, the late John Lewis, When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something. claire.goodman@chron.com When the Class of 2021 finishing walking across the stage to get their diplomas, they have numerous options ahead of them: college, military, work and travel, among other opportunities. For Fort Bend ISD valedictorians and salutatorians, plans to continue their educations are tantamount to their future success. For the 22 students who finished either first or second in their class, 13 are staying close to home in Texas with three each to go to the University of Texas, Texas A&M University, University of Houston and Rice University. One is planning on going to Houston Community College and then the University of Texas Health Science Center. Another three graduates are headed to Ivy League schools (two to Cornell and one to Colombia) and three are off to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. One graduate each is headed to Vanderbilt University, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Chicago. The valedictorians and salutatorians as provided by Fort Bend ISD for each school include: Austin High School Valedictorian Derek Jiang will attend Cornell University and major in chemical engineering. Jiang is a bird enthusiast and among his many accomplishments is the grand prize in the 2020 Bill of Rights Institute We the Students essay contest. Salutatorian Alisha Lin will also attend Cornell University and plans to major in computer science. During the pandemic, Lin started a new hobby, playing mahjong with her family, which she enjoys very much. Bush High School Valedictorian Jennifer Nguyen will attend the University of Texas next year to study biomedical engineering. She enjoyed her time in FFA and will cherish her memories of giving rodeo tours, raising a show rabbit and competing in floriculture contests. Serving as the chapters president, Nguyen is grateful for the opportunity to have grown as a leader and tried new things. Salutatorian Kelly Trinh will join the honors freshman class at the University of Houston in the fall to major in kinesiology. While in high school, she said she learned to value her voice and she believes a students greatest disservice is to sit on the sidelines. Clements High School Valedictorian Bella Xu will attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology and major in computer science. She spent part of the pandemic building a super lightweight 12-foot kayak that weighs only 20 pounds. Salutatorian Abhinaya Muruganandham will join the freshman class at Texas A&M University, majoring in biomedical engineering on the pre-med track. Last summer as the pandemic deepened, she and a friend developed and operated a virtual summer camp for elementary and middle school students. Dulles High School Valedictorian Kathryn Phung plans to attend Rice University this fall to major in biochemistry and cell biology and study Spanish and Portuguese. She was part of the award-winning Dulles Academic Decathlon team, which earned its most recent state title this year. Phung earned first place overall in the Honors category in the 6A division at state, and advanced to the national individual competition, where she again won first place overall in the Honors category. Salutatorian Ann Phan will attend Columbia University next year to student biology and public health. During her time at Dulles High School, she has served as president of the Math and Science Academy. Elkins High School Valedictorian Jefferson Yu will attend the University of Texas at Austin to study electrical and computer engineering as an honors student. Among his accomplishments, he was named a National Merit Scholar, a recipient of the Presidents Volunteer Service Award and a two-time winner of Texas Inventathon. Salutatorian Joshua Bello will attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology to major in mechanical engineering. He was named an AP Scholar with Distinction. Hightower High School Valedictorian Aarna Bhuptani will join the freshman class at Vanderbilt University this fall to study astrophysics. She has been an active participant in Speech and Debate, HOSA-Future Health Professionals, Science National Honor Society and National English Honor Society. She enjoys dancing, creative writing and reading. Salutatorian Siem Yonas will attend the University of Texas at Austin as an honors scholarship recipient to study biomedical engineering. He is a member of Hightower High Schools robotics and computer science organization, and plans to become a biomedical engineer. Kempner High School Valedictorian Sophia Pineda will attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology to major in computer science. As a Gifted and Talented student, Pineda created an original research project for the Districts GT Mentorship Program. Salutatorian Stephanie Agu will attend Rice University to major in biochemistry. This year, Agu was named a Texas All-State Vocalist. Marshall High School Valedictorian Samuel Idah-Oze will attend Texas A&M University this fall to major in electrical engineering. He is a fluent French speaker and was named a Posse Scholar, in addition to being selected as a finalist in the annual Houston Rodeo art competition in the graphic design category. Salutatorian Dzeinus Ralleca will attend Houston Community College and the University of Texas Health Science Center where he will major in nursing. He has been a member of the Marshall Air Force JROTC program for all four years of high school, serving as Cadet Colonel. He said he owes his present leadership skills to his time in JROTC. Ridge Point High School Valedictorian Adriana Devenish who plans to major in aerospace engineering at Texas A&M University. She recently medaled twice at the states academic decathlon. Devenish enjoyed running cross-country during her time at Ridge Point High School. Salutatorian Emma Codianne will attend Rice University this fall and plans to major in bioengineering. During her time in high school, she has been involved in the National Honor Society, Key Club and competed at the state level in the Academic Decathlon. Travis High School Valedictorian Ian Ligon will attend Georgia Institute of Technology to major in computer science. He enjoys playing the ukulele, coding, learning new languages, and hopes to travel the world to use data to solve problems and improve the quality of life in various communities. Among his accomplishments, Ligon was named a National Merit Scholar. Salutatorian Brandon Hawkins will join the freshman class at the University of Chicago, majoring in biological sciences. He was named a National Merit Finalist and completed a mentorship program with a non-profit focused on public policy. During this years legislative session, Hawkins had the opportunity to testify in front of the states Public Education Committee. Willowridge High School Valedictorian Lisha Mathew will attend the University of Houston, majoring in biology. She is passionate about music and singing, and in addition to being a member of both her school and church choir, Mathew also plays the piano. Salutatorian Ceaser Garcia will attend the University of Houston this fall and major in biology. He has already begun his journey to become a medical professional. He is currently working to become a certified clinical medical assistant. rkent@hcnonline.com TIRANA, Albania (AP) An Albanian parliamentary committee issued a report Friday recommending that the countrys president be impeached for violating the constitution and fired. The investigative committee concluded that President Ilir Meta violated 16 articles of the constitution. The report said the alleged breaches occurred before Albania's April 25 general election when Meta openly campaigned against the governing party at a time when the people conceive his role as a unifying one. Lawmakers formed the committee earlier this month to decide whether to impeach Meta for failing in his constitutional duty to guarantee national unity by siding with the opposition in the election. The governing Socialist Party ended up winning 74 of parliaments 140 seats. The committees report is to be debated and voted on in parliament. Impeaching Meta requires a two-thirds majority, which the Socialists do not have, and the approval of Albanias Constitutional Court. Meta argues that the outgoing assembly is in a post-election transition period and therefore ineligible to conduct such investigation activities. No comment and zero concern on any null decision or anti-constitutional and illegal activity of the one-party Assembly (parliament), Metas spokesman, Tedi Blushi, said of the committee's report. The president intends to remain in office until July 2022, when his term is set to end, Blushi said. During the election campaign, Meta accused Prime Minister Edi Rama of running a kleptocratic regime and concentrating all legislative, administrative and judiciary powers in his hands. Albanias presidency is largely ceremonial but carries some authority over the judiciary and the armed forces. The role is also generally understood to be apolitical, but Meta has regularly clashed with Ramas government. ___ Follow Llazar Semini at https://twitter.com/lsemini NEW CASTLE, Del. (AP) President Joe Biden marked his first Memorial Day weekend as commander in chief by honoring the nations sacrifices in a deeply personal manner as he paid tribute Sunday to those lost while remembering his late son Beau, a veteran who died six years ago to the day. As a cold rain fell, Biden made his annual appearance at the commemoration in New Castle, not far from his Wilmington home, a day before he planned to do the same at Arlington National Cemetery on the official observance. The death of his son from brain cancer at age 46 is ever-present for the elder Biden, with the loss defining so much of his worldview, dotting his speeches and stirring his empathy for others in pain. The Memorial Day weekend, long an important moment for Biden, took on added poignancy this year as the president spoke frequently and emotionally of his own loss while expressing the gratitude of a nation for the sacrifices of others. I cant thank you enough for the continued service for the country, said Biden, addressing a crowd of Gold Star military families and other veterans in a ceremony at War Memorial Plaza in the shadow of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. I know how much the loss hurts. Theyre the guardians of us and were the guardians of their legacy, Biden said of those who served in the armed forces. Despite all the pain, I know the pride you feel in the loved one you have lost. Though a tent was overhead, the cold wind whipped the rain onto the guests as they watched a lone military trumpeter play taps at a memorial to Delawares fallen troops. Biden appeared to pay the chill no mind, remaining for the entirety of the 75-minute ceremony and mouthing the words to the closing rendition of God Bless America. When it was time, he snapped a salute to the wreath laid at the memorial. Biden had attended the ceremony nearly every year for decades, and it was at last years event when he emerged for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, spotted with a mask while laying a wreath. Hours before Sunday's ceremony, the president, first lady Jill Biden and other family members attended a memorial Mass for Beau Biden at their local church. After the service, the Bidens greeted well-wishers outside the church and, for the first time in more than a year, were able to receive warm hugs and handshakes at their home parish. The Bidens walked to Beaus grave, which is on the property of St. Joseph's on the Brandywine, and left flowers amid several American flags that had been placed on the well-manicured lawn next to the marker. Beau Biden served two terms as Delaware's attorney general before declaring a run for governor, and many saw in him the same aspirations that brought his father to the White House. Beau Biden also served in Delawares National Guard and, when sent to Iraq, received permission to wear a uniform emblazoned with a different last name so as not to receive special treatment. That story, which Biden told Friday at a Virginia air force base, was one of the many moments in which Bidens son defined the Memorial Day weekend. After beginning with an emotional remembrance of his late son, Biden acknowledged the unheralded sacrifices made by the service members and their families. You are the very best of what America has to offer, Biden said then. Biden also underscored his recent decision to pull troops out of Afghanistan later this year, expressing gratitude to service members who took multiple tours of duty in Americas longest war. He largely avoided the particulars of international affairs on Sunday, though he pledged to press Russias Vladimir Putin on human rights during their summit in Geneva next month and said that the moment was right to show the world, and namely China, that the United States was ready to lead again after four years of a largely inward-looking foreign policy under President Donald Trump. Its time to remind everybody who we are, he said. The Pittsburgh-vs.-Philadelphia cross state rivalry has played out on social media with similarly (usually) light-hearted banter between western Pennsylvania Sheetz and eastern Pennsylvania Wawa. Before his Facebook post Friday, Fetterman had staked out ground firmly on the Sheetz side. Has he realized that, if he wants to win a hard-fought Democratic Senate primary race against Philadelphia state Sen. Sharif Street, his staunch pro-Sheetz stance might alienate eastern Pennsylvanians? SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) More than half of Illinois adults have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19, public health officials announced Sunday. Overall 11.2 million vaccines have been administered in the state, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Health officials said about 67% of all adults have received at least one vaccine dose. Rangers who keep an eye on North America's highest mountain peak say impatient and inexperienced climbers are taking more risks and endangering themselves and other climbers after a year off because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Denali in southern Alaska is 20,310 feet (6,190 meters) above sea level and requires a level of expertise and acclimation to high altitudes not needed for climbing most peaks in the U.S. We have seen a disturbing amount of overconfidence paired with inexperience in the Alaska Range," the National Park Service wrote in a statement issued Thursday. The remoteness and extreme weather in Alaska pose extra risks, even for climbers may have a good deal of experience at elevations up to 14,000 feet in the Lower 48. After reporting no deaths in 2018 and 2019, at least two people have already died on the mountain in 2021. Two others were seriously injured, authorities said. Earlier this month, a skier from Colorado died after falling into a crevasse. A climber from Idaho was killed by a falling block of glacier ice, rangers reported. The rangers issued their statement after a Canadian climber was seriously injured in a nearly 1,000-foot (305 meters) fall. He was not wearing ropes. Other climbers reported the fall, and a nearby helicopter doing glacier surveys was able to rescue the man, park officials said. In recent years, rangers said they have seen more climbers try to make Denali's summit by climbing the 7,000 feet (2,134 meters) from the final base camp to the top in one day, which is almost impossible except for the most experienced climbers. Exhaustion, untested physiological response to high altitude, rapidly changing weather and insufficient gear on such a long push are all factors we have seen contribute to injuries and deaths, the Park Service statement said. Experts recommend taking 17 to 21 days to climb Denali. That includes rest days and extra days to wait out extreme weather. Many expeditions get desperation, impatience and summit fever when they are running out of days and take risks, rangers said. Officials at Denali also are seeing people leave their original climbing groups after reaching the final base camp at 14,000 feet (4,267 meters) when the groups are reluctant to go for the summit. Instead, the climbers join other groups or individuals they just met. Sometimes those people get too sick to keep going and are crammed into tents with other more prepared climbers, using their water and fuel. A number of climbing teams have had their own summit bids disrupted or ruined by the need to care for these climbers, the statement said. The statement also reminded climbers that the National Park Service rescues people only when their lives, limbs or eyesight are at risk. Anything that we deem falls outside these categories, we will leave you to figure out on your own, and this year we have already turned down rescue requests that dont meet these criteria, they said. The Park Service limits the number of people who can climb Denali to less than 1,500 per year. In 2019, 726 people made the summit, according to the agency. The busiest time for climbing Denali is May and June. The cold weather is a problem in the spring, and storms become more frequent in the summer. The forecast for the summit Sunday called for a 40% chance of snow with temperatures from minus 10 to 0 Fahrenheit (-23 to -18 Celsius) and winds up to 35 mph (56 kph), according to the National Weather Service. Strolling through water-logged Olivewood Cemetery last week with Charles Cook, a wiry Houston native and soon-to-be retiree, we kept coming across majestic monuments commemorating African-American pioneers who helped build this city. Olivewood was the silk-stocking cemetery of the African-American community, Cook said as we detoured around puddles and more modest gravestones low to the ground. There are ministers here, business people; six or seven have schools named after them. These people are not as well known as they should be; neither is their final resting place. The 7-acre plot in the Old Sixth Ward is the oldest African-American cemetery in Houston. Shaded by venerable oak, elm and pecan trees just off Studemont, a couple of blocks south of Interstate 10, its nestled in a bend of White Oak Bayou, which is gradually eroding away the sacred space. Cook, who works for a medical distribution center and devotes an estimated 500 hours annually to Olivewood, was unaware of the cemetery until he happened upon the site in 1992. It was founded in 1875 near a railroad junction called Cheneyville, although slaves may have been using it as a burial ground before it became an official cemetery. It may be home to more than 4,000 graves, Cook said, although most are unmarked because their headstones have been lost or stolen, or they never had headstones. When Cook discovered Olivewood, no one had been buried there for at least 30 years. It was practically invisible. A photo taken in the 1990s shows a couple of white marble obelisks poking up through lush growth worthy of a rain forest. It was just forest, completely overgrown, Cook said. Once he found out a few years later that his great-great grandparents were buried at Olivewood, he made it his mission to bring the cemetery back to life, so to speak. Hes still at it. Something similar happened to Margott Williams, a Houston resident whose grandmother died in 1999. Williams wanted her grandmother and grandfather to be together, in Olivewood, but when she visited the cemetery, she could barely tell what it was because of the vegetation. In 2008, she and Cook co-founded Descendants of Olivewood, Inc. Williams serves as president. It just kept nagging me all those years, she told me as she strolled through the cemetery. My sister knew a genealogist, so I got in touch with her. My goal was to honor the people buried here, to tell their stories. The history is so beautiful, we need to honor these people. Paul Jennings, a retired technical writer, got involved with Olivewood when he noticed the sign of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) carved into the distinguished-looking grave marker of Charles M. Ferguson. Jennings is an active member of the fraternal organization. Ferguson, born a slave in Houston in about 1860, graduated from Fisk University in Nashville and moved to Richmond, where he was elected clerk of the district court in Fort Bend County in 1882, 1884 and 1886. He also owned a 1,500-acre plantation on Jones Creek. Ferguson was one of the featured speakers at Houstons 1885 Emancipation Day celebration. A Houston newspaper account of the day-long event recorded in full his long, flowery, hopeful oration. Education and wealth would overcome the outrages and injustice to which Black people had been subjected, he assured his listeners. Before these two powers, he predicted, the last relic of American slavery will disappear and we, with renewed energy and enlivened hope, will move on to that grand and glorious future which awaits us. For Ferguson, the more immediate future was not so grand and glorious. Three years after his oration, he was forced to flee Fort Bend during the notorious Jaybird-Woodpecker War. In 1889, he filed a civil rights suit against the Jaybirds and was awarded a $13,000 out-of-court settlement. He died in 1906. These were really successful people, Jennings said. These were not poor people. The remarkable thing about them was that a lot of them were born into slavery. Elias Dibble is interred at Olivewood. He was pastor of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest African-American church in Houston. He also began his life as a slave and arrived in Houston after being freed, determined to make a new life for himself, his family and members of the Black community. John Brown Bell was just as determined. He drove a delivery wagon, expanded into the grocery business and started buying property around the Houston area until he was a wealthy man. He also was instrumental in persuading the city to build a colored library and served on the board of Emancipation Park. The Houston Redbook in 1915 headlined its profile of the prominent Houstonian as J.B. Bell, Capitalist. The society publication also noted that Bell is the owner of a large seven-passenger Cadillac. . . and he and his wife are generous dispensers of their hospitality with the same. They purchased a large car so as to be able to carry their friends along with them on their pleasure jaunts and across-country tours. Frank Vance owned an ice cream factory, and Milton Baker, a dentist, owned rental properties around town. The large angel atop the Baker monument has become the Olivewood trademark. Olivewood is the final resting place of Joseph Vance Lewis, the first African-American lawyer to win a case before a Harris County jury in favor a Black client accused of murder. Also at Olivewood is Dr. Charles B. Johnson, the singing dentist and author of Houstons bicentennial song, Houston is a Grand Old Town. Lucy Farrow, a Holiness minister and the niece of Frederick Douglass, is buried at Olivewood. In 1906, she was part of the famous Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, where she was known as the anointed handmaiden who laid her hands on believers who received the Holy Spirit and the gift of tongues. She died in Houston in 1911. A small, non-descript gravestone, now leaning to one side in the soft earth, commemorates the life of Houston resident Tenolia Edwards. For the longest time, we thought Tenolia Edwards was a she, Williams said, but hes a he. Records indicate he was born in Africa and presumably came to America on a slave ship. He also was on the voting rolls during the short-lived Reconstruction era (as were Margott Williams ancestors). Olivewood also interests anthropologists, who investigate vestiges of pre-emancipation burial practices that originated in West Africa. Youll find upright pipes signifying a link between the worlds of the living and the dead, seashells as grave ornaments and text containing upside down or backward spelling, so that those who have passed can read them as if through a mirror. Cook plans to retire next year, which means he can add to his 500-plus hours volunteering, but he and his organization need help. Volunteers are welcome in the ongoing effort to find out more about the cemetery and the surrounding community and to continue the never-ending task of keeping Mother Nature at bay. The Descendants group also needs money to hire landscape architects and engineers to rescue the cemetery from the encroaching bayou. Weve been told that within 25 years Olivewood wont be here, Williams says. Shes determined to prevent that. Houston should be just as determined. -- The Descendants of Olivewood, Inc., are planning a celebration at the cemetery on Saturday, Juneteenth, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For information, go to the website, www.descendantsofolivewood.org. djholley10@gmail.com Twitter: @holleynews Police have charged a Seabrook man with murder after questioning his initial explanation of how his wife was shot earlier this month with a pistol he was handling at their home. Nancy McDowell was sorting laundry on May 2 near Eddie McDowell, 70, who had just returned home from an out-of-town trip. McDowell claimed that his .45-caliber handgun fired as he was unpacking it from a cooler, according to court documents. He thought there were only two bullets in the chamber and was unaware of a third one still in the weapon. There should not have been a bullet in the chamber, is what McDowell told investigators. Seabrook police rushed to the condo in the 3500 block of Nasa Parkway and found McDowells 69-year-old wife with a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. McDowell was charged more than three weeks later with murder in his wifes death after police believe that his initial remarks contradicted the physical evidence. According to court records, investigators believe McDowell must have turned his body to point the gun at his wife, who had been behind him, in order for her to have been hit with the bullet. He only realized that she had been shot when she collapsed and told him to call for help. He saw blood on her blouse and called 911, the investigator wrote. Police questioned McDowell's narrative after he said he was unaware of what his wife was doing at the time of the shooting. He was focused on the gun, he continued. But at one point, he described how his wife fell to the ground. "She went down to one knee first, then she went down," the investigator wrote, describing McDowell's statement. "For the defendant to know this, he had to have intentionally turned to look (at her) when he shot the firearm." Another inconsistency was that McDowell said the magazine fell onto the counter prior to the shooting and a bullet then came out. Police found the magazine still in the gun. Bullets that McDowell also described as being loose on the counter were stacked instead. McDowell was charged May 25 his first arrest in Harris County and a magistrate ordered that he be held on a bond of $50,000 in his wife's death. He posted bond Friday and has since been released from jail. An obituary for McDowell states she is survived by three children and several more grandchildren. Nancy found much joy in spending precious time with her family and friends, the tribute states. She was passionate about traveling, Hawaii being a favorite destination. nicole.hensley@chron.com Israel and Palestine Regarding How Biden can restore U.S. influence, (A16, May 23): Thank you for the Sunday editorial. The honest and unbiased assessment on the plight of the Palestinian people is welcome. Indeed, public opinion in the U.S. is finally recognizing that Palestinians deserve the same dignity, freedom and self-determination that should be accorded to all people. Only when our government adopts a humanitarian and evenhanded role in moderating a peace plan and works toward the end of the occupation, can we hope for a lasting solution. Nabila C. Kinghorn, Houston Wall of memories Regarding COVID decimated Hispanic communities, (A17, May 23): We could not agree more with the sentiments Dr. Peter Hotez and Rep. Sylvia Garcia express. As the founders of the website Covid19WallofMemories.org, which is dedicated to memorializing victims of COVID, we know that people of color have suffered disproportionately both in illness and in death. When we see the nearly 6,000 victims stories posted on our website, we see couples who died days apart or even within a few hours of each other. We see parents and children who both died of COVID. We see a Hispanic gentleman who lost a grandmother and two aunts within a month and took the time to memorialize them on our site. COVID-19 is unquestionably a family disease. We applaud the efforts by Hotez and Garcia to plan and carry out a campaign to ensure the pandemic is stopped in its tracks among Hispanics and people of all races and ethnicities. It is our hope that we can participate in such a plan. We know from the Wall of Memories website that although COVID can be a killer, if we recognize how interconnected we all are and take the steps necessary to stop its spread, we will defeat it on behalf of ourselves and all the people who have suffered because of this terrible disease. Mohammed and Ruth Nasrullah, Houston In his nearly 17 years in foster care in Houston, David Daniels never had a suitcase, even though he lived in eight homes and three shelters. Daniels entered foster care after parting with his biological parents who struggled with substance abuse. During the many moves that followed, he remembers placing his pajamas, underwear, a Yolanda Adams gospel CD and a Harry Potter journal in two black trash bags, cinching them shut, then slinging them over his shoulder. That lack of luggage made me feel unstable, says Daniels, who happens to be a successful flight attendant now, interacting with his and other peoples luggage daily. You feel like the throw-away kid, unwanted. Quality luggage is essential to a persons life journey. It says: I matter, Im important. Across the country, children in foster care often transfer their clothes and personal items like Daniels did, in big trash bags or even flimsy plastic grocery sacks. The problem isnt trivial, even considering the other, monumental challenges these children face. The impact of this seemingly small indignity can be profound. It can exacerbate, or confirm in a childs mind, the feelings of instability, powerlessness and even worthlessness. Those feelings are especially concerning these days. During COVID, the number of children without placement across Texas reached an all-time high of 200, Lisa Bourgoyne, program director for The Childrens Assessment Center, says. Many children spend days in CPS office spaces with their caseworkers and nights in temporary placements until a suitable foster care home can be found. Each time they move between these temporary spaces, they have to pack up their belongings. The crisis has only sharpened the need for individual, decent luggage to help ground them emotionally. The commonly occurring moves from place to place are difficult enough for children, Bourgoyne says. Kids often come to us broken, and we want to bring hope and healing so that they can grow up to live healthy, productive lies. In fact, research has shown that the simple routine of being forced to transport worldly belongings in a trash bag can have far-reaching implications for foster youth, from their development, interpersonal relationships and even future success in life. On the other hand, research has shown that the simple act of supplying a child with a $20 suitcase sends the message that the child and his or her belongings have value in this world. People often link their self-value to their possessions, particularly young children, who still see their cherished possessions as a representation of the self, says Rice Business professor Jaeyeon Chung. In a recent paper, Chung found possessions not only affect how we see ourselves, but also how we end up performing across various tasks. The symbolism of the trash bag might lead children to wonder, Am I a person of a less value? Or, is my cherished doll or toy just trash? Business owner Aprili Amani, now 33 years old, grew up in foster care both with family and non-family in Indiana. The one move to a relatives home in which she had to use a trash bag still haunts her. She describes it as one of the most embarrassing moments of my youth. It did strike me, even in my youth, that we didnt have the basic needs fit for moving as were seen in commercials on TV, or what we would see around us, Amani says. It felt like people were looking at us and judging our worth based on what we used to move in to the next place. This is pretty sad for me to recall. Those types of thoughts and feelings only add to the number of challenges the countrys some 424,000 children in foster care each day already face as they enter the system. The average age of children entering care is eight, and many come from homes marked by domestic violence or drug use. One third of kids entering U.S. foster care in 2019 were young people of color. Of Texas some 32,000 youth currently in foster care, nearly 6,000 live in the Houston area. Houston kids spend more time in care and have more placements than other kids in the state, says Arnold Valdez, director of family care services at Houstons DePelchin Childrens Center. The distinction, he says, stems from the urban make-up of the area and the high number of custody cases languishing in court. Moves for these children are often fraught with both emotional and developmental challenges. Departures from unsafe homes are many times rushed, and they can be dramatic. Children may have just five minutes to grab a few of their belongings before rushing off with an investigator from Child Protective Services. More Information How to help foster kids DePelchin's Donation Station is located at 200 Sandman. The Children's Assessment Center always needs new and gently used luggage donations, and, for back-to-school, school uniforms, backpacks and school suppliers. Warm blankets children can take with them from home to home are also always welcome. Donations are accepted at 2500 Bolsover Street. See More Collapse Theyve just lost everything that they know, sometimes even their siblings, Valdez says. Its incredibly traumatic. That transition is something that a child never, ever forgets and that will affect them for the rest of their lives. Subsequent moves to different foster care homes due to space constraints take an even greater toll. Each time a child moves, theyre set back an estimated four to six months both academically and developmentally. The move triggers previous trauma, Valdez says, and it becomes increasingly difficult for them with each subsequent move. In this environment, a trash bag sends a terrible message to children already at a low point that, your whole life is trash, Valdez says. DePelchin sources donations to make sure every child they place leaves with their own new suitcase or duffel bag. This small gesture ultimately has a huge impact. Luggage, and essentials like deodorant or toothpaste, boost childrens sense of self-worth and self-esteem. And its incredibly important for them to establish their self-worth, Valdez says, because theres a stigma with being in foster care. For foster care kids, knowing they have value is far more than a state of mind. While it can help them establish healthy relationships later in life, it helps fortify them more immediately against bullying. Without a positive sense of self-worth, foster kids are at deep risk of experiences such as those of Daniels, the flight attendant: I was suicidal at 15 because I felt unloved and unwanted, he says. With this cycle of bouncing around from group homes to shelters, its hard for us foster kids to know who really cares about us. Though the challenges of Houstons foster children can seem overwhelming, city residents can actually have an important impact resetting the tone for them by donating luggage at a difficult time. It is possible that these kind gestures can make a positive impact on how children see themselves and how they perform in life, Rice Universitys Chung says. After a major luggage drive last year, DePelchin received an outpouring of new suitcases. But they still need help during National Foster Care Month this month, and beyond. And while replacing a garbage bag with a decent suitcase may have the starkest symbolism, new childrens clothing, including pajamas and underwear also are in high demand, DePelchin officials say. Gift cards evanescent as they are are also a powerful form of donation. Thats because its profoundly empowering for foster kids simply to be able to choose their own luggage or clothing, Valdez says. Choices help give them a sense of power and control. For former foster child Daniels, with a job that takes him all over the world, every day is a reminder of the way physical objects can represent a feeling of home. A simple suitcase with ones name on a luggage tag resonates emotionally over a lifetime, says Daniels, who now advocates for other children. Its symbolic, Daniel says. Its these small things that really do matter. Blumberg is co-president of the Texas chapter of the American Society of Journalists and Authors. The state Legislature wont curtail Gov. Greg Abbotts pandemic powers, after members of the House and the Senate failed to hash out their differences over it. The measure, House Bill 3, was priority legislation in the lower chamber, and variations of the bill had passed both the House and the Senate. But representatives appointed to find a compromise missed a key deadline late Saturday to release new bill text, killing the measure. It was not immediately clear why the bill died. Representatives for House Speaker Dade Phelan, and the two members who led negotiations, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Sunday. HES DECIDED HES THE KING: Abbotts COVID response leaves lawmakers on sidelines Phelan previously said the measure was the Houses blueprint for pandemic response. His office has also said the speaker believes the Legislature should have a seat at the table when determining how the state would handle future public health crises. The bills failure was somewhat surprising given bipartisan support for scaling the governors powers during the pandemic. Abbott faced criticism from both sides of the aisle last year for his near-unilateral decision-making in the states COVID-19 response, as he issued monthly emergency declarations and changed rules at will. The governor faced especially harsh pushback from right-wing members of his party, who called him King Abbott and lambasted his decision to implement business restrictions and mandate that Texans wear masks. Some challenged him, unsuccessfully, in court. TEXAS TAKE: Get the latest news on Texas politics sent directly to your inbox every weekday Texas is one of just a handful of states with a Legislature that meets every other year. And upon return to Austin this January, lawmakers asserted that they would have some say if a public health crisis of this scale ever happens again. Abbott said earlier this year that he was open to rolling back those sweeping emergency powers but wanted to help craft the changes himself. HB 3, known as the Pandemic Response Act, would have created a 12-person committee to review the governors pandemic disaster declarations, and potentially dissolve them if the Legislature was not in session. Under the measure, Abbott also would have been required to get approval from lawmakers to renew orders beyond 30 days, or call a special session if the pandemic lasted more than 120 days. A heavily amended version passed the House earlier this month by a vote of 92-45, with most Republicans voting in favor and Democrats split. The lower chambers version also included a controversial provision to similarly limit local government officials power during a pandemic. It then headed to the Senate, where representatives gutted the bill in the state affairs committee. Among other changes, senators removed the 12-member committee and asserted that only the Legislature could restrict business operations. Both chambers agreed on Friday to work out their differences through a 10-person conference committee. But a compromise never came. cayla.harris@express-news.net Republicans in the Texas Legislature used a marathon late-night session that did not end until 6 a.m. to jam through a massive election restrictions bill. With an 18-13 vote, lawmakers voted just before daybreak for voter restrictions that would bar early voting past 9 p.m. anywhere in Texas, end drive-through voting used during the pandemic in Houston and put new restrictions in place for absentee ballots. The bill now heads to the Texas House for a vote. If lawmakers there pass the bill, it would go to Gov. Greg Abbott, who has made the legislation a top priority. There was little the 13 Democrats in the Senate could do to stop or even slow down the legislation when Republicans shocked them by bringing the bill up for a vote just after 10 p.m. on Saturday. What ensued was more than 8 hours of questioning and debate by Democrats trying to stall the bill, even if just for a few more hours. NEW PROVISIONS: Texas voting bill amended to make it easier to overturn elections State Sen. Borris Miles, a Houston Democrat, reprised a warning he delivered to Republicans two months ago, saying the legislation would fire up Democratic voters even more in future elections. You are waking the bear, Miles said. WHATS IN SENATE BILL 7 No early voting after 9 p.m., eliminating 24-hour and late-night voting centers that Houston and Austin experimented with. Drive-thru voting banned. Early voting during Sunday limited to between 1 and 9 p.m. Requires driver's license or Social Security number to apply for an absentee ballot. Expressly prohibits using an absentee ballot because of an illness that doesn't prevent someone from being able to vote in person without assistance. Prohibits drop boxes. All absentee ballots returned have to be mailed or hand-delivered to an election worker. Bars any obstruction to partisan poll watchers to observe election activities. People who help three or more people who are not related to them get to polls to vote will be required to fill out papers and identify who they are. Bars people from helping one or more voters submit absentee ballot or absentee ballot applications to help a specific candidate or ballot measure. Lowers the standard in an election contest to make it easier for judges to overturn elections. WHAT'S OUT Provision to allow partisan poll watcher to video record in voting precincts. A plan to evenly distribute early voting sites that threatened to close some voting locations in Black and Hispanic communities. See More Collapse State Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, debated every Democrat in the chamber over hours, with an occasional water break. Hughes repeatedly denied trying to disenfranchise voters with the bill. He said the goal behind the legislation is to make elections safer in Texas and assure voter rolls are accurate. State Sen. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, was having none of that. She said it is clear to her and everyone in Texas what Republicans are targeting. Lets talk about the elephant in the room, Alvarado said. Its Harris County. Hughes agreed that it was Harris County where elections officials employed 24-hour voting centers, drive-thru voting sites and tried to expand mail voting by sending out mass mailings of absentee ballot applications to voters who didnt request them. While there has been no evidence of mass voter fraud in the 2020 election anywhere in the U.S., Republicans continue to press ahead calling for tougher voting restrictions. Democrats say the real issue Texas Republicans are trying to address is increasingly competitive contests up and down the ballot, thanks in large part to Harris County, which has flipped from a red county to solidly blue in just six years thanks to demographic changes and improved Democratic organization and funding-raising. jeremy.wallace@chron.com As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. : umner (jhq), : Military : US seeks allies to contain China, South Korea is edging toward full sovereignty : BBS (Sat May 29 13:34:17 2021, ) http://www.rt.com/op-ed/525161-south-korea-china-missiles-sovereignty/ US seeks geopolitical allies to contain China, South Korea is edging toward full sovereignty C guaranteed by its own missiles Artyom Lukin Artyom Lukin is an associate professor of international relations at Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok, Russia. Follow him on Twitter @ ArtyomLukin 29 May, 2021 This months US-ROK summit should not be read as an indicator that Seoul is tilting away from Beijing toward Washington. Having to walk a tightrope between two great powers, it would simply rather pursue multivector diplomacy. Top-level foreign visits are rare in Washington these days. US President Joe Biden has so far met with only two foreign leaders C both of them from Northeast Asia. In April, he hosted Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. In May, he greeted his South Korean counterpart, Moon Jae-in. The choice for Bidens first in-person summits unequivocally points to the main geopolitical concern preoccupying Washington: how to contain the seemingly unstoppable rise of China. As the Asia-Pacific turns into the main arena of great power competition in the 21st century, there are a few players whose strategic value is extremely high. They include Japan, Australia, India, Vietnam, and South Korea. Washington sees them as essential bricks in a wall to contain Beijing. Each of the five has their own unique value for US strategists. Japan is Americas main unsinkable aircraft carrier in the Western Pacific. Australia is Washingtons deputy sheriff in the South Pacific. India is supposed to provide the geo-strategic and demographic mass to counterbalance China. Vietnam is assigned the part of Chinas main antagonist in Southeast Asia and the South China Sea. As for the Republic of Korea (ROK), it is on the Korean Peninsula where America maintains a permanent military presence on the Asian land mass C in the immediate vicinity of China. The giant US military base Camp Humphreys, located south of Seoul, is just 600 miles (970km) from Beijing. South Korea is all the more significant as its a major industrial and technological power. Suffice it to say that Samsung is a key player in the global semiconductor industry. Moon Jae-in may have been given the privilege of the administrations second in-person summit in Washington, as a White House source put it, but , in fact, its hard to say who needs whom more nowadays. South Koreas military alliance with the US, established seven decades ago, was meant to protect the South against the threat from North Korea. Today, however, only people with a very fertile imagination could hypothesize that Pyongyang would try to replay the Korean War by invading South Korea. The South Koreans are less and less worried about the threat from the North. The rationale for the continued existence of the alliance is getting rather tenuous. For almost two decades, Washington has been seeking to repurpose the US-ROK alliance with a focus on China. However, Seoul has been stubbornly resisting those attempts. The Koreans just dont perceive China as a major threat. For millennia, Koreans lived in the Sino-centric world, with Korean-Chinese relations for the most part peaceful and mutually beneficial. Add to this South Koreas critical economic dependence on China, which has formed during the past three decades. Beijing knows how to use this leverage. In 2017, China slapped penalties on South Korea, in retaliation for Seouls decision to allow the deployment of a US missile defense system. South Korea seems to have learnt the lesson and is now extremely reluctant to agree to anything that might provoke Chinese wrath. The Biden-Moon summit produced a lengthy joint statement extolling the US- ROK relationship as an iron-clad alliance and a linchpin for the regional and global order. The two sides exchanged gestures of mutual generosity, with the US providing anti-Covid-19 vaccines for the 550,000 South Korean servicemen. For his part, Moon pledged $220 million to development cooperation in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador to address the root causes of migration from Central Americas Northern Triangle countries to the US. It seems as if the Biden administration persuaded Seoul to pay toward solving the problem of migration into the US. Trump must have looked on in envy. Still, rather than vaccines and Central America, the main item on the summit agenda was China. The US negotiators got their South Korean counterparts to mention the importance of preserving peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, both meant as an implicit reprimand to Beijing. The joint statement also included a positive, albeit passing, reference to the Quad (an anti-China coalition of the US, Japan, Australia, and India). Seoul, however, immediately downplayed these statements, with South Korean officials going out of their way to explain that the ROK did not mean to offend China. Moreover, Seoul had reportedly consulted with Beijing ahead of the Moon-Biden summit. In this light, the lofty assurances of commitment to the iron-clad alliance with the US sounded somewhat farcical. South Korea is not the only country in Eurasia that has to walk a tightrope amid great-power rivalry. Look, for example, at Kazakhstans multivector diplomacy. This Central Asian country is Russias official ally, being a member of the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization, but, at the same time, has close ties with China, the US, and Turkey. In Southeast Asia, US treaty allies Thailand and the Philippines are doing essentially the same thing, deftly maneuvering between Washington and Beijing. South Korea differs from the likes of Kazakhstan and the Philippines in that it possesses the industrial and technological capability to turn itself into a major military power. The Biden-Moon summit was important in this respect, because the US agreed to remove all the remaining limitations on Seouls missile development programs in terms of range and payload capacity . South Korea has thus finally acquired missile sovereignty. Its just a matter of time, perhaps one or two decades, before the Republic of Korea gains full political sovereignty too. The alliance with the US could still survive until that time, but the main guarantor of South Korea s security will not be American troops. Rather, it will be South Koreas own nuclear-powered submarines, armed with long-range missiles. -- :WWW mitbbs.com [FROM: 209.] We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit Legionnaires toast fallen comrades at the traditional stop about halfway up Mount Greylock. Legion members meet about halfway up the mountain near a spring to toast their fallen comrades. New North Adams American Legion Commander Mitchell Keil said he was excited to lead Post 125. Past Adams American Legion Commander Don Sommer opens Sunday's ceremony. Keil says the war memorial took on a new meaning for him after he served. DCR staff let the Legion members into the war memorial. PreviousNext North Berkshire American Legion Members Return to Mount Greylock The temperature was well below 40 degrees but visibility was higher than in past years on the summit. ADAMS, Mass. Northern Berkshire Legionnaires had a return to normalcy Sunday as they gathered at the top of Mount Greylock to remember their fallen comrades. "This is our 87th year doing this, and we have missed this only twice," Adams American Legion member Donald Sommer said. "Once during the road construction and last year because of COVID ... we keep coming up here to remember our comrades." Every year on the Sunday before Memorial Day, the past commanders gather early at the Adams American Legion before making their annual pilgrimage. All veterans are invited to join in on their convoy. Having skipped a year because of the pandemic, this was an important gathering for the Legion members, many of whom were seeing each other for the first time in more than a year. North Adams American Legion Post 125 Commander Mitchell Keil spoke at the summit and said it wasnt always clear to him that the memorial atop Mount Greylock was a war memorial. He said this took on a new meaning once he returned to the area. "On a return trip home from active duty some friends wanted to come up here, and that is when I realized it was actually a war memorial," he said. "It brought me great joy when I moved back home in 2013 and the beacon had been lit." Reading from a plaque, Keil noted that the beacon can be seen from 70 miles and, more importantly, atop the mountain, one can see 90 miles out. To Keil, this made him think of service members currently protecting the country, wherever they may be. "We all have taken a vow to protect the constitution of the United States of America as service members and Legionnaires," he said. "We are here at the highest point in Massachusetts," he said. "I look over this whole area, and I know we are in good hands with people like that still looking over us." He spoke more about the important bond veterans share. "Brothers and sisters, mothers, father, sons, daughters, and I would say friends, but family is a better word," he said. "I am thankful to be here with you all honoring our fallen comrades." After a ceremony and firing squad, a memorial wreath was set in the rotunda of the tower, originally built on the state's highest peak as a memorial to Massachusetts servicemen killed in World War I and later dedicated to all the state's military casualties. Legion attendees sheltered in Bascom Lodge after the ceremony for a breakfast. The temperature was well below 40 degrees and the wind was whipping on the state's highest peak. The convoy always stops at a spring midway up the mountain to have a beer or a cocktail to toast fallen comrades. North Adams' past commander, Dennis St. Pierre, said back when the group drove Model Ts up the mountain, they would stop at the spring to replenish their radiators. After that, it became a bit of a ritual to stop and have a toast. Sommer added that they are always surprised at the conditions when they get to the summit. "We have been up here and it has been cold like this. It has been snowing, raining and other times it has been sunny," he said. We've recently updated our online systems. If you can't login please try resetting your password. You must login with an email address. If you don't have an email associated with your account email circulation@idahopress.com for help creating one. Note: We've recently updated our online systems. If you can't login please try resetting your password. You must login with an email address. If you don't have an email associated with your account email circulation2@journalnet.com for help creating one. Sayre, PA (18840) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Imperial Valley News Center Charges Unsealed Against Former Chadian Diplomats to the U.S. Charged in Connection with International Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme Washington, DC - An indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. was unsealed on May 20, 2021, charging the Republic of Chads former Ambassador to the United States and Canada and Chads former Deputy Chief of Mission for the United States and Canada with soliciting and accepting a $2 million bribe from a Canadian start-up energy company, and conspiring to launder the bribe payment in order to conceal its true nature. According to court documents, Mahamoud Adam Bechir and Youssouf Hamid Takane engaged in this scheme between August 2009 and July 2014, while serving as diplomats based out of the Embassy of Chad located in Washington, D.C. According to the indictment, Bechir and Takane demanded the bribe from the Canadian start-up energy company in exchange for a promise to misuse their official positions and their influence with the government of Chad to assist the start-up energy company in obtaining oil rights in Chad. Naeem Tyab, a citizen of Canada and founding shareholder of the start-up energy company, who served as a director of the company from 2009 through 2011, is also charged in the indictment for allegedly arranging for the bribe to be paid to Bechirs wife, co-defendant Nouracham Bechir Niam, via a sham contract for consulting services that she never actually provided. In addition to the $2 million bribe payment, the start-up energy company also issued shares in the company to Niam, to Takanes wife, and to a third Chadian individual, as part of the bribe, according to the indictment. These defendants allegedly engaged in a multimillion dollar bribery scheme while in the United States and then used the U.S. financial system to launder the bribes to conceal their conduct, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. The charges unsealed today demonstrate the departments determined commitment to investigate and prosecute corruption wherever it occurs and the officials who use our financial system to launder their bribes. Corruption undermines trust in governments and prevents the free market from functioning fairly for law-abiding people and companies. The bribery and corruption of foreign officials causes grave harm to both the global economy and the interests of the United States, said Acting U.S. Attorney Channing D. Phillips of the District of Columbia. My office and the Justice Department are committed to prosecuting these violations and efforts to launder the proceeds of these crimes. Accepting and soliciting bribes seriously threatens the integrity of our economic system, said Assistant Director in Charge Steven M. DAntuono of the FBIs Washington Field Office. When corrupt foreign officials launder funds through the United States in furtherance of their criminal activity, the FBI will work tirelessly to hold those officials accountable and send a message that we will not relent in our efforts to uphold the law. All four defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, and Bechir, Takane, and Niam are also charged with money laundering, each of which carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison. Niam and Tyab are also charged with conspiracy to violate the FCPA, which carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison. The indictment in this case was returned by the grand jury in February 2019. Tyab was arrested in the Southern District of New York on Feb. 9, 2019, and subsequently, on April 30, 2019, he entered a guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to violate the FCPA. As part of his guilty plea, Tyab agreed to forfeit criminal proceeds of approximately $27 million. The Honorable Richard J. Leon will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The remaining three defendants remain at large. The FBIs Washington Field Office is investigating the case. Trial Attorneys Katherine Raut and Tarsha Phillibert of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section, Trial Attorney Steven Parker of the Criminal Divisions Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia are prosecuting the case. The Criminal Divisions Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in this matter. Reports that British agents believe it is feasible the coronavirus pandemic began with a leak from a Chinese research laboratory in Wuhan have led to renewed calls for the World Health Organisation (WHO) to be allowed to fully investigate the origins of the outbreak. The Sunday Times reported that the development, which Beijing has angrily denied, has prompted US diplomatic sources to share their concerns that we are one wet market or bio lab away from the spillover. What is the UK governments stance? The UKs vaccines minister, Nadhim Zahawi, told Sky News: "I think it's really important that the WHO is allowed to conduct its investigation unencumbered into the origins of this pandemic and that we should leave no stone unturned to understand why, not only because of the current pandemic that has swept the world, but also for future-proofing the world's capability to deal with pandemics." Mr Zahawi was asked if he could trust the WHO after a team of experts from WHO and China said in February the virus was "extremely unlikely" to have entered the human population as a result of a laboratory-related incident, and was instead probably transmitted from bats to humans through another animal. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO, has said he did not believe the initial report was "extensive enough" and called for more research, adding that all hypotheses into the origins of the virus that causes Covid-19 "remain on the table". Mr Zahawi said: "I think the WHO at every step of the way has tried to share as much data with the world as it is able to verify. "This is a very difficult situation, as we've seen around the world, not just in the WHO but in our own country, with our own evidence gathering and, of course, advice and in other countries, every country, whether it's Singapore or Australia or New Zealand or elsewhere. "We have all had to collect evidence and then act upon it and I think it is only right that the WHO is allowed to conduct its investigation unencumbered to be able for all of us to understand and be able to deal with future pandemics. What do the experts think? Professor Dale Fisher, part of the WHO team that visited China, said the lab leak theory had not been ruled out but there was little evidence for it. "China has had many instances where there has been whistleblowers before and to me that's another striking point here, is that there is no whistleblower," he told BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend. "So, in fact, the only evidence in my mind for there being a lab leak is that there was a lab." He added: "The lab leak theory is not off the table, there's more research to be done." Charles Parton, a former diplomat who worked in China and senior associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), told Times Radio that if the virus had escaped a lab it would have been an accident. He suggested efforts should be made to "keep the temperature down whatever is discovered". He added: "It may be that scientists are clever enough without access to Chinese laboratory records to work out fairly conclusively over time how it came to come out and maybe it was a leak. "If that's the case, and it's a big if, we should nevertheless not be too blaming because we have got to look to the future and try to get Chinese cooperation." He said measures such as "UN nuclear inspection mechanisms" should be in place to monitor laboratories. "I think in the immediate aftermath of this pandemic it's going to be a very sensitive matter to set that up because the Chinese will see that as an accusation of fallibility," he said. What reignited theories about the Wuhan lab leak? It comes after the US president, Joe Biden, ordered his intelligence officials to "redouble" their efforts to investigate the origins of the pandemic, including any possibility the search might lead to a Chinese laboratory. On Wednesday, Mr Biden asked US intelligence agencies to report back within 90 days, and he said that he aimed to release their results publicly. His remarks prompted the WHOs top emergency expert, Mike Ryan, to say the search for the origin of the outbreak was being poisoned by politics. "We would like for everyone out there to separate, if they can, the politics of this issue from the science. This whole process is being poisoned by politics," Mr Ryan said on Friday. "Every country and every entity is free to pursue their own particular theories of origin, it's a free world," Mr Ryan said. "WHO is a member state organisation and we seek to work with all of our member states to seek answers collectively." Lawrence S Young, virologist and professor of molecular oncology at Warwick Medical School, said: It is important that WHO have unfettered access to laboratory records from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. While the balance of scientific evidence remains in favour of animal spillover, the possibility of an unintentional release from a laboratory working on coronaviruses needs to be thoroughly investigated otherwise the current speculation will never be dispelled. It is vital that we fully understand the origin of SAR-CoV-2 to ensure that we can do everything to prevent another pandemic in the future. An Air India plane had to return to Delhis international airport shortly after taking off from the Indian capital when a bat was discovered flying around the cabin. Air India Flight 105 departed normally from Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport at 2.20am on Thursday with New York as its destination. The Boeing 777 had only been in the air for around 30 minutes when the creature was spotted onboard. The mammal was seen by crew in business class and flying between different sections of the plane, and the decision was made to return to Delhi. Indian media reported that the aircraft was fumigated and the dead bat was subsequently removed from the eighth row of business class near seats D, E and F. The aircraft was brought back into service on Friday. AI-105 DEL-EWR returned to Delhi after departure after this local standby emergency was declared. On arrival, it was learnt that crew members saw a bat inside the cabin. Wildlife staff were called to catch and take away the bat. The aircraft landed safely at around 3.55 am, an official at Indias Directorate General of Civil Aviation was quoted by local media as saying. The tracking app FlightRadar24 showed that shortly after take off the 13-year-old Boeing 777-300 entered a holding pattern at 30,000 feet northwest of Delhi for more than an hour before landing in Delhi. Air India Flight 105 circling near Delhi before returning to land there after a bat was spotted onboard (FlightRadar24) An investigation has been launched but an Air India official told IndiaToday that they believed the animal may have entered the plane when food was being loaded on board. The probable reason/cause may be loading vehicles like those for catering because all the time rats/bats come from their vehicle only, the unnamed official was quoted as saying. When U.S. Census Bureau workers couldn't find out any information about some households after repeatedly mailing them questionnaire reminders and sending census takers to knock on their doors, the statisticians turned to an obscure, last-resort statistical technique known as imputation. Less than 1% of households were counted using the technique during the 2020 census. But some conservative political groups are questioning it, potentially laying a foundation for legal challenges to the data that will ultimately be used for drawing congressional and legislative districts. Imputation involves using information about neighbors with similar characteristics to fill in head counts or demographic characteristics for households lacking data. For instance, a rowhouse with no information may be counted as having two people if a neighboring rowhouse is occupied by two people. The technique tends to be utilized in hard-to-count places, often with racial and ethnic minorities, where people havent answered the census questionnaire and could otherwise go uncounted. It makes the overall dataset or census in this case more accurate than leaving the gaps blank," Pat Cantwell, a bureau official, said in a blog post earlier this year. By using imputation, we fill in what we dont know, using information we do know." The focus for conservatives is on how this technique was applied to college dorms, nursing homes, prisons and other places where people live in groups. These residents were particularly difficult to count during the 2020 census because the pandemic sent college students fleeing campuses and put nursing homes in lockdown. In response, the Census Bureau unexpectedly decided to use the technique for group housing, where about 3% of the U.S. population lives. In a recent essay, Adam Korzeniewski, a controversial former political appointee assigned to a top position at the Census Bureau during the Trump administration, speculated that the technique favors liberal states over conservative states. As applied to group housing, it favored the Northeast with its density of college campuses and stricter lockdowns during the pandemic, at the expense of states like Arizona Florida and Texas, he said in an essay for The Claremont Institute, a conservative think tank. Korzeniewski called the technique the most grievous" issue involving the 2020 census, which determines how many congressional seats and Electoral College votes each state gets, as well as the distribution of $1.5 trillion in federal funding each year. He urged states and courts to take action on it immediately." Saying Korzeniewski's essay cherry-picked facts and misrepresented the technique, demographer Bill OHare said he doubted any challenge would succeed. Census expert Terri Ann Lowenthal said theres a risk of undermining confidence in the census by planting seeds of doubt without any proof of inaccuracies caused by the method, which has been scrutinized by nonpartisan experts for decades. If you say, We dont trust the Census Bureau to produce objective numbers that are as accurate as possible,' you could be signaling to your own constituents and followers that they ought not to bother participating in the future, said Lowenthal, a former congressional staffer who specializes in census issues. The Census Bureau has been using the technique on households since the 1960 census, and it was challenged and upheld in courts after censuses in 1980 and 2000. The Supreme Court has ruled that the Census Bureau can't use sampling a method of using a subset of people to estimate characteristics of the whole population but the justices have said that imputation is different from sampling. Now that the Supreme Court has a solid conservative majority, Korzeniewski said it's possible the court could reverse itself. "Given the change in the Supreme Court balance, it is possible for the court to limit imputation precisely because of its disparate impact," Korzeniewski said. Separately, a Republican-oriented redistricting advocacy group sued the Census Bureau two weeks ago under the Freedom of Information Act to get records dealing with the group-housing count, saying it had significant implications for our nation's redistricting and electoral process." Fair Lines America Foundation attorney Jason Torchinsky said he didn't know how the group-housing count records would be used, but he added, I am concerned this is a backdoor way of slowly using sampling in the count." The initial batch of Fair Lines documents included a slideshow that indicated the Census used the statistical technique to get a head count in 43,000 separate group housing facilities. That included 5,500 college housing units, which Torchinsky said were a special concern given the number of students who relocated last year. They could have been double-counted at their parents' homes and in the dorms through imputation, he said, though the Census Bureau says it eliminates duplicate responses during the numbers-crunching phase of the 2020 census. Still, Torchinsky said he wasnt sure if the use of the technique skewed to favor some areas more than others. We dont know exactly what they did yet, because theyre being less than transparent about it, but Im not ready to conclude it helps or hurts one set of states because we just dont know what they did, he said. During their brief tenure at the Census Bureau, the statistical technique was on the minds of Nathaniel Cogley, whom the Trump administration named as the agency's deputy director for policy, and Korzeniewski, Cogley's senior advisor. Both appointments last summer were widely seen as political and were met with withering criticism from demographers, statisticians and lawmakers because they lacked experience and expertise with the Census Bureau. Both men resigned along with other Trump administration political appointees last January before President Joe Biden took office. The Washington Post noted in an article last July that Census Bureau employees had raised concerns about Cogley and Korzeniewski's questioning the need for imputation. The subject of imputation was on Cogley's mind during a call a few days later with top officials at the Census Bureau and the Commerce Department, which oversees the statistical agency. Cogley pushed to have the bureau put out a statement refuting the implication that he was trying to suppress participation in the census in hard-to-count communities by questioning the purpose of the statistical technique. A recording of the call was given to the The Associated Press. The irony is if you dont like count imputation, you actually want more responses, Cogley said in the recording. You want more evidence. You want more evidence so you dont get in imputation mode. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP Close UK Covid-19 vaccinations: Latest figures Englands exit from Covid lockdown on 21 June is likely to be delayed by up to four weeks amid a surge in the Delta variant of the virus. Government sources say the prime minister will address the public on Monday after meeting with senior ministers over the weekend. It comes just hours after fresh data revealed the Covid R number - rate of reproduction - had jumped to between 1.2 and 1.4, up from 1 and 1.2 last week. Public Health England warned that data suggested cases of the Delta variant were estimated to be doubling every four and a half days in parts of England. Earlier, British Medical Association chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul said that cases are now rising rapidly and the UK would not have enough people fully vaccinated in time for the easing of restrictions. Thousands of Ethiopians gathered in the nation's capital Sunday to protest outside pressure on the government over its brutal war in Tigray. Protesters at the rally in Addis Ababa carried banners that criticized the United States and others in the international community who are voicing concern over atrocities in Tigray, where Ethiopian forces are hunting down the region's ousted and now-fugitive leaders. Troops from neighboring Eritrea are fighting in Tigray on the side of Ethiopian government forces, in defiance of international calls for their withdrawal. But the protesters in Addis Ababa carried placards that said Ethiopian young people denounce the western intervention. Others said Ethiopia's sovereignty was at stake. The U.S. said last week it has started restricting visas for government and military officials of Ethiopia and Eritrea, who are seen as undermining efforts to resolve the fighting in Tigray, home to an estimated 6 million of Ethiopias 110 million people. Besides the visa restrictions, Washington is imposing wide-ranging restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia. Atrocities including brutal gang-rapes, extrajudicial killings and forced evictions have been part of the violence in Tigray, according to victims, witnesses, local authorities and aid groups. Thousands of people are estimated to have died. The Ethiopian government called the U.S. action misguided and regrettable. The Ethiopian government will not be deterred by this unfortunate decision of the U.S. administration, said the statement tweeted by the ministry of foreign affairs. If such a resolve to meddle in our internal affairs and undermining the century-old bilateral ties continues unabated, the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia will be forced to reassess its relations with the United States, which might have implications beyond our bilateral relationship, said the statement. The crisis began in November after Ethiopia accused former leaders of the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, or TPLF, of ordering an attack on an Ethiopian army base in the region. Troops sent by Ethiopias leader, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed quickly ousted the TPLF from major cities and towns, but guerrilla fighting is still reported across Tigray. More than 2 million people have been displaced by the war. A Palestinian man was shot and killed by Israeli troops on Friday during a protest against settlement expansion in the Israeli-occupied West Bank health officials said. The protest erupted over a settlement outpost near the town of Beita one of dozens dotting hilltops in the West Bank in what Palestinians see as an ongoing Israeli land grab. Several hundred Palestinians gathered on the hilltop. Dozens burned tires and threw stones at soldiers who fired live rounds, rubber bullets and tear gas. The Palestinian Health Ministry said a 26-year-old Palestinian man was killed by army fire and that five protesters were injured, including two by live fire. The Israeli military did not immediately issue a statement on the shooting. The clash came at a time of heightened tensions following an 11-day war between Israel and the Islamic militant group Hamas which rules the Gaza Strip More than 250 people, the vast majority Palestinians, were killed in the war which ended a week ago. During the fighting, Gaza militants fired more than 4,000 rockets at Israel, while Israel bombed hundreds of targets linked to militants in Gaza. International Israel, Egypt talk truce with Hamas Israeli Foreign minister Gabi Ashkenazi, right during high-level talks to shore up a fragile truce between Israel and the Hamas. Cairo, May 30 (AP): | Publish Date: 5/30/2021 12:51:16 PM IST Egypt and Israel are holding high-level talks in both countries Sunday to shore up a fragile truce between Israel and the Hamas militant group, and rebuild the Gaza Strip after a punishing 11-day war that left much of the seaside enclave in ruins. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukry was meeting with his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi, who landed in Cairo on Sunday. It was the first public visit by an Israeli foreign minister in over a decade, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. The Israeli Embassy in Cairo said on Twitter that Ashkenazis visit is the first for a top Israeli diplomat since 2008. It wrote that the two ministers would discuss topics including the cease-fire and the release of Israeli soldiers and citizens being held by Hamas. Meanwhile, Egypts intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, flew to Tel Aviv for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian officials in Ramallah, an Egyptian official said. The official said Kamel would discuss with Netanyahu and the Palestinian Authority how to rebuild Gaza. Kamel is then expected to meet with Hamas leaders in Ramallah. The discussions with Israeli officials also are expected to touch on a set of measures that would allow materials, electricity and fuel into the territory, as well as the possible expansion of the maritime space allowed for Gaza fishermen, the official said. The role of the Palestinian Authority is central in the talks, he said. Egypt is seeking to have it deeply involved in the reconstruction process. The Egyptian official, who had close knowledge of the proceedings that led to the cease-fire, spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasnt allowed to brief reporters. The 11-day war killed more than 250 people, mostly Palestinians, and caused heavy destruction in the impoverished coastal territory. Preliminary estimates have put the damage in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Egypt was key in mediating a deal between the two sides. The official said Egypt would offer guarantees that rebuilding funds will not find its way to Hamas, possibly going through an international committee led by Egypt or the United Nations that would oversee the spending. Kamel will also discuss the situation in Jerusalem and ways to water down tensions in the holy city, including an ease of Israeli restrictions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and how to prevent the planned eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem. The talks in Gaza and Tel Aviv would also look into the possibility of a release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel in return for Israelis held by Hamas, the official said. Egypt last week invited Israel, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority for separate talks in Cairo to consolidate the Cairo-mediated cease-fire and accelerate the reconstruction process in Gaza. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is expected to visit Cairo this week, according to the groups spokesman Abdelatif al-Qanou, who also said Hamas is open to discussing a prisoner swap with Israel. Public Health England (PHE) has been accused of acting unlawfully by withholding data on the spread of the Indian variant in schools. In a pre-action letter sent to the government body, advocacy group the Citizens and AWO, a data rights firm, claim that PHE surrendered its independent judgement to Boris Johnson. The allegation comes following reports that PHE had been preparing to publish the data on 13 May, but faced pressure not to from the prime ministers office. Asserting that PHE is bound by the law to be independent and operate without political interference, Citizens and AWO warn in their letter that PHE will face formal legal proceedings in the High Court unless it publishes the data immediately. In a statement shared with The Independent, Clara Maguire, executive director of the Citizens, said: It defies belief that Public Health England is refusing to publish this vital public health data on the spread of the so-called Indian variant in schools despite scientists, teachers, parents and unions all saying that they need it to safeguard theirs and their childrens health. We believe that there is an immediate risk to life, Ms Maguire said. The public needs this data now and we believe that PHE is acting unlawfully in withholding it. It is unbelievable that a matter of vital importance to our public health can be subject to political interference, she said. Cassie Roddy of AWO, said PHE is being asked to explain why it has seemingly surrendered its independent judgement to the prime minister in deciding not to publish this information. Theres a clear urgency in getting answers, Ms Roddy said. In a statement shared with The Independent, Jon Richards, head of education and local government for Unison, said the organisation is in favour of the legal action. If you want the trust of the public then you need to be open and transparent with the information you have, Mr Richards said. Pupils, their parents and staff in schools deserve to know if they are being put at risk by any new Covid variant so the government holding back this information raises suspicion that they have something to hide. Dr Deepti Gurdasani, an epidemiologist Queen Mary University London, who is quoted in the pre-action letter, has also backed calls for the data on the spread of the Indian variant in schools to be released. We know from media reports there are many outbreaks of the so-called India variant in schools but theres no systematic data, Dr Gurdasani said. In Bolton, its risen fastest in school-age children and it looks like schools are contributing to the rapid spread of the virus ... and yet at this crucial moment, the government has gone ahead and lifted mitigations. Its incredibly worrying, the doctor said. In a statement sent to The Independent, a PHE spokesperson noted that a breakdown of the number of cases of each variant is published weekly. We are looking to extend this data to include information on clusters and outbreaks of variants by setting, they said. Once we are happy the collection process and data is robust and quality assured, and presented in a clear format we will publish for schools alongside other key settings as soon as possible, the spokesperson said. The Independent has contacted No 10 for comment. An IT professional has spoken out for the first time since launching a 1m lawsuit after a wrongful entry on a police computer led to his passport being confiscated for five years. Adekunle Femi Adenuga, who was born in the UK, was mistakenly classed as remaining in the UK without leave and unable to travel after the Metropolitan Police wrongly recorded him as linked to identity fraud on its database, the Crime Reporting Information System (Cris). The 50-year-old from north London does not have a criminal record and the police admitted a mistake was made, but the force denies any damage was caused because its database is only accessible internally. However, the Home Office withheld his passport for five years stating that his identity was in doubt, leaving Mr Adenuga to suspect that information from database was shared with the government. The chain of events was only uncovered after he enlisted the help of a lawyer and his local MP something he says points to prejudice. It smacks of racism, he told The Independent. Pretty much every group of people, every organisation Ive come into contact with, to do with this case, has treated me with extreme prejudice. Overt racism is easy: someone says a slur. But insidious racism is where Ive got a record written against me that Im not even aware of, and even judges, barristers and lawyers involved can see whats happened, yet Im having to jump through all these hoops just to get them to do the right thing. No one can tell me this country isnt endemically racist. Thats how it is in the UK. Mr Adenuga, who is a financial IT professional and regularly travelled overseas for work, maintains that this experience led to loss of employment and the onset of severe depression. I now know that this resulted in the loss of multiple job opportunities when prospective employers carried out a criminal record check; previously I had worked in banks, building societies and insurance companies, he said, adding that he began to be turned down for jobs after the mistake. This work withered as they, rightly in my view, will not employ anyone with a record for dishonesty in the financial sector. I have been advised that the Met were negligent but it will cost me to prove any loss. The Met disputes this, saying it has no record of having ever processed a disclosure or barring check (DBS) for any employer relating to Mr Adenuga. Mr Adenuga only became aware of the mistake when he sent his passport for renewal in 2013, only to have it confiscated by HM Passport Office, an agency of the Home Office. Mr Adenuga was asked to supply a list of documents similar to those demanded of Windrush scandal victims, including pictures of his parents wedding and their marriage certificate. The Passport Office refused to accept his driving licence, bank details, tenancy contract and utility bills as proof of identity. Mr Adenuga was baffled, but after making a Subject Access Request he became aware of an apparent conviction registered against his name for deception and remaining in the UK without leave by the Metropolitan Police. The Home Office and Passport Office both have access to the police national computer (PNC). Mr Adenuga argues that, while his passport was confiscated, he was effectively detained in the UK in a breach of his freedom of movement and residence, in breach of Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 12 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights. He said was unable to attend his mothers funeral in Nigeria. The hardship created by the hostility I met at the passport office and the false conviction almost resulted in my becoming homeless in 2018 but for the intervention of Shelter, the charity organisation, he said. My employment situation meant I was unable to provide for my mother towards the end of her life; she passed away during this period and I was also unable to attend her funeral. I became socially isolated and the circumstances had an extremely adverse effect on my relationships. It was only after he enlisted the services of barrister Andrew Buchan of Cloisters chambers that he learned of the reason for the Home Office holding onto his passport. Following Mr Buchans intervention and the involvement of local MP David Lammy, his passport was released in 2018. Femi Adenuga: No one can tell me this country isnt endemically racist. Thats how it is in the UK (Supplied) The conviction was mistakenly recorded on the Cris after officers believed someone using his identity committed a crime, using his passport, in 2002. However, the original crime has not been proven. In fact, a trace was run on the UK visa and immigration database and nothing was found on the suspect, implying he didnt exist and if he did, not in the context the police allege. There is also no record of the hearing that led to the alleged fraud conviction. It is also not understood how a person could be in possession of Mr Adenugas genuine passport when it was in his possession at the time. He never reported it lost or stolen and no reference was made to the alleged fraud when Mr Adenuga previously submitted his passport for renewal successfully in 2003. Finally, legal precedent denotes that even if the conviction was real, it would not have been enough to revoke a persons passport. Mr Adenuga added: It is really bleak. I had a future, I had ambitions, I had aspirations ... all of that is out of the window. This has ruined my life and Ive been fighting this battle for years, trying to get justice. To wake up in the morning with no set idea of what your tomorrow is going to be beyond waiting for a benefit cheque is hardly an existence. The Metropolitan Police said: We are aware of a claim brought against [us]. It would be inappropriate for us to comment at this stage. An HM Passport Office spokesperson said: Passports can only be issued once we are satisfied the application is genuine and meets the necessary requirements. Coronavirus jabs could become compulsory for NHS staff, the vaccines minister has confirmed. Nadhim Zahawi said there was already a precedent that meant surgeons had to be inoculated against certain diseases. Asked if Covid jabs could become mandatory for health service workers, he told Trevor Phillips on Sunday on Sky News: We have recently consulted on social care frontline staff in terms of duty of care to those who are most vulnerable. I think it is only right that we look at the healthcare system as well [it] would be incumbent on any responsible government. He added it was something we are absolutely thinking about. But the idea was criticised by Labour. Thangam Debbonaire, the shadow leader of the Commons, likened the move to threatening staff. She added: Given we've got a recruitment crisis in parts of the NHS I think its far more important we try and work with staff rather than against them. Mr Zahawi pointed to the fact that surgeons are vaccinated against hepatitis B. He also said British regulators were still considering whether to offer Covid jabs to children, warning that vaccines had to be incredibly safe before they are given to young people. But the infrastructure is in place in the UK if required, he added. The Pfizer jab has already been approved for use in 12-year-olds by regulators in the European Union, the US and Canada. Mr Zahawi also announced that ministers want all over-50s to have been offered a second coronavirus jab before a further easing of lockdown restrictions planned for 21 June. The new target comes as fears grow over the impact of a highly transmissible variant of the disease first identified in India. Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, today described the date as too early and said it could lead to deaths that were otherwise preventable. Ministers announced on 14 May that the gap between vaccines would be cut from 12 weeks to just eight for the over-50s and the clinically vulnerable, as the government tries to control the new strain. Mr Zahawi has now said that the government hope to get two doses ... [delivered to] all over-50s before 21 June, the date all legal limits on social contact are due to be lifted in England. Last week the prime minister himself appeared to admit those plans could now be in jeopardy. He said he "didn't see anything currently in the data" to derail the June reopening, but added but we may need to wait." Prof Bauld told Sky News: I really think that it is too early to be charging ahead. I would like to see several more weeks data. The planned date is very ambitious, she said, adding: The 21st of June is very soon and I think to avoid more preventable deaths ... we really need to be cautious at the current time. Hospitals in tourism hotspots could struggle to cope with extra demand from holidaymakers as they try to juggle a huge backlog of patients and recover from the Covid crisis, NHS leaders have warned. Across the country, the health service is trying to tackle waiting lists that have built up during the pandemic, while a spike in cases of the Indian variant is also causing concern. But, as many opt for staycations this half-term and summer because of restrictions on travelling abroad, NHS Providers, which represents hospitals, warned health trusts in popular destinations were "really nervous" about the impact of an influx of tourists. Chris Hopson, the chief executive of NHS Providers, told The Independent that trusts and ministers had to work together to ensure we are in the best position possible to treat anybody who needs NHS care. We know, given where we are at the moment, this is going to be a struggle, given those holiday hotspots in particular. The problem could affect areas from Norfolk to the Lake District to Cornwall this summer, he suggested. He also called for the issue to be considered as part of the governments calculations around 21 June, when more lockdown restrictions are due to be eased. Hospitals were currently "going full pelt to try to clear waiting lists, he said. At the same time many were seeing a rush of patients who had tried to manage their conditions themselves during the pandemic, but now needed often complex care. This had left them under pressure even if they were yet to see many cases of the highly transmissible coronavirus variant first identified in India, he said. [The] current degree of pressure on hospitals is worrying especially since we saw clear summer demand surges in the two years before Covid-19, he told BBC Breakfast. One trust chief on the south coast had warned him they would struggle to meet the significant extra demand over the summer, he said. Ministers had a difficult decision to make for 21 June, he added. Mr Hopson also pointed to the South Western Ambulance Service, which covers an area from Cornwall to Gloucestershire, which declared a critical incident because of extreme pressures on its services over the bank holiday weekend. Patients were warned they may have to wait longer for an ambulance or seek alternative medical treatment yesterday. Mr Hopson said there were lots and lots of extra people in the southwest, taking advantage of the bank holiday. When systems come under pressure, its not just hospitals but it can also be ambulance services [that are affected], he added. Nearly 400,000 people were predicted to travel to Cornwall for the long weekend, which is also the start of the May half-term. But pressures could be more acute this summer as millions take their annual holiday in the UK, rather than travel abroad. Covid restrictions mean only a tiny number of destinations are on the so-called green list of countries UK tourists can visit without having to self-isolate on their return. Travellers have also been deterred by last years chaos, when the list of safe travel countries was changed sometimes with just a few days notice. Boris Johnson is facing increasing calls from experts to delay his 21 June plans to lift the final stage of lockdown. Linda Bauld, professor of public health at the University of Edinburgh, today described the date as too early and warned it could lead to deaths that were otherwise preventable. Last week the prime minister appeared to admit his plans now hang in the balance. He said he didn't see anything currently in the data to derail the June reopening, but added but we may need to wait. As travel surges in the United States for Memorial Day weekend, passenger misbehavior on airplanes also appears to be on the rise. On Saturday, American Airlines became the latest airline to suspend the serving of alcohol on flights after a passenger allegedly brutalized a Southwest Airlines flight attendant, who suffered serious injuries and lost two teeth. Let me be clear: American Airlines will not tolerate assault or mistreatment of our crews, Brady Byrnes, American Airlines head of flight service, said in an internal company memo obtained by CNN. Mr Byrnes said the airline has seen deeply disturbing situations on board aircraft over the past week, especially as flight attendants tried to enforce the federal mandate that all passengers wear masks. The airline says it will stop serving alcohol until at least 13 September which is also when the mask mandate ends. Southwest Airlines had already announced a similar ban. Given the recent uptick in industry-wide incidents of passenger disruptions in-flight, we have made the decision to pause the previously announced restart of alcohol service onboard, a spokesperson for the airline told USA TODAY. The number of people traveling in the US has skyrocketed this week, as Americans enjoy what many consider their first post-pandemic holiday. After over a year of being told to stay home and avoid visiting relatives in person, many Americans including over half of all US adults are now fully vaccinated and can safely roam the country. The resulting numbers are staggering. On Friday alone, the Transportation Security Administration said it screened 1.96 million people. If that figure reaches 2 million at some point this weekend as its expected to it will be the highest number of travelers per day since early March 2020, before the pandemic began. The roads are busy as well. The American Automobile Association predicted that more than 37 million Americans will drive at least 50 miles from their homes this weekend, a 60 per cent increase from last year. Paula Twidale, a spokesperson for AAA, told NBC Connecticut that travel has been increasing since April, when larger numbers of Americans began getting their Covid shots. People are just excited to get out, she told the station. Tory grandee Lord Ashcroft's daughter-in-law is in custody in Belize under investigation in the shooting death of a police superintendent. The Central American nation's police commissioner Chester Williams told 7 News Belize television that Jasmine Hartin initially balked at making a statement, preferring to wait for the presence of her lawyer. She was found on a dock near where police superintendent Henry Jemmott was found dead early on Friday in the town of San Pedro. Ms Hartin is the partner of Andrew Ashcroft, the son of former Conservative treasurer and deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft, who holds Belizean citizenship and was once its representative at the United Nations. The incident seemed "rather personal and not an attack", Mr Williams said. "From what we know is that they are friends. From what we have been made to understand they were drinking. From investigation they were alone on the pier and yes they were both fully clothed." He said Ms Hartin, an American, "was somewhat in a emotional state walking herself on the pier. We believe that she is to some extent affected by it". LinkedIn accounts indicate that both Andrew Ashcroft and Ms Hartin were connected with a local resort in Belize. Mr Jemmott's sister, Marie Jemmott Tzul, told local media that her brother loved life and was the father of five children. AP A hat store in Nashville, Tennessee has apologized after selling NOT VACCINATED badges in the shape of a yellow Star of David. In NO WAY did I intend to trivialize the Star of David or disrespect what happened to millions of people, the store, hatWRKS, wrote in an Instagram post. I sincerely apologize for any insensitivity. The shop had faced a furious backlash on social media and a crowd of real-life protesters after a previous post, which cheerfully advertised the Holocaust-themed badges. Patches are here!! hatWRKS wrote on its Instagram above a photo of a smiling woman wearing one of the yellow badges. They turned out great. $5ea. In Nazi Germany, Jews were legally required to wear patches in the shape of the six-pointed star so they could more easily be singled out for persecution. Many saw hatWRKS post as anti-Semitic. Using the yellow star, or any Holocaust imagery for anything is a disservice to the memory of the 6 million Jews who were systematically murdered during the Holocaust, Rabbi Laurie Rice told WSMV. As the outrage grew, hatWRKS initially went on the defensive. People are so outraged by my post? But are you outraged with the tyranny the world is experiencing? the shop wrote on Instagram. If you dont understand what is happening, that is on you, not me. Before long, demonstrators had gathered outside the store. One of them, Nashville resident Ron Rivlin, blamed hatWRKS owner Gigi Gaskins for the offensive products. We're here to protest hate and ignorance with regard to what she's doing in selling yellow stars that are a symbol of the greatest atrocity the world has ever seen, which is the loss of 6 million human beings, Mr Rivlin told CNN on Saturday. The apparel company Stetson also announced that it was cutting ties with the shop. As a result of the offensive content and opinions shared by HatWRKS in Nashville, Stetson and our distribution partners will cease the sale of all Stetson products, the retailer tweeted. Later that day, hatWRKS posted its apology, which said the badges had been misunderstood. My intent was not to exploit or make a profit, the store explained. My hope was to share my genuine concern & fear, and to do all that I can to make sure that nothing like that ever happens again. The Star of David imagery may also be a reference to recent comments by Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has repeatedly compared the treatment of unmasked or unvaccinated Americans to the Holocaust. You know, we can look back at a time in history where people were told to wear a gold star, Ms Greene said earlier this month while discussing mask mandates on a conservative podcast, and they were definitely treated like second-class citizens, so much so that they were put on trains and taken to gas chambers in Nazi Germany, and this is exactly the type of abuse that Nancy Pelosi is talking about. Later that week, the congresswoman doubled down on the comparison. Vaccinated employees get a vaccination logo just like the Nazis [sic] forced Jewish people to wear a gold star, she tweeted. The comments have drawn widespread condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans. Belarusians distraught by the intensifying crackdown on political opposition in their homeland demonstrated Saturday against the countrys authoritarian president in the capital of neighboring Ukraine. The protest of about 100 people came a week after Belarus sparked outrage in the West by diverting a commercial airline flight over its territory and arresting a dissident journalist who was on board. Belarus claims the diversion was necessary because of a bomb threat, but Western officials have denounced the move as air piracy. A North Korea is being built step by step in Belarus, protester Syarhey Bulba said in Kyiv on Saturday. The demonstration also marked the anniversary of the arrest of the husband of Belarus exiled opposition leader. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya ran against President Alexander Lukashenko in her husband's place during the country's August election. The protesters in Ukraine beat a portrait of Lukashenko with slippers, an echo of the slogan Smash the cockroach popularized by Tsikhanouskayas husband, Syarhey, a popular blogger and activist who planned to challenge the five-term president but was arrested a police officer was injured in a scuffle at a campaign rally. Official results of the presidential election gave Lukashenko 80% of the vote and won him a sixth term in office. Protests alleging the election results were manipulated immediately broke out and Tsikhanouskaya fled to Lithuania. The protests, some of them attracting as many as 200,000 people, continued for months, a significant challenge to Lukashenko. Police cracked down harshly on the protests, arresting more than 30,000 people and beating many of them. Although the protests died down over the winter, authorities have continued wide-ranging repression of opposition. The Vyasna human rights organization in Belarus said a bicyclist who was arrested at a race that officials deemed an unauthorized gathering has been charged with insulting the president for wearing a T-shirt denouncing dictatorship. The charge carries a possible 2-year prison term. In the Belarusian capital, Minsk, several dozen people made a small show of defiance Saturday by marching down a main street carrying opposition banners. ___ Follow AP's coverage of Belarus at https://apnews.com/hub/belarus Two-hundred-and-eight days after Joe Biden became just the second Democrat presidential candidate to win Arizonas electoral votes since 1948, Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs is still getting death threats. Ms Hobbs, 51, has had to travel with a 24-hour security detail since 7 May, when Governor Doug Ducey assigned Department of Public Safety officers to protect her following her multiple threatening phone calls. One caller asked what she was wearing that day to ensure that shed be easy to get. Another incident involved a videographer from the far-right conspiracy website The Gateway Pundit chasing her and an aide. She also received police protection for a period immediately after the outcome of the 2020 presidential race became clear, when she brought on expert outside counsel to defend Arizonas election results against lawsuits filed by various pro-Trump groups, including the state Republican party, who sought to challenge the results on dubious grounds. Speaking with The Independent on Friday hours after GOP senators voted to block an investigation into 6 January, and at the same time Texas Republicans were preparing to unveil legislation meant to make it harder for Americans to vote and easier for GOP officials to overturn elections Ms Hobbs warned Republicans attempt to downplay what happened at the US Capitol is giving tacit approval to the implicit and explicit threats of violence being directed at election officials across the country. Such threats, she said, appear to be the reason that Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger a Republican who incurred his own partys ire for defending the conduct of last years election after Mr Biden became the first Democrat to carry the state since Bill Clinton did so in 1992 recently announced support for a so-called audit of results from heavily Black Fulton County. He got death threats and his wife got death threats for [him] doing his job and certifying the results of a valid election, she said. Now, hes shifting courseand trying to appease these folks. Ms Hobbs and Mr Raffensperger are not the only election officials whove received threats on their lives for nothing more than doing their jobs. In Fulton County, Georgia last November, far-right media outlets and online conspiracy theorists including former President Trumps adult sons sent one Black election worker into hiding by spreading a video which falsely claimed that surveillance video of ballot counting showed him throwing out ballots. Another pair of election workers, both of whom are also Black, became the subject of far-right conspiracy theories after many Republicans, including Mr Trumps attorney Rudolph Giuliani, accused them of introducing a suitcase of fraudulent ballots into the counting process (the suitcase was a standard container which Georgia uses to store ballots). Such false claims are nothing new. Although Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security officials have repeatedly said the 2020 election was the most secure in American history, many Republicans insist that Democratic victories are the result of fraud in cities with significant non-white populations. Asked whether death threats are going to be part and parcel of being an election official, election worker, or volunteer in America going forward, Ms Hobbs told The Independent that she certainly hope[s] that is not the case. It is a sad state of affairs if that is where we are now, she said, calling threats against election workers and officials certainly a concern that we have, and one that is not unique to Arizona. Ms Hobbs said that while she and her colleagues across the country have been looking at ways to develop a competent corps of election workers, the climate of threats and fear perpetuated ty the GOP in the wake of Mr Bidens 2020 win is already taking a toll in the form of attrition among the nonpartisan staff in offices like hers. But it is not just threats against election officials and workers that concern Ms Hobbs. Spurred on by Mr Trump and his allies, Republicans in state legislatures are also taking aim against the election process itself by taking elections out of the hands of officials who accepted Mr Bidens win as legitimate or pushed back against GOP attempts to overturn the election. In her own state, Republican state legislators including at least one whod been a willing participant in the 6 January insurrection at the US Capitol are attempting to strip her office of the ability to retain outside lawyers to defend against election-related litigation, but only for the remainder of her term in office. Instead of letting Ms Hobbs, a Democrat, continue to do the work for which voters elected her in 2018, the GOP is entrusting the responsibility for defending Arizonas elections to state Attorney General Mark Brnovich. Not coincidentally, Mr Brnovich was one of the 18 state attorneys who sought to have the US Supreme Court simply throw out the election results last December. In Georgia, GOP legislatures have already retaliated against Mr Raffensperger by removing his chairmanship of and vote on the states board of elections in a sweeping post-election rewrite of the Peach States election law. The GOP-backed election law also made it more difficult for Georgians to vote absentee, and enabled the Republican-controlled legislature to seize control of elections in the heavily-Democratic counties which provided Mr Biden his margin of victory. Such pro-Trump rewrites of election law are also occurring in states that Mr Biden lost. In Texas, for example, Republican state lawmakers are pushing a suite of changes that would allow an election result to be overturned if the loser can show that there were violations of the state election code, even without proving that such violations caused the loser to lose. In Ms Hobbs estimation, the hard-core antidemocratic movement that is supporting sham election audits, that supported attempts to throw out Mr Bidens victory via the courts, and is amending state election laws to make it possible to overturn future Democratic wins does not represent a majority of American voters. It does, however, represent a majority of Republicans. I think the majority of the electorate is not a part of this cult of Donald Trump, and they want to move on and have different conversations than this partisan fight that we're in the middle of, she said. Stacey Abrams spars with Ted Cruz during voting rights hearing Ms Hobbs wishes more Republican leaders would push back against the Trump-backed drive to continue delegitimizing Mr Bidens victory, but she lamented that that such displays of courage are becoming increasingly unlikely because of the way the House Republican Conference punished Wyoming Representative and former conference chair Liz Cheney for speaking out against Mr Trump. Yet even if the antidemocracy majority in the GOP remains a minority of American voters, Ms Hobbs warned that the existence such a movement cannot be taken lightly. We obviously need to pay attention to it, she said, because at some point it can become detrimental for our democracy. While many Democrats have fretted that the Biden administration does not appear sufficiently committed to pushing back against antidemocratic measures, she thinks Mr Biden and his advisers can walk and chew gum at the same time while enacting policies that give them a mandate to push through pro-democracy bills such as the For the People Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, both of which would block many Republican efforts to shrink the electorate and undermine elections. Asked whether Democrats, independents, and moderate Republicans need to spend more time raising awareness of these GOP-backed antidemocratic measures, Ms Hobbs acknowledged that more people need to be brought into the conversation over how best to protect American democracy. But that conversation, she said, is bigger than just [her]. Moreover, she said she might not be the best messenger for such a message because many people are never going to believe anything I say because they think I belong in a noose at Gitmo. But regardless of who becomes the messenger for pro-democracy reforms, Ms Hobbs warned that national leaders need to take charge because the movement that is still trying to overturn and undermine last years election is actively trying to control the next one. I think that we should be very worried, she said. Index-Journal Careers PART-TIME POSITION available in our packaging area. Job responsibilities include putting inserts into the newspaper. Must have a positive attitude and be a team player. Applicants must be able to: lift up to 20-lbs; stand for long periods of time; be available to work Sunday thru Friday, late evening to early morning hours; pass drug screen. Bangladesh foreign minister AK Abdul Momen Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen on Sunday called for precaution instead of getting panicked after a series of mild quakes were felt in the north-eastern district. Dont get panicked. Stay alert. The government also remains aware of it. We will surely do whatever is needed, he said in a video message to the people of Sylhet. Momen said he talked to the relevant ministers and officials including Sylhet City Corporation officials after back to back tremors jolted the area on Saturday and Sunday. The Foreign Minister also suggested keeping emergency kits and first aid tools at homes for use when required. Momen said it is better to come out in the open in case of any emergency. He advised the people to call at 999 for any emergency and asked the hospital authorities to keep some beds ready for emergency treatment. A day after six tremors hit Sylhet on Saturday, another mild quake was felt early Sunday. Senior Meteorologist of Sylhet Met office Syed Ahmed Chowdhury said the latest quake, measuring 2.8 magnitude on the Richter Scale, was felt at 4:35am. The epicenter of the earthquake was in the bordering area of the district. No casualty or damage was reported. Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury and police officials visited the site. The authorities have identified two buildings as risky and asked the occupants to move to safety. Additional police have been deployed in the area to maintain security, said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police BM Ashraf Ullah Taher. remaining of Thank you for Reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Kevin Jacob, a first-year B-Tech student from Thrissur, Kerala has created a new face mask accessory with a microphone and speaker, to allow easier communication. ANI Also Read: Project Hazel: Most Tech-Savvy Face Mask With Mic, Speaker & RGB Lights Kevin saw the plight of his parents -- both doctors and frontline workers in the COVID-19 pandemic -- how they were unable to communicate with each other after they were geared in face shields, PPE suits and face masks. The whole suit of armour makes it difficult to even properly breathe along, let alone allowing doctors to properly communicate while causing severe discomfort and heat that can go on for hours every day. To ease their plight, he installed a microphone on the inside of the mask and a speaker unit on the outside. This allowed them to speak in normal tones and also be louder and audible to patients and other staff without coming too close to them when not necessary. ANI Also Read: Mask Up: US States That Wore Face Masks Had Lower COVID-19 Rates Compared To Those That Didn't Jacob, in a statement to ANI said, "My parents are doctors & they've been struggling to communicate with their patients since the onset of COVID. My parents found it difficult to communicate clearly via layers of masks & face shields. Seeing them, this idea struck me. A prototype of the microphone-speaker array was initially tested by his parents, Dr Senoj KC and Dr Jyoti Mary Jose, and once they were successful and effective, he started mass-producing them. The mic-speaker array attaches to any face mask via magnets and can be easily swapped to other masks. Jacob added, "Doctors who have given feedback have said that they don't have to strain to be heard and they were able to communicate with their patients effortlessly. Overall the feedback from users has been positive." ANI Also Read: IIT Mandi Team Develops Anti-Bacterial, Self-Cleaning Material For Face Masks He claims to have developed 50 such face masks and are being used by several doctors across South India and wishes to commercialise his innovation, "I have made over 50 such devices which are being used by doctors mainly in south India. Currently, I do not have the capital or equipment to mass produce these devices. But if somebody or a large company is willing to help me with this little project, I believe it could help a lot of people." The management of coronavirus-induced pandemic boosted the usage of hand sanitisers which has also led to an increase in the number of fire-related accidents due to its irresponsible use. A bone-chilling incident has gone viral on social media which shows a car being engulfed in flames after the driver used the sanitiser while smoking a cigarette. The incident took place in Rockville, Maryland, USA. Reportedly, the vehicle was a "total loss" as the fire swallowed the four-wheeler. ICYMI (~530p) vehicle fire at Federal Plaza, 12200blk Rockville Pike, near Trader Joes & Silver Diner, @mcfrs PE723, M723, AT723 & FM722 were on scene (news helicopter video) pic.twitter.com/TeAynaGsgp Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) May 13, 2021 The video of the incident was shared on Twitter on May 14 by the Montgomery Country Fire and Rescue Service Chief Spokesperson, Peter Piringer who shared the details of the accident. A helicopter video of the incident showed the car parked outside the Federal Plaza shopping centre in Rockville, north of Washington DC. Firefighters rushed to the scene with a hose to put out the flames ignited by the sanitiser. Fortunately, the driver escaped without severe burns and was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. (5/13) Rockville, MD, hand sanitizer & lighted cigarette start fire in an occupied car, Driver was able to escape the vehicle while onlookers called 911. The patient suffered from NLT 1st & 2nd degree burns on his hands & inner thighs & transported to hospital https://t.co/eJEMD9ODwR pic.twitter.com/Eu9N5ytyvx Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) May 14, 2021 According to officials, witnesses present at the scene called 911 and the driver suffered from 1st & 2nd-degree burns on his hands & inner thighs. Reports suggest that the cause of the fire is bein investigated. Piringer said that hand sanitiser & lighted cigarette started the fire in an occupied car, which he described as a bad combo in an unventilated area like a car in the tweet. After the driver left the store, he applied a copious amount of sanitiser in his hands and then embers from the cigarette in his mouth, ignited sanitiser and some clothing. Twitter The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention issued fire safety precautions for using alcohol based hand sanitisers. MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa says under-fire Chief Justice Luke Malaba must voluntarily step down to preserve the integrity of Zimbabwes judicial system. President Emmerson Mnangagwa controversially extended Malabas term of office after he reached the retirement age of 70 early this month. Mnangagwa used the contested amendments to the constitution to extend the top judges term, but a panel of High Court judges ruled that the move was illegal. Malaba returned to work last week after the government appealed against the judgement. The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum filed an urgent High Court application seeking to have the chief justice jailed for contempt of court. On Friday, the case took another twist when 17 Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges appealed the ruling that ended Malabas time as chief justice. Legal experts said the appeal by the judges meant that they cannot hear the case, a development that has the potential to plunge the country into a constitutional crisis. The culture of leaving is important and must be upheld in offices of public trust and senior government officials in [permanent] secretaries, ministers, parastatal bosses, the registrar general, clerk of Parliament and even the judiciary, Chamisa said yesterday. People must know that it is important to serve and leave. It is important to let go. High Court judges Happias Zhou, Esther Charehwa and Edith Mushore ruled the extension of Malabas term beyond his 70-year retirement age was unconstitutional. The trios said Malaba and the other judges could not benefit from the controversial amendments to the constitution that gave Mnangagwa power to appoint top judges. Chamisa said there was need for public officials to respect the rule of law. Meanwhile, confusion continues to grip government over Malabas status as officials took turns to acknowledge Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza as the acting chief justice during the unveiling of Mbuya Nehanda statue by Mnangagwa on Africa Day. Harare Provincial Affairs minister Oliver Chidawu is one of the officials that referred to Gwaunza as the acting chief justice. Standard Real-time social media posts from local businesses and organizations across Northern Virginia, powered by Friends2Follow. To add your business to the stream, email cfields@insidenova.com or click on the green button below. Burma Ethnic Shanni Military Leader Assassinated by Junta: Group Claims Major General Sao Khun Kyaw, widely known as Yebaw Than Chaung, deputy leader of the Shanni Nationalities Army. / The Irrawaddy The second-in-command of the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA), Major General Sao Khun Kyaw, was assassinated on May 26 by Myanmars military, according to the Kachin State ethnic armed groups spokesman. Colonel Hsur Sai Tun said Maj-Gen Sao Khun Kyaw, an ethnic Shanni from Mohnyin Township in Kachin State, died from gunshot wounds on Thursday morning. He said the groups deputy, widely known as Yebaw Than Chaung, was shot at close range. His security team was attacked and then he was shot by the assassin. Only he was killed and one of our other members was injured. We killed the assassin. There was no personal grudge, he was killed by Myanmars army, he said, declining to comment on evidence of the assassins links to the junta. The spokesman said the group is still investigating the assassination. Maj-Gen Sao Khun Kyaw joined the armed struggle following the 1988 pro-democracy uprising and moved to Kachin Independence Army territory. He was appointed vice-chairman of the northern section of the All Burma Students Democratic Front, responsible for military affairs. He was accused of being the key perpetrator of the 1992 killing of students in the fronts Pajaung camp, where 35 of 106 detained front members were executed between August 1991 and May 1992, accused of being government spies. Some died during torture and others were summarily executed, including 15 suspects on Feb. 12, 1992. Extensive torture and extrajudicial killings followed as leaders of the northern wing of the student army formed after the 1988 crackdown attempted to extract confessions from detainees. Sao Khun Kyaw then left the front and joined the Restoration Council of Shan State, which was formed in 1999. He worked as a central committee member in the armed group and was promoted to colonel. In 2006, he was arrested by Myanmars military in Nam Kham Township, northern Shan State, on his way to Kachin State to join the SNA. Sao Khun Kyaw was given four death sentences. He was released from prison, among many prisoners during the April 2018 presidential pardon, and returned to the SNA as the armed groups deputy. The SNA said it was formed in 1989 to fight for political equality, self-determination for the ethnic Shanni community and to establish a Shanni state. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Catholic Bishops Urge Warring Parties to Spare Places of Worship Myanmar Regime Police Chiefs Democracy Activist Brother Dies in Custody Myanmar Juntas Troops Loot Villages Abandoned Due to Firefights SpaceX's Starlink satellites have been seen by more and more people in recent times. One particular SpaceX enthusiast took it upon themselves to create a website to know when people can spot the chain of lights in the sky in their corner of the Earth. SpaceX Internet Starlink is a string of satellites launched into space, engineered by Elon Musk's SpaceX, with the aim to provide high-speed, low latency broadband internet. According to their website, it's currently delivering initial beta service domestically and internationally, "and will continue expansion to near global coverage of the populated world in 2021." Starlink also claims to deliver high-speed broadband to rural and remote communities. The Starlink initiative, according to Market Research, is expecting to launch a "constellation" of 42,000 satellites to provide Internet access all over the world. With the chain of satellites, it is hard to miss in the night sky when it's making its orbit. They also state on their website that they are working with astronomers and engineers to make the satellite generally invisible to the naked eye. They also want to minimize Starlink's impact on astronomy by darkening satellites so they don't saturate observatory detectors. It is quite a feat, coordinating the dance of nearly 1,500 satellites in orbit and are still on the mission to make satellite designs as dark as possible. Hence, why people can still see the string of lights making their way across the sky. Read Also: SpaceX Takes Huge Step to Provide Starlink Internet While on Car-Trucks, Boats, Aircraft Connection Coming Too! Starlink Tracker The tracker called Find Starlink was first launched two years ago, the website creator told Business Insider. He made the tracker for himself, his brother, and a friend as they lived in different parts of the world. "Find Starlink was created three days after the first Starlink launch (24 May 2019) because I wanted to see the Starlink train and none of the existing websites tracked Starlink at that point," the developer told Insider. Within the first five days of its launch, the website got half a million requests. He says he has received emails from people who helped build on Apollo rockets, as well as from those requesting the ruling out of UFO sightings. Navigating the website is relatively easy. You can select your location by its name or by the coordinates. Once you are brought to the page for the schedule and visibility quality of the Starlink in your area. It is classified into three visibility categories: "good", "average", and "poor" according to the calculations. The developer of the website is able to achieve this by collecting calculations from the Reddit SpaceX community. He put a simple program together to predict the timings of the satellites, according to Insider. In each launch, there's a "leader" of the Starlink satellite train. The website predicts its path since all the other satellites follow behind. The developer explains that the site calculates the triangle between the Sun, the satellite, and the location every minute of the first five days after the launch and calculates how good the visibility would be in that area. A live map is also available to track the general orbital path the Starlink satellites are in all over the world. The website also notes to its users that the timings are not 100 percent accurate since the orbit of the satellites changes often, "and without warning." And because of SpaceX's mission to make the satellites less visible, it may not even be seen as it passes over your area. Related Article: SpaceX Starlink Satellite Internet Service Gets 500000 Orders: Price, Release Date, and How You Can Pre-Order Google Photos is set to cease unlimited free storage starting June 1, and this left users somewhat in a limbo: do we shell out cash to continue enjoying the service or do we look for alternatives? Google Photos has always been the default photo storage for many users since the tech giant offered the free service since 2015, and surely they have been satisfied with it, unless they decide to pick a nifty cloud service to migrate all their precious snaps, Laptopmag.com noted. But, before you make that decision, Google made it clear that nothing will happen to your photos or videos uploaded to Photos up to June 1. It will safely remain in the Google servers until what the company calls their "heat death" or when they start charging. Google Photos Back-Up: Sticking with Google a Good Option Yet, the most important task on every user's minds right now is backing up those photos, and this is a logical step for users deciding to switch, and we're sure that's a lot. Why not use an external drive for that and that's easy to do with a simple drag and drop on the interface. Sticking with Google is still a good option, with $1.99 for every 100GB for the Google One Cloud service to back up and view your photos, with higher capacities, such as a 2TB plan would be reasonably priced at $9.99. To those who have stored their entire collection within Google servers, they will definitely find it difficult to search for a cheaper option. Of course, the time, effort, and bandwidth needed to download and transfer these files would be a hassle to say the least. Read Also: Say Goodbye to Google Photos Free Unlimited Storage Google Photos Alternative Cloud Services But of course, if users insist on switching, there are several alternatives when you do finally make that switch, as News18.com noted. Such services are Microsoft OneDrive, Amazon Photos, Dropbox, and Apple Photos. In these services, there are free storage options that users can look into. Amazon offers unlimited storage for full-resolution photos, letting users share with up to five family members and is bundled with its Prime Video streaming service. Apple Photos, on the other hand, provides free service up to 5GB for Apple users with seamless integration over the entire Apple ecosystem carrying robust AI features, and editing tools. Dropbox is known for cloud-based handling of different kinds of files with cross-platform compatibility, and offers only up to 2GB of free service. Microsoft OneDrive, meanwhile, is considered the best alternative to Google Photos, offering access to several other Microsoft services with automatic image tagging and a gallery view for photo storage. It offers free storage for up to 5GB. Google Photos Alternative: Setting Up Self-Hosted Service If you are really serious at making a sophisticated photo storage system and not pay enormous monthly fees for a cloud service, a good alternative is setting up your own self-hosted service, Android Police revealed. All it takes is an investment of around $300 for a server setup. Synology, maker of home NAS servers, offers photo management for free, and according to current users, it is as close as Google Photos as you can get in terms of interface. However, as noted, you need to purchase one of its DiskStations first. Synology offers facial recognition, grouping by places, search capabilities, and a flurry of filters. Once you already own a DiskStation server, another catch is joining the DSM 7.0 Beta program and have the server run the beta software to get the new Google Photos-like Synology Photos experience. Setting this up, current users said, has been a breeze, with no issues encountered. While you may have to spend a lot for one-time purchase of hardware plus joining the beta software program, the very clear advantage is that you have your own at-home network storage, wherein you can keep not only photos or videos, but other documents and multimedia files. You will also have full control over it, even adding tough security features, or make it accessible for remote access. It's like having your own Google Photos service offering private storage for close friends or family for their own pics and videos. Related Article: Strange Google Pixel 'Something Went Wrong' Camera Issue: Here are Possible Fixes Ten New Yorkers died on Thursday, the latest day for which data were available, bringing the citys death toll to more than 33,000. Thats according to the city Health Department, though it noted recent data are incomplete. The IT industry has always worked in cycles. We ask industry experts what they think will be the 'next big thing' after cloud computing. This is the next in our extended series of 'controversial questions.' The eleventh, we think. Here's the question we put to a significant number of industry executives: Everything happens in a combination of waves and cycles. For instance what is now cloud computing used to be time-share. Similarly there has been a constant yin and yang between centralised and decentralised computing - the early mainframes were sidelined by small departments buying minicomputers and then PCs in order to regain some control and then they were aggregated into networks. But resistance followed and groups isolated again. Now we're looking at a major aggregation with cloud computing. What does the assembled throng think might cause the eventual waning of this waxing cloud hegemony? Clearly, as technologies evolve, some systems will be able to advance to the new paradigm while others are left behind. Think of how few silent movie stars were able to make it in the 'talkies.' Mostly, we understand, because they had somewhat 'odd' voices that weren't easy on the ears. There's a more modern version of the same thing enshrined in the 1979 song "Video Killed the Radio Star." However, lets pay a little more attention to the thoughts of the industry executives. Introduction Setting the scene, Daniel Markuson Digital Privacy Expert at NordVPN tells us that "Everything happens in a combination of waves and cycles. To be more precise - in a spiral. Nothing dies in the computing world. Only new abstraction layers stack up. "Computers were built into networks. Then networks were connected, content delivery systems were introduced, household devices that rely on different operating systems became interconnected and synced with each other over the cloud to provide a seamless and effortless experience. People won't stop to value comfort more than anything, not to mention that there's still a lot of space for improvement left. Industrial digitalization and the growth of developing countries are also vital factors for a cloud to get stronger and evolve." Michael Warrilow, VP analyst at Gartner agrees, "Cloud computing is just the latest to-and-fro in the continual merry-go-round of centralised vs decentralised computing models." Thor Essman, CEO & Co-Founder of Stax, adds "Ask to define cloud and you get more answers than asking what's the meaning of life? However, one thing all definitions will likely agree on is that moving to a technological capability of buying and consuming vs building and creating is a trend that will probably outlive us all." Tim Hope, Chief Technology Officer at Versent, continues the same theme, noting that "As with the shift from Mainframe to PC, to networked PC and now cloud, it's less of a wave and more of a paradigm shift to a new technology platform - with new capability unlocked through the shift in approach. Through these shifts we haven't moved backwards to mainframes - but we have iterated on the new platform to introduce efficiency and the ability to match compute resources directly to the business outcomes and customer demand, in an ever increasing abstracted and distributed fashion." "I've personally witnessed the cyclical evolution between centralised and decentralised computing; says Robert Merlicek, CTO - APJ at Tibco. "There's a constant push and pull between computing aggregation and segregation, which come and go in waves. Right now we're in a phase where companies are actively using cloud applications to accelerate digital transformation - especially by integrating systems, processes, APIs and people. As such, it's true that the cloud as it currently exists represents a broad move towards more centralised computing." Offering a slightly alternative suggestion, Lee Thompson, Managing Director A/NZ, Nutanix thinks the swing is really only on one direction. "I believe cloud's mass aggregation is in full swing - this is evident in the breakaway from 'public cloud-only' and even 'public cloud-led' environments, in favour of the multi-cloud model. Enterprises don't want to be led by an IT environment; they want to lead with business imperatives through applications with access to any cloud, anywhere, anytime depending on their needs. "Both sides of cloud show no sign of slowing down or being replaced. Indeed, cloud is vital to lead the digital economy-focused recovery the world needs. Even during the steepest economic contraction in modern history, we saw a swell in enterprise cloud investment driven by new ways of working and living. But the ratio will continue to shift in favour of private-led multicloud, as public cloud repatriation continues to be seen in A/NZ." Michael Ewald, Director of Engineering, APAC at Contino is pressing forward in support of all things cloud: "Hybrid cloud, multi-cloud and all that cloud computing entails, will continue to be at the forefront of digital transformation projects and initiatives." Similarly, "All eyes are on the cloud as the next de facto standard for IT systems," Brent Doncaster, Senior Director, NetFoundry tells us. "For the next decade or so we can expect cloud to continue to dominate IT strategy as the hyper-scalers build out their services to provide complete geographical coverage and continue to invest billions in the networking and compute infrastructure needed to support growing demand." "When the cloud conversation started," Matt Cudworth, Cloud Practice Lead / Cloud CTO APAC, DXC Technology reminds us, "it was all around capabilities gained from the public cloud - someone else's server - but has really shifted to a full Enterprise Technology Stack approach when it comes to how companies orchestrate their technology. We're now seeing cloud technology emerge on premises and in computing, with cloud infrastructure being deployed at telecommunications exchanges to get the cloud closer to end customers. Cloud technologies are going to be everywhere." "There are a number of forces driving this, Thompson reminds us, "sticker shock from large public cloud is a huge factor with budgets under pressure and cloud workloads increasing. Data sovereignty and security concerns have also hit an all-time high and this means it's never been more pressing for organisations to get control of their data. Ultimately, the right multi-cloud strategy gives the power back to the customer and ensures they can easily move data to the appropriately secure, scalable and efficient environment at any time." Some history Markuson wanted to take a couple of steps back to set some context. "Since the early beginning of computing itself, machines were large, simply because no one could make computers as compact as they are nowadays. Becoming more diminutive and more affordable, you could hardly find a place or a household without a PC, handheld, or IoT device. But massive computers are still presentonly much more powerful. "The term cloud by itself is very abstract and may differ regarding the context of where it's mentioned. At first, the network guys started drawing clouds on network diagrams where the cloud means something abstract and irrelevant in the context, where the details on how components are connected don't matter. "Nowadays, cloud computing is even more abstract. There are many different use cases for them, such as laaS, PaaS, or SaaS. The latter provides the subscription-based service for the end-user, which doesn't care how the service functions under the hood only; it seeks the result of the service for which one pays. "Nonetheless, big machines and computer clusters didn't go extinct and are still used for various purposes as science, movie making, etc.., you may find a personal computer in almost every home. Various government institutions, hospitals, and banks still own their own data centres and servers. Such servers need to meet regulations regarding how the specific data is being stored in them." Nothing much will change Many of the executives responding to the question were firmly of the view that 'cloud' was here to stay (in whatever guise it took - there were many!). For instance, Markuson opined, "Cloud computing is still relatively new, so the end of it is pure speculation. However, I don't think it is likely to change radically in the foreseeable future. The amount of the existing data is growing with each second, and so far, we can only observe its expansion." "While it's impossible to say what might happen in 50 or 100 years, over the next 5-10 years cloud won't be going away in a hurry, and it will be fascinating to see how the industry will evolve," Daniel Bradby, Emerging Technology / Innovation Principal at Mantel Group suggests. "The big three cloud providers are still in a rapid growth phase and are being challenged to differentiate themselves. They need to focus on their unique value proposition, or they risk becoming commoditised. We'd like to see each of the providers playing to their strengths a bit more. For example, Google needs to leverage its expertise in data and AI. Microsoft has a rich history of identity services and active directory it could be focusing on." Essman agrees, " 'Cloud' will never end, and while the cycles of transformation may shift, we believe they will shift UP the technology stack." Rob Bryant, Executive Vice President, APAC at InEight agrees, noting that "Hardware continues to evolve at pace, Moore's law reigns true, yet the volume of data we touch and draw from is also growing exponentially. As I see it, that means we will continue to find cloud a convenient way to store and process data, that we access, refer to and use anywhere at any-time. Providing we are connected, and improved mobile connectivity sees that remains the case, cloud computing has a solid place in our digital life. "In a 'subscriber society,' " he continues, "I believe we have already moved on from the notion of having data in a place we can point to it or carry it under our arm. At the point where individuals are happy to trust cloud for the family photo album and music collection, I think data for the purpose of business decision making and corporate knowledge is very comfortable in the cloud." Further, Markuson remains positive. "It's better to talk about the development of the cloud rather than the waning. It's no secret that people can get spoiled sometimes; one can hardly imagine a website that takes a second to load. This is where CDNs came into play, which caches static information as close to the end-user as possible, improving the experience for the consumer. That's not the case with dynamic information and tends to change for various reasons, e.g., video games, traffic management, multiple sensors, and many more. This is where edge-side computing comes into play and makes so CDNs cache the already known information and enable them to receive, process, store, and send the latest fresh, dynamic information." We discuss edge computing in a later section. Offering some local context, Ewald reminds us that, "The digital economy remains high on the Australian government's agenda. With the recent announcement of the $1.2billion investment on the Digital Economy Strategy, an even greater number of critical systems will go into the cloud. This means that the concept of centralised computing will continue as the cloud evolves into software as a service, functions as a service and data as a service whilst infrastructure as a service and platforms as a service will remain the domain of the hyper-scalers - something we are starting to now see in across the industry." Further, he notes that "The cloud can enable many businesses to adapt and find new ways of operating and is not going anywhere. In fact, there are four core benefits of adopting the cloud to achieve innovative and tangible outcomes continue to be part of the main reason for businesses shifting to the cloud: "A funnel for innovation: Businesses armed with a well-developed cloud strategy will not only be able to leverage the cloud effectively and at scale, it also acts as a catalyst of meaningful innovation for end-customers. "Security: The cloud has become a large and highly attractive attack surface for malicious actors who exploit poorly secured ports to gain unlawful access to valuable data. With enterprise-grade cloud protection from targeted attacks and data leaks, this ensures that there is enhanced data protection with encryption at all layers so that the business is from threats. "Optimised operations: Cloud technology offers a flexible operating model while allowing organisations to save time and money, improve operations, and encourage innovation. A physical server typically takes days or weeks to become fully operational, but the cloud only takes minutes. The faster a business goes to market, the faster it starts seeing revenue, and profit. "Data Gravity: Data is the true enabler for any digital transformation so where the bulk of your data will reside will drive a lot of subsequent and dependant architecture. As more data is collected, the cost model for on prem vs public cloud suits leans favourably toward cloud. On prem, compute is cheap, but storage is expensive, and it is the inverse model for public cloud. Plus, with new serverless models, cost is more on a transactional basis so good data architecture lends itself to cost optimisations in TCO towards cloud. When more and more organisations move to cloud and amass large volumes of it as they unlock the benefits of analytics and AI/ML, the appetite to move back to some sort of on prem model in the future could be cost and risk prohibitive." Possible changes Of course, not everyone thought that the cloud environment would grow forever - and there were even a few with an each-way bed on proceedings. Markuson, for instance had previously told us of his support for the cloud, however, in a somewhat contrary comment, he offered, "Usually, change comes when the current infrastructure starts to become insufficient to satisfy the future's needs. For example, a significant part of digital innovation relies on AI development, and AI training relies on private or public datasets, where both input and output must be stored somewhere. Quantum computing, among other things, will reform the AI learning process by changing the fundamentals of data processing. Once we adopt it, we will enter a new realm of computing, in which the current cloud, as we know it, might become insufficient; however, this will way more likely lead to evolution rather than waning." "In addition, we expect to see a focus higher up the cloud stack," Bradby added. "We can already see AWS trying to move away from the lower-level stack but it's in their DNA. Customers are going to be less interested in the nuts and bolts and see cloud as a more general-purpose platform for application deployment (as Salesforce is demonstrating). We also expect to see more of a push back to open standards and interoperability over the long term and more services around the edges of the cloud stack being provided by other vendors, such as Snowflake's data warehouse offering. "Lastly, we're seeing a trend further down the stack for custom chips. The big 3 cloud providers are providing custom chips to deploy in their own environments and with Apple and Nvidia playing this space it will be interesting to see how this develops." Offering a modicum of context, Essman suggests that "Whereas the last two cycles of cloud have dealt primarily with foundations and infrastructure, as we move above that layer there are decades of technological cloud enablement to come in the form of SaaS, PaaS, IaaS, and dozens that we have yet to invent. As you can see with all the major cloud providers, they are focusing their time providing ecosystems of solutions and products, and have well and truly sped past the "cloud infrastructure only" cycle." Forget the hardware Vercent's Hope took a slightly 'parallel' view by advocating for the 'no hardware' view of things. "When customers start to move to the cloud, they start with a mindset around how to get their servers integrated and configured. This moves very quickly to conversations around Containers, Serverless and SaaS solutions - the server is being forgotten. Cloud isn't the next step in having a better server, it's the next step in not having a service - not having to think about the underlining servers and infrastructure. It's enabling people to work with technology directly to link it to the business problem - removing the underlining infrastructure, effectively commoditising it out of the value chain. The next step in this path is further towards SaaS offerings that are highly configurable to meet different customer requirements and market innovation. I would expect us to see capability growing around how we see highly configurable SaaS capability that has the ability to reach out of the cloud data centres and control IoT, wearables and services located close to the end users. "The challenge with the ease of procurement enables customers to procure complex services on a credit card - this is far more powerful and simple that buying a minicomputer. Small departments can build highly functional and complex systems without any engagement [with] the technology teams - this introduces risk when security, supply risk, compliance, data and other key non-functionals are not managed or reviewed appropriately. The sprawl of business units creating services in different cloud ecosystems makes it difficult to integrate and understand where the business data and systems are actually being run. No longer can you point at a data centre and be sure all your data is in that building." The cloud, but Beyond the 'no hardware' view, there were also comments that postulated a 'cloud plus more' view. For instance, Gartner's Warrilow opined that "What replaces public cloud is distributed cloud. It allows the customer to choose where to locate the cloud service, but still using the innovation provided by cloud computing." Similarly, Deepak Giridharagopal, CTO at Puppet adds, "The cloud is only superficially a force for aggregation, but at its core it's the opposite. The cloud doesn't behave like one big computer. Rather, the cloud disaggregates the building blocks of software and serves them up a la carte. Users have a ton of choice (many CIOs would say too much so) in what cloud services they want to use, from which vendors/parties, and in how they assemble those pieces together to architect their applications. This wasn't really practical, not to this extent, before cloud computing. "With the "cloud hegemony" rolling out a dozen new services every year, it's no surprise that the experience can feel sprawled out and incohesive. That my bill comes from a single company is of little comfort. "I understand the desire to standardise and consolidate - the struggle is real, and reducing choice is _a_ way to bring things under control. But in my opinion, a better approach lies in smarter tools that abstract away the complexity of the cloud. Good infrastructure abstractions let you treat diverse, underlying technologies in a simpler, unified way. We're already seeing interesting, new abstractions and architectural patterns emerge from the cloud-native open-source community, with more yet to come. "The industry must develop smarter tooling and better abstractions. The cloud is chess, not checkers. The more complex the cloud becomes, the more its fundamental promises of being cheap, easy, and flexible come into question." Edge Computing Many of our respondents were quick to suggest 'edge computing' would be the evolution from current (relatively) monolithic cloud environments. Such implementations have a lot of dvantages. Merlicek offers the thought that "Cloud is still evolving - it hasn't yet reached its peak. For instance, we're at the stage where multi-cloud has arrived and will continue to grow as standards evolve. But innovation is unrelenting, and forces change, and the next major change we'll see is the rise of edge computing. "Edge computing will be a shift to decentralisation once again. With so many edge devices now being connected and providing information - whether it's the Internet of Things, smart autonomous vehicles, smart cities, or any of the multitude of smart consumer devices out there - we will see a massive rise of machine-to-machine interaction. "The concepts of IoT, machine learning and AI leverage a great amount of real time data, much of which is not generated in the cloud but at the edge. To make real time decisions on this data, the traditional model of moving it all into a central cloud for processing is just not practical. Instead, we will see the computing nodes for transactions decisions move ever closer to the edge. The rise of Industrial IoT will drive this very quickly. "As an example, think of self-driving cars. As these new vehicles proliferate, they will feed off each other's data. The problem is that this sharing will need to happen in real time to make useful decisions. For example, computing will need to happen almost instantaneously to determine how two driverless cars should avoid a collision. Autonomous drones are another useful example - imagine hundreds or even thousands of these drones occupying the same airspace. They would all need to update each other on positioning, location or flight paths, or share information on collision avoidance with birds. All this computing will need to take place at the edge, in innumerable and fleeting 'edge-clouds.' "I see ultra low latency (such as low single digit milliseconds or less) and scale being vitally important in the future and that is where real time edge computing will flourish. These Interconnected 'edge-clouds' will provide the backbone for a new generation of machine-to-machine mesh interactions enabling a whole new suite of capabilities." Mark Jobbins, vice president and CTO - APJ at Pure Storage adds that, "The growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) and self-managed edge technology will push compute and data out to satellite locations. The practicality of transmitting all data to the central location will force the decentralisation of technology again to be able to provide the independence of this technology. 5G and other advances in networking will support and accelerate this." Pointing to another favourite 'hobby horse,' Markuson notes that "We believe that with 5G, there will be an increase in the need for such edge computing, as the consumer does care about the result of the service. And all of these computing actions are being done in the cloud, wherever the cloud is. Whatever the cloud is." "Cloud infrastructure is evolving quickly to position cloud capabilities at the "edge" to support running applications close to where data originates in the physical world," Doncaster concludes. He adds, "The odds are that cloud capabilities will even be delivered from outside the Earth's atmosphere. But after they've conquered space, the cloud providers will eventually run out of room - not physical or virtual space, but the laws of physics that determine how many bytes can be squeezed onto a silicon wafer and the speed at which electrons can be propelled over wires or through the atmosphere." Quantum Computing Extrapolating upon his previous comments, Doncaster wonders "So, what replaces today's cloud? The answer is most likely to be quantum computing, which is still in the realm of theory and early-stage experiments for now. Like supersonic flight, the barrier to quantum computing will be broken, unleashing previously undreamt-of power, but raising some interesting questions. Among the biggest is who dominates the provider landscape. "Social media, internet and cloud have seen power concentrated in the hands of a small number of very large for-profit organisations - Facebook, Google, Amazon, Alibaba, and Microsoft. In a world struggling to come to terms with the economic, political and social influence of these technology giants and with geopolitical forces pulling back from globalism, what might this mean for the development of quantum computing? "One possible scenario, given the huge investment needed and strategic value of controlling the world's IT - which is to the global economy of the 21st century what oil was to the 20th - is that governments may seek to take control of quantum computing infrastructure. Could the quantum cloud of the future be run not by AWS but by Washington or Beijing? Might quantum computing power fuel a new wave of nationalism and/or geopolitical alignments? Is this the next space race whose ostensible purpose is to expand human endeavour beyond the Earth's atmosphere but whose real purpose is to become the "winner" with technological and economic competitive advantage delivered on the planet's surface? Outroduction Finally, we give everyone a chance to offer some concluding remarks. Essman starts, "Our prediction is we will see cloud evolve as the primary form of technical enablement, like the industrial revolutionary shift from producing power individually to consuming it. The future is up the stack, in cloud." Hope continues by observing that there is already a massive barrier to entry for any new players, "The pace, capability and functionality required to compete with the major cloud providers will make it difficult for new cloud infrastructure providers to enter the market. It's important that the environment continues to have a critical mass of cloud providers operating in the wider ecosystem to ensure that different business and consumer requirements and values are serviced." InEight's Bryant adds that "Personally, I see cloud providing enormous opportunity for vast volumes of data to assist in augmented decision making and augmented reality, drawing on machine learning and pooling of databases that cloud provides. In the business world, security and integrity of data is critical. Being able to outsource those responsibilities and operations to trusted hands allows business in any sector, construction, law, retail or medical, to focus on their core value and IP. "If that is working, I don't expect to see an appetite for business to go back to buying and maintaining server hardware and staff working in 'IT black ops'. With an increasingly remote workforce that decision is almost removed. Cloud has become the great enabler. " James Bergl, Regional Vice President, ANZ at Datto summarises the many advantages of cloud silutions. "It's difficult to debate the many benefits that cloud brings, such as scalability and agility, which is why is has proven to be so popular within the enterprise over the last decade. But cloud has shown to be particularly useful from a business continuity and a backup perspective. In the event that a primary server is compromised in an attack, a clean backup image will be immediately available in the cloud. This enables normal business operations to continue (on a virtual machine) while the primary server is being restored. Having this kind of failover has become critical as businesses face increasing volumes of sophisticated cyber-attacks, especially ransomware where hackers will steal and encrypt your data making it impossible to restore unless you have reliable back-up solutions in place." Looking into the future, I believe the process of cyclical evolution will continue to play out and we'll again begin moving towards more decentralised forms of computing," adds Merlicek. "However, I don't think this decentralisation will see us move away from cloud. Instead, and maybe a little counter-intuitively, it will see us moving even deeper into cloud technology." Ever the optimist, Markuson opines that "The only way for clouds to go extinct is to lose networks or for them to become very unreliable. As we talked about before - the cloud is something abstract and irrelevant in context. Without getting to the cloud and between components in the cloud, it becomes very relevant and not abstract. Then this is not a cloud anymore. But in such a case, humanity will face much bigger problems than to talk about the waning clouds." Cudworth wants us to look further forward, "As we head towards what we call the 'pervasive cloud' stage of the cycle, I predict we're going to see a real plethora of emerging technologies suddenly become accessible. As cloud matures, its capabilities will become almost self-service, enabling new technologies to be adopted much more quickly throughout the business. At the same time, companies are rewiring for innovation - no longer willing to spend a million dollars on hardware for five years - and so new technologies will be much more fluid, coming and going as they meet immediate and future needs." However, it seems fitting to give Doncaster the final word. "Finally, a caveat about our powers of prediction. The first supersonic passenger airliner went into service in 1976 amid claims of a revolution in high-speed air travel. Forty-five years later, there are no commercial supersonic services operating." So, to summarise, the majority of our executives are quite sure that this cycle is different; that the cloud trajectory will be in place for a very long time and that it will give rise to and encompass many other technologies - edge and quantum computing, various shared AI and so on. A few also pointed out the commercial benefits of moving to the cloud as opposed to maintaining major devices in-house. Oddly, though, no-one touched on the impact security might have - either as a positive or a negative. We'd love to hear readers' thoughts on this. Nokia and Proximus turned on the worlds fastest fibre access network earlier this week at a media event in Antwerp attended by the Belgian Minister of Telecommunications, the Mayor of Antwerp and executives and engineers from the two companies. Operating over existing fiber and Nokia equipment deployed in the Proximus network, the first ever 25G PON live network connects the Havenhuis building in the Port of Antwerp with the Proximus central office in the middle of the city. The network speed exceeded 20 Gigabits per second making it the fastest fiber network in the world. Proximus is the leading provider of fixed broadband networks in Belgium with 45.9% market share. The operator is accelerating the move to fiber, adding 10% coverage each year and is on target to reach at least 70% of homes and business by 2028. As part of its inspire 2022 vision, it is creating a high capacity open network which will be available to all operators, eliminating the need for fiber overbuild. Rupert Wood, Research Director for Fibre Networks at Analysys Mason, said: Todays 25G PON achievement demonstrates the unlimited potential of fibre. This next evolution in fiber technology will provide enterprises with greater than 10 Gbs connectivity and the capacity needed to support 5G transport along with future next generation services such as massive scale Virtual Reality and real time digital twins. Guillaume Boutin, CEO Proximus, said: The activation of the first 25G PON network worldwide shapes our bold ambition to be a trendsetter, to become a reference operator in Europe and, why not, across the globe. Together with Nokia, we have achieved a technological leap forward that will become a key enabler of the digital and economy and society that we stand for. Todays announcement is also an occasion to stand still and look at the pace at which we connect the citizens of Antwerp to the technology of the future. Thanks to huge investments, we are realizing an acceleration that is unseen in Europe, and I am convinced this will be crucial to remain competitive for us as a company, but also for Antwerp as a city and for our entire economy. Federico Guillen, President Network Infrastructure Nokia, said: 10 years ago our companies launched the technology which enabled a switch to HD TV. Today we make history again with a network that is 200x faster. We are proud to support Proximus in enabling the worlds first 25G PON network, powered by Nokias Quillion chipset, which supports three generations of PON technologies. "Quillion has been adopted by more than 100 operators since its launch last year and all operators deploying the Quillion based GPON and XGS-PON solution today have the capabilities to easily evolve to 25G PON. FILE- In this Friday, Sept. 25, 2020 file photo, retired Col. Maj. Bah N'Daw, right, is sworn into the office of transitional president, and Col. Assimi Goita, left, head of the junta that staged the Aug. 18 2020 coup, is sworn into the office of transitional vice president, at a ceremony in the capital Bamako, Mali. Mali's military has released the transitional president and prime minister Moctar Ouane from detention Thursday May 27, 2021, after they resigned from their respective posts. The Southern Way (lots of sugar) The Yankee Way (no sugar or sweetener) The Arnold Palmer (lemonade added) Plantation Iced Tea (with fruit) Half sweet and half unsweet mixed together. Unsweet with a no calorie sweetener. With fruit garnishment such as a lemon or lime. I drink my iced tea in different way than listed here. I don't drink iced tea. Vote View Results Jacksonville, TX (75766) Today Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low around 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low around 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Tom Hallberg covers a little bit of everything, from skiing to long-form feature stories. A Teton Valley, Idaho, transplant by way of Portland and Bend, Oregon, he spends his time outside work writing fiction, splitboarding and climbing. They have to sometimes put them on their donkeys or on their horses, he said of the families men. Man, beast and carpet then travel to the nearest bus station. The precious carpets are then taken by bus to Zahirs workshop in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif. Della A. (Kinkade) McGuire, 85, passed away at 12:15 a.m. on Thursday, June 10th, 2021 at the Presbyterian Manor in Parsons, KS, where she had lived for almost three years. On July 28, 1953, Della married Max E. McGuire. He preceded her in death on January 21, 1999. Della is survived by her Joplin, MO (64801) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 66F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 66F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Israeli and Egyptian officials held talks in both countries Sunday aimed at bolstering the Cairo-brokered ceasefire that ended the latest deadly flare-up of violence between the Jewish state and Gazas Hamas rulers. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel in Jerusalem to discuss strengthening cooperation between their countries, Netanyahus office said. Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi tasked Kamel and his delegation, who were also to visit the occupied Palestinian Territories, with hammering out a permanent ceasefire deal, senior Egyptian security officials told AFP. On the same day, Israels Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi made the first official visit by an Israeli top diplomat to neighbouring Egypt in 13 years, for talks with his counterpart Sameh Shoukry. Ashkenazi tweeted on his arrival that they would discuss establishing a permanent ceasefire with Hamas, a mechanism for providing humanitarian aid and the reconstruction of Gaza with a pivotal role played by the international community. The Egyptian foreign ministry tweeted that the ministers talks were part of Egypts relentless and continued efforts to revive the peace track and to build on the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was also expected in Cairo for talks, senior Egyptian security officials said, without providing further details. Egypt played a pivotal role in negotiating the May 21 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that brought an end to 11 days of deadly fighting. Israeli strikes on Gaza killed 254 Palestinians, including 66 children, health officials said. Rockets and other fire from Gaza claimed 12 lives in Israel, including one child and an Arab-Israeli teenager, medics said. Prisoners Netanyahu reiterated Israels demand for the prompt return of Israelis being held in the Gaza Strip, according to the statement. Ashkenazi also said Israel was fully committed to repatriating Israeli prisoners held by Hamas. Since Israels 2014 invasion of the Gaza Strip, the Islamist group has held the bodies of Israeli soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, although Hamas has never confirmed their deaths. Hamas is also believed to be holding two Israeli citizens who entered Gaza alone and whose families say they have mental health issues. Israel is meanwhile holding more than 5,000 Palestinians in its jails. Sisi has pledged $500 million to help reconstruction efforts in the densely populated Gaza enclave, which was pummelled by Israeli air strikes. Hamas has pledged not to touch a single cent of international aid to rebuild Gaza. Israel, which has enforced a land and maritime blockade on the enclave since 2007, accuses the group of diverting international aid to military ends. The statement from Netanyahus office said he and Kamel also discussed mechanisms and processes to prevent the strengthening of Hamas and its use of the resources that will be directed to the civilian population in the future. Root causes The latest violent flare-up was sparked by increased tensions in Jerusalem, including over Israeli security forces cracking down on Palestinians inside the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, Islams third holiest site, which is also revered by Jews as the Temple Mount. A bitter divide between Hamas and Fatah has long plagued Palestinian politics, but analysts say the latest escalation has served to unite the geographically fragmented Palestinian community in a way not seen in years. Sisi also tasked Kamel with working to help iron out political divisions between Hamas in Gaza and Fatah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the Egyptian officials said. The UN Human Rights Council decided Thursday to create an open-ended international investigation into violations surrounding the latest Gaza violence. It said it would also look at the underlying root causes of recurrent tensions and instability, including systematic discrimination in the occupied Palestinian Territories and inside Israel. UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet voiced particular concern about the high level of civilian fatalities and injuries from the bombing of Gaza and warned the Israeli strikes on the enclave may constitute war crimes. burs/ff-ah/sw/fz/par Memorial Day, strictly speaking, is an opportunity to honor those who died in service. But we really choose to expand that, and make this an opportunity to honor veterans who served, Richman said. Part of being a citizen [in this] country is the idea of service, and so its important to recognize and honor that service. San Diego (CNS)-San Diego County has reported 108 new cases of COVID-19 as public health officials remind the public to continue to take precautions to avoid acquiring and spreading COVID-19 this holiday weekend. Although the number of local COVID-19 cases has decreased significantly in recent weeks, the area has not yet vaccinated enough San Diegans for cattle in the area. The pandemic is not over yet. We must continue to take precautions to protect San Diegans who cannot or will not be vaccinated, said Dr. Wilma Wooten, the county public health officer. People who have not been vaccinated should wear masks, keep their distance, and avoid large gatherings. San Diango people who have been vaccinated against the virus will be able to participate in the states lottery, with a prize of 116.5 million US dollars. The state will include all the names in the San Diego Immunization Registry in its drawings. If the 2 million unvaccinated Californians are vaccinated before June 15th, they are eligible for a $50 gift card. When the vaccine is fully vaccinated, a $100 million gift card will be distributed. On June 4th and June 11th, the names of the fully vaccinated people will be entered into the lottery. Fifteen people will each win $50,000 on each date. On June 15, New York State will attract 10 winners, each of whom will receive $1.5 million, for a total of $15 million. You can find complete details Here. Saturdays data brought the total number of cases in the county to 280,150, while the death toll remained at 3,756. 1.1% of the 10,193 tests reported on Saturday returned positive values, reducing the 14-day rolling average to 0.8%, the lowest level this year. Two new community outbreaks were confirmed on Saturday. In the past 7 days, 8 community outbreaks have been confirmed. The trigger time of a community outbreak is 7 or more times within 7 days. As of Saturday, 72.3% of the countys residents aged 12 and over had been fully vaccinated, while 92.1% had at least one dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. The countys goal is to provide adequate vaccination for 75% of the population, or 2,101,936 people. Officials reported that a total of 1,520,120 San Diego County residents had been fully vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one-time Johnson & Johnson vaccine, accounting for 72.3% of the target. In addition, 1,936,254 residents of San Diego County have received at least one dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, accounting for 92.1% of the target. The county has received 4.09 million doses and managed 3.65 million doses. A complete list of available vaccination locations can be found Here. City News Service, Inc. Copyright 2021. The West African Group is concerned that the recent coup detat could jeopardize Malis transition to democracy and increase regional insecurity. Malis coup leader and newly appointed interim president, Colonel Asimi Goita, have been summoned to an emergency meeting of West African leaders in Ghana. At a special summit on Sunday, the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will discuss how to respond to Malis second coup in nine months. According to AFP, Gota left Bamako on Saturday for Ghanas capital Accra after receiving a letter from the Economic Community of West African States requesting consultations. The Office of the President of Mali said in a statement on Facebook that Goita will participate in the special summit with his peers and will also hold bilateral talks with regional leaders. Press release on the visit of colonel president during the transitional period @GoitaAssimi In Accra, he will join his colleagues in the subregion to participate in the special ECOWAS summit on the situation in Mali scheduled to be held this Sunday ?https://t.co/uy0c9EA3sd pic.twitter.com/dtGFgH9v9y President Mali (@PresidenceMali) May 29, 2021 The summit is scheduled to start at 2:00 pm on Sunday (14:00 GMT). The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) acted as mediator when Goita and others overthrew Malis democratically elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August last year. The EU fears that this acquisition will exacerbate instability in northern and central Mali and undermine the regional struggles of armed groups linked to Al-Qaida and ISIL. ECOWAS, the United States and France have all warned of new sanctions. French President Emmanuel Macron said during a visit to Rwanda and South Africa on Saturday that he told West African leaders that they could not support a country that no longer has democratic legitimacy or transition. The turmoil in Mali began last week when Gota ordered the arrest of President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane. Two soldiers were absent due to a dispute over the reorganization of the cabinet. Gota served as vice president at the time. Ndaw and Ouane resigned during their detention on Wednesday and were later released. Then, the Constitutional Court violated the joint statement issued after the talks after the coup in August last year, appointing Gota as the new transitional president of Mali. The declaration reached between ECOWAS and Malis civilian and military leaders stated that the vice president of the transitional period can not replace the president under any circumstances. As the military resumed its previous commitments to civilian political leaders, people expressed doubts about its other commitments, including holding elections in early 2020. The military said this week that it will continue to comply with the timetable, but added that it may change. She is one of the most experienced politicians on the Pacific Islands, but the leader of the FAST (Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi) party, Fiame Naomi Mataafa, won one of the 51 parliamentary seats in the Samoa election last month. 26 victories are her biggest political battle in 36 years. Since the polls on April 9, the Polynesian island country with approximately 199,000 people has been in an unprecedented political stalemate. Many analysts believe that the rise of FAST was carried out under the leadership of former Deputy Prime Minister Mataafa. This is the first signal of a severe electoral challenge to the current Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) in decades. The party is led by Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, who has been prime minister for 22 years. But few people think of the dramatic and intriguing roller coaster that has swept across the country and everywhere since then. Despite the uncertainty, the 64-year-old man remained calm. If the caretaker government continues to throw these things at us, we just have to deal with them. Of course, the court will accept them and go through the proper procedures. Therefore, I think patience is the key. Last week, the electoral deadlock appeared to have been broken after the two main parties declared victory with 26 seats each. After the Supreme Court rejected HRPPs request to obtain an outside parliamentary seat to comply with the womens representation rules, Mataafa resigned in September 2020, then joined the FAST party and was sworn in as the new prime minister on May 24. Cause FAST Party to occupy a place. Fiame Naomi Mataafa (Fiame Naomi Mataafa) sits in the white center, sitting with members of parliament and the judiciary. On May 24, the long-standing government in the island nation rejected the number one in Samoa. A female prime minister gave up power when she was sworn in at a makeshift tent ceremony in Apia [Malietau Malietoa /AFP] However, in order to desperately prevent the transfer of power, Malielegaoi locked the door of the Samoan Parliament. Fiame Naomi Mataafa did not hesitate to take the oath of office in an informal ceremony held on a nearby canopy, a plan called treason by HRPP. Mata Afa rejected this request. She said: We have been enforcing election-related laws all the timeI tell you that our courts did stand up, which was very important at the time because we were not sitting in parliament and guarding the government was a temporary arrangement. Say. So this is a working institution, and thank goodness it is working. Senior leader Considering her life experience in public life, her long-term view of the current crisis may not be surprising. Fiame Naomi Mataafa is the daughter of Samoas first post-independence prime minister Fiame Mataafa Faumuina Mulinuu II. She joined politics for the first time in 1985 as a member of the Lotofaga constituency. Until 2016, before she became the Deputy Prime Minister of the HRPP government, she held various ministerial positions in education, women, community and social development, justice, environment and natural resources. Tuelapoo Ionio Celere Mariellovai, who has established closer ties with Beijing, refuses to make concessions [File: Lintao Zhang/Pool via Reuters] Under her leadership, the FAST party conducted campaign activities during the election period including anti-corruption, strengthening the rule of law, solving unemployment, and not only reviewing the countrys foreign debt and the track record of development projects. Although she believes that Samoans need to resolve the impasse on their own and have the ability to do so, Mataafa welcomes the support of international agencies and bilateral partners. The United Nations has provided assistance to find a solution, and the Federated States of Micronesia has publicly supported the new government. She said: I was told that Palau will follow the same approach. She said: In addition, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth has reached out to help. She talked with the Prime Minister and called me. Kerryn Baker, a Pacific Politics Researcher in the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University, added: The Pacific Islands Forum has proposed to take action. [mediator] Through the new Secretary-General Henry Puna (Henry Puna) and the Biktawa Declaration, play a role when necessary, and provide a framework for responding to regional security challenges that may arise. But I think many people in Samoa hope that this problem can be solved domestically without resorting to international intervention. The next obstacle for the FAST party is May 31, when the court will hear Malielegaois appeal against the Supreme Courts decision to abolish the additional seats of HRPP in Parliament. So, if he is unsuccessful in this matter, will he resign, because that is the last chance he really seized, Mata Afa asked. Although the current Prime Ministers hijacking of Parliament has been described as a no bloody coup, there is no sign that the island nation will fall into turmoil. Baker told Al Jazeera: For Samoa, this is indeed a very tense and divisive situation, but I dont think this situation will end in violence. There are indications that this can be resolved, not necessarily quickly or easily. , But it can certainly be resolved through peaceful means. Mataafa agrees: Samoa is not that kind of place. People are very judgmental; they know the public way of life in Samoa very well, and its important to stay calm and let the process go smoothly. Focus on investment Even if the fight for power continues, the elected prime minister still knows his priorities after he is still in office. She said: In terms of development goals, we really want to restore government infrastructure to its original position. Our education and health indicators are very poor. I think that under the leadership of our current government, we will stimulate the economy. The focus has always been on infrastructure projects. We want a wider population to participate in economic activities, so we want to increase investment in how to develop small and medium-sized enterprises. She is also eager to take a more rigorous approach to the countrys development and infrastructure, including the controversial Vaiusu Bay port project, which was publicly proposed by the Samoan government led by Malielegaoi in 2012. The project was funded by China to provide up to 100 million U.S. dollars, which caused strong controversy among the Samoans. The Samoans believed that the project caused the Pacific island countries to increase their debts to East Asian countries. It is estimated that 40% of Samoas foreign debt is owed to China. The Chief Justice of Samoa, Satiu Simativa Perese (Satiu Simativa Perese) will arrive in the Apia Parliament on May 24, 2021 because he and Samoa were elected Prime Minister Fiam Naomi Mataafa was excluded from the Pacific National Parliament [Keni Lesa/AFP] She said: Someone asked me a lot of questions about the Chinese project, including the terminal. We did not prioritize this. Samoa is a small country and I think our current entry point is sufficient to meet our needs. China has been contacted. People, they said they would consider it [the wharf project], But without any signature. According to data from the World Bank, Samoas per capita GDP is approximately US$4,324, but it is estimated that 20.3% of the population lives below the national poverty line, and the unemployment rate is approximately 14.5%. The youth unemployment rate is close to 32%. She said: We have a lot of projects with the Chinese, and I think this is an opportunity for us to review. What is the current model? Is this the most effective way for us to cooperate with our bilateral partners? But not only China, but also our other development partners, Mataafa said. I think China, as a development partner and donor, also needs to participate in gatherings to understand some rules about working with us. It is always good to do this in an open and consultative way. Strengthening the rule of law is another key goal. We have three very controversial bills, which passed Congress very quickly. [last year] This is one of the key reasons why I walked away, she said. The new Land and Title Court, the Constitutional Amendment and the Judicial Act have aroused widespread opposition because they have been given too much power to the executive branch and have been weakened by the establishment of a new land and title court The Supreme Court challenged the ability to abuse power. the power of. Mataafa said that the legislation resulted in complete destruction of the judicial and court system and a very dangerous precedent by establishing an independent and autonomous land and property court with an unclear legal framework. She said: I am not saying that we should not have a strong land and property court, but in terms of national legal jurisdiction, it is important to show who is the highest authority. This has always been the Supreme Court, but now there is There is a problem. In addition to these long-term goals, Mataafa also urgently needs a more coordinated response to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the pandemic, Samoa has only recorded 235 coronavirus cases, but sometimes implemented internal lockdown measures, restricting international travel and banning cruise ships. She said: I know that in the case of elections, no one wants to talk about the direct economic impact of COVID-19, but I think this is one of the things we have to deal with quickly. The Peel District Police said that after the shooting in Mississauga, Ontario, many people were taken to the hospital in various circumstances on Saturday. The officers stated that they responded to reports of shootings in the Glen Erin Drive and The Collegeway areas before 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The police said all the victims had been taken to the hospital. They did not confirm the number of victims. A Peel police spokesman said the shooting took place in a square at an intersection. They cannot confirm whether the incident occurred indoors or outdoors. No suspicious descriptions have been posted yet. there are more The results of the American Powerball lottery have arrived, and it is time to see if anyone has won life-changing money. In the draw tonight on Saturday, May 29, 2021, someone may have won $253 million. 1 piece Powerball numbers will be displayed every Wednesday and Saturday Credit: Getty Images-Getty The winning numbers tonight are,,,, and, on the red Powerball. All players must match all five white balls and red Powerball To win the jackpot. There is no guarantee that the first prize will be awarded for each drawing. Other smaller cash prizes are also included. Powerball tickets cost $2 and are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In January 2016, it reached a record $1.586 billion prize, and the winners from California, Florida and Tennessee shared it. Worries Prince William worries Harry may go too far because of his truth bomb Turf War After 12 caravans were promoted next to the 2 million house, travelers and security guards rowed the boat exclusive Secret wedding Boris Johnson (Boris Johnson) MARRIES Carrie Symonds (Carrie Symonds) at a top secret ceremony in Westminster exclusive The Public at Risk The jihadist group that planned to kill the British was released from prison 4 years early Murder probe A woman in her 80s was found dead in Cornwall, while an 84-year-old man was arrested for murder Fatal assassination Flower vendor was stabbed to death while trying to stop robbery in London The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million. This popular game was launched in 1992. Keep up with the latest updates about Powerball Twitter. Vladimir Putin (Vladimir Putin) and Alexander Lukashenko (Alexander Lukashenko) held the second day of talks in Sochi because the United States imposed sanctions on the aircraft diversion scandal. Russia has agreed to extend a second US$500 million loan to Belarus because Moscow has stepped up its complaints against Belarusian President Alexander Lu when Western countries were angry over the grounding of European passenger planes and the arrest of a dissident journalist. Kashenkes support. Russian President Vladimir Putin (Vladimir Putin) and Lukashenko (Lukashenko) held a second day of talks, and on Saturday in the Black Sea resort Sochi (Sochi) on a yacht tour, announced the financial stand by. The money is part of Russias commitment to provide Belarus with a US$1.5 billion loan, which is part of Moscows efforts to stabilize neighboring countries. Last year, Lukashenkos nearly three-year rule of Rwanda took place. Scale protests. According to RIA News Agency, Minsk received the first payment of US$500 million in October and will receive the second payment before the end of June. Putin and Lukashenkos Two-day summit The European Union and the United States condemned Belarus for using scam bomb threats to force Ryanairs plane to land in Minsk. The Belarusian authorities sent a fighter jet to escort the plane to land, and then arrested the journalist Roman Protasevich and his partner Sofia Sapega, a Russian citizen. Both were jailed for planning large-scale riots. Protasevich could be sentenced to 15 years in prison. Several European countries have imposed flight bans on Belarusian Airlines, while the United States stated Total blockade and sanctionsThe nine state-owned companies in Belarus will take effect on June 3. Washington also stated that it is working with the European Union to develop a list of targeted sanctions against key members of the Lukashenko government. Putin criticized the Western response and agreed with Lukashenko on Friday that the response was an emotional explosion. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (Dmitry Peskov) said that Russia also pledged to consider increasing flights with Belarus to offset the impact of the European Unions flight ban. Putin and Lukashenko discussed the organization of air transport, taking into account the European authorities and many cancellations [Belarusian] And considering that Belavia is no longer popular in European cities. Peskov said. Instructing the transportation departments of Russia and Belarus to organize all aspects of air communications Regarding this fact, many Belarusians have to return to their homes in some way. Pskov said Putin also raised the topic of Sapega, a partner of Protasevich. Peskov said: At the initiative of the Russian President, the topic of detained Russian citizens was raised Naturally, we dont care about her fate. He added that the Kremlin will take note of the fact that Sapega also has a residence permit in Belarus. Therefore, we proceed from the facts and everything should be done within the scope of the law. The President has instructed the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to attach great importance to the cases of Russian citizens. Peskov added. The Minister of Defense admitted that two of the most powerful warships in the Royal Navy have stayed in ports over the past year due to maintenance issues. Type 45 destroyer worth 1 billion already Docked in Portsmouth in spite of Russia intensifies hostilities Presence near British waters. 5 Since 2017, the HMS Bold has only sailed for 85 days, but never spent another day at sea Credit: Times Newspaper Co., Ltd. 5 John Healy said: The destroyer cannot defend Britain on the dock Credit: PA: Press Association Since 2017, HMS Darings voyage has only been 85 days, but it has never spent a day at sea. Its 8000-ton sister ship HMS Duncan will also be restricted to Portsmouth throughout 2020. The chief of the navy discovered engine problems on six Type 45 destroyers in 2016, but it took several years to solve the problem. The ships engine was damaged in warm water, making it difficult to serve in the Persian Gulf. The contractor claimed at the time that the Ministry of Defense did not tell them that the Type 45 destroyer would spend a long time operating in warm waters. Latest Ministry of Defense data It shows that in 2020, all six destroyers stayed at sea for 339 days in total. Four of the Navys 13 Type 23 frigates also spent the last year, while the other only stayed at sea for 10 days. Since 2018, the HMS Portland has not left the port and has only sailed at sea for 41 days in the past four years. HMS Somerset It has been stuck in the port since 2019. These ships are the most expensive assets in the armed forces, with annual operating costs ranging from 11 to 13 million. These ships are also vital to the safety of the British sea lanes. 5 These ships are the most expensive assets in the armed forces, with annual operating costs ranging from 11 to 13 million-pictured by HMS Daring Credit: Handout Labor last night It is claimed that this problem has put tremendous pressure on Britains maritime defense capabilities. Shadow Secretary of Defense John Healey MP, He said: Russia has intensified hostilities near British waters, but the ministers have failed to park these important ships at sea. Destroyers cannot defend Britain from the dock. The Secretary of Defense has serious questions to answer. Why are these destroyers now spending so much less time at sea? Why is it a top priority to send two destroyers around the world when defending Britain? Royal Navy The company is not strong enough to require another 1,600 personnel to reach its labor target of 30,730 soldiers. Experts say that some of the difficulties in getting these ships out to sea are due to lack of crew, which means they are occasionally used as training ships. last year Lord WestA former head of the Royal Navy said, Available ship It has always been due to manpower and maintenance issues. He said: For the Secretary of Defense, the availability of ships has always been an urgent problem to be solved. As a result of the comprehensive review, we will lose one frigate every year from 2025, which means that from this year we will only have 11 frigates, by 2025 there will be only 10 frigates, and by 2026 there will be only 9 frigates. The delay in ordering new frigates is at the core of the problem. 5 The HMS Portland has never left the port since 2018, and has only sailed at sea for 41 days in the past four years Credit: PA: Press Association 5 Since 2019, HMS Somerset Airport has been stuck at the port Credit: PA: Press Association Trapped in the afternoon Boris Johnson LIVE: The Prime Minister married Carrie Symonds for a secret wedding Flagship product! The new flagship store costing 200 million will showcase the UK globally exclusive Foreign lagging label Foreign criminals will be flagged to prevent them from fleeing under the new government plan Hatched, pairedalmost shipped Babies, marriage and Covid- Prime Minister spent an incredible year PMs anger Boris Johnson yells at Matt Hancocks F Cracked paper The official investigation found that the Prime Minister did not violate ministerial regulations on the 11th renovation project A spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense said: The Type 45 is a world-class destroyer, and the Type 23 frigate is the core of the frontline fleet. Both parties play a key role in the Royal Navys ship-based strike capabilities, and they have made tremendous contributions to defending the defense of Britain and its highly valued international partners. All Royal Navy ships are rotated according to the planned operating cycle, involving routine maintenance, repair, training, deployment, departure, necessary modifications and upgrades. Therefore, according to the requirements of the Ministry of Defense, they will be in different states of combat readiness. The 2020s will determine whether we have the opportunity to avoid irreversible damage to the climate. However, for the UK, this is accompanied by other major challenges. Its response will also determine what happens to the peoples well-being. The cruel testimony of Dominic Cummings This week showed that its leaderships ability to deliver is questionable. Its commendable that the Resolution Foundation and the Center for Economic Performance of the London School of Economics have just begun to Britains decisive decade. This is decisive because the country must work hard to cope with the recovery of Covid-19, the consequences of Brexit, the ongoing technological revolution and the transition to net zero greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, this is based on stagnant productivity, high inequality, rapid aging and high debt. Only frivolous people would think that this will definitely be solved.Remember: in 1987, the Italians celebrated overtake, The year when their nominal income per capita exceeded that of the United Kingdom. But today, after two decades of stagnant real income, Italy is far behind. The gap with Germany has further widened. However, in the past decade, British productivity has also stagnated. If this situation cannot be reversed, the declining Britain will not only lose its prestige, but also its ability to give its people an improvement in living standards. The report details the challenges and remaining issues. For example, after Covid-19, the high-street retail industry may suffer a permanent impact, which is a particularly important source of work for women. With Brexit, the impact of trade with EU countries is already obvious, and there is little chance that trade with other countries in the world will quickly (if any) offset these losses. In terms of technology, we must assume that changes in employment structure and competitive pressures are huge and continuous, and many companies are disappearing. Regarding net-zero transfers, the country must make significant investments before any gains from lower operating costs become apparent. Then there is the terrible legacy. The low productivity growth rate reflects, among other things, weak investment and slow adoption of new technologies. The report stated: In 2017, only 71 robots were installed per 10,000 manufacturing employees in the UK, compared with 309 in Germany and 631 in South Korea. Mainly due to slow productivity growth, real household income increased from 22% in the 2000s. This dropped to 9% in the 2010s. Similarly, inequality soared in the 1980s and never reversed.As a result, the British Gini coefficient [a measure of inequality] It is higher than all EU countries except Bulgaria, and ranks second in the G7.Britain also has a very large Regional inequality The increase in productivity has reduced the inequality of household income in regional distribution, and relies on transfers from London. The most competitive industry in London is the service industry, but it has been sacrificed lightly on the altar of Brexit. . In view of this, the prime ministers reckless boost is a luxury that the country simply cannot afford.Instead, what is needed is Tell the truth ruthlesslyIt was recommended by Keynes to the freshman IMF. As the report shows, the United Kingdom has some important assets, especially its language, first-class universities, a strong scientific foundation, and a largely non-corruptive politics. The government is still there. DevelopedMake a growth planIt has some welcome elements, including higher public investment, lifelong learning programs, a focus on innovation and science, and some decarbonization goals. However, people have not yet realized the cost of Brexit or the obstacles to spreading prosperity more widely. It is not certain that the required money will be spent on skills. There are also big loopholes in the decarbonization plan. Probably the most important thing, not after a short and generous investment subsidy period, on how the Prime Minister intends to raise private investment, Significantly increase corporate tax. This will reduce the already low investment. Yes, we will get a free port. But these will prove to be zero-sum heads. When we reviewed Covid-19, we saw one mistake after another, partly redeemed by a flash of inspiration: the vaccination plan. However, in this challenging situation, an inspiration will not be able to ensure economic development. This requires capable political and administrative institutions to establish supportive relationships with a vibrant private sector, and to carry out far-sighted policy formulation and resource mobilization. It needs to adopt policies rather than postures, and respect reality, not slogans. Is this feasible in the UK? Maybe. is it possible? Do not. [email protected] By ROB GILLIES TORONTO (AP)-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked on Sunday to hang flags on all federal buildings on the half-mast to commemorate more than 200 children who were found buried in the site of what was once Canadas largest aboriginal school . An institution that accommodates children taken from families across the country. The Peace Tower symbol on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, the national capital, is one of the buildings with half-mast. In memory of the 215 children who lived in the former boarding school in Kamloops and all the indigenous children who have never returned home, survivors and their families, I ask the Peace Tower and all federal buildings to fly over the half mast., Trudeau tweeted. Rosanne Casimir, head of the Turk National Liberation Front in British Columbia, said that with the help of ground penetrating radar last weekend, the remains of 215 children were confirmed, some of whom were only 3 years old. She described the discovery as In the Kamloops Indian boarding school, people talked about but never recorded such an incredible loss. From the 19th century to the 1970s, as part of a plan to integrate them into Canadian society, more than 150,000 Aboriginal children were required to attend state-funded Christian schools. They were forced to convert to Christianity and were forbidden to speak their mother tongue. Many people were beaten and verbally abused, and as many as 6,000 were said to have died. The Canadian government apologized to Congress in 2008 and admitted that physical and sexual abuse in schools was rampant. Many students recalled how they had been beaten in their mother tongue. They also lost contact with their parents and customs. Indigenous leaders pointed out that the legacy of abuse and isolation is the root cause of the prevalence of alcohol and drug addiction in the reservation. Plans are underway to bring in forensic experts to identify and repatriate the remains of children buried at the scene. The mayors of various communities in Ontario, including Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, and Brampton, also ordered the lowering of the flag in respect. Kamloops school operated between 1890 and 1969, when the federal government took over the school from the Catholic Church and operated it as a day school until it closed in 1978. Perry Bellegarde, chairman of the Aboriginal Congress, said that although finding graves in former residents schools is not new, it is always frustrating to expose the wounds of that chapter. Nelson Wiseman, a professor of political science at the University of Toronto, said: This sad story is shocking for history students, but not surprising. I dont know when these deaths happened. He said: The Canada of the past is not the Canada of today. After several days of pressure, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ordered that after the arrest of 215 Indigenous children, half-mast should be hoisted on all federal buildings, including the Ottawa Parliament Building and Peace Tower. Established In a boarding school. Trudeau said in a tweet on Sunday afternoon that the move was to commemorate the 215 children who lost their lives in the former Kamloops boarding school and all the indigenous children who have never returned home, the survivors and their families. . After an aboriginal in British Columbia announced this week that the remains of 215 children had been found at the site of the Kamloops Indian residential school, leaders of the indigenous community and many others called on the Canadian government to lay down the flag. . As far as we know, these missing children are undocumented deaths, said Tkemlupste Secwepemc, president of the First Nations. To commemorate the 215 children living in the former Kamloops boarding school and all the indigenous children who have never returned home, survivors and their families, I request that the flag of the Peace Tower and the flags on all federal buildings be reduced. Half-mast -Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) May 30 2021 This discovery inspired Collective pain and traumaAt the same time, it also aroused calls for the government to take concrete actions to address the history and ongoing abuse of rights against the indigenous people, Metis and Inuit. In 2015, the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded that Canada has implemented a residential school system for decades and is committed to cultural genocide. Between the 1870s and the 1990s, more than 150,000 Aboriginal children were forced to attend schools, which were run by churches in order to force Aboriginal children into Canadian white society. These children were separated from their families, were prohibited from speaking indigenous languages, and many suffered physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, as well as other forms of abuse. Kamloops Indian Boarding School was founded in 1890 and managed by the Catholic Church. It eventually became the largest school in the Canadian boarding school system, with 500 children at the peak of enrollment in the early 1950s. Charlie Angus, a member of the opposition New Democratic Party Parliament, said: The terrible news of the discovery of 215 child bodies has brought us great sadness and trauma. Say On Twitter on Sunday. Im very happy that the prime minister agreed to lower the flag. But this is only the beginning. We need answers. We need accountability. More than 4,000 indigenous children are known to have died in boarding schools, but people are still trying to find others who have never returned. The discovery in Kamloops raised long-standing questions about the continuing legacy of Canadian colonialism and the intergenerational trauma associated with boarding schools, which is still being felt by Aboriginal communities across the country. Many observers also criticized Trudeaus promise to re-establish relations with the indigenous people, pointing out that some survivors of residential schools are still fighting for justice in court. Trudeaus predecessor Stephen Harper (Stephen Harper) formally apologized for the boarding school system in 2008. However, even though schools may be closed, indigenous children are still being taken away from their homes in large numbers across Canada. According to census data, more than 52% of children in foster care institutions in 2016 were indigenous children, and indigenous children only accounted for 7.7% of the countrys total population. The observer also pointed out that so far, the call to action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has rarely been implemented.According to CBC News, out of 94 recommendations, only 10 were received fully As of April 12 this year. The Yellowhead Institute, a research center led by First Nations, stated in December 2020 that only eight studies have been carried out. It said: In the end, we discovered that Canada is failing the survivors and their families who live in school. Kamloops Indian Boarding School was founded in 1890 and operated by the Catholic Church, and eventually became the largest school in the Canadian boarding school system [File: Library and Archives Canada/Handout via Reuters] The committee urged the Pope to apologize to the survivors, their families and communities in memory of the Roman Catholic Churchs role in the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of indigenous people, Inuit and Metis children by Catholics. Play the role of opening a boarding school. Most boarding schools are run by the Roman Catholic Church. Trudeau also asked for an apology to the Pope, but Pope Francis stated in March 2018 that he would not issue an apology from the Pope. The Prime Minister said: Obviously, the Catholic Church has decided not to apologize for their role in boarding schools, and I am disappointed by that, Say then. Before Trudeaus announcement on Sunday, several local leaders, including the mayor of Ottawa and Toronto, announced that they would also lower their flags to commemorate the indigenous children who died at Kamloops boarding school. The town of Merritt, British Columbia, said on Friday that it will lower its flag for 215 hours in memory of 215 children. Mayor Linda Brown said in a statement: We must face reality and admit that boarding school-related atrocities have been committed in communities we know and love. The bus was rolling east on E. 170th St. near Morris Ave. when a man in a blue surgical mask wearing a white T-shirt and blue bucket hat doused the 38-year-old driver with a beverage. The unruly rider then punched the operator in the neck and ran off, police said. He has not been caught. Coronavirus news in the UK-India variants advance with the times vaccine is launched, as stabs may become mandatory for the NHS A new Covid-19 mutation has been discovered in Vietnam, which spreads rapidly through the air and is a hybrid of Indian and Kent strains. The country is struggling to deal with the new epidemic in more than half of its territory, including industrial areas and large cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam has reported more than 6,700 cases, including 47 deaths, most of which have occurred since April. The Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long was quoted as saying: We have discovered a new hybrid from Indian and British strains. British experts say that the next few weeks will be critical to determining whether the UK can lift the coronavirus restrictions next month. Three new coronavirus hotspotsIn the UK, experts have warned that the Indian variant has become the main strain. However, after announcing that the single-dose coronavirus vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson has been approved for use in the UK, there is also good news. The one-dose stab developed by Janssen, the pharmaceutical division of Johnson & Johnson, is 67% effective in preventing moderate to severe Covid-19 and can provide comprehensive protection for hospital admission and death. Read our coronavirus live blog below for the latest news and updates Source link It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print More than 10,000 people protested the economic and security sanctions imposed by the United States on Ethiopia during the conflict in Tigri. Ethiopian pro-government demonstrators condemn the U.S. Impose restrictions The authorities organized a large-scale rally to express their assistance to the Tigri conflict and to show their support for their position. More than 10,000 people attended the rally on Sunday, some of whom wrote banners in English, Arabic and Amharic. A banner at the Addis Ababa Stadium declared: Ethiopia does not need guards, while others condemned Western intervention. I also saw placards that read Fill the Dam, referring to the large Nile dams opposed by Egypt and Sudan. We will never bend our knees. The prerequisites and travel restrictions of the United States and its allies are totally unacceptable. Addis Ababa Mayor Adanech Abebe said at a rally organized by the Ministry of Youth . The demonstrations were larger than typical pro-government gatherings, and there were few public criticisms of the United States. Pro-government demonstrators walked a banner at a rally to protest the U.S. actions against alleged human rights violations during the conflict in Tigri State [Tiksa Negeri/Reuters] Ethiopia is facing increasing international pressure due to the conflict in its northern Tigri region. The country and neighboring Eritrea sent troops last year to overthrow regional authorities. A week ago, the United States restricted economic and security assistance to Ethiopia during the conflict. Washington also stated that it will ban current or former Ethiopian or Eritrean officials who it believes are responsible for the crisis. The crisis began in November after Ethiopia accused the former leader of the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front of ordering an attack on Ethiopian military bases in the region. The Ethiopian leader, Prime Minister Abi Ahmed, quickly overthrew the task force from the main town, but it was reported that fighting took place throughout Tigri. Atrocities include gang rapes, extrajudicial executions and deportations Part of violence According to victims, witnesses, local authorities and aid groups, in Tigray. It is estimated that thousands of people have died. The war displaced more than 2 million people. Interference in internal affairs Abbey Government Condemned U.S. sanctions As the determination to interfere in our internal affairs, and warned that Addis Ababa may be forced to reassess bilateral relations with Washington. Nejash Sheba is a 23-year-old Addis Ababa businessman and a member of the Abiy Prosperity Party. He told Reuters that local officials instructed him to organize people in the area and had brought 100 people to the rally. Pro-government demonstrators in Addis Ababa carry the Ethiopian flag [Tiksa Negeri/Reuters] I am here to show my support for the Welfare Party and to condemn the restrictions imposed by the United States on Ethiopia. $4 billion top-up Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam It also caused international disputes. Ethiopia stated that the power development of the dam is necessary for its economic development. Sudan and Egypt said this violated their rights to the lower Nile waters. San Diego-A thief stole an SUV with a 20-foot trailer attached and led the police to chase down the city streets of San Diego. In addition, three gunmen were searched for, and they shot a group of followers near Miami. Catch up on the news you missed overnight with FOX 5 News Now, and stay tuned for your San Diego weather updates, the latest news from the San Diego Padres and more headlines. FOX 5 News Now is the only interactive digital news broadcast in San Diego. Participate in the headlines of the day with host Matt Meyer at 10 am every Saturday and Sunday. Your questions and comments will shape the show in real time. Use fox5sandiego.com or any device on the FOX 5 app to watch in real time. FOX 5 News Now is provided by the San Diego County Credit Union. Israeli nationalist nationalist hardliner Naftali Bennett said he will join a coalition government that may replace the countrys longest-serving leader Benjamin Netanyahu (Benjamin Netanyahu). The leader of the Yamina Party, Naftali Bennett, said in a national speech that he has decided to join forces with the countrys opposition leader Yair Lapid. 3 Yemina Party leader Naftali Bennett makes a political statement in the Knesset Credit: EPA 3 Has Benjamin Netanyahus 12 years of reign? Credit: EPA 3 The opposition leader and the chairman of Israels Yesh Adid Party, Yair Lapid, hopes to reach an agreement with Naftali Bennet within a few days Credit: AFP The seismic political development came from the fragile truce between Israel and the Hamas militant group. After an arduous 11-day war, the Gaza Strip was rebuilt, leaving parts of the Arab enclave in ruins. In his speech to the Israeli Bennett, he said: I intend to do my best to form a national unity government with my friend Yair Lapid, so that God will, together, we can save this country. The process of getting out of trouble and returning Israel to it. The two must complete an agreement by Wednesday, and they are expected to each serve as prime ministers in the rotation agreement for two years. Lapids Yesh Atid party stated that the negotiating team will meet later today. The unified government will end the cycle of deadlock, which has plunged the country into four uncertain elections in the past two years. At least temporarily, it will also end the record-breaking term of Netanyahu, who has been the most important figure in Israeli politics for the past three decades. In his televised speech, Netanyahu accused Bennett of betraying the Israeli right. He urged nationalist politicians participating in the joint negotiations not to establish what he called a left-wing government. May God work with us to save this country and get out of trouble Nationalist hardliner Naftali Bennett (Naftali Bennett) He said that a government like this poses a threat to Israels security and also a threat to the countrys future. Bennett, Netanyahus former assistant, has become a competitor. He said he is taking dramatic steps to prevent another election. When sharing Netanyahus nationalist ideology, Bennett said that the hard-line right has no viable way to become the ruling majority in parliament. He said: We will focus on what can be done instead of fighting for the impossible all day long. Each of the past four elections has been considered a referendum on Netanyahu. Netanyahu has become a polarizing figure due to the stalemate in his trial on corruption charges. NETANYAHU Holds on to Power Natanyahu desperately wanted to be in power because he was tried for fraud, but his decisive majority failed to materialize in the general election in March. He used his office as a stage for gatherings and criticizing police, prosecutors and the media. If his opponents fail to form a government and trigger new elections, this will give him another chance to see parliamentary elections, which will help grant him immunity from prosecution. However, if they succeed, he will find himself in a much weaker position as the leader of the opposition and may face unrest in his Likud party. Netanyahu accused Bennett of betraying the right wing in Israel, and later planned to broadcast it on television. In order to form a government, party leaders must obtain a majority of 61 seats in the parliament. Since no party can control the majority by itself, alliances are usually established by smaller partners. As the leader of the largest party, Netanyahu had the first opportunity to organize a coalition by the countrys unremarkable president. But he was unable to obtain a majority seat with his traditional religion and nationalist alliance. Youth attack Six teenagers were arrested for murder and the man was beaten to death in a quiet street Tragic collapse A 39-year-old pregnant woman and her unborn child were killed in a car accident after police arrested a man too cheap Mothers of teenagers killed by strong alcohol say cheap alcohol falls into childrens hands Touch and go Government advisers say the end of the lockdown of tensions in India on June 21 may be postponed Blowjob Before June 21st, as peoples concerns about this vaccine intensify, people who have been vaccinated against Covid may continue to spread these vaccines. 13 days in summer As tourists crowd the beaches, the British will sunbathe for 13 days in a 22-day heat wave Soon after Bennett announced the news, the Prime Minister made a speech, accusing Bennett of fraud of this century-referring to the previous public promise of the leader of Yamina that he would not join forces with Rapide. Netanyahu said that the actions of the former defense minister would pose a threat to Israels security. He did not elaborate. Netanyahu, 71, faces trial on charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust, but he denies this. He firmly held power during a period of political turmoil and held four uncertain elections in less than two years. The queen will be accompanied by her cousin, the Duke of Kent, who will replace Prince Philip in the birthday parade as her plus. In last years Color Parade parade, the 95-year-old queen alone participated in a large-scale event held at Windsor Castle. ? Read our Royal Live Blog About the latest update 3 The queen will hold a birthday parade in honor of her cousin, the Duke of Kent Credit: Getty 3 The Duke also accompanied the Queen to the 2013 event Credit: Getty Due to the Covid pandemic, the event was held at Horse Guards Parade in London from its usual location. This year, the emperor will join her cousin, the Duke of Kent, in the The Color parade on June 12. Daily mail report. The Duke also accompanied the Queen to the 2013 event, when Philip was unable to participate in the competition due to recovery from surgery. Palace sources told the Daily Mail that the Queen will increase engagement after mourning the death of Philip. This years The Trooping The Color will have more military personnel than in 2020, when the epidemics prevalence limited its scale. Queen is Because I want to meet U.S. President Biden When he came to the UK to participate in the G7 summit. According to reports, she will travel to Cornwall, where the summit will be held, and will visit the prime ministers of Canada, Germany, Italy and Japan. She is expected to be joined by Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, as well as Prince William and his wife Kate. According to reports, Charles told his assistants that he was eager to meet with Mr. Biden to discuss environmental issues. After the Queen took office in January, the Queen sent a private message to Mr. Biden. Think that the two have never met before. The President and First Lady Jill Biden extended their condolences to the Queen. Her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, died in April. Mr. Biden and his wife said that they keep the royal family in our hearts during this period. Bank holiday Revelers flooded into this town because busy British people took advantage of the 3-day weekend Kick off Moment Chelsea and Manc City fans throw punches and chairs with WWE-style scrap Worries Prince William worries Harry may go too far because of his truth bomb Turf War After 12 caravans were promoted next to the 2 million house, travelers and security guards rowed the boat exclusive Secret wedding Boris and Kelly shared their first wedding photo after secretly married in Westminster exclusive go back to work Bar and restaurant owners say vacations are destroying professional ethics and must end immediately After the coronavirus pandemic took office in the Oval Office, he has limited opportunities for Biden to travel abroad, which means that the G7 summit will be his first personal participation in foreign events. Biden will hold a summit in the UK on June 11, and then head to Brussels for the NATO summit three days later. The summit will begin on the second day after Prince Philips 100th birthday. 3 The Duke of Kent will accompany the Queen during her enlistment Credit: Getty Coming to the eighth year of the RCMP, Comster. Kerri McKee of the Cree Nation in Montreal, Saskatchewan believes that she is used to both Aboriginal women and police, so she is used to insults and small-scale aggression. At that time, the retired Mounted Police had to rescue a drunk passenger alone from a Greyhound bus parked at a gas station on the Newfoundland and Labrador highway. She said that the backup time she requested was very long. McGee said that the man tried to steal her cruiser, kicked her, suffocated her, and threatened to kill her. She told CBC News: I request a backup, and how long the backup will take, I dont know. Its like,Oh yes, we are busy, we are busy, so I have to deal with it myself. She said that only by biting his forearm could the man let go. When it was time to back up, she had a fractured rib, severely damaged her black eyes and throat, and could not speak for more than a year. Aboriginal people exodus Unlike most indigenous RCMP members , McKee was promoted to a commissioned rank and retired as an inspector. However, data shows that Canadas National Police Force does not retain indigenous police. At the request of New Democrat MP Matthew Green from the Hamilton Center, the RCMP reported that in the past three years, 102 members identified as indigenous have left the army. Data from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police show that between 2018 and 2020, a net loss of 102 police officers who were identified as Aboriginal in their ranks. The data depicts a police force striving to connect with indigenous and minority communities. (Nic Amaya / CBC) The document also shows that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police increased the net number of officers identified as visible minorities and officers who did not self-identify as visible minorities or aboriginals. The loss of so many RCMP Aboriginal officials does not surprise Erick Laming, a doctoral student at the Center for Criminology and Social Law at the University of Toronto. Labot is a member of the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nations, and he spent a lot of time interviewing the aborigines in northern Ontario. He said that the troubled relationship between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Aboriginals has dragged down recruitment and retention. He said: If you dont trust the system, then you dont want to be a member of it. Thats a huge obstacle. Ramin said that in addition to the historical activities of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police involved in Canadas boarding school system, there have been some high-profile police violence incidents recently, such as arrests. Last year, Athabasca Chipewyan (Athabasca Chipewyan) First Nations President Alan Adam with Chantel Moore was shot and killed The identity of the Teokiyakht ethnic group-makes many indigenous people extremely reluctant to consider engaging in law enforcement work. He said: Any incident can re-establish trust in the community, which can be traced back to 20 to 30 years. Prairie N Jonathan is another retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer; CBC News did not disclose his identity because he said he was worried that his current job would be affected. He said that racial discrimination began on the day he applied for a job because he was required to undergo a standard background check. He said: A member walked into the cell and said,What did he do?. Jonathan said that when the officer was told that he was applying to join the army, the mounted police opened their eyes and walked out of the room. He said he had heard a lot of racist remarks during his police career, including Members felt humorous about the word Prairie N or Newfoundland wiped out their rights and got it right. [Indigenous] population. Jonathan and McKee said that they are aware of members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who have left the force to join the Aboriginal police department in recent years. This is a more inclusive and generally more profitable job. McKee graduated from RCMP training in 1990. She said that she spent years of stress with her peers. These companions called her an uneducated person or beat her with racist insults. (Submitted by Kerri McKee) McGee said: Im a bit trapped inside. She added that she plans to go to another police force, but since she is a single mother caring for two children, she feels she must stick to the RCMP. A kind 60s Diaozi Mike Basic said that she spent years with colleagues and they never wanted to hear her talk about boarding school, who called her an uneducated person or slapped her with racist insults. She said to fellow Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers: Its hard for us. But we are a bit snowingWe are trying to make it easier for those behind us. The data provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police portrays a police force struggling to connect with indigenous and minority communities. In the 2020-21 fiscal year, only 337 Aboriginal applicants tried to join the RCMP, and only 17 were selected to participate in the training at the warehouse branch of the force-a 50% decrease compared to 2019-20. At the same time, only 4.3% of visible minority applicants met the Depot training threshold, and nearly one-fifth of the 1,540 applicants who did not self-identify as visible minorities or indigenous people were approved to start training. Matthew Green, a member of the New Democrat Party at the Hamilton Center, asked the RCMP to provide data on officials from indigenous and tangible minorities. He said what I want is to apply the equity policy to all federal positions. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canada Press) NDP New Democratic Party member Green, who asked for these numbers, said: What we see is that people actually trying to get jobs in the federal public sector like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and their ability to actually be admitted to the police training academy Completely out of touch between. What I want is to apply the equity policy to all federal positions. There may actually be some systemic issues For months, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has been talking about how to develop a new equity, diversification and inclusion strategy, although it has not been publicly disclosed. Beyond a few paragraphs on their website . The cavalry are also drafting New entrance exam For potential recruits. Nadine Huggins, Executive Director of Human Resources Policy, Strategy and Planning of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said that most of the officers who leave their posts have left in a satisfactory career, but she does not have a specific breakdown or reason to explain. Why is the turnover rate of Indigenous members higher than they are used for other groups of people. She said: Actually, if they were to leave the RCMP to go to the Aboriginal police force, then it would not be a terrible thing for them to leave the expertise they have accumulated through training and experience gained in the RCMP. Matter. Hawkins admitted that there may actually be some systemic problems that hinder the entry of indigenous and minority groups. She said: We must hand over a lot of stones. However, she also said that the troop only voluntarily withdrew from the interview process for outgoing members. We dont necessarily have any systematic method to study them. Although it hopes to increase the total number of Indigenous applicants and their number in the army, it also has no specific targets or quotas. Huggins said: Our goal is to attract as many people as possible, promote as many people as possible, and retain as many people as possible so that they can retire and have a complete career and a complete pension. The coalition said it destroyed a drone containing explosives launched by the Yemeni Houthi rebels into the Saudi city of Khamis Mushait. The Saudi-led military coalition fought against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, claiming that it destroyed a drone full of explosives and headed towards the city of Khamis Mushait, which was launched by the Yemeni rebels. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a tweet earlier on Sunday that an operation had recorded a drone at Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Sarri said: This is a response to the continued siege and aggression of our dear country. The Air Force managed to target the King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait with a 2K Qasef aircraft in the name of Allah at dawn this Sunday, achieving a precise strike. This goal is a response to the continued siege and aggression of our beloved country. -Brigadier General Yahya Saree (@ Army21ye) May 29, 2021 The coalition earlier refuted a fictional video released by the Houthi movement on Saturday, which allegedly indicated that its militants had invaded the front-line border areas of Saudi Arabia. Al Masirah TV station, run by the Houthi, cited military sources as saying that more than 80 Saudi soldiers and Sudanese mercenaries were killed or wounded, while dozens were arrested in operations near Al-Khoubah in the southern Saudi Arabia region of Jazan . Saudi National Television quoted coalition spokesperson Brigadier General Turki al-Malki as saying: The Houthi militias request for military operations at the Jazan border is fabricated by the media. Marchi said that the fictional victory of the Houthis was designed to cover up the organizations huge military losses in the Malib and Jaff areas of Yemen. The war entered its seventh year in March and has been in a military stalemate for many years. The Houthis, allied with Iran, occupied most of the northern part of Yemen. This war has killed thousands of people, and Yemen has pushed the famine to the brink of famine. Saudi Arabia is facing global condemnation for this. The alliances naval and air blockade exacerbated the crisis. After Riyadh proposed a national ceasefire agreement in March, the Houthis continued to carry out cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia and launched attacks on Yemens natural gas-rich Marib, including the reopening of areas controlled by the Houthis Air and sea passages. At the same time, the United Nations and the United States are pushing for the ceasefire needed to end the conflict, which is widely regarded as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. US President Joe Biden terminated US support for Saudi Arabia-led military offensive operations (including related weapons sales) in February this year, but said that he would support Saudi Arabia to defend its sovereignty after missile and drone attacks. The authenticity of some of the videotapes on Al Masirahs Telegram account could not be independently verified by Reuters. The videotapes show that men in military uniforms were violently attacked as they fled the rocky slopes. After the Husseans overthrew the internationally recognized government from the capital Sanaa, the Sudanese army has been deployed as part of a Saudi-led military alliance. The military alliance intervened in Yemen in 2015. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson hopes that Canada and the United Kingdom can reach a permanent agreement on how much British cheese can enter Canada, which is only part of a comprehensive free trade agreement scheduled to be negotiated this fall. In an exclusive interview broadcast on Sunday by Rosemary Barton, Chief Political Correspondent of CBC News, Johnson told CBC News that Rosemary Barton, Chief Political Correspondent of CBC News, had negotiated a transition agreement last year. In the negotiations, the unwillingness to allow too much British cheese to seduce the taste of Canadians is the crux of the problem. Rosemary Button Live. Johnson said: What is really needed now is cheaper and better quality British cheese in Canada. I hope we can reach an agreement. Canada and the UK are done Transitional trade agreement In November, it became necessary because of Britains withdrawal from the European Union. However, the agreement does not include a lasting agreement reached by British cheese producers on market access, but temporarily maintains the system established under the free trade agreement between Canada and the European Union. Johnson had a conversation with CBCs Barton at the mansion at 10 Downing Street in London on Friday. (Adrian Di Virgilio / CBC) In recent years, the federal government has concluded a series of trade agreements, including the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement and the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union. This is a controversial entry into the Canadian supply-managed dairy market. problem. . We are very worried that dairy products may be related to it, but we are very happy to see that the government has excluded dairy products imports in this particular trade agreement. Now we know that this is a temporary agreement that will be renewed within three years. This makes them Im happy. Its time for negotiations, said David Wiens, vice president of Canadas dairy industry, after signing the Canada-UK deal in November 2020. At about the same time, an adviser from the British National Farmers Federation said: In these negotiations, the UKs priority should be to ensure that our cheese producers have more opportunities. Johnson pointed out that he bought a big and burly bike made in Canada-referring to Montreal Paid bicycle -When he was the mayor of London, he proved his sincerity in free trade. We are beginners to crime The Prime Minister also discussed the issue of cooperation in tackling climate change and pointed out that he is satisfied with Canadas emission reduction targets, but Im not saying you cant go further. Britain has one Actively reduce emissions The 2030 target is 68% lower than the 1990 level, while the Canadian target is 40% to 45% lower than the 2005 level. Johnson emphasized his governments efforts to secure US$100 billion in direct investment from rich countries every year to guide developing countries efforts to take climate action. Johnson said: After all, we are in the UK. I am afraid to say that we are the first. We are beginners to crime. We owe [developing countries] Now support them to speed up their pace toward zero net worth.Otherwise its unfair, I think Justin [Trudeau] Its totally understandable, he said. Johnson has repeatedly stated that his government and Trudeaus government are in a harmonious state on the issue of climate change. A Shawnee man is in the hospital following a boating accident that killed two of his children and their mother. NYPD Harbor Unit cops pulled the corpse out of the East River near the Throgs Neck Bridge in the Bronx about 12:30 p.m., police said. Things got heated Thursday at Kansas City council chambers today when a coalition of eight council members and the mayor pushed through ordinances that would take control of more than $40 million of the already approved police budget and allocate it to what they are calling a Community Services and Prevention Fund. SALEM, Ore.-- Governor Kate Brown ordered flags be lowered to half-staff in honor of Memorial Day on Monday, May 31, 2021 until noon. President Joe Biden today proclaimed Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and designated the hour beginning at 11:00 a.m. in each locality on Monday as a time when people might unite in prayer and reflection. Oregonians are also asked to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. "On Memorial Day, and every day, we remember the fallen. We remember their courage and tenacity. We remember their dedication and determination, their service and sacrifice, said Governor Brown. "We take this day to honor and remember our veterans, fallen heroes, military members and their families across Oregon. Together, we resolve to remember and honor those who have given their lives in the name of peace, freedom, and democracy." MEDFORD, Ore-- According to data collected by the Oregon Health Authority, Jackson County reported 133 new cases of Covid-19 last week, tying for the county's lowest total since the week of October 11. This is the second week in a row that Jackson County has experienced a decrease in new coronavirus cases. Two weeks ago, the county reported exactly 150 cases of the virus, which was a 74 case decrease from the week of May 9. According to Jackson County Public Health, to be moved into the 'Moderate Risk' category, Jackson County would need to experienced between 112 and 233 cases in a two week period. The 133 cases reported last week was part of the next two-week period which means that if Jackson County wants to move into moderate risk, it would need to report 90 cases or less. On Sunday, Jackson County reported 7 new cases of the virus which increased the county's total Covid case count to 11,233. But the 7 new cases on Sunday was also the lowest amount of new cases reported since the previous Monday. Hospitalizations in Region Five, which includes Jackson and Josephine County, also fell to 19 people. The U.S. Forest Service knows that while Americans honor the nations deceased military members this Memorial Day weekend, they also will spend time exploring Americas public lands. During the past year, county, state and federal land managers reported significant increases in visitor use on all public lands in 2020, Nationally, Forest Service visitor use surveys indicate visits more than doubled in some of the monitored areas at the peak of the summer recreation season. As Memorial Day weekend marks an entry into another busy summer, the U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Region is updating visitors about public lands conditions. It wants people to know land conditions, to plan ahead, to expect crowds and share public space, and to leave no personal remnants behind, including food and trash. In Southern Oregon, the Forest Service says Fremont-Winema National Forest conditions brought late-season rain and snowfall on the east side of the forest, while the west side is unusually dry -- a reversal of typical conditions. Snow drifts, ice, and mud may be encountered on shaded or north-facing roadways on both sides of the forest. Hazard tree removal following last year's fires continue, and seasonal re-opening of some roads and developed recreation sites may be delayed. This includes Fourmile Campground on Klamath Ranger District, which will remain closed all season. Happy Camp Campground on Paisley Ranger District, which will close June 7-11 for hazard tree removal. It says the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is experiencing dry weather that has left low lake and river levels in some parts of central and southwest Oregon. It advises that Seasonal Stage 1 campfire restrictions are in effect on the Wild section of the Rogue National Wild and Scenic River, from Grave Creek to Watson Creek. Visitor Advisories for Memorial Day Weekend: In Oregon, MT. HOOD NF: Extensive road and area closures are in effect on lands impacted by large fires in late 2020, including large portions of Clackamas Ranger District. WILLAMETTE NF: Access to several popular recreation areas on the Willamette National Forest is also limited by road or area closures in effect following last years large fires. Little North Fork recreation corridor, which includes recreation areas at Three Pools and Opal Creek, is closed. Forest Service Road 46 and the Breitenbush area is closed. In the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, Pamelia Lake is open but all recreation sites north of the lake are closed, including a 20 mile stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail between Pamelia Lake and Triangle Lake. In Detroit, OR, gas, propane and provisioning will not be available due to the extensive damage to local businesses. Dispersed camping opportunities are extremely limited, and visitors should be prepared to be self-sufficient or travel an extended distance to re-supply. Forest Road 19 is closed near Cougar Reservoir due to a rockslide, blocking access to Cougar Hot Springs from Oakridge. The hot springs can be accessed from the south end of Forest Service Road 19, only. DESCHUTES NF: The Lava River Cave and Lava Lands Visitor Center at Newberry National Monument are now open, with limited capacity and new COVID-19 precautions in effect (more info). Central Cascades Wilderness Permits are now required for visitors to open portions of the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington and Three Sisters Wilderness areas (some areas remain closed due to last years Lionhead fire). Permits will be released on a rolling basis and can be reserved up to seven days before your trip at Recreation.gov (details). OCHOCO NF: Most areas are open. Visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/ochoco/recreation to check the forest's recreation conditions report. SIUSLAW NF: Visitors should check ahead to see if the beach they are visiting is a designated western snowy plover nesting beach; during nesting season, dog-walking and activities on the dry sand and dunes is restricted to protect nesting shorebirds (walking on wet, hard-packed sand near the water is permitted). At Sand Lake, snowy plover nesting areas are marked but formal restrictions are not yet in effect; dogs should be leashed and visitors are asked to avoid dry sand and dunes. UMPQUA NF: An area closure remains in effect on the North Umpqua Ranger district areas heavily affected by the Archie Fire. The closure area extends north and south of a portion of the North Umpqua River; but some roads and trails are exempted from the closure order. Several roads are also closed between Timothy Meadows and Diamond Lake due to damage from the Thielsen Fire. For more information about these closures, visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/umpqua/alerts-notices (closure orders are listed under Public Notices). MALHEUR NF, UMATILLA NF and WALLOWA-WHITMAN NF: Its still shoulder season in the Blue Mountains -- hiking and motorized trails may have not yet been maintained and some campgrounds may not yet be open. Check ahead to ensure roads, trails and campgrounds are open, particularly in areas that experienced late season snow. Shaded areas and cut banks on roads at higher elevations may also have impassible snowdrifts. SALEM, Ore.--- Oregons Department of Education is issuing its own lesson to Oregons public schools this season. ODE Director Colt Gill says as schools prepare their graduation ceremonies, they need to follow House Bill 2052 regarding Tribal Regalia. The bill became effective upon passage and is now law in Oregon. Gill says the new law recognizes the inherent right of tribal sovereignty wherein American Indian /Alaska Native students can wear their tribal regalia or items of cultural significance at graduation and other public school ceremonies. ODE says it fully supports students who want to wear items honoring their Native American cultures, such as eagle feathers, cedar, beaded caps, tribal insignias and stoles during graduation ceremonies. Gill invites school districts to review their policies as they implement the Tribal Regalia Law this spring. Gill says in the event a conflict exists, important policy changes should and must occur. Gill says high school graduation is a time to honor accomplishments of students, families and communities, and the Tribal Regalia law extends the celebration by honoring the hard work and achievements of our American Indian / Alaska Native students, honoring culturally inclusive ceremonies, and reflecting and acknowledging the diversity of our students and families. ODE says it fosters school district government-to-government relationships with the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon, grateful for community support for educational equity to create school environments that culturally honor and include diverse students and communities. MEDFORD, Ore.-- A 45 year old male victim who was involved in a shooting on the 600 block of Crater Lake Ave. on Saturday night died at the hospital. Early on Sunday morning, a suspect was taken into custody This shooting happened around 8 p.m. Saturday night, Medford Police officers say they received calls about shots fired. Officers and detectives were on the scene of the Weldon's Dry Cleaners, where that shooting occurred, investigating the area. EAGLE POINT, Ore.--- On Sunday, May 30th, 2021 Oregon Department of Forestry SouthWest District said in a Facebook post Firefighters made excellent progress overnight on the East Antelope Fire, located on the 9600-block of East Antelope road outside of White City. Through GPS mapping, the fire was found to be 49 acres. The perimeter is now 100% lined and the fire is 20% mopped up. Overnight, firefighters were able to plumb the fire with fire hose up to 90%. ODF said this will make it easier on Sunday as resources continue to mop up. Dr. David Williams, Ontario's chief medical officer of health, looks down during a briefing, as the Provincial Government announce a series of measures to combat the spread of COVID-19, In Toronto on November 13, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young CNN -- A maskless Memorial Day weekend is a huge deal. People are traveling, Covid-19 cases are down across most of the country and vaccines have made their way into millions of arms. And while glimpses of normalcy are exciting to see, one health expert is warning that the millions of people who have not been vaccinated may pose high risks to each other. Dr. Leana Wen, a CNN medical analyst, said people who are fully vaccinated and are generally healthy "should feel very well protected." But she offered a more critical insight on those who are not. "Those who remain at risk are those who are unvaccinated," Wen told CNN on Saturday. "And that includes children who are not yet eligible to be vaccinated as well as adults who just have not been vaccinated yet." She added that even though 40% of the country is fully vaccinated, the risk remains high because a large portion of the population still hasn't been inoculated. While the number of new Covid-19 cases have dropped significantly, that also means "the virus has fewer places to go." "And so those people who are unvaccinated are now still at high risk because we do have more transmissible variants, and unfortunately those individuals who don't have immunity are not protected from these variants that can wreak a lot of havoc," Wen explained. People who are severely immunocompromised and have received a vaccine may also potentially be at risk, she said. As of Saturday, more than 167 million people in the US -- 50% of the total population -- have received at least one vaccine dose, and more than 134 million people are fully vaccinated, data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. The current 7-day average of daily new cases in the US is 21,627, a more than 22% decrease from the previous week, according to the CDC. "Go, get vaccinated, hit the beach. Real simple." As people get out and about this long weekend, states are jumping at the opportunity to get more vaccine shots into arms. New Jersey launched a new program, "Shots at the Shore," to incentivize people to take the vaccine. People who head down to the Jersey shore will have the option to receive any of the three vaccines -- Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson -- Gov. Phil Murphy said. Younger people ages 12 to 15 may take the Pfizer shot. Vaccination sites are set up in Pier Village, Sandy Hook, Long Branch, and Asbury Park from 9 a.m. to 3 a.m. on Memorial Day weekend, Murphy said. New Jersey is one of 10 states that has reached and exceeded President Joe Biden's goal to vaccinate 70% of their populations by July 4. Meanwhile, New York City was also slated to post buses at beaches and parks this Memorial Day weekend offering free Covid-19 vaccinations, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. Buses were planned at Brighton Beach, the Rockaways, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Central Park and Governors Island, to name a few, the mayor said. "We're going to go the extra mile, whatever it takes," said de Blasio. "You're going to see our vaccine buses out all over New York City the next few days. "Go, get vaccinated, hit the beach. Real simple." Overall, nearly 294 million Covid-19 vaccine doses have been administered in the US, according to CDC data published Saturday. Miami Beach mayor on tourist influx: "The virus is still here" Travel was in the air this weekend, hitting a pandemic-era record of passengers on Friday. About 1.96 million people traveled through US airports, according to the Transportation Security Administration. "We're creeping up to 2 million. Please wear your mask, respect TSA/airport/airline crew, arrive early & pack your patience!" a spokesperson for the TSA tweeted. Some of those travelers headed to Miami Beach, Florida, where Mayor Dan Gelber expressed concern over the influx of tourists to his city this Memorial Day weekend. Gelber said one of the problems is that "we're one of the few places open, but we're also a very attractive destination. So simply, too many people are coming." "The virus is still here," he reminded everyone when speaking with CNN's Kate Bolduan on Friday. "The volume of people that have been coming here is very unprecedented, and some who are coming are looking to sort of act out." The mayor said there will be "an enormous saturation of police officers" on patrol over the long weekend. SALEM, Ore.--- Governor Kate Brown vetoed a measure this week that would have allowed motorcyclists to drIve between lanes on multilane highways, whenh traffic slowed to 10 miles per hour. Brown cited public safety concerns as her reason for opposing the bill Her decision came despite bipartisan approval and hundreds of letters of written testimony. A legislative override of Brown's veto would require a two-thirds vote in each chamber. That was just something she liked to do. She didnt have to do it, Franklin said of her can collecting habit. She just liked to stay busy, basically. She figured thats what kept her healthy, kept her moving. At one point she told me that she did that for exercise, but I said, How does that make sense? EUGENE, Ore. -- The Eugene-Springfield NAACP will be hosting their 10th annual Memorial Day Community BBQ Monday. The theme this year is Soul of a Nation, and the event will take place at Washington Park from noon to 4 p-m. There will be free barbecue, activities for kids, an open mic and live music by Evan Belize. Food will be provided by Tamisha Jacksons Mishjacks Catering. Executive director Eric Richardson said the event is also meant to bring attention to the African-American connection to Memorial Day which has been traced to burials observed after the civil war in South Carolina. Free youth books will be given out, and there will be information about summer programs. For more information call the local branch of the NAACP at 541-484-1119 or email info@naacplanecounty.or. Proposals to mine rock from three sites in Skagit County have neighbors of the sites on edge. New energy labels are coming into effect to bring EU consumers a better understanding of their carbon footprint and energy consumption. Irish lighting company Solus outline what exactly is changing when the mandatory new European Commission energy labelling regulations come into effect on September 1st, 2021 A brand-new version of the widely-recognised EU energy label for light bulbs and light sources will be applicable in all shops and online retailers from September 1st 2021 with an 18-month transition period for products already on the market. On May 20th, Solus hosted an informative webinar presented by broadcaster Jonathan Healy with panel of experts from government and compliance bodies including Minister Pippa Hackett, SEAI Programme Manager Tim Stokes and Elizabeth O'Reilly, Environmental Compliance & Membership Manager for WEEE Ireland. The webinar brought clarity on exactly what this new legislation entails, what timelines are in place and how the industry and its retailers can be compliant. The full webinar is available at https://bit.ly/2S8BYI2 The most important change is a return to a simple A-G scale on energy labels because more and more products are now achieving ratings as A, A+ or A++ according to the current scale causing confusion for consumers. The new energy label will leave empty energy efficiency classes at the top of the scale for advancing technologies and to encourage manufacturers to develop more energy efficient products. SEAI Programme Manager Tim Stokes said The energy labelling regulation for light sources and its sister regulation relating to eco-design will have an estimated combined energy saving of 42 terawatt hours per annum by 2030 A further significant change is the introduction of a QR code. By scanning the QR-code, consumers can find additional information about the product model. By law, all energy labelled products on the EU market have to be registered in a new EU-wide database - European Product Registry for Energy Labels (EPREL). Eco-design rules are mandatory for almost all lamps sold in the EU. From 1 September 2021, the existing rules will be repealed and replaced to include circular economy requirements. According to Elizabeth O Reilly from WEEE Ireland, 3.2 million light bulbs were recycled in Ireland in their last full recorded year in 2019 and 38,000 tonnes of electrical waste was taken back from landfill for use in manufacturing again. The extensive new EU regulations are the result of nearly five years of negotiations and it will be mandatory for all manufacturers and retailers to comply. The new rules consist of the Single Lighting Regulation (SLR) and the Energy Labelling Regulation (ELR). We are in a time of transition to tackle climate change and create a new green economy. It is important that this change happens at a political level, at a corporate level and at a consumer level. said Minister Pippa Hackett as she commended Solus on taking a proactive approach to sustainability and the new regulations. Solus is a proud Irish company and welcomes these new regulations which are in line with their progressive Planet First sustainability programme. The new energy labels will give clarity on energy efficiency for consumers and also ensure that businesses continue to innovate. See www.solus.ie MSD is a global network with endless opportunities MSD Carlow is a world-class manufacturing facility, focused on formulating and filling vaccines and biologics products that improve and transform the lives of people across the world. The Carlow site plays a pivotal role in the manufacture of MSDs immuno-oncology treatment, and the sustained investment in Ireland empowers MSD Carlow to offer its team the opportunity to continuously grow, learn, invent and thrive. The company have a number of exciting vacancies across several levels for ambitious individuals with relevant experience within a highly regulated environment. If you want to belong to a team that is committed to Inventing for Life, MSD Carlow would like to hear from you. The Opportunities: Quality Assurance Specialist Manufacturing Support (Shift) Senior Quality Control Analysts Senior Validation Specialist & Manager Position Analytical Development Scientist Operations Manager Senior Bioassay Specialist Visit 'jobs.msd.com/ireland' to learn how you can 'Invent for Life'. The CovidComms Awards last night announced Aldi as the winner in the Best Campaign category for the National Brown Bread Competition! The awards were established by CorpComms Magazine to recognise brilliance in Irish communications during the pandemic. Despite the challenges of lockdown, Aldis Brown Bread competition attracted 700 entries, an increase of 40% on previous years, achieving a PR reach of 6.9 million. Compliance with government guidelines also meant completely changing how the entries were received and the competition was staged. The winning bread, by Cork woman Marie McCarthy is now on sale in 145 Aldi stores nationwide for 1.79. The judges described the campaign as: A tremendously difficult exercise to pull off, given the sheer logistics involved. The team approached the challenge with creativity and determination, and achieved excellent results along the way. MASON CITY, Iowa - On Saturday, 82nd North Iowa Band Festival crowned this year's royalty and gave out awards. Hannah Lanphere from Central Springs High School and Nathan Hanneman from Northwood-Kensett were crowned Band Festival Queen and King. Lanphere plans to attend Iowa State University this fall. Hanneman will enlist in the Iowa Air National Guard and enroll at Iowa State in the fall of 2022. Lake Mills High School took the Meredith Wilson Sweepstakes prize, which is awarded to the high school marching band with the overall highest score. The following awards were given out: Marching Bands: Class 1A: Northwood Kensett High School1st Place Class 2A: Lake Mills High School1st Place Class 3A: Clear Lake High School1st Place Parade Competition: Grand Marshal Award (presented to the parade entry with the best use of the festival theme Banding Together and Marching Forward): First Citizens Bank1st Place Waldorf University2nd Place Good Shepherd, Inc.3rd Place Mr. Toot Award(presented to the entry with the most originality, artistic quality, and well-crafted design, based on a theme of their choice): Mason City Marine Corps League #8591st Place Clear Lake Bank & Trust2nd Place Charles City Rotary Club/Main Street Charles City3rd Place KIMT-TV 3 NEWS The Memorial Day Weekend got off to a deadly start in northeast Iowa with three separate fatal auto accidents. The first happened just before 10 pm Thursday night in Bremer County. The Iowa State Patrol says an SUV was southbound on Highway 218 when it crossed the grass median and collided with a northbound pickup truck near Edgebrook Drive. The driver of the SUV, Azra Ponjevic, 27 of Waterloo, was killed in the crash and four other people were injured. The State Patrol and Ponjevic and three of the injured were not wearing their seat belts. Then around 2:30 Friday in Fayette County, a car and a semi collided on Highway 150. The State Patrol says Terri Westfall, 65 of North Liberty, was driving north when she went over the center line and struck the southbound semi driven by Lamothe Guito, 37 of Orlando, Florida, head on. Authorities say Westfall and two of her passengers, 18-year-old Ashleigh Rensing of North Liberty and 9-year-old Alli Olson of Amana, were killed in the crash. Another of Westfalls passengers, 15-year-old Seth Olson of Amana, was injured. The semi driver was not hurt. Another death was caused by a two-vehicle collision just before 5 pm Friday in Black Hawk County. The State Patrol says Evelyn Rogers, 71 of Denver, IA, was driving south on Wagner Road and stopped at the intersection with W Cedar Wapsi. The crash report says Rogers then pulled into the path of the westbound van driven by Brian Moulds, 48 of Dunkerton. The State Patrol says Rogers was not wearing a seat belt and died after being thrown from Rogers vehicle. Moulds was also injured in the crash. The annual Mason City Band Festival Parade was still over an hour away on Saturday morning as members of Three Rivers Pony Express were saddling up their mounts, picking their hooves, and brushing down their dusty flanks. As the riders worked to prepare their mounts, they were teasing each other about previous adventures, beer-drinking adventures and good-natured disagreements. The riders make no apology for the fact they are beer-drinking mavericks who love to have a good time. They are also, though, a committed philanthropic organization that contributes to the Easter Seals Sunnyside Camp in Des Moines to allow children with disabilities to have a week of summer fun. Each Easter weekend, Pony Express Riders from across Iowa ride into the camp with donations People have really gotten used to us, said Cindy Thompson as she took a break from preparing her horse for the parade. Theyre used to us going through on Easter Friday and they hand us money on the way there all for the kids. And we do other parades. We try to hit all the parades we can in the different chapters. Weve got Worth, Mitchell, and Cerro Gordo. So thats how we get out there. We do boot drives we do dart tournaments. Jim Medlang is the patriarch of the Three Rivers Pony Express organization. He gets emotional when he talks about the importance of giving the caregivers of children with disabilities a break while simultaneously giving the children a rare taste of independent adventure. Its nice to be able to send a child to a summer camp where they can get in a treehouse and thats the type of facilities we have, he said after helping one of his riders up into the saddle. Every other weekend we have respite weekend for the caregivers. It breaks my heart to think that some people feel guilty because they are tired of taking care of the people that theyre taking care of. Camp Sunnyside provides that so necessary relief for them and gives the children such a great opportunity. Cindy echoes that sentiment when asked about the groups commitment to Camp Sunnyside. We try to send the kids to camp for free every year which is great for the kids cause a lot of them dont get out, she says. Its great for the caregivers because it gives them a week and gives them a break. Over the past fifty years, the Pony Express Riders of Iowa have raised over ten million dollars for Camp Sunnyside. MONTEZUMA, Iowa (AP) Law enforcement officials are asking members of the general public to help them Sunday with the search for a 10-year-old east-central Iowa boy. The Iowa Division of Criminal investigation said the search Saturday for Xavior Harrelson of Montezuma was continuing with law enforcement and first responders only. The division said Montezuma residents should check their own property but urged them to come Sunday morning to the local high school. The boy was last seen around 11 a.m. Thursday on his bike near his home. The boy was last seen around 11 a.m. Thursday on his bike near his home on the north end of Montezuma. Jasper, TX (75951) Today A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 75F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 75F. Winds light and variable. Neighbors said the stabbing was out of character for Thomas, a father of three some regarded as the mayor of the block who looks out for others. A sign draped across the fence of Thomas home says, In this house we believe: Black lives matter, science is real, love is love, kindness is everything. A Jefferson County man is on the hunt to find the owner of a missing flag before memorial day. He believes it may belong to a fallen veteran. Gary Bourisaw was driving down U.S. 61 67 near Imperial, Missouri on Wednesday, May 26 when something caught his eye. Gloria Yoder lives in Flat Rock, Illinois. She likes to cook, bake, garden and being a mom! Readers can send her mail at P.O. Box 157, Middletown, Ohio 45042. For more recipes and information about the Amish lifestyle go to amish365.com. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable. But the boy, his half-brother and their father had been found by Utah authorities, camping in an area lacking cell phone coverage, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Saturday. Spencer said no local missing children match the dead boys description. Police said he was clearly a homicide victim but havent released information about his injuries or manner of death. He had most likely been left there within 12 hours of being found, the Review-Journal reported, citing police. FILE - In this May 6, 2021 file photo, a group opposing new voter legislation gather outside the House Chamber at the Texas Capitol in Austin, Texas. Texas Republicans dug in Saturday, May 29 for a final weekend vote on some of the most restrictive new voting laws in the U.S., finalizing a sweeping bill that would eliminate drive-thru voting, reduce polling hours and scale back Sunday voting, when many Black churchgoers head to the polls. Black Lives Matter activists have filed lawsuits against the city of Phoenix and the Phoenix police department over a mass arrest. The incident happened just days after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis when Phoenix police arrested more than 120 people for "felony rioting." An Arizona judge dismissed all the charges citing a lack of evidence. But as Josh Sanders reports, protesters were still traumatized by the experience. A former teacher at Portage High School in Wisconsin was in court Friday to face charges of sexually assaulting a student. 35-year-old Abby M. Dibbs has already last her job as a result of her admission of having sex with a student last weekend. Madalyn O'Neil has more. Childers, who had been living in her car in Kingman, was reported missing on May 12 by her son, who said he hadnt heard from her in several months. The People have met and discussed with the victims family what a new penalty trial would involve, pursuant to their rights under Marsys Law, court documents said. While the family of Laci and Conner believe there is no doubt that defendant is guilty of these crimes and that his conduct warrants the death penalty and defendant is deserving of the punishment of death, the family has decided this process is simply too painful to endure once again. JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) A proposed gold mine in western Alaska has won a key approval, with a state official rejecting an administrative law judge's findings that the state Department of Environmental Conservation lacked reasonable assurance the project would meet Alaska water quality standards. Department Commissioner Jason Brune, in a decision Thursday, defended the analyses done by the department's Division of Water and upheld its issuance of a so-called certificate of reasonable assurance for the Donlin Gold project. Brune said the issuance was supported by a reasonable basis in law and substantial evidence in the record. Brunes decision can be challenged in court. Olivia Glasscock, an attorney with Earthjustice who is representing the Orutsararmiut Native Council, said Friday that a decision on next steps had not been made. The council had challenged the issuance of the certificate, leading to the findings last month by an administrative law judge. Brune was not bound by those findings. Critics of the proposed mine have raised concerns about possible impacts to water and salmon habitat. Police are looking for the assailants who opened fire at a Florida club, killing at least two people and wounding at least 20 more, Miami-Dade police director Alfredo Ramirez III said. Police: 2 dead, over 20 injured in banquet hall shooting HIALEAH, Fla. (AP) Two people died and an estimated 20 to 25 people were injured in a shooting outside a banquet hall in South Florida, police said. The gunfire erupted early Sunday at the El Mula Banquet Hall in northwest Miami-Dade County, near Hialeah, police told news outlets. The banquet hall had been rented out for a concert. Three people got out of an SUV and opened fire into a crowd outside with assault rifles and handguns, police director Alfredo "Freddy" Ramirez III said. Authorities believe the shooting was targeted. "These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice," Ramirez said in a tweet. Two people died at the scene, police said. As many as 25 people went to various hospitals for treatment. No arrests were immediately announced. "This is a despicable act of gun violence, a cowardly act," Ramirez told the Miami Herald. In China, its not easy to become a living Buddha. First come the years of meditation and discipline. Then comes the bureaucracy. The highest level of living Buddhas must be approved by the central government, Phurbu Tsering, the abbot of Sera Monastery near Tibets capital, Lhasa, said at a meeting of Chinas rubber-stamp legislature on Monday. Other Living Buddhas must be approved by local governments. See the most-read stories this hour >> China is laying down the law on reincarnation, as Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama Tibets enormously influential spiritual leader enters his twilight years with no successor in sight. Although the ruling Communist Party is an officially atheist organization officials are barred from practicing religion it is perennially uncomfortable with forces outside of its control, and has for years demanded the power to regulate the supernatural affairs of Tibetan Buddhist figures, determining who can and cannot be reincarnated. Advertisement Padma Choling, chairman of the Tibetan Autonomous Regions Peoples Congress standing committee, speaks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 7, 2016. (Andy Wong / Associated Press) The Dalai Lama, 80, fled the Himalayan region in 1959 after a failed uprising; Chinese authorities revile him as a separatist, although he claims to only want increased autonomy for the region. Authorities have framed their bureaucratization of the afterlife as a bulwark against fraudulent, profiteering monks. Yet experts say its also part of a wide-ranging effort to tighten control over the turbulent region. From the point of view of Beijing, the whole apparatus seems to be about giving Beijing control over the appointment of the next Dalai Lama, said Robbie Barnett, director of the Modern Tibet Studies Program at Columbia University. The Chinese term huofo, or living Buddha, refers to high-ranking religious figures in Tibetan Buddhism, but it has no true equivalent in the Tibetan language. Communist policy on religion is: You run Tibet by...having a lama who is credible enough to be influential when he says you should follow the Communist Party. Robbie Barnett, Director of the Modern Tibet Studies Program at Columbia University They want to make sure they control the next Dalai Lama, as theyve tried to control the current Panchen Lama, Barnett continued, referring to the second-ranking leader of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. We think we know about Communist policies [in Tibet], but theyre not what they appear. Communist policy on religion is: You run Tibet by having a lama who is credible enough to be influential when he says you should follow the Communist Party. They dont have enough power to control Tibet without a lama to handle it. At the meeting held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the countrys most prestigious venue Phurbu Tsering, wearing red monks robes, spoke softly in Tibetan, while another delegate to the legislature translated into Mandarin. He recited several points from the State Religious Affairs Bureau Order No. 5, a law that authorities passed in 2007 to govern reincarnation. One must have recognition from the religious world and the temple to reincarnate, he said. Advertisement The law itself frames reincarnation in terms of national security: The selection of reincarnates must preserve national unity and solidarity of all ethnic groups, and the selection process cannot be influenced by any group or individual from outside the country, it says. Fake living Buddhas have been in the headlines since November, when a video went viral of Zhang Tielin, a Chinese-born British actor, being ordained as a living Buddha at a lavish ceremony in Hong Kong. The ceremonys host, Baima Aose, a Chinese man from southeast Chinas Fujian province, claimed that he had been certified as a living Buddha by a famous Tibetan Buddhist monastery. The monastery later denied ordaining him, and Aose issued a public apology. On Jan. 18, authorities published online an official registry of 870 licensed living Buddhas, searchable by name, temple and identity card number or living-Buddha card number, to cut down on fraud. Yet experts say that the system of registering living Buddhas has itself become fertile ground for corruption. Advertisement The thing [authorities] are emphasizing is the database thats the new hyped up thing, said Barnett. The way it works is permits. You get a permit from the local religious affairs office, saying youre recognized as a so-called living Buddha. Once you have that system, it means you can pay for it. Apparently what that means and I have several personal sources on this is that each area has a quota of these to hand out, and the officials in each area just sell their quota, he continued. The Dalai Lama, in a 2011 statement, called the countrys reincarnation laws outrageous and disgraceful. The enforcement of various inappropriate methods for recognizing reincarnations to eradicate our unique Tibetan cultural traditions is doing damage that will be difficult to repair, he said. Advertisement Tibetan refugees hold placards and candles during a vigil following the self-immolation of two Tibetans in Bangalore, India, on March 5, 2016. (Manjunath Kiran / AFP/Getty Images) More than 140 people in Tibet and neighboring provinces have burned themselves to death since 2009 as a grim protest against Chinese rule; many have called for the Dalai Lamas return as they went up in flames. On Feb. 29, an 18-year-old Tibetan died after lighting himself on fire, marking the first self-immolation since August, according to the London-based advocacy group Free Tibet. Chinese authorities have repeatedly blamed the Dalai clique and other hostile foreign forces for the rash of self-immolations. Authorities closed Tibet to foreign visitors beginning Feb. 25, and will probably keep it off-limits until the end of March an annual occurrence since riots rippled across the region in March 2008. They have not extended the same restrictions to domestic Chinese tourists. Advertisement At Mondays meeting, Baima Chilin, deputy Communist Party chief of the region, said that the Dalai Lama was no longer a religious leader after he left Tibet in 1959. If the Dalai Lama wants to return to China, he must give up Tibet independence, and must publicly acknowledge Tibet and Taiwan are inseparable parts of China and that the Peoples Republic of China is the only legitimate government, he said. Chuan Xu and Yingzhi Yang in The Times Beijing bureau contributed to this report. Follow @JRKaiman on Twitter for news from Asia Advertisement Join the conversation on Facebook >> ALSO Islamic State detainee tells U.S. about chemical weapons plans Zika fears increase demand for abortions in countries where its illegal to have one Advertisement Somalia militant group Shabab keeps bouncing back from attacks For years, the question has lingered: Should the U.S. apologize for dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima? The opportunity could present itself if President Obama visits the city while attending the G7 Summit in Japan next month. No sitting U.S. president has visited the city since it was largely destroyed in an atomic blast during World War II. Secretary of State John Kerry may have foreshadowed whats to come when he visited Hiroshima this month and called the experience gut-wrenching. Yet he stopped short of offering an apology to his hosts. Apologizing for a wartime act generations ago would be as welcome to Japanese political leaders as a cloud of mosquitoes. Heres why: Advertisement U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry appears at a news conference following the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Hiroshima. (Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP/Getty Images) Does Japan even want an apology? Likely not. A secret 2009 state department cable published by Wikileaks in 2011 indicated Japan was cool to the idea and worried that it would only serve to energize anti-nuclear activists in the country. Hasnt this come up before? It has. In 2007, during Shinzo Abes first term as prime minister, Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma referred to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as something that couldnt be helped. While opposition leaders took issue with that position, the governments official stance was that it would be more meaningful for the U.S. and Japan to aim for a peaceful and safe world without nuclear weapons. The atomic bomb dome is seen through the altar of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. (Toshifumi Kitamura / AFP/Getty Images) An apology could trigger unneeded political fallout Devin Stewart, a noted expert on Japan, and senior program director at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, suggests that an apology could open a can of worms on many, many issues. Advertisement Theres concern, for instance, it might undermine Abes initiative to give Japan a more nimble, capable military and clear the way for troops to fight overseas, something that hasnt happened since the end of World War II. Abes primary goal, Stewart says, is to strengthen the military and everything else, including his economic platform of Abenomics, is a means to achieve that goal. An apology also could harden the opposition to using nuclear power in Japan, a sentiment that blossomed after the meltdown at Fukushima. The administration has made nuclear power a major part of its energy policy. Overemphasizing the inhuman nature of the nuclear weapons used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki goes against what the current government of Japan has been working on so hard for decades removing allergic reaction against nuclear weapons and nuclear power. In short, let the sleeping dogs lie, Koichi Nakano, a professor of Japanese politics at Sophia University, said. Officials place wreaths as they prepare for a visit by the Group of Seven foreign ministers at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima. (Mari Yamaguchi / AP) Advertisement It could set off a chain reaction of apologies Prime Minister Abes speech on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II was a classic non-apology apology, and this administration allegedly hates to apologize. Why doesnt the Japanese government want Mr. Obama to apologize? Because it tears the scab off a much bigger wound that Japan wants healed, says Grant Newsham, a senior research fellow with Japan Forum for Strategic Studies and former U.S. diplomat with over 20 years experience in Japan. If Obama apologizes at Hiroshima, it draws attention to Japanese behavior elsewhere in Asia during the 30s and 40s. It might even be demanded that the Japanese government and emperor go to Singapore and apologize for slaughtering 25,000 Chinese there in 1942. Or to Australia to apologize for how they treated their POWs. Or to the Philippines (to apologize) for a few hundred thousand murders by the Imperial Japanese Army as well. Advertisement See the most-read stories this hour >> Beyond launching a new round of hand-wringing over wartime atrocities, Nakano says an Obama apology could raise fresh questions about Japans own attempts to build an atomic bomb. Even the right wing journalist and ultra-nationalist Hiroyuki Fujita says that an apology is not necessary and I dont think the Japanese people want it. It will create a ceaseless round of apologies. However, I think the American people should know that not only the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but the firebombing of Tokyo in which thousands died, were illegal acts against humanity. They were civilian massacres. Advertisement In this 1945 file photo, an Allied war correspondent stands in the ruins of Hiroshima, Japan, just weeks after the city was leveled by an atomic bomb. (AP) What about the survivors in Hiroshima? The survivors those who remain are largely out of sight and out of mind, and theres little political capital in digging up memories of the bombing, Stewart notes. Many people in the center of power in Tokyo would rather not talk about such touchy issues, he says. Advertisement The Japanese government has long fought to limit the number of people seeking official recognition as atomic-bomb survivors eligible for special assistance, and survivors who feel they suffered from radiation exposure but werent recognized as victims have filed numerous lawsuits. When Abe was prime minister from 2006 to 2007, he refused to meet with the plaintiffs. Last year, in a break from tradition, Abe failed to include a pledge to observe the countrys three nonnuclear principles in the annual Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony speech. Tourists visit the Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and the nearby Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. (Carl Court / Getty Images) Advertisement What does the public think? A 2015 opinion poll by a Russian news agency found that 60% of the Japanese public wanted an apology for the bombing. But what the Japanese government and the public want arent always the same. Adelstein is a special correspondent. Advertisement ALSO Pentagon modifies training and targeting after deadly U.S. attack on hospital An islet the size of your bedroom has Japan and Taiwan fighting North Korea sentences American to 10 years of hard labor on spying charges Gavin MacLeod, famous for his acting stint in the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Love Boat" dies at 90 years old. The death of the actor happened in the early morning of Saturday and was confirmed by his nephew, Mark See on Variety. Details regarding the cause of death of the "Mary Tyler Moore" actor were not furthered by See, but it was confirmed by Variety that MacLeod's health declined in the recent months. READ NEXT: Samuel E. Wright, Sebastian's Voice Actor from The Little Mermaid, Dies at 74 Gavin MacLeod's Colleagues Expressed Their Sympathies on His Passing Colleagues and friends of the "Mary Tyler Moore" actor expressed their feelings about Macleod's sudden passing. In a Twitter post, "Clerks" director Kevin Smith remembered "The Love Boat" actor as he paid tribute to Macleod's iconic roles during his active years in the television. As a 70s/80s kid, I spent many a Saturday night with my Mom, Dad, Brother and Sister watching LOVE BOAT. So I was unexpectedly sad to see Gavin MacLeod has cruised on to that Puerto Vallarta in the sky! Thanks for the many memories, Captain Stubing - here and at WJM-TV! #RIP https://t.co/MRyW51tuTb KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) May 29, 2021 "I was unexpectedly sad to see Gavin MacLeod has cruised onto that Puerto Vallarta in the sky. Thanks for the memories, Captain Stubing," said Smith in his Twitter account. Smith also mentioned that as a kid who grew up in the 70s and 80s, he spent his Saturdays with his whole family watching "The Love Boat." Ed Asner also said his goodbyes to Macleod. Also starred in the "Mary Tyler Show," Asner said that he and Macleod "are like brothers," and he was broken-hearted for what happened. Asner also mentioned their co-star Betty White, saying "It's just you and me now." My heart is broken. Gavin was my brother, my partner in crime (and food) and my comic conspirator. I will see you in a bit Gavin. Tell the gang I will see them in a bit. Betty! Its just you and me now. pic.twitter.com/se4fwh7G1G Ed Asner (@TheOnlyEdAsner) May 29, 2021 American Actress Maureen McCormick, also Gavin MacLeod's friend, expressed her gratitude to the actor for "all the special and heart-filled conversations about life." McCormick also said that she would "treasure" every moment she got to spend with the actor. Rest In Peace my dear friend Gavin Macleod Thank you for all the special and beautiful heart filled conversations about life. I will always treasure the time I was lucky enough to spend with you. Love you #GavinMacleod pic.twitter.com/4r3AbpCaSX Maureen McCormick (@MoMcCormick7) May 29, 2021 Gavin MacLeod's Career Through the Years MacLeod debuted on the big screen in 1958. For his role as a police lieutenant in Susan Hayward's vehicle "I Want to Live." The next year, MacLeod played a G.I. in Gregory Peck's starrer "Pork Chop Hill." In 1960, MacLeod also appeared in the thriller "12 Hours to Kill" with Barbara Eden, and McHale's Navy as seaman Joseph "Happy Haines." Despite his history in the industry, The Hollywood Reporter emphasized that what made Macleod step into the limelight was when we played the role of the news writer named Murray Slaughter in the "Mary Tyler Moore Show." USA Today reported that Gavin MacLeod's role in the show made acquired him two Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor. After his acting gig in "Mary Tyler Moore," MacLeod played the role of Captain Merrill Stubbing on "The Love Boat" as he cruised with MS Pacific Cruise Ship for almost 10 years in ABC. MacLeod's acting sting in "The Love Boat" gained him another three Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor. Variety noted that Gavin MacLeod may hold a record for consecutive long-running series as the "Mary Tyler Moore Show" aired with at least 168 episodes and "The Love Boat" with at least 249 episodes. READ MORE: Karate Kid III Star Will Be Back as Terry Silver in Cobra Kai Season 4 WATCH: Remembering Gavin MacLeod from TV's "The Love Boat" - from Dave Sundstrom Brazil demonstrators took to streets across the country their call for President Jair Bolsonaro's impeachment over how he handled COVID-19 in the South American nation. BBC reported that demonstrations also took place in some of Brazil's major cities, such as Rio De Janeiro. The demonstration over the response of Bolsonaro and his administration on COVID-19 came days after the Brazilian president led a motorcade with his supporters without face coverings, as he slammed the officials who enacted "confinement or curfews." Bolsonaro claimed that these measures have "no scientific proof." READ NEXT: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Faces Fine for Breaking Country's COVID-19 Mandates Protesters: "Oust Bolsonaro" Thousands of people gathered in front of the gates of Congress located in Brasilia, the country's capital. The people called for the impeachment of the Brazilian president and demanded more vaccines in response to coronavirus. Protesters in Brasilia were also accompanied by a giant plastic doll of President Jair Bolsonaro, as well as placards. The signs read as "Bolsonaro Out" and "Impeachment Now," according to an Al Jazeera report. Apart from Bolsonaro's impeachment and his COVID-19 response, some protesters also called for indigenous people's better protection as well as stopping the deforestation of the Amazon. "We must stop this government. We must say 'enough is enough'," said a protester in Rio De Janeiro to AL Jazeera citing AFP. At least 10,000 people were also reported to gather in Rio de Janeiro calling for Bolsonaro's impeachment. Rallies were also reported to take place in at least 16 cities of Brazil, including Belo Horizonte and Salvador. In some cities, thousands of symbolic crosses were laid to pay tribute to those who died because of the coronavirus. Meanwhile, in Recife, BBC stated that the police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at the demonstrators who tried to march down a closed road. Brazil's COVID-19 Deaths Surpass 460,000 Apart from the demonstrators calling for Bolsonaro's impeachment and a better COVID-19 response, the Brazilian government also faced another dilemma as the deaths related to coronavirus in the country surpassed the 460,000-mark. The country's health ministry confirmed with Reuters that the number of deaths reached 461,057, as Brazil registered at least 2,012 new deaths on Saturday. Because of this, Brazil has the second-largest number of deaths related to COVID-19 worldwide. Only 10 percent of Brazil's adult population were fully vaccinated as the South American nation only received at least 46 million doses. Butantan Institute told a Senate Committee that the actions of President Jair Bolsonaro delayed the start of the vaccination program in the country. BBC noted that in August, the said institute offered to supply the country with 100 million doses of CoronaVac vaccine which they manufacture under the license of China's Sinovac. However, a day after the offer, Bolsonaro reportedly pledged that he will not buy a Chinese vaccine. It can be remembered that Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro received backlash for downplaying the risks of COVID-19 as he shunned public health measures, curfews, and lockdowns. The president was also reported to ask Brazilians to "stop whining" about the current situation of the country due to coronavirus. READ MORE: 'I Warned Him': Brazil Ex-Health Chief Accuses Bolsonaro of Fueling COVID Crisis WATCH: Protests in Brazil over Bolsonaro's COVID-19 response - from Reuters The use of needles or vaccines is currently the most effective treatment available in fighting COVID-19. Apart from the vaccine hesitancy fueled by anti-vaxxer campaigns, needle phobia may be one of the factors why some people are still having second thoughts about getting the jab. Needle phobia, also called Trypanophobia, is an extreme fear of medical procedures, including injections or hypodermic needles. This type of phobia tends to be more occurrent among children and may lessen as an individual grows older. However, this phobia can persist and remain during adulthood. READ NEXT: Facebook Ban on Posts Claiming 'COVID-19 is Man Made' Reversed Symptoms of Needle Phobia Having needle phobia affects an individual's blood pressure. In hours and days leading up to the injection, an individual may experience high blood and an elevated heart rate. During the injection, adults may have a drop in blood pressure and in some cases, fainting may occur. Other symptoms of needle phobia includes nausea, dizziness, anxiety, sweating, and insomnia. Very Well Mind noted that in some cases, the anxiety over needles can get severe to the point that a person may experience a panic attack. Kids Needle Phobia Montreal Children's Hospital reported that needle phobia is believed to result from both genetics and experiences. The said fear of needles can also lead to missed opportunities because immunizations and blood testing can be required for jobs, trips, school, and even marriage. A 2012 study mentioned that 63% of children aged 6-17 were reported to have fear of needles, as well as increasing perceived pain intensity during their immunizations. Coping With Needle Phobia "We do consider pain and fears of the needle to be part of vaccine hesitancy," said Pharmacist Anna Taddio in an interview with NPR adding that the fear stands as a "barrier" when it comes to vaccination. Since 12-15 years old are now eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, individuals with needle phobia may not seize the opportunity to get immunized against the notorious virus. Taddio shared how vaccine takers may comfortably get the COVID-19 jab with ease using a method called CARD. The method CARD stands for comfort, ask, relax, and distract. Taddio discussed how the method will help poeple with needle phobia get over their vaccine appointment and get immunized against coronavirus. Comfort The first phase of the method is comfort. In this phase, an individual will have to think of how will they get comfortable in getting the vaccines. Thinking then applying factors such as wearing a comfortable shirt, having someone beside them while getting the jab, and their position while getting the jab will help people with fear of needles overcome the injection. Ask Asking about what worries an individual about the vaccine will lessen the fear of the needles. "Ask because if you have your questions addressed again, you feel more prepared," said Taddio in the intervie. She added that asking questions can lead to discoveries like a topical pain-killing cream that can numb the skin and make the needle hurt less. Relax and Distract Talking to oneself like saying "I can do this" can also help a child to relax. Taddio also recommended doing deep belly breaths can "decrease the heart rate" and calm the individual. Furthermore, distracting oneself while getting the vaccine can make an individual forget about the needle phobia. "Bringing a cell phone and playing a game, doing something else would be a really great way of having them not focus on pain," said Taddio in the interview. Taddio also noted that distraction can lessen the pain of the needle because the "brain is busy doing something else." Getting individuals with needle phobia vaccinated against COVID-19 may be really a challenge. But applying the CARD method may help them overcome their vaccine appointments and get that jab. READ MORE: Child Tax Credit 2021: Qualifications and How Much It Will Be WATCH: Getting Over Needle Phobia - from New York University He called us frantic, telling us he had been shot, that it hurts, it hurts and that he loves us and wants us to know, Angelica Green, whose son was shot and hospitalized, told NBC 6. My husband is like no stay with us, stay with us. We hop in the car and were talking to him to keep him alert. Tomas Stefanski, 9 Inistemple, Kinlough, Co Leitrim pleaded guilty to the theft of 2,441.91 from the Courtyard Apartments, Main St, Carrick-on-Shannon between August 1 and August 2, 2019. Mr Stefanski was a member of staff at Murtaghs nightclub and was seen on footage going to the cash box several times on the night. When confronted by the management he denied taking the money but when questioned by the Gardai he admitted to it. The 46 year old made full admissions, the court heard. His father was sick in Poland and he needed the money to pay for medicine. He had 500 with him in court and Judge Kilrane adjourned the case until June 15 next for more money to be brought to court on that date. A violent disorder in Mohill that saw two Gardai assaulted came before Carrick-on-Shannon District Court last week. Two men and a woman, a daughter of one of the men, pleaded guilty to violent disorder on Main Street which saw two Gardai assaulted on December 21, 2020. Judge Kevin Kilrane heard the three defendants had been drinking at home and then in a public house and got into a row among themselves that continued out onto the street. When the Gardai arrived the defendants completely overreacted and the incident got entirely out of control. Appearing on a plea of guilty to all charges were Paul Flood, 15 OCarolan Court, Mohill, charged with violent disorder, obstructing Sgt Ronan Mooney in the execution of his duty, and threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour in a public place. Andrew Dodsworth, Flat 4A & Selections, Main St, Mohill, was charged with violent disorder, obstructing Gda Sean McGarry in the execution of his duty, and assaulting Garda McGarry. Daisy Wilkins, Flat 1 A/D Selections, Main St, Mohill, was charged with violent disorder, obstructing Garda Dominic Prior in the execution of his duty, assault causing harm to Garda Prior, and assaulting Garda McGarry. Outlining what happened, Sgt Michael Gallagher said that at 10pm on December 21 last Gardai attended the scene of a row that was taking place on Main Street. The three people involved were fighting amongst themselves and all three then turned on the Gardai. Sgt Mooney, Garda McGarry and Garda Prior tried to intervene and arrest Ms Wilkins who was the main aggressor. She struck Garda McGarry on the head a number of times and struck Garda Prior, dragging him onto the ground and striking him on the head. Andrew Dodsworth grabbed Garda McGarry by the shoulder and both fell to the ground. Sgt Mooney had to use his baton to subdue Paul Flood, striking him on the leg. They all settled down when arrested. Solicitor, Noel Quinn, said all the parties are still on friendly terms. He said they were having a row among themselves when the Gardai came on the scene. He said Ms Wilkins completely overreacted when they were being handcuffed and thought she was going to rescue her father and Paul Flood and had to be subdued. Mr Quinn said the incident got entirely out of control and they had little recollection of it. The court heard Mr Flood is 41 and on a disability allowance due to severe gastro-intestinal and pancreatic conditions and regularly attends hospital in Dublin. Judge Kilrane questioned him why he was drinking so heavily if he had such a medical condition. Mr Flood said he has not drank since the incident and described it as a wake-up call for him. Daisy Wilkins is 19 and was 18 at the time of the incident. She has lived in Mohill for the past two or three years and came to reside there because her father lives in the town. She is currently on a catering course in the Leitrim County Training Centre. Andrew Dodsworth is 45 and originally from Yorkshire, England. He has lived in Mohill for 14 years and has mental health issues. Mr Quinn said when he takes his medication everything is fine but from time to time he breaks out and drinks and reacts in a negative manner. Paul Flood has previous convictions for drink driving in 2007 and a public order offence in 2005, and nothing since. Andrew Dodsworth has previous convictions for public order offences from 2012 and 2004, and drunk driving in 2012. Daisy Wilkins has no previous convictions. Judge Kilrane, having heard the evidence, described it as an amazing set of events that took place on the Main Street in Mohill. All three went drinking and drank themselves into a state of craziness which resulted in the row amongst themselves. He described it as an appalling event to happen on the Main Street of Mohill or any other town. Judge Kilrane said when the Gardai arrived and tried to intervene they were set upon by more or less all three parties. He said blows were delivered to the Gardai and that Mr Dosdworth and Ms Wilkins were the parties who delivered the blows. He said it was quite a disgusting scene as the Gardai tried to handcuff them resulting in tussles on the ground, rolling around and resisting arrest. In relation to Paul Flood, Judge Kilrane warned him he will kill himself if he continues to take alcohol as he is extremely compromised in relation to his health. He said Mr Flood has no previous convictions of any concern to the court. He said the fight wasnt premeditated and just erupted on the night and because of that he would not impose a jail sentence. He was convicted and fined 200 for the obstruction of a garda in the course of his duty and 200 for threatening to use violence. He convicted him and took into consideration the charge of threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour. Judge Kilrane said Andrew Dodsworth should not have been drinking at all as he is on medication. His behaviour was quite appalling on the night, he said. He said the Gardai should be complimented and that they had understated the assaults that they received and did not make as much of it as they could have. He said the violence was more geared to breaking free rather than assaulting the Gardai. The parties were so intoxicated that if they had broken free they probably would have fallen on top of their heads down the street, said Judge Kilrane. Mr Dodsworth was convicted and fined 200 for the assault on Garda McGarry, 200 for threatening to use violence, and 200 for obstruction. He convicted and fined Daisy Wilkins 200 for assault causing harm to Garda Prior, 200 for assaulting Garda McGarry, and he convicted and took into consideration the charges of violent disorder and obstruction. The Sean MacDiarmada summer school, which started in 2009, takes place each year in Kiltyclogher the little Leitrim village in the Northern end of the county. Due to Covid the 2020 summer school was a virtual school and the 2021 event will be similar. 2020 was a great success with people tuning in to the school from all over the world. This year it is hoped that the summer school will attract a large audience in the UK and London in particular. The Irish Ambassador in London, Adrian ONeill has thrown himself wholeheartedly behind the initiative and will in fact address the school by video on Friday, 4th June. A raft of eminent politicians including former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and former Tanaiste Michael McDowell, historians Sinead McCool and Carrick-on-Shannon native, former Irish Post journalist and Irish Times journalist Ronan McGreevy. will join local historians and politicians online for the school on the theme of Reflections on the War of Independence 1919-1921. The keynote speaker for the weekend is the renowned Professor John Crown who hails from Manorhamilton. Videos of beautiful Leitrim scenery and renditions by local musicians will be played throughout the weekend. Why not drop in to some or all of the summer school? To register go to www.seanmacdiarmada.ie LIMERICK City and County Council are to push for Ireland to form a partnership with a country on the African continent. At this months full council meeting, the metropolitan district leader, Cllr Sarah Kiely saw a motion unanimously passed urging the local authority to write to the Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney to ask him to explore the link. Cllr Kiely said this could ultimately lead to Limerick developing its own sister city or twin city relationship in future. Twinning is something we as a city have had for a long time and has been hugely beneficial for both parties. So now we should extend this hand to others. As responsible and better global citizens it is the right thing to do. It would have mutual trade benefits, tourism benefits and would fit with sustainable development goals we hear about, she said. Her call came as Africa Day is celebrated in Limerick. It can also be used to promote Limerick and encourage integration in our communities. We are a multi-cultural land and this will be certainly make us visible in other countries across the world, Cllr Kiely added. The motion was seconded by Cllr Conor Sheehan, Labour, who said: I want to pay tribute to the fantastic African community in Limerick particularly my colleague and party member Maurice Kikangala who did a lot of work with Jan OSullivan in relation to the setting up of an Africa-Ireland Chamber of Commerce. Also speaking in support were Cllrs Daniel Butler, Michael Sheahan, Kevin Sheahan and Jerome Scanlan and Cllr Azad Talukder. AN Bord Pleanala has cleared the way for improvement works at an accident blackspot on one of Limericks busiest roads. A new roundabout is planned for Bearys Cross on the N24 and the works will also entail alterations to the present junction layout which connects with the R513 Caherconlish and Mitchelstown Road. The proposed scheme was approved at a meeting of Limerick City and County Council in November 2017 and last year the local authority moved to compulsorily acquire lands and extinguish rights of way to progress the scheme. However, a number of objections were received by An Bord Pleanala and an oral hearing into the matter took place last month. During the hearing, the speed of traffic in the area was raised and one local resident expressed concern about undertaking on hard shoulder and the potential for an accident to occur. It was also submitted the project could result in flooding and might encourage illegal dumping. It was also submitted the provision of a pedestrian and cycle path would change the nature of traffic movements outside a number of homes. The project will see the construction of a new roundabout around 150 metres south-east of the existing junction and when complete, access to the Muroe-Boher GAA (new pitch) grounds will be via the roundabout. During the hearing, representatives of the local authority moved to address some of the concerns raised by objectors. They also highlighted data which shows there were 27 collisions at the existing junction between 2014 and 2020. In approving the proposed CPO, An Bord Pleanala stated it is satisfied the project is proportionate to the identified need. A LIMERICK man is urging people to try clinical trials if they are offered them as he shares his story on how some trials have made a positive impact on his life. Peter MacNamara is a retired Intel worker from Limerick City. He was unfortunately diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011 after a routine check-up. Peter has undergone several treatments for the cancer, such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, Peters PSA levels continued to rise. Initial shock gave way to the desire to fight the disease. Its essential to balance treatment with quality-of-life issues. A persons lifestyle will change and certain activities will no longer be possible. But other activities will be enhanced. It is important to have a positive mindset, said Peter about his diagnosis. Then, in June 2020, Peter was offered a place on a clinical trial of a drug called Pembrolizumab. Peter doesnt know whether he is on the real drug or the placebo but his PSA levels have begun to reduce, As with any treatment, there are ups and downs, of course, but the way the trial is run is really good and I follow the results very carefully. The team ask every single detail of how Im doing. Im weighed, my blood pressure is taken, and theres a battery of tests, which is quite reassuring really, he explained. As Peter spoke over the phone from a small room in Tallaght Hospital, he was optimistic about the clinical trial and hopes that his story can inspire others to not be afraid to take part in their own clinical trial if it arises. If other treatments are not having the desired effect, then I would encourage people to strongly consider any trials available. Be prepared for the discomfort associated with most treatments and accept that treatment is not a quick fix. You will need to allow time for the effects to become visible. There are currently 69 cancer trials enrolling in Ireland. If you would like to find out about a cancer trial that may be relevant to you, you can contact your GP or visit cancertrials.ie. The offensive post drew ire from many users and some left comments to make their displeasure known to the stores owner. The shop then followed up with another post asking why people were so angry with their initial photo and not with the tyranny the world is experiencing. Gardai in Limerick have charged four persons, one female (aged in her 40s) and three males (aged in their late teens, 30s and 50s) in relation to the drugs seizure of cannabis herb worth 900,000 (subject to analysis) and cash of 45,000 that occurred in Limerick on Friday May 28, 2021. (See here) They are due to appear before Limerick District Court tomorrow morning, Monday 31st May 2021 at 10.30am. The remaining four persons, all males (aged 20s, 40s and 60s) were released without charge and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Investigations are ongoing. The jar was found within a building used by craftsmen in the agora of Athens. A 2,300-year-old ceramic jar filled with the bones of a dismembered chicken was likely part of an ancient curse to paralyze and kill 55 people in ancient Athens , archaeologists say. The finding reveals new evidence for how people tried to use "magic" in the city. They discovered the jar, along with a coin, beneath the floor of the Agora's Classical Commercial Building, which was used by ancient craftspeople. "The pot contained the dismembered head and lower limbs of a young chicken," Jessica Lamont, a classics professor at Yale University, wrote in an article published in the journal Hesperia . At the time, around 300 B.C., the people who made the curse also gouged a large iron nail through the vessel. Related: Cracking codes: 5 ancient languages yet to be deciphered "All exterior surfaces of the [jar] were originally covered with text; it once carried over 55 inscribed names, dozens of which now survive only as scattered, floating letters or faint stylus strokes" Lamont wrote, noting that the Greek writing contains words that may mean "we bind." The nail and chicken parts likely played a role in the curse. Nails are commonly found with ancient curses and "had an inhibiting force and symbolically immobilized or restrained the faculties of [the curse's] victims," Lamont wrote. The chicken was no older than 7 months when it was killed, and the people who created the curse may have wanted to transfer "the chick's helplessness and inability to protect itself" to the people whose names are inscribed on the jar, Lamont wrote. The presence of the chicken's head and lower legs in the jar suggests that "by twisting off and piercing the head and lower legs of the chicken, the curse composers sought to incapacitate the use of those same body parts in their victims," Lamont wrote. "The ritual assemblage belongs to the realm of Athenian binding curses and aimed to 'bind' or inhibit the physical and cognitive faculties of the named individuals," Lamont wrote. The jar was placed near several burned pyres that contained animal remains something that may have enhanced the curse's power, according to Lamont. Image 1 of 4 The chicken parts within the jar were pierced by this long iron nail. Nails like this were commonly used in ancient curses. (Image credit: Athenian Agora excavations) Image 2 of 4 Inside the curse jar, archaeologists found iron nail, coin and bones of a chicken. (Image credit: Athenian Agora excavations) Image 3 of 4 The curse jar had more than 55 names inscribed on it. Not all of them are legible today. (Image credit: Athenian Agora excavations) Image 4 of 4 The jar was found within a building used by craftsmen in the agora of Athens. (Image credit: Athenian Agora excavations) Why was the curse created? The style of the handwriting on the jar suggests that at least two individuals wrote the names on the jar, Lamont said. "It was certainly composed by people/persons with good knowledge of how to cast a powerful curse," Lamont told Live Science in an email. Why they went to the trouble of creating such an elaborate curse is not certain, but it may have been related to a legal case. "The sheer number of names makes an impending lawsuit the most likely scenario," Lamont wrote, noting that "curse composers might cite all imaginable opponents in their maledictions, including the witnesses, families and supporters of the opposition." Trials were common at the time in Athens and galvanized a lot of the public, according to Lamont. The jar's location a building used by craftspeople suggests that the lawsuit may have involved a workplace dispute. "The curse could have been created by craftspersons working in the industrial building itself, perhaps in the lead-up to a trial concerning an inter-workplace conflict," Lamont wrote. Another possibility is that the curse is related to the strife in Athens around 2,300 years ago. After Alexander the Great died in 323 B.C., his empire collapsed and his generals and officials fought for power. Historical records show that several factions fought for control of Athens at the time. It was "a period plagued by war, siege and shifting political alliances," Lamont wrote. The curse jar was excavated in 2006 and was recently analyzed and deciphered by Lamont. Excavation of the jar was overseen by Marcie Handler, who was a doctoral student in classics at the University of Cincinnati at the time. Originally published on Live Science. Click here to read the full article. On April 25, North Korean authorities publicly executed a man who illegally sold USBs and CDs that contained South Korean movies, music videos and dramas, as reported by the Daily NK. The Seoul-based non-profit organization provides coverage of North Korea through its inside network. Its source explained that the man, who was named Lee and worked as a chief engineer at the Wonsan Farming Management Commission, was branded an anti-socialist element by the authorities. His arrest came abut 40 days ago when his neighborhood unit leaders daughter caught him secretly selling the devices and reported him to the authorities. You can receive a seven-year sentence just for not reporting someone, the source told the Daily NK. A firing squad killed Lee in front of 500 people, including his immediate family members who were forced to stand in the front row. He was the first execution in Gangwon Province under the anti-reactionary thought law passed last year that cracked down on anti-socialist acts. In the past, [people like Lee] were sent to labor or re-education camps. It would be a grave error to believe you will receive light punishment, a ruling by authorities said. Reactionaries should not be allowed to live without fear in our society. The Daily NKs source reported that the Ministry State Security is looking for people who bought from Lee and already 20 other merchants involved in the case have been arrested. After watching their family member shot to death, Lees family was transported to a political prisoner camp. Nowadays, if you are caught watching a South Korean video, you receive a sentence of either life in prison or death, so nobody knows who will be executed next, the source said. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. "I can't tell you how excited we onstage are to see you here," Kennedy Center president Deborah Rutter said from the stage of the Concert Hall on Friday night, moments ahead of a long-awaited reunion between the NSO and its audience. (Well, 32 of the former and 236 of the latter, in an auditorium that seats nearly 2,500.) The feeling was clearly mutual among the eager listeners who had gathered, spaced out across the hall in pairs and separated from each other by long gaps and dead rows. The hundreds of empty seats felt like a steady, silent signal throughout the evening that while the arts are evidently "back," their return is fraught, actively contending with their own fragility. In some ways, the increased exclusivity necessitated by reasonable caution feels like a precipice all its own. With maestro Gianandrea Noseda briefly back at the Kennedy Center podium - he'll lead a surprise program with NSO soloists on June 3 before heading back to Italy, where he lives, until September - the orchestra offered a rousing and deliciously varied return to slightly reduced form. Friday's program centered on a bracing account of Shostakovich's 1st piano concerto, led by the powerhouse Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov, bookended by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's repeatedly swoonworthy "Four Noveletten" and the brisk and brilliant third of Haydn's London symphonies, No. 95. (Noseda's Haydn kick continues apace; he led No. 96 earlier this spring in a filmed performance.) And while each note had a nearly medicinal effect, each was also a reminder of the acoustic value of human bodies - preferably a couple thousand of them - absorbing the force and grace of the orchestra's excitement. As close as we all finally were to the musicians, it was an effort throughout to bridge that faraway feeling, as the concentrated force of the NSO under Noseda diffused slightly as it searched the space for listeners. Of course, that's a problem that patience alone can fix. Whatever acoustic obstacles the room presented, Noseda and Co. surmounted with bright, muscular sound that as deftly retained Coleridge-Taylor's elegant delicacy as it released Haydn's explosive tensions. Coleridge-Taylor was born in London in 1875, the son of an English mother and a physician from Sierra Leone. After showing early promise singing in church choirs, he would go on to be one of the first Black students at the Royal College of Music. His breakthrough came at 23 with his setting of Longfellow's popular "The Song of Hiawatha" - with the 1898 premiere later described by Sir Hubert Parry as "one of the most remarkable events in modern English musical history." Post-"Hiawatha" and before his death at 37 in 1912, his music started to incorporate a wider sweep of vernaculars. "What Brahms has done for the Hungarian folk music, Dvorak for the Bohemian, and Grieg for the Norwegian, I have tried to do for Negro melodies," he wrote in his introduction to his "Twenty-Four Negro Melodies" (1905), for which Booker T. Washington wrote the preface. The "Noveletten" comprise four shortish character pieces for strings, tambourine and triangle (shoutout to timpanist Scott Christian, who had the latter well-handled). And while they don't yet demonstrate the pan-Africanism that would later imbue his compositions, they certainly do demonstrate the composer's facility with embracing and enhancing the colors of late Romanticism. (I was immediately in the mood afterward to hear Elgar's "Serenade for Strings.") Noseda let the suite breathe deeply - it felt a bit like a test of the room - facilitating a fascinating conversation between frequencies, and casting light into all of Coleridge-Taylor's corners. One post-pandemic perk is that audiences everywhere are likely to start hearing much more of him - or should. The last time I saw Trifonov play this concerto was a few hours before the concert, at home, on YouTube, in a performance from 2013 with St. Petersburg's Mariinsky Orchestra. Even then, at a boyish-looking 22, he attacked the turns and tilts of the concerto with a ferocity once described by pianist Martha Argerich as a "demonic element." On Friday, that element was there again, right in front of us, bursting into far fuller form - or maybe that was just his beard. Trifonov brought his now-distinct balance of brute force and beauty (frequently showcased on "Silver Age," his most recent recording of works by Stravinsky, Prokofiev and Scriabin), but augmented it with a detectable extra dollop of menace. Noseda's handling of the Lento movement guided its gentle surges of color - through which William Gerlach's steady co-star of trumpet shot like a beam of dawn - and its brushes with silence. Taking the movement into his own hands, Trifonov slowed the tempo to the point you thought the music might break. Shostakovich's punchlines and interjections seemed more barbed and sarcastic in Trifonov's hands, and he attacked the cadenzas of the rollicking finale with stormy alternations of fleet-fingered ease and furious typing. Gerlach admirably kept pace with the finale's rapid-fire finish - which felt like a wake-up call in the middle of the evening. (Overheard at intermission: "Boy, that Shostakovich sure is growing on me.") After the intermission, and just before leading us all into his high-spirited Haydn, Noseda took the microphone to address the audience. "You, for us, are a great gift, and we hope to be, for you, a great gift," he said to a burst of applause. "Usually, I talk longer - but I'm overwhelmed." From there, the Haydn spread its wings, and listening to it unfurl with a group of strangers, however downscaled, felt like keeping a dream intact. Surely, our smallish assembly experienced something like the same pleasure of those who first crowded in to hear it in 1791 - just with a lot more elbow room. TAMIU held a panel Tuesday in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month and invited Glenn Hamer, President and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, to talk about his life and how his heritage impacted him over the years. As a Jewish-American, I appreciate a chance to participate today and the focus on Jewish heritage, Hamer said. He said that like many Hispanic families, the heightened focus on family and education were prevalent growing up. Hamer was told by his parents that education was the ticket to not only financial success but to a life as an intellectual that is always learning. I also think my parents installed in me something called Tikkun Olam, which loosely means to make the world a better place, he said. To have an appreciation to realize that Im here and Ive had great opportunities, thanks to a lot of people that have helped me. There is an obligation for me to try to help and to make contributions as well. According to the Learning to Give organization, the phrase has also become synonymous with social action and the pursuit of social justice. To which he believes that anyone who has experienced success would agree that it is a collaborative effort, a give and take. From family to mentors, Hamer recommended students to reach out to experts in their fields of interest for help. With success in the Texas business sector, he said that he is filled with gratitude when he is approached by a student for direction or assistance. He referenced a moment in high school where he was told by his teacher to intern with a local member of congress. With his penchant for politics and his forgotten discussions during class, that interaction led to him multiple opportunities that made him into what he is today. I dont think Id be here today if not for that very simple bit of advice, Hamer said. So the mentorship you can provide to the students at Texas A&M, IU and those coming up in high school, it changes the world one life at a time. To ensure he supports students, he invited students on stream to reach out to him and ask for help or guidance. According to TAMIU, Hamer is an internationally recognized business leader and an advocate for Texas business and the reopening of the Mexico-U.S. border and the inner workings of the Laredo economy. With the border closure continuing until June, he continues to monitor that impact on the local economy and businesses. They also state that in Arizona, he played a central role in major tax, education, legal and health care victories, and he was a nationwide leader in the business communitys advocacy for the passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA. According to the U.S.s heritage month website, May was proclaimed Jewish American Heritage month on April 20, 2006 by then President George W. Bush in conjunction with the 350th anniversary celebration of American Jewish History. The resolution was advocated for by the Jewish Museum of Florida and South Florida Jewish community leaders and is lauded as a crowning achievement. This is all part of the TAMIU Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Committees focus to invite the community to tune into the diverse population of the community and learn more about their culture and how it influences the speaker. On Friday, as it is also Asian American Heritage Month, a similar presentation titled Addressing Asian Bias and Hate: Lessons Learned was available on TAMIUs Facebook page. cocampo@lmtonline.com CAIRO (AP) Egypt and Israel held high-level talks in both countries Sunday to shore up a fragile truce between Israel and the Hamas militant group and rebuild the Gaza Strip after a punishing 11-day war that left parts of the seaside enclave in ruins. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukry received his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi, in Cairo. The meeting is part of an effort to build on an Israel-Hamas cease-fire reached May 21 and to revive Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, which have been dormant for more than a decade, Shukry's office said. Egypt has not said how it would be able to restart talks. The hours-long visit was the first public one by an Israeli foreign minister to Egypt since 2008, according to the Israeli Embassy in Cairo. Spokesman Ahmed Hafez said Shukry called for establishing an atmosphere to relaunch serious and constructive negotiations between the two sides. He also urged both sides to refrain from any measures that could hamper efforts to revive peace talks. They also discussed the release of Israeli soldiers and citizens being held by Hamas, Israel's top diplomat said. "We all need to act to prevent strengthening extremist elements that threaten regional stability, and to ensure the return home of the missing persons and prisoners held by Hamas," Ashkenazi said. He also criticized the Palestinian Authority over its moves at the International Criminal Court and the U.N. Human Rights Council, saying such activity damages the chances of future cooperation. Ashkenazi alleged that Palestinian war crimes complaints against Israel filed over its military conduct since a 2014 war with Hamas and ongoing settlement construction are an obstacle to political dialogue. The ICC is investigating both Israel and Hamas for possible war crimes. Hamas is under investigation for random rocket fire toward Israeli communities. Despite cease-fire talks, Hamas and the smaller militant group Islamic Jihad have staged weapons parades in a show of force. On Sunday, thousands attended a Hamas rally in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya, where masked militants displayed rockets, launchers and drones. Hamas is holding the remains of two Israeli soldiers killed in a 2014 war. It also is holding two Israeli civilians who were captured after entering Gaza. As part of the cease-fire efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Abbas Kamel, Egypt's intelligence chief, in Jerusalem. Netanyahu said he had raised the issue of returning the remains of soldiers and the two civilians as well as Israeli demands to prevent Hamas from gaining strength or diverting resources meant for the civilian population. An Egyptian official said Kamel would also meet with Palestinian officials in the West Bank before heading to Gaza for talks with Hamas leaders. The intelligence agency, which is Egypts equivalent of the CIA, usually handles Egypt's ties with Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. Egypt's state-run MENA news agency said Kamel would convey a message from el-Sissi to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, affirming Egypt's full support to the Palestinian people. It said Cairo would host talks among Palestinian factions to achieve unity between those in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied areas of the West Bank. The report did not provide further details. During a visit to the region last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was seeking to bolster Abbas and weaken Hamas as part of the cease-fire efforts. Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip from Abbas' forces in 2007, leaving the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in charge of administering autonomous zones in some 40% of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist, is branded a terrorist group by Israel, the U.S. and other Western countries. Discussions with Israeli officials have touched on a set of measures that would allow materials, electricity and fuel into the territory, as well as the possible expansion of maritime space allowed for Gaza fishermen, the Egyptian official said. The role of the Palestinian Authority is central in the talks, he said. Egypt is seeking to have it deeply involved in the reconstruction process. The Egyptian official, who had close knowledge of the proceedings that led to the cease-fire, spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasnt allowed to brief reporters. The 11-day war killed more than 250 people, mostly Palestinians, and caused heavy destruction in the impoverished coastal territory. Preliminary estimates have put the damage in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Egypt was key in mediating a deal between the two sides. The official said Egypt has offered guarantees that rebuilding funds will not find its way to Hamas, possibly going through an international committee led by Egypt or the United Nations that would oversee the spending. Kamel has also discussed the situation in Jerusalem and ways to ease tensions in the holy city. That would include understandings at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where Israeli police repeatedly clashed with Palestinian demonstrators, and how to prevent the planned eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in east Jerusalem, the official said. Egypt last week invited Israel, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority for separate talks in Cairo to consolidate the Cairo-mediated cease-fire and accelerate the reconstruction process in Gaza. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is expected to visit Cairo this week, according to the group's spokesman Abdelatif al-Qanou, who also said Hamas is open to discussing a prisoner swap with Israel. A man accused of fatally shooting a man and seriously injuring another in 2018 has been sentenced to prison. Norberto Adame-Rivera was sentenced to 20 years for murder and 10 years for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The sentences will run concurrently. A jury found Adame-Rivera guilty on Thursday after five hours of deliberation. 111th District Court Judge Monica Z. Notzon presided over the jury trial that lasted four days. Webb County officials said this was the first post-pandemic criminal trial in the county. It was live streamed on YouTube to provide access to the public. Assistant District Attorneys Joaquin Rodriguez, Albrecht Riepen and Joe Rodriguez prosecuted the case. Prosecutors said Adame-Rivera fatally shot Jose Juan Martinez and injured Lester Julian Castro. The case dates back to Nov. 2, 2018, when police officers responded to a fight at Club Vibe on 6408 Crescent Loop. Several callers were reporting a large fight outside the club. As officers arrived, the crowd began to disperse. Officers dispersed the crowd and regained peace and control of the premises. At about 2:30 a.m., officers responded to a report of 15-20 shots fired in the 800 block of East Olive Street. Lester Julian Castro had called 911 saying that he and his friend, Martinez, were shot at. Castro said he was shot in the arms and was bleeding out, according to an arrest affidavit. Meanwhile, Martinez was unresponsive. Castro was taken to Laredo Medical Center for treatment while Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene, the affidavit states. LPDs crimes against persons unit took over the investigation. On Nov. 3, 2018, Adame-Rivera was arrested and charged with one count of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after being identified as a suspect in the case authorities said. History has been made for the cuisine industry in the Gateway City and San Antonio as a native Laredoan represented both cities while winning the newest episode of Food Networks Chopped which aired Tuesday night. Jesse Kuykendall, or Chef Kirk as she likes to be called, shed light on the cuisine of South Texas on the way to winning the competition. Its just pure excitement, Kuykendall said. Its one thing cooking for yourself, and its another thing when you are cooking for others as you get to enjoy watching others enjoy your food and watch their smiles and be happy, and thats how one feels inside as you serve them a big plate of badassness. According to a San Antonio media outlet, Kuykendalls victory was the first time a chef from the city has won a national television competition. Its nice actually. I am just very excited at the fact that I could do something like that, and it is something that I had never done in any competitive situation, and I came out successful, Kuykendall said. So I am glad that I was able to do some turnover for San Antonio and maybe break that losing streak that we had had for some point. Maybe future chefs start participating in this stuff, then maybe we can start putting San Antonio on the map more. Kuykendall was thrilled by the support and love she received from her native community of Laredo. She said she has never forgotten her hometown and that it was difficult to leave. She graduated from Cigarroa High School and hopes to one day return to the Gateway City. While it was an odd task at first creating a peanut butter and jelly dish with mystery items, Kuykendall said she was able to excel thanks to eating plenty of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while growing up in south Laredo. I was born and raised with PB&J, and it was very difficult to think about what they were going to throw at you, Kuykendall said. But of course PB&J to me automatically I think of salty, sweet and going on, so you just kind of get those two flavors and you kind of draw and brainstorm around that, and I am thankful that I am very prepared for something like that. PB&J was something that was throwing me off, but I said to myself that if you know these textures and these flavors, and if I am as good as I think that I am, then its going to be an easy cake walk for me. I really hope I made it seem like that, but honestly it was for me something crazy. After her victory, the Food Network reached out asking her to make another appearance, but she is undecided on whether she wants to accept the offer or first savor this victory. I know that they have reached out for another couple of other shows, but no matter what show you are reached out from you have to prepare to do an interview, and its kind of like being researched all over again, Kuykendall said. I know that I have been offered some shows as they have reached out, but I am just like right now let me soak this one in first and then maybe in about two years we can do something else. With the $10,000 prize given to the winner of the show, she does not plan to use it for something personal or even for her new businesses but rather use the money for her family. I have actually been saving my money to take my mom to vacation as she has sacrificed a lot for me and for us and the family, Kuykendall said. And if I could do this one thing back for her, then this is where I can pay some of those late night meals that I would make her do after me and my friends came back from the bar late at night. She is very deserving of taking her to a vacation, and of course once COVID passes we will make sure to go on that vacation. Friends and people around the community voiced their support for Kuykendall and her victory. Kirk, you inspire me so much, Amanda Flores Del Toro said. I was losing motivation to achieve my own goals, and I feel the drive and hunger coming back thanks to you. You represented the City of Laredo so beautifully! We are incredibly proud of you. Savor every ounce of your success. You deserve it. Local leaders also took to social media to show their appreciation for her accomplishment. Webb County Treasurer Raul L. Reyes posted, Congratulations Jesse Kuykendall a.k.a. Chef Kirk on winning Chopped! You make Laredo Proud and the south side too! The City of Laredo posted a congratulatory message on its Facebook page stating, Congratulations to Chef Jesse Kuykendall on her recent win on Food Networks television show Chopped. Chef Kirk, as she likes to be called, is a graduate from Cigarroa High School. Continue making Laredo proud Chef Kirk! One bite at a time. As the chef continues to celebrate her victory, she expects to be working many more hours in her restaurants as she knows more people will be coming in thanks to the show and the fact that restrictions from the pandemic are relaxing. She also hopes to continue fighting for her ultimate dream of getting a James Beard Foundation Award which is provided to the highest and most ethical of culinary greats in the country. She knows that with the support of the people she will be able to reach her goals fully. We are Mexicanos full of love, just supporting anybody who has a passion, and I am surprised and very happy, Kuykendall said. I cant thank everybody enough. If Laredo has taught me anything, it is that the city has taught me the flavors and roots where I come from, and then with San Antonio it rounded me out fully to other kinds of Mexican food. Thanks to these beautiful places and beautiful food that we have, now I know that this can take you to different places and parts around the world, so I would tell any chef or future chef to not stop cooking. Kuykendall and her various businesses can be followed on social media under the handles of Jess.kuykendall for herself on Instagram, Milpafoodtruck and Milpaattheyard on Instagram for her businesses, and Chef Jesse Kirk on Facebook. jorge.vela@lmtonline.com Midwife Rebecca Hay administers the first vaccination of the day to Morris Hodges. No fear of needles. Brian Cave smiled throughout as he received an injection from Dr Tony Townsend. Mahurangis first Covid-19 vaccination centre opened last week and retired resident Morris Hodges was the first to get the jab on the first official day of operation. It was available. It was offered to me and I think everybody should get vaccinated. I think its a duty to get vaccinated, he said afterwards. Morris was closely followed by retired bank manager Brian Cave, 87, who said he had no apprehensions about the vaccination and decided to get the injection as a precaution. I feel as good as gold now I have had it done, he said. Both men will need to return for a second shot in about 3 weeks. The vaccination centre is operated by Coast to Coast Health Care, at 72 School Road in Wellsford. Any Mahurangi resident who is eligible for vaccination can phone any Coast to Coast health clinic to make an appointment. Those currently eligible are those aged 65 or over, Maori, Pacific Islanders, frontline health workers, managed isolation and quarantine workers, and people with high health needs. The rest of the population will start being vaccinated from next month. Getting the vaccination takes about 30 minutes, which includes a 20-minute observation period following the injection. Coast to Coast director Dr Tim Malloy said it was great to be able to open the centre, but added that it was ridiculous that previously Mahurangi residents had to travel to Auckland to be vaccinated. Yet again we were being disadvantaged because we live in the country, he said. It was always from my perspective inevitable that somehow the system would have to bring the vaccine to the people and not the other way around. Seeing this eventuate is very satisfying. Dr Malloy said it took about three weeks to modify the Hauora Trust building to create the vaccination centre and local tradies had been outstanding. He also praised local health workers who had trained to be vaccinators and stepped up to staff the centre. They include off-duty nurses, a pharmacist, a midwife and a physiotherapist. Initially, the centre will be open five days a week, but this will likely expand to seven days. When running at full capacity, the centre is expected to perform around 70 vaccinations a day. The medals are attractively displayed but the man in the photograph is not identified. A set of medals belonging to a World War II veteran has mysteriously turned up in a Matheson Bay home, but the homeowner has no idea where they came from and who they belong to. The five medals have been mounted in a photo frame and include the 1939-45 Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and NZ War Service Medal The 1939-45 Star suggests the owner may have served in the Battle of Britain and the Pacific Star indicates he may have fought in Burma. Also in the photo frame is a black and white photograph of a man in civilian dress but nothing is written on the back of the photo to indicate who he is. The medals were found in the basement of Dean and Jacqui Bells former home at 29 Kendale Drive. The couple moved out of the house about a month ago. After all their possessions had been removed, Dean toured the house one last time to ensure nothing had been left behind. He found the medals in the basement. They were in a drawer underneath one of two built-in bunk beds. As they were about to leave the area, Dean and Jacqui entrusted the medals to neighbours Tony and Suzi Scott. Suzi says over the last seven years the house has frequently been let out as a holiday rental and its assumed that somebody who stayed in the home left the medals behind. Suzi wonders if it could be someone who came to Matheson Bay to attend a funeral or perhaps an Anzac Day service. However, Suzi says extensive checks on former tenants who rented the house, including some now living in the UK, have turned up nothing. She says she and her husband have even walked around the Matakana War Memorial to see if they can match the photo in the frame with pictures of veterans there. However, this was also unsuccessful. Suzi is eager to connect with anyone who might know anything about the medals or who the owner is, so they might be returned. If nobody can be found, she suspects she may hand them over to the Waiouru Army Museum. Anyone with information on the medals should contact Suzi on 021 247 2434. The dogs trained on multiple drugs alert in the same way for all of them, so its impossible to tell whether they are indicating the presence of marijuana or an illicit drug. The dogs also cannot distinguish between a small, legal amount of marijuana or a larger, still-illegal amount of the drug. For police, that means they can no longer be used to establish probable cause for a search. Lockport, NY (14094) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 59F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Edgeworthstown District Development Association has received 11,250 under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme, a programme run by the Heritage Council. The funding will go towards providing access to important archival material relating to Maria Edgeworth. Maria Edgeworth, who was born in 1768 and died in Edgeworthstown in 1849, was a prolific Anglo-Irish writer of adults and childrens literature. The grant is part of a 1.2 million package allocated to community groups and not-for-profit organisations under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme across Ireland. This follows on from an award of 374,599 made to community heritage projects in April 2021. Ensure you get a print copy of the Loudoun Times-Mirror delivered weekly to your home or business! Complete online access is included with all print subscriptions purchased online. Plus, up to four other members of your household can share online access through this subscription with their own, individual linked accounts at no additional charge. (Are you a current advertiser? Ask your sales rep for our special advertiser rate code!) (Alliance News) - More than half of people in their 30s in England have received a coronavirus vaccination in a period of little over two weeks, new figures reveal. NHS England said that, since it began opening up the vaccine rollout to this age group on May 13, some 53% of those aged 30 to 39 have been given at least one dose. People aged 30 to 31 were the most recent group to be invited for their jab a from Wednesday a with more than five million appointments made through the national booking service within 72 hours. The data comes as a scientific adviser warned confusion over the government's handling of Covid restrictions was undermining efforts to control the virus. Stephen Reicher, a psychologist on the Sage sub-committee advising ministers on behavioural science, said the government was in a "pickle" because it appeared to have abandoned the "data not dates" principle. The NHS, meanwhile, is asking people aged 50 and older, as well as those who are clinically vulnerable, to bring forward their second Covid-19 vaccination to help combat the spread of the B1.617.2 variant first identified in India. It follows the Joint Committee on Vaccination & Immunisation recommending earlier this month that the second dose interval be shortened from 12 weeks to eight for people in priority cohorts. NHS England said that, so far, 600,000 people have been invited to rearrange their second jab through the national booking service, with around a quarter moving their appointment earlier. Overall, more than 32 million people have been vaccinated with a first dose in England, almost three-quarters of the total adult population, while more than 21 million people have had both doses. NHS Chief Executive Simon Stevens said: "It is remarkable that, in little over two weeks since people in their 30s began getting their invites, more than half have now had their first dose. "This success is no happy accident but the result of months of careful planning and the sheer hard work and dedication of NHS staff. "The Covid-19 vaccine is our most effective weapon against coronavirus and the best way of protecting yourself and loved ones, so, if you do one thing this bank holiday weekend, book your lifesaving jab and, crucially, if you're contacted by the NHS to do so, bring forward your second dose of vital protection." UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he is "absolutely thrilled" at the progress in the 30s age group and thanked those coming forward "to do their bit to defeat the virus". He added: "As we enjoy the reopening of pubs and restaurants again, vaccines will play a crucial role in protecting us and those around us. "Vaccines are the best way out of this pandemic and I urge everybody to take up the offer when eligible." Meanwhile, British intelligence operatives reportedly now believe it is "feasible" the pandemic began with a leak from a research laboratory in Wuhan, China. The Times says the development, which Beijing has angrily denied, has prompted US diplomatic sources to share their concerns "we are one wet market or bio lab away from the next spillover". By Tom Pilgrim, PA source: PA Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Two-thirds of retailers in the UK may be hit with legal action in June, industry experts said on Sunday, as the clock ticks closer to the end of a moratorium on "aggressive" rent collection. The British Retail Consortium said total rent debt in the sector is thought to be around GBP2.9 billion. According to the most recent BRC retail vacancy monitor, one in seven shops in the UK lie empty as the sector faced prolonged shop closures due to Covid-19 restrictions. "In exactly one month (30 June 2021), the moratorium on aggressive debt collection from commercial landlords will end, opening up thousands of retailers to legal action. With many retailers closed for large periods during the last fifteen months, many have accrued huge debts that they are only just beginning to be able to pay," the BRC said. "A new survey of retailers by the BRC shows that two-thirds of retailers have been told by landlords that they will be subject to legal measures from July, once the moratorium on aggressive debt enforcement ends. Almost one third (30%) say they have already faced county court judgements from commercial landlords." BRC Chief Executive Helen Dickinson called for more UK government help for the sector, including the ringfencing of rent debt for beleaguered retailers. By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Especially because things we consider very important from making sure that were sparking an electric vehicle revolution and that it happens in the U.S. with American workers on American soil, to the presidents commitment to make sure that we get rid of 100% of lead pipes in this country we didnt see as much of that in the counterproposal, Buttigieg said. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account to continue reading. To subscribe, click here. Already a subscriber? Click here. Marietta, GA (30060) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. NNE winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. NNE winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. As a Black man, I know first-hand what it is to live under bigotry and racism and violence, he said as rain pounded on a tarp covering local dignitaries and supporters. We will stand side-by-side with our Asian community and say you will not be fearful of walking the streets of your city. Atlanta, GA (30303) Today Scattered thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 68F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 68F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Marietta, GA (30060) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 68F. N winds at 10 to 15 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 68F. N winds at 10 to 15 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. Chance of rain 40%. As lawmakers in the GOP-controlled state finalized the controversial bill, Biden denounced it as part and parcel of a shameful coast-to-coast effort to keep as many people of color as possible from voting after a record-setting turnout in 2020. One of the souls who didnt meet Gillibrands criterion for bravery said Sunday that the Justice Department should be the body to investigate the Jan. 6 siege, in which key questions about the organizers and Trumps role remain unanswered. Press Release May 30, 2021 Dela Rosa credits OFW groups' help in crafting the dep't of overseas Filipinos proposed measure SENATOR Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa has expressed gratitude to groups of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) for their contribution in crafting the Department of Migrant Workers and Overseas Filipinos (DMWOF) proposed measure. In his co-sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 2234 (SBN 2234), which seeks to create the DMWOF, Dela Rosa said he had consulted with several OFW groups to find ways in addressing the grievances of Filipino workers abroad through the creation of a new department. Some of the groups that the Mindanaoan senator had met with were the Bantay at Kasangga ng OFW, Advocates & Keepers Organization of OFW, Batangueno ng Saudi Arabia, Horsegate Defender &Trumpet Blowers, OFW Council of Leaders, United Filipino Global, OFW-Reintegration And Development, Incorporated, and Values Formation Council Philippines International, Incorporated. "Sa ating mga OFW at OFW groups, maraming salamat po sa inyong oras na inilaan para tulungan ang Senado sa pagbalangkas ng panukalang batas na ito," Dela Rosa said. SBN 2234, under Committee Report No. 264 sponsored by Senator Joel Villanueva last May 25, is the consolidated bill for several similar proposals in the Senate, including Dela Rosa's Senate Bill No. 2110, which had sought for the creation of the Department of Overseas Filipinos. "It has always been one of my advocacies to help craft the most comprehensive and extensive policies and programs that will protect the rights and promote the welfare of our kababayans abroad," he said. He said the creation of a single department (DMWOF) solely devoted to promoting the welfare and instituting a higher standard of safety of all overseas Filipinos will indeed harmonize and integrate the functions of the various agencies and offices that will make the delivery of services more accessible and available. I promise you, the day will come when the mention of the name of your son or daughter, husband, wife they will in fact bring not a tear to your eye, but a smile to your lips, he said. I hope that day comes sooner than later. Thanks to social media platforms, celebrities have a space where they can share their opinions with people and connect with them without any barriers. At times, intentionally or unintentionally, celebs do end up offending people with problematic comments. For celebrities in a powerful position who have thousands of followers, people expect them to carry themselves a bit more responsibly. There have been multiple instances when celebs have been targeted for their inappropriate remarks and heres a list of five such celebs who have been bashed by the public for their casteist or sexist remarks. 1. Randeep Hooda Randeep Hooda landed in troubled waters after an old video surfaced wherein he is seen cracking a problematic, sexist joke on politician Mayawati, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. A Twitter user shared the video and tweeted, If this does not explain how casteist and sexist this society is, especially towards Dalit women, I dont know what will. the joke, the audacity, the crowd. Randeep Hooda, a top Bollywood actor talking about a dalit woman, who has been the voice of the oppressed (sic). if this does not explain how casteist and sexist this society is, especially towards dalit women, i dont know what will. the joke, the audacity, the crowd. randeep hooda, top bollywood actor talking about a dalit woman, who has been the voice of the oppressed. pic.twitter.com/lVxTJKnj53 Agatha Srishtie please DM with SOS tweets (@SrishtyRanjan) May 25, 2021 Since the video went viral, people on social media have been demanding an apology and have also been trending Arrest Randeep Hooda. The actor has also been removed as the ambassador of the Convention for the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), United Nation's environmental treaty, following the controversy. 2. Yuvika Chaudhary Former Bigg Boss contestant Yuvika Chaudhary found herself in major trouble for using a casteist slur. In a vlog posted by her, she used a certain word to describe how she looked. After the video went viral, people started to demand her arrest since they were offended by her inappropriate remark. Now she'll say she didn't know the meaning. Alright. This is how our industry is! Not shocked but disappointed. She is literate but as illiterate #ArrestYuvikaChoudhary #Casteist_Termite #munmunduttavideo @yuvikachoudhary pic.twitter.com/4S7JDlTJjK Nivedita Bansal (@Nivbansal2403) May 25, 2021 She apologized for her mistake and said that she didnt have such intentions but people kept dragging her. She shared one more video wherein she said, I understood my fault, said sorry and learnt my lesson. But now what? People keep on dragging this rather than talking about other topics. We have so many bigger topics to talk about from womens safety to the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. Were losing our loved ones, and people are talking about, Arrey usne yeh kar dia. I feel really bad. The response that Im getting for my mistake is actually sad. With the way the thing is trending, Im thinking people have so much time to discuss this, leaving the bigger issues aside, despite me saying sorry for it. Agar mudda banana hai toh bade issue ka banao. If I made a mistake, bol do ke aapko knowledge nahi hai ya correct me. She clarified, I didnt know the meaning of the word I used. Why would I hurt someone? I got to know about it after people started trolling me. Im really sorry. I never intended to hurt anyone. 3. Munmun Dutta Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma actor Munmun Dutta also said she didn't want to look like a particular community member. After facing the backlash, she immediately apologized but people werent convinced with her apology. In her apology, Munmun Dutta wrote, "This is about a video that I posted yesterday wherein one word used by me has been misinterpreted. It was never said with the intent of insult, intimidate, humiliate or hurt anyone's feelings. Because of my language barrier, I was genuinely misinformed about the meaning of the word. Once I was made aware of its meaning, I immediately took the part down. I have the utmost respect for every single person from every caste, creed, or gender and acknowledge their immense contribution to our society or nation. I sincerely would like to apologize to every single person who has been unintentionally hurt by the usage of the word and I sincerely regret the same." 4. Kapil Sharma Kapil Sharma was mired in controversy when he cracked a joke that mentioned the name of a religious deity of the Kayastha community. This didnt go down too well with the people of the community who demanded his apology. He took to Twitter to convey his apology and wrote, Dear Kayastha community, I heard about The Kapil Sharma Show episode telecast on 28 March 2020. If the mention of Shri Chitragupta Ji has hurt your sentiments, then I and my entire team apologize to you. Our intention wasnt to hurt anyone. I pray to God that may you all be safe, happy, and keep smiling. With love and respect. 5. Mukesh Khanna Mukesh Khanna, best known for shows Shaktimaan and Mahabharat, made a sexist statement that didnt go down well with people who then bashed him on Twitter. In the interview, given to The Filmy Charcha, the actor was asked about the Me Too campaign and he said, Aurat ka kaam hai ghar sambhalna, jo maaf karna mein kabhi kabhi bol bhi jata hu (The job of a woman is to take care of the house). Problem kaha se shuru hui hai #MeToo ki jab aurato ne bhi kaam karna shuru kar diya (The problem of #MeToo began when women started working). Aaj aurat mard ke saath kandhe se kandha milane ki baat karti hai (Today, women talk about walking shoulder-to-shoulder with men). He added, Log womens liberation ki baat karenge, lekin main aapko bata doon, problem yahin se shuru hoti hai (People talk about womens liberation, but let me tell you that where the problem begins). Sabse pehla jo member suffer karta hai woh ghar ka bachcha suffer karta hai, jisko maa nahi milti (The first person who suffers is the child because he doesnt have a mother taking care of him at home). Aaya ke saath baith kar Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu dekh raha hota hai (He sits and watches TV with his nanny all day). Jab se shuruat hui, tab se yeh bhi shuruat hui ke main bhi wohi karungi jo mard karta hai. Nahi, mard mard hai aurat aurat hai (It all began when women started saying that they want to do what men do. No, a man is a man and a woman is a woman). People advised him to keep his mouth shut as he disappointed them with his comments over Me Too. What do you have to say about these incidents? Let us know in the comments section below. Tom Cruise is undeniably Hollywood's ultimate daredevil when it comes to performing his own stunts in films. Prime Video Be it free-climbing the deadly cliffs off Utah, jumping from one building to the other, or hanging off a passenger plane mid-air, the 58-year-old actor puts his body on the line to make sure that fans get the most realistic action-packed sequences possible. Netflix But doing that for a span of four decades is truly a very risky business and there have been several times when his death-defying stunts for films nearly cost Tom his life. 1. The Last Samurai Warner Bros. While shooting for 2003s The Last Samurai, Tom had to duel with co-actor Hiroyuki Sanada while being mounted on mechanical horses. In one of the takes, one of the horses was supposed to stop right before Sanada swiped a real-life samurai sword at Cruise. However, the horse failed to stop and the cast and crew feared that Tom was going to get his head cut off. Fortunately for the actor, despite great difficulty, Sanada succeeded in pulling back his sword right in time, ensuring that Cruise could return for more Mission Impossible films! 2. Edge Of Tomorrow Netflix The 2014 Sci-fi film Edge of Tomorrow, featuring Cruise, Emily Blunt, Brendan Gleeson, and Bill Paxton was undoubtedly successful in receiving a positive response from both fans and critics because of the action-packed sequences. However, in one of the scenes that involved Blunt driving in a car chase scene, the actress almost got Tom Cruise killed. Apparently, the car had a trailer attached at the back of it and Blunt was to take a hard right to let the trailer swing out behind the car, but unfortunately, the actress ended up driving the car into a tree. "We startI tear down this path, and Tom is being very quiet, and suddenly I hear him under his breath as I approach the right-hand turn, I hear him going, 'Brake, brake brake' ... I left it too late and drove us into a tree. And I almost killed Tom Cruise." said Blunt. 3. Top Gun Netflix Top Gun was one of Tom Cruise's most iconic films with his daredevil US Navy fighter pilot avatar of Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell really hitting off with fans of every generation. Shockingly though, the super hit film almost cost Cruise his life. In the scene where his on-screen best friend and partner Goose loses his life, the actor is seen lifting up the body of the deceased co-pilot, while wearing a parachute in the middle of the ocean. However, it was later revealed that Cruise was almost taken deep into the ocean by his own parachute after it started filling up with water. His co-star Barry Tub, who played the role of Wolfman in the film, said, "Cruise came as close to dying as anybody on a set I've ever seen. Luckily one of the frogmen in the chopper saw his chute ballooning out. He jumped in and cut Cruise loose right before he sank. They would have never found him. He would have been at the bottom of the ocean." 4. Oblivion Prime Video Be it the Mission Impossible series or Knight and Day, Cruise loves riding bikes and he certainly likes them fast to try nerve-wracking stunts with them in films. In the 2013 sci-fi action film, Oblivion, Cruise like always, insisted on doing his own stunts and rode a motorcycle at high speeds through a rocky mountain plain. The director, obviously, like others before him, gave in and let the actor take cruise control. However, things could have gone real bad. According to reports, Cruise lost control of the custom-made bike while going down a slope and fell off it. Fortunately, the actor used his riding abilities to land safely and got back up to finish the film in one piece. 5. Mission Impossible: Fall Out Paramount Pictures During the shooting of the sixth instalment of the Mission Impossible series, Mission Impossible: Fallout, Tom Cruise almost ended up breaking everything in his body when he miscalculated a jump while performing one of the stunts. In the film, the actor's character Ethan Hunt can be seen jumping from one building to another but painfully for the actor, he failed just short and hitting the side of a building instead. While Cruise walked it off soon after, it was revealed that he ended up breaking his ankle and could have even shattered his entire torso. However, knowing what a superhuman Tom really is, he returned to sets after being nine weeks out and finished the film. Meridian, MS (39302) Today Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low around 70F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Rainfall near an inch.. Tonight Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Low around 70F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Rainfall near an inch. Click here to log in and see all of our other subscription options for the Mesabi Tribune, including online only & auto-renewal subscriptions. The school had been the largest in the Indian Affairs residential school system, according to the statement, which noted that the children had been buried within the Tkemlups te Secwepemc community, of which members have been notified and are still grappling with the effects of residential school. In summer 2020, The New York Times coordinated a nationwide project to document the lives of Americans out of work because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study involved collaborating with 11 other local newsrooms around the U.S. The Messenger-Inquirer was the only newspaper from Kentucky in the collaboration. The resulting collection of stories was published Oct. 23, 2020, in the New York Times print edition and at nytimes.com/outofwork. The following list is the Messenger-Inquirer's local unemployment coverage from that time period; read more by clicking the "New York Times Project" header. Click on "Out Of Work In America" to go to the full CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) Growing friction with China and how to reopen borders after the pandemic will likely be among the topics discussed by the leaders of Australia and New Zealand in their first face-to-face meeting since the coronavirus outbreak prompted both countries to close their borders. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrived in the tourist resort of Queenstown for an overnight visit Sunday. He greeted his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern with a traditional Maori hongi, in which the pair pressed noses together. Morrison is the first major world leader to visit New Zealand since both countries shut their borders last year to contain the virus. The neighbors opened a quarantine-free travel bubble last month, although a recent outbreak of the virus in Melbourne has prompted New Zealand to suspend the arrangement with Victoria state. Morrison's visit came as New Zealand was dealing with extensive flooding in the Canterbury region following heavy rains. Video footage showed one farmer being rescued by helicopter from a raging river, while other swelling rivers threatened to flood thousands of homes. The choice of Queenstown for the meeting was deliberate as New Zealand tries to revive its battered tourism industry. Queenstown has been particularly hard-hit by the pandemic, although tourism operators say they expect a boost from Australian tourists during the upcoming ski season now that the travel bubble has begun. The changing dynamics with China have been a big topic in both countries. Australia's relationship with China has deteriorated significantly. China has blocked some Australian exports after Australia excluded China-based telecommunications company Huawei from its 5G phone network and called for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus. New Zealand has also been more outspoken against China on some issues in recent months, although it has so far maintained better relations with the superpower than Australia. Ardern said she would talk with Morrison about the pandemic recovery as well as key regional challenges and security issues. Our relationship with Australia is our closest and most important and this has never been more evident than in these trying times for the world, Ardern told reporters. Johnson and Symonds share one child together, Wilfred. He was born during the heart of the pandemic while Johnson was being hospitalized for his severe case of COVID-19. TORONTO (AP) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked Sunday that flags at all federal buildings be flown at half-staff to honor more than 200 children whose remains have been found buried at what was once Canadas largest Indigenous residential school one of the institutions that held children taken from families across the nation. The Peace Tower flag on Parliament Hill in the nation's capital of Ottawa was among those lowered to half-staff. To honor the 215 children whose lives were taken at the former Kamloops residential school and all Indigenous children who never made it home, the survivors, and their families, I have asked that the Peace Tower and all federal buildings be flown at half-mast, Trudeau tweeted. Mayors of communities across Ontario, including Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga and Brampton, also ordered flags lowered to honor the children. Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tkemlups te Secwepemc First Nation in British Columbia said the remains of 215 children, some as young as 3 years old, were confirmed last weekend with the help of ground-penetrating radar. She described the discovery as an unthinkable loss that was spoken about but never documented at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. From the 19th century until the 1970s, more than 150,000 First Nations children were required to attend state-funded Christian schools as part of a program to assimilate them into Canadian society. They were forced to convert to Christianity and not allowed to speak their native languages. Many were beaten and verbally abused, and up to 6,000 are said to have died. The Canadian government apologized in Parliament in 2008 and admitted that physical and sexual abuse in the schools was rampant. Many students recalled being beaten for speaking their native languages. They also lost touch with their parents and customs. Indigenous leaders have cited that legacy of abuse and isolation as the root cause of epidemic rates of alcoholism and drug addiction on reservations. Plans are underway to bring in forensics experts to identify and repatriate the remains of the children found buried on the site. The Kamloops school operated between 1890 and 1969, when the federal government took over operations from the Catholic Church and operated it as a day school until it closed in 1978. The National Truth and Reconciliation Commission has records of at least 51 children dying at the school between 1915 and 1963. Perry Bellegarde, chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said while it is not new to find graves at former residential schools, its always crushing to have that chapters wounds exposed. The chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, R. Stacey LaForme, wrote Trudeau on Saturday to ask the government to lower the flags and declare a national day of mourning. There is a lot more to be done but first and foremost, we need to do this to show love and respect to the 215 children, all of the children, and their families, LaForme said in a statement. This should be a moment that the country never forgets. Sol Mamakwa, an Indigenous opposition legislator who represents the Ontario riding of Kiiwetinoong, called on the province and Canadian government to work with all First Nations to look for remains at other defunct residential schools. It is a great open secret that our children lie on the properties of the former schools an open secret that Canadians can no longer look away from, Mamakwa said. In keeping with the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Missing Children Projects, every school site must be searched for the graves of our ancestors. Toronto Mayor John Tory said city flags would stay lowered for nine days 215 hours to represent each life. This sad story is shocking but not surprising to students of history, I dont think we know yet when these deaths occurred, said Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto. Canada of yesteryear is not the Canada of today,'' he said. KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) Thousands of Ethiopians gathered in the nation's capital Sunday to protest outside pressure on the government over its brutal war in Tigray. Protesters at the rally in Addis Ababa carried banners that criticized the United States and others in the international community who are voicing concern over atrocities in Tigray, where Ethiopian forces are hunting down the region's ousted and now-fugitive leaders. Troops from neighboring Eritrea are fighting in Tigray on the side of Ethiopian government forces, in defiance of international calls for their withdrawal. But the protesters in Addis Ababa carried placards that said Ethiopian young people denounce the western intervention. Others said Ethiopia's sovereignty was at stake. The U.S. said last week it has started restricting visas for government and military officials of Ethiopia and Eritrea, who are seen as undermining efforts to resolve the fighting in Tigray, home to an estimated 6 million of Ethiopias 110 million people. Besides the visa restrictions, Washington is imposing wide-ranging restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia. Atrocities including brutal gang-rapes, extrajudicial killings and forced evictions have been part of the violence in Tigray, according to victims, witnesses, local authorities and aid groups. Thousands of people are estimated to have died. The Ethiopian government called the U.S. action misguided and regrettable. The Ethiopian government will not be deterred by this unfortunate decision of the U.S. administration, said the statement tweeted by the ministry of foreign affairs. If such a resolve to meddle in our internal affairs and undermining the century-old bilateral ties continues unabated, the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia will be forced to reassess its relations with the United States, which might have implications beyond our bilateral relationship, said the statement. The crisis began in November after Ethiopia accused former leaders of the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, or TPLF, of ordering an attack on an Ethiopian army base in the region. Troops sent by Ethiopias leader, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, quickly ousted the TPLF from major cities and towns, but guerrilla fighting is still reported across Tigray. More than 2 million people have been displaced by the war. NEW HAVEN Nichelle Hobby is a private person, so being the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit that brought reporters to her doors was unnerving. Its a little scary. I tend to stay to myself. I keep my child to myself and now you can Google my name, Hobby said. Ultimately, however, it is worth it, she said, given the outcome of the two-year-old lawsuit that has led to detailed protocols in New Haven specifying how Health Department staff and landlords in the city must respond when they are notified that a young child has an elevated blood lead level. Its a positive outcome given what went on with Nyriel, Hobby said of her now-4-year-old daughter, Nyriel Smith. Like many cities, much of New Havens housing stock is old, the majority built before lead paint was outlawed in 1978. Studies have shown that flaking paint and lead dust, when ingested by young children, can negatively affect brain development. Hearst Connecticut Media file Due to long-standing Health Department procedures allegedly not being strictly followed, and an unannounced policy change, Nyriels home was not inspected for lead for a year after the toddler first tested positive for lead poisoning and only then because of court intervention. She was 2 in July 2018 when her first blood lead level test registered 8 micrograms per deciliter. This was followed by a reading of 6 micrograms in August 2018; 11 micrograms in December 2018; 9 micrograms in January 2019; and then 9 micrograms in February 2019. A child under the age of 6 is considered blood poisoned, according to a New Haven ordinance and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when his or her blood lead level reaches at least 5 micrograms per deciliter. To this day, I feel like it is affecting her, even though it may be out of her system. There are certain things I feel it has an effect on or possible things we dont know it has an effect on, Hobby said. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media The preschooler got high marks on intelligence, but continues to need speech therapy, Hobby said. Nyriel did not have an elevated blood lead level until she moved into an apartment in Fair Haven. Nyriel has been enrolled in the Dr. Reginald Mayo Early Child Learning Center for the past two years and, according to her mother, is doing well. She is one of five children in her class of 4-year-olds. Brian Zahn/Hearst Connecticut Media She has been back in the classroom since February, but for almost a year she and Hobby would be online when lessons for these young children went virtual not an easy task for a 4-year-old to follow. Hobby, who grew up in New Haven, was 20 when Nyriel was born, and said she feels people havent taken her seriously because of her age. I felt like basically people didnt trust my intuition about my child because of how young I am, Hobby said. I feel to this day that people underestimate that I do take care of my child. When something is wrong with my child, I am going to make sure it comes to a stop. I am going to make sure she gets what she needs to get better or to be in a good position. I am doing everything I can to make sure she has a roof over her head, continues to have food in her belly and overall just not worry about anything, Hobby said in an interview. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media As a single mother who lost her job as a custodian in the New Haven Public Schools last spring when buildings were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, her worries are many, from money concerns to the soon-expiring protection against evictions and settling Nyriel as she gets back into the labor market. Hobby said one priority for her is not transferring those anxieties to her 4-year-old. Even though I am struggling with everything I am going through every day, you cannot tell that from my child, Hobby said. The worries I go through are not reflected coming through her. I want to make sure all that stays the same, make sure she is just constantly in a good place, happy and taken care of. In a recent visit, Nyriel curled up in a chair where she usually sits when her mother reads to her. The pair then engaged in a favorite pastime. Hobby would begin by reading a page from a favorite book and Nyriel reads the next page herself, as they switch back and forth. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media Home from school with a cold, Nyriel said she missed her friends and then recited all the names of her classmates. She showed off her Girl Squad shirt after receiving a compliment. Exactly, she said. Nyriel can make her feelings known and was clear she didnt want anything to do with the cough medicine her mother was giving her. I dont want some medicine, she insisted, but then relented, swallowing it with the help of some apple juice when she was told, after a test from the doctor, she could go back to school and her friends. New Haven Legal Assistance Association attorney Amy Marx, in the class-action suit she won against the city on enforcing its lead policies, said the Health Department did not contact Hobby when the first test, in July 2018, showed Nyriel was lead poisoned. It took no action after failing to reach her in September 2018, a pattern that continued with no intervention after three more tests through February 2019, according to Marx. In court testimony, the former director of public health said that the department, without public notice, had changed its policies and decided not to inspect a housing unit until a childs blood lead level registered four times higher, at 20 micrograms per deciliter, which is the standard employed by the state. New Havens rules now are the strictest in Connecticut and its clarified lead protocols are being touted as a national model. Hobby said the city also did not send her educational materials as required by the ordinance until after she testified in court. It didnt inspect her apartment until June 2019, almost a year after Nyriel was first diagnosed, and it took a court to get that done. The updated protocols reiterate that, after a letter is sent to a parent informing them of the blood lead level, it has to be followed by phone calls and two visits to the apartment to get permission to inspect it for the source of lead. If there still is no contact, a letter will warn them that the city will seek an administrative warrant and notification of the state Department of Children and Families. We solved the problem of notifying parents, Marx said. Hobby said the most frustrating thing about the situation was her personal lack of power to get it resolved, a resolution that only happened because of complaints to the court by Marx and then the class action suit, representing an estimated 300 lead-poisoned children approved by Judge John Cordiani in August 2019. But all that took time. I couldnt do anything about it because I am not a doctor, Im not an abatement person. ... I cant do that stuff. I was trying to get people ... to do their job, Hobby said of the Health Department at that time. The case was settled, with the strict updated procedures in place, at the direction of current Mayor Justin Elicker. The parties this month announced a proposed settlement they expect will be approved by the Housing Court within a month. Elicker said at the time that the improved practices put in place are the protections that young children need and that it is the right thing to do to ensure our kids are safe. City Health Director Maritza Bond put policies reflecting specifics of the agreement in place. Now 25 , Hobby said with all the stress on my body, I feel like Im 62. Hobby said she is looking for a new apartment to leave the bad memories behind. She said she has gotten approval for a housing subsidy and may take advantage of assistance to go back to college. Nyriel is scheduled to attend kindergarten in August at Amistad Academy Elementary School. Hobby said the 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. schedule will make it easier for her to work. A lot of things are actually going a lot better, she said. As for Nyriel, she has her own plans. We are going to the water, to the ocean, she said. Beach plans are in the future for the family. MILFORD The Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce has a new president at the helm. Christine Matthews Paine has been selected as the Milford Chamber of Commerces new president, succeeding Pam Staneski. Paine will officially begin on June 1, 2021. Paine, a Milford native, said she was honored and a bit humbled at her new role. As someone who has grown up in Milford, I was honored (to be considered), said Paine. I did (seriously consider) taking this role because it meant a serious commitment for me, but also from my husband and children. Board Chair Paige Miglio said Paines deep roots and history with the community made choosing her to replace Staneski easier. Christines extended family has called Milford home for generations, and she brings excitement and passion, along with a vision for our future and benefit for our members, she said. Paine said one of her goals is to provide business leaders with the tools to succeed by ensuring the chamber continually evolved to meet the changing demands of the business community. I feel it is the chambers responsibility to strengthen business relationships through networking and shared interactions, she said. Now is the time to support our members in recovering and excelling through the impact caused by the pandemic. She said she viewed the chamber presidency as more than a step on the career ladder. This is by no means a career choice for me. Its about helping to create a strong community for all of our families, Paine said. Im excited to help our business community continue to grow. I look forward to a collaboration with all our members. Paine has almost three decades of experience in corporate sales and nonprofit leadership, including marketing, communications, public relations, donor partnerships, fundraising and business relationships, Miglio said. She is a member of the Devon Rotary and the Association of Fundraising Professionals, among other professional and charitable organizations. Additionally, she has served on several local boards, including the Milford United Way. In addition to her business experience, Paine has a degree in marketing from the University of Rhode Island, and a masters degree in public administration from the University of New Haven. Locally she graduated St. Gabriel School and Lauralton Hall in Milford. The variety of experience will be a benefit in working with the chambers varied membership, she said. I understand that this position is not based on emotions but on numbers they never lie, Paine said. The decades I have spent in the non-profit arena have given me the ability to understand that both members and donors may come to the chamber for different reasons. Our responsibility is to pay attention to what those reasons are. The chamber should continue to celebrate our members for being a part of our communitys success. After a midshipman facing expulsion settled a lawsuit against the head of the Naval Academy, he graduated Friday as a member of the Class of 2021 and commissioned as a Navy ensign. Ensign Chase Standage was listed as a member of the 14th company on the graduation program. Standage, who majored in aerospace engineering, was also listed in the program as one of the members of the Voluntary Graduate Education Program Scholars. He will complete the program he's in before reporting to Pensacola, Florida, for flight training, according to the Naval Academy. His attorney Jeffrey McFadden did not return a call for comment. Following the settlement in February, Standage's status at the Naval Academy was unclear. He had completed all of his educational work and was attending graduate school at the University of Maryland through the Voluntary Graduate Education Program at the time. He was told he would not receive a service assignment when his classmates did in November. Standage's ability to attend graduate school, starting in spring 2021, was in jeopardy if he was separated from the Naval Academy, according to his lawsuit against Superintendent Vice Adm. Sean Buck and Kenneth Braithwaite, who was serving as secretary of the Navy at the time of the lawsuit. Standage sued Buck and Braithwaite in order to block his separation in September after the academy moved to expel him for a series of 40 tweets from June that academy leadership criticized as inappropriate and, in some cases, racist. His lawsuit claimed Buck and Braithwaite violated his First and Fifth Amendment rights. Standage's tweets, which were all responses to other tweets, included saying Breonna Taylor "received justice" when she was killed by police and that "it only takes one drone strike" when responding to a tweet about antifa. Federal Judge Ellen Hollander initially denied the case in December because Standage had not exhausted all of his administrative options. Once Braithwaite decided to separate Standage in January, the midshipman reopened his case. Prior to the settlement, Standage had appealed the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Of the 1,084 graduates Friday, nine did not commission, according to the Naval Academy. An additional two midshipmen will have a delayed commissioning. A midshipman may graduate but not commission for various reasons, including being medically unfit to serve in the military. This article is written by Heather Mongilio from The Capital, Annapolis, Md. and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com. KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) Thousands of Ethiopians gathered in the nation's capital Sunday to protest outside pressure on the government over its brutal war in Tigray. Protesters at the rally in Addis Ababa carried banners that criticized the United States and others in the international community who are voicing concern over atrocities in Tigray, where Ethiopian forces are hunting down the region's ousted and now-fugitive leaders. Troops from neighboring Eritrea are fighting in Tigray on the side of Ethiopian government forces, in defiance of international calls for their withdrawal. But the protesters in Addis Ababa carried placards that said Ethiopian young people denounce the western intervention. Others said Ethiopia's sovereignty was at stake. The U.S. said last week it has started restricting visas for government and military officials of Ethiopia and Eritrea, who are seen as undermining efforts to resolve the fighting in Tigray, home to an estimated 6 million of Ethiopias 110 million people. Besides the visa restrictions, Washington is imposing wide-ranging restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia. Atrocities including brutal gang-rapes, extrajudicial killings and forced evictions have been part of the violence in Tigray, according to victims, witnesses, local authorities and aid groups. Thousands of people are estimated to have died. The Ethiopian government called the U.S. action misguided and regrettable. The Ethiopian government will not be deterred by this unfortunate decision of the U.S. administration, said the statement tweeted by the ministry of foreign affairs. If such a resolve to meddle in our internal affairs and undermining the century-old bilateral ties continues unabated, the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia will be forced to reassess its relations with the United States, which might have implications beyond our bilateral relationship, said the statement. The crisis began in November after Ethiopia accused former leaders of the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, or TPLF, of ordering an attack on an Ethiopian army base in the region. Troops sent by Ethiopias leader, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, quickly ousted the TPLF from major cities and towns, but guerrilla fighting is still reported across Tigray. More than 2 million people have been displaced by the war. This article was written by RODNEY MUHUMUZA from The Associated Press and was legally licensed through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com. Army Capt. Kristen Bell stunned XVIII Airborne Corps leaders at a forum on preventing suicides in the ranks with her warning that soldiers assigned frequently to military funeral details are at risk of taking their own lives. "Capt. Bell presented eye-opening statistics regarding the volume of soldier suicides following duty on military funeral details. Everyone in the room was surprised," said Col. Joe Buccino, spokesman for the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Bell drew on her experience last year as commander of the 97th Transportation Company, where she assigned 44 soldiers to a total of 52 military funerals from January through March 2020. In June 2020, one of those soldiers she assigned, a sergeant, died by suicide, Bell said in an interview with Military.com. Read Next: Troops Would See 2.7% Pay Raise Under Proposed DoD Budget "I know it was something that deeply, emotionally affected him based on the conversations he would have with his father after presenting funeral honors" so many times over a short period, Bell said of the sergeant. "There were other members of that detail that experienced other hardships." In 2020, a total of five deaths by suicide among soldiers were recorded at Fort Eustis, Virginia; three of the five took part in honors details she had assigned, Bell said. There were other problems, she added. "We did see an increase in legal troubles among those that served on the [military funeral] team whether it was involvement in illegal substance use, DUIs -- that's where I made the correlation [that the emotional stress of serving on honors details could put soldiers at risk]," Bell said. In a May 25 presentation on suicide prevention to the XVIII Airborne Corps' "Dragon's Lair" program, a format based on ABC's "Shark Tank" show, Bell recommended that the Army conduct mandatory, six-month behavioral assessments of all soldiers to gauge whether they might be at risk. Making the assessments mandatory would remove the "stigma" that can attach to soldiers who seek help for emotional stress, she said. "What I proposed for the change is for systematic and routine behavioral health screening ... specifically for a soldier before they participate in something such as funeral honors," Bell explained. Her warning about the risk to soldiers assigned to military funerals may have come as a surprise to the leadership, but not to Sgt. Maj. Emmanuel Emekaekwue, the senior logistics noncommissioned officer for XVIII Airborne Corps. He commended Bell for her presentation and also attested to the emotional strain on soldiers from repeated assignments to military funerals, citing his own experience while attending the Army Sergeant Major's Academy in Fort Bliss, Texas. In an interview, Emekaekwue, a 23-year Army veteran with two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, said one of his instructors told him that "when he was a battalion command sergeant major, he had soldiers on this detail [for military funerals]." "He had a squared-away team. They were a go-to group [for the honors details]. It never dawned on him 'til somebody came and talked to him and said, 'Hey, Sergeant Major, we gotta switch these guys out because they're taking emotional heat doing this over and over,'" said Emekaekwue, who is originally from Nigeria. In his own presentation to the Dragon's Lair panel, as well as in an earlier article in the NCO Journal, Emaekaekwue stressed the importance of top leadership in taking a hands-on approach to suicide prevention. "I've been in the Army long enough to see that when leaders take something seriously, changes happen," he said. Specifically, he said that battalion commanders and command sergeants major should take more time to speak with company commanders and first sergeants on how to deal with stresses that may be affecting their troops. The top leaders have more experience, he said. "It's just another set of eyes. This is more eyes to help the population of soldiers that are hurting the most," he explained. Suicides Increase Across the Services Dr. Rajeev Ramchand, a senior behavioral scientist at Rand Corp., said the concern that soldiers assigned to military funerals might be at risk is new to him, but added he is not surprised by Bell's analysis. "Every individual has a different level of vulnerability" in stress situations, said Ramchand, co-director of Rand's Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute. "The same experience is going to affect different people differently." In the case of military funerals, there could be a risk of emotional distress for those participating, "whereas others could do it quite well." The Army would do well to consider careful preparation for those assigned to military funerals and making sure they know that support is available, he said. The possibility that participating in funerals might be a factor in the increase in suicides across all the service branches did not figure in recent reports from the Defense Suicide Prevention Office. According to the Defense Department's 2019 Annual Suicide Report, which was taken before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, there were 344 suicides among active-duty personnel in 2019, up from 326 the year before. The rate of suicides per 100,000 service members was 25.9 -- the highest level since the military began tracking suicides in the ranks in 2000. Last September, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown said he expected the suicide numbers to increase as a result of the pandemic. "COVID adds stress," he said at the Air Force Association's virtual Air, Space & Cyber conference in 2020. "From a suicide perspective, we are on a path to be as bad as last year. And that's not just an Air Force problem, this is a national problem because COVID adds some additional stressors -- a fear of the unknown for certain folks." The latest quarterly report from the Defense Suicide Prevention Office appears to back up Brown's concerns about the pandemic's impact on suicides. The report, released in early April, showed that the military recorded 156 deaths by suicide among all services, including active-duty, National Guard and Reserve troops, from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 last year. The 156 deaths represented a 25% increase from the 125 suicides that occurred in the last quarter of calendar year 2019, the report said. At Fort Bragg last week, the Dragon's Lair program heard five presentations on suicide prevention from among a total of 84 proposals submitted from soldiers of the XVIII Airborne Corps, as well as from soldiers in Army units unaffiliated with the Corps. Lt. Gen. Michael "Erik" Kurilla, the Corps commander, "was particularly interested in Kristen Bell's idea for mandatory behavioral health checks for all soldiers every six months. This idea, we believe, can go a long way to destigmatizing seeking help," said Buccino, the spokesman for the Corps. All soldiers would be required to get the check, "so there is no stigma," he said in a statement to Military.com. Others who submitted presentations at Dragon's Lair and spoke with Military.com included Spc. Skyler Boyer and Col. Will Bimson, command surgeon for the XVIII Airborne Corps. Both praised Bell's initiative in bringing forward her concerns about soldiers participating in military funerals. "I personally think it's a great idea," Boyer said of Bell's call for mandatory, six-month behavioral assessment evaluations for all soldiers. His own submission called for the Army to make better use of the enormous amount of data it collects on soldiers to gauge unit morale, including the periodic command climate surveys. His recommendation: Do it by text message. "The problem is most people don't take these surveys seriously," Boyer said. "People tend to glaze over emails. I think with text the response rate would be a lot higher." In an interview, Bimson said that Kurilla had tasked him as the Corps' surgeon to follow up on the feasibility of implementing Bell's recommendations. "I mean, that sounds like a high-risk group of people," Bimson said of the military funeral details. He said that one of the issues in suicide prevention is realizing that "suicide is infectious." If someone in the soldier's family has died by suicide, "then you're at increased risk," Bimson said. His own recommendation on suicide prevention involved addressing the spiritual needs of soldiers, and giving priority to spirituality in the same way that the Army emphasizes physical fitness. "Everyone knows that you're not supposed to evangelize, you're not supposed to proselytize," Bimson said, but said there are non-denominational methods to give soldiers a spiritual grounding to focus on their purpose in life and why they're here. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Related: Army's 18th Airborne Corps Turns to 'Dragon's Lair' for Ideas to Address Suicide A U.S. missile defense test that likely was the one delayed off Kauai earlier this week due to the presence of a Russian surveillance ship was carried out today with a salvo of SM-6 ship-fired missiles failing to intercept a medium-range ballistic missile target. The Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, said it conducted what it called Flight Test Aegis Weapon System 31. "The objective of the test was to demonstrate the capability of ballistic missile defense (BMD )-configured Aegis ship to detect, track, engage and intercept a medium-range ballistic missile target with a salvo of two Standard Missile-6 Dual II (BMD-initialized ) missiles. However, an intercept was not achieved, " the agency said in a news release. Program officials have initiated an "extensive review " to determine the cause of any problems which may have prevented a successful intercept, the agency added. A Russian spy ship loitering in international waters off Kauai for several days had delayed a planned missile test, an official said Wednesday. U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor said in a statement at the time that it was "aware of the Russian vessel operating in international waters in the vicinity of Hawaii, and will continue to track it through the duration of its time here. Through maritime patrol aircraft, surface ships and joint capabilities, we can closely monitor all vessels in the Indo-Pacific area of operations." An official previously said the test was delayed because the United States did not want the Russian vessel to "collect on " the effort. The Missile Defense Agency said today that, "We executed this test within the test window so there was no delay." It was not immediately clear if the Russian ship had departed the Hawaiian islands. U.S. Naval Institute News, which was the first to report the presence of the ship, said it was the Russian Navy Vishnya-class auxiliary general intelligence, or AGI, ship Kareliya (SSV-535 ). The Vladivostok-based ship is one of seven AGIs specializing in signals intelligence, USNI News said. The website navyrecognition.com reported in 2017 that the Kareliya had been mothballed for more than 10 years until January 2014 when a "comprehensive repair and retrofit of the ship " was performed. After that, it was turned over to the Russian Pacific Fleet. USNI News said the Russian ship was operating 13 nautical miles west of Kauai in international waters. Territorial waters begin at 12 nautical miles. "Russia is testing hypersonic weapons and maybe seeking insights into our missile systems that might enhance their hypersonic weapons ability to penetrate our defenses, " said retired Navy Capt. Carl Schuster, a former director of operations at U.S. Pacific Command's Joint Intelligence Center and an adjunct professor at Hawaii Pacific University. He added that the missile defense test "is an intelligence opportunity that is hard to ignore." Riki Ellison, chairman of the nonprofit Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, said the test may have been focused on the emerging hypersonic threatincreasing the interest of Russia. "The planned test could be leveraging the vast (Pacific ) range for testing United States capability on hypersonic missiles that Russia and China are competing with the United States on, " Ellison said. The Missile Defense Agency did not announce ahead of time that a test would be conducted off Kauai. The agency routinely reveals after the fact the results of missile defense tests, which typically cost many millions of dollars and involve hundreds of personnel. This article is written by William Cole from The Honolulu Star-Advertiser and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the Industry Dive publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com. Physically challenged persons within the Tempane District of the Upper East Region have received support from governments social intervention project. Thirty-three of the beneficiaries received ruminants while 18 others had tricycle, weaver loom, sewing machines and fridges. Some students with disability also received cash cheques. The support, which was sponsored with funds from the District Assembly Common Fund is to empower marginalised persons in society. The Member of Parliament for Tempane Constituency, Lydia Akanvariba Adakudugu advises the beneficiaries not to use the items for purposes it was not meant for. She assures them of the assembly's effort of providing more support to the less privileged in society. The District Chief Executive of Tempane District, Paul Azumah Abugre said the kind of support given to the beneficiaries was based on their request to the assembly. He urges the beneficiaries to put into good use, the support they have received to improve their living conditions and the welfare of their families. He however warned beneficiaries not to sell out the items they have received. One of the beneficiaries, Justice Ayeevo, 56-year-old visually impaired from the Kpikpira community described the support as a lifetime dream come true. According to her, it will help her generate income to support their families and undertake other social projects to make life meaningful. The beneficiaries commended government for the support and promised to put them to good use. Mr Ernest Ahiablie, the Assemblymember for Dzodze Akpatoeme-Zukpe electoral area in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta region has supported female students with sanitary pads to mark the World Menstrual Hygiene Day. About 80 students received the sanitary pads on Friday May 28 at a ceremony held at Akpatoeme Basic School assemble ground. According to Mr Ahiablie, the aim is to encourage the girls in school to use pads and properly maintain personal hygiene during their menstrual period. He said, the inability of some female students to afford sanitary pad has forced them into sexual relationship with men for monies which most times resulted in teenage pregnancy. He continued that, schools such as Akpatoeme and Zukpe were the schools that benefited from the donations and promised to extend the support to other schools since it is his idea to continue supporting girls in schools every three months with sanitary pads. Mr Ahiablie disclosed to ModernGhana News that, though he had few support from friends but was not enough to complete the projects since some lower class pupils as little as 8 years were also experiencing menstrual period and needed the support. "I need to support about 900 girls with pad and l need help from the public to achieve this," he stated. He also advised the school children to desist from bad companies and avoid engaging themselves in sexual relationships with men. "Am even trying my possible best to get a washable sanitary pad to donate which will help them use it over and over," he stated. Madam Ruth Gawu, the Ghana Education Service (GES) Director for Girl Child took the children through series of lessons on menstrual circle and problems associated with teenage pregnancies. She urged them to maintain personal hygiene especially during their menstrual period after she has taken them through how to use sanitary pads correctly. Madam Ashagbor Philippine, the Guidance and Councillor who was the invited guest at the occasion advised the girls to report to their parents especially their mothers the first time they experience menstruation. She also encouraged teachers and parents to teach girls about menstruation and how to maintain personal hygiene during the period. "Take in foods that contain iron and folic acid to regain blood lost during the period", she advises the students. Mr Attilusey Francis and Mr Ahiablie Philip Kwadzo, the PTA and SMC Chairmen respectively applauded Mr Ahiablie and the resource persons for their supports. Victoria Amuzu, a form three student who spoke on behalf of her colleagues express gratitude to the organizer for the kind gesture. She promised they will use the items well, maintain personal hygiene and abstain from any sexual relationship. Present at the occasion were headteachers, teachers, parents and some Assemblymembers. Speaking of messes, Controller Scott Stringers mayoral campaign has been on a weird sort of political life support where his numbers havent collapsed but his path to victory may have since Jean Kim, a longtime lobbyist whod volunteered on his unsuccessful 2001 public advocate bid, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was an intern there and then trying to buy her silence with a promise to make her a district leader. While Stringer emphatically denied all of that and said the two had been in a casual relationship, his progressive backers fled en masse within days, before anyone had time to look into her story, which has some holes in it and she hasnt entirely backed up. The death of an 11-month-old baby girl at an Accra creche which story was broken yesterday is disturbing and scary because of the underlining circumstances. Even before the Police conclude their investigations sufficient evidence provided by the CCTV in the room where the alleged crime was committed will go a long way in facilitating the process. The father of the deceased must be congratulated even as we express our condolence to both parents, for questioning the circumstances underpinning the death of the baby girl who was not known to have fallen ill prior to her succumbing to death. We should learn to pose questions and to take appropriate action when we are in doubt about certain developments. The case of the five police officers who were arrested for extortion comes to mind. Had the victims not reported the case the culprits would have continued to fleece money from innocent persons. We encourage others to take cue from such developments and to react appropriately when there are sufficient grounds for suspicions of bad conduct. The death of innocent Allegra Yaba Ackah Mensah allegedly at the hands of suspect 54-year-old caregiver Clara Ayani-Ampah is a source of worry. We are compelled to question the quality of monitoring of care-giving facilities across the country by their managements and the relevant state regulators. We have been here before. One of the orphanages in Accra was in the news some years ago when inappropriate practices were reported. Since then it would appear that the relevant authorities have not done much to protect babies in the care of the facilities. Besides the standard police investigations which have of course, been commenced already we suggest that a probe is ordered into the case under review. Forcing the porridge down the throat of the baby girl suggests that the kid could not breathe, asphyxiation, the outcome of which was death. The caregiver was obviously angry because perhaps the kids had given her extra work or that her employers had delayed her salary. She could also have had a nasty night at home with her own family. These are factors which could have had a hand in her conduct. If she is highly temperamental her employers should have determined this anomaly in her and kept her away from babies. Managers of facilities such as creches must create monitoring mechanisms to isolate unfit caregivers with a view to taking them off this important schedule of delivering care to babies. We would also advise that such facilities as a matter of urgency, be fitted with CCTV cameras. It is our hope that investigations would be swift to bring a closure to this painful chapter in the lives of the parents of the little girl. Daily Guide Despite increasing concerns about violent crimes and insecurity, President Nana Akufo-Addo says reported crimes so far in 2021, are on the decline. Speaking during a special congregation in his honour at the University of Cape Coast, the President said a cursory glance at the statistics shows that on the contrary, crime cases, at least for the first quarter of 2021, are coming down as compared to the same quarter in 2020. President Akufo-Addo, however, acknowledged that there was still room for improvement and assured of more state support for the police. In as much as a marked reduction in levels of crime will be preferable, the government is determined to work with the police service to guarantee the security of persons and protect lives and property in accordance with the rule of law. That is why in addition to increase substantially, the numerical strength of the police service, the government has since 2017 procured some 735 additional vehicles including 15 operation busses, a feat unprecedented in the history of the service, President Akufo-Addo said. Comparison of 2020 and 2021 crime data Though general crime statistics are on the decline marginally, murder cases have gone up in the first quarter of 2021. According to the Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, there were 144 murder cases recorded in the first quarter of 2021 as compared to 123 in the first quarter of 2020. There was an improvement in reported kidnapping cases with 26 recorded in the first quarter of 2021 as against 27 in the first quarter of 2020. For reported robbery cases, there was a drop from 525 to 495 cases, when comparing the first quarters of 2020 and 2021 respectively. Reported rape cases reduced from 119 to 97 in the same period. citinewsroom The situation is "under control" following the eruption of a volcano in the Democratic Republic of Congo, President Felix Tshisekedi said on Saturday after his government mistakenly announced another volcano had erupted. A week after Mount Nyiragongo roared back into life, causing devastation and sparking a mass exodus, "the situation is certainly serious but it is under control," Tshisekedi told a news conference. Around 400,000 residents have evacuated the eastern city of Goma after a week of rolling aftershocks following the eruption of Africa's most active volcano. "There is an underground lava flow that can arise anytime anywhere in the city," Tshisekedi warned, strongly advising against people returning to Goma. "The lava is no longer in the crater, but the volcano remains active, so we have to be wary and that's why we don't want to rush things by bringing back the populations," he said. Goma residents collect water while workers repair power lines destroyed by the lava flow from the Nyiragongo volcano. By ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP) His comments came after more than 1,000 refugees left a camp in Rwanda to return to DR Congo on Saturday. Earlier in the day the DRC's government announced that another volcano had erupted, later admitting it was a false alarm, The blunder comes as the government is increasingly criticised over a looming humanitarian crisis. Mount Nyiragongo spewed rivers of lava that claimed nearly three dozen lives and destroyed the homes of some 20,000 people. By Handout (Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies/AFP/File) "A plane has just flown over the entire area on the sides of this volcano. No eruption was observed," it added. The Goma Volcano Observatory (OVG) confirmed that while there was "intense activity" at Nyamuragira, "there has been no eruption". 'Limnic eruption' fears Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, lies on the shores of Lake Kivu in the shadow of Nyiragongo, Africa's most active volcano. A Congolese family living in Goma crosses the Rwandan border at the Gisenyi border post after an evacuation order. By ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP) Last Saturday the strato-volcano spewed rivers of lava that claimed nearly three dozen lives and destroyed the homes of 20,000 people before the eruption stopped. Hundreds of aftershocks have rocked the region since, but the OVG said Saturday they had significantly decreased in both number and intensity over the past 48 hours. The OVG's latest report said that 61 earthquakes had shaken the area in the previous 24 hours. It said the quakes were "consistent with the continued movement of magma in the Nyiragongo fissure system towards Lake Kivu". Limnic eruptions are a rare type of natural disaster in which carbon dioxide trapped from deep waters of a lake suddenly erupts, leading to violent bursts of toxic gas. By Gal ROMA (AFP/File) Scientists have warned of a potentially catastrophic scenario -- a "limnic eruption" which occurs when lava combines with a deep lake and spews out lethal gas across a potentially large area. However the OVG report said a "landslide or large earthquake destabilising the deep waters of the lake causing the emergence of dissolved gases" was now much less likely, though it still "cannot be excluded". Around 80,000 households -- 400,000 inhabitants -- have moved out of Goma since Thursday, when a "preventative" evacuation order was given. 'I have nothing left' Around 3,000 people fleeing Goma sought refuge at a temporary camp in Rugerero, about 10 kilometres (six miles) over the Rwandan border. But on Saturday an estimated 1,200 had left to return to Goma, a Rwanda government official at Rugerero told AFP on condition of anonymity. Military trucks were seen transporting refugees to the border. A child runs on the solidified lava flow of the Nyiragongo volcano on Friday. By ALEXIS HUGUET (AFP) William Byukusenge, a construction worker, told AFP that "if it erupts again, we will come back to Rwanda". But another evacuee, Marie Claire Uwineza, said she had nowhere left to go. "My house was burned, and I have nothing left," said the 39-year-old, who fled with two of her children. Criticism has been growing over the government response after Thursday's evacuation order was met with fear and traffic jams, many not knowing where to go. "The population had the impression of being abandoned to their sad fate," said the newspaper EcoNews, calling it "a perfect illustration of the fact that the state does not exist". Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde defended the government's response, saying the event had "no similarity to previous eruptions in that it occurred without warning signs". The mounting humanitarian crisis comes in a region that has been ravaged by violence for three decades. Access to drinkable water is particularly urgent, according to aid organisations in the area. "Sometimes it's the war, now it's the volcano," a customs officers grumbled Saturday. President Tshisekedi said the authorities were "on the way" to being able to distribute drinking water to those who had fled the area, adding that 5,000 houses had been destroyed. The University of Cape Coast has conferred an honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Leadership degree, on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. A special congregation was held in his honour at the University. The recognition is a result of the President's policies in the countrys educational sector, particularly the Free Senior High School policy. Honorary degrees recognise the exceptional contributions of honourees to the development of society in various fields. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo becomes the 40th recipient of an honorary degree and the second President in Ghana after former President John Agyekum Kufour to receive a degree from the University of Cape Coast. The Chancellor of UCC, Dr. Sam Jonah, indicated during his speech that the Free SHS policy has helped many needy students who hitherto wouldn't have gotten the opportunity to attend secondary school. For our presidents outstanding, pioneering role in introducing the free SHS policy was a major criterion for his selection. This policy has expanded access to Senior High School and paved the way for many young Ghanaians who otherwise would not have been able to afford SHS education. The financial burden lifted off some parents and guardians cannot be overemphasized. Without a shadow of a doubt, the free SHS policy is a bold decision and one of the best social intervention policies ever taken by any leader of this country, he stated President Akufo-Addo in his acceptance speech thanked the Governing Council of UCC for the kind gesture and pledged his government's unflinching commitment towards ensuring a better Ghana. This is the first honour I have received from an institution in my own country, which makes it understandably very special for me. I thank very much the Chancellor, Chairperson, and Members of the Governing Council, Vice-Chancellor immensely for taking this decision, and I assure all of you that I will do my very best to uphold the higher standards associated with this award. The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, also stated that the President is highly qualified for the honourary degree and deserves it. Acclaimed service experience consultant, columnist and author, J. N. Halm has called on Government to consider establishing a Department of Customer Service. He said this action, together with the appointment of a Commissioner of Customer Service, will be the clearest indication that the Government is serious about the quality of service delivery in the country. The award-winning columnist made this call during a keynote speech he delivered at the National Customer Service Development Dialogue, held at the Tang Palace Hotel in Accra on 27th May, 2021. Mr. Halm added that the establishment of the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) here in Accra meant that the country is held in high esteem across the continent, meaning the country has a high reputation to live up to. He stated the quality of service experience is one way by which the country is measured and thus the need for the Department of Customer Service. He said such a Department if placed at a vantage position such as under the Office of the President would not only possess significant resources but will send the strongest message to the country, and the world, that Ghana means business. The National Customer Service Development Dialogue was organised by the Organisation for Customer Service Excellence-Ghana. The occasion was also used to launch the Ghana Customer Service Council. The event was attended by representatives of various public sector bodies and chaired by Yvonne Ohui MacCarthy, of the Customer Service Professionals Institute. Other dignitaries present were Mr. Hector Wulff, the Convener of the Dialogue, and Mr. Muniru Muktar, Head of Customer Service of GCB Bank Limited. In many advanced countries, including the USA, Japan, Britain, and Canada, the education authorities consistently hunt for whizz and talented kids and also youths with special gifts. These special kids are removed from their schools and placed in special schools. Many of these children grow up to become inventors, moulders of special engines for aircrafts and many things that beat normal human imagination. Gifted and talented kids and youths abound in China. As a result they researched into how to provide a system of special education for such children with due consideration given to social and cultural roots. Ghanaian educators and politicians have never considered whizz kids and youths with special gifts and talents as having a major role to play in the future development and technological advancement of our dear country. Many Ghanaian kids and youths have appeared on WhatsApp doing exceptional things. A seven-year-old kid was asked 200 questions in science and technology and he was able to answer all correctly. Very amazing! In another development, an eight-year-old boy stood in front of a full congregation and preached for one hour. The amazing thing is that during his preaching he quoted from eight places in the Bible and, interestingly, he read them from the Bible himself. Is there anyone out there ready to encourage these whizz kids? For some strange reasons, whether due to short-sightedness or what, such talents are not developed and the fire in these kids is extinguished. Let us consider another example of what the lack of a framework to tap talent has done to quench the flame in another whizz kid. When Covid-19 reached Ghana, a lot of precautionary measures were announced. These include the use of face masks, regular washing of hands, use of sanitizers and many others. A twenty year old young boy was able to form a bucket which he divided into three compartments. He filled the middle and bigger portion with water and the remaining two compartments contained liquid soap and sanitizer respectively. He fixed a solar panel to the bucket and with the help of a sensor, the process functions by stretching your palms under the taps fixed on the bucket. The soap pumps out automatically into the palm, followed by water. When the hands are completely washed and dried, the next is sanitizer which also pumps out automatically. What an innovation! This could have been a good and workable idea for Akufo-Addo's one village one factory programme. During the exhibition of the bucket in Accra, many people, including Ministers and top executives, went to see the device. They were all full of appreciation but none of them did anything to help the boy. There is a slight difference between a gifted child and a talented child. Gifted children are born with natural abilities well above their age. Talented children are those who have developed their natural abilities to a high level. A child may be gifted in one area of ability, but can also be gifted in other areas. In either case, it is necessary to help the child from an early age to develop their full potential as an adult. Ghana is losing many of her gifted and talented kids to foreign countries due to politicians without vision. Mercy was a gifted child and at the age of six she was able to recite the two times table to twelve. She could read any book that was given to her. She was far above her peers. Her uncle who lived in the U.S.A was so fascinated about her performance that he took her to continue her studies in America. After four years she received three awards for best pupil in Science, Mathematics and overall performance. She was selected to represent the school in Maths and Science competition. She was in grade 5 but she competed with grade 6 and Junior High School students. She surprised everybody by emerging the overall best student. The school authorities of her school and the education service recommended that the Ghanaian girl be transferred to the special school for gifted children. She became one of the few women to pilot aeronautic spacecraft. She has now become an asset to America and not Ghana. Apostle Safo Katanka was already a genius in his childhood. It was therefore not surprising when as a youth he became one of the first Ghanaians to use local products to make soap. The soap was very slippery. It became known as dont touch me, because it easily slipped off from the hand. He could have done more for Ghana if he had been encouraged and supported as a youth. However, he did not give up and he was poised to use the gifts and talents God has given him talent to do technical things. Today he is one of the first Ghanaians to manufacture cars. As a technical genius, he needed to have been identified as a child and given the necessary encouragement and special training. He would have been doing more wonderful things today. Recently a twelve year old Ghanaian gifted child got the best results in WASSCE and was admitted at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). This girl is reading Mathematics. Such a child needs special training but the truth is that it is difficult in Ghana to give special training to gifted kids because their training demands special educational facilities which are not available in the country. It is time for Ghana to give special recognition and support to gifted and talented children. These children are going to be the cogwheels around which Ghana's future industrialization will evolve. Columnist: Stephen Atta Owusu Author: Dark Faces at Crossroads Email: [email protected] More than Three Thousand (3,000) deprived girls are expected to benefit from a skills training project under the auspices of the Office of the Second Lady, Her Excellency Samira Bawumia. The project, titled, 'Needles For Girls' or 'N4G', targets less-privileged girls between 16 and 24 years and aims at creating job opportunities for them to enhance their living standards. The five (5) Ga Municipalities of the Greater Accra; Ga East, Ga North, Ga South, Ga West, and Ga Central, have been selected together with others in the Ashanti and Northern Regions for the three-year project which is financed through the Ghana EXIM Bank and GIZ. The potential beneficiaries would be taken through a registration process after which those who qualify would be given the training in fashion-related areas such as dress-making, hairdressing, make-up, manicure and pedicure, among others; and fashion accessories, at no cost to them. Speaking at the launch of the project in the Ga East Municipality, on Friday, 21st May, 2021, a Special Aide to the Second Lady, Hajia Barikisu Baawe, disclosed that the brain behind the initiative was to equip the many deprived girls with skills to enable them earn from meaningful livelihoods to secure their future. She stated that the project forms part of Mrs. Samira Bawumia's agenda of contributing, in her own small way, to reduce significantly the rate of unemployment among young people, especially girls and women, in the country. She emphasized the need for girls in the target areas to embrace the project and acquire knowledge and skills to become self-sufficient and reliant in the future. "I want to urge the Ghanaian youth to exempt themselves from activities that would have negative effects on their precious lives", she advised. The Presiding Member (PM) for the Ga East Municipal Assembly (GEMA), Hon. Jesse Nii Noi Anum, speaking at the programme on behalf of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Janet Tulasi Mensah, thanked the Second Lady for introducing the programme in the municipality. Hon. Jesse Nii Noi Anum was optimistic the initiative would go a long way to benefit disadvantaged girls in the Municipality. "I believe the Second Lady has seen and heard the cries of many girls in our Municipality. The intent behind the programme is laudable and all of us have to embrace and send the message to our people to take advantage of it", he remarked. The Hon. Presiding Member charged the potential beneficiaries to comport themselves during the training and learn for their own future. The Chief of Abokobi and President of the Ga East Chiefs Association, Hon. Samuel Nii Adjetey Mohenu, expressed utmost delight at the move by the Second Lady, noting that it will help shape the future of the girls. "I am very happy today that we have gathered to receive a briefing from the Second Lady's Office regarding the future of our young ladies. This is a great opportunity for our young ladies to learn some trade within a very short time to earn a living and improve their condition of life. We're so grateful to her", he stated. Registration of the prospective trainees is expected to commence on 31st May 2021, with girls who have had no formal education given priority. Listen to article A staunch member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Lawyer Andrew Appiah-Danquah, has stated that Trade Minister, Mr Alan Kojo Kyeremanten is a perfect man for the flagbearer position to lead the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) in the 2024 presidential race. Speaking on Ghana First TV, the legal luminary stated that looking at the competence, character and charisma of Mr Kyeremanten and his contribution to the success of the New Patriotic Party since its formation in 1992, Alan towers among all as the NPP surest bet for 2024. He stressed that "This is Alan's time!" In recent times, some members of the governing NPP has declared support for Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the best person to lead the party in 2024. But Lawyer Appiah Danquah said, "it is not automatic for vice presidents to succeed the president after his tenure." He noted that, although the late Alhaji Aliu Mahama was Vice President to former President John Agyekum Kufuor, he was contested during the NPP primaries. According to him, is it therefore not automatic for Dr. Mahmoud Bawumia to succeed President Akufo Addo. Mr Appiah-Danquah maintains that it is clear within the rank and file of the NPP that it is Mr Kyeremanten's time to be given the leadership mantle in the governing New Patriotic Party. The basis of his conviction is the fact that Alan Kyerematen absolutely meets all the criteria as set out by former President John Agyekum Kufour years ago. "We the NPP know who will be our 2024 flag bearer. It is Alan Kyerematen. What we dont know is who will be next to Alan and that is what the 2023 primaries is going to determine. Our convention and tradition affirm this. Our presidential primaries have always affirmed the known leader and unveiled the next leader. The 1992 NPP presidential primaries affirmed Prof. Adu Boahen as the known leader and unveiled Mr J.A Kufour (as he then was) as the next leader. Similarly, the 1998 presidential primaries confirmed J.A Kufour as the known leader and unveiled Mr Akufo Addo (as he then was) as the next leader. The 2007, 2010 and 2014 NPP presidential primaries also endorsed Nana Akufo Addo as the known leader and unveiled Lawyer Alan Kyerematen as the next leader. The 2023 NPP presidential primaries will not be different. Hon Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen will be affirmed by the party as our 2024 presidential candidate and the next leader after Alan will then be unveiled," Mr Appiah-Danquah stated. He continued, "In the year 2007 when the NPP was in a process of choosing a successor to former President John Agyekum Kufour who would represent the party in the 2008 general elections, the then President J.A Kufour advised the NPP with wise guiding principles in choosing a leader who has the potential to serve both party and national interest. In the wisdom of J.A Kufour, NPP must go for a leader, who when elected as flag bearer, can unite the party and make it attractive to attract non-NPP voters to get at least 50% + 1, and can unite the country when given power can hold the power by governing efficiently and effectively." Lawyer Appiah-Danquah asserted that, based on President Kufours criteria, the New Patriotic Party at this material point has only one person in waiting to succeed President Akufo Addo and that person is Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen. As President Emmanuel Macron threatens to withdraw French troops from Mali in the wake of the latest coup, leaders of the Economic Community of West African States are to meet in Ghana on Sunday to discuss a response to Mali's latest military takeover. The country's new president Colonel Assimi Goita has been asked to come to Ghana's capital Accra for "consultations". Assimi Goita flew to Accra on Saturday, military and airport sources said. In a statement on Facebook, the office of the Mali presidency said Goita would "take part alongside his counterparts in the sub-region". He had served as vice president since leading a coup last August that ousted the democratically elected president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, with the roles of president and prime minister being held by civilians after pressure from the Economic Community of West African States, Ecowas. Macron issues stark warning French President Emmanuel Macron told a Sunday newspaper that he has made Paris's position absolutely clear to the West African leaders. "France will not go on supporting a country without democratic legitimacy," Macron has warned. "I told Malian President Bah Ndaw, who was serious about the keeping the jihadists completely isolated from political power, that I would never tolerate radical islamism in Mali while our soldier are serving there. "Now there is that danger in Mali. If things continue in that direction, France will withdraw," the French leader said. France has 5,100 troops in the region under its so-called Barkhane operation which spans five countries in the Sahel -- Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. The G5 Sahel mission, headquartered in Chad, was launched after France intervened to fend off a jihadist insurrection in Mali in 2013. Second coup in nine months Last Monday, Malian soldiers detained transitional president Bah Ndaw and prime minister Moctar Ouane, releasing them on Thursday while saying that they had resigned. The twin arrests triggered a diplomatic uproar and marked the second coup within a year in the Sahel country. Mali's constitutional court completed Goita's rise to full power on Friday by naming him transitional president. With the junta going back on its previous commitment to civilian political leaders, doubts have been raised about its other pledges, which include the holding of early elections. The junta said this week it would continue to respect that timetable, but added that it could be subject to change. The constitutional court said Goita would exercise the functions of president to "lead the transition process to its conclusion". Threat of further sanctions Ecowas issued sanctions against Mali after the August coup before lifting them when the transitional government was put in place. The 15-nation bloc has warned of reimposing sanctions, as has the United States and former colonial power France. French leader Emmanuel Macron, during a visit to Rwanda and South Africa, said on Saturday that he told West African leaders they could not back a country "where there is no longer democratic legitimacy or transition". Ndaw and Ouane's detention came hours after a government reshuffle that would have replaced the defence and security ministers, both of whom were army officers involved in the August putsch. On Friday, Goita said the army had had little choice but to intervene. "We had to choose between disorder and cohesion within the defence and security forces and we chose cohesion," he said. Goita added that he wants to name a prime minister from the opposition M5 movement within days. M5 spearheaded protests against former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in 2020, but it was excluded from key posts in the army-dominated post-coup administration. Mali is regularly ranked among the world's poorest countries. The grieving parents of the 11-month-old baby girl who died at the hands of an abusive caregiver have urged the media and the public to stop sharing the CCTV footage that captured the circumstances leading to the babys death. In a statement asking for their privacy to be respected, the parents urged the public and the media to remain measured in circulating and discussing the video as it is a constant reminder of what our daughter went through. The death of the 11-month-old on May 18, 2021, shocked the public after a video extract from CCTV footage showing the incident in a classroom at her creche, Happy Bloomers School in Agbogba, North Legon. The said video shows how the baby girl was restrained with both her arms behind her back, as she was forcibly fed by the caregiver, Clara Yani-Ampah. The parents described their daughter as an energetic and bubbly little girl who was looking forward to her first birthday next month [June]. Losing her this way is a profoundly difficult and painful experience for us. We would have wished to mourn privately, the statement added. The parents say they will share an accurate account of events as and when it becomes necessary. The 54-year old caregiver, Clara Anyani-Ampah , has so far been arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court and remanded into police custody. A docket on the case has been forwarded to the Attorney General's Department for advice. On May 18, the victim's father reported to the Agbogba Police that the management of the school had called him to inform him that his daughter was sick and had been taken to the North Legon Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival. A team of police investigators went to the hospital, examined the baby's body, and took it to the Police Hospital morgue. The Proprietress of the school, Christiana Atta Kumah, later handed over the CCTV of the day's activities in the school to the police, which revealed the abuse of the caregiver. The babys body has since been released to the family for burial. Find below the full statement ---citinewsroom Republicans might succeed in limiting wokes spread. Idaho has banned the teaching of critical race theory, which asserts that America is endemically racist and we should all be judged by the color of our skin, and nearly a dozen other states have introduced similar bills. But this is more Band-Aid than cure. They wont root out the illiberal, race-obsessed culture that gave rise to CRTs spread in the first place. Only liberals, by confronting their fellow liberals by stirring up debate and reasserting liberal values from within, can do that. President Akufo-Addo has given a firm assurance that the protection of fundamental human rights and press freedom is a major priority of his government and that he will never endorse the culture of silence. He said ensuring human rights and press freedom was what he stood for in line with the tenets of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, respect for the rule of law, freedom, and justice that must be defended at all times. The President stated this in his acceptance remarks at a Special Congregation to confer on him an honorary doctorate in Philosophy in Educational Leadership by the University of Cape Coast (UCC) on Saturday. The ceremony, attended by high profile personalities, including, Members of Convocation, Traditional Rulers, Members of Parliament, Diplomatic Corps, Ministers of States and other dignitaries, was given a traditional touch with the blowing of the 'mmenson' flutes to usher the dignitaries into the New Examination Centre. The President becomes the 40th personality and the second sitting President to receive such an honorary award from the UCC after former President John Agyekum Kuffour. He was decorated jointly by Dr (Sir) Sam Jonah, Chancellor and Professor Johnson Nyarkoh Boampong, Vice-Chancellor of UCC with an academic gown and a cap, attracting endless applause from the audience. The President was also given a Doctor of Letters and a citation while the VC presented him a special gift of his framed photograph. The President used the occasion to highlight his involvement in the struggle for individual rights and freedom of the press in the country in the 1990s, stressing that he had played a significant role in achieving this and had nothing to apologize for. I appreciate well-argued opinions that challenged the status quo. I need no lessons on the importance of vigorous media in building a healthy democracy. I dare say that the atmosphere in our country is one of spirited conversation and debate among politicians, the business community, civil society organizations and ordinary citizens, he said. President Akufo-Addo said he would not relent in ensuring that the killers of Ahmed Suale were apprehended and brought to book since it remained a matter of great regret to him that circumstances surrounding Suale's murder had not been unravelled. The government has no interest to cover up whoever or whatever was involved in the murder of the journalist, in the end, his murderers will be caught, tried and punished, he said. He said one of the powerful tools for journalists and ordinary citizens was the Right to Information Act, 2019(Act 989), which was passed and assented to by him to empower journalists and deepen press freedom, free speech, and free access to information. The President urged all to prioritize the country's human resources to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of the forefathers in bringing freedom and dignity to all. President Akufo-Addo stated emphatically that an opinion or view of one journalist could not constitute a tag on press freedom, adding that his government was not practising a culture of silence He said the government was willing and focused on improving lives and supporting young entrepreneurs to enhance national development Dr Sam Jonah, in his welcoming address, applauded the President for the decision to implement the Free SHS initiative, which he described as the boldest social intervention ever taken in the country. That, he indicated, convinced the University to honour the President with the doctorate award to empower him to do more exploits to develop the country. ---GNA India says it will stand by children who lost both or one parent to coronavirus pandemic and pay for their upbringing. The government unveiled the mammoth target just days after warning against human traffickers targeting vulnerable kids. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government said children who have lost parents, the surviving parent, legal guardians or foster parents to Covid-19 will receive state support including financial aid. The prime minister emphasized that children represent the future of the country and the country will do everything possible to support and protect the children,'' Modi's office added in a statement. It said a corpus will be also set up in banks to help each of the victims after they turn 23. Second wave impact Child Welfare Minister Smriti Irani said 577 youngsters were orphaned in the pandemic's second surge, which killed more than 140,000 people in seven weeks after March and left broken homes and healthcare in shambles. She did not give a figure for the total number of children hit by the pandemic, which has so far killed 326,000 people and infected 27.7 million since the virus claimed its first victim in India on 12 March, 2020. A large number of Indian states also rolled out separate welfare programs for the under-aged including free schooling, pocket money, incentives for care givers and shelters. Maharashtra, India's richest state, sent out a 10-member taskforce to search for Covid orphans in the region's 36 districts. It is an onerous task as many of these children have left their homes in search of food and safety, a senior official said from state capital Mumbai. Courts step in Prime Minister Modi's promise came a day after the Supreme Court on Friday ordered India's 29 states to list Covid-affected minors and said the problem appeared to be far too great. We have read somewhere that in Maharashtra over 2,900 children have lost their one or both parents due to Covid-19, judges L. Nageswara Rao and Aniruddha Bose said in an observation. We cannot even imagine how many such children in this large country have got orphaned due to this devastating pandemic," they added. Lawyer Gaurav Agarwal, assisting the court, said children in India faced great peril. Such children "are not only living an emotional tragedy, but they are also at high risk of neglect, abuse and exploitation", added UNICEF India's chief Yasmin Haque. Red flag raised On 17 May, minister Irani's office waved the red flag with a public warning against offers for adoption of orphaned kids circulating on social media. There were concerns that this could lead to child trafficking. We have carried out investigations into a large number of these messages and have found all of them, so far, to be fake, a ministry official said. The ministry in an advisory urged people to alert the authorities in case they chance upon Covid orphans. Experts say India faced an enormous task as 27 percent of its 1.3 billion population is under 14. The International Labor Organization estimates over 10 million children under 14 are in the workforce in India. Charities working for children also warned scarce data could stonewall efforts to safeguard vulnerable children. "Our authorities are over-burdened and people are hassled, said technology expert Akancha Srivastava who has launched a Covid-19 helpline for children. It's extremely easy in these circumstances to mis-assign a child to some trafficking racket or an adoption racket," Srivastava told the media. Listen to article The maiden edition of the Ghana Book Club slated for today 30th of May, is taking off on a high note, as the organizers confirm the participation of three out of the four authors whose books were selected for reading and discussion in the May edition of the Club meeting, taking place virtually at 7pm. The four books were selected for reading in the month of May by the club are The Lucky, One by Kathy Knowles and Deborah Cowley, Returning Home Aint Easy But Its Sure a Blessing by Seestah Imahkus, Sons of the Skroll by Diana McBagonluri and Silence is not Golden by Kafui Danku. Kafui Danku Ghanaian Film maker's book titled Silent is not Golden tells the story of her difficulty with childbirth having gone through miscarriage 4 times, as well as pains of other women who have faced similar situations, offering solace and comfort and guidance on how to navigate the shallow waters of life if facing difficult situations. Written in this book are my lifes experiences that I wish to share publicly to not only educate but also inspire. From my many years of painful experiences, I have squeezed out sweet juices of gainful lessons to inform, inspire, and encourage families particularly women who identify with my story. This trip down memory lane will undoubtedly be worth taking," she explained The author of Returning Home Aint Easy But Its Sure a blessing, Seestah Imahkus Njinga Okofu Ababio affectionately known as Mama One Africa is presently in Rwanda where she has been before the onset of the lockdown in 2020, triggered by the global pandemic has assured the Book Club that she will join the discussion and be able to discuss with her readers. The senior citizen who is Co-Chair of the Bureau of African Diaspora Affairs (BADA) in Ghana, Patron of the Institute of Afrikology and Afrika Day Foundation of Durban, South Africa, Founding Member of the Universal Pan African Diasporan Coalition of Ghana, who is now in Rwanda had established the Rweru Rwanda Womens Empowerment and Human Values Initiative Project with Rich Hearts, a Rwanda based organization, to economically empower women who are survivors of the 1994 Tutsi genocide. Her Book, Returning Home Aint Easy But Its Sure a blessing chronicles IMAHKUS and her husband's sojourn and resettlement in Ghana. A prolific writer, her candid sense of humour makes for an admirable, enjoyable yet serious and commendable read; evoking numerous emotions from her readers, laughter, anger, tears and a burning desire to return home to the land of their ancestors. The Director Council of African Elders and Women Intercultural Dialogue (AEWID), is elated about the Ghana Book Club and has donated copies of her books to the club to help promote reading in the Ghanaian community, from which copies were sent to UNESCO Ghana, Ministry of Education Ghana and more. Her book can be purchased directly from the Ghana Book Club Sons of the Skroll written by Diana Bamford McBagonluri is shortlisted for the fiction of the month. Diana Bamford McBagonluri holds an MA in English Literature from Rosemont, PA USA, a BA in English Education from the University College of Education, Winneba, Ghana. Kathy Knowles co-author of The Lucky One has confirmed that the lead character of the book, Massawudu will be joining the session, the book Lucky One is a non-fiction, featuring the real life experience of Massawudu born with crooked legs, which Osu Childrens Library Fund created to celebrate the human spirit and to promote reading and literacy. Sons of the Skroll and The Lucky One are among the Books donated to the Book Club by EPP and are available on all their Bookshops nationwide. Kafui Danku and Seestah Imahkus donated copies of their book as well to assist in promoting in reading Ghanaian community. The Book Club is also enjoying blog support from www.modernghana.com, Ameyaw Debrah, Ytainment , Cypressgh and All Africa media network. The Senegalese army launched a fresh operation against separatists in the southern region of Casamance early Sunday, a spokesman said. "Operations are under way," the spokesman said in a message to AFP. "The goal is to create conditions for people to return home," he added, referring to civilians displaced by the decades-old conflict. A village elder in Sao Domingos, some 20 kilometres (12 miles) away in neighbouring Guinea-Bissau, said he could hear explosions coming from south of the Casamance capital Ziguinchor. "Around 3:00 am (0300 GMT) we heard very loud explosions quite near the Senegalese border," Quecuto Djaura told AFP, adding that they occurred at regular intervals for four hours. A map of Senegal locating the region of Casamance. By Tupac POINTU (AFP) Senegalese media said the army targeted positions of rebel leader Cesar Atoute Badiate, head of one of the factions of the separatist Casamance Movement of Democratic Forces (MFDC). One of Africa's oldest ongoing conflicts, the fighting in Casamance has claimed thousands of lives since it first broke out in December 1982. The region had returned to an uneasy calm in recent years until the army launched a major new offensive on January 26, capturing rebel bases in the Foret de Blaze area on the border with Guinea-Bissau. Senegal's army says the latest operation is aimed at stopping alleged rebel exactions on civilians and helping displaced people return home, as well as cracking down on trafficking in timber and cannabis. Casamance, home to 1.9 million people, was once among Portugal's colonies in West Africa, along with what is today Guinea-Bissau. But it is located within Senegal, a former French colony. The region is almost separated from the rest of Senegal by The Gambia -- a remoteness that fed into perceptions of discrimination by the government in far-off Dakar and helped create an independence movement. The conflict has rumbled on at a low level for several years, with occasional flare-ups. In 2018, 14 young men were slaughtered in execution-style killings north of Ziguinchor. The election of President Macky Sall in 2012 brought about several attempts at peace, all of which failed, partly because of divisions within the MFDC. The two sides met in Cape Verde in April for the first talks to be publicly divulged since negotiations in Rome in 2017. They issued a joint declaration defining "guidelines for negotiations" including "the solemn proclamation of the wish of both sides to resolve the Casamance conflict through dialogue". West African leaders met in Ghana on Sunday to discuss a response to Mali's second coup in nine months, which has sparked warnings of fresh sanctions and deep concerns over stability in the volatile Sahel region. Kicking off the talks, Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo stressed the region's "commitment to a peaceful transition" in Mali. Presidents Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria, Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso's Marc Christian Kabore were among those attending the extraordinary summit, which came as another deadly jihadist attack underscored Mali's chronic instability. Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, mediator in the crisis, was also present. "I urge your excellencies to remain resolute in supporting the people of Mali to find a peaceful solution and restore democracy and stability in the country," said Akufo-Addo, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). "I reiterate, on behalf of ECOWAS, our continued commitment to the peaceful transition in Mali with the basic goal of restoring democratic government and stability in Mali and in our region," he said. Mali's new president Colonel Assimi Goita had arrived in the Ghanaian capital Accra on Saturday for preliminary talks. Goita led the young army officers who overthrew Mali's elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita last August over perceived corruption and his failure to quell a bloody jihadist insurgency. After the takeover, the military agreed to appoint civilians as interim president and prime minister under pressure from ECOWAS. But on Monday, soldiers detained transitional president Bah Ndaw and prime minister Moctar Ouane, releasing them on Thursday while saying that they had resigned. The twin arrests triggered a diplomatic uproar and marked Mali's second apparent coup within a year. Mali's constitutional court completed Goita's rise to full power on Friday by naming him transitional president. With the junta going back on its previous commitment to civilian political leaders, doubts have been raised about its other pledges, including a promise to hold elections in early 2022. The junta said this week it would continue to respect that timetable, but added that it could be subject to change. Five dead in fresh attack Mali's presidency said on its Facebook page that Goita would hold one-on-one talks with Akufo-Addo in Accra "as well as bilateral meetings with partners and friends of Mali". ECOWAS issued sanctions against Mali after the August coup before lifting them when the transitional government was put in place. The 15-nation bloc has warned of reimposing sanctions on the country, as have the United States and former colonial power France. France has threatened to pull its anti-jihadist troops out of Mali if the new military leader lurches towards radical Islam. By DaphnA BENOIT (AFP/File) French leader Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with the Journal du Dimanche newspaper published Sunday that Paris "could not stay by the side of a country where there is no longer democratic legitimacy or a transition". And he warned that France would pull its troops out of Mali if the country lurches towards radical Islamism under Goita's leadership. France has around 5,100 troops in the region under its anti-jihadist operation Barkhane, which spans five countries in the Sahel -- Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. Four civilians and a police officer were killed Sunday by suspected jihadists in southern Mali, a region that has previously been mostly spared from the country's Islamist unrest, a security official said on condition of anonymity. The unidentified men attacked a checkpoint near the town of Bougouni, around 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Mali's borders with Ivory Coast and Guinea between 3:30 am (0330 GMT) and 4:00 am, the official said. A local lawmaker confirmed the attack. Mali is among the world's poorest countries, and the previous ECOWAS sanctions hit hard. Tensions ran high on Sunday in southeastern Nigeria as the former separatist region commemorated the more than one million people who died in the Biafra war and famine of the late 1960s. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the leading separatist group, is remembering war victims over two days, with a candlelit march on Sunday evening and a strict order for people to remain indoors on Monday for their own safety. "Every person in Biafra land is therefore advised to observe a sit-at-home order on Monday," IPOB spokeswoman Emma Powerful said in a statement, noting that markets and shops should close. "We strongly advise our people against flouting this order as anyone found outside one's house that day may be the target of our enemies," she said, alluding to federal security forces. The streets of Owerri, the capital of Imo state, were already deserted on Sunday, as residents stayed indoors a day after the killing of two air force personnel by unidentified gunmen. "Nobody is leaving their residence," said local resident Ajibade Awofeso, saying that air force staff had blocked roads and were shooting sporadically in protest at the killing of their colleagues. "The situation is serious here," added Mayelope Opeyemi, another resident. "We are living in fear and do not know what will come next." On Sunday, six gunmen shot dead an influential politician, Ahmed Gulak, in Imo, local police said. Gulak, an advisor to former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, had been on his way to the airport when he was killed, police said in a statement. The neighbouring states of Anambra and Ebonyi were also on edge, with witnesses reporting that main thoroughfares were deserted apart from military vehicles. Violence has flared in Nigeria's southeast this year, claiming the lives of at least 127 police or members of the security services. Some 20 police stations and election commission offices have been attacked, according to local media. The IPOB denies that its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network, bears any responsibility for the attacks, which happen almost weekly. In May 1967, ethnic Igbo generals from a rebel province declared independence for the "Republic of Biafra", sparking a bloody civil war and a terrible famine. Calls for independence have re-emerged since the former general Muhammadu Buhari, a Hausa from the north, became president of Nigeria in 2015. The hypocritical attitude, sycophancy and thoughtlessness of the proprietor of Oheneba Media and his management have now made Twene Jonas a hero of the Ghanaian youth. Oheneba Media thought they were going to put Twene Jonas into problem but little did he know that his plot was going to backfire on him, to rather throw Jonas into the limelight, endear him to the suffering masses in Ghana. He has now become the voice of the voiceless, touted throughout the world wherever a Ghanaian community is found. If Oheneba Media had not stupidly, quickly activated his opportunistic adrenalin to seek to antagonize Jonas, his alleged recorded rain of insults on Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, would not have gained its present national, if not worldwide, exponential recognition to become the hot topic of discussion wherever two or three Ghanaians have gathered. The proprietor of Oheneba Media, though residing in either Germany or Belgium, is not conversant with the laws of human rights, their prevalence and how much they are valued and protected in Europe. If he knew, he would not maliciously dare to seek to endanger the lives of some Ghanaians abroad. He had done it to one woman in Switzerland. He had done it to Ohene David in Germany and has now done it to Hero Twene Jonas in the USA. He always conducts investigations to locate his victims, thus, those he perceives to be against Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. He then blows their cover, arranges a team member of his to contact the chiefs concerned in Ghana. He ensures that they resort to ritualized invocation of curses on his victims. He films the actions, then puts them on social media, not only to put the lives of his victims in danger but also, to make money out of it. It has never been the motive of the woman in Switzerland, Ohene David and Twene Jonas, to make money out of their recorded actions to fix Ghana by castigating the perpetrators of the devastating crimes against mother Ghana. They simply want the world to know about the crimes such irresponsible leaders, be they politicians, public servants or traditional chiefs, are committing against Ghanaians. However, Oheneba Media seeks to make financial gains out of the troubles he causes for others. Had it not been for the thoughtless action by Oheneba Media, that chief who claims to be Asantehenes Nifahene would not have come live on TV to assert that he was going to invoke all the river gods and fetishes in Ghana to curse Twene Jonas. If it were not for Oheneba Media, that heavily drunk guy would not have poured a bottle of schnapps on to the ground, smashed two eggs amid invocations and incantations to kill Twene Jonas. Had it not been for Oheneba Medias evil machinations, that fetish priest would not have cursed Twene Jonas. The ripple effect of roguish Oheneba Medias action, had a so-called puppet Asantehene of New York come on live video to threaten to ensure the extradition of Twene Jonas from the USA to Ghana to be mercilessly dealt with by Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and his cabal of Asanteman chiefs.. I was aghast at the pronouncements by the chief. How on earth could he deport Twene Jonas from America? Is he such a greenhorn not to understand how the laws work in civilized America to simply talk that rubbish? What authority has he to cause Jonas extradition from the USA to Ghana to be maltreated by Asantehene? Talk is cheap indeed! If I were Twene Jonas, I would report him to the American police, or sue this bloody ass. What right has he in America to threaten the life of an innocent citizen or immigrant? If he thinks he can behave irresponsibly criminally as he would in Ghana, I am afraid he has got it all wrong. All those mentioned as seeking to intimidate Twene Jonas and Co., or have them killed or extradited to Ghana, are now the bitterest enemies of the Ghanaian youth now called the Freedom Fighters. The Freedom Fighters are concerned about the fate of Ghana should the chiefs and politicians be allowed to continue with their corrupt actions that have the potential to result in Ghanaians being enslaved in their own land by the Chinese. More grease to the elbows of the three musketeers - Lady Switzerland, Ohene David and Sir Twene Jonas. What about Rockson Adofo, that fearless no-nonsense son from Kumawu/Asiampa, the once pacesetter or torchbearer to take on Asantehene and his cohorts in attempts to chase them out of Kumawuman affairs? He is now old and must cede the space for the three musketeers! Has Lady Switzerland become rusty? If no, then let the world hear from you! If you play with Kumawuman, God and the ancestors will disgrace you. No wonder the predicament Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II finds himself in at the hands of the three musketeers and their exuberant Freedom fighters. Hip Hip Hooray! Rockson Adofo Saturday, 29 May 2021 HELENA, Mont. - History Hikes and Walks start Memorial Day weekend in Helena and will run through Labor Day. The History Hikes and Walks program aims to connect residents and visitors with the citys landscape and history while promoting heritage tourism, outdoor recreation and downtown businesses. Bringing people together for history is one of our main goals and the History Hikes & Walks program does just that, says History Foundation President/CEO Charlene Porsild. People are looking for ways to be active outdoors and learn more about history; we are excited to help fill that niche in Helena and help our businesses at the same time. The historical content of the program has been researched and written by History Foundation Special Projects Coordinator Ciara Ryan according to a release from the Montana History Foundation. Helena is known for the icons that dot its skyline: from the Guardian of the Gulch fire tower, to the Bluestone House, and even Mt. Helena itself, says Ryan. Were excited to share their origins and their role in Helenas history with locals and visitors. Tickets for the History Hike and Walk can be purchased on the Montana History Foundation website here, along with the complete schedule and ticket prices. The following two tours will be offered: Mt. Helena History Hike This 2-mile guided hike meets at The Base Camp, with a shuttle provided to the trailhead. As you traverse the mountain, youll hear stories of the colorful characters and community endeavors that helped shape Helena into the town we see today. History Hike: Mt. Helena takes place on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Breweries & Brothels History Walk This 1-mile downtown walk begins at Blackfoot River Brewing Co. Along the way, you'll visit Reeders Alley and the historic red-light district. Youll learn about Helenas brewing history and hear stories about the madams of Helenas underworld! History Walk: Breweries & Brothels takes place on Thursday and Fridays at 6:00 p.m. ROUNDUP, Mont. - A gun store burned down in Roundup Thursday night and the owners say it was an act of arson. We spoke with the couple who are busy picking up the pieces of their business. Mike and Elaine Krueger have owned MBK Unlimited in Roundup since 2008, selling guns, ammo and a variety of sporting goods. Unfortunately, Thursday night, Mike and Elaine were alerted by neighbors that their business was on fire. "We were married 46 years in March and think this is probably one of the worst things that has ever happened to us," says Elaine. When they got to the MBK store, Roundup Volunteer Fire was there extinguishing the flames. "They wouldn't let us in, because there was too much smoke, they had to ventilate, and then we got the guns out, that was our biggest concern," says Mike. The Krueger's estimate they lost around $100,000 in damage. Mike says police on scene completed a preliminary investigation and told him the cause of the fire was arson. "Somebody took a gas can off our porch, that we had used to fill a lawn mower, and went to the back of the building and doused it with the gas and lit it and let the gas can sit there," says Mike. Elaine and Mike were on the verge of selling the MBK Unlimited store to retire, now their final store sale has turned into a fire sale, selling what's salvageable. "He's 68, I'm 67, its time, and then this happens, this is not what we wanted to see happen," says Elaine. "We're cleaning the guns right now that were exposed to the smoke, and we had a lot of guns that were in boxes and these look like it didn't bother them, hopefully here in a week or so we'll have a sale and try to recover what we can get," says Mike. There is no fire insurance on the building, but the Krueger's are doing their best to stay in high spirits. "I'm not going to ask the public for that, if they want to that would be great, anything we can recover that way would be wonderful, it's just not us, we're not that type, we're not gonna go out and ask for money," says Mike. A GoFundMe has been started for Mike and Elaine. Click on this link, https://www.gofundme.com/f/fire-loss-for-mike-elaine-krueger-mbk-unlimited, If you are interested in supporting the Krueger's in their time of need, Major League Baseball has apparently decided that there are 42 too many minor league baseball cities and, according to Commissioner Rob Manfred, after the 2020 season, that will change. There will be a new agreement between the majors and the minors signed and a lot of cities will lose their If people can see this film and see the impact of what happened to that community in 1921 and fast forward to how America is still struggling with the issue of racism in this country, with what we saw in the last year with the death of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and other Black men and women, hopefully it will make you have a wake-up call and say, God, we need to change. This country needs to come to some real race reckoning. To help save Colorado restaurants, we need another round of alcohol to go May 30, 2021 'Like An Amoral Infant' - How ProtonMail Contributes To False Media Claims About Belarus ProtonMail, an encrypted end-to-end email provider in Switzerland which promises 'Swiss Privacy Data Security and Neutrality', has been busted for making false claims about bomb threat emails which were sent through its service to Minsk airport in Belarus as well as to airport authorities in other countries. The despicable behavior of ProtonMail has led to false headlines like the one by UPI depicted below. ProtonMail may or may not have made that quite explicit headline claim. It is however 100% false. Belarus received a legit bomb threat against a Ryanair flight via an email sent through the ProtonMail mail servers. After receiving the email it contacted the plane in question and recommended to the pilot to divert the plane to Minsk. The pilot voluntarily followed that advice. ProtonMail has made no effort to correct the false impression and false headlines its statement has caused. It has instead obfuscated the issue as much as it could. That is neither neutral nor fair behavior but partisan lying in an information war waged by 'western' regime changers against the people of Belarus. Due to the malign behavior of ProtonMail new sanctions against Belarus, which will directly or indirectly hurt every Belorussian citizen, were introduced by the United States, the EU and other countries. Moon of Alabama has detailed the publicly available evidence of the case and has called on ProtonMail to correct the record. ProtonMail responded and communicated with me via Twitter. In its communication with me ProtonMail indirectly admitted that the above headline is wrong. The complete exchange is of public interest and therefore copied below. How did this happen? On May 23 at 9:25 utc some yet unknown person used a ProtonMail email account to send a bomb threat against Ryanair flight 4978 witch at that time was in the air flying from Greece to Vilnius, Lithuania. The email was directly addressed in the "Send to:" field to the Lithuanian administration responsible for Lithuanian airports. The airport of Minsk, Belarus, with the email address info@airport.by, was copied in the "CC to:" 'Carbon copy' field of the very same email. In communication with me ProtonMail tried to claim that this meant that Minsk was not directly addressed in that email. That is nonsense. Any email server will handled email addresses in the "Send To:", "Carbon Copy (CC) to:" and "Blind Carbon Copy (BCC) to:" fields equally in that it will resolve the IP-address of the appropriate server responsible for receiving emails to that email-address. It will then open a session with it that server and deliver the mail. It makes no difference for the receiving side in which "To:" field of the sent email it was mentioned. It will get a full copy of the email. Minsk received the first email at 9:25 utc. At 9:30 utc Ryanair flight 4978 entered Belorussian airspace. It was immediately contacted by the Belorussian Air Traffic Control (ATC) and made aware of the bomb threat against the plane. The complete English language radio exchange between the Ryanair pilot, call sign RYR 1TZ, and the ATC as well as a narrative of what had happened was published by the Belorussian air traffic authorities (scroll down for the English version and the radio transcript). The pilot then asked where the bomb threat had been coming from (emph. added): ATC: RYR 1TZ Pilot: The bomb....direct message, where did it come from? Where did you have information about it from? ATC: RYR 1TZ standby please. ATC: 09:33:42: RYR 1TZ Pilot: Go ahead. ATC: RYR 1TZ airport security stuff informed they received e-mail. Pilot: Roger, Vilnius airport security stuff or from Greece? ATC: RYR 1TZ this e-mail was shared to several airports. At 9:33 utc (12:33 local time) the air traffic controller communicated that Minsk received the warning in an email that had been addressed to multiple entities. This directly contradicts the above UPI headline which was based on a misleading statement ProtonMail had made towards news agencies. The Ryanair pilot was warned of the bomb threat at 9:30 utc. He/she took until 9:47 utc to decide on the issue to then declare MAYDAY. Only several minutes later did the pilot changed the plane's course towards Minsk. A second ProtonMail email with the bomb threat was received at Minsk airport at 9:56 utc (12:56 local time). The sender of the second email, which was addressed to info@airport.by in the "To:" field, might have watched the plane's course live on Flight Aware and likely prepared and sent the second email when the plane, as visible in the flightpath, seemed to not react to the first threat. The pilots decided to go to Minsk because the risk of a potential bomb going off over Vilnius, as announced in the email, was high. The Belorussian authorities have handled the case by the book. They scrambled a fighter jet to watch over the plane as is usual with any plane that gets threatened or hijacked. The Ryanair pilot was left unaware of this. On May 28 the Investigative Committee of Belarus, the country's prosecution service, published a note about the case (machine translation, emph. added): It has already been established, to which we draw special attention, that there were several messages about the "mining" of the aircraft received through the Swiss anonymous mail service ProtonMail - at 12:25 and at 12:56. At the moment, the records of conversations with the pilots of the aircraft are being studied and analyzed in detail, and numerous other investigative actions are being carried out. On May 26 the Dossier Center, a rather shady anti-Russian outfit in London financed by the exiled billionaire and company raider Mikhail Khodorkovsky, published a misleading narrative about the Ryanair incident. It produced a screenshot of the second email that had arrived at Minsk airport and falsely claimed that Belarus receive a bomb threat email only at 9:56 utc. The Daily Beast, which collaborated with the Dossier Center, headlined: Bomb Threat' That Justified Belarus Hijacking Came 24 Minutes After An exclusively obtained record shows that the Ryanair Hamas bomb' emailwhich the Belarus president said prompted the jet landingwas sent after the crew was told of a threat.' The claim was false. Minsk airport, with the email address info@airport.by, had been CCed, 'Carbon Copied', in the 9:25 utc email sent "To:" Lithuanian authorities. Minsk airport was directly addressed in the second email of which the Dossier Center and the Daily Beast, by unknown means, acquired the screenshot they published. News agencies then contacted ProtonMail and asked about the validity of the 9:56 utc email the Dossier Center had published. ProtonMail stated that the 9:56 utc email had been sent to Minsk airport. It did not mention that the 9:25 utc bomb threat email was also sent to Minsk airport. This obfuscation of the issue, and ProtonMail's unwillingness to correct the record, directly led to the false headlines and to sanctions against Belarus. You can check the validity of the above narrative from my recent communication with ProtonMail, published for your amusement below. Earlier communication with ProtonMail was published in my previous post on the issue. At some point the @ProtonMail account on Twitter requested to move the communication from the public realm to Direct Messaging (DM) mode. I followed up on that request. I was never asked to nor did I promise to keep the direct messaging exchange with @ProtonMail private. I believe that publishing its content is of public interest. Here is a screenshot of the most relevant part. And here is the whole rest of it, typos included: Moon of Alabama @MoonofA - 14:51 utc May 29, 2021 New on MoA: How @ProtonMail Lost The Public Trust It Needs To Do Business moonofalabama.org/2021/05/how-pr... #Belarus ProtonMail @ProtonMail - 15:07 utc May 29, 2021 Replying to @MoonofA Just to reiterate, it is not that we don't want to comment on the first email. Rather, our current privacy policy does not let us comment as the first email is not yet in the public domain. We do expect government authorities to disclose it eventually however. Moon of Alabama @MoonofA - 15:12 utc May 29, 2021 Replying to @ProtonMail Knowledge of the first email is in the public domain - see my blogpost. You can comment on the metadata of that first email just as you did comment on the metadata of the second email. Media attribute a false claim to your company. It should by your interest to clean that up. Moon of Alabama @MoonofA - 15:16 utc May 29, 2021 Replying to @MoonofA and @ProtonMail Any delay in clearing up this issue will create more damage and hurt people. That on your conscience. But then don't claim to be neutral and secure. ProtonMail @ProtonMail- 15:16 utc May 29, 2021 Replying to @MoonofA Then you would also be aware that the Lithuanian government did not contact Belarus, which raises the question of how did Belarus know about the first email. Moon of Alabama @MoonofA - 15:17 utc May 29, 2021 Replying to @ProtonMail Because Belarus also received the first email. It states so in several documents. It is on you to confirm that. ProtonMail @ProtonMail - 15:21 utc May 29, 2021 Replying to @MoonofA Actually, if you double check the public reporting on the issue, sources are clear in stating that "only Lithuanian Airports received a letter". Moon of Alabama @MoonofA - 15:24 utc May 29, 2021 Replying to @ProtonMail Dossier Center makes that claim but provides zero evidence for it. How would it know unless you checked your systems and told them? Moon of Alabama @MoonofA - 15:26 utc May 29, 2021 Replying to @MoonofA and @ProtonMail BTW - I just wrote a 2600 word blogpost on the issue. You may want to read that. Some 50,000 other people will do so. ProtonMail @ProtonMail - 15:27 utc May 29, 2021 Replying to @MoonofA We have never had contact with Dossier Center. Any information, would have been obtained from Lithuanian authorities with access to the email. ProtonMail @ProtonMail - 15:30 utc May 29, 2021 Replying to @ProtonMail and @MoonofA As we have already reiterated, none of the emails which have been cited in any of the reporting, are sourced from us, because we cannot read/access emails due to our encryption, which can be verified in our publicly audited source code. ProtonMail @ProtonMail - 15:44 utc May 29, 2021 Replying to @ProtonMail and @MoonofA Lastly, we can't comment on non-public information found in external reporting. Your question should be directed to the source of this information, the dossier center, and not to Proton. Keith Granger @regnarGhtieK - 18:11 utc May 29, 2021 Replying to @ProtonMail and @MoonofA Wow, Proton, there is no good reason for you to not tell the world the timing of the first email & whether it went to Belarus or not You've already said enough to cause harm & made yourselves look partisan Do you have no shame - as of right now you look like an amoral infant. ProtonMail @ProtonMail - 18:16 utc May 29, 2021 Replying to @regnarGhtieK and @MoonofA Commenting on non-public information related to an on-going Swiss govt investigation is generally not permissible. @MoonofA can DM us for clarification. At 18:18 utc yesterday I followed up on @ProtonMail's suggestion to move into Direct Messaging (DM) mode. Tweets exchanged in that mode are not directly linkable. I copy/pasted the exchange below. For clarity I have marked tweets from my @MoonofA account with a preceding "M:". Tweets by the @ProtonMail account are preceded by "P:". I also provide screenshots of the complete communication (1, 2, 3, 4). The screenshots were made today, May 30. The time marks displayed in the exchange are UTC+2. ProtonMail @ProtonMail Incoming envelope Secure email that respects your privacy, brought to you by CERN and MIT scientists. Creators of @ProtonVPN & @ProtonCalendar | Maintainers of @openpgpjs 321 Following 218.6K Followers Joined October 2013 M: So now you claim that there is a Swiss government investigation. Wondering why there would by one? Yesterday, 8:18 PM P: There is an investigation ongoing, and as disclosed in our statement yesterday we have received legally binding requests from the swiss government. It seems you are determined to push the belarusian narrative. if you were to receive confirmation that there was no first email sent to minsk, would you actually change your story? ProtonMail Yesterday, 8:22 PM M: I do not push anyone's narrative but analyze facts and point out were I see mismatches in the various claims. If you would publicly(!) state that there was no email sent from any ProtonMail account to info@airport.by on May 23 at or about 9:25 utc I would publicly accuse the government of Belarus of publishing misleading information. I would also publicly demand an explanation from it. Yesterday, 8:33 PM P: we are not permitted to comment on specifics, but we can say that the reporting by dossier.center is more correct than the belarussian version, which by the way, does not explicitly say that the first email was sent to minsk. all they did was repeat the claim that there was a first email, without clarifying where it was sent. in other words, the conclusion you have drawn in your blog post is incorrect and we hope you will correct it. ProtonMail Yesterday, 8:41 PM M: That is, again, a very mealymouthed ("more correct") and unproven claim by you. You are insinuating that Minsk got the email from elsewhere, not from ProtonMail. Maybe by snooping on Lithuanian accounts or by being copied on emails sent from a Lithuania administrative account to its airports. Knowing the current hostile relations between Lithuania and Belarus and the Belarus statement on the issue we can exlude the second alternative. We are told by Dossier Center that the 9:25 utc email was sent to one Lithuanian administrative account, not directly to its airports. The ATC in Belarus tells the pilot at 9:33 utc that the email "was shared to several airports". Belarus prosecutor also claims that the email arrived in Minsk from ProtonMail at the very same minute that Dossier Center says it arrived in Lithuania. The facts and timeline I know of are inconsistent with a snooping operation and with a sharing of the email by Lithuania. My conclusion are unchanged. Yesterday, 9:10 PM P: Only one email went to belarus, and it was the one that dossier center published, which is in public domain. ProtonMail Yesterday, 9:12 PM M: Interesting claim, made privately in a DM, but I fail to accept that as it is not a 'public domain' fact. As I said: "If you would publicly(!) state that there was no email sent from any ProtonMail account to info@airport.by on May 23 at or about 9:25 utc ..." I will change my conclusions (and blog post). (PS: It is nearing bedtime here and social responsibilities demand me to sign off for today.) Yesterday, 9:21 PM P: ask dossier center if the email to lithuania had belarus in cc. they should be able to give you a confirmation. ProtonMail Yesterday, 9:25 PM M: Anyone who is in CC of an email is a direct recipient of that email. That is independent of who is named as the first recipient in the "To" field. It is your email server that will have directly sent a copy of an email to everyone in the "To" recipient, CC or BCC field of that email. If Minsk airport was CCed in an email to Lithuania it was your email server that contacted and transmitted that email to the server that accepts email for info@airport.by . To then claim that ProtonMail did not sent the email to Minsk airport when Minsk airport was CCed in that email is a lie. (I have set up and configured my first sendmail daemon at or about 1987. Please don't try to bullshit me with such nonsense.) Yesterday, 9:40 PM P: we are checking with legal right now, and will update in an hour ProtonMail Yesterday, 9:45 PM P: but as we mentioned already, Only one email went to belarus, and it was the one that dossier center published, which is in public domain. ProtonMail Yesterday, 9:46 PM P: Clarification regarding ProtonMail, Belarus, and Ryanair flight 4978 protonmail.com we are going to update our statement here (http://protonmail.com/blog/belarus-ryanair) later tonight. will you be updating your blog to report the truth? ProtonMail Yesterday, 10:12 PM The 'updated' statement that ProtonMail published is again a mealymouthed obfuscation which in no way clarifies the issue. It says: The only email sent to Belarus was published by dossier.center to demonstrate that the bomb threat was sent after Ryanair flight 4978 was redirected. That statement is however in contradiction to the public ProtonMail tweet at 15:07 utc May 29, 2021: ... it is not that we don't want to comment on the first email. Rather, our current privacy policy does not let us comment as the first email is not yet in the public domain ... It is also contradicted by the Belorussian prosecutor who clearly states: ... there were several messages [...] received through the Swiss anonymous mail service ProtonMail - at 12:25 and at 12:56 ... It seems to be clear from the above communication and the publicly known facts that Minsk airport was CCed in the first email on May 23 9:25 utc which was primarily addressed to the Lithuanian airport authority. While Minsk was CCed in the 9:25 utc email it was primarily addressed in the second email received at 9:56 utc. ProtonMail tries to differentiate between recipients of an email which are primarily addressed in the "To:" field and those which are copied in the "CC:" 'carbon copy' field. That is legally gibberish and technically nonsense. The sending email server, here ProtonMail's, will have handled all those addresses equally. ProtonMail has the metadata which shows that info@airport.by in Minsk was carbon copied on the 9:25 utc email. It has stated to news agencies that (only) the second email was directly addressed to Minsk airport. This led to the false or misleading headlines and reporting as well as to sanctions against the people of Belarus. ProtonMail seems unwilling to publicly clarify the issue. It is not 'neutral' but is taking part in an information war waged by the 'west' against the people of Belarus. Now ask yourself if you can trust ProtonMail with the handling of any of you 'encrypted' emails. PS: We do not know who sent the bomb threat emails and to what purpose. Some will speculate that some Belorussian authority did so. Others will speculate that the 'regime change' opposition did it so to hurt Belarus. There is no public evidence to support either claim. We do know that Belarus, after it received the 9:25 utc bomb threat email, handled the case by the book and within the realms of international law. After being informed of the threat the Ryanair pilot decided to divert the plane to Minsk where it was searched for a bomb. When none was found the crew and all passengers, except for two for whom there were outstanding arrest warrants and three who had had Minsk as their final flight destination, reentered the plane and flew to Vilnius. I do not support the government of Belarus. But I also see no reason to criticize its behavior in this case. There is reason though to criticize the misreporting of the incident in 'western' media and to condemn ProtonMail's obfuscation which. at a minimum, contributes to that. --- Previous Moon of Alabama post on the Ryanair incident in Belarus: Posted by b on May 30, 2021 at 11:09 UTC | Permalink Comments next page May 30, 2021 The MoA Week In Review - OT 2021-041 Last week's posts at Moon of Alabama: --- Other issues: Biden administration: > For Washingtons China-is-a-threat crowd, the appointment of Lloyd Austin looms as a counterpoint to their foreign-policy agenda: one of larger defense budgets, less reliance on diplomacy, and a greater willingness to use forceall reasons why Biden appointed Austin in the first place. < Gaza - I didn't write a sum-up of the recent war but mostly agree these pieces: Iraq: Afghanistan: Use as open thread ... Posted by b on May 30, 2021 at 18:00 UTC | Permalink Comments next page Nine local schools were awarded a total of over $35,000 in grants May 27 from Fisher-Titus Medical Center during an annual Health Education Gr Children and teens rode their bikes and socialized May 29 as an annual strawberry festival returned to downtown Norwalk. MOULTRIE, Ga. When Paul Nagy was preparing to graduate from Indianas Valparaiso University, he had a job offer from a small midwestern oil company that would have put his business degree to work. HOUSTON (AP) Eleven employees with a Texas sheriffs office have been fired and six others suspended following the February death of an inmate who was hit multiple times in the head by detention officers, authorities announced Friday. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said he was very upset and heartbroken about what a three-month investigation into the death of 23-year-old Jaquaree Simmons found. Medical examiners had ruled Simmons death a homicide from injuries to his head. We have a duty to protect those in our care and that didnt happen, Gonzalez said. A sheriffs office internal affairs investigation concluded Simmons had three fights with detention officers on Feb. 16 when the jail had lost power and water pressure during the states deadly winter storm. The first use of force against Simmons took place that morning after he had clogged the toilet of his jail cell and officers responded to clean it. Later that night, a detention officer hit Simmons in the face after he had thrown his meal tray at the officer and charged at him, according to authorities. When more officers were called in to take him for a medical evaluation, they hit him multiple times in the head, said Major Thomas Diaz, who led the internal affairs investigation. Simmons was evaluated by a doctor at a jail clinic and had a cut to his left eyebrow and upper lip but reported no pain. He was taken back to his cell, but officers failed to bring him back to the clinic for follow-up X-rays, according to Diaz. Simmons was found unresponsive in his cell at 12:10 p.m. on Feb. 17 and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The investigation found that detention officers had failed to do visual checks of the inmates in the cell pod where Simmons was being held from Feb. 15 until the moments before he was found in his cell on Feb. 17, Diaz said. Usually these checks are done electronically, but the system was down due to the winter storm, according to authorities. The officers who were fired or suspended were found to have violated various policies, including using excessive force, failing to document the use of force, not intervening when a fellow officer used force and making false statements to investigators, Diaz said. These 11 people betrayed my trust and the trust of our community. They abused their authority, Gonzalez said. Their conduct toward Mr. Simmons was reprehensible. The 11 employees who were fired included nine detention officers, one detention sergeant and one deputy. The six who were suspended included four detention officers, one detention sergeant and one sheriffs office sergeant. Their suspensions ranged from three to 10 days. Houston police are still conducting a separate criminal investigation into Simmons death. The results of that probe will be presented to the Harris County District Attorney's Office, which will determine if charges are filed. While Gonzalez declined to comment on the criminal investigation, he said he believes crimes were committed in connection with Simmons death. On Feb. 10, Simmons has been booked into the county jail on a charge of a felon in possession of a firearm. Diaz said Simmons had no health issues when he came to the jail. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70 Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription, or activate your access, to continue reading. Discuss this article with your neighbors or join the community conversation. Click here to get access Discuss this article with your neighbors or join the community conversation. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Paycheck advance apps let users borrow a small amount of their expected earnings, usually in exchange for a small fee, and repay it on their next payday. It seems like an attractive offer if you need extra cash between paychecks, and millions of users have accepted it. While its possible to use these apps without harming your finances, some consumer advocates say they can lead to a cycle of debt. If youre thinking of using a paycheck advance app, heres what to know before you download. When Jose Polanco uses the Earnin app to borrow from his upcoming paycheck, the app asks him if he wants to leave a tip. The school administrator says he gives the app $8 for the $100 he usually borrows. He says hes persuaded by the message the app displays that leaving a bigger tip helps pay for users who cant afford to tip at all. Optional tips are a common way these apps reframe fees. While usually not required, theyre frequently encouraged. Earnin CEO Ram Palaniappan says tips let the user decide what the service is worth to them rather than requiring a fee they may not be able to afford. Some advances come with additional fees. Dave, another paycheck advance app, has three optional fees: a monthly $1 subscription fee, an express fee to get your money faster and a tip. For a couple of hundred dollars the maximum amount you can borrow from most apps the fees arent as high as most payday loans or overdraft fees. But asking the user to decide how much to pay doesnt give them a chance to evaluate the full cost of borrowing in the way displaying an annual percentage rate would, says Marisabel Torres, director of California policy at the Center for Responsible Lending. Not calling it a fee and framing it as a tip, thats actually disingenuous to the user because then the amount that that product actually costs you is muddled, she says. To sign up with a paycheck advance app, users normally have to provide proof of their pay schedule and income, and often access to their bank accounts so the app can withdraw the money they owe when they get paid. Some of the apps say theyll monitor your bank account and try to avoid a debit if your balance is too low. Debiting a balance thats too low can cause an overdraft fee a fee some apps market themselves as an alternative to and you could need to borrow again. Its not yet clear how often app usage triggers an overdraft fee, says Alex Horowitz, senior research officer with the Pew Charitable Trusts. But an April report from the Financial Health Network found that 70% of consumers who used a service to access their earnings early returned to use them consecutively behavior thats common with payday loans, he says. Its not just that theyre using it multiple times in a year, its that theyre using it multiple times in a row, Horowitz says. That indicates that they couldnt repay it without taking another advance shortly after to cover their bills. You may have cheaper alternatives if you need to borrow money, Torres says. Credit unions and some banks offer small-dollar loans that are repaid in affordable monthly installments. A friend or family member may be able to lend you the money and let you repay it over time. There isnt enough research to know if getting an advance from an app leaves consumers better or worse off, says Nakita Cuttino, a visiting assistant professor at Duke University School of Law whose research focuses on financial services and financial inclusion. In 2019, the New York Department of Financial Services along with several other states and Puerto Rico announced an investigation into the earned wage access industry, of which these types of apps are a part, to determine whether they violate state lending laws. When theyre used to resolve a one-time emergency, Cuttino says, an advance may be cheaper and more convenient and lowers the risk of overborrowing because of their low dollar amounts. If you do borrow from one of these apps, understand how itll affect your budget and make a plan to repay it, she says. And if you find yourself returning to borrow each pay period or incurring frequent overdraft fees, it may not be right for you. ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) Former Sen. John W. Warner of Virginia, a courtly figure and longtime military expert whose marriage to Elizabeth Taylor gave him a potent dash of starpower, has died at 94. Warner died Tuesday of heart failure at home in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife and daughter at his side, his longtime chief of staff, Susan A. Magill, said Wednesday. A centrist Republican, Warner had an independent streak that sometimes angered more conservative GOP leaders. But he was hugely popular with Virginia voters. That popularity was only amplified by his marriage to a mega movie star, which drew huge crowds when he was elected to the Senate in 1978. The Doonesbury comic strip lampooned him as Sen. Elizabeth Taylor. Warner was the sixth of Taylors seven husbands. The two were married in 1976 and divorced in 1982. Taylor wrote later that they remained friends, but she just couldnt bear the intense loneliness when he became engrossed in his Senate duties. President Joe Biden, who served with Warner in the Senate, said Warner took principled stances guided by two things: his conscience and our Constitution. "He neither wavered in his convictions nor was concerned with the consequences, Biden said, noting Warner wasn't afraid to buck his party on issues of rational gun policy, womens rights, and judicial nominees and even crossed party lines to support Biden's presidential candidacy in 2020. Warner served five Senate terms before retiring from the chamber 30 years later. He was succeeded in 2008 by Democrat Mark Warner no relation who had challenged him for the Senate in 1996. After years of rivalry, the two became good friends. In Virginia, we expect a lot of our elected officials," Mark Warner said Wednesday. "We expect them to lead, yet remain humble. We expect them to serve, but with dignity. We expect them to fight for what they believe in, but without making it personal. John Warner was the embodiment of all that and more. I firmly believe that we could use more role models like him today." Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia said, Once I came to the Senate, I understood even more deeply the influence of John Warner. I came to know John McCain, Carl Levin, and so many others who served with him and attested to his integrity and outsized influence in a body he loved so dearly. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lauded Warner as a great patriot ... a leader unafraid to speak the truth but always committed to finding common ground and consensus. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who served both Democratic and Republican administrations, said Warner's "steadfast support for our men and women in uniform made a difference in their lives and in the security of our country. His friends and admirers came from across the political spectrum and he set an example for all of bipartisan leadership. Flags at the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol were flown at half-staff. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised Warner as a consensus builder and an authority on military affairs. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky called Warner a principled patriot across the board. The courtly senator with chiseled features and a thick shock of gray hair was so popular with Virginia voters that Democrats did not bother to challenge him in 2002. A veteran of World War II and Korea, Warner devoted most of his career to military matters. He served as chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and as Navy secretary. He was a key supporter of President George W. Bushs declaration of war in Iraq and often defended the Bush administrations handling of the war. But he also showed a willingness to buck the White House. After a 2007 trip to Iraq, Warner called upon Bush to start bringing troops home. He summoned top Pentagon officials to hearings into the torture of detainees at the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison and the Iraq war. In 2005, Warner was the lone senator to formally object to the federal government stepping in on the Terri Schiavo right-to-die case. She had suffered brain damage and her husband sought to remove her feeding tube, over the objections of Florida lawmakers. Greater wisdom is not always reposed in the branches of federal government, he said at the time. In 1994, Warner angered conservatives by opposing GOP nominee Oliver Norths bid to unseat Virginia Democratic Sen. Charles S. Robb. Warner declared the Iran-Contra figure unfit for public office and backed independent J. Marshall Coleman, who drew enough independent and moderate GOP votes to ensure Robbs reelection. I sure risked my political future, thats for sure, Warner said in 1994. But Id rather the voters of this state remember that I stood on my principle. ... Thats the price of leadership. Steamed by what they viewed as disloyalty, GOP conservatives tried to deny him a fourth term in 1996, backing a primary challenge by former Reagan administration budget director Jim Miller. Miller portrayed Warner as an elitist who spent too much time squiring celebrities, including Barbara Walters. But Warner easily defeated him and then beat Mark Warner in the general. John Warner mended his strained GOP ties by helping Jim Gilmore become governor in 1997 and George Allen take Robbs Senate seat in 2000. Born in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 18, 1927, Warner volunteered for the Navy at 17 and served as a 3rd class electronics technician. He earned an engineering degree from Washington and Lee University and entered law school at the University of Virginia in 1949, but volunteered for the Marines, serving in Korea before finishing his degree in 1953. Warner clerked at the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, went into private practice, and then became a federal prosecutor. He was Navy secretary from 1972 to 1974. Warner got an estimated $7 million fortune in the breakup of his first marriage, to Catherine Mellon, daughter of multimillionaire Paul Mellon. He married real estate agent Jeanne Vander Myde in 2003. Warner had three children, Mary, Virginia and John, and was a member of the Episcopal Church. ___ Dena Potter, a former staffer of The Associated Press, was the principal writer of this obituary. So far, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine has been authorized for use in the 12-to-17 age group, though Moderna announced last week it plans to seek emergency use authorization soon, perhaps in the coming week. The company also released findings that the vaccine had proved 93% effective in clinical trials after the first dose and 100% effective two weeks after the second dose, with no cases of COVID-19 reported among vaccinated participants. Overnight reports from Jacksonville police: Terrance T. Watson, 40, of Henry was cited on charges of disobeying a stop sign and having no drivers license after the car he was driving and one being driven by Annette L. Mitchell, 36, of Gary, Indiana, collided at 7:45 p.m. Saturday at South Clay and College avenues. The impact of the crash caused Mitchells vehicle to hit a utility pole. Mitchell was cited on charges of driving while license is suspended and operating an uninsured vehicle, according to police. Todays reports from Jacksonville police: Jazmyn N. Childress, 30, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk after Christina M. Pean, 54, of Jacksonville was hit by a car at 1:58 p.m. Saturday as Pean was crossing East State Street, according to a police report. Pean suffered a minor scrape, but declined treatment, according to police. TULSA, Okla. (AP) When white attackers destroyed the prosperous Black neighborhood of Greenwood 100 years ago this week, they bypassed the original sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of North Tulsa. By the churchs own account, the attackers thought the brick veneer structure was too fine for a Black-owned church. The mob destroyed at least a half-dozen other churches while burning and leveling a 35-square-block neighborhood in one of the nations deadliest spasms of racist violence. Estimates of the death toll range from dozens to 300. On Sunday, First Baptist's current sanctuary throbbed with a high-decibel service as six congregations gathered to mark the centennial of the massacre and to honor the persistence of the Black church tradition in Greenwood, as shown in the pulsing worship, call-and-response preaching and heavy emphasis on social justice. Greenwood is holy ground, said the Rev. John Faison of Nashville, Tennessee, who preached at the service and is assistant to the bishop of social action for the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship. He said the centennial both honors the victims of the massacre and celebrates the resilience and the resurgence of an amazing people of God. Similar commemorations took place at many houses of worship throughout Tulsa and across Oklahoma on Sunday, a day ahead of the official centennial dates. More civic activities are planned for Monday and Tuesday, including a candlelight vigil and a visit by President Joe Biden. The commission that organized the centennial designated Sunday as Unity Faith Day and provided a suggested worship guide that each congregation could adapt, including scriptures, prayers and the singing of Amazing Grace. Particularly at historically Black churches, speakers emphasized a call for financial reparations both for the few centenarian survivors of the massacre and for the wider, economically struggling North Tulsa area, where the citys Black population is largely concentrated. The main problem is that our nation is always trying to have reconciliation without doing justice, Faison said. Until repentance and repair are seen as inseparable, any attempt to reconcile will fail miserably. The Rev. Robert Turner, pastor of nearby Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church, which also traces its roots to before the massacre, echoed that sentiment in an interview before his own churchs service. Its not a tragedy thats left in 1921. Its a tragedy that continues to live each day that lacks justice, said Turner, who protests weekly outside Tulsa City Hall, calling both for reparations and for a posthumous criminal investigation of the massacres perpetrators. Some churches on Sunday recognized 13 still-active congregations that operated in Greenwood in 1921, including many that had to rebuild their destroyed sanctuaries. Lists of the 13, under the heading Faith Still Standing, are being distributed on posters and other merchandise. We dont want it ever to happen again anywhere, said the Rev. Donna Jackson, an organizer of the recognition. Some historically white churches also observed the centennial. Pastor Deron Spoo of First Baptist Church of Tulsa, a Southern Baptist church less than two miles from the similarly named North Tulsa church, told his congregation that the massacre has been a scar on the city. The church has a prayer room with an exhibit on the massacre, accompanied by prayers against racism. It includes quotations from white pastors in 1921 who faulted the Black community rather than the white attackers for the devastation and declared racial inequality to be divinely ordained. Spoo told congregants on Sunday: While we dont know what the pastor 100 years ago at First Baptist Tulsa said, I want to be very clear: Racism has no place in the life of a Jesus follower. Also recognizing the massacre was South Tulsa Baptist Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in a predominately white suburban part of Tulsa. Pastor Eric Costanzo grew up in Tulsa but didnt learn of the massacre until attending seminary out of state. When he later saw an exhibit on the massacre at the Greenwood Cultural Center, he recognized its enormity. He later got involved with centennial planning, arranging for presentations at the church about the massacre and visits by church members to Greenwood. In an interview, he said he hoped that the "bridge we created between our communities remains active after the centennial to confront a lot of the hard topics our city and culture faces. The Rev. Zenobia Mayo, a retired educator and an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), is also working to continue those conversations after the centennial. She said her family never used to talk about the massacre, even though her great-great-uncle, renowned surgeon A.C. Jackson, was among its most prominent victims. Elders in the family sought to protect their children from the trauma of racist violence, she said. They felt not talking about it was the way to deal with it. But now Mayo hopes to host discussions on racism at her home with mixed groups of white and Black guests. If its going to be, let it begin with me, she said. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through The Conversation U.S. The AP is solely responsible for this content. New Zealand hosts Australia PM in 1st meeting since outbreak View Photo CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) Growing friction with China and how to reopen borders after the pandemic will likely be among the topics discussed by the leaders of Australia and New Zealand in their first face-to-face meeting since the coronavirus outbreak prompted both countries to close their borders. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrived in the tourist resort of Queenstown for an overnight visit Sunday. He greeted his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern with a traditional Maori hongi, in which the pair pressed noses together. Morrison is the first major world leader to visit New Zealand since both countries shut their borders last year to contain the virus. The neighbors opened a quarantine-free travel bubble last month, although a recent outbreak of the virus in Melbourne has prompted New Zealand to suspend the arrangement with Victoria state. Morrisons visit came as New Zealand was dealing with extensive flooding in the Canterbury region following heavy rains. Video footage showed one farmer being rescued by helicopter from a raging river, while other swelling rivers threatened to flood thousands of homes. The choice of Queenstown for the meeting was deliberate as New Zealand tries to revive its battered tourism industry. Queenstown has been particularly hard-hit by the pandemic, although tourism operators say they expect a boost from Australian tourists during the upcoming ski season now that the travel bubble has begun. The changing dynamics with China have been a big topic in both countries. Australias relationship with China has deteriorated significantly. China has blocked some Australian exports after Australia excluded China-based telecommunications company Huawei from its 5G phone network and called for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus. New Zealand has also been more outspoken against China on some issues in recent months, although it has so far maintained better relations with the superpower than Australia. Ardern said she would talk with Morrison about the pandemic recovery as well as key regional challenges and security issues. Our relationship with Australia is our closest and most important and this has never been more evident than in these trying times for the world, Ardern told reporters. By NICK PERRY Associated Press Turkeys foreign minister Cavusoglu begins visit to Greece View Photo ATHENS, Greece (AP) Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Sunday began his trip to Greece with an unofficial visit to the northeastern province of Thrace, where most of Greeces Muslim minority resides. The official part of Cavusoglus trip will take place Monday morning, when he will meet with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He and Dendias will also have an informal dinner later Sunday. Cavusoglu arrived by official plane at the Greek city of Alexandroupolis on Sunday and proceeded to the city of Komotini, where a large part of the Muslim minority resides. In #Greece to meet members of Turkish Minority in #WesternThrace and discuss our bilateral relations, Cavusoglu tweeted. His mention of a Turkish minority is diplomatically sensitive, because Greece recognizes the minority as a religious one, while Turkey refers to it as an ethnic Turkish minority. Greece has tried to promote the ethnic diversity of the minority, highlighting its Roma and Pomak components, in an effort to contain Turkish influence and possible secessionist sentiment. Cavusoglu met with the two Turkish-approved muftis, of the cities of Komotini and Xanthi, whom Greece doesnt recognize, having appointed its own. He also visited the grave of Dr. Sadik Ahmet, who was elected in the Greek parliament in 1989 as the head of the openly pro-Turkish Party of Friendship. Equality and Peace. It was Ahmets election that prompted Greece to change its electoral law to introduce a national vote threshold of 3% for parties to gain parliamentary seats. Cavusoglu also visited Komotinis Bayar Minority Gymnasium and Lyceum, a junior and senior high school named after a former Turkish president. He told media after the school visit that when he meets with Greek officials, he will bring up the subject of the rights of the Turkish minority in western Thrace. Despite Cavusoglus statements about the minority, both countries expect the visit to be relatively low-key and avoid the tensions generated in Dendias visit to Ankara in April.) The two ministers traded barbs and listed their respective countrys grievances against the other in a rare public exchange of accusations. Greek officials view the visit as preparing a meeting between Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in mid-June, on the sidelines of a NATO summit. The hope is that this summer will be less tense between the two allied but antagonistic neighbors than the previous one, when clashes over delimitation of maritime zones and search for oil and natural gas dominated. Greek and Turkish deputy foreign ministers also held talks this past week on lower-level cooperation issues, such as tourism, the environment and improved transport links between the two countries. ___ Ayse Wieting contributed to this report from Istanbul. By DEMETRIS NELLAS Associated Press MEXICO CITY (AP) The daughter-in-law of a politically influential British magnate was in custody in Belize on Saturday, under investigation in the shooting death of a police superintendent. Police Commissioner Chester C. Williams told local media that Jasmine Hartin initially balked at making a statement, preferring to wait for the presence of her attorney. She was found on a dock near where police Superintendent Henry Jemmott was found dead early Friday in the town of San Pedro. Williams said a single gunshot was heard and upon investigating, police found the female on a pier, and she had what appeared to be blood on her arms and on her clothing. A firearm was also seen on the pier that has been retrieved and we have learned that the firearm belonged to the police and was assigned to Mr. Jemmott, he told a news conference Friday, adding that Hartin is in custody and being investigated in the death. Hartin is the partner of Andrew Ashcroft, son of Michael Ashcroft, a former deputy chairman of Britains Conservative Party and a major financial backer. He also holds Belizean citizenship and was once its representative before the United Nations. The Associated Press has not been able to speak to Hartin or a lawyer representing her. The incident seems rather personal and not an attack, Williams said. From what we know is that they are friends. From what we have been made to understand they were drinking. From investigation they were alone on the pier and yes they were both fully clothed. He said Hartin was somewhat in a emotional state walking herself on the pier. We believe that she is to some extent affected by it. LinkedIn accounts indicate that both the younger Ashcroft and Hartin were connected with a local resort in Belize. Jemmotts sister, Marie Jemmott Tzul, told told 7 News Belize television that her brother loved life and was the father of five children. The investigation can say something else but I think they killed him, she said, adding the only information the family had was that he was with a woman she did not know and his body was found in the water. Israel, Egypt talk truce with Hamas, rebuilding Gaza Strip View Photo CAIRO (AP) Egypt and Israel held high-level talks in both countries Sunday to shore up a fragile truce between Israel and the Hamas militant group and rebuild the Gaza Strip after a punishing 11-day war that left parts of the seaside enclave in ruins. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukry received his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi, in Cairo. The meeting is part of an effort to build on an Israel-Hamas cease-fire reached May 21 and to revive Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, which have been dormant for more than a decade, Shukrys office said. Egypt has not said how it would be able to restart talks. The hours-long visit was the first public one by an Israeli foreign minister to Egypt since 2008, according to the Israeli Embassy in Cairo. Spokesman Ahmed Hafez said Shukry called for establishing an atmosphere to relaunch serious and constructive negotiations between the two sides. He also urged both sides to refrain from any measures that could hamper efforts to revive peace talks. They also discussed the release of Israeli soldiers and citizens being held by Hamas, Israels top diplomat said. We all need to act to prevent strengthening extremist elements that threaten regional stability, and to ensure the return home of the missing persons and prisoners held by Hamas, Ashkenazi said. He also criticized the Palestinian Authority over its moves at the International Criminal Court and the U.N. Human Rights Council, saying such activity damages the chances of future cooperation. Ashkenazi alleged that Palestinian war crimes complaints against Israel filed over its military conduct since a 2014 war with Hamas and ongoing settlement construction are an obstacle to political dialogue. The ICC is investigating both Israel and Hamas for possible war crimes. Hamas is under investigation for random rocket fire toward Israeli communities. Despite cease-fire talks, Hamas and the smaller militant group Islamic Jihad have staged weapons parades in a show of force. On Sunday, thousands attended a Hamas rally in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya, where masked militants displayed rockets, launchers and drones. Hamas is holding the remains of two Israeli soldiers killed in a 2014 war. It also is holding two Israeli civilians who were captured after entering Gaza. As part of the cease-fire efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Abbas Kamel, Egypts intelligence chief, in Jerusalem. Netanyahu said he had raised the issue of returning the remains of soldiers and the two civilians as well as Israeli demands to prevent Hamas from gaining strength or diverting resources meant for the civilian population. An Egyptian official said Kamel would also meet with Palestinian officials in the West Bank before heading to Gaza for talks with Hamas leaders. The intelligence agency, which is Egypts equivalent of the CIA, usually handles Egypts ties with Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. Egypts state-run MENA news agency said Kamel would convey a message from el-Sissi to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, affirming Egypts full support to the Palestinian people. It said Cairo would host talks among Palestinian factions to achieve unity between those in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied areas of the West Bank. The report did not provide further details. During a visit to the region last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was seeking to bolster Abbas and weaken Hamas as part of the cease-fire efforts. Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip from Abbas forces in 2007, leaving the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in charge of administering autonomous zones in some 40% of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israels right to exist, is branded a terrorist group by Israel, the U.S. and other Western countries. Discussions with Israeli officials have touched on a set of measures that would allow materials, electricity and fuel into the territory, as well as the possible expansion of maritime space allowed for Gaza fishermen, the Egyptian official said. The role of the Palestinian Authority is central in the talks, he said. Egypt is seeking to have it deeply involved in the reconstruction process. The Egyptian official, who had close knowledge of the proceedings that led to the cease-fire, spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasnt allowed to brief reporters. The 11-day war killed more than 250 people, mostly Palestinians, and caused heavy destruction in the impoverished coastal territory. Preliminary estimates have put the damage in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Egypt was key in mediating a deal between the two sides. The official said Egypt has offered guarantees that rebuilding funds will not find its way to Hamas, possibly going through an international committee led by Egypt or the United Nations that would oversee the spending. Kamel has also discussed the situation in Jerusalem and ways to ease tensions in the holy city. That would include understandings at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where Israeli police repeatedly clashed with Palestinian demonstrators, and how to prevent the planned eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in east Jerusalem, the official said. Egypt last week invited Israel, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority for separate talks in Cairo to consolidate the Cairo-mediated cease-fire and accelerate the reconstruction process in Gaza. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is expected to visit Cairo this week, according to the groups spokesman Abdelatif al-Qanou, who also said Hamas is open to discussing a prisoner swap with Israel. By SAMY MAGDY Associated Press Netanyahu could lose PM job as rivals attempt to join forces View Photo JERUSALEM (AP) A former ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said he would seek to form a coalition government with the Israeli leaders opponents, taking a major step toward ending the rule of the longtime premier. The dramatic announcement by Naftali Bennett, leader of the small hardline Yamina party, set the stage for a series of steps that could push Netanyahu and his dominant Likud party into the opposition in the coming week. While Bennett and his new partners, headed by opposition leader Yair Lapid, still face some obstacles, the sides appeared to be serious about reaching a deal and ending the deadlock that has plunged the country into four elections in the past two years. Its my intention to do my utmost in order to form a national unity government along with my friend Yair Lapid, so that, God willing, together we can save the country from a tailspin and return Israel to its course, Bennett said. The pair have until Wednesday to complete a deal in which each is expected to serve two years as prime minister in a rotation deal, with Bennett holding the job first. Lapids Yesh Atid party said negotiating teams were to meet later Sunday. Bennett, a former top aide to Netanyahu who has held senior Cabinet posts, shares the prime ministers hard-line ideology. He is a former leader of the West Bank settlement movement and heads a small party whose base includes religious and nationalist Jews. Yet he has had a strained and complicated relationship with his one-time mentor due to personal differences. Bennett said there was no feasible way after the deadlocked March 23 election to form a right-wing government favored by Netanyahu. He said another election would yield the same results and said it was time to end the cycle. A government like this will succeed only if we work together as a group, he said. He said everyone will need to postpone fulfilling part of their dreams. We will focus on what can be done, instead of fighting all day on whats impossible. If Bennett and Lapid and their other partners can wrap up a deal, it would end, at least for the time being, the record-setting tenure of Netanyahu, the most dominant figure in Israeli politics over the past three decades. Netanyahu has served as prime minister for the past 12 years and also held an earlier term in the late 1990s. In his own televised statement, Netanyahu accused Bennett of betraying the Israeli right wing and urged nationalist politicians not to join what he called a leftist government. A government like this is a danger to the security of Israel, and is also a danger to the future of the state, he said. Despite his electoral dominance, Netanyahu has become a polarizing figure since he was indicted on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in late 2019. Each of the past four elections was seen as a referendum on Netanyahus fitness to rule, and each ended in deadlock. Netanyahu is desperate to stay in power while he is on trial. He has used his office as a stage to rally his base and lash out against police, prosecutors and the media. In order to form a government, a party leader must secure the support of a 61-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset, or parliament. Because no single party controls a majority on its own, coalitions are usually built with smaller partners. Thirteen parties of various sizes are in the current parliament. As leader of the largest party, Netanyahu was given the first opportunity by the countrys figurehead president to form a coalition. But he was unable to secure a majority with his traditional religious and nationalist allies. Netanyahu even attempted to court a small Islamist Arab party but was thwarted by a small ultranationalist party with a racist anti-Arab agenda. Although Arabs make up some 20% of Israels population, an Arab party has never before sat in an Israeli coalition government. After Netanyahus failure to form a government, Lapid was then given four weeks to cobble together a coalition. He has until Wednesday to complete the task. While Bennetts Yamina party controls just seven seats in parliament, he has emerged as a kingmaker of sorts by providing the necessary support to secure a majority. If he is successful, his party would be the smallest to lead an Israeli government. Lapid already faced a difficult challenge, given the broad range of parties in the anti-Netanyahu bloc that have little in common. They include dovish left-wing parties, a pair of right-wing nationalist parties, including Bennetts Yamina, and most likely the Islamist United Arab List. Lapids task was made even more difficult after war broke out with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip on May 10. His coalition talks were put on hold during the 11 days of fighting. But with Wednesdays deadline looming, negotiations have kicked into high gear. Lapid has reached coalition deals with three other parties so far. If he finalizes a deal with Bennett, the remaining partners are expected to quickly fall into place. They would then have roughly one week to present their coalition to parliament for a formal vote of confidence allowing it to take office. Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, said Netanyahu will try to undermine those efforts until the end. Netanyahus main strategy, he said, would be to try to appeal to hard-liners in both Bennetts party and New Hope, another hard-line party led by a former Netanyahu confidant, to withdraw their support for the new coalition. A defection of just one or two lawmakers could prevent Lapid from mustering a majority and force another election. Anything might happen, Plesner said. I would wait for the final vote to go through. Even if Lapid and Bennett manage to put together a government, Netanyahu is unlikely to disappear, Plesner said. Netanyahu could remain as opposition leader, working to exploit the deep ideological differences among his opponents to cause the coalition to fracture. History teaches us it would be unwise to write him off, he said. ___ Associated Press writer Ilan Ben Zion contributed to this report. By JOSEF FEDERMAN Associated Press The unfortunate irony in this attitude is that most other groups who came here legally did so under dramatically different rules than todays Haitians, Venezuelans and others. In fact, Cuban Americans, like Sen. Rubios parents, benefited from the most generous immigration policies offered to any group of people. They were given a green card immediately upon arrival, access to health care, and a clear path to citizenship. Cuban Americans, by and large, have shown that by welcoming them with such open arms, America has benefited way beyond whatever costs were incurred. Today, Cuban Americans are a vibrant and vital part of our American and Floridian culture, community and economy. We should offer the same respect to those from other parts of the world fleeing economic crises, natural disasters and violence of a magnitude many of us cannot comprehend. SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) A Southern California man who pleaded guilty to illegally operating kiosks where customers could buy Bitcoin with cash, or sell Bitcoin in exchange for cash has been sentenced to two years in federal prison. Kais Mohammad, 37, of Yorba Linda, received the sentence at U.S. District Court in Santa Ana Friday, according to an Orange County Register report. Mohammad pleaded guilty last year to operating an unlicensed virtual currency business and laundering between $15 million and $25 million in Bitcoin and cash over a five-year period through Herocoin, federal prosecutors said. The company operated kiosks at malls, gas stations and convenience stores throughout Southern California, where the exchanges would be dispensed through the machines. Mohammad also knew that some of his clients funds came from illegal activity, said Ciaran McEvoy, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys Office. A former bank employee, Mohammad knew he was required to register his company with the U.S. Treasury Departments Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, that he needed to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and that he needed to report various virtual currency exchanges, but chose not to, McEvoy said. He eventually registered the company after he was contacted by FinCEN, but still failed to conduct due diligence and report suspicious customers, McEvoy said. As part of the plea agreement, Mohammad forfeited 17 kiosks and an unspecified amount of cash and cryptocurrency, officials said last year. CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago intersection where an actor who appeared in the movie School of Rock was killed while riding his bicycle was flagged three years ago by a traffic safety group as notoriously unsafe and hazardous by a traffic safety group, but it says no improvements were made. In its 2018 study, the Active Transportation Alliance identified the intersection in the Avondale neighborhood on the city's northwest side as a high-crash area because of its poor visibility and heavy traffic. MIAMI (AP) Violence ushered in the Memorial Day weekend in South Florida, when gunmen indiscriminately sprayed bullets into crowds at two Miami venues. Two people died and at least 20 others were injured early Sunday morning during a shooting outside a banquet hall, about a day after a drive-by shooting killed one person and injured six. Authorities called on the public to help identify the shooters. This type of gun violence has to stop. Every weekend its the same thing, said the police director of Miami-Dade County, Alfredo Freddy Ramirez III, whose officers were hunting down three suspects believed to have been involved in Sunday's violence. These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice, Ramirez said in a tweet. Two people died at the scene, police said. As many as 25 people went to various hospitals for treatment. Clayton Dillard and his family waited outside the El Mula Banquet Hall in northwest Miami-Dade County, where Sunday's shooting took place shortly after midnight, hoping for news about a loved one they feared was among the two fatalities. I know he's there, Dillard said, but they won't let me come claim him. As of Sunday afternoon, police had not released the names of the victims, whose bodies were awaiting to be removed from the scene more than 16 hours after the shots rang out outside the banquet hall, which had been rented out for a concert. Police said the gunfire began when three people got out of an SUV shortly after midnight and shot into a crowd with assault rifles and handguns. The shooting was targeted, Ramirez said, but did not elaborate. More than two dozen people crowded behind yellow police tape and a line of squad cars as police continued their investigation into Sunday evening. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis joined in mourning, saying on Twitter he was praying for the recovery of the victims and pledged help from state authorities. We are working with local authorities to bring justice to the perpetrators. Justice needs to be swift & severe! DeSantis tweeted. Businessman and TV personality Marcus Lemonis, star of The Profit, took to Twitter to offer a $100,000 reward to help authorities capture the suspects. Sunday's shooting came a little over a day after a drive-by shooting claimed the life of one person outside another venue about 13 miles away in the Wynwood area. Six others were injured. Some witnesses likened the scene to a war zone" after a barrage of dozens of bullets sent people scurrying in the night. Democratic state Sen. Shevrin Jones said he wants DeSantis to do more than just pray. Hes calling on the governor to sit down with Democrats to discuss meaningful ways of addressing gun violence. Thoughts and prayers have been going on for years and thoughts and prayers havent done a damn thing inside the Black community or any community when it comes to gun violence, Jones said. But he acknowledged Republicans are resistant to discuss the issue. Republicans dont want to talk about guns. They think were trying to take their guns away from them. If their talking point is that guns are for protection, or that guns are for hunting, just know that that terminology is different in certain communities, Jones said. Some of these individuals are using guns to murder. Some of these individuals are using guns to hunt people. ____ Calvan and Farrington reported from Tallahassee, Florida. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas Republicans dug in Saturday for a final weekend vote on some of the most restrictive new voting laws in the U.S., putting the last touches on a sweeping bill that would eliminate drive-thru voting, empower partisan poll watchers and limit voting on Sundays, when many Black churchgoers head to the polls. The changes would need to be approved before midnight on Sunday, when the GOP-controlled Legislature wraps up a session dominated by Republicans muscling through staunchly conservative measures pertaining to guns, abortion and how race can be taught in public schools. But none have drawn backlash like Senate Bill 7, which Republicans packed with a raft of new voting restrictions that would alter how the country's biggest red state conducts elections. Democrats have virtually no path to stop it from passing, thereby putting Republicans on the brink of a major victory in their nationwide campaign to impose new voting restrictions driven by former President Donald Trumps false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has said he will sign the measure, which Democrats have said they would challenge in court. President Joe Biden released a statement calling the Texas bill's final form "wrong and un-American. Today, Texas legislators put forth a bill that joins Georgia and Florida in advancing a state law that attacks the sacred right to vote. Its part of an assault on democracy that weve seen far too often this year and often disproportionately targeting Black and Brown Americans, Biden said. The final version of the bill was hashed out behind closed doors by negotiators from the state House and Senate, nearly all of whom were Republicans. They preserved the elimination of 24-hour polling stations and drive-thru voting centers, both of which Harris County, the state's largest Democratic stronghold, introduced last year in an election that saw record turnout. GOP legislators are also moving to prohibit Sunday voting before 1 p.m., which critics called an attack on what is commonly known as souls to the polls" a get-out-the vote campaign used by Black church congregations nationwide. The idea traces back to the civil rights movement. Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier, chairwoman of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, said the change is going to disengage, disenfranchise those who use the souls to the polls opportunity." Collier was one of three Democrats picked to negotiate the final version, none of whom signed their name to it. She said she saw a draft of the bill around 11 p.m. Friday which was different than one she had received earlier that day and was asked for her signature the next morning. Texas is also set to newly empower partisan poll watchers, allowing them more access inside polling places and threatening criminal penalties against elections officials who restrict their movement. Republicans originally proposed giving poll watchers the right to take photos, but that language was removed from the final bill that lawmakers were set to vote on this weekend. Another new provision could also make it easier to overturn an election in Texas, allowing for a judge to void an outcome if the number of fraudulent votes cast could change the result, regardless of whether it was proved that fraud affected the outcome. Major corporations, including Texas-based American Airlines and Dell, have warned that the measures could harm democracy and the economic climate. But Republicans shrugged off their objections, and in some cases, ripped business leaders for speaking out. The top Republican negotiators, state Sen. Bryan Hughes and state Rep. Briscoe Cain, called the bill one of the most comprehensive and sensible election reform bills in Texas' history. Even as the national media minimizes the importance of election integrity, the Texas Legislature has not bent to headlines or corporate virtue signaling, they said in a joint statement. Texas already has some of the country's tightest voting restrictions and is regularly cited by nonpartisan groups as a state where it is especially hard to vote. It was one of the few states that did not make it easier to vote by mail during the pandemic. It is also the last big battleground in Republicans' efforts to tighten voting laws around the country. Florida, Georgia, and Arizona have also approved new voting restrictions in recent months. Since Trump's defeat, at least 14 states have enacted more restrictive voting laws, according to the New York-based Brennan Center for Justice. It has also counted nearly 400 bills filed this year nationwide that would restrict voting. Republican lawmakers in Texas have insisted that the changes are not a response to Trumps false claims of widespread fraud but are needed to restore confidence in the voting process. But doubts about the elections outcome have been fanned by some of the state's top GOP leaders, including Attorney General Ken Paxton, who led a failed lawsuit at the U.S. Supreme Court to try to overturn the election. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who chaired Trumps presidential campaign in Texas, offered a $1 million reward to anyone who could produce evidence of voter fraud. Nonpartisan investigations of previous elections have found that voter fraud is exceedingly rare. State officials from both parties, including in Texas, as well as international observers have also said the 2020 election went well. ___ Associated Press writer Nicholas Riccardi in Denver contributed to this report. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) The Biden administration is urging a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit that could stand in the way of Florida and other states importing prescription drugs from Canada. In a legal brief filed Friday, the White House argues that the lawsuit filed last year on behalf of U.S. pharmaceutical companies was premature because the federal government has yet to approve any importation programs. The administrations legal filing came on the same day Florida's Republican governor, who is considering a run for the White House in 2024, called on the Biden administration to approve its drug importation application. Florida and New Mexico are the only two states thus far to formally ask the U.S. government to allow federally approved drugs to be imported from Canada, arguing that doing so would save Americans millions of dollars. Other states are poised to follow, despite a lawsuit raising concerns over safety and costs that was filed by the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America, the trade group that represents U.S. drug producers. In its legal filing, President Joe Biden's administration argues that drug companies pre-emptively launched this wholesale attack on a program that has yet to be implemented. Although two proposals have been submitted to FDA, no timeline exists for the agency to make a decision, the governments motion states. During a Friday news conference, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Floridians could save as much as $150 million in drug costs in the program's first year. DeSantis signed a bill in 2019 allowing prescription drugs to be imported from the neighboring country, but the plan awaits federal approval. In November, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under then-President Donald Trump issued a ruling, which DeSantis said was based largely on Florida's plan, further opening the door for states to pursue importing prescription drugs. That same month, the trade group filed its lawsuit. The governors office on Friday issued a statement asserting that the current government's legal filing puts the Biden Administration on the record in support of the FDA rule. The Florida governor has increasingly taken a combative tone against the Biden administration as he positions himself as one of his party's leading critics of the current White House. It is disappointing that the FDA appears to have no timeline to review any state importation proposals as referenced in todays filing, the governor's statement said. Floridians have been waiting long enough for lower drug prices, and there is no good reason to keep them waiting." Some consumers have long crossed into Mexico and Canada to buy medicine that sells for far less than in the United States. But it's against federal law to import drugs. The lawsuit filed by the Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America accuses the federal government of failing to demonstrate the safety of importing medicine and any actual cost savings. DeSantis and others have dismissed those concerns, saying that Canada, like the United States, has stringent pharmaceutical guidelines, and "we obviously would have our process to ensure quality. DeSantis said his state is ready to act swiftly to put its program into place should the federal government approve its request to launch a drug importation program. MEXICO CITY (AP) Yet another mayoral candidate in north-central Mexico has been killed, bringing to 34 the number of candidates murdered nationwide ahead of the June 6 elections. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Wednesday the killing was without doubt the work of organized crime gangs. The Etellekt consulting firm said the overwhelming majority of the 34 slain candidates were vying for nominations or running for local posts. Alma Barragan was killed Tuesday while campaigning for the mayorship of the city of Moroleon in violence-plagued Guanajuato state. Experts say drug gangs want to place sympathetic candidates in town halls and city governments, so they can operate without interference from police and extort money from local businesses and government budgets. Lopez Obrador said the gangs were killing candidates to scare voters away from the polls. When there is a lot of abstentionism, the mafias dominate the elections, the president said. Barragan was running on the ticket of the small Citizen's Movement party, which said in a statement that, It is unthinkable that participating in political life means putting one's life at risk. This is the most violent election in Mexican history, and in Citizen's Movement we are not willing to act as if that is normal. Moroleon is located near the border with Michoacan state, also hit by drug cartel violence. The insurgent Jalisco cartel has been fighting local gangs backed by the Sinaloa cartel for control of Guanajuato. Update Monday, May 31: San Antonio and the surrounding areas are at a marginal to slight risk of flash flooding through Monday night, per the National Weather Service. Isolated pockets of 1 3 inches of rain could occur leading to localized flooding across portions of Rio Grande, southern Edwards Plateau, Hill Country, and I 35 corridor now through Tuesday morning Original story below: More isolated storms are possible for the San Antonio area Sunday, and there's a chance for scatted storms on Memorial Day, according to the National Weather Service. The risk remains more severe for the Rio Grande Valley, but San Antonio and the Hill Country still remain under slight risk for storms that could produce rain and hail on the holiday. The heavy rain during the first half of the long weekend also forced the Comal River in New Braunfels to close on Saturday amid an expected surge of visitors for the holiday weekend, according to the Express-News. By Sonali Kolhatkar, is the founder, host and executive producer of Rising Up With Sonali, a television and radio show that airs on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations. She is a writing fellow for the Economy for All project at the Independent Media Institute. Produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute A decades-old pipeline called Line 3, run by the Canadian company Enbridge, is in the midst of a controversial upgrade sparking fierce resistance from Indigenous communities living along the route. Line 3 is being replaced in order to enable the transport of nearly 800,000 barrels of dirty tar sands crude oil per day from Calgary, Canada, to Wisconsin. The majority of the pipeline cuts across northern Minnesota through the heart of lands where the Anishinaabe people have treaty rights to hunt, fish and harvest wild rice and maple syrup. Line 3 joins a growing list of controversial oil pipeline projects targeted by the burgeoning Indigenous-led climate justice movement. In his last year in office, President Barack Obama responded to the powerful and internationally hailed convergence at Standing Rock in South Dakota by halting work on the Dakota Access Pipeline project. Almost a year earlier, he had canceled the Keystone XL pipelinewhich was another major target of climate protesters. Entering office in January 2017, President Donald Trump promptly revived both projects and eventually greenlit the Line 3 pipeline. Once Joe Biden entered the White House in early 2021, he canceled the doomed Keystone Pipeline but has yet to take action on reversing Trumps approval of DAPL or canceling the Line 3 project. Indigenous leaders, embodying the spirit of Standing Rock five years ago, have been resisting the Line 3 replacement project and are now calling on all Americans, including those who are not Indigenous, to join them for what is being called a Treaty People Gathering from June 5 through 8 to demand an end to the project. One of them is Nancy Beaulieu, co-founder of the Resilient Indigenous Sisters Engaging(RISE) Coalition, and the northern Minnesota organizer for 350.org. Beaulieu explained to me in an interview that, as Indigenous people, we have the inherent responsibility to protect the waters and all that is sacred. And as settlerspeople who signed those treaties with our ancestorsthey have an obligation to uphold those treaties. In other words,everyone has a responsibility to the treaties signed with tribal nations. Non-Indigenous Americans have largely forgotten not only that we have treaty obligations, but also that we live in a nation with a bloody history of settler colonialism. Former Republican Senator Rick Santorum demonstrated that ignorance in his tone-deaf comments on CNNwhich later got him firedwhen he said, We birthed a nation from nothing. Yes, there were Native Americans, but there isnt much Native American culture in American culture. Leaders like Beaulieu are determined to fight such erasure by reviving the conversations around treaty obligations and how the fight against pipelines and climate change is central to Indigenous stewardship of the natural world. She sees the June gathering as building on the Standing Rock mobilization and the Keystone pipeline activism, saying it is the same exact thing but with different tribes. According to Beaulieu, President Biden could cancel the Line 3 project with the stroke of a pen, and she is perplexed about why he doesnt just do so. When the president convened a virtual climate summit in April with dozens of world leaders, he pledged to slash the U.S.s greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent in less than a decade. That is an enormously ambitious goalone that would only be helped by a cancelation of the Line 3 pipeline project. Not only should Biden stop Line 3 but he should also step in and stop these corporate giants responsible for the mess theyre leaving us in in this beautiful country of ours, said Beaulieu. Instead, she worries that corporations are just buying their way through lobbying our politicians. When politicians do stand in their way, companies like Enbridge respond with shocking impunity. Take the case of Michigan where Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last year demanded the closure of another decades-old pipeline run by Enbridge called Line 5. That pipeline, first built in 1953, carries more than half a million barrels of crude oil per day under the Great Lakes and has had dozens of leaks over the years, spilling more than a million barrels across its length. Michigans Great Lakes hold more than a fifth of the entire worlds fresh surface water and remain in jeopardy as the aging Line 5 pipeline continues to operate. Rather than comply with Gov. Whitmers order, Enbridge, backed by the Canadian government, simply refused to shut it down. Enbridge is taking a similarly defiant position in northern Minnesota with its continuation of the Line 3 replacement project in the face of mass opposition. Shockingly, the company is even going as far as anticipating police responses to protesters by paying into an escrow account to reimburse local Minnesota law enforcement departments for costs related to policing the resistance. In other words, a Canadian fossil fuel corporation is essentially hiring public servants to protect their private financial interests against the public. Pipelines leak. That fact is as inevitable as greenhouse gas emissions fueling climate change. The United States has the largest number of pipelines, both existing and planned, than any other nation on the planet. According to Greenpeace, Enbridges pipelines have leaked hundreds of times, spilled millions of gallons of hazardous material, and contaminated water at least 30 times. The original Line 3 project suffered the largest inland oil spill in the nations history in Minnesota in 1991, and Enbridges Michigan Line 5 pipeline dumped hundreds of thousands of barrels of tar sands into the Kalamazoo River in 2010. So, when Indigenous leaders like Beaulieu say their treaty rights to pristine land and water are threatened by Line 3, the facts are on their side. While the fate of our planet and human life remains precarious in the face of ongoing emissions and a changing climate, fossil fuel companies have been laughing all the way to the bank. According to one analysis, since 1990, when the impact of emissions on the climate was well established, the top four largest oil and gas companies on the planet accumulated nearly $2 trillion in profits. Its about power, said Beaulieu. Its about the 1 percent and whos going to be in charge of our government. However, the climate justice movement is slowly winning. A Dutch court recently ordered Royal Dutch Shellone of those top four profitable companiesto slash its emissions by 45 percent by the year 2030 in a remarkable and historic case that could inspire similar legal challenges to other oil and gas companies. Another one of the big fourExxonMobil, which is the U.S.s most profitable oil corporationis being challenged internally by an investor shareholder who ousted two board members over the companys climate policies. It was the first time such a thing happened, prompting one analyst to exclaim, Investors have sent a shot across the bow of Exxon, but its impact will ricochet across the boards of every major fossil fuel company. Joining such efforts are on-the-ground movements like the one opposing the Line 3 pipeline in Minnesota. As she prepares for the mass gathering in June, Beaulieu told me, we are going to peacefully resist this pipeline, and were calling on all our allies across Turtle Island to come here to northern Minnesota, using the Native American term for North America. Treaties dont only protect us as Native people. They protect those people that signed the treaties as well, she added. Day With New Yorks Bird Paramedics New York magazine The hidden architecture of birds MIT Press What Is the Migratory Bird Treaty Act? TreeHugger From bats to hornbills: Whitley award winners in pictures Guardian The Dark Side of Congos Cobalt Rush New Yorker As Bayer Considers Ending Some US Glyphosate Sales, Campaigners Urge EPA to Enact Full Ban Common Dreams A world of goods Times Literary Supplement Sentenced by Algorithm Judge Jed Rakoff What We Lose When Literary Criticism Ends The Walrus More boats on canals and rivers than in 18th century as thousands opt for life afloat Guardian The woman who walked the world BBC Gates divorce spurs changes to $50B foundation Al Jazeera THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF PHILIP AGEE, THE CIAS FIRST DEFECTOR AND MOST COMMITTED DISSIDENT Crime Reads #COVID-19 Rather large anti-Bolsonaro street protests today around Brazil, the largest in Sao Paulo. The size is even more impressive given the COVID pandemic continues to ravage and vaccines still arent available for most of the population. Quote Tweet https://t.co/qtfg6RJmQZ Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) May 29, 2021 you have gotta be fucking kidding me https://t.co/ytiwqtUpx0 pic.twitter.com/FmdPe5AxK1 assistant inspector (@housetrotter) May 27, 2021 Capitol Seiizure Democrats plot next move after GOP sinks Jan. 6 probe The Hill Biden Administration 2022 9 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2022 The Hill Class Warfare The problem with the judiciary isnt a bunch of right-wing judges. The judge who cleared T-Mobile-Sprint was an Obama appointee. Its the Breyers as well. The judiciary is rotten across the board. Matt Stoller (@matthewstoller) May 29, 2021 Our Famously Free Press Groves of Academe Why is no one talking about the fact that recently arrested Belarusian activist Roman Protasevich is literally a battle-hardened neo-nazi? Journalist Mark Ames walks us through the real story of NATOs new hero.@MarkAmesExiled :https://t.co/nNnrxmUab4 pic.twitter.com/MWnRiDospC BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) May 28, 2021 Syraqistan Israel Narrative Management Is Getting Incredibly Desperate And Brazen Caitlin Johnstone The PML-Ns change of tack Dawn Pakistan leans towards giving US military bases Asia Times India China? Antidote du Jour (via): And a bonus video (guurst): See yesterdays Lnks and Antidote du Jour here. By Jerri-Lynn Scofield, who has worked as a securities lawyer and a derivatives trader. She is currently writing a book about textile artisans. President Bidens Supreme Court Commission had its first meeting earlier this month. In the eyes of this observer, the 36-member Commission looks to have been carefully constructed to produce gridlock.in slo-mo. From the NYT: President Bidens commission to evaluate proposed overhauls to the Supreme Court held its first public meeting on Wednesday, approving its bylaws, announcing the formation of a series of subcommittees and promising to hold hearings from expert witnesses in June and July. The 36-member, ideologically diverse panel of scholars, lawyers, political scientists and former judges, which Mr. Biden named in April, was formed after calls by some Democrats to expand the number of Supreme Court justices. But the public meeting, conducted over videoconference and streamed live on the White House website, showed that the commissions aspirations go beyond scrutinizing court expansion or packing proposals. The commission, as The New York Times reported in April, will be made up of committees that will develop research for the full panel to consider. In addition to a working group examining the courts size, it will have groups on other possible changes to the court, including creating term limits or a mandatory retirement age; placing greater restrictions on the courts ability to strike down laws as unconstitutional; expanding the number of cases the court is required to hear; and limiting its ability to decide major issues without a full briefing and arguments. I dont believe Biden has much appetite for a Court-packing fight. Even if he did, I doubt he could at this time muster sufficient Senate votes to enact a change. Note that changing the Courts composition wouldnt require any constitutional amendment. Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution states there shall be a Supreme Court , but is silent on its composition. And unlike provisions that specify when a super majority is necessary the two-thirds treaty ratification requirement, for example, the Constitutions silence here too means a simple majority of both houses of Congress would suffice Heres the relevant section: The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office. Under what scenario might Biden decide to engage in a Court packing battle? Id like to discuss one possibility. Voting Integrity or Voter Suppression By Another Name Whether you believe fraud occurred in the conduct of the 2020 election doesnt matter. Republicans continue to stay on message and hammer the theme that extensive fraud occurred. Persistent repetition will implant that message in the minds of many regardless of whether evidence supports the allegations. Dont expect Republicans, who control a majority of state governments, to adopt a system of hand-marked paper ballots hand counted in public the gold standard solution for deterring electoral fraud. But guess what? Instead, Republicans will advance measures that just happen to jive with the partys voting suppression strategy, dressed up as remedies to ensure voting integrity. Republicans know their objective and since they control a majority of state governments, little stands in their way to obstruct enactment of voting legislation, following the marker set inGeorgia, and last Friday Texas. Certainly not the sad sack Democrats, who have failed to pursue voting expansion legislation with a zeal matching that of Republicans for voter suppression. According to The Texas Tribune: Worked out by a conference committee after the two chambers passed substantially different pieces of legislation, the final version of Senate Bill 7 takes from both iterations to cut back early voting hours, ban drive-thru voting, further clamp down on voting-by-mail rules and enhance access for partisan poll watchers. It also now includes various additional rule changes that werent part of each chambers previous debate on the bill, adding new identification requirements for mail-in ballots. Lawmakers are expected to formally sign off on the agreement in the next day and send it to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature before it becomes law. The final bill keeps in its crosshairs initiatives used by Harris County during last falls general election such as a day of 24-hour early voting and voting sites that allowed voters to cast ballots from their cars that proved particularly popular among voters of color. But the legislation also blocks local efforts to expand voting options across the state and ultimately touches nearly the entire voting process from early voting to vote counting. SB 7 has been at the legislative forefront as the 2021 Texas Legislature eagerly joined in Republican efforts across the nation to enact sweeping changes to voting laws in the name of election integrity, although there is little to no evidence of widespread fraud. Earlier in the legislative session, Abbott conceded at a related press conference that he was unaware of instances of fraud that had upended an election in 2020. And one of the states top election officials told House lawmakers at an early committee hearing that Texas had an election that was smooth and secure. [Jerri-Lynn here. My emphasis.] The Biden administration is committed to challenging these state voting statutes, which will put Democrats onto the back foot for future elections. The issue will certainly end up before the Supreme Court, which will surely side with the states. When that happens, Democrats will be forced to embrace Court-packing with greater enthusiasm and the issue may very well emerge as a central issue in 2024. So if these voting rights laws look like theyre hindering Democratic electoral prospects and with no relief available from Republican judicial nominees, Biden may be forced to consider court expansion initiatives. Diversity and the Supreme Court Yet even before these Court-packing issues become acute, Washington whispers suggest Biden will soon have a Supreme Court seat to fill, as Justice Stephen Breyer a Clinton appointee whos also the Courts oldest member intends to retire. Biden ihas pledged to nominate an African-American woman to the Court and Biden continues to ring changes on the standard identity politics in his other comments on judicial nominees. For his predecessors, diversity along other lines hasnt been a priority. Take law school, for example. Other than the newest justice, Amy Coney Barrett, whos a graduate of the University of Notre Dames law school, all other Justices attended Harvard or Yale Law School. As for legal professional background, those on the Court are drawn from a narrow universe theyre all either former law professors, corporate attorneys, prosecutors, or bureaucrats. No public defenders, for example. No public interest lawyers. No plaintiffs attorneys. Biden has to date teed up 19 nominations for 78 vacant Article III judgeships. These nominees also exhibit some diversity in professional background, with two nominees for appellate slots having experience as federal defenders. From the May 12 White House press release announcing the third wave of nominees: President Biden has announced his intent to nominate three new Court of Appeals nominees and three new District Court nominees, who will bring deep credentials and qualifications to the federal bench, as well as career-long devotion to our Constitution and the rule of law. These individuals embody President Bidens commitment to ensure that his judicial nominees represent not only the excellence but the diversity of our nation with respect to both personal and professional backgrounds. The last decades have seen a pronounced rightward shift in the judiciary, including both Republican and Democratic judicial nominees alike. Biden has made some interesting legal appointments the most notable to date being Lina Khan as Federal Trade Commissioner. The current front-runner for any Supreme Court opening is federal district court judge and nominee for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit Ketanji Brown Jackson. She too is a Harvard Law graduate. Ive yet to study her opinions, so I have no clue as to her judicial philosophy. Her professional background includes a clerkship for the justice she might replace, stints in Big Law, two years with the United States Sentencing Commission, and two years as a federal public defender. While Florida doesnt have much in the way of natural elevation change, it does have abandoned quarries that have been transformed into trails and green spaces for the publics enjoyment. One of these sits outside Williston in Levy County at 20-acre Cedar Lakes Woods and Gardens. The more than 100-year-old limestone quarry was discovered, purchased and transformed by Dr. Raymond Webber. After years of work, the botanical oasis opened to the public in 2014. (Natural News) What kind of abysmal social and economic conditions would make at least five separate counties of US voters want to flee a state to join the borders of another state? Well, all it takes is a cult of insane Marxists running the entire state into the ground from the safety of their metropolitan communes while demanding that people submit their undying fealty to the draconian medical mandates of an elitist minority. Yeah, things have to get pretty bad to inspire so many people into leaving and taking half the state with them. (Article by Brandon Smith republished from Alt-Market.Us) Welcome to Oregon I used to live right across the state border from Portland, Oregon through the 1990s, and while the place was always considered a bit of a haven for washout hippies, reject grunge bands and limp-wristed wine sipping progressives, there wasnt enough of them to take the place over completely and the city was still relatively clean and well kept and peaceful. You rarely heard of crime, poverty or unrest; those were problems reserved for places like California. I cant recall any moment during that time when people said they felt unsafe in Portland, or when they were desperate to leave Oregon for greener pastures. It used to be a decent place to build a life. A lot has changed since then. As the political left and the Democratic Party has become increasingly militant in its regressive ideology and collectivist underpinnings the states these people control have become increasingly dismal financial and constitutional failures. Perhaps it was always there under the skin, but in the past few years the cancer has grown terminal. I really have no interest in ever going back to Oregon and no one I know has any interest in visiting the place either. When I research the local news, this is what consistently pops up: Portland is now a homeless tent city with walls of garbage in the streets and riots on a regular basis. The city has reported a 2000% rise in homicides, specifically after taking measures to defund local police precincts. Oregon also has a total debt of around $43 billion, which is dramatically higher than red state neighbors like Idaho and Montana. Data for 2020 to 2021 poverty and homeless rates have not been released yet, partially because cities like Portland sought to stall the federally mandated count back in January. I would not be surprised if the numbers have had an epic spike in the past year; the only question will be, is it because of covid, or is it just because of the bumbling of the lefties? But its not just the economic decline thats the issue in Oregon, its also the rampant suppression of individual rights through medical tyranny, along with the special government treatment of Marxist extremist groups like Antifa and BLM. Thousands of businesses have closed in the state because of pointless lockdowns which did NOTHING to stop the natural spread of Covid, and the businesses that tried to defy the mandates in order to survive were harassed or threatened with fines by state health officials and OSHA. At the same time, local politicians have barely lifted a finger to stop leftist civil unrest. Some people say they are too weak to take action, but their meekness is more likely a show of support, a virtue signal. They want the riots to continue, at least to a certain extent. That said, nothing tops the announcement this past week by the Oregon Health Authority, which has just issued a rule that businesses must now demand proof of vaccination before a customer may enter. If they do not have proof, they must be forced to wear a mask or they must be made to leave. This is the first time I have heard of a state actually codifying vaccine passports into their enforcement mandates, but Im sure other blue states will follow Oregons lead in the near future. Keep in mind that these rules are a threat to Oregon businesses as much as they are a threat to the regular public. As one bureaucrat from the Oregon Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration argued: We expect employers to comply, whichever route they takeallowing the vaccination exemption or sticking with current requirements.We will take and investigate complaints alleging employers arent requiring face coverings, for example, or checking vaccination status. Dont forget that this guy is not a law maker, hes a nobody. He was never elected. Most of these mandates across the country have not yet been debated by a legislature or voted on by citizens. None of the mandates are real law, they are simply Color of Law controls enforced unilaterally outside of the constitution. This is unacceptable. As those of us in the liberty media have been warning since the beginning of the pandemic hype, the end game was always going to be vaccine passports; it was always about control of the citizenry, it was never about saving lives. We told people that vaccine passports were coming and the media called us crazy. Now Oregon is proving us right. Of course, Oregon is not the only blue state setting the standard for tyranny. Most leftist dominated states are pushing similar measures. For example, Illinois officials have said they will not enforce vaccine passports, while at the exact same time admitting they are considering vaccine passports. Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Lightfoot, a racist who has demanded segregation of white journalists from black journalists in her press interactions, is also using her influence to encourage segregation of vaccinated people from unvaccinated people in local restaurants. In Virginia, Gov. Northham has stated that vaccine passports are on the table. Most counties in the state are predominantly conservative, but it is run once again from metropolitan areas that are saturated with leftists. This has led many counties to seek nullification of state government controls (including Red Flag gun laws). On top of that, numerous counties of Virginia are considering leaving the state to join West Virginia, just as multiple counties in Eastern Oregon are trying to join with Idaho. In Blue States across the nation incremental totalitarianism is being implemented, but Oregon is clearly leading the charge in my opinion. Many states are claiming that they will not enforce vaccine passports while subversively supporting corporations that do the enforcing of the passports for them (by the way, no company has the right to demand access to your private medical history before allowing you to enter their establishment). But this is all a farce Eventually all leftist governments are going to demand vaccine passports as a rule. Oregon simply leap-frogged ahead of everyone else and went straight to the Orwellian end game. So, of course we have to ask an obvious medical question here first: If the experimental mRNA vaccines actually work, then why do we need vaccine passports at all? The people who are vaccinated would be protected, and the people who are not vaccinated would be taking a risk, as is their right. The unvaccinated are no threat whatsoever to the vaccinated if the vaccines do what Big Pharma claims they do. Of course, being unvaccinated is not much of a risk considering the death rate of Covid is only 0.26% outside of nursing homes according to independent medical studies. And for those that claim mutations are a concern, viruses mutate with or without mass vaccination. Just as there are seasonal strains of the flu, there will now be seasonal strains of covid. Thats the beauty of it for those in power; there will have to be new vaccinations every year, and you will have to renew your vaccine passport every year. The controls will NEVER end. If you want to see what our future will be in America if we allow this totalitarian march to continue just take a look at Australia. Regional lockdowns of millions of people are now a regular occurrence there despite the proliferation of vaccines within the country. All it takes is a handful of covid positive tests and the government has all the excuse it needs to erase peoples rights. In my recent article Vaccine Virtue Signaling And The Cult Of Woke, I outlined in detail why it makes little sense to become a guinea pig for an experimental vaccine (which is really a form of gene therapy) when 99.7% of people will survive the virus without difficulty. On top of that, why submit to a vaccine today that will probably be declared useless next year anyway? The future implications of vaccine passports and economic decline are disturbing, but this is the inevitable result when leftists and collectivists are allowed to gather political and social power. As I have noted many times this year, leftists are the ONLY subset of the population seeking and supporting government dominion over American lives. Not only that, but they have consistently partnered with global corporations that they supposedly despise in order to leverage more power. They are the only people supporting mass censorship, mob intimidation of those with different political views, mass violence against innocent people and businesses, they supported government lockdowns and extensive violations of the Bill of Rights, and now they are supporting vaccine passports which would destroy all personal liberty in this country for all time. Am I falling into a left/right paradigm trap here? Are things just as bad in conservative red states? Why not take a look at a red state like my home of Montana? In Montana, the state government has passed multiple laws and set multiple precedents which now protect the public against covid restrictions. These include: Court orders which prevent local health departments from forcing businesses to require that customers wear masks. (5 businesses took a stand in Flathead County and the courts sided with them). The Montana Legislature has passed a law banning employers from requiring that their employees get vaccinated in order to keep their jobs. A law has been passed which prevents any establishment including schools, colleges and medical facilities from demanding proof of vaccination before offering services. Vaccine passports will not be allowed in Montana. A law has been passed which protects businesses from lawsuits related to covid if a business does not enforce mandates. A similar law is being forwarded which also protects government buildings and healthcare facilities. Executive orders by Governor Gianforte are being established which stop city governments from enforcing mandates while the state government has lifted them. Montana has also passed legislation which prevents any new federal gun law from being enforced in the state. Montana has seen a rush of people relocating to the state and seeking to escape the suffocating restrictions. I have spoken with many of the people that have moved to my area and most of them are conservatives that can no longer tolerate the path of Marxism that their original states are following. As it stands right now, Montana is one of the MOST free states in the US. Many other red states are considering or have already passed similar measures to protect the rights of their citizens. So, who are the real fascists? Who are the real power mongers? Leftists or conservatives? The fact of the matter is, the left/right paradigm is a reality. The political elites at the top of the pyramid have no loyalties to either side, but regular people at the bottom of the pyramid are indelibly separated. The proof is in the actions of blue states vs red states. Perhaps there are many Democrats out there who do not necessarily agree with the cultism of social justice warriors. Maybe they dont support the unhinged thirst for vicarious control that vaccine virtue signalers display. But if they dont support it they are not saying much about it out loud. This is indeed about sides, and moderation at this point is a joke. One side is supported by real science, the other side is ignoring the science for the convenience of their ideology. One side is clearly right, and the other side is clearly wrong. Conservatives want to be left alone, and leftists want to dictate the lives of others. Conservatives are for freedom, and leftists are not. There is no debating this any longer. The question is, which side are you on? Read more at: Alt-Market.Us (Natural News) Mainstream media doesnt care about Black people anymore, its all about Asians now, or have you not noticed? Asian bashing is all over the news, like all of a sudden every American, White or Black, is now responsible for thousands of Asian-American Attacks happening everywhere, in every major city of the hate-filled USA (its all staged). Where is the ALM (Asian Lives Matter) brigade, to burn down the metropolitan cities, throw rocks through store windows and steal all the merchandise in the name of Asian equality in America? Youve seen the headlines, Asian-American woman beaten in Manhattan and Hate Crimes on Asian Americans happening while bystanders just watch Oh please, someone help! The headlines are racist all on their own, Suspect caught on video attacking Asian woman with hammer in New York City. Really? The story goes that some psycho-Asian-hating freak walks around the city asking people to remove their masks, and if theyre Asian (whatever that means), then they get hit in the head with a hammer. You cant make this stuff up. Google it and youll find about 1,000 fake stories of Asian hate crimes that all just happened recently. And what does that even mean, to identify someone on a rough video feed as being Asian? Are they from Asia? Are you saying that if you can tell on video that the person has brown skin and slanted eyes, theyre classified as such? Thats extremely racist. Retraction and apology from ABC News is in order, and probably every other fake news outlet in America, while theyre at it. You know India and Israel are Asian countries. Shouldnt there be 1,000 more hate crimes recorded where violent racists all over America are beating down people from THOSE Asian countries too, as the breaking news stories on every local station? Now that wouldnt be racist. So we ask the question. Why the huge charade of racist Asian-hating and Asian-sympathizing propaganda as of late? The answer is surprisingly quite simple. Its all just a set up for Americans to sympathize with all things Asian, but mainly the Chinese Communist Party and their takeover of America Werent the race wars in America over the moment Sleepy Joe stole the election? Didnt he promise all this violence would go away? Black on Black crime is never to be spoken of again. Black on White crime is all justified now, according to MSM and the libtards. Blacks killing White cops is all justified. Reparations! But now, attention has all shifted to something much MORE important, and that is the tsunami of (fake) hate crimes being besieged on all Asian people by Blacks and Whites in America. But why? Trump, the supposed white-supremacist dictator, is out of power, and now you have a half-Black-half-Asian woman who is the Vice-President of the USA, so how is it that we all hate all Asians? Didnt we vote for a Black man for President, twice, just before all these race wars began? Oh the irony and stupidity of the MSM narratives to support the CCP. Wake up folks and smell the commie coffee brewing. Watch for thousands more new false flag events/acts of abuse, verbal and physical assaults, against Asians in order to silence criticism of the CCP Attention Jussie Smollett wanna-bes, like AOC, sign up at Soros.scum for false flag events and get paid cause we work for the CCP! If you get busted, weve got lots of US judges and DAs in our pocket too, so no worries. Its time for all of America to stop hating Asians, because thats been our massive problem for how long? A couple weeks? What happened to all those White on Black crimes? Not newsworthy enough right now? You know, the CCP has a history of genocide, if you want to talk about real blatant hate crimes. In China, if you criticize the government, say, on social media, you get thrown in prison, without a trail or jury or lawyer or judge or anything, and they remove your organs one by one to sell on the black market. Should we all sympathize with that? Should Americans sympathize with the CCP, even if these fake hate crimes in America were real? Do you know what the CCP does to the Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples, just for praying to God? Theyre treated to slave labor, abuse, torture and horrific ways of dying. So if an Asian person (still not sure what that means) is being beaten on the streets of America by some white supremacist or BLM member, are we all supposed to bow down and pray to the CCP not to hate us for it? Tune your internet frequency to Pandemic.news for updates on how to fight off the upcoming communist apocalypse. Sources for this article include: Pandemic.news NaturalNews.com TheGatewayPundit.com NationalReview.com ABCnews.go.com TruthWiki.org (Natural News) Zelenko Protocol discoverer Dr. Vladimir Zev Zelenko MD today called child vaccine mandates coercive human experimentation, calling for those responsible for such policies to be tried for crimes against humanity. (Article republished from AmericasFrontlineDoctors.org) According to the CDC, healthy kids 18 or younger have a 99.998% rate of recovery from COVID-19 WITHOUT any treatment, Zelenko told Americas Frontline Doctors (AFLDS). There is NO medical necessity for any vaccines. Especially, an experimental and unapproved mRNA injection that has shown to have many dangerous side effects. He continued: Any government or individual that forces or mandates children to get this experimental injection is in direct violation of the Geneva conventions prohibition against coercive human experimentation. These are criminals of the highest order and must be brought to justice for crimes against humanity. Dr. Zelenko has accused the government of the State of Israel of using coercion against its own citizens to force them into human experimentation, urging a halt to the campaign. The Israeli government uses coercion against its own citizens to force them into human experimentation, he said. Green passports are a tool of discrimination and exert an unconscionable amount of psychological pressure on innocent people. Informed consent has been disregarded and medical necessity is not considered. Therefore, young and healthy people and those who already have antibodies are still being forced into an experimental medical intervention that they do not need. He continued: Israeli government stop shooting microscopic missiles into the bodies of your innocent and non-consenting citizens. Proceed with caution, stop human experimentation, and gather more safety and efficacy data BEFORE using new and unapproved technology. Dr. Zelenko has been included in a group of doctors nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for their role in addressing the coronavirus pandemic. He achieved worldwide prominence for treating COVID-19 patients with hydroxychloroquine and zinc, finding that mortality dropped 8-fold with use of those two substances. He says treatment with hydroxychloroquine and zinc within the first 5 days reduces death rates by 85%. Read more at: AmericasFrontlineDoctors.org (Natural News) The number of reported adverse events following COVID vaccines continues to climb, according to data released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The data comes directly from reports submitted to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). (Article by Megan Redshaw republished from ChildrensHealthDefense.org) VAERS is the primary government-funded system for reporting adverse vaccine reactions in the U.S. Reports submitted to VAERS require further investigation before a causal relationship can be confirmed. Every Friday, VAERS makes public all vaccine injury reports received as of a specified date, usually about a week prior to the release date. Todays data show that between Dec. 14, 2020 and May 21, a total of 227,521 total adverse events were reported to VAERS, including 4,406 deaths an increase of 205 over the previous week and 21,537 serious injuries, up 3,009 since last week. This weeks data showed 3,449 total adverse events, including 58 rated as serious, among 12- to -17-year-olds. In the U.S 281.6 million COVID vaccine doses had been administered as of May 21. This includes 120 million doses of Modernas vaccine, 152 million doses of Pfizer and 10 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID vaccine. Of the 4,406 deaths reported as of May 21, 23% occurred within 48 hours of vaccination, 16% occurred within 24 hours and 38% occurred in people who became ill within 48 hours of being vaccinated. This weeks VAERS data show: CDC investigating heart problems in teens, adolescents after COVID vaccine On May 24, The Defender reported the CDC is investigating reports of teens and young adults vaccinated against COVID who experienced heart problems. The CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices released an advisory May 17 alerting doctors to reports of myocarditis, which seemed to occur predominantly in adolescents and young adults, more often in males than females, more often following the second dose and typically within four days after vaccination with Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Most cases appeared to be mild and follow-up is ongoing. The CDC said its monitoring systems had not found more cases of myocarditis than would be expected in the population, but members of the committee on vaccinations said healthcare providers should be made aware of the reports of the potential adverse event. Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle that can lead to cardiac arrhythmia and death. According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, myocarditis can result from infections, but more commonly the myocarditis is a result of the bodys immune reaction to the initial heart damage. Pericarditis is inflammation of the tissue surrounding the heart that can cause sharp chest pain and other symptoms. As The Defender reported May 26, one week after the CDC announced it was investigating heart inflammation in recently vaccinated young adults, Connecticut reported 18 new cases of heart problems among teens who had received a COVID vaccine. All 18 cases resulted in hospitalization the vast majority for a couple of days, while one individual remained hospitalized as of May 26. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said during a press briefing Monday the Biden administration will continue to advise young people to get vaccinated, despite reported cases of myocarditis. A search in VAERS revealed 419 cases of pericarditis and myocarditis, among all age, groups reported in the U.S following COVID vaccination between Dec.14, 2020 and May 21. Of the 288 cases reported, 247 cases were attributed to Pfizer, 151 cases to Moderna and 20 cases to J&Js COVID vaccine. Moderna to seek FDA authorization for 12- to 17-year-olds in early June On May 25, Moderna announced its vaccine was found to be safe and 100% effective at protecting against COVID in a phase 3 trial of more than 3,700 participants between the ages of 12 and 17, Axios reported. No significant safety concerns were identified and side effects were generally consistent with those seen in an earlier trial of adults, the company said. Moderna plans to seek expanded Emergency Use Authorization of its COVID vaccine for teens from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration next month. If approved, it would be the second vaccine available to young teens. Number of kids hospitalized for COVID inflated by at least 40% On May 26, The Defender reported that two papers published in the journal of Hospital Pediatrics found pediatric hospitalizations for COVID were overcounted by at least 40%, carrying potential implications for nationwide figures used to justify vaccinating children. One study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine found that counting SARS-CoV-2 infections in hospitalized children overestimated the impact of COVID in pediatric populations because the numbers included many asymptomatic patients. Out of 117 hospital admissions, the authors concluded 53 patients (45%) were admitted for reasons unrelated to the virus. The study also found 39.3% (or 46 patients) coded as SARS-CoV-2 were actually asymptomatic. In the second study, out of 146 records listing patients as positive for SARS-CoV-2 from May 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2020, the authors classified 58 patients (40%) as having incidental diagnosis meaning there was no documentation of COVID symptoms prior to hospitalization. The same study categorized 68 patients, or 47%, as potentially symptomatic, which was defined as when COVID-19 was not the primary reason for admission for these patients, and COVID-19 alone did not directly require hospitalization without the concomitant condition. Our goal is to make sure we have accurate data on how sick children are getting, said Dr. Alan Schroeder, a clinical professor of pediatric critical care and of pediatric hospital medicine. If we rely on hospitals positive SARS-CoV-2 test results, we are inflating by about twofold the actual risk of hospitalization from the disease in kids. OSHA abruptly reverses course, says employers will not be liable for COVID vaccine injuries The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) quickly reversed its position on requiring companies that mandate COVID vaccines to treat adverse reactions as recordable injuries, announcing that it will no longer enforce its previous ruling. OSHA said it made the change in order to avoid the appearance of discouraging workers from getting the COVID vaccine and also because it did not wish to disincentivize employers vaccination efforts. The Defender reached out to OSHA and asked why the agency abruptly changed its policy, who pressured OSHA to change its position and why adverse reactions caused by COVID vaccines that an employee may be required to receive as a condition of employment and would fall under 29 CFR 1904.7 would not be recorded as a work-related injury. OSHA responded by referring us to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to read more about coronavirus, local and regional OSHA facilities, and the U.S. Department of Labors website. An OSHA spokesperson declined to provide any additional information. Belgium suspends J&J vaccine for people under age 41 On May 27, The Defender reported that Belgium announced it was suspending vaccinations with J&Js vaccine, for people under the age of 41, following the death of a woman from blood clots after she received the shot. The EMA is reviewing the womans death along with other reports of blood clots, with the Belgian and Slovenian medicines agencies, and has asked J&J to carry out a series of additional studies to help assess a possible link between the shot and rare blood clots. Researchers link AstraZeneca to strokes in young adults On May 27, The Defender reported on the first cases of large-vessel arterial occlusion strokes in young adults linked to AstraZenecas vaccine, which were described in detail for the first time in a letter published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. The three cases, one of which was fatal, occurred in two women and one man in their 30s or 40s who developed characteristics of VITT, a reaction associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine. These are the first detailed reports of arterial stroke believed to be caused by VITT after the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine, although stroke has been mentioned previously in the VITT data, senior author, Dr. David Werring, professor of clinical neurology at the Stroke Research Centre, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, told Medscape Medical News. Deaths due to blood clots from AstraZeneca vaccine increase On May 27, The Defender reported that an Ontario man in his 40s died after receiving his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontarios associate chief medical officer of health, said his death is being investigated, but the man suffered from vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia. Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Williams restricted AstraZeneca vaccinations for people who have not yet received the first dose as of May 11, due to a higher-than-expected rate of blood clots. In Greece, a 63-year-old woman died of blood clots after vaccination with AstraZeneca. The case was one of four being investigated by the National Organization for Medicines for a potential correlation between AstraZenecas vaccine and rare blood clots. On May 27, The Guardian reported that award-winning BBC radio presenter Lisa Shaw died after suffering blood clots following AstraZeneca vaccination, according to her family. The 44-year-old developed severe headaches a week after having the jab and fell seriously ill a few days later, relatives said in a statement. Shaw died at the Royal Victoria infirmary May 21 after being treated in intensive care for blood clots and bleeding. The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said the benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh the risks for most people. It has not proved the vaccine causes the clots, but has said the link is getting firmer. As The Defender reported May 25, the European Medicines Agency is investigating the death of british fashion model Stephanie Dubois, who died from a blood clot days after receiving her first dose of AstraZenecas COVID vaccine. Dubois, 39, had no underlying health conditions according to health officials at the hospital in Nicosia, where she was hospitalized May 14, after experiencing breathing issues. The fashion model suffered a brain hemorrhage and was in a coma before she passed away May 21. Two-time Olympic archer Haziq Kamaruddin, died at the age of 27 on May 14, after collapsing at his home days after receiving Pfizers COVID vaccine. Kamaruddin died of a blocked coronary artery, the Health Ministry said Saturday, adding there was no evidence of a link to the vaccine. There are multiple reasons a coronary artery can become blocked, including by a blood clot, according to Yale Medicine. As The Defender reported last month, all three vaccines authorized in the U.S., including Pfizer, can potentially cause blood clots. 81 days and counting, CDC ignores The Defenders inquiries According to the CDC website, the CDC follows up on any report of death to request additional information and learn more about what occurred and to determine whether the death was a result of the vaccine or unrelated. On March 8, The Defender contacted the CDC with a written list of questions about reported deaths and injuries related to COVID vaccines. On May 19, a CDC employee said our questions had been reviewed and our inquiry was pending in their system, but would not provide us with a copy of the response. It has been 81 days since we sent our first email inquiring into VAERS data and reports. Childrens Health Defense asks anyone who has experienced an adverse reaction, to any vaccine, to file a report following these three steps. Read more at: ChildrensHealthDefense.org (Natural News) From Mike Adams, the editor of Natural News: We believe in the principles of human rights and freedom of choice when it comes to any medical intervention, regardless of their risks or benefits. This means we believe every human being has the right to independently decide whether they wish to consent to a vaccine intervention, even if those vaccines are experimental in nature and may pose the risk of serious harm, injury or death. Because we believe in health freedom, we must respect the freedoms of others who choose medical interventions that we know to be dangerous. However, we may do our best to inform them of the risks that doctors, science journals and the media arent sharing with the public. Acceptable methods of working to save someone from vaccine injury include sharing knowledge and information such as: FDA data sheets that admit to a long list covid-19 vaccine side effects, including neurological problems, anaphylactic shock and loss of consciousness. This FDA fact sheet admits that 86% of children who participated in a Pfizer covid vaccine trial experienced adverse reactions. State-level information sheets such as this Connecticut document that admits covid-19 vaccines may cause permanent injury or harm. Reports citing VAERS data from HHS.gov, showing that thousands of Americans have already died after taking covid-19 vaccines. (VAERS data is publicly available for anyone to view.) This story shows that VAERS data reveal covid vaccine injuries tripling in 12- to 17-year-olds last week. Video interviews, articles or presentations from researchers who are presenting information about vaccine risks that are typically not covered by the pharma-controlled media. and so on. Despite all the censorship of vaccine hesitancy information by Facebook, YouTube, Google and Twitter, there still are many credible information resources where individuals who want to learn more about vaccines can find out about their ingredients, underlying technology (mRNA, for example), risks of side effects and blood clotting potential, among other things. Despite the large-scale pro-vaccine propaganda thats funded by the CDCs $1 billion propaganda budget (passed as part of the recent covid stimulus bill), websites like Childrens Health Defense, Life Site News, Green Med Info and many other sites including this one offer fact-based knowledge that can help people learn simple facts about covid-19 vaccines they may take into account when making their own decisions regarding medical interventions. It is NOT acceptable to threaten other people who are taking or administering the vaccine Because we respect freedom of choice, we believe it is not acceptable to engage in coercive activities in order to interfere with other peoples medical choices, even if we are aware that their choices may be harmful or injurious to themselves and those around them. Specifically: It is NOT okay to threaten anyone with violence in order to coerce them into avoiding taking a vaccine. It is NOT okay to threaten the people administering vaccines to others, as they are merely NPCs following orders. It is NOT okay to threaten doctors, nurses, pharmacists, vaccine researchers, Big Pharma executives or others who play a role in the vaccine pipeline. (It is okay to verbally condemn their actions, however.) It is NOT okay to engage in vigilante justice of any kind against any person or group involved in vaccines. We do NOT condone the use of violence to achieve a desired end, as we are OPPOSED to violence, including medical violence targeting children with experimental vaccines. Acceptable approaches to countering vaccine violence must be rooted in peace, due process and human rights: It is acceptable to peacefully protest outside vaccine clinics, hospitals or pharmaceutical operations, as long as such protests are lawful and pursued in the spirit of the First Amendment. It is acceptable to demand investigations and prosecutions of those who are engaged in illegal activities surrounding vaccines, including those who are committing scientific fraud, withholding informed consent, carrying out plots to censor alternative treatments (such as ivermectin) or other illegal activities. It is correct to demand law enforcement investigate and prosecute those carrying out crimes against children (or crimes against humanity), but we must defer to the justice system to pursue prosecutions and judgements. The reason this approach is so important is because society as a whole must reject vaccine violence, not just a few individuals. Once this current batch of covid vaccines results in millions of deaths in the United States, it will become obvious that society must move against the vaccine cartels to protect innocent lives. That time has not yet arrived, but it will. Sadly, many of the very people who are going to be killed by these vaccines will never have a chance to speak out, since they will be dead. But survivors will sound the alarm. Until that day comes, protect yourself and your loved ones from vaccine violence. Work to educate any who will listen. Adhere to the rule of law and respect due process. Do NOT take vigilante actions against vaccine proponents. Instead, record their actions and crimes for future legal action against them once law enforcement and the courts are ready to pursue criminal cases against those who carried out vaccine violence against innocent victims. It is perfectly acceptable to keep records of present-day events and to turn those records over to law enforcement when the political will to prosecute vaccine violence eventually surfaces. That day may be less than a year away The U.S. government has not yet moved vaccine compliance into the KINETIC phase they are still pretending to be the good guys As you ponder all this, remember that the US government has not yet taken this kinetic. Theyre arent yet arresting people at gunpoint and forcing them to take vaccines against their will, in other words. Understand that the kinetic coercion phase is coming, but for now the government is using incentives (lottery tickets, free donuts, etc.) and punishments (no right to travel, no right to enter a church, etc.) to try to non-violently coerce as many people as possible into accepting vaccine injections. This phase will likely continue for another 2-3 months months, after which the government will then begin to ramp into coerced compliance with door-to-door gunpoint medicine demands that people get vaccinated or face criminal penalties (such as fines or jail time). Once the government moves into this phase, they can no longer pretend to be the good guys. At that point, they are overtly following in the footsteps of totalitarian regimes engaged in crimes against humanity, and the vaccine drive begins to resemble a concentration camp mass arrest affair. Should the government shift into this phase, they expect heightened levels of resistance. For this reason, as I have been told, the Biden regime is working with the vaccine deep state to stage a large-scale false flag event that can be blamed on anti-vaxxers and gun owners. They plan to shoot up some venue related to health care and blame it on anti-vaxxers while calling for immediate, nationwide gun confiscation. Once the guns are confiscated if that can even be pulled off then the government will proceed with the kinetic phase without much resistance, since they will be armed and you wont. Once they (try to) take the guns, vaccine injections will be mandated at gunpoint All Natural News readers should fully expect to witness the deep state pulling off a large-scale false flag event followed by demands for nationwide firearms confiscation. That will be followed by nationwide vaccine compliance via kinetic action on the part of the government. If all goes according to the plans of the globalists, vaccines, economic collapse, regional warfare, engineered famine and the governments war on Americas citizens can reduce the population of the United States by about 230 million between now and the end of 2025. We arent sure how many tens of millions of deaths are likely attributable to vaccines vs. starvation vs. widespread disease, etc. But the global plan is to reduce the U.S. population to under 100 million people, and we know that covid vaccines and additional bioweapons are key components of their nefarious depopulation plan. We also know the vaccine deep state will release additional pathogens as required, likely including a new weaponized strain of Ebola. We also know that the NIH funded SARS-CoV-2 gain-0f-function research specifically to target human ACE2 receptor cells that exist in the respiratory tract, reproductive organs and other organs. Finally, we know that the spike protein used in the vaccines is itself a biological weapon that even the Salk Institute confirms causes vascular disease. This is the particle thats causing blood clots which lead to heart attacks, strokes and pulmonary embolism deaths. The spike protein is the weapon, and its intentionally formulated into the vaccines. (Or in the case of mRNA vaccines, your bodys cells are hijacked to generate spike protein bioweapons and release them into your own blood.) The vaccine industry hopes to kill as many vaccine victims as possible so they cant sue or protest The truth about all this cannot be covered up for long. The coming wave of vaccine deaths will be irrefutable and horrifying. The vaccine industry knows this and they are trying to kill the vast majority of Americans before people realize theyre being culled. After all, the vaccine industry knows that dead people dont protest, and dead people dont file lawsuits. So the more quickly they can kill the largest number of people, the less backlash they will face when all this comes out. Once the US government moves this into a kinetic compliance phase, the federal government will literally be at war with the American people, and all hell will break loose across the country on multiple fronts. So we will address that situation when and if it happens. An upcoming podcast will delve into the full details of the five stages of vaccine coercion in America. (We are currently in stage 3.) Stage 5 is all-out government biological and kinetic warfare on the American people. If stage 5 is invoked, there will be no mistaking it because men with guns will show up at your door and demand you consent to being vaccinated at gunpoint. Until that day comes, however, the vaccine death merchants are going to pretend to be the good guys, and the brainwashed American masses who dont know much at all about the real purpose behind these vaccines remain convinced that vaccines equal freedom. Soon, they will come to realize that covid vaccines equal death, but until that day comes, theres not much the rest of us can do to stop them beyond trying to inform them. Sadly, we are all going to lose loved ones when the covid vaccine death wave is unleashed. Myself included, as I have relatives who have also taken the vaccine and may be gone in the next 1-3 years. Save yourself, and save as many as you can through education, information and evidence. The truth will be readily apparent soon, and the vaccine industry has already set things in motion that will destroy the credibility of the entire industry for generations to come. Sadly, millions will die before the rest of society wakes up to the truth about vaccines and depopulation. Stay safe and abide by the law. Respect due process. Warn others but do not threaten them. The truth will be revealed soon. Mike Adams, editor, NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Hundreds of students at a New Jersey university held a rally against its mandatory Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination rule. Rutgers University students and their parents gathered on May 21 to oppose the schools vaccination requirement for face-to-face classes. This March, the university ordered that all students enrolled for in-person classes for the fall semester must get the COVID-19 vaccine. Turning Point USA, Young Americans for Liberty and medical freedom advocacy group NJ Stands Up organized the May 21 protest. Some Republican state lawmakers who attended the rally proposed measures to fight forced vaccination and discriminations against unvaccinated Americans. New Jersey GOP Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger warned the rally participants that every time authorities pull back some of their freedom, it is gone forever and they will never get it back. He added: Allowing [authorities] to mandate vaccines to get into Rutgers is a slippery slope. Theyre going to keep moving the goalposts until they dictate every aspect of your life. GOP State Senator Michael Testa Jr. questioned the universitys order, saying: How can they mandate students [to] get the vaccine, but not the faculty? Rutgerss March 21 order stated that faculty and staff members are not required to get the COVID-19 vaccine. He then urged the participants to contact their legislators and inundate their offices with letters [and] emails on every single important issue not just on the matter of mandatory inoculation. Meanwhile, pastor and New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Phil Rizzo said that he will rescind $1 billion allocated from Rutgers if elected. The GOP candidate added that unless the university drops its vaccine mandates and assures student liberty, he will make good with his promise. I trust New Jersey residents, business owners and parents to make decisions for themselves with their [doctors] to keep themselves healthy. Its not the governments job to keep you healthy: [Its] job [is] to keep you free, he added. Rutgers spokeswoman Dory Devlin told The Epoch Times in an email that its position on vaccines aligns with the legal authority supporting this policy. She added: We are committed to creating a safe campus environment in fall 2021. [To] support the health and safety for all members of the Rutgers community, the university has updated existing immunization requirements for students to include the COVID-19 vaccine. However, the mandate also provided some exceptions. Students enrolled in fully remote online programs are not required to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The Rutgers mandate also allowed students to request for exemptions on medical or religious grounds. One school went against the grain by banning vaccinated faculty members on campus Meanwhile, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Chancellor Brian Strom said the COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be safe and effective in preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death. He added: Vaccination is key to stopping the current pandemic and to [returning] campus instruction and activities closer to what we were accustomed to before the pandemic. Back in March, Dr. Hooman Noorchashm sent a letter to Rutgers regarding safety risks associated with COVID-19 vaccines. Indiscriminately vaccinating persons with recent COVID-19 infections poses a risk of clinical harm to recently infected [individuals.] There have been some very prominent young deaths following vaccination and it is becoming clear that adverse [events] are higher, he warned. (Related: No vaccine, no college? Physicians group urges students to fight back.) Noorchashm also raised concerns about vaccinating students who achieved natural immunity and advised against inoculating naturally immune students. Some experts believe that natural immunity may even be more robust than vaccine immunity, he wrote. Noorchashm said natural immunity arises after a bout of COVID-19 and can be detected through antibody tests. The percentage of naturally infected individuals could be higher in the college-age population, he added. While Rutgers mandated students to get vaccinated against COVID-19, a private school in Miami has prohibited its employees from getting the shot altogether. Back in April 2021, Centner Academy sent out an email asking employees who had not yet received the vaccine to wait until the end of the school year before doing so. The email added: It is our policy, to the extent possible, not to employ anyone who has taken the experimental COVID-19 [vaccine] until further information is known. (Related: Private school announces ban on staffers who take coronavirus vaccines, as they might threaten the health of students.) The Miami-based school threatened legal action toward staff members who refuse to disclose their vaccination status. CBS 4 was informed that one Centner Academy teacher had resigned but it was unclear if this stemmed from the policy. The news station reached out to request an interview, but the school only replied with an email that said: Were doing what we think is in the best interest of the children, because [they] shouldnt be around teachers who are vaccinated. Visit MedicalTyranny.com to read more articles about educational institutions mandating COVID-19 vaccines for students. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com Rutgers.edu Noorchashm.Medium.com Miami.CBSLocal.com Hampton - Douglas M. LaPorte, 63, of Hampton, passed away on Sunday, June 6, 2021 at his home. He was born in Albany, NY on October 6, 1957 a son of Earl LaPorte and Rosemary (Pomakoy) Snyder. Doug was a volunteer firefighter in NY in his younger years and went on to work for various Walmart Dipak Mondal By Express News Service NEW DELHI: With Mauritius and Singapore losing their capital gains tax benefit after the amendment in the tax treaty with India, new regimes are emerging as major contributors to Indias Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows. Data released by the Department for Promotion Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) shows that countries like the US, UAE, and Cayman Islands are clocking higher numbers as far as the FDI into India is concerned. FDI from the US has more than tripled from $4.2 billion in FY20 to $12.8 billion in FY21, while those from the UAE have seen a 13-fold growth from $0.339 billion in FY20 to $4.2 billion in FY21. Singapore, though, continues to be the biggest contributor to FDI inflows into India at $17.4 billion in FY21, up 18% over the previous fiscal year. After the amendment of its tax treaty with India, Mauritius continues to decline as a source of FDI. In FY21, FDI from Mauritius fell 31.5% from $8.2 billion in FY20 to $5.6 billion. Mauritius loss has been Singapores gain and the latter has emerged as the leading FDI contributor to India. While India also amended its tax treaty with Singapore after it did so with Mauritius, some of the investments shifted to Singapore because it already had a limitation of benefit clause, which gave certainty to investors. A limitation of benefit clause prevents shell companies from availing benefits of tax treaties. So what explains the growth of FDI from countries like the US and UAE? With Mauritius and Singapore losing their capital gains tax benefits, a lot of investors rerouted some of their investments through new regimes. UAE, for example, became a very friendly investment regime. So, with structures... routing money from Mauritius and Singapore now gone, investors do not feel hesitant in directly investing in India, says Yogesh Singh, partner at law firm Trilegal. Amit Jindal, co-founder of CA firm Felix Advisory, attributes the increase in direct investment from the US to a lot of changes in Indian and US tax laws. He notes that there have been quite a number of changes in the US focusing on discouraging profit-parking in low tax jurisdictions via reforms such as a tax on Global Intangible Low Tax Income and annual reporting of country-by-country income. He also feels that since the abolition of Dividend Distribution Tax in India makes dividends taxable in the hands of investors, they can claim credit in their home country for taxes paid in India. This encourages investors in the US to directly invest in India. Press Release May 30, 2021 De Lima praises netizens for coming to aid of injured dog Senator Leila M. de Lima has admired several netizens for showing their unconditional love for animals by voluntarily extending help to support the medical needs of an injured dog who was hit on the head by a still unidentified person. De Lima, an animal lover who owns dogs of different breeds, said the concern of netizens for the dog named Brython, owned by a certain Ruffa Mae Rellon, helped save the life and ease the suffering of the canine. "Nakakabahala ang kalagayan ni Brython at marahil ay dati niya pang iniinda ang sakit. It is heartwarming to see people show selfless love for animals, particularly for dogs who are considered man's best friend, by promptly and voluntarily taking steps to help him get urgent medical attention," she said. "As I pray for Brython's full recovery, I hope that no more dogs will get injured or figure in any accidents that will harm their lives and cause them suffering," she added. In a video shared by Rellon on social networking service TikTok last May 18, a man who is reported to be her stepfather, is seen hugging Brython after discovering a lump on the dog's head which continued to grow over time. Reportedly, Brython was injured after going out one night, with Rellon saying that they always allow the dog to go out because he knows how to go home. Rellon said they were not able to do anything at first because they lack money but after posting the video, which earned over 300,000 views as of writing, several netizens offered donations to have the dog be checked by a veterinarian. With the netizens' and the Animal Kingdom Foundation's help, Brython was brought to the doctor recently where he was given medicine to ease the pain. According to the veterinarian, Brython needs surgery which costs a lot of money. The lady Senator from Bicol, who is now also a cat lover and takes care of stray cats in her detention quarters, said the incident should also serve as a reminder for pet owners to never get too comfortable leaving their pets alone to wander outside. "Kahit pa tiwala tayo sa kakayahan ng mga alaga nating hayop na makabalik mag-isa sa bahay, hindi pa rin maiiwasan kung minsan ang magkaroon ng aksidente o mga di-inaasahang pangyayari. Let us always be responsible pet owners," she said. (30) In 2019, it may be recalled that the lady Senator from Bicol lauded a security guard for rescuing a stray cat, named Van, after the feline was tied to and dragged by a truck at Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City. The unnamed security guard reportedly cut the rope and freed the cat who was then already limping and in pain. New York, US (PANA) - The UN Security Council bas welcomed the agreement reached on Thursday by the Somali federal government and the federal member states leaders on the implementation of the 17 September Electoral Model By Express News Service BENGALURU: A method which has been tested in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, to reduce Covid-19 cases, will now be tried in Bengaluru from Monday, where an American Champion Scout aircraft carrying around 100 litres of organic anti- microbial solution will fly over Shivajinagar, City Market and Majestic from 8 am to 10am spraying organic disinfectant. The activity is being taken up by Aerialworks Aero LLP and Sugardhana Organic Antimicrobial and the aircraft will take off from Jakkur Aerodrome. The spraying will be done for three days and the aircraft will fly at an altitude of 300- 500 m above the ground. Revenue Minister R Ashok, who flagged-off the aircraft on Saturday, said it was being done on pilot basis and based on the results from Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and the Health Department, it will be extended to the entire city. The government is open for all kinds of solutions and trials which will help in reducing Covid-19 cases, he said. Karthik Narayan, CEO of Sugardhana said, the solution is citrus fruit-based with oil extracts and bio-enzyme as base. He said that in Tirunelveli, the same solution was sprayed for nine days and a 33% reduction in cases was seen by the municipal administration there. Last year, the BBMP had sprayed chemical disinfectants in the city in an attempt to keep Covid-19 at bay. Captain Murali Ramakrishna, who specialises in executing such large scale spraying operations, will fly the aircraft. The two liquids that will be used are Sugardhana Organic Anti-microbial Concentrate and Airlens Minus Corona, a chemical-free human safe sanitisation system. By PTI BENGALURU: A Bangladeshi woman, allegedly gangraped in Bengaluru by four of her compatriots, has been brought to the city from Kerala, police said on Sunday "Our team traced her and bought her from Kozhikode in Kerala," the Deputy Commissioner of Police Dr S D Sharanappa told PTI. The 22-year-old woman was subjected to medical tests at the Government Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospitals for the assault and rape, police sources said. She was trafficked to India by Mohammed Babu, a resident of Dhubri in Assam, about three years ago, they said. Following a financial dispute, she was assaulted by six people, including a woman, and later four of them gangraped her and brutalised her about a week ago, the sources said. While assaulting and brutalising her, one of them video-recorded the incident, which went viral mainly in Bangladesh, Assam and West Bengal, they said. Acting on a tip-off from the Bangladesh police, the Bengaluru police went to a house, where illegal Bangladeshi migrants had taken shelter, and arrested them. On Friday, the police shot at two of the accused Hridoy Babo and Rakibul Islam Sagar injuring them in their legs when they tried to flee. The shooting took place while the accused were being taken for police verification. Police sources said there was a wide network of traffickers from Bangladesh in connivance with people from Murshidabad in West Bengal, Hyderabad in Telangana, Dhubri in Assam and people from Karnataka. The girls the gang members used to traffick from Bangladesh, Assam and West Bengal were forced into prostitution and were subjected to extreme exploitation, the sources said. So far, six members have been arrested while investigations are on to trace the others, they said. Omjasvin MD By Express News Service CHENNAI: In the last seven-day block from May 24 to 30, Chennai has recorded a negative growth of Covid-19 cases at 8.3 percent. Much to the relief of residents, all the 15 Corporation zones are recording a negative case growth after almost 50 days. This means that the number of people who are getting discharged is higher than the daily fresh cases. While the decline in city's cases began on May 23, when it was 2.4 percent in negative, two zones - Ambattur and Sholinganallur - alone were recording a positive case growth. However, now the decline in number of cases have accelerated and all the zones are recording a negative case growth. Ambattur Corporation zone, which till May 23 had a positive case growth, now has the least number of fresh cases with a negative case growth of 13.8 percent. Six Corporation zones have a case growth lesser in negative than Chennai's average. Chennai Corporation officials said that the lockdown and vaccination camps are speeding up the decline. "We vaccinated close to 35,000 people on May 17. Bulk vaccination camps have received great response among residential welfare associations and workplaces," said a Corporation official. The Government hospitals heave a sigh of relief due to the decrease in cases. The official said that people too have complied with the lockdown norms and so it is natural for the transmission to come down when the majority of the population is inside their houses. "We are even permitted to sell grocery items through mobile carts between 7 am to 6 am. Food relief is also being given in many constituencies," said the Corporation official. On May 29, when Chennai tested 30,720 people, the positivity rate stood at 8.8 percent, showing a huge decline from 26 percent on May 10. The city's active cases are at 8 percent with only six zones - Thiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Alandur, Sholinganallur - having active cases in double digits. By Express News Service CHENNAI: The Chennai city police have identified that over 13 per cent of motorists on the streets during lockdown are out without any proper reason, carrying e-pass or ID cards of essential workers. Chennai police chief Shankar Jiwal has come up with ways to curb unnecessary movement of vehicles and has given specific instructions to the personnel on ground. While lockdown regulations are being strictly enforced, regulations exempt staff of several government departments in the city along with employees of airport, port, railways, telecom service providers, essential workers and delivery agents. Police Commissioner Shankar Jiwal We were initially in a fix over keeping vehicular movement down. Firstly, apart from raising checkpoints we started sectoral checkpoints where people living in a small area can afford to buy essentials within that limit. Though there were some unpleasant arguments, after a few days, vehicle movement came down, said Shankar Jiwal, Commissioner, Greater Chennai City Police. The police placed 10 important junctions around the city under surveillance and while checking vehicles, profiled the motorists under several categories like media, health staff, government employees, delivery agents and so on. The Commissioner said that over 37% of the people were going for medical emergencies or were medical staff. However it was evident that people were misusing this privilege on several instances. Once, a motorist stopped by personnel at a checkpost claimed he was going to settle medical fees and that he must hurry. When the police asked the man to dial the person at the hospital, the caller on the other end was surprised to hear that he was at a hospital, because he was at his house, said Shankar Jiwal. Similarly, a doctor was caught while on his way to pick up his girlfriend. In some instances, if there is e-registration, the person driving the vehicle and the name on the e-pass is different. If there is any problem leading to unpleasant arguments at checkpoints, the personnel have been advised to record a video of the motorist and the incident. Police can start by introducing himself and on record can ask the motorist where he is going. This can be used in the future if there is any problem, said Shankar Jiwal. While police are provided an eight-hour shift at checkpoints, the Commissioner has advised to increase the personnel strength so that half of them can take a break of two hours as heat can affect them. Everyday, we are coming up with new strategies to keep vehicular movement down. Now we have formed two different lanes at important checkpoints. This is because medical vehicles can ply freely without waiting, said the Commissioner. Sushmitha Ramakrishnan By Express News Service CHENNAI: The State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) has issued summons to the administrators and teachers from three schools in Chennai, following child sexual abuse allegations raised by students and alumni. Students from one school have also been summoned. The SCPCR team led by Saraswathi Rangasamy, chairperson of the commission, inspected Maharishi Vidya Mandir (MVM) and Chettinad Vidyashram after the commission received complaints from students and alumni, SCPCR said in a recent statement. Administrators and teachers from the schools pertinent to the case have been summoned on June 10 and 8 respectively. Students from MVM, who lodged a complaint, have also been summoned along with school authorities. Summons have also been issued to concerned authorities from St. George's Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, where allegations against a faculty member were raised by former students. The commission after getting complaints through e-mail decided to look into the matter. After inquiring, we will submit a report to the government making appropriate recommendations to the respective department heads and the government, said Rangasamy. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: The police initiated action against constable KN Shiva Kumar of Bhavani Nagar, accused of beating a boy at Bhavani nagar on Saturday and attached him to CAR headquarters till further orders. A youngster Ashraf suffered severe injuries after he was beaten up by the constable . Terming his behaviour as misconduct while dealing with the public, disciplinary proceedings have also been initiated against Shiva Kumar. City police commissioner Anjani Kumar was also called for an explanation from the Station House Office, Bhavani Nagar police station. On Saturday night, police noticed some boys roaming on a bike in the Talab Katta area of Bhavani Nagar police limits. When they tried to stop them, the boys sped away. This enraged the constable on duty and he allegedly beat up the boys for violating lockdown norms, resulting in the boy suffering severe injury near his left eye. Upon learning about the incident, people from the area gathered in large numbers and protested at the police station, demanding strict action against the constable. While the crowd was dispersed and the boy was shifted to a hospital, officials said they were verifying the incident. Senior officials also rushed to the spot to pacify the locals. While the boys alleged that the constable had hit Ashraf with his lathi, the constable informed his superiors that it was accidental. Aathira Haridas By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: From April 1 to May 26, when Covid-19 second wave raged across state, Thiruvananthapuram district recorded 658 deaths due to the pandemic. The number of positive cases recorded during this period in the district was 1,28,731. On Saturday, 50 deaths were reported in the district while the figure was 41 and 24 on Friday and Thursday, respectively. The case fatality ratio (CFR) of the district during the second wave is 0.51%, which is much higher than the state average of 0.30%. If the figures of death during the first wave are included, the case fatality ratio of the district is 0.66 which is exactly double the CFR of the state, 0.33%. In comparison, Kannur district which is second in chart stands at 0.43% while Thrissur with 0.42 and Alappuzha with 0.39 closely followed. The lowest CFR was recorded in Idukki - 0.09%. The unusually high number of deaths reported in the capital district where advanced medical care, including enough number of ICU and ventilator beds, is available for Covid-19 treatment has puzzled medical community and health department officials. Sources in the medical fraternity cite factors ranging from the transferred cases which are of very serious nature from adjacent districts to Government Medical college hospital which is declared as a tertiary Covid-19 care centre to more accurate reporting of death counts as reasons for the high number of deaths. However, the major factor that adds to the number of Covid-19 deaths in the district seems to be the insistence by district administration and district health department that mandatory RT-PCR test or TrueNat test need to be conducted on bodies of all who had been suspected of Covid-19. According to doctors, even after a person tests negative in the antigen test, he could continue to test positive when RT-PCR or TrueNat test is performed. The number of deaths has been high from early on and the reason is that we perform RT-PCR test on every body. That has been the norm from the start and we continue to do it. Moreover, the population of elderly is also high here. Further, the number of Covid positive people getting treatment from home is also more, said a top official in the health department. The crematoriums in the districts also insist that RT-PCR test result needs to be submitted in suspected cases. In other districts, antigen tests are mostly done on bodies to check whether the death happened while the patient had been positive. Dr Santhosh Kumar S S, deputy superintendent, Medical College, cite the increased load of transferred cases from other districts as the reason. The mortality has been high from the start. All category C patients are referred here from neighbouring districts. Our hospital has more beds, including ICU and oxygen beds and category C patients requiring care gets referred to here. This is the same case with general hospital as well, said Dr Santhosh. According to him, category C patients from Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha are referred to the capital and their deaths get reported as that from Thiruvananthapuram. Health activist and internal medical consultant Dr Arun N M sought a detailed probe into the death statistics of Thiruvananthapuram district. I believe it is manipulated data. Confirmatory RT-PCR test on bodies is being done in other districts too and the capital doesnt come first in the number of elderly population. With the capital having the best treatment facilities, such an increase in number of deaths needs to be studied, Dr Arun told TNIE. Dr R C Sreekumar, chairman, IMA Research Cell, also demanded a detailed study. The treatment data is controlled by government. The patient treatment data is key to understanding reasons. Only if proper studies are conducted will we know more about these issues, says Dr Sreekumar. By ANI WASHINGTON: American big rights cat activist Carole Baskin recently revealed that she will not be back for the second season of the popular Netflix show 'Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness.' According to Page Six, the 59-year-old star Baskin said she was asked to participate in a follow-up to the smash-hit Netflix show but turned the producers down. "I told them to lose my number. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me," the owner of Big Cat Rescue told the outlet. Baskin claimed after it had aired the producers had made her believe that she'd be the heroine of the show, then delved into rumours that she had murdered her first husband, Don Lewis, and fed his body to her tigers. Allegations she strenuously denies. As reported by Page Six, Baskin- who channelled her controversial story on the show into an appearance on 'Dancing with the Stars' and various projects like a cellphone game and novelty cryptocurrency, will next be speaking at a 'Virtual Influencer Summit' to talk about cyberbullying. "The first three months [after 'Tiger King' aired] my phone rang incessantly with people screaming obscenities. After that, it slowed down. I didn't take it personally. But, it really affected my husband [Howard Baskin] and daughter. If someone said something about someone you love, you would want to protect them," she told Page Six. Lewis and Baskin were married in 1991. He mysteriously disappeared in 1997. According to TMZ, his family has hired famed attorney Alex Spiro to investigate. The family also ran an ad during Baskin's 'Dancing With the Stars' debut asking for tips about his disappearance. Baskin has been reading from her journals on YouTube in order to "prove" she did not kill her first husband. She told Page Six, it's all a rumour used by her competition in the big cat business to let her down. "Once they tell the media, 'She killed her husband and fed him to the tigers,' it worked for these animal abusers to say these things publicly. But it's not true and all you have to do is look into it and know it's not true," she claims. Baskin also thinks timing had a lot to do with skyrocketing her to infamy. She shared, "Tiger King came out when lockdown happened, you had Joe Exotic saying 'Carole Baskin was responsible for everything wrong.' People needed someone to blame. It was a perfect storm." Baskin added, "Had it aired right now, it would have been a different experience...it was still cleverly edited and had things that weren't true, but I don't think there would have been a global vitriol and outpouring because people were so scared at the time." By PTI MUMBAI: Actors Sanya Malhotra and Amyra Dastur have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Malhotra, best known for starring in films "Dangal", "Badhaai Ho!" and "Ludo", shared a post-vaccination picture of herself on Instagram Stories. Dastur, 28, said she got the first jab of the Covishield vaccine on Thursday. "One down and one more to go," she wrote on her handle on the photo-video sharing website. The actor said she was fine the day she got vaccinated, but had fever the next morning. "I ate some breakfast, had a Dolo as prescribed by my doctor and went back to sleep. I rested all day yesterday and today I'm as fit as a fiddle, as if nothing even happened. I wanted you all to know this because it's not as scary as it seems," she added. Sharing a picture she clicked at the vaccination centre, the "Kung Fu Yoga" actor urged people in the age group of 18-44 years of to get vaccinated. "So please, book your appointments and just get vaccinated, if not for yourself, do it for your family and for India. Once all of us are vaccinated, we'll be safe and ready to get on with our lives," she said. On March 1, the central government launched the nationwide drive to vaccinate everyone above 60 years of age and those aged between 45 and 59 with co-morbidities. Last month, the Maharashtra government announced its decision to provide anti-COVID-19 vaccines to the people in the age group of 18 to 44 years. According to the health department, Maharashtra recorded 20,740 new coronavirus positive cases on Friday, taking the state's infection tally to 56,92,920, while 424 fatalities pushed the overall death toll to 93,198. A Sharadhaa By Express News Service The trend of Kannada heroines seeking to make a fortune in Telugu cinema may seem to be a recent one, but it's not. Several talented actors over the decades have crossed borders to the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh/Telangana, in search of films with bigger budgets, higher remuneration, and a larger fanbase. From legendary actors such as Saroja Devi and Jayanthi to others like Malashree, Rakshita, Pranitha Subhash and Hariprriya, many have gone on to successfully be part of the Telugu film ethos, having first established themselves in Kannada cinema. This is a trend that continues to be flourishing, given the number of heroines in recent years who have gone on to become sought-after faces in Telugu cinema. While actors like Anushka Shetty and Pooja Hegde, who rule the roost in Telugu cinema, cant quite be said to be Kannada actors, they do owe their roots to Karnataka. Among those who established themselves in Kannada cinema before making the transition to Telugu cinema, Rashmika Mandanna is right at the top. This Kodava girl, who has become a hot favourite in Telugu cinema, made her Telugu debut with Chalo (2018), co-starring with Naga Shaurya. She captured public imagination with her performance in Geetha Govindam in the same year, in which she starred opposite Vijay Devarakonda. The Kirik Party heroine has since soared to the peak following a critically appreciated performance in Dear Comrade, and presence in successful commercial outings, including Mahesh Babu's Sarileru Neekevvaru and Nithin's Bheeshma. Right now, she has in her kitty many promising projects, including Pushpa with Allu Arjun and Aadaalloo Meeku Johaarlu with Sharwanand. The latest rumour is that Telugu star Ram Charan has recommended her name for his next with director Shankar. Rashmika does not make much of the language barrier and expresses gratitude to the Telugu industry for welcoming her with open arms. "Chalo was my first film, directed by Venky Kudumula. The film helped me become a familiar face there, and since then, it has been wonderful to be part of different films. I am happy to be a prominent face in Telugu cinema today," she says. Another Kannada heroine who's found the going strong in Telugu is Nabha Natesh, who made her debut with Nannu Dochukunduvate, the maiden production of actor Sudheer Babu. However, it was her role in the 2019 Puri Jagannadh film, iSmart Shankar, which brought the spotlight on her and made her a heroine in demand. Touching on some reasons why heroines sometimes gravitate to Telugu cinema, she says, "The market is different. Films here are more content- and performance-based." She believes that the linguistic and cultural similarities help too. "The culture is similar. In fact, I grew up watching Telugu films, thanks to having a lot of Telugu-speaking friends in Bengaluru. Also, the Telugu film industry is right up there with the Tamil and Hindi film industries in terms of reach and budget. The industry has also begun churning out pan-Indian films and many Bollywood heroines are travelling South to act in these films as well," Nabha says. Joining this list is Shraddha Srinath, who has made a mark in Telugu and has come to be noted for her choice of roles in films such as Jersey starring Nani, and Krishna and His Leela starring Siddu Jonnalagadda. There's also Samyuktha Hedge, who was seen in the remake of Kirik Party in Telugu while Rachita Ram is all set to test the waters with Super Machi opposite Kalyaan Dev. Kannada heroine Sreeleela is also set to get her Telugu launchpad with a remake of the Telugu classic, Pelli Sandadi. Kavya Shetty, a popular name in Kannada films, is gearing up to feature in director Nagashekar's debut Gurthundaa Seethakalam alongside actors Satyadev Kancharana and Tamannaah. She adds that the Telugu film industry is special for being open to newcomers who have worked in other languages. "The Tamil industry, for instance, is keener on heroines with native looks. In Telugu cinema, there is still a lot of emphasis on the glamour quotient and this could be a factor in aiding these transitions, she says. As we said, this is not a new trend, but clearly, in a film world thats getting increasingly receptive to talent across regions, it is alive in a way it has never been before. Focused on building companies through early-stage, opportunistic, and diversified investments in the cannabis space Spun off from Aurora Cannabis in late 2018 Terry Booth, who helped build Aurora, now CEO What Australis Capital does: ( ) ( ) aims to build companies through early-stage, opportunistic, and diversified investments in the cannabis value chain in the US and abroad. The Nevada-based companys business and assets include investments in Cocoon Technology LLC, , Green Therapeutics LLC, Quality Green, Folium Biosciences, and land assets in Washington state and Michigan. Australis was spun out from cannabis behemoth Aurora Cannabis Inc (TSE:ACB) (NYSE:ACB) in September 2018 as its US investment vehicle. Aurora is not allowed to invest in US cannabis assets due to Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE listing rules. Australis is therefore Auroras arm to establish a foothold in the US, before a potential US federal legalization shift. As part of the new strategy to scale up its award-winning brands across the US and global cannabis markets, the company has acquired a 51% interest in cash-flow-healthy ALPS - the worlds premier design, construction management, commissioning, and post-commissioning consultancy for horticultural crops such as cannabis. Australis has also gone through the process of acquiring a 100% interest of the outstanding membership interest in Nevada-based cannabis cultivator Green Therapeutics. But the ALPS acquisition is central to the companys growth blueprint, and as such, former Aurora CEO Terry Booth is now Australis' new CEO, taking over from Duke Fu, who had been serving as Interim CEO since November 2020. Fu now is COO, focusing on driving organic growth. With a number of existing customer relationships and significant contracts, Australis said ALPS is expected to bring material revenues to the company and is also anticipated to be immediately accretive to the companys results. Australis plans to leverage ALPS's customer relationships, whereby customers, in return for ALPS developed intellectual property, will also grow Australis' portfolio of award-winning genetics, selling these back to the company at cost plus a relatively small mark-up. Booth built Aurora Cannabis from a late starter to a multi-billion dollar cannabis industry leader and is a seasoned entrepreneur, capital market savvy, with a deep grasp of the requirements to be successful in the global medical and recreational markets. How is it doing: Australis' majority-owned subsidiary ALPS completed an agreement in May with the University of Alberta to provide a business case and feasibility study to establish a research and development greenhouse for the agricultural and life environmental sciences faculty. The objective is to establish a leading agricultural infrastructure focused on innovation to help attract the best and brightest horticulture students who will lead the industry in the years to come. ALPS is also engaged in a number of other projects incorporating innovation and new intellectual property. One such project is with a Scandinavian grower of tomatoes and cucumbers under which ALPS has developed an ultra-precise environment control system, significantly improving propagation success rates and therefore economic output. ALPS retains the rights to the intellectual property developed and will be able to use this technology in the cannabis sector. Meanwhile, Green Therapeutics recently took over the operations of a Nevada-based cultivator and producer of premium cannabis products after the companies announced a management agreement in April. Under the terms of the deal, GT operates the cultivation facility and produces products sold under the GT and Mr Natural brands. Harvest has begun, which will result in an expansion of the volume of GT branded products available in Nevada dispensaries, the company said. GT recently signed an agreement with Nevada retail brand Thrive Cannabis Marketplace for its products to be carried by the chain. Thrive currently operates four dispensaries in Nevada, and the company expects to expand to eight locations before the end of the year. Australis said Green Therapeutics continues to turn out exceptional, high-end products. Three of the company's cultivars, sold under the GT Flowers brand, have tested for high THC potency with exceptional terpene profiles. The high quality of these products, due to Green Therapeutics' science-based approach to cultivation, is reflected in its products consistently selling out in the Nevada adult-usage space in which the company has achieved a 52% penetration rate. The firm operates an 8,000 square foot facility. Green Therapeutics is also in the process of operationalizing assets in Missouri and Oklahoma. The company has a manufacturing license in Oklahoma and a 25% interest in an extraction and processing license in Missouri. On the financial front, Australis revealed in April that it expects revenue for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, to have doubled year-over-year. A big reason for that, the company said, is ALPS, even though the deal was closed less than a month before the fiscal year ended. Inflection points: Discussions with potential partners to enter the now-legal New York market Green Therapeutics US expansion Execution of ALPS and Green Therapeutics deals What the boss says: Following the legalization of recreational adult-use cannabis in New York, Australis CEO Terry Booth discussed the company's future in the state. We intend to play a leading role in the eastern US market, which will take a variety of forms, Booth said in April. We initiated discussions and negotiations with potential partners over 8 months ago in anticipation of this significant advancement in the American adult usage cannabis market. We will now accelerate these negotiations to determine the opportunities that these potential partners bring to strengthen our applications and negotiations. He added: We also applaud the social equity components of the new legislation in New York. Diversity and Inclusion will not just be a checkmark on our applications, it will be a pillar of our corporate culture. We also believe the cannabis industry owes a debt to advocates, activists, innovators and early adopters. This legislation will enable many of these and otherwise disadvantaged groups to participate in the New York and eastern US markets, which we strongly believe is in the best interest of both the industry and society at large. Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com Follow him on Twitter @andrew_kessel Vineet Upadhyay By Express News Service DEHRADUN: "I love you Vibhu!" said Lieutenant Nitika Kaul, wife of martyr Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhaundiyal, after a ceremony at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. Chief of the Army's Northern Command Lt Gen YK Joshi placed stars on Kauls shoulders Saturday. "He will always be a part of my life. I feel he is around looking at me, wishing me luck for having made it to the Army," says Lt Kaul. The couple was married in April 2018 and Maj Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal was due to return home in April 2019 to celebrate his first marriage anniversary. On February 14, 2019, Major Dhoundiyal was among four soldiers who laid their life fighting terrorists in Pulwama. He was awarded Shaurya Chakra (posthumously) for his sacrifice for the nation. #MajVibhutiShankarDhoundiyal, made the Supreme Sacrifice at #Pulwama in 2019, was awarded SC (P). Today his wife @Nitikakaul dons #IndianArmy uniform; paying him a befitting tribute. A proud moment for her as Lt Gen Y K Joshi, #ArmyCdrNC himself pips the Stars on her shoulders! pic.twitter.com/ovoRDyybTs PRO Udhampur, Ministry of Defence (@proudhampur) May 29, 2021 Lt Kaul has worked as a business analyst for nearly three years but left the job to join the Indian Army. She cleared the Services Selection Board in February 2020 and received her letter in March 2020. "The day I stepped inside the academy, I imagined he too must have traversed the same path. My journey has just started I would like to thank everyone who has kept their faith in me -- my mother-in-law, my mother, family and others," said Kaul. Tears rolled down the face of Saroj Dhuandiyal, mother of Major Dhaundiyal, as her daughter-in-law told her about the ceremony. Vaishnavi, Nitikas sister-in-law, said, "Nitika picked herself quickly and decided to follow in Vibhutis footsteps. We are more than happy today." The families of the officers were not allowed to attend the ceremony due to the Covid pandemic. 'Dont give up' To women who aspire to achieve their goals in life, Kaul said: "Keep faith in yourself. There is absolutely nothing that can stop you from achieving what you have aimed at... Dont give up. Stand up again." SAJIMON P S By Express News Service PATHANAMTHITTA: Making the word guru meaningful, retired Zoology professor Sunil MS interestingly named so by her father is bringing light to the lives of the underprivileged. A winner of the Nari Shakti Puraskar, the 60-year-old from Pathanamthitta has so far helped construct over 200 houses for the poor in five districts, a journey that started from 2006. On Saturday, Agriculture Minister P Prasad handed over the key of the 204th house. Two more houses are ready while six others are nearing completion. After the Covid outbreak, she has helped 42 homeless families get a roof over their heads. She also constructed 24 houses for those who lost their houses in the 2018 deluge.As a child, I saw my parents helping the poor in our area, workers in our house and labourers in our fields, Sunil said. Her father M M Samuel, who died a few months ago, was a bank manager. Mother Sosamma was a school teacher. Sunil joined as lecturer in the Zoology department of the Catholicate College in Pathanamthitta in 1995. When I became the programme officer of the National Service Scheme of the college for the second time, in 2006, the university started a programme to construct houses for the homeless. Though we announced that any student without a safe place to stay can approach us, nobody came forward. One of my students, Sajini, told me that a post graduate student, Asha, was in such a predicament, she recalled. Asha and her family were living in a small shed made of plastic sheets. The door was the shawl of her salwar kameez, which she used to wear to college. We constructed a house for her spending Rs 1.19 lakh. We received a contribution of Rs 98,000 and the rest I found from my savings. Seeing Ashas happiness, I decided I should do something for the homeless. Recounting the happiness of Kurumba, once a homeless cancer patient in Kodumon, Sunil said: She always receives me with a smiling face. What else do we need in life? Till date, she has completed 206 houses for the homeless in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kollam, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts. My big dream is to make a village by constructing homes for the homeless, she said. Attracted by the activities of the teacher, K P Jayalal, a native of Konni, too has joined the venture.We are constructing safe and sound houses at a minimum cost. Currently, each 650 square feet house costs Rs 4 lakh. It consists of two bed rooms (one with an attached bathroom), and a kitchen and a hall. We monitor the construction and purchase materials directly, enabling us to save on cost and provide quality houses within 20 days, she said. Their efforts are especially focused on widows with kids, and patients. Every academic year, Sunil also gives study materials to 1,000 students from government schools. During the last lockdown, she gifted 13 laptops and three television sets to students. She was named Sunil as her father had thought his first child would be a boy, the teacher said. Ejaz Kaiser By Express News Service CHHATTISGARH: Self-pity was not an option for Laxmikant Shirke, 59, after he lost his left foot and right hand in an accident almost a decade ago. Originally from Maharashtra, he worked at the Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP), a flagship unit of SAIL, after taking voluntary retirement from the Maratha Regiment of the Indian Army in 1996. Everything was going well for Shirke till 2011. One day, while boarding a train at the Bhilai station in Chhattisgarh, he lost his balance and fell. Shirke lost his left foot and right hand in the accident. He remained bedridden for almost a year. Shirke says almost everyone advised him to stay home. However, being in the Army for years, Shirke had learned to fight back. "How could I ever accept defeat? Despite my family and relatives opposing my choice to drive, I decided to give it a shot," he said. Supported by his wife Chhaya and son Saransh, he bought a car with automatic transmission so that he didnt have to shift gears manually. Since then he has never looked back. "There are highs and lows in life, and at times, a disadvantage could pose an extreme challenge, my father told me. When I look at him, it is his courage and confidence that drives him," says Saransh. "The accident posed tough challenges, but it also gave me a new direction, a sort of reinventing myself. I believe my life began only after embracing the challenges," says Shirke, who drives his car from his Raipur home to the Bhilai office. After the accident Shirke, who was working as technician in electrical division in BSP's merchant mill got another job as a senior staff assistant in a library, considering his physical disability. With the library job came another turning point for him. He read books on those who created world records by doing something extraordinary. "I had gone against the wishes of my family whom I could not convince as to how I would drive in heavy traffic. But I had made up my mind," he says. Shirke broke the earlier world record held by the Australian physically challenged man Javier Stephens of driving 25,000 km in 2016. He later created a new world record of driving a total of 1.26 lakh km. He carved out his own niche in the longest aggregated car driving as a world record holder and was recognized by Limca Book of Records and Golden Book of Records. He won five car rallies organised in Raipur. "I look forward to being part of the endurance drive car rally for the disabled from Kanyakumari to Dehradun," he says. Shirke performs his daily routine works without the prosthesis (any artificial body part) fitted, his colleagues at the steel plant say. Whenever he gets time, he visits schools, colleges on the invitation to share how his struggle has made him stronger. "Never give up; keep chasing your dreams," is his mantra in his motivational speeches, says Hercharan Kour, a women's rights activist in Bhilai. Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service HARYANA: A 'Roti Bank' is being run in five districts of Haryana by Shrikant Jadhav, Addl DGP (Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau), to check beggary and instill confidence among the poor and destitute children that they are not alone in this world. The 'bank' began its work in June 2017 by the 1994 batch IPS officer when he was posted as Inspector General of Police of State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) in Madhuban in keeping with the motto 'Sewa, Suraksha, Sehyog' (service, protection and cooperation). "I was not my individual effort. It was a collective effort of Haryana Police personnel from various districts," says Jadhav self-effacingly. Jadhav explains how the 'bank' started. "One day I decided to distribute food to the poor near the SCRB campus where I was posted. Some 40 food packets - all cooked by the staff and their families - were prepared," recalls Jadhav. The officer then went to a brick kiln nearby and distributed these food packets. "Within minutes my car was surrounded by dozens of children who too demanded food. I had never imagined such a situation," says Jadhav. Jadhav came back and decided that at least one meal in a day could be given to these people. "Thus started the concept of Roti Bank". Initially, he began with a small group of 40-45 police personnel who would provide food at least once a day to the homeless and the needy. "My staff enthusiastically volunteered as we appealed to the families of the police personnel staying on the campus to donate chapattis. We placed collection baskets (tokris) at various points on the campus. The group cooked sabzi and dal and then prepared the packets for distribution. It was about 300 meals per day," he said. Other IAS, IPS and state police service officers besides others joined Jadhavs noble cause. After the success of the bank in Madhuban, it was started in Kurukshetra then Rewari, Faridabad and Gurugram. Last year when COVID struck and restrictions were imposed, the 'bank' was suspended for a few days. "We received feedback that the poor and the needy were unable to earn their living and had nothing to eat. So, we decided that the bank would now not stop even for a day," says Jadhav. The 'Roti Bank' also ptovides basic medicines. There are around 3,000 members of such banks being run at Madhuban in Karnal, Kurukshetra, Rewari, Faridabad and Gurugram where more than 2,000 food packets are distributed daily. A 'Roti Bank' team goes at various places every day covering a city. Each district where the roti bank is in operation has an individual bank account and the donations are collected and deposited into that account and spent accordingly. "We encourage people to celebrate their or their childrens birthdays by donating," says Jadhav. Civilians too are members of the 'bank'. Sushmitha Ramakrishnan By Express News Service CHENNAI: As several incidents of child sexual abuse at school come to light in the wake of the arrest of a class 12 teacher in Chennai, The New Indian Express speaks to Vidya Reddy of Tulir - Centre for the Prevention and Healing of Child Sexual Abuse (CPHCSA). She speaks about how schools can implement a robust mechanism in order to prevent and deal with such incidents. Here are some excerpts from the interview: Q. What is the first step schools should take in order to ensure safety against child sexual abuse? Schools should understand that when they have an abuser at school, it's not reflective of them. The school's response to that abuse is what is important. A safe school is one that accepts that sexual abuse may happen anywhere including their own campus. Many child sexual abusers are professional perpetrators, who will pick an occupation that will give them access to students. But a safe school has a safeguarding mechanism to ensure abuse doesn't happen at all and if and when they do, schools should ensure transparency and their robust response to it. Q. Who should handle sexual abuse complaints in a school? And what mechanisms need to be laid out to address them? It is worth noting that globally less than 15 percent of children and young adults disclose ongoing abuse. Every school should provide a congenial environment where students can speak about anything that troubles them. They should have an odd-number member child protection committee; at least half the members being female, an external member from an NGO, a representative from the management, a teaching staff, a non teaching staff and preferably a parent as well. Parents may decide to first report the abuse to the police, but the school must have this system to address abuse. Schools should also ensure that students are aware of the committee and know how to reach out to its members. When dealing with children and young adults, the system should be enabling. ALSO READ: TN mulls setting up committee to probe sexual abuse of school students Q. When a child is abused sexually, how should a teacher or parent report the incident to the school management? Especially when schools discourage or reject written complaints? Teachers and parents can submit a written complaint and have signed duplicate to establish a proof for reporting the sexual abuse. If a school refuses to accept a complaint, parents should escalate it with the police. If they do not want to go to the police right away, they should post a registered letter to the school and forward the complaint to the District Child Protection Officer, Chief Education Officer and the Director of School Education. Past initiatives that the government has taken in this regard should be resurrected and implemented. Q. In what ways could schools to prevent sexual abuse at schools? Among the many ways, candidates applying to a school should be asked to fill a customised application based on questions that suit the organisation instead of simply receiving a CV or biodata. Use value-based interviewing and ask context-based questions about how they would handle real-life situations. Examples: As a teacher, what would you do if a student has a crush on you and sends you notes? How do you report a concern and to whom? Next, schools should always run a background and reference check with the previous employer on why the teacher left the job. I have seen many abusers getting fired only to work in another school within months. Government should also come up with protocols on what to do with those with abuse history. Q. Once recruited, how does a school train teachers on child protection? All staff including non-teaching staff in the school, should go through a basic 6-7 hour training on child protection, legislation and reporting mechanisms. This can be done online given how technology has progressed. This module should be refreshed each year to address new concerns like those that happen during online classes. B. Ed training should also improve training on Psychosocial development of students. Sudhir Suryawanshi By Express News Service Five districts in Maharashtra were declared critical because of their high Covid-19 positivity rate. The positivity rate was between 17 percent to 21 percent as against the state's average of 11.06 percent. According to the Maharashtra health department data, these critical and high alert districts are Satara, Sindhudurg, Ratnagiri, Raigad, and Hingoli. In the last week, Satara has reported the 21. 93 percent positivity rate while Sindhudurg reported a 21.50 percent positivity rate. In Ratnagiri, the positivity rate is 19.89 percent while Raigad and Hingoli reported an 18.69 percent and 17.21 percent positivity rate, respectively. Maharashtras average positivity rate initially was 24.26 percent from April 28 to May 5 but it came down to 22.57 percent in the week of May 5 to May 11. From May 12 to May 18, the positivity rate was 16.08 percent. In the last week between May 19 to May 25, the positivity rate of the state was 11.06 percent. Apart from these high alert and critical districts, there are 18 other districts that include Amaravati, Budhana, Pune, Nagpur etc whose positivity rate is more than the state average positivity. Maharashtra government has not allowed the positive patients of these districts to be under home isolation for the Covid-19 treatment. The positive patients have to take treatment either in hospitals or the Covid care center. In Maharashtra, there is a total of 3,14,338 active positive patients, out of it, 36 percent patients (1,14, 592) are taking treatment in hospitals 63 percent (2,59,668 ) are asymptomatic patients while 17.39 percent (54,680) are serious patients and 6.19 percent (19,465) patients are in ICU. Three percent of patients are on oxygen while 2.23 percent (7023) patients are on ventilators across the state. The highest percentage of positive patients are reported from Pune 45,655 (14.49%), Mumbai - 28,074 (8.11%). Thane, Satara and Kolhapur contributes 21,949 (7.94%), 19,958 (6.34%) and 16,962 (5.38%) respectively, and are active positive patients registered in respective districts. Maharashtra Health minister Rajesh Tope said that the situation improving but they cannot afford to lift the complete lockdown. The presently the positive cases are the same as was reported in the first Covid 19 waves peak in September. We have decided to extend the lockdown for more than 15 days after June 1. However, the restrictions will be also eased out where the positivity rate is lower than the state average. In Pune, the weekend lockdown is ended. Now, all shops will remain open on all days of the week, Tope added. Rajesh Asnani By Express News Service JAIPUR : Political tussle in Rajasthan over vaccine wastage is intensifying. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has refuted allegations made by the BJP of wastage of 11 lakh doses and questioned the data released on the government's CoWin app. The chief minister of the Congress government claimed that the state's vaccine wastage rate was only two per cent, which is much less than the national average of six per cent. He said the BJP was trying to mislead people. Gehlot said in the initial days of the vaccination drive, the entry of 2.95 lakh doses was made twice at many vaccination centres on CoWin, software for tracking the vaccines, due to technical problems. ALSO READ | Rajasthan woman wins Covid battle after 28 days on ventilator Due to this, the number of vaccines shown on the software was stated to be 17001220, which is not correct. Gehlot stated that earlier in the CoWIN software, the name of the beneficiary was automatically entered. If people did not get the vaccine in the coefficient of 10, then the other beneficiary could not have an offline entry, which caused the vaccine to deteriorate. "For this reason, we wrote to the Centre seeking offline registration so that the vaccine is not wasted," he said. Gehlot was apparently responding to the allegations of Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who said that the 'Rajasthan model' of combating the pandemic was nothing but Congress mismanagement of the health service. He accused the state government of hiding the fatality and case data and doing politics to blame the Modi government. This has been said by other leaders of the opposition also, particularly from the saffron party. Chief Minister Gehlot hit back by saying that the BJP was trying to lower the morale of corona warriors. "In the virtual conference held on May 21, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had said that there was a technical problem in the Central government portal which showed an increase in the percentage of vaccine wastage," he said. By PTI MUMBAI/NAGPUR: Mumbai Police personnel on Sunday conducted a search operation at the Maharashtra government secretariat here after a caller, later identified as a farmer from Nagpur district, claimed that a bomb was planted on the building, which turned out to be a hoax call, officials said. "Around 12.40 pm, the Disaster Management Control, Mantralaya, received a call from an unidentified caller claiming that a bomb was planted on the Mantralaya," Mumbai Police said in a statement. Teams of police personnel along with the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) reached the spot and conducted a search operation, but it turned out to be a hoax call, it said. "Search operation at the Mantralaya premises is completed. No suspicious object has been found," it added. Meanwhile, the caller was traced to Nagpur in east Maharashtra who turned out to be a farmer who allegedly made the call to draw the attention of the administration to his repeated pleas demanding compensation for his acquired land, a Nagpur rural police official said. "The farmer was detained within two hours of making the hoax call. He confessed to making the call and said that for a long time, he was worried about the compensation of the acquired land. But no one was listening to his pleas. He made this call to draw the attention of the government and the administration," the official said. The farmer is identified as Sagar Mandhre (40). Mandhre had owned seven acres of land in Makardhokda area of Umred tehsil in Nagpur district. "He sold some part of that land to a man while some portion was acquired by the Western Coalfields Ltd (WCL) in 1997. The farmer told the Umred police that the WCL had not issued compensation to his acquired land," the official said. He said the farmer claimed that he was suffering from some serious bone disease and needs money for medical treatment. The farmer claimed that he had been trying hard since the last two decades to get the compensation for his land and written several letters to the administration, the official said. In the past, Mandhre had issued threats to set himself on fire on Independence Day and Republic Day on multiple occasions, he added. Express News Service By DEHRADUN: At the current rate of vaccination, it will take another 16-18 months to cover about 70 per cent of the population of Uttarakhand, revealed analysis of data from the state health department. Seventy per cent means over 80 lakh. Anoop Nautiyal, whose Social Development for Communities has been collating and analysing data since the first Covid-19 case surfaced in the state on March 15 last year, said: "To vaccinate the population between the age group of 18-45, 1.32 crore doses are needed.' Till May 27, a total of 35,36,840 vaccine doses to check Covid 18 have been administered. Of this, 21,72,760 have been given the first dose and 6,82,040 both the doses. At present, the estimated population of the state is 1.15 crore, out of which around 66 lakh are between 18 and 44. Uttarakhand has received a total of 29,98,400 doses till May 21. Out of this, 92,370 are Covaxin and 29,06030 are Covishield. Officials from the state health department said that vaccine doses for those above 45 are allocated by the Centre free of cost. Costs of doses for those above 18 are brone by the state government and private players, if they are willing to procure the doses. As far as the vaccine allocation trend is concerned, it has witnessed an upward growth from January 2021. In that month, the state received a total of 205500 doses of Covisheild allocated by the Centre followed by 4,26,660 in February, 6,28,540 in March, 8,97,150 in April and 7,59,550 in May. Uttarakhand received its first-ever lot of Covid-19 vaccines on January 13, with 1.13 lakh. This was followed by 92,500 on January 20, 1,40,160 on February 4, 1,93,500 on February 11, 93,000 on February 26, 2,24,010 on March 9, 2,03,790 on March 22, 2,00740 on March 31, 1,95,240 on April 2, 1,38,340 on April 11, 1,54,570 on April 14, 2,00,000 on April 16, 90,000 on April 17, 50,000 on April 21, 50,000 on April 23, 1,00,000 on April 27, 2,00,000 on May 3, 1,20,000 on May 4, 1,75,000 on May 8, 42,370 on May 12, 1,22,180 on May 18 and 1,00,000 on May 21. A total of 2,64,550 doses have been procured by the state government from domestic manufacturers. EXPECTING SUPPLY OF COVISHIELD The state government is also due to receive 1,41,130 doses of Covishield from Serum Institute of India, Pune, any day, said state health department officials. By PTI NEW DELHI/SAINT JOHN'S: India has sent a private jet loaded with documents for deportation of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi from Dominica where he is said to have gone with his girlfriend on a romantic escapade from his sanctuary in neighbouring Antigua only to be arrested. Qatar Airways private jet flew a distance of over 13,000 kilometres from Delhi to Douglas-Charles airport in Dominica on Friday carrying several documents needed for deportation of 62-year-old Choksi who is wanted in Rs 13,500 crore-bank loan fraud case, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne told a local radio station in Antigua. Indian officials in Delhi refused to confirm or deny whether a plane had been sent to Dominica. According to flight status, Qatar Executive flight A7CEE left the Delhi airport at 3.44 am on May 28 and reached Dominica at 1.16 pm local time on the same day, via Madrid. Choksi was detained in Dominica for illegal entry after his mysterious disappearance from neighbouring Caribbean country Antigua and Barbuda where he was staying since 2018 after fleeing from India in January that year. Within days, the scam came to light. The diamantaire had taken the citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 using its Citizenship by Investment program. Browne told the radio show that the jet is from India carrying necessary documentation needed for deportation of Choksi. The Dominica High Court stayed his removal from its soil and put a gag order on the developments till the matter is heard in an open court on June 2. India seems to have spotted a window of opportunity in the arrest of Choksi in Dominica where he was "detained" for illegal entry. "The information that we are getting is that Mehul Choksi may have taken his girlfriend to Dominica, probably to have dinner or have a good time and so on, and got caught. That would have been a monumental error because in Antigua he is a citizen, we could not deport him....," Browne said. He said the Government of Dominica and law enforcement agencies, unless the court rules otherwise, can deport him to India because he is an Indian citizen, Antigua News Room reported. "The problem is if he is sent back to Antigua because he is an Antiguan citizen, even though his citizenship is unsettled, he is still enjoying constitutional and legal protections as a citizen. We have no doubt that his citizenship will ultimately be revoked because he did not disclose material information," he said. Choksi has alleged that he was abducted from Jolly Harbour in Antigua and Barbuda by Antiguan and Indian looking policemen and was taken to Dominica. He was purportedly seen with red, swollen eyes and bruises on his hands in pictures that surfaced in Dominica. His lawyers have also alleged that he has marks on his body. Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted for allegedly siphoning Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) using letters of undertaking. Both are facing a CBI and ED probe. While Modi is in a London prison after being repeatedly denied bail and is contesting his extradition to India, Choksi took citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 before fleeing India in the first week of January 2018. The scam came to light subsequently. Largest producer of uranium in the US Leading producer of vanadium used in batteries, steel, and chemical industries Recovering rare earth elements (REEs) at White Mesa mill in Utah What Energy Fuels does: Energy Fuels Inc ( ) ( ), headquartered in Colorado, is a fully integrated producer of both uranium and vanadium, and owner of the only operating conventional uranium mill at White Mesa in Utah. It supplies uranium (U3O8) to major nuclear utilities and can also produce vanadium from some projects as market conditions allow. The firm's White Mesa mill has a licensed capacity to produce over eight million pounds of uranium a year, and can generate vanadium when market conditions warrant. The mill is also licensed for the production of other minerals, including tantalum, which has made it onto the US government's 'critical minerals' list. The White Mesa mill is also operating under a new processing deal to assist in the cleanup of a formerly producing, Cold war era abandoned uranium mine in New Mexico. Energy Fuels has started to recover both light and heavy rare earth elements (REEs) at the mill, as well as uranium from certain natural ores and alternate feed materials. Meanwhile, the group's Nichols Ranch ISR Project is in operation and has a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U3O8 per year. It is currently producing and has generated over 1.2 million pounds of uranium since 2014. The Alta Mesa ISR project is currently on standby Energy Fuels also has one of the largest NI 43-101 uranium resources in the US and several uranium and uranium/vanadium mining projects on standby and in various stages of permitting and development. How is it doing: On May 14, Energy Fuels revealed that it ended the first quarter of 2021 with US$60.4 million in working capital as it gears up to expand its rare earths capabilities this year. Energy Fuels reported that it holds around $28 million worth of inventory, including 690,800 pound of uranium and 1,672,000 pounds of vanadium both immediately marketable, according to the company. During the quarter ended March 31, 2021, the company posted revenue of $353,000 and a net loss of $10.91 million, compared to a net loss of $5.66 million for the first quarter of 2020, which Energy Fuels attributed primarily to an increase in its share price that resulted in a non-cash mark-to-market increase in warrant liabilities of $3.50 million. Development expenditures also rose by $2.69 million compared to 1Q 2020 due to its rare earths program ramp up. Away from the numbers, in April 2021, Energy Fuels announced a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hyperion Metals Limited, in which Hyperion would send natural monazite sands from its Titan Project in Tennessee to Energy Fuels for processing. Energy Fuels said it plans to produce mixed rare earth element (REE) products at its White Mesa Mill in Utah from the monazite sands it receives. In addition to producing mixed REE carbonate, Energy Fuels is also evaluating the potential to develop US separation, metals, alloys, and other downstream REE capabilities at the White Mesa Mill or nearby. The company added it hopes to increase its supply of monazite feed to approximately 15,000 tons per year for this initiative. Energy Fuels also revealed recently that it has teamed up with Neo Performance Materials on a new US and European rare earth production initiative. The program will produce value-added rare earth products from natural monazite sands, which is a byproduct of heavy mineral sands mined in the southeastern US. Energy Fuels will process the monazite sands into a mixed rare earth carbonate in Utah to use as feedstock for Neos rare earth separation facility in Estonia. The firm is also evaluating the potential to develop separation facilities in the US. In December 2020, Energy Fuels announced that it is set to become the first US company in more than 20 years to produce a marketable mixed rare earth element (REE) concentrate ready for separation on a commercial scale. This comes after the company reported that it has entered into a three-year supply agreement with The Chemours Company to acquire a minimum of 2,500 tons per year of natural monazite sands from the Offerman Mineral Sand Plant in Georgia. Energy Fuels has started to process the monazite sands at White Mesa, while also recovering the contained uranium, which it believes represents an important step toward re-establishing a fully integrated US REE supply chain. The goal is to process at least 15,000 tons of monazite per year for the recovery of REEs and uranium, which would represent about 2% of White Mesas throughput capacity. Energy Fuels expects to gradually ramp-up production of an intermediate REE product called "mixed REE carbonate." This product will then advance to REE separation, which is the next stage in the REE value chain. Upon successful ramp-up, the company plans to commercially produce an REE product at a stage more advanced than any other US company. Energy Fuels plans to sell its mixed REE carbonate to Neo Performance which will process the material at its facility in Europe and manufacture separated REE products available to US and European markets. Energy Fuels currently is in negotiations with various parties to procure sources of monazite sands that can potentially be processed on a commercial scale at the Mill for the recovery of REE concentrate and uranium. In addition, it is carrying out ongoing discussions on the possible sale of REE concentrate produced at the Mill to an REE separation facility. What the broker says: In a note published on May 26 following Energy Fuels' 1Q results, analysts at Noble Capital said that while processing REE carbonate could generate tens of millions in cash flow, separating REE elements could be even more profitable. The analysts said: We estimate that REE carbonate might sell for $50,000 per tonne with cost of goods representing 75% of revenues depending on the quality of the Monazite. Such an estimate would imply $30 million generated by Energy Fuels for producing 2,000-3,000 tonnes of REE carbonate as per guidance. That number would grow to $75 million if the company meets targets to eventually process 15,000 tonnes of Monazite (6,000 tonnes of REE carbonate). Noble repeated a Market Perform rating on the stock. Inflection points: Commercially produce an REE product more advanced than any other US company Update on government budget proposal Uranium/vanadium price moves What the boss says: While nearly all current and future nuclear reactors are fueled by uranium, other clean energy and advanced technologies, including electric vehicles renewable energy and batteries, require other critical minerals that Energy Fuels produces," the company's CEO Mark Chalmers told shareholders recently. "A robust market for responsibly produced, American clean energy products and technologies, made by American workers, is possible in the US ... Energy Fuels' White Mesa Mill in Utah can help this vision become a reality. To say these are exciting times for our company would be the understatement of my lifetime." Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas By PTI LUCKNOW: Most people would do anything to get out of jail. But that's not the case with 21 inmates in nine prisons of Uttar Pradesh who have written to authorities saying they don't want parole as staying incarcerated is "safer and healthier" for them during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parole is a temporary suspension of prison sentence. The inmates who have made such a request are lodged in nine jails of the state, including in Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Meerut, Maharajganj, Gorakhpur and Lucknow, Director General of Jail Administration Anand Kumar told PTI on Sunday. The reason is that if they get a 90-day parole, then this will get added to the punishment term, he said. "The other overriding reason which they give is that if they go out, they will not get food and other healthcare facilities, which they get in the jails. "The inmates say health checkup is done regularly in the jails. They get food on time, they are safe and healthy in jails. The inmates say that once they go out of the jail, they will have to struggle to earn a living," Kumar said. There are four such requests from Lucknow jail, three from Ghaziabad and two from Maharajganj jail. Asked what is the jail administration's response to the request of the inmates, Kumar said, "Since they have given it in writing, obviously we have to accept their stand and honour it. " Kumar also said over 2,200 inmates have been released on interim parole, and more than 9,200 prisoners have been given interim bail. In all, around 11,500 inmates have been released following recommendations of a high-powered committee on the orders of the Supreme Court, he said. Taking note of an "unprecedented surge" in COVID-19 cases in the country, the Supreme Court on May 8 passed directions for decongestion of prisons and ordered forthwith release of all those prisoners who were granted bail or parole last year in view of the pandemic. In March last year, the Uttar Pradesh government had decided to free 11,000 prisoners from 71 jails pursuant to a Supreme Court directive to decongest jails across the country in the wake of the COVID-19 contagion. On March 16, 2020, the top court had taken suo motu cognisance of overcrowding of prisons across the country and had said it is difficult for jail inmates to maintain social distance to prevent the spread of coronavirus. The Supreme Court had directed all states and union territories to constitute high-level committees to consider giving parole or interim bail to prisoners and undertrials for offences entailing up to seven-year jail term. By Express News Service BHOPAL: The Special Investigation Team probing the high-profile honey trap case in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday sent a notice to the state's Opposition leader and former CM Kamal Nath asking him to hand over the pen drive/CD pertaining to the case. In the notice sent to Nath, the SIT informed that the pen drive/DC was a piece of extremely important evidence that could make the probe much easier. In an apparent threat to the ruling BJP government in the state, Nath, at a recent press conference, said he is still in possession of the pen drive/ CD relating to the scandal. Five women and a man were arrested in Bhopal and Indore in September 2019 for allegedly trapping well-placed people, including politicians, and blackmailing them with objectionable videos. The ex-CM has also been asked to be present at his residence in Bhopal at 12.30 pm on June 2 for questioning. On May 21, responding to a question on FIR against his former Cabinet colleague and Congress leader Umang Singar over the suicide of a 40-year-old woman, Nath asked the BJP not to play dirty politics. He then warned the government that he has a pen drive/CD relating to the honey trap case. By PTI NEW DELHI: Fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi may have left his sanctuary in Antigua and taken a boat ride to neighbouring Dominica to have dinner or a "good time" with his girlfriend, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said. He said that Government of Dominica and law enforcement agencies, unless the court rules otherwise, can deport him to India because he is an Indian citizen, Antigua News Room reported. "The information that we are getting is that Mehul Choksi may have taken his girlfriend to Dominica probably to have dinner or have a good time and so on and got caught. That would have been a monumental error because in Antigua he is a citizen, we could not deport him...," he said. "The problem is if he is sent back to Antigua because he is an Antiguan citizen, even though his citizenship is unsettled, he still enjoys constitutional and legal protections. We have no doubt that his citizenship will ultimately be revoked because he did not disclose material information," Browne said. ALSO READ | PNB scam: India sends private jet to Dominica carrying Mehul Choksi deportation documents India seems to have spotted a window of opportunity in Choksi's arrest in Dominica where he was "detained" for illegal entry. A Qatar Airways private jet landed at the Douglas-Charles airport in Dominica, Antigua News Room reported, leading to speculation about the deportation of Choksi who was detained in the Caribbean island nation after his mysterious disappearance from Antigua and Barbuda. Browne told the radio show that the jet came from India carrying necessary documentation needed for deportation of the businessman, the media outlet reported. There was, however, no immediate official confirmation from Indian authorities about it. Publicly available data of Qatar Executive flight A7CEE shows that it left the Delhi airport at 3.44 pm on May 28 and reached Dominica at 1.16 pm local time on the same day, via Madrid. The Dominica High Court has stayed the removal of Choksi from its soil and put a gag order on the developments till the matter is heard in an open court on June 2. Choksi has alleged that he was abducted from Jolly Harbour in Antigua and Barbuda by Antiguan and Indian looking policemen and was taken to Dominica. Pictures, purportedly of 62-year-old Choksi, surfaced in Dominica showing him with a red, swollen eye and bruises on his hands. Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted for allegedly siphoning Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) using letters of undertaking. Both are facing a CBI and ED probe. While Modi is in a London prison after being repeatedly denied bail and is contesting his extradition to India, Choksi took the citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 using the Citizenship by Investment programme before fleeing India in the first week of January 2018. The scam came to light subsequently. By ANI NEW DELHI: Days after he was found and later arrested in Dominica, the first pictures of India-born fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi surfaced on Saturday showing him sustaining several injuries. The pictures, supplied by the AntiguaNewsRoom, is showing him sustaining several injuries on his hands and the left eye which appeared bruised and swollen. Posting the picture, the AniguaNewsRoom tweeted, "First pictures emerge of Mehul Choksi behind bars." In an interview with ANI on May 28, Choksi's Dominica-based lawyer Wayne Marsh had said that my client was abducted from Antigua on Sunday (May 23) and beaten up. First photo of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi in police custody in Dominica (photo - Antigua News Room) pic.twitter.com/7S2EDsWhL0 ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2021 "I noticed that he was severely beaten, his eyes were swollen and had several burnt marks on his body (apparently burnt by some electronic device). He reported to me that he was abducted at Jolly Harbour in Antigua and brought to Dominica by persons whom he believed to be Indian and Antiguan police on a vessel he described to be about 60-70 feet in length," Marsh told ANI Earlier, after taking note of submissions made in the Choksi's habeas corpus petition, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court restrained Dominican authorities from removing the fugitive diamantaire from the Commonwealth of Dominica until a further hearing in the matter which is scheduled on June 2. More photos of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi in police custody in Dominica. (Photo credit - Antigua News Room) pic.twitter.com/w4ivFxL3ms ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2021 Also, the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, superior court for eastern Caribbean states including Commonwealth of Dominica, on Friday put a stay on his repatriation from Dominica. A massive manhunt was launched after Choksi went missing and an Interpol Notice was issued by Antigua and Barbuda. He was traced and captured in Dominica on May 25. Mehul Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted in India for allegedly siphoning off Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) using letters of undertaking. Express News Service By NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday filed a charge-sheet against Mohammed Iqbal, a suspected member of a terror group named Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is banned in many countries. In the charge-sheet, which was filed in a special NIA court in Chennai, the agency said Iqbal, 31, conspired with other members of the terror group, professed and preached about establishing an Islamic State caliphate. The charge-sheet was filed under various sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code. The agency said that the case was originally registered in Madurai, Tamil Nadu against Iqbal alias Senthil Kumar for uploading "denigrating posts" on Facebook. An investigation revealed that the posts on the Facebook page "Thoonga Vizhigal Rendu is in Kazimar Street" were uploaded by the accused to incite communal disharmony amongst different religious groups, in a manner prejudicial to the maintenance of public order. The charge-sheet states that Iqbal created multiple social media accounts, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, Telegram, WhatsApp etc to upload posts intending to disclaim, disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, and to excite disaffection towards the Indian government. Further investigation in the case is still on, the NIA officials said. Meanwhile, the NIA chargesheeted two Hizbul Mujahideen overground workers (OGWs) on Saturday in a case related to a criminal conspiracy to carry out terror attacks at in Uttar Pradesh. By PTI NEW DELHI: India sent a private jet to Dominica carrying documents related to the deportation of fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, wanted in a Rs 13,500 crore bank loan fraud case, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne told a radio show in his country. There was, however, no immediate official confirmation from Indian authorities about it. A Qatar Airways private jet landed at the Douglas-Charles airport in Dominica, Antigua News Room reported, leading to speculations about deportation of Choksi who was detained in the Caribbean island nation after his mysterious disappearance from neighbouring Antigua and Barbuda. Browne told the radio show that the jet came from India carrying necessary documentation needed for deportation of the businessman, the media outlet reported. Publicly available data of Qatar Executive flight A7CEE shows that it left the Delhi airport at 3.44 pm on May 28 and reached Dominica at 13.16 local time on the same day, via Madrid. The Dominica High Court has stayed the removal of Choksi from its soil and put a gag order on the developments till the matter is heard in an open court on June 2. ALSO READ | Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court puts stay on Mehul Choksi's deportation from Dominica Choksi has alleged that he was abducted from Jolly Harbour in Antigua and Barbuda by policemen looking like Antiguan and Indian and taken to Dominica. Purported pictures of 62-year-old Choksi that have surfaced in Dominica shows him with red swollen eye and bruises on his hands. Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted for allegedly siphoning Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) using letters of undertaking. While Modi is in a London prison after being repeatedly denied bail and is contesting his extradition to India, Choksi took citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 using the Citizenship by Investment programme before fleeing India in the first week of January 2018. The scam came to light subsequently. Both are facing a CBI probe. By PTI NEW DELHI: The ratio of registrations on CoWIN website for vaccination to doses administered has improved to 6.5: 1 from an "alarming" 11:1 a week ago, Dr R S Sharma, chairman of the Empowered Group on Technology and Data Management to combat COVID-19, said Saturday. Overall, with over 244 million registrations and more than 167 million receiving at least one dose (according to data at 7 pm, May 29), the shortfall explains the current proceedings, which will naturally catch up as time passes and there is a larger supply of vaccines, he said. Examining the issue of unavailability of vaccination slots, he said the noise started surfacing after registrations for 18 to 44 years age group were opened up on April 28. "One would be amazed to learn how steeply skewed the demand-supply for vaccines has been in this age bracket. The ratio of registrations to doses administered stands at 6.5: 1, which was an alarming 11:1 a week before," an official statement quoted him as saying. Over 167 million people of the over 1,37 billion population have been administered at least one dose of the vaccine, translating to approximately 12.21 per cent coverage or nearly 1 in every 8 Indians getting vaccinated. "Looking at the actual target population of 18+ of 944.7 million, the number goes up to approximately 17.67 per cent or 2 in every 11 Indians. This data is updated on real time basis on the CoWIN website and is available to view for all, accurate down to the district level in a state," Sharma said. Asserting that the CoWIN cannot be hacked, he said the lack of basic comprehension about the complexity of a vaccination exercise has led to the false labelling of citizens not finding slots on the platform to problems of the platform itself. "We state this with absolute certainty that no breaches have been found till date. No scripts can bypass the OTP verification and CAPTCHA to automatically register an individual. We wouldn't have been able to smoothly scale to over 90 million vaccines till date through online registrations alone if citizens were paying Rs 400 to 3,000 (USD 7 to 40) to illegitimate coders just for booking. Such claims are unsubstantiated, and we would request the public at large to not pay heed to such crooks," Sharma said. He said the proportion between online registrations and offline walk-ins has been modified time-to-time to manage overwhelming crowds and maintain law-and-order at vaccination centres. "In fact, nearly 55% of the 211.8 million doses administered till date have been through walk-ins. The brilliance of CoWIN lies in its ability to allow changes on the fly for the proportion of slots made available between online registration and offline walk-in," Sharma said. Besides the previously countered contentions, there is the debate of digital divide and inclusivity, stressing that CoWIN is crippling the nation's efforts to vaccinate equitably, he said. "To safeguard interests of those at a disadvantage, we have simplified the registration process to make it accessible to all. Monosyllabic / single word questions have been used to overcome language barriers. We are soon launching the option to choose from 14 vernaculars to further aid this concern. Sign-ups and registrations only demand mobile numbers, name, age, and gender. Further, CoWIN provides up to 7 options for identification, not restricting the choice to Aadhar," he said. "To further drive inclusivity, one citizen can register up to four individuals with the same mobile number. We have equipped 250,000+ Community Service Centres (CSCs) to assist rural citizens with registrations. Additionally, we are in the process of initiating call centres at NHA (National Health Authority) to help individuals sign up over phone calls," he said. "And as mentioned previously, offline walk-ins have always been there for those that can't register online, evident from the 110 million+ doses administered through offline walk-ins," he said. Sharma said for a country showing growing affinity for digital technologies, CoWIN serves as the necessary technological backbone to overcome information asymmetry and ensure equitable vaccination access for all. The total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has crossed 21 crore, the Union health ministry said on Saturday. It said 14,15,190 people in the age group of 18-44 years received their first dose and 9,075 in the same group received their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday. Cumulatively, 1,82,25,509 persons across the country have received their first dose since the start of phase-3 of the vaccination drive, the ministry said. Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have administered to more than 10 lakh beneficiaries in the age group 18-44 years their first vaccine dose, it said. The country has administered 21,18,39,768 doses in total, as per the 7 pm provisional report, the ministry said. The total of 21,18,39,768 includes 98,61,648 healthcare workers (HCWs) who have taken their first dose and 67,71,436 HCWs who have taken the second dose, and 1,55,53,395 frontline workers (FLWs) who have received their first dose and 84,87,493 FLWs who have taken the second dose. It also has 1,82,25,509 and 9,373 people in the 18-44 years age who have received the first does and second dose respectively. Besides them, 6,53,51,847 and 1,05,17,121 beneficiaries aged 45-60 years have been administered the first dose and second dose respectively, and 5,84,18,226 and 1,86,43,720 people above 60 years have taken the first dose and second dose respectively. As on the 134 th day of the vaccination drive, a total of 28,09,436 vaccine doses were given. The ministry said 25,11,052 beneficiaries were vaccinated for the first dose and 2,98,384 beneficiaries received the second dose, as per the provisional report till 7 PM. Final reports would be completed for the day by late tonight, it said. The vaccination exercise as a tool to protect the most vulnerable population groups in the country from COVID-19 continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level, the ministry said. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has been acquitted in the criminal defamation case filed by Shashi Tharoor, MP, as the latter requested the court to withdraw the case. Tharoor made a request to withdraw the case following an out-of-the-court settlement reached between both leaders. In March last year, Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is the Union Minister for Communications, Law and Justice, wrote to Tharoor expressing apology for making certain derogatory remarks against him. The case related to an incident that occurred in October, 2018 when Prasad had alleged that Tharoor was an accused in a murder case. On receiving subsequent information regarding the conclusion of investigation in the concerned case, I learnt that the said allegation against you is not factually correct. I accordingly, withdraw it unconditionally, Prasad wrote to Tharoor. The remarks by Prasad against Tharoor were made when the latter had criticised PM Narendra Modi in strong words. In the letter, Prasad said had Tharoor done introspection, he should also have understood his comments against Modi were avoidable. While we differ politically, at times strongly, we both have maintained mutual respect and amity. You could surely appreciate that in a democratic polity, debate, discussion, differences, arguments as well as criticism are of essence. However, while upholding these statutory principles, one should not hurt others sentiments and reputation, and I had no intention of doing so in your case, said Ravisankar Prasad in his letter. Acknowledging the apology, Tharoor wrote to Prasad. It was very gracious of you to withdraw your words in respect of myself, which had offended me greatly. I welcome your sentiments in view of our long association. I am happy to treat the matter as closed, he said. Subsequently, Tharoors lawyer informed the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Thiruvananthapuram, about their decision to withdraw the case and the CJM acquitted Ravi Shankar Prasad in the case. By PTI AHMEDABAD: The Department of Defense of the USA has intensified efforts to find and recover the remains of its over 400 personnel who had gone missing in India during World War II by joining hands with Gandhinagar- based National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU). Scientific experts at the NFSU will help the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency (DPAA), a part of the Department of Defense (DoD) of the USA, to recover and identify these missing personnel to bring closure to their families. "The mission of DoD agency- Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency (DPAA) is to provide the fullest possible accounting for the missing personnel to their families and their nation," DPAA mission project manager at NFSU, Dr Gargi Jani, has said. She said the Agency's teams locate, identify, and repatriate the remains of the unaccounted-for service members from America's past conflicts including World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War and Iraq and Persian Gulf Wars. "There are over 81,800 Department of Defense personnel of the US who are still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, the Korean War, the Cold War, and the World War II, and over 400 are missing in India," she said in a statement. Jani said the NFSU will scientifically and logistically assist the DPAA in their mission. "Partnering with DPAA in their noble mission is an honour, NFSU-DPAA will leverage the joint efforts in India to provide with fullest possible accounting to families of the missing personals," Jani stated. The DAPP recently facilitated the last rites of US citizen Justin G Mills (25) who had died in World War II in 1943. "Marine Corps Reserve 1st Lt. Justin G.Mills of Galveston, Texas, killed during World War II, was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery May 26, 2021. In November 1943, Mills was killed on the small island of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands, in an attempt to secure the island in the fight with Japanese forces. "His remains were reportedly buried in the Central Division Cemetery, and later to the Lone Palm Cemetery on Betio Island. Mills was recovered in 2014 and accounted for in 2019. Mills'' niece and nephew were on hand to finally welcome their uncle home and lay him to rest," as per the DAPP website. The Gilbert Islands after its independence from the British are now called the Republic of Kiribati and it is an independent island nation in the central Pacific Ocean. "We are privileged and enthusiastic to enter into this formal partnership with India''s National Forensic Science University. Their renowned expertise and capabilities will advance our efforts to find and recover the remains of Americans missing from World War II in India," Kelly McKeague, DPAA Director was quoted as saying in a statement by the DAPP. McKeague highlighted the importance of the support of another nation in this endeavour. "The DPAA teams are currently in Cambodia and the Philippines (to find remains of missing soldiers), and a large team left Honolulu Feb. 20 for a 60-day mission in Vietnam," the statement said. The teams are following health and safety guidelines, and in doing so, these countries are willing to allow the DPAA back to continue their mission, it said. The DPAA has also established a three-way partnership with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and the NSFU with the virtual signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) dated May 27, to develop academic exchanges and cooperation in teaching and research. With this MoU, the NFSU is hopeful to develop academic exchanges and cooperation in teaching and research in the areas of forensic anthropology, forensic archaeology and forensic odontology activities, it said. NFSU Vice-Chancellor Dr J M Vyas said the partnership with the DPAA will enable the scientific exchange in the areas of forensic anthropology and odontology and develop best practices for human identification. "The NFSU has always taken a lead to promote forensics in a criminal investigation. This kind of partnership will create unique research opportunities and student exchange also," he said in a statement. The NFSU was recently given the status of an Institution of National Importance and is the world's first and only university dedicated to Forensic and allied sciences. Kapil Sibal By A just social and economic order is based on equity. Iniquitous government policies create societal schisms. When large sections of the populace feel discriminated against, disenchantment sets in. On occasions this leads to social unrest. We are witnessing increasing economic inequality and rising social tensions since Narendra Modi became prime minister. Demonetisation, faulty implementation of GST and heartless handling of the Covid-19 pandemic have inflicted untold misery on ordinary folk and businesses. Statistics, that are evidence of this too, are not going through Achhe Din. The rich are thriving as the Sensex touches new heights, far removed from the landscape of the economic reality on the ground and deprivations consuming the poor. While the government is busy with its political agendas, to polarise India, it has paid scant regard to the real agendas that needed to be addressed. Reducing poverty, promoting equity and justice are the real agendas. Presently, the system has not only failed to protect the poor but also breeds discrimination. Lets address the facts. In 2020 alone, the increase in wealth of the top 11 Indian billionaires was enough to vaccinate the entire needy population of our country. This money could have even funded schemes such as MGNREGA for the next 10 years. The same year saw 75 million more people in India seep into poverty because of Covid-19. A large number of small and medium-size businesses were shut, jobs were lost and incomes fell, resulting in a deep economic recession. The Indian middle class may well have shrunk by a third while the number of poor people earning less than Rs 150 per day doubled (Pew Research Centre, 2021). A study by Azim Premji University (2021) estimates that around 230 million Indians have been pushed into poverty in the last one year. The rate of both rural and urban poverty increased by 15 and 20 percentage points, respectively. Around 150 million workers remained out of work by the end of 2020. Our healthcare infrastructure in rural areas is next to non-existent. The pandemic has also demonstrated that the existing healthcare system is in a shambles. India has a doctor-population ratio far lower than the WHOs standard of 1:1,000. In rural areas, the ratio is 1:25,000. It is tragic that only 13% people in rural India have access to primary healthcare centres, and only 9.6% to a hospital. For 70% of our population, the number of hospital beds is lower than the national average of 0.55 per 1,000 inhabitants. In terms of access and quality of health services, China, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Bangladesh are ranked far ahead of India. Income inequalities are also a matter of deep disquiet. Almost 12% of our population is engaged in casual labour. Even amongst regular wage earners comprising 41% of urban households, rampant inequality prevails. In fact, 71% of regular salaried employees have no written job contracts; half of them are ineligible for social security benefits. The pandemic having coincided with a global slowdown, a public health crisis of this magnitude will adversely and negatively impact our economy. More people are likely to lose their jobs, resulting in harsher inequalities. The mindset of this government and its passion for a digital economy has marginalised the poor and the disadvantaged further. This governments vaccination policy, with all above 18 years entitled to be vaccinated, has shown utter insensitivity by relying on web applications to get people vaccinated. I wonder how many people in this country, especially in the context of the extent of disadvantaged and marginalised, have access to such apps. Without registration, the opportunity to get vaccinated will not be available. In urban areas, internet is generally available and people have access to smartphones. However, the situation is quite different in Indian villages. Digitally divided India has further curtailed the opportunities for the poor to be vaccinated. A prior registration process, apart from being user unfriendly, does not work in a country where 50% of the population has no access to the internet. The Union governments insensitivity to make the Cowin portal and Arogya Setu and Umang apps the only means to register is tantamount to mocking the poor. Even a moderate internet connection does not allow for registration; one requires fast internet speed to track and book the available vaccination slots. Even so, it is taking days to complete the process owing to huge traffic on these web applications. Ironically, the government considers registration through these web applications more convenient for citizens. A government that lacks understanding of what access and convenience mean only caters to both confusion and rampant inequality. The poor are excluded and even those who have smartphones are finding it difficult to register for vaccination. The digital divide in education is also a matter of great concern. Just over a third of our government schools have access to functional computers (2016-17). In fact, the overall percentage of schools with functional computers (2016-17) has reduced since 2012. Less than a quarter of Indian households have internet facility and only 11% have a functional computer. Among the rural households, only15% have access to internet. Online education, another passion of this government, has further marginalised 70% of our children. Poorer children are missing from online classes because of the digital divide. This divide is evident across class, gender, region or place of residence. Amongst the poorest 20% of households, only 2.7% have access to computers and 8.9% to internet facilities. The time has come for India to adopt cohesive well-thought-out policies to ensure that inequalities are not fuelled by the governments policy decisions. An unjust and unequal state will eventually result in disquiet and unrest. India deserves better. Kapil Sibal Senior lawyer, Congress leader and member of Rajya Sabha (Tweets @KapilSibal) US Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas): I understand from whats been testified to the Forest Service and the BLM [Bureau of Land Management], you want very much to work on the issue of climate change. We know theres been significant solar flare activity, and so is there anything that the National Forest Service or BLM can do to change the course of the moons orbit, or the Earths orbit around the sun? Obviously that would have profound effects on our climate. Jennifer Eberlein, associate deputy chief for the National Forest System, responded that she would have to follow up with you on that one, after a brief pause. Gohmert: Well, if you figure out a way that you in the Forest Service can make that change, Id like to know. T J S George By Our leaders have a special talent to turn peaceful landscapes into war zones. Remember how, one fine morning, Jammu & Kashmir was divided into two Union territories. As if on signal, Mukesh Ambani formed a task force and said "You'll see several steps for J&K, Ladakh soon." We are about to see several steps for Lakshadweep soon. As per tradition, Lakshadweep's administrator was a bureaucrat from the IAS/IPS ranks. When Dineshwar Sharma, who was chief of the Intelligence Bureau before he took over as Administrator of Lakshadweep, died in December 2020, the Government of India broke tradition and appointed a friendly politico. (Friendly to the Government, that is). He lost no time in turning things upside down. Even to send a sick person to a hospital in the mainland, his approval became necessary. That came naturally to Praful Khoda Patel because the plus point in his favour was that his father was an RSS leader. Patel served as Gujarat's Home Minister under Modi. His political career ended when he failed to get elected in 2012. Modi gave him a new life by appointing him Administrator of Dadra and Haveli. All the psychological complexes he developed as a failed politician now came to haunt Lakshadweepians. Perhaps, the RSS soul in him could not reconcile with the fact that the entire population of Lakshadweep was Muslim. Three per cent were listed as non-Muslim, but these were not locals; they were itinerant traders from the mainland. Patel must have resented this. With his experience confined to putting administrative power to political use, Patel acted like a local dictator. Some 200 high school teachers were dismissed because they were on contract. Students who protested were disciplined with lathis. As many as 190 people were dismissed from the tourism department. Subdivisional magistrates in various islands were also dismissed. Hindi-speaking officers from North India were put in charge, knowing that locals knew only their native dialects and Malayalam. The zilla panchayat was made virtually powerless, with the Administrator assuming all responsibilities. In the name of coastal protection laws, the fishing community's nets and sheds were taken away. Two functioning dairy farms were closed, saying that they were running at a loss. Orders were issued to sell off the cattle at the rate of Rs 250 per kilo. Milk arrived by ship from Gujarat. Traditionally, Lakshadweep's trading activities were conducted through Beypore Port in Kozhikode district. The new dispensation put an end to the practice and ordered that Mangalore Port be used instead. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said bluntly that Lakshadweep had strong and age-old links with Kerala in education, employment, medical services and trade and that secretive attempts to break this were underway. CPM state secretary A Vijayaraghavan put it in stronger terms. The Government was interfering, he said, even in the food habits of the locals. He saw Delhis policies as an attempt to convert Lakshadweep into an experimental ground of Hindutva politics. Even the BJP unit in Lakshadweep joined the chorus of protestors. The power of sentiment showed its worth in the words of Zabith, a resident of the islands. She said: "From the time of my great grandmother, we have been living in this house. If Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation comes into force, I will need their permission to live here for more than three years. Protests are not taking place because of COVID protocol." If that was a personalised response to the situation that developed, a principle-based perspective was provided by CPMs A Vijayaraghavan. Noting that "the Government interferes even in food traditions (read, beef consumption) of local residents", he said: "What is happening is a dastardly attempt to convert Lakshadweep into an experimental ground for Hindutva Politics." How far Hindutva politics can go when confronted by Malayali politics is unsure. It is a state where the BJP has failed to gain a foothold. Even the best efforts of a manipulator like Praful Patel will not find it easy to break Malayali cultural barricades. That wont bother him of course. In his home state itself, he is known as an operator who is not interested in what people think of him. He is trusted by Modi and Amit Shah, and that is all that matters to him. This is actually a tragedy of Modi and Shah. They do not understand the grassroots feelings of people. Otherwise, they would have seen the importance of what Lakshadweep PCC president Hamdullah Sayeed said: "Those who have more than two children are disqualified from contesting panchayat elections. With this democracy has become meaningless." So, for a great many people, has the Modi-Shah leadership. At a time when the nation is grappling with the pandemic, a cyclone that struck India left behind a trail of destruction estimated to cost around billions of dollars. A report by GIS consultancy RMSI pegs the losses caused by Cyclone Tauktae to be around Rs 15,000 croreabout $2 billion. Tauktae is the third cyclone to hit India since the onset of the Covid pandemic in 2020, the other two being Amphan and Yaas. Amphan, which hit the country in the first half of 2020, was proclaimed the worlds costliest disaster by the Aon catastrophe report. The cumulative impact of these three cyclones on India is estimated to be around $20 billion. That means close to 1% of the countrys GDP was wiped out by just three natural disasters. This, experts say, is only set to worsen. The Indian Meteorological Department has warned that the Arabian Sea is witnessing an increase in intense cyclones, thanks to the rapid warming of the Indian Ocean. Scientists observed that increase in Arabian Sea cyclones was directly proportional to this warming. If this trend continues unchecked, massive destruction is expected in the coming years as about 14% of Indias 1.3 billion people live in coastal cities. Scientists are urging immediate combat measures, including climate-proofing of our cities, to mitigate the impact of disasters. To begin with, its imperative for world nations to come together to build the next mega science project, on the lines of CERN and the Giant Magellan Telescope, for climate modelling. Earlier this month, the UKs Royal Society elaborated on how climate-proofing would be impossible without developing next-generation climate models. Such a task cannot be achieved by any one nation as it requires staggering levels of super-computing, possible to achieve only by setting up an international centre. Bodies in the UK and Australia have already begun negotiations to this effect as theres no time to lose. Between 2000 and 2019, the Earth witnessed an average of 185 disasters annually. In 2020, that number shot up drastically, with 207 natural disasters being recorded in the first six months alone. Its important for India to also raise its voice for such a centre to save its people and infrastructure What is it with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that she throws a fit one day claiming she was not allowed to talk to power at the Centre, but when an opportunity arises a week later she ignores a scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at her own turf? And why is the Centre acting like a crybaby demanding back a toy it had just gifted due to a perceived slight? How cruel is it to recall a chief secretary to Delhi just four days after he was given extension in service because of his expertise in managing the pandemic. Fingers would surely be pointed at the Modi government for the recall if Bengals Covid count does not go down rapidly in tandem with other states. This tit-for-tat is against the federal spirit and could add to the list of mis-steps by the Centre, as it blundered its way in managing the second wave of the pandemic. As for Mamata, staying away from the meeting convened by Modi after his aerial assessment of the havoc wrought on Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand by Cyclone Yaas was no less shocking. Her anger was tied to the presence of loyalist-turned-foe Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated her in Nandigram and is now the leader of opposition in the Assembly. Whether she likes it or not, Suvendus is a constitutionally elected position. She needs to learn to do business with him. Her argument that Odishas leader of the opposition was not present at a similar meeting Modi had with her counterpart Naveen Patnaik was specious because he was invited but could not make it. Her no-show not only militates against basic decency and the federal spirit, the state also lost an opportunity to make its pitch for Central support. Claiming a day later that she is ready to fall at the feet of the prime minister if he does justice to Bengal is merely playing to the gallery. In contrast, Naveen showed how to gracefully treat his guest, telling Modi he wasnt seeking emergency aid since the Centres finances were already strained. This clash of elephantine egos will do no good. The Centre ought to rescind its order to recall the Bengal chief secretary forthwith Prabhu Chawla By Shuffle in a Bubble Will he, won't he? Prime Minister Narendra Modi isn't giving anything away. He is in no hurry to reshuffle his 60-member Council of Ministers. It has not stopped the hopefuls from promoting themselves, or using their idols or proxies to launch covert and overt ops to change the composition of the Modi Cabinet. Some woo religious and RSS heavy-hitters to drop a kind word on their behalf at the doorsteps of the right leaders. Since none except a couple of exceptions have direct access to the PM, digital and social media are their only option to tout their usefulness for Modi during the COVID crisis. It is almost two years since he has added new ministers. He has only replaced those who died or resigned. Over half a dozen ministers hold more than two-three portfolios. The cabinet expansion is stuck on the horizon of panting and ranting. This speculation started after mantris from the Shiv Sena and Akali Dal quit and Ram Vilas Paswan died. Scuttlebutt has gained currency because defectors from parties like the Congress and regional outfits are clamouring for berths. Modis dilemma is to balance original Swayam Sewaks with longer Sangh Ayu (Date of joining the RSS) and turncoats whose only claim to fame is pedigree, degree, moolah might and muscle mass. Ministerial wannabes have hired picayune PR players to plant stories in their own godi media. A new band of social influencers have been roped in to tout names on Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp groups. These megaphones are TwittCelebs and excessively Zoomed in Facebook account holders with over a million followers. And the reason why Modi should change his tune and team now? He needs a new health minister because Dr Harsh Vardhan hasnt matched his billing. But the doctor is just a tool. Names of some disastrous spokespersons and defeated flop candidates are doing the rounds, but no current minister is being identified for the change-the-cabinet operation. The Modi Mood is an enigma. However, their inner astrologer says any date after June is auspicious. Modi defines both numerology and astrology. After all he is the Number One Star. Youth Battles Bulge Mainstream political parties are institutions that refuse to die. But their leaders buy the farm with the passage of time and relevance. Many regional outfits floated by caste/religious leaders have vanished after their individual-led ideology lost its vigour, vitality and makutu. National parties carry on because their new blood has old DNA, thanks to the active involvement of affiliated youth organisations. The Congress, which is gasping for ballot breath, has suddenly figured it needs young juju since the old 'uns are deep in malicious turf wars. It is for the first time that Youth Congress leaders are more visible than the dodderers in the marginalised parent party. Its 40-year-old president BV Srinivas has made the YC almost omnipresent by deploying his youth brigade to respond to each and every call from any COVID-critical family, sending succour in the form of oximeters to life-saving drugs to every city from Bathinda to Bengaluru. Srinivas and team have dominated the digital media debate and are regular TV talking heads of late. For the first time, the lazy juniors have gained the confidence of the middle and lower classes while the seniors are looking for acceptability like blind men looking for binoculars to see the future. Rahul Gandhi has picked a note from the past; uncle Sanjay Gandhi used the Youth Congress to chuck out the Janata Dal government. Kamal Nath, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, Ambika Soni, Ramesh Chennithala, Gundu Rao, Tariq Anwar etc were knights of the Sanjay round table. Over one third of Lok Sabha members in 1980 had Youth Congress resumes since they were loyal to Sanjay. On the other hand, the BJP became India's largest political party because its giant leaders inducted young leaders - currently, half its leadership is from ABVP. However, its youth wing Bhartiya Yuva Morcha couldn't bag a profile like the IYC's. Tejasvi Surya, South Bengaluru MP and BYM president, is confined to his constituency and conspiracies. BJPs poll poster boy is more at ease in the company of top tech giant executives and corporate leaders unlike his Kanadigga counterpart. Surya has plumped for the elitist and glamorous model of Covid-fighting against Srinivas street fighter model. No Retiring Disposition The Khan Market gang has been sandbagged. Modi demolished their know-it-all image by choosing Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, a 1985 batch IPS officer from Maharashtra cadre, as CBI Director. His detractors were expecting the government to pick either Rakesh Asthana or YC Modi, both senior to Jaiswal and considered to be close to the PM and Amit Shah. Jaiswal has a clean reputation and is known for defying the establishment on his principles. As part of Atal Behari Vajpayee's SPG team, he was known for professionalism and integrity. His appointment on the basis of a new law provided an escape route for the government from giving Asthana and Modi sensitive posts like the RAW chief or IB Director. Since, Chief Justice NV Ramana invoked an old Supreme Court verdict to note that no officer with less than six months to retire is eligible for elevation, Modi happily went along. Within 48 hours, the GOI gave an extension to IB director Arvind Kumar and RAW chief Samant Kumar Goel till June 30 next year. Both were to retire by the end of next month. Two in One Boat Our mandarins are tying themselves in knots guesstimating the future of the power circuits two most visible civil servants. The doubting duo are Sunil Arora, former Chief Election Commissioner and Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, who hangs up his boots by June end. Arora was made Election Commissioner after retirement and the BJP was over the moon with his eagerness and elasticity, especially in West Bengal. He has been a top performing asset of the bureaucracy. Meanwhile, some babus are rooting for a better deal for Kant. The smooth-talking party hound and master at relationships will be the first officer to complete more than five years in Niti Aayog and get an extension twice. The man, who came up with Incredible India and made Kerala a byword in world travel, hasnt done anything incredible since then except staying a favourite of the both UPA and NDA. Arora and Kant have dabbled, delivered and talked more during NDA rule than the Congress era. Since Anil Baijal, Delhis non-performing L-G, has reached the end of his unmemorable term, who will be moving into the Raj Bhavan? Kant, Arora or some other retired civil servant? Only Modi knows. (The writer can be reached at prabhuchawla@newindianexpress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PrabhuChawla) George Poikayil By Express News Service PANATHADY (KASARGOD): A couple of tin sheets and one asbestos sheet tied to arecanut logs make up the bus waiting shed opposite the Poodamkalladukkam Scheduled Tribe Colony on the Kanhangad-Chemberi state highway in Panathady panchayat. The sheets barely keep the heavy midday rain pounding the hill panchayat out. Two pieces of a broken concrete electric post are used as benches inside. Two young men -- Pavi Shankar (26), a civil engineer, and Akhil S Nair (19), who is preparing for engineering entrance exams -- have been sitting in the shed for the past four hours. By noon, they had emptied a packet of Marie biscuit and a bottle of water. "Our shift started at 8 am and we have one more hour to go," said Shankar. For the past eight days, the youths have been keeping a close watch on the colony, a covid containment zone with 35 houses and 58 active cases. Shankar and Nair have to ensure no one from outside enters the colony or anyone from inside leaves the place. "But we also have to deliver whatever the residents ask for -- be it medicine or food," said Nair. Around 200 metres away is the fair price shop of Panathady. Two Kudumbashree workers -- Yamuna Joshy (46) and Rajani Ratnakaran (34) -- are standing guard there. They are ensuring there is no crowding in front of the shop. When there is no rush, visit houses of covid positive patients to enquire about them and deliver medicines. Sometimes, they shell out money from their pocket to get medicines from the Taluk Hospital at Poodamkallu, 10 km away. Rapid Response Team Yamuna, Rajani, Nair, and Shankar are part of a network of 135 volunteers called the Rapid Response Team. "They are shouldering a major share of our responsibility to control COVID in our panchayat," Jose Abraham, the panchayat's assistant secretary. Panathady -- bordering Karnataka -- is the grip of covid, with at least three colonies of Scheduled Tribes, declared as containment zones. It has 329 active cases of covid, and since January, around 1,000 persons have tested positive for the virus. "This week, we saw three deaths," he said. But there is little panic in Panathady. The panchayat members, who fought a bitter election in November 2020, have come together to run a well-oiled outreach machine -- from effectively deploying volunteers to running a domiciliary care centre (DCC) for asymptomatic patients and community kitchen, and delivering food and medicines at home. "We have selected five to eight volunteers from each ward, most of them are graduates," said Sajini Mol B, CPM's panchayat member. Twenty-three volunteers are posted at eight banks, five ration shops, at the three containment zones, and Chemberi check post bordering Karnataka, she said. Community kitchen and care centre COVID cases started rising in the panchayat in the first week of May when seven tribes persons tested positive for covid at Kappithottam colony in Ariprode ward. "By the second week, there were 35 cases in the colony," said James KJ, Congress member of Ariprode ward. As per government guidelines, an area with more than 30 cases should be declared a containment zone. James moved all the positive persons to a few houses and their relatives to houses free of covid in the same colony. "This helped us keep the residents in the colony itself and yet control the spread of the virus," he said. ALSO WATCH | But the cases started rising in the rest of Panathady. On May 12, the panchayat started a domiciliary care centre (DCC) at the Government Higher Secondary School at Balanthode. The food for the asymptomatic patients was delivered from the People's Restaurant in Panathur, 8km away. People's Restaurant is a people-government initiative to ensure no one goes hungry in the state. Those who cannot afford are given food free of cost and others can get meals at Rs 20. The state now has 1,017 People's Restaurants. "But patients complained about the quality and the quantity of food," said panchayat assistant secretary Abraham, who is also the nodal officer of the DCC. So the panchayat president Prasanna Prasad of the CPM proposed to start a community kitchen in the school. "As per government direction, we don't have to set up a community kitchen if there is a People's Restaurant nearby. But the panchayat members thought otherwise," said Abraham. The panchayat members opened the community kitchen on May 15 and decided to serve food four times a day to the 70-odd inmates of the domiciliary care centre. They also decided each of the 15 wards will take turns to run the kitchen every day. People from across the panchayat started sending everything needed to run the kitchen -- rice, pulses, masala, tuber crops, onions and vegetables, and fruits -- through the volunteers. The pyramid of yams and cassava in the larder is almost touching the ceiling. "We have enough provisions to run the kitchen for one month," said KK Venugopal, BJP panchayat member and chairman of the food committee. On the first three days, the community kitchen served vegetarian food. On the fourth day, Chamundikkunu ward member Preethi KS of the BJP donated chicken for inmates. Since then, all the members started including meat and fish on the menu. On Thursday, James's ward Ariprode gave chicken biryani for lunch. Every day, the kitchen makes food worth around Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000. "So till now, we might have served food worth Rs 2.25 lakh. But it is all from the people," said Venugopal. Apart from those in the domiciliary centre, food is also delivered to those staying alone or are not in a position to cook for themselves. The panchayat said the government-sanctioned Rs 10 lakh to run the kitchen but that money is largely untouched. "We have used Rs 2 lakh to buy PPE kits, gloves, mattresses, beds, and sanitiser packs, and pay the fuel bills," said Sudeep S, the panchayat head clerk and in charge of the help desk. The teachers of the Balanthode schools donated Rs 25,000; Mary, a farmer, donated Rs 10,000. When Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation or Milma restricted milk procurement to 60 per cent because of the low demand during the lockdown, the panchayat members bought the excess milk and gave it to the colonies in containment zones. Prameela, a dairy farmer, had 35 litres of surplus milk every day. "We distributed one litre of milk, along with bread and one dozen of eggs to houses in the containment zone of Kapithottam," said James. CM Nazir, who runs a supermarket in the panchayat, said a well-wisher gave him Rs 5,000 to pay for the items bought by colony residents in quarantine. "That money got over on Friday," he said. Promoters of the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste Departments said they have delivered around 250 food kits to families in the panchayat. "But several other clubs and organisations are also pitching in," said ST promoter Rathesh KB. N Vincent, a member of Cherupanathady ward, said migrant workers and those in the colonies had to give up work and stay indoors to get the covid numbers down. "So we will continue to support them till this is over. We are hoping the graph will flatten out in 45 days," he said. But James said even if it went on for 60 days, the panchayat could sustain the community kitchen. "We are all farmers after all," he said. Pooja Nair By Express News Service KOZHIKODE: The extension of the ban on international flights to Gulf countries till June 30 has come as a major blow to tens of thousands of expatriates in the state who have been hoping to return to their places of work at the earliest. Earlier, the Central government had banned commercial flights till June 14. The decision, taken in view of the rising Covid cases in the country, comes at a time when the expatriate community is demanding that the ban on flights to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait be lifted. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation had on May 28 announced that international passenger flights will not restart operations until June 30. At the same time, the restriction was not applied to international all-cargo flights, and flights scheduled under the travel bubble arrangements. Since March 2020, there has been a ban on regular international flights. According to experts, though over 14 lakh expatriates had reached the state since March last year, some, mainly healthcare workers, had returned. Though the Saudi government had extended visas and duration by up to six months during the first wave of the pandemic last year, it has not announced any such relaxation this time. The situation in other countries is no different. According to the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC), while over eight lakh expatriates from Kerala are waiting to return to the UAE, nearly two lakh Malayalis are awaiting return to Saudi Arabia, 1.5 lakh to Qatar, 1.25 lakh to Oman and over 50,000 to other countries. Ibrahim Murichandi, state vice-president of Dubai KMCC, said, Several Gulf countries were willing to ply special flights in the previous wave due to pressure from various organisations. According to him, the expatriates were initially worried about not receiving the vaccine on time. The state government has addressed this issue by prioritising people who work and study abroad for the vaccine jabs. But the decision to extend the ban has affected peoples plans further, he said. Norka Roots CEO Harikrishnan Namboothiri told TNIE, Soon after the decision to extend the flight ban to Jun 30 was received, Norka Roots have contacted the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to rethink the further extension as several lakhs of expats currently in Kerala are waiting to return back to their work place. Last year, when a similar flight ban was imposed, a few countries tried to take the healthcare workers from India to their respective countries. This time, even that is not happening. He said more than 1.4 lakh expatriates were given Rs 5,000 each to support them financially during the previous lockdown. Additionally, more than Rs 75 crore was distributed among the general expats. Loan assistance was even provided to the expats coming back. The surge of expats seen here last year has tripled during the second wave. Hence, we are doing our best to help them return to their work place, he said. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress state president V M Sudheeran has shot off a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan terming the move by the LDF Government to revive the Athirappilly hydroelectric project which had already been rejected by the people. He recalled that whenever a new government comes to power, there has been a mysterious move from certain quarters to revive the Athirappilly project. In the letter, Sudheeran recalled that various scientific-technical-environmental-social impact studies had ruled out the power project. He highlighted 10 factors which would be affected if the Athirappilly project is implemented. ALSO READ | Opposition leader voices concern over Athirappilly hydel project There is dearth of adequate water for this project, the targeted power cannot be produced, the cost towards the power production is high, the water level availability in the drinking sector and irrigation in the Chalakkudy area will be affected, 14,000-hectare irrigation facility will be lost, the drinking water availability in 20-odd local bodies will be affected, the tribal communities lives and the environment will be grossly affected, rare flora and faunas survival will be at stake and also the water streaming towards Athirappilly and Vazhachal will be affected, said Sudheeran. Prasanjeet Sarkar By Express News Service ROURKELA: Despite despair and gloom amid high mortality rate in the second wave of the pandemic, survival rate of elderly persons affected with Covid-19 in Sundargarh district appears encouraging. Sundargarh, one of the worst-hit districts in the second wave, has been reporting 500-850 Covid cases daily for the last one week. An elderly patient greeted by health staff while being discharged from hospital However, sources said many 70-90 year age group in the district are emerging victorious by showing strong willpower, positive attitude, discipline and obedience to the treatment protocol. Critically ill from Covid-19, noted dental surgeon Dr N Lall (95), suffering from many comorbidities, has surprised everyone by beating the virus. Eight days ago, another nonagenarian GS Nayaran (94) had valiantly fought the disease and come back hale and hearty. Dr Lalls recovery is nothing short of a miracle even for his son Dr P Lall, a renowned paediatrician of Rourkela. He said, At this age and with so many comorbidities like diabetes, chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease and emphysema, his recovery has set an example of sorts. Defeating the virus a week back, 94-year-old GS Nayaran, a retired employee of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), is undergoing post-Covid treatment at his home in Basanti Colony here. Son, GB Kumar (63) said his father developed fever and cough symptoms on May 9 and was admitted to JP Hospital the next day after he developed respiratory difficulty. Narayan was discharged after 10 days on May 19. Kumar said his father was not vaccinated yet but his disciplined lifestyle and positive attitude helped him triumph over the deadly virus. Treating doctors at JP Hospital said Narayans recovery reflects the power of a healthy mindset coupled with discipline and compliance to medical advice. In another case, Dr Anil Mahato (66) said by end of March his father-in-law Surendra Nath Mahato (90) tested positive and was asymptomatic. While Surendra Nath had only taken the first dose of vaccine, he recovered in a short span of time. According to statistics, the second wave of the Covid-19 is affecting younger people much more than the older population here, for varied reasons. Authorised Medical Officer for Covid-19 at Rourkela Dr S Kabi Satpathy said elderly persons account for 30 per cent of hospital admissions and their recovery rate is beyond 80 per cent in the second wave. Timely medical intervention, fighting power and discipline to treatment protocols are some of the factors, he said. Shobana Radhakrishnan By Express News Service MADURAI: Crematoria and burial grounds in Madurai could soon become hotspots of Covid-19. The citys two electric crematoriums, at Thathaneri and Moolakarai, have been receiving huge crowds of relatives of the deceased, sparking fears that Covid-19 would spread further due to the poor implementation of protocols, such as maintaining physical distance. While Thathaneri and Moolakarai have two electric cremation units each, to meet the demand, the Madurai Corporation is constructing two more units at Thathaneri. The new units are expected to be ready within a week. Sources at the crematorium say they receive at least 40 bodies daily, and it takes about an hour to carry out an electric cremation and more than four hours for a traditional pyre to burn out. As the case load is increasing day by day, relatives of the deceased are now issued tokens and told to wait. But the premises doesnt have basic amenities, such as drinking water, toilet facilities and a waiting hall. The place is not disinfected regularly, and on most days, there are huge crowds violating all the protocols. Its impossible to manage the crowd, as the people are grieving and are easily irked when we tell them to follow the rules, the sources add. In most cases, the cause of death is attributed to viral pneumonia, pneumonia and suspected Covid-19, in medical records. Less than five cases per day are officially-declared Covid-19 deaths. Social workers provide PPE kits, gloves and face shields to the family members to perform the last rites. Manikandan, a city-based social worker who runs a free burial service for the abandoned, suggests that the payment be digitised and manual entries computerised, as this would also ensure increased transparency. What the crematorium workers want To be categorised as frontline workers Regular health check-ups Free meals while at work Improvement of infrastructure Nirupama Viswanathan By Express News Service CHENNAI: While the Test Positivity Rate (TPR) in Chennai is on a downward trend, most recently at 8.8%, its neighbouring districts still have some work left to be done. Chengalpattu district officials told The New Indian Express that the TPR as recorded on Friday was 19.7% and health officials in Tiruvallur said that they were maintaining daily samples at around 9,000 which would bring its TPR to around 12% as on Saturday. Many of Chennai's suburban and peri-urban areas come under these districts. Another concern is that though the new Covid cases registered in these districts are on a decreasing trend, the deaths due to the virus remain the same or in some cases, higher when comparing two most recent seven-day blocks from May 16 to 22 and May 23 to 29. In Chengalpattu, when the number of new cases registered a decrease of 25.9% between these two time frames, the number of deaths remained the same. In Tiruvallur, when the number of cases registered decreased by 32%, deaths increased by 22.2%. Similarly in Kancheepuram, when the cases decreased by 17%, the deaths increased by 23.5%. The increase in mortality in these two districts were much higher when compared to Chennai where the deaths increased by 4.91% in the compared time frames. ALSO READ | Private hospital charges Rs 1 lakh for two days of Covid treatment in Madurai District officials in Tiruvallur said that the district administration and health officials were working to bring down deaths, along with the number of Covid 19 positive cases. We have six Covid care centres, two of which have been converted to Oxygen supported facilities, along with seven triaging centres. At the triaging centres, we have a colour coded card system where patients are issued green, yellow and red cards- for home quarantine (mild cases), covid care centre admission (moderate cases) and hospital admission for more severe cases, said a health official. We also have kiosk vehicles that collect swab samples from around 80 locations everyday so that no area is left uncovered, he added. The cases have come down in almost all areas including Poonamallee where a high number of cases used to be registered everyday, the official said. While health officials in Kancheepuram were not reachable for comment, Chengalpattu district officials said that the vaccination drives were reaching satisfactory numbers everyday and steps are being taken to increase awareness on vaccination. With higher vaccination numbers, we are already taking several measures for early detection of cases which will reduce the deaths, an official said. Antony Fernando By Express News Service NAGAPATTINAM: The 23 fishermen from the district who survived Cyclone Tauktaes fury in the Arabian Sea on May 15, returned home on Sunday. They have requested relief for the families of their nine missing colleagues whose boat, however, allegedly capsized. The fishermen who returned had set sail in the two deep-sea fishing boats, Rakesh - 1 and Rakesh - 2. They had a hard time making their return ever since the fateful day. We spent three days in the Lakshadweep islands, left from there on May 18 and searched the point where nine of our colleagues in Murugan Thunai called us for help for a couple of days. Then, we landed in Cochin on May 21. As our families had wanted to see us soon, we left Cochin for Rameswaram on May 23. We were stuck around Palk Bay from May 25 to May 28 due to heavy rains from Cyclone Yaas. We left Rameshwaram after the Bascule Bridge opened, and we finally got home, said S Ravichandran, the owner of Rakesh - 2. At least nine fishermen who were onboard Murugan Thunai are still missing. The deep-sea fishing boat allegedly capsized in the turbulent Arabian Sea from an approaching Cyclone Tauktae in the wee hours of May 15. Murugan Thunai was in the company of Rakesh - 1 and Rakesh - 2 till May 15 until the cyclone separated them. Murugan Thunai allegedly sustained catastrophic damages and drowned a few nautical miles before reaching Lakshadweep. Search operations to find the missing men are undergoing since then. The fishermen who landed in Nagapattinam alleged that they were made to wait in Palk Bay in rough weather by the Fisheries department until Pamban Bascule Bridge near Ramanathapuram was opened. It is the only route for vessels travelling towards south India and passing through Palk Strait. If the vessels cannot get through the Bascule, they have to turn back and circle Sri Lanka, which would translate to thousands of nautical miles. The Fisheries department said the Pamban Bascule Bridge could not be opened at will. The Centre controls the Bascule Bridges clearance, and multiple departments in the State and the Centre administer it. It opens only once a month. Thus, it took a couple of days to get special clearance for those two boats, an official said. We request the State government to provide adequate relief for the grieving families of the fishers on Murugan Thunai boat, said S Muthuvel, a crew member of Rakesh - 1, who reached Nagai. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Representatives of Joint Committee of Medical and Health Associations requested Finance Minister T Harish Rao to give Rs 1 crore compensation to families of health employees who died of Covid-19. They called on the Finance Minister here on Saturday. If any employee of the Medical and Health Department died of Covid-19, the eligible member of his/her family should be provided a government job within one month, they told Harish. They also urged the Minister to give 10 per cent Covid-19 incentive during the second wave too. Meanwhile, Harish came to the rescue of a woman and her son, who had been facing a tough time since they contracted Covid-19 recently. The woman, Yedama Ellavva, and her son, Parushuramulu, hail from Erravalli village in Siddipet. The Minister offered them financial assistance and supplied them a few essential items. By PTI JOHANNESBURG: South African politicians are calling for the resignation of health minister Zweli Mkhize for his alleged involvement in a multi-million-rand corruption scam involving a company run by three Indian-origin women. President Cyril Ramaphosa said he was waiting for the final report of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report before taking a call on the issue. Mkhize is accused of granting an irregular 150 million rands communication tender to Digital Vibes company. Mkhize, the public face of the government in the COVID-19 pandemic, has been widely hailed for his efforts and regular public statements on the status of the pandemic in the country. In some circles, he was even being touted as the prime candidate to be the next president of the country. But now his political future is in the balance after details of a deal with the company Digital Vibes, run by three South African Indian-origin women, two of them reportedly having worked closely with Mkhize during his 2017 bid to become President of the African National Congress (ANC). Ramaphosa was elected the president at that conference. The allegations include claims that Mkhize's family benefited from the tender awarded to Thera Mather and Naadhira Mitha. The weekly Sunday Times reported that Mather and Mitha have fallen out with Radha Hariram, the director of Digital Vibes, who has opened a case of fraud against the two. Although Mkhize has denied any benefit from the contract, reports have indicated that his son had been part of the work outsourced by the company. The Congress of the People (COPE) national spokesperson Dennis Bloem said the latest allegations against Mkhize were damning and he cannot be allowed to continue working as a minister and should be fired immediately as his reputation and integrity were now questionable. We reject the notion of what Mkhize called 'allegations of irregular and fruitless expenditure on the contract of Digital Vibes'. It is daylight corruption and in fact criminal charges must be laid against all who are involved, Bloem said. COPE reiterates our call to Ramaphosa to fire Mkhize and demonstrate to the country that he is serious about fighting corruption. We will not get tired of fighting against corruption. We will not rest until we see all the corrupt thieves behind bars, the spokesperson was quoted as saying by South African news website IOL. Mkhize's signature appears on contracts, which an independent investigation by financial auditors and tax consultants found to be irregular. Health department director-general Sandile Buthelezi told the Sunday Times it was a practice in the department for the minister to sign a submission after a contract has been approved by the accounting officer. Hariram's lawyer, Sumen Pillay, confirmed that his client had brought fraud charges against Mather and Mitha. I cannot disclose more . . . because the matter is at a sensitive stage in terms of investigation and in terms of co-operation with the authorities. Charges have been laid and are being investigated by the police," Pillay said. A police source told said Hariram had trusted her two colleagues with her passwords to conduct work while she was ill. Hariram later discovered alleged "unlawful transactions", and a forensic team traced disbursements made to Mather and Mitha's families without her knowledge. Mather, who was reported to be very close to Mkhize's family, could not be reached for a comment. PTI FH MRJ 05301824 NNNN By PTI COLOMBO: Sri Lankan Navy said on Sunday that 40 people aboard four Indian fishing boats allegedly tried to enter into the country's waters, but were sent back to India. "The Navy was able to prevent 40 individuals aboard 4 Indian fishing vessels, from their attempt to enter into Sri Lankan waters on 29th May 2021, it said in a press release. The group was sent back to their home waters along with their fishing vessels, it added. It said the Navy has stepped up security in the island's waters by increasing 24-hour patrols, "as there is a risk of the surge in the transmission of COVID-19 pandemic in the country due to attempts made by foreigners to arrive into the island via sea routes". Fishermen from both countries are arrested frequently for inadvertently trespassing into each other's waters. By AFP RIO DE JANEIRO: Tens of thousands of people in Brazil staged another day of protest against President Jair Bolsonaro, in particular for his chaotic handling of the pandemic, which has claimed more than 461,000 lives here. In downtown Rio de Janeiro, some 10,000 people wearing masks marched through the streets, with some chanting "Bolsonaro genocide" or "Go away Bolsovirus." Similar rallies were held in other major cities, the latest in a wave of anger against Bolsonaro that began months ago. After the United States, Brazil has the world's second highest coronavirus death toll. At the outset of the pandemic, the far right Bolsonaro dismissed Covid-19 as "a little flu" and as the death toll has risen steadily he has gone on to infuriate people in other ways, opposing stay-at-home measures and masks, touting ineffective medications, refusing offers of vaccines, and failing to anticipate oxygen shortages that left patients to suffocate. One of the themes of the rally Saturday was how many lives might have been saved if the Bolsonaro government had started Brazil's vaccination drive earlier. The drive is going slowly and has sputtered frequently for lack of supplies. "We must stop this government. We must say 'enough is enough,'" businessman Omar Silveira told AFP at the Rio rally. Of Bolsonaro, he said: "He is a murderer, a psychopath. He has no feelings. He does not feel, as we do. He cannot perceive the disaster that he is causing." Demonstrators also assailed Bolsonaro for allowing deforestation of the Amazon and land seizures from indigenous people, and said he encourages violence and racism. Rallies were held Saturday in other major cities such as the capital Brasilia, Salvador in the northeast and Belo Horizonte in the southeast. In the northeastern city of Recife, police firing tear gas and rubber bullets dispersed a street rally, said the news website G1. Brasilia saw its largest rally since the start of the pandemic as people marched on Congress, where a senate commission is investigating Bolsonaro's handling of the health crisis. The past two weekends supporters of Bolsonaro held demonstrations in support of him -- and at his request -- as his approval rating plummeted to a record low of 24 percent, according to a poll by Datafolha. Around 49 percent of those questioned favor Bolsonaro being removed from office while 46 percent are opposed, this pollster said. By PTI HOUSTON: A hospital in the US has been sued by over 100 staffers for turning them into COVID-19 vaccine guinea pigs by mandating them to get the shot. The plaintiffs filed suit against Houston Methodist Hospital Friday, the latest group of workers to challenge mandatory inoculations at essential workplaces. Attorney Jared Woodfill said he is representing 117 workers. The lawsuit states that for the first time in US history, an employer is forcing its employees to be vaccinated with an experimental COVID-19 mRNA gene modification injection or be fired. The lawsuit cited that the US Food and Drug Administration issued its first emergency use authorization for COVID-19 in December 2020, but the vaccines are awaiting full FDA approval and licensing, which will likely take months for the agency to review additional data. The complaint cited that forcing employees to get the vaccine violates Nuremberg Code, a medical ethics code that bans forced medical experiments and mandates voluntary consent. Methodist Hospital is forcing its employees to be human 'guinea pigs' as a condition for continued employment, the lawsuit states. Woodfill said that employees should have freedom of choice to take the vaccine without force, deceit, fraud, threat, solicitation, or any type of binding or coercion." Hospital CEO Dr Marc Boom sent out a letter in April to staffers announcing that employees have to be vaccinated by June 7. "Please see the HR policy that outlines the consequences of not being compliant by June 7, which include suspension and eventually termination," the letter, which was included in the lawsuit, stated. Woodfill told ABC News that Houston Methodist is forcing employees to get the shot to boost the hospital's profits. The lawsuit says forcing the plaintiffs to take the vaccine violates public policy in Texas and requests a temporary injunction to prevent the hospital from terminating employees for refusing to get a vaccine shot. Help support your local hometown newspaper/website. Independent local news reporting matters. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription, for as little as $3, so we can continue to provide independent local reporting on our communities. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) At San Francisco's waterfront, the sea lions are attracting a steady stream of tourists. In Santa Monica, the parking lot to the beach and amusement park quickly filled up. Meanwhile, many campgrounds, restaurants and hotels say they're fully booked. Some business owners say they have more customers than they know what to do with. Five months ago, we were trying to squeeze water out of rocks, Hunt Bailie, owner of Sonoma Adventures bike rentals and tours in Sonoma, told the Press Democrat of Santa Rosa. Now were drinking out of a fire hydrant. Californians are celebrating the sunny Memorial Day weekend more upbeat than they have been for any other holiday since the pandemic began, thanks to dramatically lower virus cases and increasing vaccinations. About 90% of the state population is in the lower two of four tiers that restrict business operations and other activities. By June 15, California will end the tier system and relax social distancing and masking rules. Many tourist attractions say they're already swamped. Its not over yet but were getting busier and busier, said Kenneth Hansel, manager of the Fog Harbor Fish House restaurant on San Francisco's Pier 39. Every time we reopen, we've been profitable a month later. That tells you we're going to be really busy in the months ahead." Businesses in wine country either have their reservation lists filled or they are anticipating a big holiday crowd. Crista Luedtke, owner of a hotel and spa and three restaurants in Guerneville, told the Press-Democrat she has had to limit the number of nights her eateries are open because she can't find enough people to work. Now that the restrictions have lifted, people are anxious to get out, she said. California was the first state to issue a statewide shutdown as the virus emerged in March 2020 and it was the nations epicenter for the disease at the start of 2021. More than 61,000 people have died from the virus in California, the most in any state in the nation. On some recent days, newly reported infections in California have fallen below 1,000 and there are currently just over 1,300 people hospitalized with the virus. The states positivity rate is just 1%. Lifting restrictions will inevitably result in some increased transmissions, but health officials say the health care system should be able to handle them. Dr. Mark Ghaly, the secretary of California Health and Human Services, said health officials will continue tracking whether virus mutations start breaking through vaccinations, which he said could mean renewed health measures. STRATFORD The town is on the lookout for a developer interested in the former Contract Plating property on Longbrook Avenue. Millions of dollars in grants have been used to clean up the 10-acre site across the Metro-North tracks from Home Depot and Wal-Mart. But nearly $2 million is still needed to complete the job and the town recently got word that it wont be receiving a $500,000 Environmental Protection Agency grant for which it had applied to help fund the work. Environmental Conservation Superintendent Kelly Kerrigan told members of the towns Redevelopment Agency last week that officials have their fingers crossed for a $973,000 grant from the states Department of Economic Community Development. The $973,000 represents the maximum allowable amount each site is eligible for up to $4 million in grant funding, Kerrigan explained and the town has received the balance for past cleanup activities. The site was originally developed around 1918 by the Bridgeport Motor Company, a truck assembly and repair business, according to an engineering report on the property. Contract Plating operated at the property from about 1936 to 1995 for metal finishing, electroplating and anodizing. The blighted former factory was demolished in October 2015. At the time, officials estimated the town could begin marketing the property in earnest within three months, once demolition and cleanup were done. Its obviously taken a bit more time and money. The propertys location, according to its application to the EPA, is a blank slate that will make an ideal property for a variety of business types. It also also abuts the former Raybestos Memorial Field, which is being used to collect waste formerly associated with Raymark Industries. To make access easier, the EPA built a road over the Contract Plating property that will be a permanent feature that will be incorporated into future site re-development. Redevelopment Agency member Randy Vidal wondered what the next steps would be now that the EPA rejected the application. Are we at a dead end? he said. We can still sell the property, Kerrigan said. Theres just going to be some remaining cleanup that wed have to negotiate, whos going to handle what, whos going to pay for it and all of that. She said town officials will learn more about why they missed out on the EPA money at a debriefing this summer. The UConn-based Connecticut Brownfields Initiative helped with the grant application, and through back channels learned that the towns request came up just slightly short in the evaluation process, according to Kerrigan. They were all really great applications, we just barely missed the cut, she said. One thing the experts did note, she said: The town has no private partner interested in redeveloping the property. They did mention it would be helpful to have a developer on board, Kerrigan said. I think that helps sell the story a little bit. Kerrigan echoed those sentiments later in the week. We are seeking developers for this property, and will be doing so more formally in some fashion in the near-term, she said in an email Wednesday. So, if you know any interested purchasers, please send them our way! TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Republican legislators have hatched a plan for returning the Kansas Statehouse's meditation room to its original spot after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly moved it to create more space for her staff. Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, outlined the proposal this week during a meeting of top lawmakers. A decision is likely later this year. Free access for current print subscribers As a home delivery subscriber, you get free unlimited digital access to news-daily.com including stories, photos, obituaries, e-edition and more on your computer, tablet or phone. All you need is your print subscription account number and your last name. Don't know your subscription number? Email access@news-daily.com with your delivery address. Activate your account now. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 69F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Lifeline, Inc. has concluded its 2021 tax season with its best results ever, according to the agencys administration. Actor Vivek Anand Obero Actor Vivek Anand Oberoi on Saturday announced his plans to provide food for over 3,000 underprivileged children who are battling cancer. The actor added that he plans to reach out to more children within the next three months. In a long video message he posted on Instagram, Vivek Oberoi also urged people to contribute as much as can, adding that a contribution of just Rs 1,000 could go into providing an entire month's food to a child fighting cancer. "Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA)'s 52-year-old holistic approach towards cancer care has always looked beyond just the treatment. It aims to save the lives of those who cannot afford treatments. Thousands of patients and their families have benefited from CPAA's Food Bank so far. We are building a fund to sustain this meal program for the next three months. We cannot do this alone, and that is why we need your help. A small contribution of Rs 1,000 can ensure food for one patient for an entire month." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vivek Oberoi (@vivekoberoi) Longview, TX (75601) Today Scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially during the evening. Low near 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially during the evening. Low near 75F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. Donna M. Seifried, 78, passed away on Friday, June 11, 2021, at her home surrounded by family. She was a receptionist at Price Waterhouse Coopers, a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and a native of Salina, KS. She is survived by her husband William "Bill" Seifried of Jeffersonville, I (Newser) A Texas hospital where some 99 percent of employees have been vaccinated against COVID-19 is being sued for requiring workers get the jabs. Per ABC News, Houston Methodist Hospital is being sued by 117 employees who argue the hospital system is "illegally requiring its employees to be injected with an experimental vaccine as a condition of employment." The hospital system has given its 26,000 employees until June 7 to get vaccinated or risk suspension or termination, per the suit. story continues below Per The Hill, Houston Methodist was the first health system in the country to issue such a mandate. Attorney for the plaintiffs Jared Woodfill told ABC News the mandate is less about worker and patient safety and more about profits "at the expense of other health care providers and their employees' health." the complaint also falsely asserts the mRNA vaccines like those from Moderna and Pfizer are experimental. Houston Methodist maintained in a statement that the vaccines are safe and said it is offering "religious and medical exemptions, as well as deferrals for pregnant women." (Read more coronavirus vaccine stories.) (Newser) As it becomes clearer just how extensively the San Jose shooter prepared for his deadly rampage, authorities have revealed some of what they found in his Bay Area home. Per the BBC, Samuel Cassidy had 12 firearms, over 20 cans of gasoline, and some 25,000 rounds of ammo, and what they believe were Molotov cocktails. "Based on current evidence... it is clear that this was a planned event and the suspect was prepared to use his firearms to take as many lives as he possibly could," the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. On Wednesday, 57-year-old Cassidy opened fire at the rail yard where he worked, killing nine before turning a gun on himself. It was the deadliest shooting in the Bay Area since 1993. story continues below Prior to the shooting, authorities believe Cassidy tried to destroy his home by cramming ammo into a pot on the stove, placing accelerants around the pot, then turning on the stove, reports CNN. While the home was damaged, it was not destroyed and officials gave the all-clear to neighbors to enter their homes. Police have said the investigation is ongoing and have not released a motive, but witnesses told authorities Cassidy told at least one person Im not going to shoot you during his assault, leading them to believe he had targets in mind. the Department of Homeland Security confirmed Thursday that Cassidy had been found to have books on terrorism and writings saying he hated the VTA when he was stopped by US Customs agents in 2016, per the Wall Street Journal. (Read more mass shootings stories.) (Newser) A man has been arrested in connection with a body found in a duffel bag. Brett Puett is being held on charges of murder, abandonment, and concealment of a dead body, and fraudulent schemes and artifices, CNN reports. Puett admitted he was involved in the killing, police in Kingman, Arizona, say. The body in question, found in a storage locker last week, is believed to be Debra Childers, 64. Childers son reported her missing May 12 after not hearing from her in months. Police say its likely she was killed in November, ABC News reports. Puett also admitted to driving Childers vehicle and making withdrawals from her bank account, police say. story continues below Puett and Childers knew each other, having met last summer while living in their cars. The Kingman police say Childers was killed while sharing a motel room with Puett, 35. After Childers was reported missing, police discovered Puett using her car and money, and searched her storage units, finding a body, but medical examiners have not yet confirmed the identity. (Read more Arizona stories.) (Newser) The Book of Revelation warns that anyone who takes it upon themselves to add text to the Bible will be punished. Hugh Kirkpatrick is undeterred. His new publishing project will combine the words of the Bible, the US Constitution, and Lee Greenwood. The God Bless the USA Bible is scheduled to hit bookshelves in September, about the time of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Washington Post reports. HarperCollins Christian Publishing turned down the job, but Kirkpatrick said he has other options, per the Tennessean. "The project is going to happen," he said. About 600 preorders have been placed for the $49.99 edition, he said, which will have between its covers the texts of the King James Version of the Bible, the Bill of Rights, Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the chorus of Greenwood's hit "God Bless the USA." story continues below Kirkpatrick said his goal is national unity, but that's been elusive so far. Some find the combination of texts blasphemous or sacrilegious. The marketer said there will be separation pages between documents, which an online petition called a "toxic mix." A Georgetown professor sees the project as a reflection of Christian nationalism. A DC pastor says the edition is the product of nationalism overtaking scripture. Such specialty Bibles linking the nation's founding with God's actions tend to go easy on America's transgressions, a religion historian said. But they sell. "It's not as much a theological calculation as much as it is an economic one," Aaron Griffith said. Several HarperCollins authors welcomed the decision by their publisher. "We dont need to add anything to the Bible," they said. "We just need to live out what it already says." (Read more Bible stories.) (Newser) Opposition parties in Israel announced Sunday that they have assembled enough support to form a unity government and replace longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The negotiations have gone on for weeks, the Washington Post reports. Netanyahu has failed to decisively win four elections in the past two years. "We could go to fifth elections, sixth elections, until our home falls upon us, or we could stop the madness and take responsibility," Naftali Bennett, a defense minister under Netanyahu who would lead the government, said in a televised statement Sunday. "Today, I would like to announce that I intend to join my friend Yair Lapid in forming a unity government." Lapid is a centrist who has led the power-sharing negotiations. story continues below Bennett and Lapid have until Wednesday to wrap up their deal, which would give each two years as prime minister, per the AP. The change coalition includes parties with a range of political views, but all agree on replacing Netanyahu, who's been trying to head off his removalespecially while he's on trial on corruption charges. He made counteroffers, including a three-way rotation of the job, but was rejected. Criticism of the prime minister has included his handling of the fighting between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, now paused by a cease-fire. "With the best intelligence and air force in the world, Netanyahu managed to extract from Hamas an 'unconditional cease-fire,'" said Gideon Saar, like Bennett a former Netanyahu ally now signed on to the change coalition. "Embarrassing." (Read more Benjamin Netanyahu stories.) The Congress on Saturday accused BJP MP Tejasvi Surya and his uncle Ravi Subramanya of making profits by being involved in an alleged vaccine commission scam in Karnataka during the second Covid wave that has struck the country hard. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera claimed that the Basavanagudi MLA Subramanya has been asking Bengaluru residents to get vaccinated at a particular private hospital and also referred to leaked audio clips, where the supervisor of the hospital purportedly tells a man that the price of Covid vaccine cannot be less than Rs 900 as they have to give Rs 700 to Subramanya per dose from this money. Addressing a press conference here, Khera said, "Today, some audio recording were leaked in the local media of Karnataka, where Subramanya, third term MLA and real uncle of Tejasvi Surya, who is also the national president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, where in those audio recordings, supervisor of a private hospital clearly tells member of the public that per vaccination he will have to pay Rs 900, not a penny less." The Congress leader said that the supervisor also tells on telephone that Rs 700 of this Rs 900 have to be given to Subramanya. "These are shocking startling revelations. It is like getting caught red handed. This is a private hospital. There is a background to this, very revealing background to this, which seals the entire case, makes it an open and shut case. What is that background? Earlier this week, Surya had advertised his own picture along with this hospital, which there are nursing homes also attached exhorting people to get vaccinated from this hospital, where his hoardings, banners are displayed, where in the price per vaccination, which is Rs 900 is also mentioned," he said. Khera said that the name of this private hospital was also mentioned, the name and photograph of the BJP MP is also there. Firing salvos at the government, the Congress leader said, "We want to know how vaccines are available at this private hospital when they are not available in government hospitals for common people? Who is responsible for this? How are they (BJP leaders) getting vaccines?" Khera also demanded that an FIR should be lodged against Surya. "This is cash for vaccines. The membership of Surya from the parliament should be ended with immediately. We owe to the people of Karnataka, the membership from the Karnataka Assembly of Subramanya, should be ended right now, we owe to the people of Karnataka. If you want to save lives of people of Karnataka, this is hardly any sacrifice for you Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is the least you can do," he said. Head of the Auckland Business Chamber Michael Barnett also features in the documentary where he is grilled about China's treatment of the Uighur people. Barnett said it is a "China issue" and characterises New Zealand's relationship with the nation as "friends with benefits". After the promo video was released Barnett accused Steinfort of trying to push an agenda. The documentary also features David Babich from Babich Wines speaking about his reliance on the Chinese market and an Australian vineyard owner who says while the tariffs have had crippling consequences, speaking out against China is the right thing to do. It also criticises New Zealand for its decision not to sign up to Five Eyes statements calling out human rights abuses in China. Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta previously defended the decision saying New Zealand was "uncomfortable" with expanding the remit of the intelligence-sharing partnership to comment on issues broader than those relating to security. New Zealand has raised concerns independently and in joint statements with Australia on the issue and others. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Malcolm Davis criticised this decision in the documentary, saying it hadn't been thought through. "I was disappointed because I think it is an important document to sign, there are clearly gross human rights abuses occurring in Xinjiang against Uighurs. "Let's be clear we are talking about concentration camps here and I think New Zealand did make an error in judgment in not signing the document." Davis said the more countries that are reliant on China via trade, the more power it gets. He also suggested New Zealand's independent statements were a recognition that not signing the Five Eyes document was an error. "I do think that New Zealand has recovered some of the lost ground there," he said. The documentary also raises issues with the Prime Minister's careful word choice when it comes to China. However, Jacinda Ardern rejected the accusation that she had "gone soft on China" or "had to sometimes bite her tongue". "I reject the premise of the question. The idea that we do anything other than stand up strongly for our views and our values and our independent forging policy. I completely reject the notion that we have gone 'soft'." China's state-affiliated news source Global Times responded to the documentary calling it another attempt from Australia to pressure New Zealand. "The NZ govt strives to stay independent and sober-headed, while Australia cozies up the US and earned the label of "deputy sheriff" in South Pacific," the media outlet claimed. Social media reaction to the documentary was mixed. One person accused New Zealand of selling its soul and betraying our ANZAC friendship. "So much for our ANZAC friends across the ditch....selling their soul and loosing respect from me personally (sic).....not that it will change anything....but you must have morals to walk with your head high....!!! Shame they sell out for money." While another suggested New Zealand was thinking about the big picture while Australia wasn't. "NZ is thinking about the bigger picture and being calm about it, u catch more with honey than a stick, and frankly China has the power to easily squash us and NZ in an instant! Yes U.S. will help but the damage (possibly of peoples lives) would have already been done! Or another way to look at it, NZ is doing what it needs to to care are survive! The whole country! (sic)?" Earlier in May, New Zealand politicians expressed grave concern about severe human rights abuses occurring in the north-western Chinese province of Xinjiang. A large number of reports have emerged in recent years suggesting the Uighur population is subject to torture, brainwashing and sterilisation. Despite China denying the abuses, some countries have declared acts of genocide are occurring but New Zealand didn't go as far as labelling it genocide. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has responded to 60 Minutes Australia's controversial exploration of New Zealand's relationship with China, rejecting its framing as a "perception issue" rather than "reality". The episode, which aired on Sunday night, put New Zealand's alliance with China under the spotlight after months of debate regarding Aotearoa's position on the latter's alleged human rights abuses. There has been speculation that the Government is remaining quiet in order to protect its $33 billion two-way trade partnership with the economic powerhouse, while Australia - a nation that has publicly condemned China's reported breaches - struggles with retaliatory trade tariffs imposed by Beijing. Last week, an incendiary promotional video teased the episode as an expose into "New Xi-Land's" activities - referencing Xi Jinping, the President of the People's Republic of China - alongside the tagline: "We thought they were our best friends, but it looks like they've ditched us for a fast Chinese buck." An Australian journalist has come in blazing against New Zealand's attitude to China, saying Aotearoa needs to "grow up". Jason Morrison, The AM Show's Australian correspondent, told Duncan Garner on Monday Australia and New Zealand must unite when it comes to "the China issue". "There should be nothing between us," he said. "This is important and it's important to our nation's future." The conversation comes as New Zealand faces increasing criticism for its relationship with China, as other nations - Australia included, continue to stand up to China. "New Zealand needs to get over the notion that China is its friend," Morrison said. "China is not its friend, China is its customer and that's how it should be treated, that's how it should remain and that's how Australia is treating it." New Zealand trades heavily with China, with 29 percent of its export revenue dependent on it. This heavy reliance has led Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to tread gingerly when it comes to political issues between the two countries. There was a backlash last year when New Zealand did not join the other Five Eyes members' statement condemning China's approach to Hong Kong. New Zealand said it was reluctant to expand the Five Eyes' brief beyond intelligence sharing; commentary from within other member countries questioned this country's commitment to the longstanding alliance, suggesting it was foregoing past loyalties for the sake of keeping China happy. Not so, insists New Zealand, arguing it takes a stand against China when it sees fit, but will do that in a way of its own choosing. Morrison and Ardern are in Queenstown for the annual trans-Tasman leaders' meeting; the significance is not just diplomatic, but showing off to the world what both countries have achieved in their battle against COVID-19. At a function for business and community leaders at the Skyline last night, both leaders talked up the success of their campaigns in their opening remarks. The comments were generally light hearted, but Ardern made a notable remark - while not naming China that is clearly where it was aimed. "In this increasingly complex geo-strategic environment, family is incredibly important, and Australia, you are our family," Ardern said. "And so I can't imagine a more important time for us to just continue to build and strengthen those ties." Back to the question from the Australian reporter - in response, Morrison said this was an annual, regular trip. "And we work through the issues that are part of that very successful partnership, particularly whether it's the economic partnership or the security partnership." This was "another opportunity to reinforce our commitment to the security interests of the region and security interests of our bilateral partnership and to advance our economic co-operation for our mutual prosperity and for jobs", he said. Ardern talked about how regularly they had been in contact over the past year, through calls and texts; often, she thought, having "more contact than I perhaps had with my mother during that time". However, there have been some major bumps along the way. There have been times when Ardern has been scathing about Australia and Morrison: commenting publicly about the "corrosive" 501 deportation policy and the position in which New Zealand was left when Australia stripped terror suspect Suhayra Aden of her citizenship. However, the private lines of communications are obviously open and there was plenty of warmth on display between the two leaders yesterday. All eyes today will be on how both leaders position themselves on China in the bi-lateral context, and how far they will go when talking about the impact on the relationship. RNZ While the China issue has dominated most of Mahuta's interviews, the analysis found that the Minister's tweets and public statements are much more wide-ranging. In particular, Twitter has been the only source of public comment by the minister on many issues, including the arrest of Russian dissident Alexey Navalny, the conflict in Ethiopia's Tigray Region and the ongoing post-election crisis in Belarus. Mahuta's first public response on Belarus a crisis that began with post-election protests last August came on Monday, when she tweeted her response to the forced landing of a Ryanair jet in Minsk. Mahuta wrote that the plane incident and the detention of dissident Roman Protasevich 'raise[d] serious issues of international law' and called for a 'full investigation'. The Minister's response to the Belarus crisis was interesting for several reasons. At first blush the comments appeared notably softer than ones made by other Five Eyes partners. These included a tweet earlier the same day from Mahuta's Australian counterpart, Marise Payne, who had used the much harsher phrase of "strongly condemns". Second, it seemed curious that the tweet was not accompanied by any stronger action. Nine months after Lukashenko's regime had begun its crackdown, New Zealand had still not announced any sanctions on Belarus. This apparent reluctance not only contrasted starkly with New Zealand's estern Western partners, it also stood out compared to Mahuta's own swift actions taken against Myanmar after the military coup there in February, for example. Was this part of any larger New Zealand plan to avoid upsetting Belarus's main ally, Russia? Or was it simply that Belarus was perceived to be a distant conflict, with a lack of direct relevance to New Zealand? This position might be plausible especially given the escalation around the same time of a post-election crisis in much closer-to-home Samoa. The truth turned out to be even more curious. In response to written questions, Mahuta's spokesperson explained that Cabinet had in fact agreed to impose a travel ban on "specific individuals associated with the Alexander Lukashenko regime". Moreover, Mahuta's office revealed that New Zealand had also suspended all "high-level bilateral, political and military contact' with Belarus. Neither decision appears to have been officially announced. Perhaps they still will be at a later date. But another possibility is that Mahuta realised that with New Zealand having virtually no official contact with Belarus in the first place, the punishments were so symbolic that they bordered on being meaningless. Morrison knows all about it with 6.5 million people locked down in Victoria, and with the bubble, every Aussie outbreak is now a scare here too. But for Queenstown, his visit is a publicity coup. "Pretty special for us, for a community that's been suffering, as our community has," says Queenstown Mayor Jim Boult. Although Morrison and his posse have returned negative COVID tests, the Australian Prime Minister was in Melbourne just 10 days ago. But Boult doesn't have any concerns about that. "I trust the health officials to ensure that's all sorted, beyond my control obviously, but I'm comfortable with it," he says. Especially as the flurries of excitement grow with the early snow flurries ahead of the ski season. "Those concerns [that Morrison and his delegation will bring COVID-19 with them] are always there, I think, with everybody," says Ross Lawrence, Remarkables Ski Area manager. "It's great to know he's vaccinated and he's gone through all the regime to be able to come to New Zealand. I think we've gotta put a bit of trust in the system which we'll see more of over time." With so much on offer for tourists in Queenstown, the high-profile visit isn't exactly the hottest ticket in town. People in Queenstown Newshub spoke to didn't know who Morrison was, let alone the fact he was in New Zealand. "I don't know Scott Morrison, sorry," one says. "No idea who that is sorry," another adds. For some New Zealanders, his trip is simply not worth the risk, or there's the perceived double standard since Kiwis are trapped in the Victoria lockdown. "What makes him any more special than our own family members? If we're all about protecting ourselves. It just doesn't feel right," one person says. There's plenty that isn't right with our trans-Tasman bestie at the moment. Like the last time Ardern and Morrison met, 501 deportees are at the front of mind. Also on the agenda is Australia's revoking of Suhayra Aden's citizenship - the woman with alleged links to Islamic State. There are also allegations New Zealand is cosying up to China at the expense of its relationship with Australia - concerns made abundantly clear by 60 Minutes Australia. Should Australias Prime Minister accept an offer from New Zealand to let refugees trapped in offshore detention centres resettle here? Its a topic that surely came up during the Australian leaders talks with our PM this weekend and its got the attention of some other big names too. Former All Black Sonny Bill Williams and former Soccarroo Craig Foster spoke to The AM Show. Watch the video. Damian McKenzie's red-card tackle against the Queensland Reds leaves the talented playmaker in danger of missing the opening test of the 2021 All Blacks season. The Chiefs No.10 was marched on Saturday night for a dangerous tackle on Reds halfback Tate McDermott in the 22nd minute of their 40-34 Super Rugby Trans-Tasman loss in Townsville. McKenzie's shoulder made direct contact with the chin of McDermott, leaving referee Nick Berry no choice but to march the 26-year-old. Germany offers its citizens at least one free coronavirus test per week, with several federal states providing one free test a day. The state pays 18 euros (NZ$30) per test. As a result, private test centres have been set up en masse in recent weeks. Some coronavirus test centres have been charging for more tests than they have carried out, daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung and broadcaster ARD reported this week. UK Britain reported 3240 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, a drop from 3398 cases the previous day, and six deaths within 28 days of a positive test compared with seven on Saturday. The total number of people who had received the first dose of a vaccine increased to 39,259,168, Public Health England said Italy Italy reported 44 coronavirus-related deaths on Sunday, down from 83 the day before and the lowest figure since mid-October, while the daily tally of new infections also dropped to 2949 from 3351, the health ministry said. Italy has registered 126,046 deaths linked to COVID-19 since its outbreak in February last year, the second-highest toll in Europe after Britain and the seventh-highest in the world. The country has reported 4.216 million cases to date. The number of deaths is often lower on a Sunday but the latest figure confirms a declining trend. People reported dead due to COVID-19 stood at 72 last Sunday and 93 a week before that, down from 139 on Sunday, May 9. The number of patients in hospital with COVID-19 - not including those in intensive care - totalled 6591 on Sunday, down from 6800 a day earlier. There were 27 new admissions to intensive care units, little changed from 29 on Saturday. The total number of intensive care patients stood at 1061 from 1095. France France reported the number of people in intensive care units with COVID-19 fell by 35 to 2993 on Sunday, while the overall number of people in hospital with the disease fell by 72 to 16,775. Both numbers have been on a downward trend in recent weeks. The number of people in intensive care units was below 3000 for the first time since January 24. While reporting 8541 new cases, the health ministry also announced 44 new coronavirus deaths in hospitals and said there had been 150,026 COVID-19 vaccine injections over the past 24 hours. Asia-Pacific Taiwan Taiwan's government has signed deals with two local companies to provide up to 20 million doses of their COVID-19 vaccines, the official Central News Agency said on Sunday, in a boost to the island's pandemic fight. The news comes days after the Chinese-claimed island blamed Beijing for blocking a deal earlier this year for BioNTech SE vaccines, which China denies. After recording just a handful of daily infections for months, Taiwan is dealing with relatively large numbers of community transmissions, though infection rates are starting to fall. It has only vaccinated around 1 percent of its more than 23 million people but has almost 30 million shots on order, from AstraZeneca Plc, Moderna Inc and two domestic firms. The Central News Agency said the government had on Friday signed deals with Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp and United Biomedical Inc for five million doses each, and had oral agreements for another five million each, for a total of 20 million shots. Medigen confirmed the details in a statement to the stock exchange while the government's central epidemic command centre said it would issue a statement later. United Biomedical did not immediately respond to a request for comment. However, neither shot has yet been formally approved for use and both are still undergoing tests, which Taiwan's government says are going well. Vietnam Vietnam's business hub Ho Chi Minh City will begin social distancing measures for 15 days starting from May 31 in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19, the government said on Sunday. The city has seen a rise in cases related to a religious mission that has recorded at least 125 positive tests, accounting for most of the city's infections, according to a government statement. After successfully containing the virus for most of last year, infections in Vietnam have risen since late April, accounting for more than half of the total 7107 registered cases among its population of 98 million. It still has one of the world's lowest cases, with a total of 47 deaths so far and authorities seem determined to keep it that way. Africa and the Middle East Egypt Egypt will lift restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus, including easing the early closure of shops and restaurants, from Tuesday, the cabinet said. Since May 6, stores, malls and restaurants had to close by 9 p.m. after a rise in infections. Egypt imposed strict measures at the start of the pandemic, closing its airspace and setting nightly curfews to combat the spread of the virus, but it has remained largely open since June 2020. As part of its efforts to save the tourism sector, it completed vaccinating workers in all hotels in Southern Sinai and Red Sea provinces and plans to vaccinate all residents of the two resorts of Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheik, the cabinet said on Sunday. South Africa South Africa has extended its nightly curfew and limited the number of people at gatherings to slow the spread of COVID-19 as positive cases surge, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday. The level two lockdown restrictions will start on Monday, forcing non-essential establishments like restaurants, bars and fitness centres to close by 2200 local time (2000 GMT) as the curfew will now start at 2300 from midnight and end at 0400, Ramaphosa said in an address to the nation. All gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 100 people indoors from 250 and 250 people outdoors from 500. Where the venue is too small to accommodate these numbers, no more than 50 percent of the capacity of the venue may be used. Ramaphosa said according to the country's health experts, the recent surge in new infections is due to the increasing number of social gatherings where people are not observing essential health protocols. Kenya Kenya has extended its nightly curfew by 60 days to slow the spread of COVID-19, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday. The move followed a decision by President Uhuru Kenyatta in late March to extend the 10 p.m to 4 a.m. curfew. A ban on political gatherings and processions that could turn into super spreader events was also extended for 60 days, as was a prohibition on overnight events and vigils, the ministry said. When the first coronavirus cases were confirmed in Kenya in March 2020, the government closed schools, imposed a curfew, banned public gatherings and on multiple occasions restricted movement in and out of the most-affected regions. Some restrictions, such as on schools, were eventually relaxed. The ban on public gatherings and processions and overnight meetings will stay in force, the ministry said. Kenya has recorded 170,485 cases and 3141 deaths, Ministry of Health data showed on Saturday, with a positivity rate of 8.9 percent. COVID-19 vaccinations began on March 5 and so far 968,733 people have received their first dose. Reuters Victoria has recorded five new cases of COVID-19 in the community and one in managed isolation on Sunday. The update on Sunday brings the total number of active cases to 49. In the past 24 hours, 17,702 vaccine doses were administered and 45,301 tests were undertaken, the Victorian government's health department said. Nikita Kaul, wife of Major Vibhuti Shankar Dhoundiyal, who sacrificed his life in the Pulwama attack in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, has donned the olive green to continue the legacy of her husband. On Saturday, Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Y.K. Joshi pipped the stars on her shoulders. She had passed out of the Officers Training Academy on May 26, this year. On Saturday she was formally commissioned into the Indian Army. She will be joining the force as Lieutenant. Udhampur-based Defence PRO said in a tweet, "#MajVibhutiShankarDhoundiyal, made the Supreme Sacrifice at #Pulwama in 2019, was awarded SC (P). Today his wife @Nitikakaul dons #IndianArmy uniform; paying him a befitting tribute. A proud moment for her as Lt Gen Y K Joshi, #ArmyCdrNC himself pips the Stars on her shoulders!". In 2019, Major Dhoundiyal posted with 55 Rashtriya Rifles, sacrificed his life in the Pulwama attack. He was killed during a gun battle with Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists just days after a car bomb attack in Pulwama killed 40 paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force personnel. Major Dhoundiyal was married for just nine months before his demise. Thereafter Nikita Kaul made the inspiring decision to join the Indian Army leaving her corporate job. Just six months after her husband's death, Nikita filled the Short Service Commission (SSC) form. She cleared the exam and the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview as well. She went at Officers Training Academy (OTA) at Chennai for her training. She left her corporate job to join the Indian Army and in 2020 she passed the Short Service Commission (SSC) examination and the Services Selection Board (SSB) interview. Back then she had stated, "I took my own time to recover from the major loss and the decision to sit for the Short Service Commission examination happened gradually. Just filling the form in September last year was a big decision. But I had decided that I want to walk on a similar path like my husband." Egypt's foreign minister stressed during a meeting with his Israeli counterpart on Sunday the need to build on a truce between Israel and Hamas by stopping all practices that lead to escalation, the Foreign Ministry said. Egypt helped broker the May 21 truce to halt the worst fighting in years between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group that rules Gaza, and is working with the United States and regional partners to expand it into a more permanent ceasefire. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed in his meeting with Gabi Ashkenazi in Cairo "the need to take into account the special sensitivity associated with East Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque and all Islamic and Christian holy sites", the Egyptian statement said. Clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians around the mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan helped trigger the conflict this month. Egypt reiterated its call for creating an appropriate atmosphere to revive talks between Israelis and Palestinians with the aim of reaching a two-state solution, the statement added. In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. Netanyahu said his meeting dealt with regional security issues and ways to prevent Hamas from siphoning off civilian aid to strengthen its capabilities. Palestinian officials have put reconstruction costs at tens of millions of dollars from Israeli strikes in Gaza, where medical officials said 248 people were killed during 11 days of fighting. Israel is also repairing damage caused by Palestinian rockets and missiles, which killed 13 people in Israel. Kamel also met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Sunday and handed him a message from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi affirming Egyptian support to Palestinians and Abbas, state news agency MENA said. Republicans in the US Senate on Friday derailed a bipartisan inquiry into the deadly assault on the Capitol by former President Donald Trump's supporters, despite a torrent of criticism they were playing down the violence. Democrats and some moderate Republicans had called for a commission to probe the events up to and including January 6, when hundreds of supporters of Trump, a Republican, stormed the Capitol, fighting with police, urging violence against lawmakers and delaying the formal certification of President Joe Biden's election victory. The violence left five people dead including a Capitol Police officer. The measure failed by a vote of 54 to 35, short of the 60 votes needed to advance the legislation in the 100-member Senate. The 35 no votes were all Republicans. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said after the vote: "We all know what's going on here. Senate Republicans chose to defend the Big Lie because they feared that anything that might upset Donald Trump could hurt them politically." The Fiji Times newspaper reports that the chances of survival for the men who leapt into the water without any lifesaving equipment last Monday have been greatly reduced. But Fiji Navy commander Captain Humphrey Tawake said the authorities remain optimistic. The Chinese-owned, Fiji-flagged tuna longliner FV TIRO II was found on Wednesday by a New Zealand Air Force Orion about 90 nautical miles west of Fiji, with two crew members still onboard. The Fijian Rescue Coordination Center has released photos of the two men found on board the vessel being handed over to police. After taking on water Thursday night, FV TRIO II sank on Friday morning. Earlier Captain Tawake told the Fiji Times they were aware of allegations that a Fijian national had beheaded a second Fijian national following a "heated argument" but said he could not comment further while a police investigation was underway. RNZ Please purchase a subscription read this premium content. If you have a subscription, please sign up for a digital website account or log in. Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Cloudy with a few showers. High 72F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 52F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. Community Perspective Send Community Perspective submissions by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Submissions must be 500 to 750 words. Columns are welcome on a wide range of issues and should be well-written and well-researched with attribution of sources. Include a full name, email address, daytime telephone number and headshot photograph suitable for publication (email jpg or tiff files at 150 dpi.) You may also schedule a photo to be taken at the News-Miner office. The News-Miner reserves the right to edit submissions or to reject those of poor quality or taste without consulting the writer. Letters to the editor Send letters to the editor by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707), by fax (907-452-7917) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Writers are limited to one letter every two weeks (14 days.) All letters must contain no more than 350 words and include a full name (no abbreviation), daytime and evening phone numbers and physical address. (If no phone, then provide a mailing address or email address.) The Daily News-Miner reserves the right to edit or reject letters without consulting the writer. An 83-year old man died in a fire at Saket Court Residential complex in the national capital on Saturday, police said. DCP South Delhi Atul Kumar Thakur said, " We have received the call at around 5.30 pm that a fire broke at the Saket Court Residential complex in C block. Immediately, police officials rushed to the spot along with other staff." Five fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the blaze. "Four Family members who were trapped in a house were rescued safely but a senior citizen who was found unconscious was immediately shifted to a naearby hospital, where he was declared brought dead," Thakur added. According to fire officials, the man had succumbed to smoke inhalation. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Out of 18658 COVID-19 tests carried out on 29 May 2021, 3274 new cases have been detected among 1275 expatriate workers, 1988 new cases are contacts of active cases and 11 travel-related. There were 2533 recoveries from Covid-19, increasing total recoveries to 205962. There are currently 291 Covid-19 cases in a critical condition, and 412 cases receiving treatment. 28507 are stable out of a total of 28798 active cases. The Ministry of Health expresses its sincere condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives, and a full and speedy recovery to those receiving treatment. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain yesterday strongly condemned the attacks by Houthi terrorist militia on civilians facilities in Saudi Arabia. In a statement, the Kingdoms Foreign Ministry expressed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia against any actions that target its security. The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said yesterday it had foiled an imminent Houthi attack that would have used two explosive-laden boats in the Red Sea. The coalition forces also announced destroying two boats off the Yemeni port of Salif. The foreign ministry statement praised the efficiency and vigilance of the coalition in intercepting and destroying the drone launched towards the city of Khamis Mushait. Bahrain called on the international community to take deterrent measures against the Houthi terrorist militia that threatens the security and stability of the region. Preparations in full swing in Bahrain for the new academic year, says Minister Preparations in full swing in Bahrain for the new academic year, says Minister TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The education ministry is updating and developing its eServices ahead of the academic year 2021 -22 to ensure the sustainability of eLearning amid the exceptional circumstances brought forth by the deadly coronavirus pandemic, said Education Minister. Majid Al-Nuami said the ministry is striving hard to keep up the quality of its services to cope with the sudden shift from in-person to the virtual learning process. Now, the shift to digital learning is so widespread that it has catered to all educational levels and has become indispensable. Our experience tells that digital learning is essential to ensure the sustainability of learning and enhance its quality by adopting new approaches. We are constantly developing the portal to help the students, teachers, parents, and staff concerned. The latest update was during the second semester of the academic year 2020-2021, during which we developed a unified template for lessons based mainly on study plans. The portal now allows students to find their academic schedules, examination schedules, grades, daily attendance, lessons, enrichment, digital educational contents, activities and applications. It also offers administrative services, such as school announcements, school events, reports and administrative files. The minister said the authorities are working to develop and enhance these services to make them more efficient and quicker in their responses. Bahrain model, the minister said, had also received the appreciation of many regional and international organisations. The ministry has taken many steps to ensure the continuous evaluation of students skill and school work amid the circumstances. Digital lessons are uploaded daily while taking care to evaluate students performance through standardised tests. Students are also taking part in international competitions adhering strictly to precautionary controls. Training programmes When asked about training programmes, the minister said the ministry had implemented many remote programmes for teachers and other employees to cope with the sudden shift from physical to virtual learning. Tribune earlier reported the experience of Bahrain Middle High School in activating distance learning in a relatively short time. Principal Shana Seawright had said: We needed just three days to have our digital platforms ready, and we went ahead with online courses. The teachers boosted their confidence around technology and digital platforms through workshops and fine-tuned their skills at providing lessons online. Several expert teachers shared their expertise with their colleagues. Of course, it took everyone some time to adjust, but there has been since the beginning massive energy about how to deal with the challenges, and the whole experience moved on smoothly, she said. We are delighted with the results as our students continue to receive their education according to the schools high standards. There is a great sense of responsibility and commitment among the teachers and the students, the principal added. As people head out for hikes during this cool spring weather, one of the highly annoying things about being outdoors in most seasons is ticks, states a Missouri Department of Conservation release. "Most ticks are found in woodlands, tall grasses, weeds and brushy areas. Theyre most common in overgrown vacant lots, waste fields and weedy edges of paths and trails, especially where wildlife is abundant. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, their foraging strategy is called questing, where ticks climb to the top of a grass stem or branch of a bush, hold on with their hind legs and extend their front pair of hook-like legs, waiting for a likely host to brush by. "Ticks sense exhaled carbon dioxide and emitted body odors as well as vibrations and changes in light. This alerts them to a possible approaching meal," states the release. If you walk through a tick habitat, the conservation department recommends using tick repellent and to check yourself often for ticks. "Always check yourself thoroughly at the end of the day, using a mirror. Ticks drink the blood of humans and other mammals," states the release. Ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Ehrlichiosis, Bourbon virus, Heartland virus and other diseases. Remove embedded ticks promptly, states the conservation department. "You cannot force a tick to remove itself; you must pull it out. Use tweezers or a tool specially designed for removing ticks safely. Lightly pinch the tick as close to your skin as possible (in other words, dont squeeze the ticks body fluids into yourself). Pull the tick straight out. Wash and disinfect the area; apply antibiotics," states the release. Save or be able to describe the tick to doctors if complications occur. "If you are bitten, keep an eye out for unusual flu-like symptoms or rashes for the next few weeks. Be on the lookout for a circular or oval red rash or bump at the bite site that expands like a bulls-eye or a dark-spotted rash. Fever, headache, backache, aching or stiff muscles and joints and swollen glands may be symptoms of a tick bite," states the release. Three species of hard ticks are commonly encountered in Missouri: Lone star tick Females have a white dot in the center of the back. Males have dots or white streaks on the edge of their bodies. American dog tick Adults are brown. Blood-engorged females are gray. Deer tick (blacklegged tick) Legs and upper body are black. The following are recommended tips to reduce tick bites: Shower immediately after being outside and check for ticks. Wear tall socks and pull them up over your pant legs and tape your shoes to your socks with duct tape. Wear old shoes or use new duct tape. Dust shoes/socks with sulphur powder, which helps prevent attacks from chiggers and reduce tick attacks. There was a scene in the filming of Gone Mom: The Disappearance of Jennifer Dulos that still haunts Warren Christie and Annabeth Gish, the actors portraying Fotis and Jennifer Dulos in the Lifetime movie set to air next weekend. The couple had just returned from her beloved fathers funeral. An argument over money ensued with the heated discussion ending when Fotis Dulos admitted he had a mistress Michelle Troconis and contended his wife would never divorce him because their family was her only accomplishment. It struck me as incredibly mean, said Christie, who continually had to seek a balance in his portrayal of a charming high-end real estate developer and a man, according to his wife, who was prone to fits of rage and thoughts of revenge. Warren lasered me to the core, during the scene, Gish said. In interviews with Hearst Connecticut Media, the actors and the movies executive producer said they aimed to raise awareness to domestic violence while honoring the New Canaan mothers memory and respecting her family and five children. The movie, which premieres at 8 p.m. June 5 on Lifetime, chronicles the relationship of Fotis and Jennifer Dulos through the eyes of a friend. It starts with the couples chance encounter in 2003 to Fotis Dulos suicide in January 2020 as he faced murder, kidnapping and other charges in his estranged wifes death and disappearance. The disappearance drew international attention after friends reported Jennifer Dulos missing on May 24, 2019, sparking a massive search of New Canaans Waveny Park before heading upstate and leading to the initial arrests of Fotis Dulos and Troconis. While Jennifer Dulos body has never been found, she is presumed dead by investigators and her family, who did not participate in the movie project for Lifetime. Troconis and Fotis Dulos friend and attorney, Kent Mawhinney, have each pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and their cases are still pending. Gish and Christie, both veteran actors, came into the project with differing levels of exposure to the case. Gish had followed the disappearance in the news from the start. It was salacious, scandalous, but there was a kinship I felt with Jennifer, Gist said. Christie, meanwhile, had to bring himself up to speed through the script. Sadly, its an all too common story of domestic violence and how you dont know what happens between people when they are behind closed doors, Christie said. A lot of times someones life will look good on paper, but you dont actually know whats happening. My hope is that it will resonate with people and have people talking. In early scenes, Christie is consummately charming, playing off Fotis Dulos image as a driven competitor on water and later in the world of high-end real estate. During one exchange, Fotis Dulos tells Jennifer that she is impressive and doesnt give herself enough credit. How did you possibly get by me in college? he asked his former Brown University classmate as they shared a glass of wine during their chance meeting in Colorado in 2003. I know a rogue when I see one, Jennifer replies. It was one of several moments in the film when the writers used creative license to depict how the couple interacted to move the plot forward. The movie was shot over 18 days in the Vancouver area during the pandemic. Gish had to quarantine for 14 days before filming began, leaving her and Christie ample time to discuss their portrayal of the couple and the material over Zoom chats, she said. We tried really hard to create the world of New Canaan and Farmington, Executive Producer Ilene Kahn Power said. Fotis was always dressed impeccably. Warren Christie did a fantastic job. He is the sweetest guy youll ever meet, but he captured the abuse, which was pervasive but never physical. The writers took liberties with the relationship and some of the plot twists, but the crew, including Kahn Power, were dedicated to honoring the memory of Jennifer Dulos while producing a thought-provoking film about domestic violence, the actors said. There were people on the set who opened up during filming about their own stories of abusive relationships, Kahn Power said. This one got my heart and soul, the executive producer said. I cant tell you how deeply I was affected by this. It could have been any of us. She had it all, she was beautiful, sweet and funny. Kahn Power recently discussed the movie with Carrie Luft, the close friend of Jennifer Dulos who has served as the familys spokesperson since the disappearance. Kahn Power said she assured Luft that care was taken in telling Jennifers story. I feel we did justice to her, Kahn Power said. Luft did not participate in the movie and has declined to comment about it. The friend, Audrey, who describes to police the story of Fotis and Jennifer Dulos throughout the movie, is a composite of several people, the executive producer said. At various points in the film, police recite lines from the actual arrest warrant served on Fotis Dulos, alleging he was lying in wait at her New Canaan home the morning of May 24, 2019. The film includes harrowing portrayals both of the attack on Jennifer and Fotis Dulos suicide. Not every twist and turn, many of which played out in the media over the past two years, was documented in the film. But there were scenes depicting the ugly court battle over the custody of their five children and actual police footage of the search for her remains, which spanned several Connecticut counties and tons of trash at a Hartford garbage plant. We tried to take the high road as much as possible and be as truthful as possible with the story and touch other women who are victims of abuse, Kahn Power said. In the end, Gish said she wants people to understand that Jennifer Dulos was not a victim. Although she did die, she did remove herself from the marriage and had separated her children from an abuser, Gish said. Gish and Christie hope the film will raise awareness to domestic violence in a way that is mindful of the fact the couples five children and family are still grieving and living with the case. Any time you are dealing with real people, there are children, parents and other family members who are impacted, you have to handle the story with integrity and heart, Christie said. And at the end of the day, you hope it sparks discussion and opens peoples eyes. A+E Networks is a joint venture between Hearst and The Walt Disney Company. DANBURY Sandra Barry doesnt remember her dad. She was only 2 when First Lt. Lee Hartell was killed in the Korean War on Aug. 27, 1951 on a rugged terrain now known as Bloody Ridge. But remembrances of him are throughout Danbury, the United States and Korea. Hartell is the only Danbury resident since the Civil War to be posthumously awarded with the prestigious Congressional Medal of Honor. We just remember seeing pictures, and that really didn't mean anything to us, said Barry, whose brother was just under 1 and sister was 3 when their father died. Because he was over in Korea for a year before that, almost a year. The Medal of Honor is the countrys highest award for military valor in action, with more than 3,500 recipients nationwide and 82 recipients from Connecticut, according to federal and state figures. You end up becoming...kind of a hero to other veterans, said Daniel Hayes, director of veterans affairs in Danbury. Thats way above and beyond the call of duty. Nathan Hickok, from the Army, and James Sullivan, from the Navy, are the only other Danbury residents to earn this medal, both because of their service in the Civil War. Sgt. Major Allan Jay Kellogg, Jr, of Bethel, and Capt. Paul Bucha, of Ridgefield, received the medal for their service during the Vietnam War. Colonel Hilltop Hartell, who was born in Pennsylvania but grew up in Danbury, joined the Connecticut National Guard at 17 in 1940 and was called to Camp Blanding, Fla. At 18, he reportedly became the youngest corporal in the 43rd Division and was deployed to New Zealand in October 1942 to fight in the Pacific Theater operations during World War II, according to the state military department. After World War II, he married Margaret Burns "Peggy" Hartell in May 1947. They had three children, Sharon, Sandra and Lee. He was deployed to Korea in 1950 and led a forward observation team to support Company B, earning the nickname Colonel Hilltop because he shot at the enemy while calmly standing at the top of a hill, the state said. Communist forces attacked predawn on Aug. 27 near Kobanson-ni, and Company B was surrounded on all sides. From his position, Hartell could see where the enemy was and called for flares, shooting at the attackers as they approached within 10 yards of him. First Lt. Hartell sustained a severe hand wound in the ensuing encounter but grasped the microphone with his other hand and maintained his magnificent stand until the front and left flank of the company were protected by a close-in wall of withering fire, causing the fanatical foe to disperse and fall back momentarily, the citation for his medal reads. The enemy regrouped and overran an outpost. Thats when Hartell was shot through the chest. Keep firing both batteries. I think theyve got us, he said in a final radio call, according to the state. Hartells actions contributed significantly to stemming the onslaught and enabled his company to maintain the strategic strongpoint, the medal citation reads. Remembrances of Hartell When Hartells remains returned to Danbury, schools and businesses closed and flags were flown at half mast, the Danbury War Memorial describes on its website. The Connecticut National Guard carried his flag-draped casket through the city streets, followed by a parade of soldiers, veterans organizations and civic groups, the state said. Hartell was buried in St. Peters Cemetery. But the city didnt do much else to remember her dad when she was a kid, Barry said. It was just something that happened, said Barry, adding she didnt look forward to going to the Memorial Day parade yearly as a kid. Its something she misses this year, with the parade canceled for the second year in a row due to COVID-19. But the city later named the connector between White and Crosby Streets as Lee Hartell Drive and put a monument for him there. I would have rather they didnt do that at all, Barry said. Kids would sit, stand and jump off the monument, she said. In 1997, the monument was moved to its current place between the Vietnam and Korean War memorials outside the Danbury War Memorial. Thats where it belonged, Barry said. A photograph of Hartell is displayed in the lobby of the War Memorial building. The Disabled Americans Veterans Lee Hartell Chapter 25 in Danbury is named after him, and a plaque inside the building, as well as a sign outside, bears his name. The Hartell chapter formed in 1954 and sought to recognize his service. If it wasnt for him, a lot of guys would have died, said Chuck Gartland, commander of the organization who graduated from Danbury High School and served in the Marine Corp during the Vietnam War. Theres a Camp Hartell in Windsor Locks, as well as in Munsan-ni, Korea. The Hartell House serves as a general officers mess hall for U.S, South Korean and United Nations military personnel. A road at Fort Sill, Okla. was renamed Hartell Boulevard. A childhood without dad Although Hartell died in August, his body was not returned to the family until January, Barry said. It came in a sealed coffin, she said. Her mother couldnt believe he was gone because many other soldiers who had been missing were returning alive. My mother didn't talk about my father at all, Barry said. It was kind of a sad situation because for many years she just didnt accept the fact he was gone. Barry recalled her grandparents on both sides of the family helping to watch her and her siblings. It was rough growing up, Barry said. She put a lot of good faith on. Her mom who died at 99 last December served three terms as city treasurer with then Mayor John Define, according to her obituary. She worked at the John McLean store on Main Street around Christmastime for many years and every year at the Great Danbury State Fair, her daughter said. She loved working at the fair, Barry said After Gartland returned home from Vietnam, he lived near the Hartells although at the time he didnt know them or their connection to the first lieutenant. He said he often saw a woman, who he thinks was either Hartells mother or wife, walking her dog with a look of loneliness on her face, so he always said hello. Bernie Rotunda was drafted into the Korean War in 1951 and served for a year and four months. He never met Hartell, but became friends with his wife, who laid a wreath for her husband each time the veterans read his name during ceremonies. She was very friendly and very helpful to the Korean War veterans, said Rotunda, who is the first vice commander for the Catholic War Veterans Post 1042 in Danbury. Barry doesnt know what made her dad join the service. Her grandfather and uncles were in the Navy, with her grandfather, Andrew Hartell, Sr., serving in World War I and II. Kind of back in those days, it was something you did, Barry said. He just had a real drive. Barrys two sons sought to go into the military. One of her sons went into the Air Force but was injured during his training and could not continue. Her other son became a Navy SEAL. She doesnt know if he was inspired by her father, but her son grew up hearing her grandfathers stories from the Navy. She recalled her son once arguing with a kid, who refused to believe the photo hanging in the War Memorial building where they had camp was of the boys grandfather. Barry settled the fight by confirming the photo was of her dad. He [my son] was quite proud of it, Barry said. DANBURY Lawyers defending a group of incarcerated individuals who sued the Danbury Federal Correction Institute for failing to protect prisoners from the coronavirus are still worried about their clients safety almost a year later. We remain concerned about the facilitys failure to take other protective measures throughout the course of the pandemic, said Hannah Snow, a Quinnipiac University law student intern and member of the legal team representing the imprisoned people. The lawsuit filed last year is an ongoing matter despite the two parties entering into a settlement agreement in July 2020. The group of incarcerated people asserted the prisons warden and staff put them at risk by making only limited use of their home confinement authority and other means of protecting them during an earlier outbreak. A presiding judge demanded the prison create a faster and more clearly focused process for assessing medically vulnerable individuals eligible for home confinement or other release options in May 2020. Per the July agreement, which is in effect until Oct. 31, the FCI was ordered to identify individuals who were medically vulnerable to the virus for consideration to be transferred into home confinement. The process outlined calls for a medical clinician to verify all the medical conditions listed under the home confinement review and evaluation standards. The facility made two lists totaling 439 individuals who met the criteria and released roughly 120 of those people to home confinement or a halfway house, according to Snow. Case management staff are urgently reviewing all inmates to determine which ones meet the criteria established by the Attorney General, Emery Nelson, a spokeswoman from the Bureau of Prisons, wrote in an email. She added any individuals who thinks they are eligible can request home confinement via their case manager. Across all federal correctional facilities, 7,199 individuals are on home confinement as of Friday evening, while 26,115 people, including those who have finished their sentences, were placed in home confinement since March 26, 2020, according to the Bureau of Prisons website. The website does not provide a breakdown of individuals on home confinement in each facility. In addition to the agreement, the prison issued a letter stating it would implement daily temperature checks of inmates, wellness checks to those in isolation spaces, as well as testing and same-day medical attention for those who report symptoms. Snow said the prison had not been conducting symptom screening of the incarcerated population nor doing regular temperature checks or facility-wide testing before a second COVID outbreak in December 2020. Individuals who were sick with COVID were held in locations inappropriate for medical isolation and did not receive appropriate treatment and monitoring, she added. The FCI maintains it is following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and conducting regular screenings for visitors and transferred, new and symptomatic incarcerated individuals, as well as staff. Nelson said an incarcerated individual in general population displaying symptoms would be tested and placed in medical isolation as contact tracing is done. Symptomatic inmates whose condition rises to the level of acute medical care will be transferred to a hospital setting determined by clinical need for services; either at a local hospital, or at an institution's hospital care unit, if they have one, she said. Nelson described a similar procedure for staff who test positive, one entailing COVID testing and self-quarantine at their homes. Vaccination rates About 498 individuals of the 843-prisoner population, and 172 of the prisons 279 staff members have completed their COVID-19 vaccinations, according to the federal Bureau of Prisons website. It is unclear whether the vaccinated individuals received their shots by the Danbury facility or were vaccinated elsewhere and transferred in. While the bureau declined to provide refusal rates for the prison, an April update obtained from the U.S. Attorneys office showed 296 inmates had refused the vaccine as of April 23. The refusal rate for staff members was not included. Every staff member and incarcerated individual at FCI Danbury have been offered the COVID-19 vaccine, except for three people who were put on home confinement, Nelson said. Additionally, every facility within the Bureau of Prisons, to include FCI Danbury, may request additional vaccine doses to be offered to staff and inmates who continue to arrive at the facility, she said. The document cited an example of an imprisoned person who declined the vaccine twice, although she had previously declared she would accept it if offered a second time. The facility has had three distribution rounds of the Moderna vaccine for both staff and incarcerated individuals since January, according to the April document. Many local clinics in Connecticut give out shots multiple days a week, the prison receives doses less frequently. The Danbury FCI, however, depends on the federal government for its share of vaccines, unlike towns that secured their doses from the state. The prison noted that during the third round of shots a second dose clinic in April 181 incarcerated individuals were given a dose and 130 people refused, producing a refusal rate of about 45 percent for that cycle. All inmates who refused the vaccine were told, at the time of refusal, that if they changed their mind and wanted to receive the vaccine in the future, they could submit a request to Health Services, the document read, noting 23 individuals submitted such requests before the April shipment arrived and were given the vaccine. Positive case rates slow but restrictions continue The FCI has reported only one COVID-19 death since March 2020. Additionally, it recorded having zero positive cases in the general population since this February, except for one new imprisoned person who tested positive upon arriving and was immediately isolated from intake, the April document stated. Even though restrictions are easing nationwide, Nelson said all staff and incarcerated individuals are required to continue mask-wearing, regardless of vaccination status, in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We will continue to evaluate our mitigation strategies and make adjustments as needed, Nelson said. Recommendations and best practices will be shared with and implemented at all of our facilities as deemed appropriate. WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) Writing used to be something Justin Nash would do in secret. In the sliver of time after school when he was the only person in his familys Smyrna home, Nash would sit upstairs at his computer and type out his stories. On May 21, the now 22-year-old was awarded the Sophie Kerr Prize, the nations largest undergraduate literary award worth $65,580. Named after the Eastern Shore author, the Sophie Kerr Prize is awarded to a graduating senior each year at Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. The prize money comes from the endowment Kerr left to the college in her will. Since its inception in 1968, the prize is awarded to the senior who demonstrates the best potential for future achievement in a literary endeavor, school officials said. Nash was one of six finalists. An English major with three minors, Nash has served as editor-in-chief of campus literary magazines and journals. He was the vice president of the campus Writers Union, and has spent his college career interning in publishing, with hopes of becoming an editor with a nonprofit publishing press one day. His portfolio, titled Prestidigitate, examined travel, childhood, and conceit through a combination of poems, stories and essays. Justin grasps the power of writing to move the world, one thoughtful and witty and well-edited line at a time, said Sean Meehan, chair of the Department of English at the college. Growing up on a farm in Smyrna, Nash was raised with attention to how to tend to animals and make things grow. Focusing on the natural world and attachment to place bled into his writing, Nash said. He focuses on subjects like rural life, death and desire. I do owe that to how I was raised and where I was raised, Nash said. He said he cant remember when exactly he started writing. But a creative writing club, formed by his fifth-grade teacher, James McGuigan, jumpstarted the passion. McGuigan teaches at John Bassett Moore Intermediate School in Smyrna. The two havent spoken since Nash was in fifth grade. But last week, Nash sent him a friend request on Facebook, in case he needed to share news of the prize. I just thought, god if I win this thing, he needs to know about it, he said. For McGuigan, news of Nashs award made his school year. He was an amazing student, very studious with such a mature work ethic, McGuigan said of his former student. He had an astounding imagination, and he could weave stories and create characters with true depth and flow. Nash plans to put the money toward graduate school, to pursue an MFA in poetry. When Nashs name was called last Friday night, his mind went blank. There arent words, he said as he began his acceptance speech. In his pocket was a list of the people he wanted to thank. But in that moment, he abandoned the paper filled with names the people he wanted to focus on and thank the most were the finalists sitting with him. Friends since freshman year, the finalists had spent the past four years reading and editing each others work, pushing each other. So, Nash turned to his fellow classmates, and invited them to join him at the podium. The six tearfully hugged as Nash brought his acceptance speech to a close. I think its one of the great shames of any prize like this, that only one person can win it, Nash said. I just refuse to let this moment be about anything other than all of us at once. TORONTO, May 29, 2021 /CNW/ - The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) honoured investigative data journalists, and professors, Fred Vallance-Jones and David McKie with the prestigious Charles Bury Award for their outstanding contributions to Canadian journalism at their 2020 awards ceremony. Vallance-Jones and McKie were recognized by the CAJ for their pioneering work in the field of computer assisted reporting/data journalism in Canada over the past several decades in both newsrooms and classrooms across the country. "You don't have to dig too deep into the world of Canadian journalism to find the impacts that these two gentlemen have had on investigative reporting in Canada," said CAJ president Brent Jolly in his remarks at the association's award gala held earlier this evening. "Their individual work has been groundbreaking and they've shared that knowledge, as professors, and inspired an entire generation of young journalists to embrace data skills and techniques into their toolkits. They are both Demi-Gods of Canadian data journalism." Vallance-Jones is an associate professor at the University of King's College, in Halifax. He is one of Canada's leading authorities on freedom of information, data journalism, and investigative journalism. Prior to joining King's, Vallance-Jones had a 23-year career as a journalist with CBC and the Hamilton Spectator, where he won many awards, including a National Newspaper Award, and was a finalist for the Michener Award for Meritorious Public Service in Journalism. McKie is currently a data journalism trainer at Carleton University, Ryerson University, and the University of King's College. He is also the deputy managing editor of Canada's National Observer. He previously spent 26 year as an investigative producer at the CBC. This is the second time McKie has won a Bury Award. He is the only Canadian journalist ever to do so. He previously won the award in 1994 for his contributions to the CAJ's Media Magazine. "Amidst all the doom and gloom of the pandemic, and the continued contraction of the Canadian journalism job market, the growth of data journalism in Canada is an inspiring story," said Jolly. "Rather than framing events as episodic one-offs, data journalism has allowed journalists to provide audiences with added layers of context, and personalization, that helps facilitate a deeper exploration of issues, trends, and solutions." This award, formerly known as the President's Award, was renamed in honour of veteran journalist and long-time CAJ board member Charles Bury, who died in February 2014. It recognizes both individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to Canadian journalism. Last year's winners were journalists Jerome Turner, Jessie Winter, and Amber Bracken for protecting the public's right to know how events unfolded at Wet'suwet'en. Other former winners of the award include: the late Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi, and Journal de Montreal crime reporter Michel Auger; Radio-Canada investigative reporter Marie-Maude Denis, the Aboriginal People's Television Network, J-Source, and Massey College. The Canadian Association of Journalists is a professional organization with over 900 members across Canada. The CAJ's primary roles are public-interest advocacy work and professional development for its members. www.caj.ca | www.facebook.com/CdnAssocJournalists | www.twitter.com/CAJ SOURCE Canadian Association of Journalists For further information: Brent Jolly, CAJ president - 289-387-3179, [email protected] Related Links http://www.caj.ca/ Hong Kong: CE mourns Lord Millett Chief Executive Carrie Lam today expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Court of Final Appeal (CFA) non-permanent judge Lord Peter Julian Millett. Mrs Lam noted that Lord Millett was a distinguished jurist with profound achievements and was held in high regard in the legal sector. Having been a CFA non-permanent judge since 2000, Lord Millett handled complicated cases and wrote landmark judgments covering various legal aspects over the years, making significant contributions to the Judiciary. He was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star in 2015. Mrs Lam stated that according to relevant provisions in the Basic Law, the Chief Executive can appoint judges from other common law jurisdictions, and the appointment of illustrious judges from other common law jurisdictions as non-permanent judges of the CFA is an important component of the judicial system in Hong Kong. In his participation in the work of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal over the past 20 years, he has made immense contributions to the establishment of a robust and well-recognised judicial system in Hong Kong after its return to the motherland, which is testimony to the implementation of a high degree of autonomy in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in accordance with the law. I am saddened by the passing of Lord Millett. On behalf of the Hong Kong SAR Government, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family, Mrs Lam said. This story has been published on: 2021-05-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Pangilinan calls for urgent action on cash aid to rice farmers, supports House Bill 8964 SENATOR Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan supports the move of the House appropriations and agriculture committees approving the Cash Assistance for Filipino Farmers bill for rice farmers tilling one hectare or less of land. "Dapat madaliin ang pagbigay ng direktang tulong pinansyal sa mga Pilipinong magsasaka na patuloy na hinahagupit ng epekto ng Covid pandemic at sa unli-rice import policy ng gobyerno," said the former food security and agriculture modernization secretary. "We laud House Committees on Appropriations and Food and Agriculture for their approval of House Bill 8964 authorizing the Department of Agriculture to use its annual rice tariff revenues in excess of 10 billion pesos 'for the direct provision of cash assistance to farmers,'" Pangilinan said. Almost two years ago on 13 August 2019, Pangilinan in a privilege speech pushed for the same thing in calling for a review of the Rice Tariffication Law, specifically on the use of the 10-billion-peso Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund (RCEF). RCEF, which is funded by tariffs generated by rice imports, was set up to make the domestic rice industry more competitive through farm mechanization, access to better seeds, and more financing and extension services, among others. "Tama itong pinasang bill sa House. Maiibsan nito ang tindi ng pinagdadaanan ng ating mga magpapalay sa kabila ng pagbaba ng presyo ng palay at ng pandemya," he added. On 7 December 2020, the Senate passed on third reading a similar measure, Senate Bill 1927, in substitution of Senate Joint Resolution 12, which Pangilinan co-authored and co-sponsored. "Kailangan itong maisabatas sa lalong madaling panahon para mabigyan agad ng ayuda ang mga Pilipinong magpapalay. Di ba nga, 'aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo?'" he said. Pangilinan said that during this pandemic emergency situation, the most tangible support we can give our farmers is cash assistance that will help them cope with the liberalized regime and parry the impact of the low palay prices due to the imports surge. "Parati ring nakikipagsapalaran ang mga magsasaka natin sa banta ng sobrang init at mga bagyo," he said. "So habang tinitingnan natin ang mga intervention na makakatulong sa pangmatagalan para sa magpapalay at sa ating mga unli-rice kumain, ang cash aid ngayon ay makakasiguro sa araw-araw ng ating mga magpapalay," Pangilinan added. A media outlet late on Saturday released images of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi while in the custody of the authorities in the Caribbean nation of Dominica, where the billionaire mysteriously surfaced this week after going missing from Antigua and Barbuda, his home for the last three years. In the photo, Mehul Choksi is seen behind bars, his eyes swollen in one. In one more photo, he is seen showing bruises on his arm. Choksis lawyers have alleged the businessman was abducted from Antigua, whose citizenship he holds, taken to Dominica where he was arrested to facilitate his repatriation to India. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to create stress and anxiety for many Canadians, particularly those who do not have ready access to their regular support networks. Through the Wellness Together Canada online portal, people of all ages across the country can access immediate, free and confidential mental health and substance use supports, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. OTTAWA, ON, May 29, 2021 /CNW/ - As part of Paramedic Services Week, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Canada's paramedical practitioners for the important work they do each and everyday, connecting patients with a broad range of health and community services. In particular this year I would like to recognize their efforts as part of the largest mass vaccination campaign in Canada's history. In communities across the country, paramedic services are working in partnership with local public health to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines. In some cases this has meant administering vaccines right in the homes of people who are unable to attend vaccination clinics due to medical or mobility issues. These are the kind of efforts that can make all the difference in ensuring that everyone who is eligible has the opportunity to be vaccinated to protect themselves against COVID-19 and be a part of the collective effort to build up immunity across our communities. Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) continues to review new evidence on COVID-19 vaccines. Most recently, there has been encouraging real-world evidence that COVID-19 vaccines, primarily mRNA vaccines, have been well tolerated in populations not included in the original clinical trials. NACI has reviewed this new data, as well as COVID-19 risks for these populations and has updated their guidance so that recommendations for people who are immunosuppressed, have an autoimmune condition, or who are pregnant or breastfeeding are now the same as the recommendations for the general adult population. NACI has also reviewed up-to-date information on vaccine effectiveness from Canada and the United Kingdom, where extended intervals are being used. While NACI continues to recommend that jurisdictions maximize the number of individuals benefiting from the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by extending the interval between doses up to four months, in the context of increasing COVID-19 vaccine supply in Canada, the Committee recommends that second doses be offered as soon as possible. NACI recommends that priority for second doses should be given to those at highest risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 disease after or at the same time as first doses are offered to all remaining eligible populations. NACI continues to closely monitor the effectiveness of extending dose intervals and will update recommendations as needed. As COVID-19 activity continues in Canada, we are tracking a range of epidemiological indicators to monitor where the disease is most active, where it is spreading and how it is impacting the health of Canadians and public health, laboratory and healthcare capacity. At the same time, the Public Health Agency of Canada is providing Canadians with regular updates on COVID-19 vaccines administered, vaccination coverage and ongoing monitoring of vaccine safety across the country. The following is the latest summary on national numbers and trends, and the actions we all need to be taking to reduce infection rates, while vaccination programs expand for the protection of all Canadians. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 1,374,275 cases of COVID-19 and 25,440 deaths reported in Canada; these cumulative numbers tell us about the overall burden of COVID-19 illness to date. They also tell us, together with results of serological studies, that a large majority of Canadians remain susceptible to COVID-19. Multiple safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, with unique advantages, are authorised for use in Canada. As vaccine delivery continues to ramp up at an accelerated pace, there is increasing optimism that widespread and lasting immunity can be achieved through COVID-19 vaccination. As of yesterday, provinces and territories have administered over 22.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Benefits are being seen among groups targeted for priority vaccination and as vaccine coverage increases across Canada, we can expect further benefits to protect more Canadians over the coming weeks and months. We are seeing strong and steady declines in disease trends, with 39,903 active cases in Canada, showing that measures put in place are working to suppress the third wave. The latest epidemiology and modelling update show that nationally, we expect the third wave to continue declining, as long as current measures are maintained and there is no increase of in-person contact rates across the community. However, as COVID-19 activity remains elevated in many jurisdictions, strong public health measures must be sustained where COVID-19 is circulating and individual precautions are important everywhere to drive infection rates down to low and manageable levels, while getting our vaccination rates as high as possible. While the latest national-level data show continued downward trend in disease activity with an average of 3,376 cases reported daily during the latest 7 day period (May 21-27), down 33% compared to the week prior, infection rates remain high in some areas of the country. For the week of May 16-22, there were an average of 94,311 tests completed daily across Canada, of which 4.7% were positive for COVID-19, compared to 5.6% the week prior. Until vaccine coverage is sufficiently high to impact disease transmission more broadly in the community, we must maintain a high degree of caution with public health and individual measures and not ease restrictions too soon or too quickly where infection rates are high. Elevated infection rates continue to impact lagging COVID-19 severity indicators, particularly in areas with sustained high levels of disease activity. Although we are seeing declines in these trends, persistently high numbers of severe and critical illnesses have put a prolonged and heavy strain on the health system and healthcare workforce. Provincial and territorial data indicate that an average of 2,910 people with COVID-19 were being treated in Canadian hospitals each day during the most recent 7-day period (May 21-27), which is 16% fewer than last week. This includes, on average 1,173 people who were being treated in intensive care units (ICU), 10% fewer than last week. Although the mortality trend has leveled off, with a 7-day average of 43 deaths reported daily (May 21-27), continued high rates of infection and high numbers of hospitalisations and critical care admissions could continue to impact this trend. We are continuing to monitor and assess genetic variants of the virus and their impacts in the Canadian context. Overall, variants of concern (VOCs) represent the majority of recently reported COVID-19 cases across the country. While all four VOCs (B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1 and B.1.617) have been detected in most provinces and territories, the B.1.1.7 variant continues to account for the majority of genetically sequenced VOCs in Canada. All of these VOCs are more contagious, and evidence demonstrates that the B.1.1.7 and B.1.617 variants are at least 50% more transmissible. The P.1, B.1.351, and B.1.671 variants all have mutations in common, which may have an impact on vaccine effectiveness, although the evidence is limited at this time. While the impact of all VOCs continues to be monitored in Canada, we know that vaccination, in combination with public health and individual measures, are working to reduce spread of COVID-19. As vaccine eligibility expands, Canadians are urged to get vaccinated and support others to get vaccinated as vaccines become available to them. However, regardless of our vaccination status, Canadians are urged to remain vigilant, continue following local public health advice, and consistently maintain individual practices that keep us and our families safer, even as we're beginning to see the positive impacts of COVID-19 vaccines: stay home/self-isolate if you have any symptoms, think about the risks and reduce non-essential activities and outings to a minimum, avoid all non-essential travel, and maintain individual protective practices of physical distancing, hand, cough and surface hygiene and wearing a well-fitted and properly worn face mask as appropriate (including in shared spaces, indoors or outdoors, with people from outside of your immediate household). For more information regarding the risks and benefits of vaccination, I encourage Canadians to reach out to your local public health authorities, healthcare provider, or other trusted and credible sources, such as Canada.ca and Immunize.ca. Working together, Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, Canada's Chief Medical Officers of Health and other health professionals across the country are closely monitoring vaccine safety, effectiveness and optimal use to adapt approaches. As the science and situation evolves, we are committed to providing clear and evidence-informed guidance in order to keep everyone in Canada safe and healthy. Canadians can also go the extra mile by sharing credible information on COVID-19 risks and prevention practices and measures to reduce COVID-19 in communities and by downloading the COVID Alert app to break the cycle of infection and help limit the spread of COVID-19. Read my backgrounder to access more COVID-19 Information and Resources on ways to reduce the risks and protect yourself and others, including information on COVID-19 vaccination. SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada For further information: Media Relations, Public Health Agency of Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected] TSG and NewsX exposed the truth about Mehul Choksi, locals said that he owns two villages on the west coast, which are heavily guarded. They further claimed that if Choksi had been kidnapped, the kidnapping would have been noticed. Which raises serious doubts about Choksi's kidnapping claim. TSG and NewsX exposed the truth about Mehul Choksi, locals said that he owns two villages on the west coast, which are heavily guarded. They further claimed that if Choksi had been kidnapped, the kidnapping would have been noticed. Which raises serious doubts about Choksis kidnapping claim. Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda confirmed on Sunday that India had sent Mehul Choksis deportation documents. He also told local media that India has dispatched a private plane to fly Mehul Choksi back to India directly from Dominica. Mehul Choksi is wanted in India for allegedly defrauding a bank of Rs 13,500 crore. Choksi, who had been residing in Antigua since 2018, was apprehended on May 26 in Dominica. A Bombardier Global 5,000 jet of Qatar Executive landed at Dominicas Douglas-Charles airport, sparking anticipation that Mehul Choksi, who was arrested in the Caribbean island nation after his strange escape from Antigua and Barbuda, might be deported. The private jet took off from New Delhi on May 28 and flew to Dominica via Madrid, according to its publicly viewable flight path. PM Browne further stated that Choksi was sponsoring the main opposition United Progressive Party in Antigua & Barbuda (UPP). Earlier, a major Antigua and Barbuda opposition leader chastised the administration for requesting that fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi, who was arrested in Dominica on May 26, be handed over to India directly, claiming that this was in violation of Antiguan legislation. Read More: Enigmatic designs found in Indias Thar Desert; Largest images ever made by human hands? Browne retaliated against UPP, claiming that after falsely accusing his administration of harbouring Mehul Choksi, who is wanted by Interpol, they are now attempting to give a clean chit to this fugitive in order to obtain campaign financing. He further said that despite his administrations decision to revoke Choksis citizenship, there has been no breach of his legal and constitutional rights. The Dominica High Court has put a hold on Mehul Choksis deportation from the island and issued a gag order until the case is heard in open court on June 2. Baba Ramdev, is back again with a controversial tweet. The self-proclaimed Yoga Guru, was under fire for some controversial statements made against Allopathy which rubbed the doctors association and the Indian Medical Association wrongly. Ram Kisan Yadav or popularly known as Baba Ramdev, is back again with a controversial tweet. Baba Ramdev, the self-proclaimed Yoga Guru, was under fire for some controversial statements made against Allopathy. Calling it a stupid and bankrupt science, Baba Ramdev rubbed the doctors association and the Indian Medical Association wrongly. On the 29th of May, he shared a video from a 2012 episode of Satyamev Jayate starring Amir Khan. In the video, Amir is conversing with Dr Samit Sharma regarding the inflated prices of medicines. In his tweet, Baba Ramdev wrote that I dare the Medical Mafias to start a protest against Aamir Khan.( roughly translated from Hindi) The tweet added fuel to the fire ignited a few days ago between Baba Ramdev and the Indian Medical Association. The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) has decided to execute a Black Day on the 1st of June against the controversial statements made by Baba Ramdev against Allopathy and the video shared by him on Twitter. The president of FORDA, Dr Manish told that all the doctors appointed to fight the pandemic would wear a black band on their PPE kits. The Uttarakhand division of the Indian Medical Association filed a case of defamation demanding a written apology, failing which Ramdev will pay a sum of 1000 crores. In addition to this, the same division has recently challenged Baba Ramdev for a debate after the Yoga Guru shared the video on Twitter. Also Read: #TheMysteryBat: Bat onboard Air India flight: Probe points to 3rd parties Amongst all the tussle, a video went viral on Twitter, in which Baba Ramdev is seen saying that nobody has the power to arrest Baba Ramdev. The feud between Baba Ramdev and the doctors doesnt seem to stop. And the way Baba Ramdev is adamant about not stepping down from the podium, the rivalry may further intensify. An employee at the Wuhan Institute of Virology disclosed this information to the US intelligence about the lab researchers wife dying due to a mysterious virus. This incident was dated weeks before the first outbreak of the virus on the 8th of December. A week after a US intelligence report claiming three researchers from Wuhan lab got sick with Covid-like symptoms prior to the primary outbreak, another revealing report by the US made the spotlight over the origins of the coronavirus much clearer. According to the US report, the wife of a Wuhan lab researcher allegedly died of COVID-19 in December 2019. David Asher, leading the investigation on the origins of COVID-19, said that an employee at the Wuhan Institute of Virology disclosed this information to the US intelligence about the lab researchers wife dying due to a mysterious virus. This incident was dated weeks before the first outbreak of the virus on the 8th of December. Also Read: China thinks it will own America by 2035: Joe Biden on evolving landscape of foreign threats In an interview with Fox News, David Asher stated, How many people in their mid-30s get hospitalized after falling ill from influenza? Moreover, what is the probability of several workers who coincidentally happen to research on enhancing the pathogenicity of COV- RaTG13 happen to fall ill simultaneously? The Biden administration has ordered the US intelligence to boost their efforts to reveal the truth behind the advent of the pandemic. The administration has asked for a report in 90 days. China is using the World Health Organizations announcement about the zoonotic origin of the virus in March as a defense. The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, said that it was extremely unlikely for the virus to originate from Wuhans lab. Challenging the common conception that the coronavirus jumped from an animal host to a human body in a natural event, David Asher claimed the theory to be ridiculous. To say this came out of a zoonotic evolution, its ridiculous, he said. PHOENIX (AP) Health officials in Arizona on Sunday reported 623 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, but no additional deaths. The latest numbers pushed the states totals to 881,089 cases and 17,628 known deaths since the pandemic began more than a year ago. On Saturday, Arizona health officials had reported 557 new coronavirus cases and 19 deaths. The 19 fatalities were the states largest daily increase in deaths in more than two weeks. But according to the states coronavirus dashboard, new fatalities for months have remained far below those recorded during the winter surge. The dashboard also showed that over 5.8 million vaccine doses have been administered in Arizona so far. More than 3.3 million residents 46.2% of Arizonas population have received at least one shot and over 2.7 million people have been fully vaccinated. The number of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 inpatients in the states hospitals was at 545 on Saturday 10 less than Friday. Meanwhile, the number of ICU beds used by coronavirus patients decreased by 13 overnight to 158 on Saturday. KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) During his freshman year at Michigan State University, Pete Webster spotted an ad in the college newspaper for seasonal jobs in Glacier National Park. The former Boy Scout, who grew up in Detroit, jumped at the opportunity to work in the great outdoors. His first job, though, wasnt what he expected. In the kitchen of the St. Mary Lodge and Resort, Webster was handed a knife and the days catch of whitefish. This was sort of the signature dish for the lodge. They had a sign that said Caught Fresh Daily. And so I was tasked with filleting trying to learn to fillet the fish, and its not something that I liked, he recalled with a chuckle in a recent interview. I dont think I was very good at it, either. Fast-forward 35 years. Webster, 54, has spent roughly a third of his career in Glacier, a third in Yellowstone National Park, where he served as chief ranger, and a third in other national parks along the way. He is now Glaciers acting superintendent, overseeing all aspects of the park, from law enforcement to facilities to conservation to public outreach. Webster spent two years in the parks No. 2 leadership post and took the helm in April, when Superintendent Jeff Mow left to serve as the National Park Services acting regional director for parks in Alaska. Webster said he anticipates it will be a temporary gig; Mow should return to Glacier around the end of August, at which point Webster would return to his old job as deputy superintendent. But with another visitor season right around the corner, Webster wont be relaxing on the job any time soon, the Daily Inter Lake reported. Park officials anticipate the number of visitors in 2021 will meet or break records as the coronavirus pandemic ebbs, travel and commerce restrictions are lifted, and vaccinated people feel more comfortable taking off their masks and visiting new places. Traffic is a primary concern for Webster and other park officials, who this year implemented a controversial reservation system to limit the number of vehicles on the Going-to-the-Sun Road corridor. Complicating matters further, construction is scheduled throughout the summer along U.S. 2 near the popular west entrance to the park. Within the last several years 2015, plus or minus visitation has reached the threshold that exceeds our capacity, Webster said. The capacity of the infrastructure, the road system and the park staff to safely protect the park, and protect the visitors and provide a good experience. Webster traces his love for Glacier to an overnight family camping trip in the park during his childhood. He recalled meeting a ranger at the Logan Pass visitor center who left a lasting impression. From there, I kind of just decided I wanted to be out in Montana somewhere, and the park really was something that drew me, he said. I love the mountains, he added. You know, from Detroit, thats something we didnt have there. After a brief stint as a fish filleter at St. Mary in the summer of 1986, Webster was assigned a different job behind a deli counter, making sandwiches and scooping ice cream, and then another position as a fry cook. He spent the next two summers just hitchhiking and backpacking the park, he said. And from there, that got me an internship with the park in Walton that year. And thats really where I learned, OK, what are the next steps to becoming a ranger. Webster spent his last summer during college working at an entrance station at Yellowstone, cementing his decision to attend a seasonal law enforcement academy in California the following year. His first permanent ranger job was in Alaska. And then, he said, I went down to Yellowstone and worked Old Faithful for about five years, and that was really where I grew my chops as a ranger. Webster was living largely off the grid at that point, but he wasnt alone. Two of his three children were born during his posting at Old Faithful. He and his wife raised the toddlers through several winters in the park, their cabin thoroughly snowed-in. Webster worked as a seasonal ranger in Glacier in the 1990s and 2000s and spent stints as a deputy chief ranger at Shenandoah National Park outside Washington, D.C., and chief ranger at Denali National Park in Alaska. He returned to Yellowstone in 2015 and served as chief ranger there until 2019, when he was tapped for the deputy superintendent job at Glacier. Webster has encountered a lot of bears during his time in the backcountry. Once, he recalled, he and other rangers, with the aid of Karelian bear dogs, were trying to discourage a large grizzly sow from getting too close to hikers and campers in Glacier. It didnt go particularly well. We ended up being in a situation where she came back and charged at us, he said. And then luckily with the dogs and all of us there, we were able to keep her at bay until she figured out where her cubs were at. Once she did that, they all kind of got together and moved off. Webster said his view of his job, and the aspects he finds most rewarding, have evolved over the years. The first thing that drew me was just the personal experience as a kid, he said. I was drawn to the mountains, the park specifically, and Montana as a whole. And then just coming out the first couple of years, it was primarily more personal experiences backpacking, being with friends and whatnot. But as he settled into his role as a ranger, Webster quickly began focusing on the educational and interpretive aspects of the job, helping visitors understand the importance of conservation and forming emotional connections to nature. As I grew as a ranger and had more interactions with the public, he said, it definitely became not just protecting the park but providing meaningful experiences. CAIRO (AP) Workers dig and ferry wheelbarrows laden with sand to open a new shaft at a bustling archaeological site outside of Cairo, while a handful of Egyptian archaeologists supervise from garden chairs. The dig is at the foot of the Step Pyramid of Djoser, arguably the worlds oldest pyramid, and is one of many recent excavations that are yielding troves of ancient artifacts from the countrys largest archaeological site. As some European countries reopen to international tourists, Egypt has already been trying for months to attract them to its archaeological sites and museums. Officials are betting that the new ancient discoveries will set it apart on the mid- and post-pandemic tourism market. They need visitors to come back in force to inject cash into the tourism industry, a pillar of the economy. But like countries elsewhere, Egypt continues to battle the coronavirus, and is struggling to get its people vaccinated. The country has, up until now, received only 5 million vaccines for its population of 100 million people, according to its Health Ministry. In early May, the government announced that 1 million people had been vaccinated, though that number is believed to be higher now. In the meantime, authorities have kept the publicity machine running, focused on the new discoveries. In November, archaeologists announced the discovery of at least 100 ancient coffins dating back to the Pharaonic Late Period and Greco-Ptolemaic era, along with 40 gilded statues found 2,500 years after they were first buried. That came a month after the discovery of 57 other coffins at the same site, the necropolis of Saqqara that includes the step pyramid. Saqqara is a treasure, said Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khaled el-Anany while announcing the November discovery, estimating that only 1% of what the site contains has been unearthed so far. Our problem now is that we dont know how we can possibly wow the world after this, he said. If they dont, it certainly wont be for lack of trying. In April, Zahi Hawass, Egypts best-known archaeologist, announced the discovery of a 3,000-year-old lost city in southern Luxor, complete with mud brick houses, artifacts and tools from pharaonic times. It dates back to Amenhotep III of the 18th dynasty, whose reign (13901353 B.C.) is considered a golden era for ancient Egypt. That discovery was followed by a made-for-TV parade celebrating the transport of 22 of the countrys prized royal mummies from central Cairo to their new resting place in a massive facility farther south in the capital, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. The Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh is now home to an archaeological museum, as is Cairos International Airport, both opened in recent months. And officials have also said they still plan to open the massive new Grand Egyptian Museum next to the Giza Pyramids by January, after years of delays. Entrance fees for archeological sites have been lowered, as has the cost of tourist visas. The government has for years played up its ancient history as a selling point, as part of a yearslong effort to revive the countrys battered tourism industry. It was badly hit during and after the popular uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak and the ensuring unrest. The coronavirus dealt it a similar blow, just as it was getting back on its feet. In 2019, foreign tourisms revenue stood at $13 billion. Egypt received some 13.1 million foreign tourists reaching pre-2011 levels for the first time. But in 2020, it greeted only 3.5 million foreign tourists, according to the minister el-Anany. At the newly opened National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Mahmoud el-Rays, a tour guide, was leading a small group of European tourists at the hall housing the royal mummies. 2019 was a fantastic year, he said. But corona reversed everything. It is a massive blow. Tourism traffic strengthened in the first months of 2021, el-Anany, the minister, told The Associated Press in a recent interview, though he did not give specific figures. He was optimistic that more would continue to come year-round. Egypt is a perfect destination for post-COVID in that our tourism is really an open-air tourism, he said. But it remains to be seen if the country truly has the virus under control. It has recorded a total of 14,950 deaths from the virus and is still seeing more than a thousand new cases daily. Like other countries, the real numbers are believed to be much higher. In Egypt, though, authorities have arrested doctors and silenced critics who questioned the governments response, so there are fears that information on the true cost of the virus may have been suppressed from the beginning. Egypt also had a trying experience early on in the pandemic, when it saw a coronavirus outbreak on one of its Nile River cruise boats. It first closed its borders completely until the summer of 2020, but later welcomed tourists back, first to Red-Sea resort towns and now to the heart of the country Cairo and the Nile River Valley that hosts most of its famous archaeological sites. Visitors still require a negative COVID-19 test result to enter the country. In a further cause for optimism, Russia said in April that it plans to resume direct flights to Egypts Red Sea resort towns. Moscow stopped the flights after the local Islamic State affiliate bombed a Russian airliner over the Sinai Peninsula in October 2015, killing all on board. Amanda, a 36-year-old engineer from Austria, returned to Egypt in May. It was her second visit in four years. She visited the Egyptian Museum, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and Islamic Cairo, in the capitals historic center. She had planned to come last year, but the pandemic interfered. Once they opened, I came, she said. It was my dream to see the Pyramids again. El-Rays, the tour guide, says that while hes seeing tourists starting to come in larger numbers, he knows a full recovery will not happen overnight. It will take some time to return to before corona, he said. Three men have been charged in a scheme where prosecutors said that they trafficked stolen guns from Florida to Connecticut. Dominic Colon-Brown, 27, of Farmington and Julian Judge, 22, of New Britain, were taken into custody on Thursday on criminal complaints. Eric Woodie, 30, of New Britain, has been detained in state custody since March. The three appeared by video conference before Judge Thomas O. Farrish and remain incarcerated pending detention hearings, scheduled for June 1. They have each been charged with conspiring to engage in the business of dealing in firearms without a license and to transport stolen firearms in interstate commerce, an offense that carries a maximum term of five years in prison, officials said. Woodie allegedly rented a car in February that Judge and Colon-Brown used to drive to Florida to get stolen guns and bring them back to Connecticut, charging documents show. On March 8, law enforcement recovered a gun and high-capacity magazine that Woodie tossed aside during a foot chase in New Britain, prosecutors said. When police searched the apartment where Woodie lived in New Britain with Judge, prosecutors said, they found three more guns, two extended magazines, more than 100 rounds of ammunition and about 60 grams of cocaine. The serial number on one of the guns matched one stolen in Florida in February, prosecutors said. Woodie, Colon-Brown and Judge were also caught on recorded calls discussing the illegal acquisition and sale of guns, prosecutors said. Judge and Colon-Brown also allegedly posted photos of themselves on social media in possession of guns, according to authorities. NEW HAVEN For years, ex-offenders being released from prison would be dropped off on Whalley Avenue, in front of the police station or on the Green in prison sweats with a clear plastic bag holding their belongings and no support. Not anymore. Since late January, the Project M.O.R.E. Reentry Welcome Center at 830 Grand Ave. has been a first-stop where they can get breakfast, a change of clothes, a backpack full of personal care products and most importantly some support, including computers they can use to search for jobs and housing, to help them make the transition and reduce recidivism. Instead of being dropped off on the street, people reentering society after being incarcerated are dropped off at the city-supported Welcome Center, where they immediately get oriented and provided with support to help them start moving in the right direction. There, they can immediately get help with housing issues, substance abuse, mental health and employment. The program was developed as a collaboration between Project M.O.R.E. and the citys Project Fresh Start. Were like a one-stop shop, said Director Keisha Gatison. About 40 people have gone through the centers programs since it formally opened Jan. 26. Another 47 went through the pilot program that began in June 2020. During the welcome centers pilot period when it was just getting started, 70 percent of its clients were deemed to be homeless, Gatison said during a meeting with Case Manager and Peer Support Specialist Erick Dyson and Morris Moreland, vice president of administration and social programs for Project M.O.R.E. A few months in, the center is growing success stories. Less than a year after being released from York Correctional Institution in Niantic, Jenisse Pierre-Louis has her life back. She has her two sons back. She has a job and a place to live in the citys Fair Haven section. And while the staff at the reentry center are the first to say that Pierre-Louis, 33, did the hard work herself, she said it would have been much harder to do without the support of the center. They help you a lot, Pierre-Louis said of the staff at the reentry welcome center, including Gatison, career resource specialist Latesha Nelson and Dyson, who does intake interviews for new clients. Among other things, they helped her achieve the mind set of being focused, she said. Jenisse is not giving herself enough credit, said Gatison. ... I mean, we support her, but she did the work. Pierre-Louis, a graduate of Hamden High School, was released from prison on June 8, 2020, before the city-supported center formally opened and for the first several months she worked with it, she did so virtually. When she first got out of prison, I was confused because youre living in two different worlds, she said. The first thing she wanted to do was to see her boys, 10 and 4 but while the boys were living with Pierre-Louis mother, Pierre-Louis had work to do before she could win back custody of them. Now shes managed to do that, and for the past two months she also has had a job working as a concierge for Laz Parking, which has a partnership with the welcome center to hire some or the people who go through its programs. Prior to that, Pierre-Louis had a job working in a pie factory. Through her work with the center, shes learned how to set goals, including getting her sons back, getting a job and finding a good place to live. Now, Ive got all that going on, she said. I love my situation, Pierre-Louis said. Im a better person a new me. Its something to live for. The center has recognized all the work shes done and honored her as its client of the month for April. On Friday, she was presented with a fruit bouquet in recognition of the work shes done. The city supports the center in a number of ways, including with Community Development Block Grant and CARES funds that pay a portion of the staff costs, said Mayor Justin Elicker. It is absolutely crucial to addressing many different challenges that we face, Elicker said of the center. One of the most prominent examples right now is around violence. The welcome center works to help curb violence in the city by providing the support that people need, whether its in housing, jobs, mental health and substance use support that is vital to their success in engaging in productive lives, Elicker said. The city played a significant role in supporting the creation of the center, including engagement with the state Department of Correction, Elicker said. Project Fresh Start program Director Carlos Sosa-Lombardo began working on the welcome center initiative in 2018 after visiting Hartfords Reentry Welcome Center, said Gatison. The program initially received a planning grant from the Tow Foundation. Of the 47 participants in the pilot program, only one was rearrested, and he was not convicted, she said. In Connecticut, the recidivism rate is above 60 percent when they come out of prison, Elicker said. The chances are 60 percent that when someone comes out of prison, they will be back in prison within three years. Its hard enough for many people in New Haven to find housing or a job, but when you have a record, there are many more barriers that get put up, he said. One thing that all clients who come to the center have access to are backpacks full of personal care products provided by the Prison and Reentry Ministry at First Congregational Church of Guilford, in part because when theyre released from prison, many clients have little more than clothes they are wearing. The backpacks provide necessities such as socks, T-shirts, towels, shaving necessities, shampoo, soap, toothpaste and combs, along with a pen and a 10-ride bus pass. Church Prison Ministry Coordinator Rev. Sandra Wiens said the church actually has been providing personal care items for several different organizations for 15 to 20 years. We got started working with Community Partnership in Action in Hartford, she said. When somebodys getting out, they would be released with just a clear plastic bag to carry their belongings in. ... So our church decided that we would provide hygiene bags, initially just for women ... and then the need grew and we began providing them for men, as well. As a church, what we wanted to do was give a sense of welcome to someone coming home from prison Wiens said. mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com Christine DiLeone was having an anxiety attack like literally every day as she watched her mother, Irene Vandenberg, sink into dementia. Vandenberg, who died of Alzheimers disease in 2018 at 79 years old, had a tendency to wander out of the house, as six in 10 people with dementia do. Fearing for a loved ones safety makes caring for a person with dementia all the more heartbreaking, as the personality of a parent or other family member changes and their ability to make rational decisions declines. Balancing the need to keep a dementia patient safe with giving that person as much independence as is reasonable makes wandering a particularly difficult behavior to deal with, say family members and those who provide medical and support services. In addition, caregivers need to take care of themselves, physically and emotionally, which is easy to forget when the demands of taking care of a loved one are overwhelming. DiLeone had moved her mother from her home in upstate New York to DiLeones home in South Windsor when she realized her mother, like six of Vandenbergs 14 brothers and sisters, developed Alzheimers. Its really been devastating for many, many years, DiLeone said. While Vandenberg was living with her family, she was having episodes of paranoia and delusions, which is common in the early stages, and that was hard to manage, DiLeone said. DiLeone was working, studying for her masters degree, her husband was working at home and she had two adolescent children, so she ultimately made the decision to bring her mother to assisted living. I would say six months into assisted living or so she would start wandering, DiLeone said, which is typical of mid-stage Alzheimers. As the disease progressed, they tend to say they want to go home she said. She packed up her things and walked out the door. Home is security and comfort, and she wasnt feeling any of that. Finally, Vandenberg was moved to a long-term care facility, where the doors are locked, and alarms go off if someone tries to leave. Now, DiLeone wishes she had given her mother more independence in her final years. When I look back at it, I wonder how we could have avoided the long-term care, DiLeone said. I just feel like were so focused on their safety that we make decisions that take away their dignity and their autonomy, and there isnt too much left as their disease progresses. We just got so concerned in the middle stages of the disease, where the wandering starts. DiLeone wishes there were more caregivers on staff to keep watch over her mother. Theres got to be a better way, she said. I definitely would have hired some help in assisted living. I would have hired some companions to come in. Making decisions about care in order to prevent wandering by a person with dementia is difficult and the best course will change as the disease progresses, according to Kristen Cusato, spokeswoman for the Alzheimers Associations Connecticut chapter. You have to be on your toes with this disease, she said. You have to keep them safe, give them a good quality of life and at the same time plan for the future. Its not easy to do this, to be a caregiver. The association offers numerous resources to help, she said, including support groups and one-on-one consultation. There is no one right answer and each family must make the best decision for all concerned, she said. Liz Shilosky, who lives in the eastern Connecticut town of Lebanon, had three members of her family with dementia: her grandfather and mother, who had Alzheimers, and her half-brother, Peter Barker, who had frontal temporal dementia. All three wandered. None are still living. Shilosky was young when her grandfather, James Naismith, began to decline in the early 1970s. This was back before they had a diagnosis of dementia before Alzheimers was even a word, she said. He was diagnosed with hardening of the arteries. He would get lost in his very own apartment, she said. He would go out in the night to check on his car because he was paranoid about the car. Naismith and his wife had moved to an apartment in Wethersfield, which meant he didnt know the area. We didnt know wandering was a thing then, she said. My Papa was confused and got lost out in his parking lot. Her mother, May Barker, was taking care of Shiloskys son when she began showing signs of dementia. She retired and six months after that I started noticing a lot of very odd behaviors, she said. She would take my son to preschool and get lost. Instead of arriving at preschool, Barker would take my son to McDonalds several times a day, not remembering that they had been there already. Hartford Hospital, where Barker had worked, had an adult day care program. She was safe; she was in a secure area during the day and I was able to get rid of her car so she wouldnt drive it, Shilosky said. We both knew it was a matter of time before my mom would wander somewhere. Adult day care was a great opportunity, she said. Her mother, who was a retired admitting clerk at Hartford Hospital, thought she was there to help the other seniors until she decided she just wanted to be one of the group. One time she was found in the backyard. She was looking for the bathroom and my husband was in the bathroom, so she went outside, Shilosky said. They lived on a busy street. She could have been killed. Someone else could have been killed. We had her placed [in a nursing home] at that time and it was the hardest thing Ive ever done. Shilosky, who since then has been a director of memory-care neighborhoods and assisted-living centers, said at that time, 1982, I didnt know how to take care of someone with dementia. I was short with my mom. Shilosky said its best to plan ahead for conservatorship and assisted living. Its OK to do these things. Were always thinking about the person our loved one was, and thats not the person our loved one is. I probably should have put my mom in a nursing home sooner. It would have been better for my health, but I did the best I could at the time. Dr. Leo Cooney, a retired professor of geriatric medicine at the Yale School of Medicine, said technology, both simple and electronic, is a good way to manage wandering while still maintaining some independence. One of my rules is that a person should not be made miserable simply to improve the peace of mind of their family, he said. To me what is so tragic is that people, because they have wandered, are put into institutions where they are very, very unhappy. However, he said, if somebodys unsafe, that becomes a public health issue. There needs to be a discussion of all the pros and cons when putting someone in an institution. It shouldnt be an open-and-shut case. Maria Tomasetti, south central regional director for the Alzheimers Association in Connecticut, said its important to know how to approach someone who may be wandering, because they could easily be confused or afraid. She said its important to introduce yourself, approach from in front of the person, speaking slowly and calmly, using simple language and questions and recognizing the importance of body language and eye contact. As their cognition changes, theres changes in reasoning ability, she said. The wandering can happen at any point and were trying to balance independence and safety. She advocated MedicAlert ID jewelry, childproof door locks or indoor cameras to keep track of the person. They can be helpful early in someones dementia journey to allow some independence, Tomasetti said. However, even with tracking gadgets that are available nowadays as someones dementia progresses, theyre not a substitute for supervision, she said. She also said to look for clues that someone may begin wandering, such as someone who has always gone for a walk or a drive but theyre coming back a lot later or a retired person saying they have to go to work. About six out of 10 people living with dementia will wander at least one time, Tomasetti said. If someones not found within 24 hours, up to half of those people will suffer serious injury or death. Wandering can happen quickly and unexpectedly, Tomasetti said. She said her mother was a homebody, who had hallucinations and delusions. My father would go to the bathroom and she walked out the front door, she said. Some caregivers will say their loved one just watches TV all day, then one day they leave the house. Putting a deadbolt on the door thats higher or lower than the line of sight may helpful. This is assuming the person is not alone because you dont want to lock them in the house, Tomasetti said. A bell over the door, removing coats and hats from view, and camouflaging the door are other ways to keep people from wandering, she said. Lt. Mark Davison of the Connecticut State Police grew concerned that troopers know what to do when a wandering person is reported when he was commanding officer of Troop L in Litchfield. In 2018, we had a gentleman leave his house and we ended up finding him, although unfortunately he had passed away, said Davison, who is now commanding the state police training academy. He said he had a realization or a desire to get some training for the troopers. Seven of the towns in Troop Ls region are served by resident state troopers. Troopers from across the state attended the training given by the Alzheimers Association.. Davison said its important that people call police as soon as possible. If were called at the outset, we have a better chance of assisting with a positive outcome, he said. If police know what people might do, where people might go, it helps to narrow the search area, he said. The training helps troopers interact and essentially be more empathetic to individuals that we come across, Davison said. I plan on incorporating that training into our in-service for the states 850 troopers over the next two years, he said. The troopers have search dogs and drones to help locate people. We want to be called, Davison reiterated. I know some people are hesitant to not bother the police department but were here to be called. Officer Heather McClelland of the town of Groton Police Department has brought in a trainer from Backus Hospital who gave us a lot of information about how to approach these folks who may have issues with law enforcement but have difficulty communicating because of their disease. As part of her community policing duties, McClelland will meet with families and create a file on the person with dementia. Theyll get in touch with me and I gather some information from them about what theyre drawn to when theyre out of the house and other triggers, she said. For some people its a certain time of day theyre drawn out of the house. Some are sundowners, who become confused in the late afternoon or early evening. I provide a packet for them to fill out, then we meet with the family and go over the packet together, McClelland said. She is joined by someone from the Parks and Recreation Department and the senior center. We answer any questions they have and put them at ease that now that we have this information at hand its a lot easier to respond to it, she said. Recently, we had an incident of an older gentleman who wandered off and was safely brought back to the family and today Ill meet with the family, she said. According to the Alzheimers Association, there are 80,000 people living with the disease in Connecticut and more than twice that many caregivers. There are more than 5 million people over 65 with dementia in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Alzheimers Associations 24-hour help line is 800-272-3900. edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com Contributed photo / WASHINGTON ASAP! will celebrate its 10th annual Frank McCourt Prize for Excellence in Teaching in a livestream event on Saturday, May 29, at 7 p.m. This award, which recognizes Connecticut teachers who inspire students to become enthusiastic learners, received a record number of nominations this year, an ASAP! announcement said. Niagara Falls, NY (14301) Today A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 61F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. The Izombe police station in Oguta LGA of Imo state has been burnt down by suspected hoodlums. The attack comes less than 24 hours a... The Izombe police station in Oguta LGA of Imo state has been burnt down by suspected hoodlums. The attack comes less than 24 hours after gunmen razed a police station, magistrate and high courts, and vandalised a community health center in Atta, Njaba LGA of the state. Bala Elkana, the state police spokesman, confirmed the latest incident. Elkana said the security forces were able to repel the gunmen who attacked the station on Saturday night. He said four of the hoodlums were killed during the attack while the others escaped with gunshot wounds. On 29th May, 2021, between 1900 hours and 2200 hours, some hoodlums in their number launched an offensive on Izombe Police Station but were repelled by the gallant policemen on duty. Four hoodlums were neutralised during the attack while others escaped with bullet wounds, Elkana said The Commissioner of Police, Imo State, CP Abutu Yaro, commended the men for their abiding faith in defence of the public space and urged them to be resilient in this fight until the enemies of the people are totally defeated. Meanwhile, a mop-up operation is ongoing with a view of arresting other fleeing members of the gang. A police station was also attacked on Tuesday in Orji, Owerri north LGA by gunmen. The attacks on police formations in different parts of the south-east have continued to cause tension and fear among residents. Some businesses and major markets could not open on Saturday in Owerri, the state capital and its environs as a result of the sit-at-home order declared by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra. Vehicular movement was also limited, despite the police assurance of the safety of lives and property in the state. Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, says states should not pay salaries that are above their tax revenues. The governor has been at lo... Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, says states should not pay salaries that are above their tax revenues. The governor has been at loggerheads with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the states resolve to disengage 4,000 workers across the 23 LGAs. He cited dwindling finances and high wage bills as part of the reasons it sacked some of the workers on its payroll. The workers went on a warning strike but suspended the action after the federal government intervened, following a request for negotiations. Speaking on Saturday during a colloquium to commemorate the birthday of Rauf Aregbesola, minister of interior, el-Rufai advocated for reduction in cost of governance. The Kaduna governor argued that the country is not only battling fiscal crisis but also battling crisis of economic development, noting that it can only be solved through reduction in cost of governance and elimination of fraud. He noted that no country can perform better without the right quality of skills in its public service. However, what we face is not just a fiscal crisis. It is a crisis of economic development. Our country clearly has to cut the cost of governance, reduce waste and eliminate fraud, he said. Government must trim its costs and focus on security, infrastructure and economic competitiveness. We cannot leave fiscal challenges to chance. I dont think you should have a government larger than the taxes you can raise. Each state needs to set its minimum wage because the cost of living is different across the states. Let us use our oil revenue for capital expenditure and pay salaries through taxes. No country can perform better than the quality of its public service. El-Rufai said reducing the cost of governance at federal, state and local government levels can be achieved through the expansion of the tax net and raise value added tax to between 15-20%, right-sizing the governments at federal, states and LG levels based on non-oil tax revenues (IGR) affordability through the merger of ministries, department and agencies (MDAs) with similar mandates and functions. He also called for a review of public sector staffing levels to energise, professionalize and compensate appropriately. Earlier in the colloquium, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo said the problem of cost of government is not only about downsizing the public service but ensuring that the right quality of people are in the right jobs. Osinbajo stressed on why the social investment programmes of the federal government are important in countries with high level of poverty like Nigeria. We should not be trapped into thinking that cost of government is the problem only, Osinbajo said. We must ensure that we have the right fit and the right quality of skill in public service as a balance. Where are markets doing the best and worst during the real estate boom? Firefighting operations to extinguish the blaze aboard the MV X-Press Pearl have further reduced the area affected by flames to small spot fires in the aft of the ship, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority has reported. According to the news item ran by its official website at news.slpa.lk, the SLPA has noted that "firefighting tugs continued in spraying and misting the vessel with support from the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Sri Lanka Navy, and Indian Coast Guard, who remain on scene. Salvors are also exploring the possibility of boarding the ship and making a tow connection so it can be moved." "Firefighters and salvors have confirmed that the vessels hull remains structurally intact, and no oil or chemical spill observed till now." "Meanwhile, shoreline clean-up efforts to dispose of any debris that has come ashore safely continued for the fourth day, " the report added. Image Courtesy: Sri Lanka Ports Authority Image Courtesy: Sri Lanka Ports Authority At Jensen Motor Boat on Portage Bay in Seattle, two vintage all wood Chris Craft runabouts are stored in the foreground. Greg Gilbert/Seattle Times/TNS The COVID-19 pandemic has taxed the nations mental health system, and youth have been harshly affected. A poll by the American Psychiatric Association, or APA, released on May 2 found that 48% of parents said the pandemic contributed to mental health problems for at least one of their children. 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Memorial Day came one day early, or Carnival more than 100 late, but to thousands of people who lined Jefferson Highway under a warm blue sky, it was about time either way. The Krewe of Kings Salutes America parade rolled at 1 p.m. Sunday, an off-season Carnival-style event that marked a first for the city, and the first official parade in the area since large gatherings were all but shut down with the COVID-19 pandemic more than a year ago. Oh my goodness, weve been desperate to parade, said Charlie Jallans-Daly, who led the NOLA Angels Dance & Social Team in elaborate white wings, their feathers dangling with red-white-and-blue stars. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser tossed cups as grand marshal for a parade aimed at heralding a post-pandemic commercial rebound to the city, organizers said. Mayor Tim Baudier said earlier that the event cost the city $30,000. Amazing, Baudier said in a text immediately afterward. He said he figured the crowd exceeded the 10,000 hed anticipated, and the city's Twitter account later stated that about 50,000 had attended. The gold-leaf floats said Mardi Gras, while the beads that rained down from them were red, white and blue. Fleets of dune buggies and Model A Fords, dancing troupes and bands joined the parade, which rolled west from Hord Street to Kendall Lane and back again. More than 200 riders were expected. Luci Gordon, 27, of New Orleans, admitted shed never planned for her life to include a Carnival-like parade in Harahan, a burg of fewer than 10,000 along a bend in the Mississippi River. But Gordon also said Zulu 2019 was the last parade shed attended until Sunday, and she lamented the absence this year of Endymions all-day party. So she picked up two young relatives, both girls, and headed masked on Sunday to the City of Friendship. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up When you havent had Mardi Gras in so long and can do this kind of thing, you drive 45 minutes if you have to, she said. Timmie Leggett, a retired Marine Corps veteran and Purple Heart recipient, stood on the neutral ground with his mother, 70-year-old Agnes Castellano, who danced as the parade passed by. Its not the American way, being cooped up inside, Leggett said of an isolation-filled year. This is the closest were going to get until next year. You wonder that its a little small city like Harahan that throws it. Most parade-goers went without masks at the outdoor event, which ran past Ciolinos Drug Store, where pharmacist Jeff Ciolino set up an outdoor tent in the parking lot to attract people who had not yet been vaccinated against COVID-19. Louisiana ranks near the bottom among states in its rate of people who have been given at least one COVID-19 vaccination shot, and there were few takers at Ciolino's on Sunday. I did five," he said. "It's better than zero." Harahan wasnt alone in its bid to put on a belated Mardi Gras parade. On Saturday, the Grand Carnivale Parade drew crowds to downtown Pensacola, Florida. The Harahan parade came about relatively quickly. Baudier hired McKinley "Mac" Cantrell, a professional float builder who founded the Krewe of Kings as a Metairie parade in 2019. Baudier said he expects to make it an annual event, though which holiday to hold it on is still up for debate. On Sunday, people could choose from two. One parade-goer, who declined to give her name, also declined to choose. I miss Mardi Gras big time, but my son is a Marine, she said. Youve gotta support em both. Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams rode into office earlier this year on a wave of enthusiasm from liberals, including many former colleagues in the defense bar. But he lost some of his shine in progressive circles last week, when he announced that he was bringing adult murder charges against two teenage boys accused of killing a woman during a botched carjacking in New Orleans East. The move may have mollified critics worried about violent crime committed by youngsters but it provoked a furious response from erstwhile Williams allies who said he was flip-flopping on a key campaign promise. Williams acknowledged the move was controversial in an interview on WWL-TV Wednesday. I didn't run for DA to make friends. I ran to make the city safer, and this is absolutely the right decision in this particular situation, Williams said. Williams presented the indictment as a common-sense response to developing crime trends. But one group said this week it showed that his commitment to keeping youths in juvenile court was nothing more than a campaign ploy. To understand the anger his move provoked in some circles, including a call for his resignation, it helps to take a look back at the fall election. Why Jason Williams charged 2 teens with murder in adult court -- despite DA campaign rhetoric In a break with his campaign rhetoric, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams on Monday announced a second-degree murder indictment a Williams was facing off with two former Orleans Parish Criminal District Court judges, Arthur Hunter and Keva Landrum, who were both positioning themselves as reform candidates. At a Sept. 23 campaign forum hosted by the Peoples DA Coalition, all three rushed to endorse liberal priorities. But Williams distinguished himself by giving an unambiguous response to a coalition questionnaire. Williams said he would never send kids to adult court. "The brain of a juvenile is much different than that of an adult, and understanding those differences is critical in responding to and reforming juvenile misconduct," Williams said. The other candidates were more equivocal. Landrum said she would send juveniles to adult court in extreme circumstances. Hunter said he wouldnt do it at all for defendants under 16, and only in rare cases above that age level. Williams narrowly edged out Hunter for second place in the Nov. 3 primary and went on to rout Landrum in a run-off. Since then hes followed through on many liberal campaign promises, like creating a civil rights division and refusing to prosecute low-level drug crimes. +7 In killing of Zelda Townsend in Mid-City, court deals a setback to case against 3 young defendants The Louisiana Supreme Court has dealt a blow to the case against three youths accused of killing a New Orleans woman during a botched auto bur Williams also transferred the cases of numerous juveniles accused of serious crimes from adult to juvenile court. At least one major juvenile case, involving two minors accused of killing Zelda Townsend during a botched auto burglary in 2019, remained in adult court, but the office presented that as a holdover from the Cannizzaro era. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Last week, however, Williams revealed that he had secured an indictment of his own in adult court against Que'dyn Growe and Demond Thomas, who are accused of fatally shooting Anita Irvin-LeViege during a Jan. 3 attempted carjacking in New Orleans East. The limitations of the juvenile justice system would mean these individuals could serve as little as three or five years in jail for taking a woman's life, for shooting several high-powered rounds into her, Williams said in explaining his decision. That's simply not justice. So I have done this with a heavy heart, but it is required because one of the campaign promises that is not being discussed is prioritizing violent crime in the city. And that's what we have to do. +3 New Orleans judge tosses murder conviction; DA Jason Williams says predecessors withheld evidence A New Orleans judge on Thursday tossed the conviction of a man serving a life sentence for a 2007 murder, after Orleans Parish District Attorn Williams described the boys as 15-year-olds, but court records suggest they are both 16. The DA's announcement came after weeks of frustrated statements from New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson that some juveniles felt there would be no consequences for criminal misdeeds. As Williams noted, it also came shortly before city schools let out for the summer, when he predicts another increase in crime committed by youths. Yet critics said that despite the citys ongoing struggles with juvenile crime, the science around developing brains hasnt changed since Williams' Jan. 11 inauguration. "District Attorney Jason Williams' recent decision to prosecute two 15-year-old boys as adults is contrary to all science regarding adolescent development and public safety," the Orleans Public Defenders said in a statement. "If New Orleans is to move toward a safer, more just, and equitable future, we need to have the courage to dismiss and dismantle the harmful and ineffective policies of the past." Meanwhile, the non-profit Families and Friends of Louisianas Incarcerated Children issued an even sterner statement. +14 Court rejects Travis Boys' appeal of conviction for killing NOPD officer Daryle Holloway Travis Boys complaints of racial discrimination during jury selection for his trial in the killing of a New Orleans Police Department officer We are disappointed and outright angered by the news that our new District Attorney Jason Williams lied about his intentions to not try youth as adults. We believe he must be held accountable for the misrepresentation of his views and that is why we are calling for his removal from office, said Gina Womack, the groups executive director. Womack added that she now believes Williams position on juvenile crimes was a campaign ploy. Williams, in the interview this week, said his critics should talk to kids. According to him, theyve said that there is a developing pattern of adults paying juveniles to commit crimes, knowing that they will not face serious consequences. So things are changing on the streets of New Orleans, and I would hope that people who are advocating for young people are spending enough time with them to understand how things are changing in real-time, he said. Growe and Thomas are set to be arraigned June 10. 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Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbfa31dee30)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc0007d6ea8)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbfa31dee30)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc0007d6ea8)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff30f2508)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc0007d6ea8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fc0007d6ea8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff27d9f98)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbffb5bb760)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbffb5bb760)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 The New Orleans City Council signed off Thursday on rules governing the use of electric-assisted bicycles on city streets, paving the way for a major upgrade of the public bike-sharing system that is set for next year. The council unanimously agreed to permit "pedal-assist" bicycles, which are motorized bikes that can reach speeds of 20 mph. It also will allow pedal-assist bicycles that reach speeds of 28 mph on certain bikeways. The electric bikes are expected to replace the traditional pedal bikes now used in the city's Blue Bikes rental program sometime next year. Blue Bikes, which now offers 700 bicycles at 70 hubs, will expand to 900 bicycles at 90 hubs in the coming months, city officials have said. The new hubs will be in Algiers, Central City and Uptown. The rules passed Thursday will allow the upgraded Blue Bikes on bike lanes and bike trails. However, at the request of Mayor LaToya Cantrell's administration, the council barred personal e-bikes that go faster than 20 mph on the bike trails. Riders who choose to use the speedier personal e-bikes must be at least 16 and must wear a helmet. Privately owned electric bikes will not be required to have a vehicle registration or a license plate, and will not be considered motor vehicles. The same rules apply to traditional pedal bikes. The changes are aimed at helping cyclists navigate the city far more quickly than is possible with current bike-share options, council members and bike-share representatives said. They said it could further boost participation in a program that has already seen big jumps in ridership since it began in 2017. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up When the e-bikes come online next year, New Orleans will join Atlanta, Seattle and a host of other cities across the U.S. that have embraced that transit trend. At least 44 bike-share programs in the U.S. have gone partly or entirely electric in recent years, according to Samantha Herr of the North American BikeShare Association, a nonprofit industry group. The electric-assisted bicycles often appeal to older or less physically active riders who are unwilling or unable to ride traditional bicycles that require the riders to provide all the power. The bike-sharing program in the city has already sparked enthusiasm without the help of the motors, with a 66% increase in trips taken since last year, according to JUMP, the program's private operator. The program charges 10 cents a minute to ride for most users, with discounts for low-income users and college students. Costs for the new e-bikes are unclear, as negotiations between the company and the city are ongoing. But the company does intend to keep a version of its discounted program for residents with low incomes, JUMP general manager Geoff Coates has said. One of the promises that helped Jason Williams get elected as DA in New Orleans late last year was that he would never haul a juvenile defendant into an adult court. It sure didn't take long to renege on that one. And it was not even the first campaign promise that Williams has broken. Williams apparently decided the way to win was not to stint on promises to liberalize the DA's office. So he loudly proclaimed himself to be the polar opposite of his predecessor, Leon Cannizzaro, who, to put it mildly, was not in the business of mollycoddling criminals. If a kid committed a sufficiently heinous offense, Cannizzaro figured he should forfeit any right to the relatively lenient sentences available to juvenile judges. Williams emphatically and repeatedly asserted that, if he won, kids would always be tried as kids. His rival candidates, former state judges Keva Landrum and Arthur Hunter, both repudiated the rigidly draconian mindset of the Cannizzaro era, but left open the possibility that really bad youths might be tried with the big boys. For Williams, it was absolutely no exceptions. While we have all heard the rumor that not all Louisiana politicians tell the truth the whole time, there seemed no reason to doubt that Que'dyn Growe and Demond Thomas would be tried in juvenile court. They were arrested for allegedly killing Anita Irvin-LeViege with a fusillade from a high-powered rifle while she was delivering groceries to her in-laws. Irvin-LeViege managed to drive two blocks before crashing her car inside which police found her and her dog dead. They also booked the two youths with armed robbery for a carjacking committed less than an hour after the murder. Growe and Thomas are both 15 years old, and there is no secret about what happens when young boys are locked up with hardened criminals. With Williams having heralded a new, enlightened era, those youths seemed certain to avoid that fate. But Williams suddenly channeled Cannizzaro to announce that the suspects were so depraved that they would be tried for second-degree murder in adult court. They do not face the mandatory life sentence that would apply to adult defendants, and will probably get out in a quarter of a century, but rehabilitation, which might be feasible in the juvenile system, is clearly out of the question. This decision shows that Williams lacks the strength of his convictions, but we already knew that from the case of Dan Bright, who was released from death row when his murder conviction was overturned in 2004, but who was arrested again in 2019. Williams, in a spectacular demonstration of prosecutorial discretion only hours after taking office, reduced an attempted murder charge to simple battery, a misdemeanor, so that Bright could plead guilty and walk. Williams explained that he thought Bright was innocent, an odd reason to arrange a guilty plea. Williams had just pledged never to make a defendant plead guilty to a crime he didn't commit. If Bright got a bum rap when Cannizzaro was in charge, his luck changed when Williams won the election and hired a bunch of old comrades from his long career as a defense attorney. One of those old comrades was Emily Maw, whose former employer represented Bright. So did Williams. That was when we had a truly adversarial system. Email James Gill at gill504nola@gmail.com. Once upon a time, a committee chairmanship was the culmination of a career in the Legislature. The gavel signals respect from peers and leadership, and comes with genuine influence over which bills get a real chance and which get sidelined into oblivion. It also carries an unspoken obligation to be one of the grown-ups in the room. Apparently state Rep. Ray Garofalo, R-Chalmette, has found a title he likes better than Chairman, one that doesnt require all that adulting. Something more along the lines of Culture War Martyr, which apparently comes with the license to hold temper tantrums. Garofalo lost his chairmanship of the House Education Committee last week, after hed caused the biggest kerfuffle of the session and refused to make amends, despite being offered ample opportunity. It all started when he authored a bill to block the teaching of what he termed divisive concepts, such as the view that Louisiana and the United States are structurally racist. Garofalo argued that teachers and professors who do so bring their own politics into the classroom, but many educators and others rightly saw the law as an attempt to impose Garofalos own political view of American history, and to hinder honest examination of its more problematic aspects. With tempers running high last month, House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, asked Garofalo to table the proposal, and he agreed not to bring it to an immediate vote. But he insisted on staging an in-your-face hearing anyway, which is when he uttered the fateful line about the importance of teaching the good, the bad and the ugly of slavery. State Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, R-Metairie, immediately interjected that theres nothing good about slavery, and Garofalo agreed, saying thats not what he meant and not what he believed. The retraction might have ended things if that occurred in a vacuum, but given the context of his bill itself and his behavior in pushing it, it wasnt enough. It was also the last time he tried to take any responsibility for his actions. Garofalo refused to apologize and instead delivered a defiant floor speech. Schexnayder temporarily removed him as chairman, but Garofalo insisted on showing up and leading a meeting last week, after the two had a tense conversation that included a threat by Schexnayder to have the Garofalo removed from the building. And then, finally, the speaker ended his chairmanship, citing Garofalos refusal to mitigate the ongoing situation and arguing that it is our duty to continually prioritize the needs of our state over and above the needs or desires of any one individual. Clearly Garofalo doesnt agree, at least not when hes the individual in question. If theres anything positive to come out of this ugly episode, its a reminder that, at least sometimes, theres still a penalty for such behavior in Louisianas Legislature unlike, say, in Washington, where it seems to be generally ignored or even rewarded. Schexnayder had to listen to Black lawmakers who were offended by Garofalos antics, because they helped elect the speaker in the first place and because they had the power to deprive him of the two-thirds he wanted to pass his big tax swap through. But it wasnt just Black legislators and other Democrats who pushed back. Most Republicans on the committee didnt show when Garofalo took the chair last week, depriving him of a quorum. And no less a staunch Republican ally than Louisiana Association of Business and Industry president Stephen Waguespack went on the radio to blast Garofalo for picking fights when theres actual business to get done. Calling slavery an unambiguous stain, Waguespack said that if thats the only cause that gets you fired up to hold a news conference and criticize your own speaker, I mean, give me a break. Indeed. National politics is surely influencing the goings-on in Baton Rouge more and more, but at least stoking intentional division and in the case of conservatives, triggering the libs isnt a career-making move. Garofalo may be a martyr in his own mind and to his small band of sympathizers. To the people who really run things, and to most of the rest of us, hes just an ill-tempered child in need of a time out. Walter F. Huebner, age 93, renowned astrophysicist and lifelong traveler, passed away peacefully at his home in Norman, Oklahoma, on June 1, 2021, surrounded by family. No services at this time. View full obituary and share condolences online at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com. Dave Moore, CISSP, has been fixing computers in Oklahoma since 1984. Founder of the nonprofit Internet Safety Group Ltd, he also teaches Internet safety community training workshops. He can be reached at 919-9901 or internetsafetygroup.org. A display in the Tulsa Race Massacre Prayer Room at the First Baptist Church, designed to highlight local churches sins prior to and following a white mobs deadly siege of the Greenwood community on May 31-June 1, 1921. The Pennsylvania Builders Associations (PBA) Endorsed Trade Program recently awarded the local Outstanding Student Award to Williamsport Area High School student Thomas Harper. Harper is the son of Tommy and Kristine Harper of Williamsport. He is in the Construction Trades program. He was nominated for the honor by his instructor, Randy Williamson. The award was presented by Matthew Fisher, Williamsport Area High School CTE Director; James Hoffman, President of West Branch Susquehanna Builders Association (WBSBA) and owner of Eagle Construction; Carroll Pawlikowski, Executive Officer of WBSBA; and Randy Williamson, WAHS Construction Trades Instructor. The Outstanding Student Award is presented to students across Pennsylvania in recognition of their embodiment in the trade. Students who carry a minimum GPA, are members of a student chapter of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and are from schools enrolled in the Endorsed Trade Program, are eligible. When asked his thoughts about the Outstanding Student Award, Harper said, This award proves that hard work pays off, and I did a good job in the construction program while at Williamsport Area High School. Harper plans to attend the Pennsylvania College of Technology and major in Residential Construction Management. Williamson added, Tommy is a great kid. I have no doubt he will be successful at PCT and eventually in the industry. As always I cannot thank PBA and WBSBA enough for the countless ways they support our program and more importantly our students. The Endorsed Trade Program was developed by the PBA, in collaboration with educators, local builders associations, and others to provide technical school graduates with more credibility in the job market as well as provide builders with a highly skilled workforce. For more information or to donate to the Endorsed Trade Program, visit https://pabuilders.org/about/endorsed-trade-program/. Cedartown, GA (30125) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 68F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 68F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff30de998)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff3103c78)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff30de998)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff3103c78)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff30e2a68)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff3103c78)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff3103c78)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff280a018)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff27dbd18)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff27dbd18)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by subscribing. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff30f1110)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff310db40)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff30f1110)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff310db40)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff30e0938)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff310db40)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff310db40)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff27d9e08)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff30f79f8)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff30f79f8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff30ca108)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff314b798)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff30ca108)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff314b798)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff3102d38)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff314b798)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff314b798)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff27dabc8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff3112ee0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff3112ee0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 We're changing the habitat for the orcas and salmon -- and not for the better After endless rumours, it seems that Nintendo is finally getting close to releasing a new Switch console, four years on from the release of the first version. Tentatively called a Switch Pro or names to that effect, Bloomberg believes that the device's announcement is imminent and that sales should start by October at the latest, as we reported earlier this week. Now, Spanish website Vandal claims to have received 'exclusive details' about the upcoming console. It is worth stressing that Vandal has not provided a source for its information, so we proceed with caution. Nothing sounds that extraordinary though, in our opinion. Apparently, Nintendo has equipped the next Switch with a 7-inch OLED display, albeit in the same size chassis. Correspondingly, the console will have thinner bezels than the current Switch and Switch Lite. The next Switch will maintain compatibility with contemporary accessories though, including the Joy-Cons. Moreover, Nintendo has replaced the Switch's flimsy kickstand with a more robust design. Vandal has likened this to the Surface Pro's kickstand, beneath which Nintendo has hidden the console's microSD card reader. The Switch Dock has been overhauled, too. According to Vandal, the new dock will be wider than the current one, making space for another USB Type-A port. These ports will also be USB 3.0, rather than the slower USB 2.0 standard that the current Switch has. Additionally, Vandal asserts that the new dock will have an Ethernet port. Unfortunately, Vandal believes that Nintendo will not launch the next Switch in Europe until the end of November, way after the console arrives in other regions. There will only be limited quantities available at launch too, mirroring the Xbox Series S|X and PlayStation 5 last year. Purchase the Nintendo Switch Animal Crossing New Horizons Edition on Amazon According to @mirai160525, Sony may announce the WF-1000XM4 on June 8, before releasing the Xperia 1 III in most countries. This date is unconfirmed, so we would only recommend treating it as a rumour, for the time being. If June 8 is the WF-1000XM3's launch date, we expect Sony to announce something within the next week. To that end, a WF-1000XM4 product video has leaked, showing all aspects of Sony's upcoming earbuds. As expected, the WF-1000XM4 has a new V1 chipset and support wireless charging through its charging case. You can watch the video below, which has been re-posted to YouTube by Sparrows News. WinFuture asserts that Sony will charge 279.90 for the WF-1000XM4 in Europe, but pricing in other regions remains unknown, currently. Purchase the Sony WF-1000XM3 on Amazon Roseburg, OR (97470) Today Cloudy with showers. High 79F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Showers early, then cloudy overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff30e4278)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff30d7018)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff30e4278)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff30d7018)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7fbff3088170)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff30d7018)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff30d7018)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7fbff280a6f0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff312cbe0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7fbff312cbe0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 I had long conversations with each about value and expectations. I shared my saga. My first disappointment occurred in February. I ordered flowers for my cousins funeral, which I could not attend due to COVID. The funeral home recommended two florists. I visited their websites, and chose one that featured a lovely arrangement called Treasured and Beloved that looked perfect. I called. I ordered. I paid $134. What arrived was not what I ordered at all. They used half as many stems, and cheap filler flowers, in this case chrysanthemums, which is the oldest trick, because they take up a lot of space, Palacio said. The second disappointment came a few weeks ago. I ordered a small arrangement for my assistant, who was graduating from college. I went to a local flower shop. I met the owner and her daughter, who works there. I met their dog. I tried to make a good impression. We discussed what I wanted. Because they had lovely arrangements on their website for $60 and less, I suggested $60 as a price. I provided a vase, which they said would increase my flower budget by $5. Great. I asked if they had peonies. They were getting peonies in the next day. Perfect. They cost $7 a stem. Noted. I figured, using Marni math, that should cover four or five stems, plus a few background flowers. Across the state line, Calumet City reported 3,928 cases, up one from the previous day. Lansing reported 3,479 cases, up two, following any corrections, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Seven-day positivity rates in Northwest Indiana included 5.8% in Lake County, down from 6% the day before; 5.9% in Porter County, down from 6.2%; 6.3% in LaPorte County, up from 6%; 10.1% in Newton County, down from 10.2%; and 7.9% in Jasper County, up from 7.8%. Contact tracing can become difficult when the number exceeds 5%, and community spread is considered out of control when the positivity rate is greater than 10%. A total of 43.2% of Indiana's total population has been fully vaccinated. To date, 2,512,956 Hoosiers 12 years old and up have been fully vaccinated. Appointments and walk-ins are welcome at the former Roosevelt High School in Gary, which is offering both the Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccines. The Gary clinic, which runs through Wednesday, is offering vaccinations from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 2401 Harrison St., Gary. A LaPorte County man convicted last year of multiple counts of child molesting and child solicitation is entitled to no reduction in his 36-year prison term, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled. Joshua Morgan, 37, repeatedly molested a 10-year-old girl over several months in 2016, and sent her text messages and Facebook messages seeking photos of her genitals, sharing photos of his genitals, and asking the girl, "Would you like me to rape you? LOL," according to court records. In his appeal, Morgan argued the length of his prison term was inappropriate given the nature of his offenses and his character, since his 36-year sentence is above the 30-year advisory sentence for level 1 felonies. The three-judge appeals court unanimously disagreed. It said Morgan's pattern of abuse and threats to the victim that she would "get in trouble" if others found out he was molesting her warranted an above-advisory sentence in this case. The appeals court also observed Morgan was charged with assaulting a jail officer while awaiting trial on the child molesting charges, an action it said reflected poorly on Morgan's character and eliminated any basis for a reduced sentence. The court concluded in a 3-0 decision Costello's 60-year sentence was warranted since Costello was an adult at the time of the crime, his role as apparent leader of the burglary and gang rape, and the fact he was facing a potential 76-year sentence absent a plea deal. The appeals court also noted Costello had four prior juvenile adjudications, including two that would have been level 4 felonies if committed by an adult, and Costello repeatedly smuggled contraband into the Lake County Jail while awaiting trial in this case. "Costello has failed to carry his burden of establishing that his sentence is inappropriate in light of the nature of the offenses and his character," the court said. According to court records, Costello's accomplices, Nathaniel Asbury, 24, of Hammond, and Isiah Barboza, 18, of Hammond, also each were sentenced to 60-year prison terms for rape and burglary. Their separate appeals are still pending. A fourth participant, Alexis Lietz, 22, who was Costello's boyfriend at the time and the victim's stepsister, provided the perpetrators a map of the home showing the location of surveillance cameras, safes, jewelry, and other valuables, drove them to the home, and was waiting to drive them away when police arrived, according to court records. CROWN POINT An East Chicago man evaded capture April 17 after leading police on a chase in a stolen Dodge Challenger Hellcat but ended up in jail about two weeks later after crashing a stolen Dodge pickup truck during another pursuit, court records allege. Deon A. Evans, 19, told police after the second pursuit he was in debt and received $10,000 per vehicle, records state. Evans has pleaded not guilty in both cases to multiple counts of theft, auto theft, resisting law enforcement and misdemeanor carrying a handgun without a license. An Indiana State Police trooper joined the first chase about 3:25 a.m. April 17 as multiple police agencies pursued four high-performance vehicles stolen from a LaPorte dealership, Lake Criminal Court records state. The total value of the stolen vehicles was about $240,000. The sticker price on the Hellcat was $92,645, records state. The drivers reached speeds of up to 155 mph on westbound Interstate 80/94 before the Hellcat began to slow near Cline Avenue. The driver, later identified as Evans, threw a Glock handgun out a window before getting out of the car and jumping 30 feet off a ramp from the Borman Expressway to Cline Avenue, police said. VALPARAISO Twelve firefighters from seven departments in the Region have graduated from the District 1 Fire Academy in Valparaiso. Serving people even if they need a shoulder to cry on was the main message they took home from the Friday ceremony at the Multi-Agency Academic Cooperative training facility in Valparaiso. Dont forget the compassion, said LaPorte Fire Chief Andy Snyder during his address to the graduates and their many family members in attendance. Snyder also spoke of courage, professionalism and dedication as traits firefighters held to a higher standard by society should have. He said compassion, though, is most important even though it can be misinterpreted as weakness. Snyder said the endings are not always happy and firefighters are the ones when theres nobody else to turn to when people are frantic and needing help. He told the graduates never forget that a display of care or sympathy for others is at the core of what we do. Our every day is the people who we serves worst day. You can use that as an opportunity for being a big impact on their life, Snyder said. Members of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, including several Northwest Indiana lawmakers, are set to participate in the first of three summer virtual town hall meetings at 5 p.m. Region time Thursday. The legislators plan to speak about the accomplishments and failures of the 2021 Indiana General Assembly, discuss ideas for new state laws to consider enacting next year, and answer questions from constituents on community issues. "This is an opportunity for Hoosiers to come together and have a conversation about what the IBLC can do to help their communities. I encourage everyone to join us for these events," said state Rep. Robin Shackleford, D-Indianapolis, black caucus chairwoman. Individuals can register for the meetings by selecting Indiana Black Legislative Caucus under the "Members" tab at indianahousedemocrats.org, and then clicking "Events." Additional virtual town halls are scheduled for 5 p.m. Region time Aug. 12 and Oct. 14. At the earliest, the work would begin June 14, with closures to last until the fall, Uran told The Times. While 109th will be closed from Delaware Parkway to Iowa Street, 113th and 101st avenues will be open, and Delaware Parkway will be open to 105th Avenue, Uran said. Motorists also will be able to use 113th Avenue to access Mississippi Street. The connection is set to open this weekend, Uran told The Times. "We've been coordinating with surrounding municipalities, that's why this project timeline is this way," Uran said, referring to work being completed on 101st by the town of Merrillville this year. "Everything is coming into the timing as we thought it would be," he said. In 2020, 109th underwent an extensive improvement project, with a roundabout added at Mississippi Street, improved landscaping installed along the corridor and the road widened and concrete medians installed at 109th and Broadway. I am an American. I try to live with a moral imperative: dont break the law, pay my fair share of taxes, pick up trash in the street, help others in need, and the like. I am also a capitalist. I do what I can to make more money today than I had yesterday. I take care of my means of production: my business and its environment, its inventory, my clients and my employees. The other side of that coin is the not-for-profit world. These organizations pay no taxes, and often have as their main priority the betterment of society, not filling their pockets with coin. One example is our government, it makes no profit when building sewer systems and roads. Another is the church. When a government official becomes corrupted and puts profit before the public, we take that official to court and often to jail. When the church behaves in a capitalistic manor, they should also pay a penalty, as well as have their not-for-profit status revoked. Many mark Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial start of summer. For many, Memorial Day weekend 2021 marks a time of great liberation. For more than a year, scores of us have been unable to load up the car and visit relatives or gather with friends because of constraints surrounding the pandemic. The vaccine and softening CDC guidelines are bringing a new sense of freedom to travel and to regain a semblance of normalcy. It's understandable that people want to get together, have fun and try and put all of the stresses of life in a pandemic on the back burner if at least for a few days. But we must never forgot the true reason for Memorial Day. The holiday was born in the wake of national carnage that was the Civil War, in which upwards of 700,000 Americans died fighting each other between 1861 and 1865. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it wasn't recognized as a federal holiday until 1971. And since then, despite the revelry associated with the holiday weekend, Memorial Day is a time to remember those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedoms and ideals. 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Some people have preferred not to put their private lives on screens. This sense of being exposed has been a challenge for people who do not have an environment that they feel comfortable showing to whoever is on the other side of the line, said Munmun De Choudhury, an associate professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology who studies health and well-being online. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds who dont have dedicated work spaces, she said, might not want to share with classmates. As an actor in New York, Anna Suzuki has fielded a fair number of video calls for work this past year discussions with directors, table reads for television series and so many other Zoom meetings. She also shares a studio apartment with her partner. Because Im a pretty private person, Ms. Suzuki said, I had to figure out a way they would only see a blank wall behind me. The solution was to carve out a section of a storage space in her mothers apartment, conveniently located just below hers. Her public perch an oak-colored table and black office chair has provided some separation between her work and personal lives, allowing her to turn on and off her performer brain, as she described it. It hasnt always been easy. I really have to compartmentalize, she said. I still had to create a public persona at home. Yet she also found that being able to stake such a clear divide between public and private was comforting, she said. If youre not enthusiastic about sharing so much, thats OK. Its fair for someone to say what their needs are, Mr. Poswolsky said. Create a boundary around, I dont want to let people into my space in a vulnerable way. And consider taking your time easing back into situations that now give you pause. Dr. Creary said she observed two sources of concern for those who enjoyed the firm boundaries they formed working from home and are now anticipating a return to the workplace: that the change of location will decrease productivity because distractions abound, and that it will increase exposure to unhealthy social environments. She suggested two possible strategies to establish boundaries anew: Think about what time of day you tend to work best and plan meetings and other obligations accordingly, she said, and weigh which social engagements dinners, happy hours and the like are essential and which ones you can decline. Its about pacing ourselves, Dr. Creary said. Keep having tough conversations. According to Natalie Bazarova, an associate professor of communication at Cornell University who studies public intimacy, social media users largely shared positive personal information before the pandemic. But over the course of the past 15 months, there has been a change. There is more acceptance of negative disclosures, she said, citing research she published this year. There is this common circumstance that were going through, and so that shapes our perception of how we think about whats appropriate. The need to reconnect now feels urgent. I am craving face-to-face, meaningful interactions with people outside our immediate family circle and our dog and cat, who have been elevated to almost human level during the pandemic. I took entertaining for granted before, often looking at it as something I had to plan for. It meant we didnt entertain often. Now I want to fling open the doors and have our home filled with the friends and family we have missed. It doesnt matter if we eat on a china plate or a paper plate or have a home-cooked meal or a pizza. Sally Mathew, Birmingham, Ala. I am looking forward to wearing lipstick this summer. Not a light color that matches your gums, but a real stains-the-napkin-at-lunch bright coral. Something that isnt going back behind a mask. That is when I will know we have moved on. Becky Schaeffer, Atlanta I am attending a small, masked, distanced outdoor concert in Santa Cruz, Calif., a big step toward the new normal. Im going with my concert buddy girlfriend, who was my companion at the last show I attended in January 2020. Mara J. Wildfeuer, Mountain View, Calif. My friends and I have been meeting together every summer and planning a trip for the past 11 years or so. Last year was tough not seeing them. This year were going on a canoe trip together and I cant wait. Were all vaccinated, have been diligent and safe throughout the pandemic, and were excited to have a moment of normalcy together out in the woods. There are things Im not quite ready to do (eat inside being one) but more and more, as vaccination rates go up, Ive started to feel moments of regularity that have shined through. Its a vaxxed-up summer! Jared Smith, Boston Image Traveling to Capri and Positano for a wedding in September. Mary Bairstow, Atlanta Im looking forward to being spontaneous! Living in the moment with no reservations. Robin Berman, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. Im looking forward to sitting in a park and feeling content with where Im at with the world. Im looking forward to smelling fresh cut grass without a mask. Listening to birds sing on branches above me. Watching the way the sun looks as it peeks behind the distant clouds. Im looking forward to focusing on these pleasant sensory details and nothing else. Ive waited a long time to move to New York and the pandemic pushed it back another year. But last week, I took a plane and then a train and then a cab. And now Im standing in a shower thats too small. Im cooking in a kitchen thats too crowded. Im lugging bags of groceries up five flights of stairs. And I love it. Samuel Eaton, New York About two hours into the protest, a man and a woman came out of the restaurant and got into a heated exchange with protesters, with the man yelling an expletive at the crowd. Some protesters yelled to them, Enjoy that exploitation and You have no backbone. In response, the man said, Prove it, presumably referring to the accusations in the Times article. According to three people who have worked at the restaurant, and who requested anonymity for fear of professional consequences, 10 staff members nearly half of the total resigned soon after that report was published; hundreds of reservations were canceled, and those customers deposits, usually in the realm of $500, were refunded with no comment. Local businesses that made custom products for the Willows Camber Coffee, Constant Crush winery and Wander Brewing said they had immediately ended their collaborations. Loganita Farm has long been the cornerstone of Mr. Wetzels claim that he cooked only with ingredients from Lummi Island. Though he often referred to Loganita as our farm, it has never been part of the Willows and is separately owned by Steve McMinn, a former Willows investor. In a phone interview, Mr. McMinn said he sympathized with the former employees but considered the protest a tempest in a teapot. He said Loganita would continue to grow vegetables for the restaurant. I like producing local ingredients and local jobs, he said. Mary von Krusenstiern, the head farmer, worked on the farm for nine years and has lived in the area her whole life. Although Loganita was not implicated in any of the sourcing allegations, she resigned a few days after the allegations were published. Bess Rattray, 54, a writer and volunteer emergency medical technician, grew up in East Hampton and now lives near the villages main business district. Ms. Rattrays cellphone frequently fails in her own home, forcing her into the front yard. Sometimes, she said, her phone will simply say unavailable, which typically occurs when there are too many people using cellphones in the area. Thats bananas in this day and age, she said. In this incredibly wealthy area, and so close to the biggest metropolitan area in the country. The Hamptons lack of reliable service, she said, also presents a real safety hazard. We all know, in the emergency services, there are places where radios and cellphones might not work, she said. You go off the road in one of those places and youre sort of out of luck. Though some vacationers may relish being unreachable, for others its a matter of productivity. Nicole Castillo, 46, the executive vice president of WordHampton, a public relations firm, estimates that 30 percent of her job takes place outside of the office. Ms. Castillo lives and works in the Springs neighborhood and said that she is often communicating with clients on the go. On the weekend, its super-challenging to even get a text through, she said. At her office, her cell reception doesnt really work at all, and the company has had to buy boosters. Michael Schwarz, 38, the founder and C.E.O. of the tech company Improove, Inc., moved with his girlfriend to East Hampton from New York City last June. Mr. Schwarz was aware of the reception reputation of his new hometown. I figure: How bad can it be? he said. Then, what he referred to as the toxic combination of unreliable internet and nonexistent cell service proved pretty bad, indeed. Protesters gathered on Saturday outside a hat store in Nashville that sold not vaccinated Star of David patches and compared vaccine passports to the Nazi practice of requesting your papers. The store, Hatwrks, said on Instagram in a post that was later deleted that it was selling the patches for $5. Amid an outbreak of anti-Semitic attacks across the country, the post was criticized on social media and outside the store, where protesters held signs saying no Nazis in Nashville and sell hats not hate. A separate post to the stores Instagram account which also touted mask free shopping and promoted the conspiracy theory that vaccines have microchips in them said that all unvaccinated people will be segregated from society, marked and must wear a mask. What comes next? The hat company Stetson said that as a result of the offensive content and opinions shared by Hatwrks, it would stop selling its products through the store. Several other hat companies also announced they would immediately end distribution with the retailer, including Goorin Bros, Dorfman Pacific, Milano Hat Company, Akubra, Bailey and Kangol. It is the third marriage for Mr. Johnson and the first for Ms. Symonds, 33, who has recently come under scrutiny for her role in an expensive refurbishment of the prime ministers official quarters at Downing Street, which was initially financed by a donor to the Conservative Party. The afternoon wedding, in Londons main Roman Catholic cathedral less than a mile from 10 Downing Street was carried out in extreme secrecy, according to The Mail on Sunday and The Sun, which first reported the marriage on Saturday evening. Even Mr. Johnsons close aides were not told in advance of the ceremony. At about 1:30 p.m., according to The Sun, the church was abruptly cleared of visitors, and Mr. Johnson and his bride pulled up in a limousine. In accordance with coronavirus restrictions, there were only 30 guests in the byzantine-style church including Mr. Johnsons father, Stanley all of whom had been invited at short notice. Ms. Symonds wore a long white dress but no veil, according to The Sun. The couples year-old son was among the witnesses. Though the wedding was not confirmed by Downing Street until Sunday, news reports on Saturday evening drew congratulations from political figures, including Arlene Foster, the first minister of Northern Ireland, who said on Twitter, Huge congratulations to Boris Johnson & Carrie Symonds on your wedding today. Mr. Johnson is the first British prime minister to be married in office since Lord Liverpool married Mary Chester in 1822, his second marriage. But much about Mr. Johnson and Ms. Symondss relationship has seemed unorthodox by the relatively conventional standards of Downing Street. The bacteria strains got back to the Medici Chapel, which had reopened with reduced hours, in mid-October. Wearing white lab coats, blue gloves and anti-Covid surgical masks, Sprocati and the restorers spread gels with the SH7 bacteria from soil contaminated by heavy metals at a mineral site in Sardinia on the sullied sarcophagus of Lorenzo di Piero, Duke of Urbino, buried with his assassinated son Alessandro. It ate the whole night, said Marina Vincenti, another of the restorers. The Medicis were more accustomed to sitting atop Florences food chain. In 1513, Giovanni di Lorenzo de Medici became Leo X the first Medici pope. He had big plans for a new sacristy for the interment of his family, including his father, Lorenzo the Magnificent, the powerful ruler of Florence who largely bankrolled the Renaissance. Il Magnifico is now buried here too, under a modest altar adorned with Michelangelos Madonna and Child, flanked by saints that also had their toes nibbled by cleansing bacteria. But back then his coffin waited, probably on the Old Sacristy floor. He was soon joined by Leo Xs brother, Giuliano, and his nephew, Lorenzo, the Prince to whom Machiavelli dedicated his treatise on wielding power. You had coffins waiting to be buried, said DAgostino. Its kind of gloomy. Pope Leo X hired Michelangelo to design and build the mausoleum. The pope then promptly died of pneumonia. In the ensuing years, Michelangelo carved the masterpieces and then ran afoul of his patrons. Goodbye Bibi? Israel is moving toward a government coalition deal that could sideline Benjamin Netanyahu, the countrys longest-serving prime minister. An ultranationalist power-broker, Naftali Bennett, said on Sunday that his political party would work with seven others to build a coalition, a move that would supplant Netanyahus right-wing Likud party. Netanyahu fired back, calling the proposed coalition a government of capitulation. It would be an uneasy alliance. The emerging coalition would include both leftist and far-right members, and the prime ministers post would rotate between Bennett, a champion of the religious right who rejects the concept of a sovereign Palestinian state, and Yair Lapid, a voice of secular centrists. Their government would also rely on the support of a small Arab Islamist party, Raam, which has roots in the same religious stream as Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. Raam is not likely to play a formal role in the coalition, but is expected to support the new government at the Knesset confidence vote. Roller-coaster operators and lemonade slingers at Kennywood amusement park, a Pittsburgh summer staple, wont have to buy their own uniforms this year. Those with a high school diploma will also earn $13 as a starting wage up from $9 last year and new hires are receiving free season passes for themselves and their families. The big pop in pay and perks for Kennywoods seasonal work force, where nearly half of employees are under 18, echoes what is happening around the country as employers scramble to hire waiters, receptionists and other service workers to satisfy surging demand as the economy reopens. For American teenagers looking for work, this may be the best summer in years. As companies try to go from hardly staffed to fully staffed practically overnight, teens appear to be winning out more than any demographic group. The share of 16- to 19-year-olds who are working hasnt been this high since 2008, before the unfolding global financial crisis sent employment plummeting. Roughly 256,000 teens in that age group gained employment in April counting for the vast majority of newly employed people a significant change after teenagers suffered sharp job losses at the beginning of the pandemic. Whether the trend can hold up will become clearer when jobs data for May is released on Friday. It could come with a downside. Some educators warn that jobs could distract from school. And while employment can itself offer learning opportunities, the most recent wave of hiring has been led by white teens, raising concerns that young people from minority groups might miss out on a hot summer labor market. The cold rain dashed countless Memorial Day weekend plans in New York City, including those of the eight leading Democratic candidates for mayor, who were understandably eager to bump as many elbows as possible with just over three weeks before the June 22 primary. Instead of campaigning at subway spots and in parks, candidates spent the weekend in search of captive audiences. They tracked them down in churches, in bars and wherever dry spots could be found. Their messages varied in nuance, but the cold rain did not drown out one unifying theme: Post-pandemic New York City is in crisis, with a rise in shootings, increasing poverty and an exacerbated need for affordable housing. Several of the candidates made haste to pulpits in the voter-rich neighborhoods of central Brooklyn and southeast Queens to tout their wares. Press Release May 30, 2021 TOLENTINO WANTS IMPLEMENTATION OF 'WATERFALLS POLICY' TO HASTEN COVID-19 VACCINATION Senator Francis "Tol" N. Tolentino has urged the Inter Agency Task Force (IATF) to implement the "Waterfalls policy" to hasten COVID-19 vaccination in the country. In an interview with radio DZBB on Sunday, Tolentino underscored that under the "Waterfalls policy", the IATF could re-allot the reserved vaccines for those who belong to A2 and A3 categories who refused to get their jabs. The senator further explained that the number of people who wants to get vaccinated outweighs the number of those who are still hesitating to get their jabs, citing the cases of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), who have yet to receive a single dose of vaccine since they were not included in the government's priority list. Elements from the AFP, PNP, and even PCG have also been at the forefront of the government's fight against COVID-19 since Day 1, alongside medical front-liners Aside from facilitating strict checkpoints in the entire country, some of their personnel have also been involved in caring for those who have contracted the virus. As of March 21 the AFP has reported over 7,342 personnel who have contracted COVID-19, 870 of which are nursing active infections. A total of 6,424 have recovered, although 48 others have died; the PNP on the hand have recorded over 20,398 personnel to have contracted the virus since the pandemic begun, but none of them were included in the priority list of to be vaccinated against the dreaded disease. "Meron tinatawag na waterfalls policy, pababa yung cascading nito, kapag ayaw ng A3 bigay sa A4, kapag ayaw ng A4 bigay sa A5, kapag ayaw ng A5 bigay sa B1 palagay ko ubos lahat yan. Ang balanse po natin ay nasa 107,000 na lang na vaccine, itong bilang na ito baka 53,000 Filipinos lang yan, isang probinsya lang yan ubos po yan." Tolentino said. While Tolentino acknowledges the government's efforts to combat COVID-19, he also underscored the need to strengthen information dissemination campaign to encourage other Filipinos to get inoculated emphasizing that its not the vaccine brand that causes the hesitation of some, but the lack of proper informational campaign approach to educate the people. With the way things are going, the Senator is hopeful that the country will soon achieve herd immunity. Brussels, 29 May 2021 (SPS) - Professor at Nouakchott University Souleiman Al-Sheikh Hamdi suggested Friday to coordinate the efforts aimed at improving the security situation in the Sahel region with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), underlining that it can play a stabilizing role in this region. Speaking in an international webinar on the security and stability in the Sahel region and North Africa, organized in Brussels under the theme: SADR, factor of regional security and stability, Hamdi pointed out that the security challenges in the Sahel could be overcome only if SAR is involved in the efforts aimed at reaching security and stability in this region. He underlined that the Sahrawi Republic has a close social and geographic link with the Sahel countries, and that it is obvious to take into consideration the fact that its security is dependent on the security of the whole region. He said that SADR has already demonstrated its capacity in the field of security, notably through the cooperation and coordination with Mauritania in terms of securing common borders, the fight against international smuggling, terrorist groups and all forms of instability. Souleiman Al-Sheikh affirmed that one of the most important challenges in the countries of the Sahel region, currently, is drug trafficking. These activities, according to him, have transformed the whole region into a hub for illegal activities because of the absence of real control. The webinar is organized by the European Coordinating Conference for Support to the Sahrawi People (EUCOCO), in partnership with the Center of Studies and Information Ahmed Baba Miska. This event was marked by the participation of academics from Spain, France and USA, alongside Habouha Barika, an expert in security, who presented an exhaustive report on SADRs role in establishing security and stability in the region and on the efforts made by the Sahrawi Army in their fight against drug trafficking, terrorism and illegal migration. (SPS) 062/090/T In July 2005, Specialist Christopher Velezs Army infantry unit received an urgent call for backup from a village in Uruzgan Province in Afghanistan: A group of American soldiers had gotten into a firefight with Taliban fighters. One of our guys who got wounded, he didnt come back out of that village, and someone had to go retrieve him, Mr. Velez told me on a recent warm morning. We werent sure if he was alive, so I raised my hand. During the rescue attempt, a grenade exploded a few feet from Mr. Velez, badly wounding him. While he managed to take down the enemy fighter who threw the explosive, he couldnt make it to the captive soldier, who was a friend of his. Later, Mr. Velez discovered his friend had been killed. Mr. Velez earned a Purple Heart. NASHVILLE For the first 13 years of my life, my country was at war in Vietnam. Every night, my father would watch the news sometimes Huntley and Brinkley, sometimes Walter Cronkite and almost every night I sat on the floor next to him while he smoked a cigarette and swirled the ice in his glass. I loved the scent of him, the smell of smoke and sweat and whiskey. I would lean against his warm leg, only half listening to the news. I dont remember how old I was when I first noticed the casualty counts that closed those broadcasts, but at some point it dawned on me that boys in America grow up and go to war, and some of them die there. American boys had been dying in Vietnam for my entire life, and I assumed they would always be dying there. My father never went to war. He was too young for World War II and too old for Vietnam. During the Korean War, he was in the Army Reserve or the National Guard; I dont remember which. He was prepared to go when called, but he was never called. He once remarked that his was the only Alabama unit to spend the entire Korean War in Alabama, and he regarded this circumstance impassively, with neither relief nor dismay. It was simply the luck of the draw. Young men of my fathers generation grew up during wartime and generally expected to serve when their turn came. No generation since has felt the same way. There are compelling reasons for that shift the protracted catastrophe in Vietnam not least but Im less interested in why it happened than in what it tells us about our country now. What does it mean to live in a nation with no expectation for national service? With no close-hand experience of national sacrifice? An investigation this year by the World Health Organization largely dismissed the possibility that the virus escaped from the institute, but many critics faulted the effort as lacking the wide access necessary to determine its origins. Mr. Biden has said he hopes the investigation he has ordered, which will include unexamined intelligence, will bring the United States closer to a definitive conclusion about the virus. He has committed to releasing the report publicly. Dr. Hotez said on Sunday that the inquiry might not yield much new information because the United States had already pushed intelligence about as far as we can. He suggested that the world needed a sweeping new scientific search for outbreak answers, most especially in China. Theres a lot going for natural origins, he said of the leading theory, but an independent team of scientists, epidemiologists and virologists would need to work in China for a period of six months to a year so the world can fully unravel the origins of Covid-19. The team would have to interview scientists and scrutinize their lab notebooks in order to investigate the possibility of a lab leak, he said. Asked if that could be done without Chinas cooperation, Dr. Hotez said no. I think we have to really put a lot of pressure on China, he said, including possible sanctions, to secure unfettered access for a team of top scientists. ANGLE INLET, Minn. On the Northwest Angle, a small patch of Minnesota connected to the rest of the United States only by water, it feels like the coronavirus shutdown never ended. But the empty cabins, boatless marinas and out-of-work fishing guides are not the result of some lockdown imposed by Minnesotas governor. Nor do they indicate an acute fear of the virus. (Many residents are already vaccinated, and pretty much nobody wears a mask.) Instead, in the second walleye season of the pandemic, American businesses on the Angle remain largely cut off from their American customers because of a geographical quirk, a foreign government and a gravel road through Manitoba. It starts to feel very oppressive, said Lisa Goulet, who along with her husband, Jason, owns Angle Outpost Resort, where there were no customers early last week. I dont know if I want to live like this. I dont know if its really worth it. Note: Just before midnight on Sunday, Texas Democrats in the Legislature staged a walkout to force the temporary failure of the Republican election bill. Read more. The Republican-controlled Texas Legislature was racing against the clock on Sunday night to pass a sweeping overhaul of the states election laws that would rubber-stamp some of the most rigid voting restrictions in the country, but Democrats were pledging an all-out fight to try to stall the bill and prevent it from passing by a midnight deadline. Though Republicans control both chambers, Democrats were becoming increasingly bullish on their chances of delaying passage of the bill and preventing it from coming to a floor vote in the House through either legislative maneuvers or a lengthy debate. Earlier on Sunday, after a legislative power play by Republicans that led to an all-night session and hours of impassioned debate and objections from Democrats, the Senate passed the bill. Republicans in the House professed confidence that the bill would still pass on Sunday. Failure to meet the deadline would represent a setback for G.O.P. lawmakers determined to usher in a raft of new limits to voting, and would force Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, to call a special session of the Legislature to pass the bill. Officials in Sao Paulo, Brazil, once hounded graffiti artists and muralists, treating them as vandals. Now the city champions, and even funds, their art, and its everywhere and supersized. May 30, 2021 SAO PAULO, Brazil When Eduardo Kobra started out as an artist, he was tagging walls in Sao Paulo in the pre-dawn hours with gritty depictions of urban life, always working fast and always on the lookout for police cars. At the time, there was no money to be made as a graffiti artist in Brazil, and the risks abounded. Passers-by routinely cursed at him, cops took him into custody three times, and he racked up dozens of citations for defacing public property. Many artists in that period fell from buildings and died, Mr. Kobra recalled. And there were very violent fights among rival bands of graffiti artists. That is a bygone era: Much has changed since Mr. Kobra first took his art to the streets of Sao Paulo two decades ago. KATHMANDU, Nepal Ram Singh Karki escaped the first wave of Indias pandemic by boarding a crowded bus and crossing the border home to Nepal. Months later, as the rate of new infections fell, he returned to his job at a printing press in New Delhi, which had sustained his family for two decades and helped pay the school fees of his three children. Then India was swept by a second wave, and Mr. Karki wasnt as lucky. He was infected last month. Hospitals in New Delhi were overwhelmed. When his oxygen level dropped, his manager arranged for an ambulance to take him back to the border. He crossed into Nepal, carrying with him just the clothes on his back and the virus. Nepal is now considering declaring a health emergency as the virus rampages virtually unchecked across the impoverished nation of 30 million people. Carried by returning migrant workers and others, a vicious second wave has stretched the countrys medical system beyond its meager limits. Vietnam, which is coping with its worst outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, announced new restrictions for its largest city on Sunday, a day after its health minister said a very dangerous new variant of the coronavirus had been detected in the country. New social distancing requirements will be imposed in Ho Chi Minh City, which used to be known as Saigon and has a population of some nine million, roughly double that of the capital, Hanoi. The restrictions include a limit of five people in public gatherings, the state-run newspaper Tuoi Tre reported. A church in Ho Chi Minh City is at the center of a cluster involving at least 126 cases, according to state news media. City officials said that residents should maintain strict social distancing of at least six feet and stay home unless absolutely necessary, especially if they are over 60, Tuoi Tre reported. It said the restrictions would go into effect at midnight. Until recently, Vietnam, a country of about 97 million people, had had remarkable success in containing the virus. Last year, it never reported more than 50 new cases in a single day. By the end of April, it had reported fewer than 3,000 cases and only 35 deaths. Iran will put a French citizen that it detained last year on trial on charges including espionage, his lawyer said on Sunday, a crime that can carry the death penalty. The French citizen, Benjamin Briere, who is in his mid-30s, was arrested in Iran in May 2020 on suspicion of flying a drone and taking photographs in a prohibited area. Saeid Dehghan, a human rights lawyer who represents him, said on Twitter on Sunday that Iranian prosecutors had confirmed his client would be tried on two counts of espionage and propaganda against the system. The prosecutor is preparing the indictment and sending it to the revolutionary court, Mr. Dehghan told the French news agency Agence France-Presse. In the years since President Donald J. Trump withdrew the United States from a nuclear deal with the country and reimposed sanctions, Iran has detained several foreigners and dual citizens. MADRID Josep Almudever, the last known survivor of the International Brigades who had volunteered to fight in Spains Civil War in the hope that they could stop Fascism, died on May 23 in Pamiers, in southwestern France. He was 101. His death, in a hospital, was confirmed by his daughter Sonia Almudever. She did not specify the cause. Mr. Almudever was born in France to Spanish parents and held dual citizenship. He was a teenager living in Spain when Francisco Franco and other generals launched a military coup in July 1936 against Spains Republican government and plunged the country into a three-year civil war. He had to lie about his age to enlist in a Republican militia, but he was soon wounded and sent home. It was then discovered that he had been too young to fight. But after recovering from his injury, he managed to rejoin the war as a member of the International Brigades, in which tens of thousands of foreigners had enlisted in order to fight Franco. We should not forget that with more than 1.5 billion people, India alone accounts for about 1/6 of the entire humankind. It means that the Indian crisis definitely will not be limited to its own territory. by Professor Jayantha Lal Ratnasekera Second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic started in the latter part of April in India is continuing to be threatening. Though there is a significant decrease in the daily count of fresh corona patients, from 400,000 in the first week of May to 200,000 in the fourth week, the situation is still far from satisfactory. The total number of corona deaths has passed the 300,000 mark, and the total number of COVID-19 patients has exceeded 275 million as of May 28, 2021. Eventhough the vaccination process has been accelerated during past few days, Indias healthcare system has not fully recovered yet. Still, there is a severe shortage of some drugs, hospital beds, oxygen, ventilators etc. in many rural areas. Furthermore, the rapid spread of the Black Fungus (or Mucormycosis) disease has added fuel to the already burning crisis. The Health Ministry reported 3,498 deaths in the last 24 hours.(Reuters: Adnan Abidi) Obviously, a number of factors have contributed to this unexpected surge in April, and the emergence of new, more infectious virus variants is considered to be one of the main reasons. Experimental data show that the variant B.1.1.7, first found in UK, is the dominant virus variant in the state of Punjab. A new, more dangerous variant called B.1.167, first identified in India late last year, was found to be dominant in the state of Maharashtra. B.1.167 variant, which has already found in more than 50 countries, is said to be containing two mutations having an increased transmissibility. Further, the slow progress in the vaccination process till April, has been another contributory factor to the devastating second COIVD-19 wave. India, while being the leading manufacturer of anti-COVID vaccine, has commenced the vaccination process in January 2021, but the progress has been rather slow. By mid-April, the first dose of the vaccine was administered to only 10% of the total population, and both two doses were given only to 2%. However, after the vaccination process started in January, the attitude of the majority of people in India including the political authorities towards the pandemic has changed significantly. The arrival of the vaccine has pushed everyone to a relaxed mood, and there was a misapprehension among many that India has already conquered the COVID-19 pandemic. In February 2021, Bharatiya Janatha Party has passed a resolution praising the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership in turning India to a victorious nation in the fight against COVID-19. Under these circumstances, the travel restrictions were relaxed, and political rallies and religious ceremonies with mass gatherings were allowed. Elections were held in a number of states and thousands of people have gathered in political rallies. In a rally held in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he was thrilled to see such a large crowd. Simultaneously, a number of religious festivities were held and the Hindu pilgrimage Kumbh Mela has drawn millions of worshippers. As reported by Hindustan Times, more than 9 million people have bathed in Ganga river during the period from January 14 to April 27, 2021, as a ritual of the Kumbh Mela festival. Thus, the false assumption that India has conquered the pandemic and the resultant relaxed behaviour have in turn contributed to the disastrous second wave of the pandemic. However, what we should understand is that the current COVID crisis in India will not be contained within its borders, but is a real threat to the entire world. The first coronavirus patient was found in Wuhan city, Hubei Province, China in December 2019, and, in January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, as the virus has spread outside China. Later in March 2020, the WHO has declared the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 virus as a Global Pandemic. According to experts definition, a pandemic is an epidemic of an infectious disease that has spread across the world and created havoc. Though, this pandemic has been torturing the entire world for more than one and half years now, some of the countries, especially the so-called developed countries were reluctant to accept its global (world-wide) nature. Instead of joining hands with the WHO to curb the virus, some countries have been trying control the virus on their own. However, the current Indian COVID crisis has shocked the entire world including the developed countries and forced them to change their approach and attitudes towards the pandemic. Now, it is apparent that many countries have accepted the fact that Indian crisis may easily turn into a global crisis. Firstly, we should not forget that with more than 1.5 billion people, India alone accounts for about 1/6 of the entire humankind. It means that the Indian crisis definitely will not be limited to its own territory. As emphasized by Dr. Saumya Swaminathan, WHOs chief scientist once, the virus does not respect borders, or nationalities, or age, or sex or religion. When the number of infectious persons increases in such a populous country, there is a high probability of the emergence of new virus variants. Every single infection provides the virus an opportunity to evolve and produce a mutation. In other words, when the number of COVID infections in a country is high, then the probability of emergence of new variants is also high. In turn, these new virus variants might spread into other countries. For example, it was reported that on a recent flight from New Delhi to Hong Kong, 50 passengers were tested positive for COID-19. As mentioned above, the more dangerous variant B.1.167 has now found in more than 50 countries. It has to be noted that the threat of spreading the Indian B.1.167 variant to the neighbouring countries, such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, is even higher. With a 1,770 km long border, the Indian virus variant may easily penetrate to the Nepal territory. In fact, a significant increase in the number of COVID-19 patients was observed from early May, in Nepal. The total number of corona patients in Nepal has already exceeded 540,000 and total number of corona deaths has reached the 7,000 mark. With a relatively weaker healthcare system, only 2.2% of the total population of Nepal has been vaccinated to-date. Dr. Netra Prasad Timsina, Chairman of the Nepal Red Cross Society has warned that if the present trend is not arrested immediately, Nepal will have to face a situation very much similar to the current Indian one, in a few weeks time. Likewise, threat to Sri Lanka also cannot be underestimated. Few weeks ago, it was reported that an Indian national was found infected with the B.1.167 variant in a quarantine center. Also, there were news reports about attempts by Sri Lankans living in India, especially in Tamil Nadu, to come to Sri Lanka illegally using boats. With the deteriorating conditions in the refugee camps in Tamil Nadu, these illegal attempts might increase further. Furthermore, it has been a long tradition of Sri Lankan fishermen to have contacts with their Indian counterparts in the deep sea. The negative impact of the on-going Indian COVID crisis is not limited only to the possibility of virus spread, but to many other spheres. First of all, India is supposed to produce 70% of the worlds COVID vaccine requirement, and the Serum Institute of India was given the rights to produce AstraZeneca vaccine. India is supposed to provide a large quantity of the vaccine to low and middle-income countries under the Covax facility backed by the UN and WHO. However, India has temporarily suspended the export of the COVID vaccine due to the current crisis. Although the Indian authorities have announced that they might recommence the export of vaccines in October, the temporary suspension has already adversely affected vaccination roll-outs in many countries including Sri Lanka. Moreover, the pharmaceutical industry in India is the third largest in the world in terms of volume, and 20% of the global exports of generic drugs is done by India. Obviously, if there will be a jeopardy in the Indian pharmaceutical industry as well, it will have dire consequences for the healthcare systems around the world. In such a scenario, a severe shortage of drugs around the world could also be anticipated. In addition, India is the fifth largest economy in the world and Indias contribution to the global economic growth is extensive. With a relatively high annual growth rate of 4 to 8% during last few years, India has had a significant impact on the world economy. However, if Indias economy go downhill due to the present crisis, it will have a devastating effect on the economies of many countries including the developed ones. If the current travel restrictions with India will continue for a long time, it will be a real bad news for many businesses around the world. Furthermore, India provides a large number of back-office staff for many sectors in the Europe and USA. Considering all these issues, it is imperative for all the countries to help India to come out of this crisis. US President, Joe Biden was one of the first world leaders to announce the readiness to support India, and US has already sent several flights with essential goods to India. It is noteworthy that even Pakistan has come forward to help India in this difficult time. Russia has sent a stock of its COVID vaccine, Sputnik V, to India and granted permission to India to produce its vaccine. So, the current COVID crisis in India has given a severe warning to the entire world and it has taught the world many lessons. It has proved that this is a real Global Pandemic, a real threat to the entire humanity, and as such, a collective effort from the entire world is needed at this crucial moment. It has reminded us again that the human civilization is so interconnected today, that no one will be safe until everyone is safe. The writer, Vice Chancellor, Uva Wellassa University, Sri Lanka Like many European countries, France had a slow start to its vaccination drive. But as it has gotten better at getting shots in arms, it is administering inoculations in unexpected places. Disneyland Paris. The national stadium. And a decommissioned World War II submarine base in the western city of Lorient, where almost 60,000 shots have been given. In K2, one of the three large blocks of the Keroman Submarine Base, tents and chairs have been set up for patients and medical staff between the concrete walls of a windowless room that covers more than 9,500 square feet. Over the past 80 years, the base has had many lives. A military installation until 1997, it has since served as a concert venue, a filming location and a site for sailing and other leisure activities. It is now a neighborhood of its own, complete with bars and restaurants. JERUSALEM After a 17-year-old was killed in the Gaza conflict this month one of 69 children killed in fighting between Israel and militants a militant group claimed him as a member, though would not say whether he was killed while fighting. The teenager, Khaled al-Qanou, was killed by an Israeli airstrike in the northern part of the Gaza Strip on May 13, according to a statement from the militant group, the Mujahideen Brigades. It is against international law to use minors in armed conflicts. Mr. al-Qanou was among those pictured in a New York Times feature on all the children killed in the recent conflict, but details about his death had not been confirmed then. While the Mujahideen Brigades said in a statement that Mr. al-Qanou was killed within the Sword of Jerusalem Battle, the name that militants in Gaza gave to the latest war, it did not explicitly state whether he was participating in the fighting when he died. In 2018, the Mujahideen Brigades were placed on a United States blacklist that punishes financing of terrorist groups. BEIRUT, Lebanon In a photo of the girl taken a few months before she died, her light brown hair is matted, her face and clothes smudged with dirt. She holds a chain in her tiny hands a glimpse of the hardships of her all-too-short life. Six-year-old Nahla al-Othman spent her final years living in a crowded tent with her father and siblings in an impoverished camp for Syrians displaced by a decade of war and largely forgotten by the world. To keep her from wandering around the camp, the family said, her father often shackled her and locked her in a cage he fashioned out of her crib. Her father used to chain her hands or her feet to prevent her from walking outside the camp, said the camp supervisor, Hisham Ali Omar. We asked him more than once to unchain her, not to put her in a cage, but he constantly refused. This month, the crises that twisted Nahlas life came to a tragic head when she choked to death while desperately hungry and eating too quickly. Images of her in chains and the cage spread quickly on social media after her death, and the outrage over them spurred the local authorities to detain her father. A public meeting of the Independent Scientific Advisory Group (ISAG) has heard that the presence of the B.1617.2 variant in the United Kingdom means that Ireland should err on the side of caution and delay reopening until more is known about the transmissibility of the variant. The meeting heard from a number of members of ISAG who urged caution in relation to the reopening of the economy while scientific uncertainty remains around the variant. The B.1617.2 variant, which was first detected in India, has been designated by the World Health Organization as a global variant of concern and has been officially recorded in 53 territories around the world - including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom but significant uncertainties remain about how transmissible the variant is, its potential to evade immunity and if it causes more life-threatening illness. Prof. Aoife McLysaght, Professor of Genetics, TCD explained that the B.1.617.2 variant was first identified in India but of course is now rising in England. This has been labelled as a 'variant of concern'. When something gets labelled a variant of concern it can be for any of 3 reasons. It can be increased transmissibility, it could be worse disease outcomes or it could be some kind of vaccine evasion or lower efficacy of the vaccines. So the current situation is that it is thought or suspected, or there are certain question marks over the transmissibility of this B.1.617.2. That, on its own, is worrying." Prof McLysaght cautioned against reopening of the economy until there is greater certainty. In a few weeks, it will be quite clear. It will either be that something unusual happened in Bolton bad luck and a few different factors coinciding or there is some biological feature of the variant that makes it more transmissible. The warning came as the United Kingdom government issued revised guidance for people living in areas where the B.1.617.2 variant is spreading. The guidelines ask people to minimise travel into and out of Bolton, Blackburn, Kirklees, Bedford, Burnley, Leicester, Hounslow and North Tyneside and for residents of those areas to keep 2 metres apart from people they dont live with and to meet outdoors where possible. The public meeting also heard from Dr Paul Dempsey, a mathematical scientist and expert on population health and risk data analysis, who warned, "The general attitude [in Ireland] is now: we'll live with this and hopefully bad things won't happen, but if they do, maybe then we'll react. The worry is that you'll get some changes like B.1.617.2 in Bolton, UK, where their vaccine rollout is going much better than ours. The variant also has implications for the return of foreign travel and the end of mandatory hotel quarantine. Professor Gerry Killeen, Research Chair in Applied Pathogen Ecology at UCC, spoke about how mandatory hotel quarantine coupled with an effective local public health response had halted the potentially catastrophic importation and spread of the P1 variant first identified in Brazil and said that a return to unquarantined travel now would be very high risk, We know there are new variants spreading in Europe. There are new variants spreading in the UK. There are relatively high case rates in a number of European countries. Members of the Tullamore Mens Shed gathered at Tullamore Tool Hire to collect a donation of battery powered tools from Husqvarna Ireland in replacement for those that were recently stolen in an unfortunately robbery of the Tullamore Mens Shed last month. A selection of battery powered Husqvarna tools including trimmers, will be stored at local Husqvarna dealer, Tullamore Tool Hire for the Tullamore Mens Shed to use for local projects. Over 2,500 worth of tools were stolen in the break in at the Men's Shed in Tullamore. The doors were kicked in and sanders, drills, routers, and other valuable equipment were all stolen in the raid. Mr Finnery said he cannot understand the mentality of the people who did it. ''There were 14 items taken. This is the only source of interaction for these men. It's an outlet for them. We have 30 members and during normal times we have between 15 to 20 men a day.'' Speaking of the donation, Brian Parker - National Business Manager of Husqvarna Ireland said, we are delighted to be able to help replace tools of the Tullamore Mens Shed by donating some Husqvarna battery products which will be facilitated by local Husqvarna dealer, Tullamore Tool Hire. Mens Sheds play a vital role within local communities and we hope our donation will help ensure the Tullamore team can continue to do the amazing work they do for their local area. Major funding has been awarded to Banagher which will go towards regenerating the empty buildings in the town and upgrading the marina. Cllr Clare Claffey welcomed the funding, which is 527,000, pointing out that it is badly needed. I am glad to hear that there will be a painting scheme for the houses on the main street. The white house in the Square is also an eyesore and we would like to do that up. She said there are quite a few derelict and empty buildings in the town and they need to be tackled. We need to improve the appearance of the town, for both the locals and for the tourists coming off the boats. She said the Shannon Hotel, which has long been an eyesore, had work done on its roof by the Council. Banagher has a population of 1,760 (Census 2016) and is idyllically positioned on the River Shannon. However it suffered badly during the recession which created a number of empty buildings on its Main Street, some of which are eyesores. Last year it was announced that Offaly County Council had been successful in its application for funding to the Department of Rural and Community Development, Rural Regeneration and Development Fund under Project Ireland 2040 for a number of regeneration projects in the town. This funding has been confirmed. It's also been announced that a Request for Tender is underway which seeks to appoint an Architect led integrated design team to develop an Architectural and Tourism Master Plan for Banagher Marina and its Environs. The development of this Master Plan has five key stages, including a detailed report on the preferred project options for the Master Plan. Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council, Cllr. John Carroll said the investment in Banagher will enhance the towns potential as an attractive and sustainable place to live, work and visit. Cllr. John Leahy, Cathaoirleach of Birr Municipal District, also welcomed the co-operation between the local authority, local development groups, businesses and the wider community that led to the success of the funding application. The funding provided will enable the various projects to be developed to a high standard. This Banagher Regeneration funding, said Cllr Leahy, gives an unprecedented opportunity to deliver the scale of investment necessary to allow a rural community to further develop and prosper. This investment is more important than ever to help address the challenges arising from the pandemic crisis and to drive economic recovery and sustainable development in rural areas. The funding will go towards the design and planning of a digital hub, library and exhibition space to be housed in the currently vacant three-storey building (referred to by locals as the white building in the Square in Banagher. The county council has been involved in negotiations to purchase this building. The funding is also expected to help advance plans for improvements to the currently derelict hotel in the town centre, the regeneration of the marina, and public realm works. Councillor Clare Claffey described it as great news for the area. Banagher needs help and investment. The town has so much potential, so this is really exciting for Banagher and I am looking forward to working on the project with the council and Banagher Development Group. She said she was hopeful that the design and planning stages of the process will be completed relatively quickly and the physical work will start. A couple of years ago a report was published on the progress of Banagher and the five other towns that are part of the Government's pilot 'Town Centre Living Initiative'. In October 2018, Banagher was one of the six rural towns awarded up to 100,000 in Government funding to explore how to encourage increased residential occupancy while also addressing the issue of vacant properties. Prepared independently by Space Engagers, the report mentioned the plans to create a digital hub, library and exhibition space in the white building. There is a sense that this innovative reuse could energise the town, attract remote workers to live in the town centre, and provide a strong amenity anchor function for the whole town population, the report explained. Turning an existing ten-unit development into a community-run self-catering accommodation project, was another proposal being considered locally, the report added. An Offaly school has bid an emotional farewell to their retiring principal. St Mary's Secondary School in Edenderry is saying goodbye to Mr Rob Halford who has been the principal there since 2012. He took up the mantle from Bernie O'Neill who had been appointed principal in 1984 and served in the role for 28 years. Watch below as students first form a guard of honour for Mr Halford before then leaving a surprise for him in his office. They also made a number of presentations to him on Thursday. All the members of our student Leadership Teams held a Guard of Honour for our retiring Principal Mr Halford today. A very special occassion! So richly deserved! pic.twitter.com/OMTHtDTDOz May 27, 2021 Our Principal Mr Halford got a huge surprise earlier this morning! #HappyRetirement pic.twitter.com/4gHkvS243c stmarysedenderry (@SMESecondary) May 28, 2021 Representatives of our Student Leadership Teams; Prefects, Student Council and Meitheal made a number of special presentations to our Principal Mr Halford today to mark his retirement. #HappyRetirement @offalylocalnews pic.twitter.com/qF9dRpF084 stmarysedenderry (@SMESecondary) May 27, 2021 We wish Mr Halford a Happy Retirement! What's Included With a Digital Only subscription, you'll receive unlimited access to our website and e-edition. Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at 716-372-3121 or email nfinnerty@oleantimesherald.com. BOSTON (AP) A pair of military vets navigate the hilly, meandering paths in a historic cemetery in Boston, searching out soldiers' graves and planting American flags in front of them. About 10 miles away, scores of other vets and volunteers do the same, placing more than 37,000 small flags on the downtown Boston Common a sea of red, white and blue meant to symbolize all the Massachusetts soldiers killed in battle since the Revolutionary War. Its an annual tradition that returns in full this year after being significantly scaled back in 2020 because of the pandemic. In Boston and elsewhere, this holiday weekend will feel something closer to Memorial Days of old, as COVID-19 restrictions are fully lifted in many places. This Memorial Day almost has a different, better feeling to it, said Craig DeOld, a 50-year-old retired captain in the Army Reserve, as he took a breather from his flag duties at the Fairview Cemetery earlier this week. Were breathing a sigh of relief that weve overcome another struggle, but were also now able to return to what this holiday is all about remembering our fallen comrades. Around the nation, Americans will be able to pay tribute to fallen troops in ways that were impossible last year, when virus restrictions were in effect in many places. It will also be a time to remember the tens of thousands of veterans who died from COVID-19 and recommit to vaccinating those who remain reluctant. Art delaCruz, a 53-year-old retired Navy commander in Los Angeles leads the Veterans Coalition for Vaccination, said his group has been encouraging inoculated veterans to volunteer at vaccine sites to dispel myths and help assuage concerns, many of which are also shared by current service members. We understand its a personal choice, so we try to meet people where they are, said delaCruz, who is also president of Team Rubicon, a disaster-response nonprofit made up of military veterans. Theres no definitive tally for coronavirus deaths or vaccinations among American military vets, but Department of Veterans Affairs data shows more than 12,000 have died and more than 2.5 million have been inoculated against COVID-19 out of the roughly 9 million veterans enrolled in the agency's programs. The isolation of the pandemic has also been particularly hard on veterans, many of whom depend on kinship with fellow service members to cope with wartime trauma, says Jeremy Butler, a 47-year-old Navy Reserve officer in New York who heads the advocacy group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Were reuniting now, but its been an extremely challenging year, he said. To have those connections cut off the counseling sessions, the VA appointments, social events with other vets those are so important to maintaining mental health. But for the families of veterans who survived the horrors of war, only to be felled by COVID-19, Memorial Day can reopen barely healed wounds. In western Massachusetts, Susan Kenney says the death of her 78-year-old father last April from the virus still remains raw. Charles Lowell, an Air Force veteran who served during the Vietnam War, was among 76 residents of the Holyoke Soldiers' Home who died in one of America's deadliest coronavirus outbreaks last year in a long-term care facility. A memorial service was held at the home earlier this week, and the names of residents who died over the past calendar year were read aloud. Kenney, who has been a vocal advocate for reforming the troubled home, says there are still lingering questions about who else should be held accountable, even as top officials at the state-run facility face criminal negligence and abuse charges and federal and state agencies launch investigations. Ive been reliving this for a whole year, she said. At every milestone. Veterans Day. His birthday. His death anniversary. Everything is a constant reminder of what happened. Its so painful to think about. For other families, Memorial Day will be as it ever was, a day to remember loved ones killed in war. In Virginia, Willie Ransom, a 74-year-old Vietnam War vet, said his family will hold a modest service at the grave of his youngest son. Air Force Maj. Charles Ransom was among eight U.S. airmen killed in Afghanistan when an Afghan military pilot opened fire at the Kabul airport in 2011. The American Legion post in Midlothian, Virginia, that the elder Ransom once helped lead is now named in his honor. The Powhatan resident says a silver lining this year is that the country is poised to end the war that claimed his 31-year-old son and the lives of more than 2,200 other American fighters. President Joe Biden has promised to end the nations longest conflict by Sept. 11, the anniversary of the 2001 terror attacks that launched the war. Its the best decision we could make, Ransom said. Its become like Vietnam. They dont want us there. We should have been out of there years ago. Back in Boston, DeOld will be thinking about his father, an Army vet wounded in a grenade attack in Vietnam. Louis DeOld returned home with a Purple Heart and went on to become a police officer in New Jersey, but the physical and mental scars of war persisted long after, his son said. He died in 2017 at the age of 70. On Memorial Day, DeOld will gather with fellow vets at the VFW post in the citys Dorchester neighborhood that he commands. They will lay a wreath by the American flag out front and then grill burgers out back. It will be the first large social event hosted by the post since the pandemic virtually shuttered the hall more than a year ago. I hope its nice, DeOld said. I hope folks linger. Families and friends gather. Good camaraderie. The way it should be. I was immediately besieged by legal questions from my colleagues: what action can be taken under law to prosecute the government? what are the penalties which can be imposed? how can the rights of the passenger be safeguarded? by Dr. Ruwantissa Abeyratne in Montreal The flying rumours gatherd as they rolld Scarce any tale was sooner heard than told And all who told it added something new And all who heard it made enlargements too ~ Alexander Pope When Ryanair Flight 4978 bound from Athens to Vilnius in Lithuania was being operated on 23 May 2021 over the airspace of Belarus, it was diverted to Minsk National Airport in Belarus. The Boeing 737-800 which carried 126 passengers and 6 crew members was just 45 nautical miles south of Vilnius and 90 nautical miles west of Minsk when it was ordered to divert from its course and land, seemingly on a report by ground authorities who had notified that there was a bomb on board. It is worthy of note that, as already mentioned, the aircraft was traversing Belarusian airspace when the order was given. A known fact, as reported by the media was that the Ryanair civilian flight was intercepted by a Belarusian MiG-29 fighter jet which escorted the hapless Boeing 737-800 to its new destination. Once it landed, security agents had walked into the aircraft and arrested a passenger - Roman Protasevich - founder of the social media news channel NEXTA, which played a crucial role in the protests in Belarus last summer over the outcome of its presidential election. His girlfriend who was on the flight was also taken into custody. Other known facts are that the Foreign Minister of Lithuania, in an interview with the media, called the forced landing of the aircraft a state sponsored act of international terrorism while the United States called it an act in flagrant defiance of international norms. The act was condemned by the European Commission and sanctions against Belarus ensued. Several countries, including the United Kingdom and Lithuania banned flights of the national carrier of Belarus from entering their territories and advised their carriers to avoid flying over Belarusian airspace. I was immediately besieged by legal questions from my colleagues: what action can be taken under law to prosecute the government? what are the penalties which can be imposed? how can the rights of the passenger be safeguarded? can other passengers on the flight sue the government for compensation for mental agony and delay in reaching their destination? can Belarus ban flights from coming into their territory including flying over their airspace? Although I do have answers to these questions, this article is not about legalities, and I will reserve my legal comments to be included in a law journal article I have been invited to write. There are unknown facts as well, including but not limited to such questions as: where did the bomb threat and report come from? What was the nature of the report? What was the nature of the conversation between the air craw and ground control? Who gave the order for interception? Was Belarus aware of the presence of Mr. Protasevich? Was the forced landing, or hijacking as some called it tendentious and planned? Furthermore, this incident has similar precedent. The mind goes back to 1967 when 47 year old Moise Tshombe, a contentious figure and enemy of President Joseph Mobutu of Congo, had the aircraft in which he was travelling to Palma hijacked when the pilot of the aircraft was forced at gunpoint by some passengers to change route to Algeria. Less than an hour later, the plane was put down at a military base outside Algiers. The passengers and pilots were immediately taken into custody by Algiers security. It transpired that Tshombe, who was a pro West politician in the Congo, had flown from Madrid, where he lived in exile, to Palma on the island of Majorca for a few days' rest, accompanied by two security agents assigned by the Franco government to protect him. In October 1985 EgyptAir Flight 2843 operated by a Boeing 737 aircraft, which was known to carry the hijackers of the ship Achille Lauro, had United States Navy F-14 Tomcats surrounding their aircraft which sent a message to the crew of the Boeing aircraft to divert. A short time after the EgyptAir aircraft landed, it was confronted by two United States Air Force C-141 transports which arrived with counter terrorist members of SEAL Team Six, who quickly surrounded the 737 at the airstrip as it rolled to a halt, while overhead, the F-14s closed the airspace. In July 1971, A BOAC VC-10 aircraft which left Rome with 108 passengers and 11 crew members bound for Khartoum and Dar esSalaam, was ordered to land in Benghazi, Libya while it was in Libyan airspace. On board were Lieut. Col. Babakr alNur Osman and Maj. Farouk Hamadallah, both of whom had been in London for medical treatment, and were on their way back to Khartoum to take leading positions in the new regime that had been opposed by forces loyal to the former government, and the aerial intervention had led to the detention by Libya of the two officers after the aircraft landed. To go back to the Ryanair incident, the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) the specialized agency of the United Nations charged with addressing international civil aviation considered the issue on 27 May 2021 and issued the following statement: The ICAO Council expressed its strong concern today at the apparent forced diversion of Ryanair Flight FR4978, a commercial passenger aircraft flying in Belarus airspace on Sunday, 23 May 2021. At a special meeting convened, the ICAO Governing Body underlined the importance of establishing the facts of what happened, and of understanding whether there had been any breach by any ICAO Member State of international aviation law, including the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) and its Annexes. Recalling Article 55 (e) of the Chicago Convention, the Council decided to undertake a fact-finding investigation of this event, and in this connection requested the ICAO Secretariat to prepare an interim report to the Council for a subsequent meeting of the current session, presenting the available facts and relevant legal instruments. The Council also called upon all ICAO Member States and other relevant stakeholders to collaborate with this fact-finding investigation in the interests of ensuring the safety and security of civil aviation and offered the assistance and expertise of ICAO in the pursuit of this endeavor. "The Council has therefore decided that all relevant facts should be officially established through an ICAO investigation conducted by the ICAO Secretariat," emphasized ICAO Council President Salvatore Sciacchitano. ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu responded to the Council's decision during the meeting and assured the full support and cooperation of the Secretariat in implementing this decision. Ex facie, getting to know the unknown is seemingly prudent, particularly by an international body of 36 States. In matters such as these it is natural that the Council has been and will be in polarized groups. The vitriolic and oftentimes vituperative debates that have followed certain contentious and indeed disturbing incidents can be recalled. Two such instances that come to mind are those provoking the debates in Council when Israeli forces destroyed Gaza International Airport and the earlier event of the destruction of Korean Air Flight 007 over Russian airspace. Therefore, it is not surprising that one notices the diplomatically worded text of the ICAO message on Ryanair flight 4978 with words such as strong concern and apparent forced diversion and whether there had been any breach by any ICAO Member State of international aviation law, including the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) and its Annexes. Article 55e) of the Convention on International Civil Aviation which the Council of ICAO cites in its statement says that it is one of the permissive functions (granting discretion) of the Council to Investigate, at the request of any contracting State, any situation which may appear to present avoidable obstacles to the development of international air navigation; and, after such investigation, issue such reports as may appear to it desirable. Accordingly, while seeking to investigate the circumstances, which is a positive step by the Council of ICAO, all that the Council of ICAO is seemingly interested in is to determine whether there are avoidable obstacles to international air navigation which in turn could be narrowed down to the aftermath of the incident and whether it could lead to air navigation. This does not seem to comport with the earlier statement of the Council that the investigation would be a fact finding one to determine whether there had been any breach by any ICAO Member State of international aviation law, including the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) and its Annexes. The more contentious issue is in Article 4 of the Convention which states that Each contracting State agrees not to use civil aviation for any purpose inconsistent with the aims of this Convention. The aims of the Convention are clearly set out in its Preamble which states inter alia that the future development of international civil aviation can greatly help to create and preserve friendship and understanding among the nations and peoples of the world, yet its abuse can become a threat to the general security. It doesnt take a lawyer to figure this out. Dr. Abeyratne is former Senior Legal Officer at ICAO and currently teaches aviation law and policy at McGill University. He is the author of Convention on International Civil Aviation: A Commentary, Aviation Security Law, Air Navigation Law and several other books relevant to this issue. Commentary GOP just getting started on plot against democracy Saskatchewan is a prairie and boreal province in Western Canada, the middle of the three prairie provinces. Nearly 10% of Saskatchewans total area of 651,900 square kilometres (251,700 sq mi) is fresh water, which is composed mostly of rivers, reservoirs, and the province's 100,000 lakes. English is the primary language of the province, with 82.4% of Saskatchewanians speaking English as their first language. When Australian Robert Floyd began his career as a biological scientist, he had no dreams of heading a United Nations body charged with policing the world for signs of nuclear tests. Queues were back at Roland Garros as spectators lined up in the morning sun to attend the first day of the French Open on Sunday. Sunday's visit is the first by an Israeli foreign minister to Egypt for over a decade. Top of the agenda is the fragile cease-fire as well as plans to rebuild the bombed Palestinian enclave. An Egyptian official said on Sunday that funds to Gaza will be overseen by an international body like the United Nations to ensure they do not end up with Hamas. 2008-2021 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Eurasia Review 17 May 2021 I lived as best I could, and then I died. Be careful where you step: the grave is wide -- (Epitaph for a Palestinian.. The retiring Attorney General was not wrong in saying he could not file indictments based on incomplete investigations, as indictments can only be served on the basis of a complete set of evidence. by Javid Yusuf Shortly before his retirement, Attorney General Dappula de Livera made a statement that he would not be able to file indictments in respect of the Easter Sunday attacks prior to his leaving of office, as the investigation files submitted to him were not complete. The statement took even Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera by surprise. He called for a report from the Police Inspector General on the matter. The retiring Attorney General was not wrong in saying he could not file indictments based on incomplete investigations, as indictments can only be served on the basis of a complete set of evidence. He probably made his position clear before his retirement so that he would not be blamed after his retirement. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and the Catholic Church have been calling for justice for the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks, and have been repeatedly highlighting the lethargic pace at which investigations have been going on. Dappula de Livera clearly did not want to be made the scapegoat for the delay in serving justice to the victims after he left office. In a pre-departure interview, Mr. de Livera said COVID-19 had brought the administration of justice in Sri Lanka to a grinding halt, a time when delays in the system are already a perennial problem. The retiring Attorney General speaking to News First went on to detail the challenges faced by the justice system and he said delays caused by COVID-19 were a curse to the system. He said it will have serious repercussions and consequences in the administration of justice in the country. The Attorney General, who retired on Monday (24), said Sri Lanka Police, the Attorney Generals Department and the Judiciary are mandated to bring about justice and all three bodies must work together and move together to ensure that justice is served to the countrys people. Mr. de Livera said one of the main reasons for delays is the delay in detecting and investigating crimes by the Police in addition to the delay in crimes being reported to authorities. Victims of crimes are also reluctant to come forward to testify as a certain percentage of them have a lack of confidence in the system. They believe they will be subject to secondary victimisation by the system that should protect them, said the retiring AG. He also noted that this attitude was present mainly due to the delays and because the system is not user-friendly. Explaining the delays in high profile cases, Mr. De Livera said that such cases are often complex in nature and are delayed due to the slow pace of investigations. He said after he was appointed Attorney General, he took on the challenge of expediting these high profile cases which are of public interest. Over the past two years he had moved the Chief Justice to appoint 14 Trials-at-Bar to try the high profile cases in Sri Lanka. These cases are: 01. The Rathupaswala shooting in 2013 02. The Welikada Prison massacre in 2012 03. The abduction and enforced disappear ance of 11 youth by Navy personnel 04. The abduction and enforced disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda 05. The Elephant trafficking case of known trafficker Ali Roshan 06. The Avant-Garde high seas arms trafficking case 07. Central Bank Treasury Bond Scam of February 27 2015 08. Central Bank Treasury Bond Scam of March 29 2016 09. Central Bank Treasury Bond Scam of March 31 2016 10. Damages to Buddha statues in Mawanella 11. The Wanathawilluwa explosives dump 12. Criminal Negligence case against Former IGP Pujith Jayasundara 12. Criminal Negligence case against Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando 13. Illegal financial activity by ETI In addition, he had also called for Trials-at-Bar in regard to four cases connected to the April 21 2019 terrorist attacks. There are some cases that remain unsolved including the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge, the murder of Wasim Thajudeen and the assault on Keith Noyahr. These must be investigated, he said. In the Wasim Thajudeen case, the two people accused of falsifying evidence are dead. The case on falsification of evidence will conclude, however the main case will and must continue to ensure justice is served. Todays Police personnel are having serious capacity issues as they do not have quality investigators. The Police have problems with efficient and productive investigations mainly due to the lack of experienced and trained officers, the retiring AG said. He also pointed out that at the Magistrates Court, often junior Police officers are leading the prosecution in certain cases. The former AGs lament about the lack of experienced investigators contributing to delays in the administration of justice has increased relevance in terms of the investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks. While the absence of Shani Abeysekara, who made considerable headway in the investigations soon after the attacks, has slowed down the process, the withdrawal and transfer of several other experienced officers from the Easter Sunday attack investigations has caused even further delay. Mr. de Livera went on to point out that there is clear evidence of a grand conspiracy linked to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, and he said information by the State Intelligence Service, with times, targets, places, method of attack and other information is clear evidence there was a grand conspiracy in place with regard to the April 21 2019 attacks. While there is still a great deal of public speculation with regard to the mastermind behind the attacks, the retiring AG said the identities of those involved in the grand conspiracy must come by way of evidence. Two weeks after the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, the terrorist network was dismantled and over 200 people arrested. Thereafter the pace of the investigations slowed down and the arrests made have been only of those suspected to have minor involvements. No progress has been made with regard to apprehending Sara Pulasthi who is suspected to have fled to India. There is no indications as yet to several matters that have come to light in Parliament through Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauff Hakeem as well as Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarians Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara. It is time the pace of investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks increased, and the masterminds behind these heinous attacks brought before the Law. Only then will the ends of justice be met. A new vessel crewed by the Royal Navy could be used to promote British trade interests overseas, 10 Downing Street announced on Sunday. Health Minister Jens Spahn has said that it's the responsibility of local health authorities to monitor COVID test centers and prevent fraud. "I cannot control test centers from Berlin," he said. Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said Sunday that accidental lab leaks happen all the time amid mounting concern regarding the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Benjamin Netanyahu, who edged closer on Sunday to being toppled as Israels premier, has headed the Jewish states government for a record 12 consecutive years. The wily 71-year-old, widely known as Bibi, has clung to power through several conflicts and a long period of political turmoil, despite also facing trial for alleged fraud, bribery and breach [] The US Coast Guard said Sunday it had ended its search for 10 Cuban migrants listed as missing since Thursday in seas off Florida. Earlier, eight migrants were rescued and two bodies were recovered. The survivors said they had left the Cuban port of Mariel last Sunday, but that on Wednesday night, some 15 miles [] Labour MSP Paul Sweeney said the Scottish Government "needs to urgently consider whether it is doing all it can to crack down on tax avoidance globally". PA - Press Association STUDIO 20 May 2021 The key facts behind the day's headlines as the vice president of the European Commission and the UKs Brexit minister have been.. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has urged Joe Biden to do a deal on the taxation of tech giants such as Google and Facebook as part of a global shake-up of business levies. Gavin MacLeod, a veteran supporting actor best known for his role as an ever-smiling cruise ship captain on the 1970s-80s sitcom The Love Boat, died Saturday at the age of 90. His death was confirmed to the showbiz publication Variety by his nephew Mark See. No cause of death was given. MacLeod was little known [] (RFE/RL) -- Protests were held in several European capitals on May 29 as part of a global day of solidarity with the Belarus opposition called by exiled opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Protesters in Warsaw were joined by the parents of Belarusian journalist Raman Pratasevich, who was forcibly detained in Minsk last... The resolution is now in the pipeline. Its outcome depends on the decision to be made by the Foreign Relations Committee. Obviously, the Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington DC will have to work hard in not letting the resolution through. Otherwise, the LTTE rump is sure to portray an approved resolution as recognition of their homeland. On the international front, just two months after the devastating debacle at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Government is facing another challenge. As revealed last week in these columns, this is a resolution in the US Congress, a Colombo-based weekly Sunday Times has reported. According to the report, "It has now been sent to the Foreign Relations Committee for study. It is clear from the full text published below, this resolution interlocks with the one adopted in Geneva and is constructed with events spanning from 2009 when the Tiger guerrillas were militarily defeated. In some diplomatic quarters this resolution is being viewed as much more serious since its overriding effort is to seek recognition for a separate homeland for Tamils. The resolution refers to the north east of Sri Lanka as the traditional Tamil homeland. The House Foreign Affairs Committee was sent the resolution on May 18 which seems to be auspicious for the Tiger guerrilla rump. They secured the Genocide education week in Ontario, Canada and held a commemoration event adjacent to Downing Street in London. This is despite the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) being proscribed in the United Kingdom. One is not sure what counter measures are being adopted by Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. Now to the full text of the resolution which reveals the distinct link between what transpired at the UNHRC and what is due in the US Congress. Taking issues lightly as the Government did in Geneva would only cause irreparable damage. Recognising 12 years since the end of the war in Sri Lanka on May 18, 2009, honoring the lives lost, and expressing support for justice, accountability, reconciliation, reconstruction, reparation, and reform in Sri Lanka to ensure a lasting peaceful political solution and a prosperous future for all people of Sri Lanka. Whereas May 18, 2021, marks the 12-year anniversary of the end of the 26-year armed conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka and various armed Tamil independence organisations, including the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE); Whereas all communities suffered from violence and counterviolence during the civil war; Whereas the Tamil people of Sri Lanka suffered tens of thousands of deaths, disappearances, abuses, and displacements; Whereas in the absence of Sri Lanka implementing the recommendations of its own Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission or instituting a credible justice mechanism to investigate serious crimes committed during and after the war, the United States sponsored resolutions in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in 2012, 2013, and 2014 calling in ever stronger terms for domestic action and reconciliation: Whereas the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a report in 2015 (the OISL Report) that outlined the occurrence of war crimes and crimes against humanity and violations of international humanitarian law during the war in Sri Lanka; Whereas following a change in government in Sri Lanka, the release of the OISL Report, and the recommendations of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United States cosponsored with Sri Lanka a UNHRC resolution in 2015, HRC 30/1, which was reaffirmed in 2017; Whereas under HRC 30/1, the Sri Lankan government made transitional justice commitments for post-war reconciliation including (1) an accountability mechanism with a special court inclusive of foreign judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and investigators; (2) a truth commission; (3) an office of missing persons; (4) an office of reparations and institutional reforms aimed at nonrecurrence; and (5) a number of confidence-building measures; Whereas following the Easter Sunday terror attacks and the reinstallation of the Rajapaksa government in November 2019, Sri Lanka withdrew from HRC 30/1; Whereas the northeastern region of the country, the traditional Tamil homeland, remains heavily militarized with up to one soldier for every two civilians in the most war affected regions; Whereas the Northern Provincial Council of Sri Lanka adopted in resolutions calling for an international investigation into alleged war crimes committed during the armed conflict and for a U.N.-monitored referendum in the northeastern region of the island to support the development of a permanent political solution; Whereas the Government of Sri Lanka has postponed provincial elections for multiple years, denying all Sri Lankans, including the Tamil people in the Northern Province and the Eastern Province, their democratic right to local representation; Whereas Sri Lankas COVID19 response has been led and executed by the military, exacerbating longstanding concerns regarding state surveillance, harassment, and discrimination against Tamil and Muslim communities; Whereas a 2021 report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights found that the Government of Sri Lanka has, over the past year (1) elevated individuals implicated in war crimes to senior governmental positions; (2) pardoned a convicted war criminal; (3) reversed key democratic reforms and consolidated power behind the office of the President; (4) obstructed efforts to investigate and prosecute perpetrators of war crimes; (5) promoted majoritarian and exclusionary rhetoric; (6) engaged in surveillance and harassment of civil society organisations and human rights advocates; and (7) allegedly employed security forces to abduct and torture dissidents; Whereas the report warns that Sri Lankas current trajectory sets the scene for the recurrence of the policies and practices that gave rise to grave human rights violations; Whereas the United States cosponsored a UNHRC resolution, HRC 46/1 (2021), led by the United Kingdom, which recognises the lack of accountability for past violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka and directs the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to collect, analyze, and preserve information and evidence for future accountability processes for gross violations of human rights; Whereas no effort has been made to bring to justice those who are alleged to have committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, no investigations have begun even on emblematic cases, evidence gathering is hindered through arbitrary arrests and threats by the state, and impunity prevails in the country with the outdated and the excessively harsh Prevention of Terrorism Act, which does not comply with international standards and has still not been repealed despite repeated promises by the government; Whereas the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, stated in January 2021, Given the demonstrated inability and unwillingness of the Government to advance accountability at the national level, it is time for international action to ensure justice for international crimes. States should also pursue investigations and prosecution in their national courtsunder accepted principles of extraterritorial or universal jurisdictionof international crimes committed by all parties in Sri Lanka; Whereas families of individuals who disappeared during and following the armed conflict still have no information regarding the whereabouts of their loved ones, and no lists of persons who surrendered to the government after the end of the armed conflict have been published; and Whereas progress on domestic and international investigations into reports of war crimes and human rights during the conflict and the promotion of reconciliation would facilitate United States engagement and investment in Sri Lanka and demonstrate support for the international rule of law: Now, therefore, be it 1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives 2 (1) acknowledges the 12th anniversary of the end of the war in Sri Lanka and offers its deepest condolences to all those affected by the conflict; honours the memory of those who died and reaffirms its solidarity with the people of all communities in Sri Lanka in their search for reconciliation, reconstruction, reparation, and reform; (3) commends the United Nations Human Rights Council for prioritizing the collection and preservation of evidence related to human rights violations, a process that must not be interfered with by the Government of Sri Lanka; 6 (4) recognises the bravery and commitment of 7 advocates for justice across all communities in Sri Lanka, including the Tamil families of the disappeared, whose protests and demands for answers have at times been met with threats, intimidation, and harassment by government security forces; urges the international community to advocate for and protect the political rights and representation of the historically oppressed northeastern region of Sri Lanka and work towards a permanent political solution to address the underlying issues that led to ethnic conflict; Recommends the United States explore investigations and prosecutions pursuant to the recommendations of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; and urges the United States to work with the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Security Council, and the United Nations Human Rights Council to establish a credible and effective international mechanism for accountability for the grave crimes committed during the war in Sri Lanka. Resolved, That the House of Representatives (1) acknowledges the 12th anniversary of the end of the war in Sri Lanka and offers its deepest condolences to all those affected by the conflict; (2) Honours the memory of those who died and reaffirms its solidarity with the people of all communities in Sri Lanka in their search for reconciliation, reconstruction, reparation, and reform; (3) Commends the United Nations Human Rights Council for prioritizing the collection and preservation of evidence related to human rights violations, a process that must not be interfered with by the Government of Sri Lanka; (4) recognises the bravery and commitment of advocates for justice across all communities in Sri Lanka, including the Tamil families of the disappeared, whose protests and demands for answers have at times been met with threats, intimidation, and harassment by government security forces; (5) urges the international community to advocate for and protect the political rights and representation of the historically oppressed northeastern region of Sri Lanka and work towards a permanent political solution to address the underlying issues that led to ethnic conflict; (6) recommends the United States explore investigations and prosecutions pursuant to the recommendations of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; and (7) urges the United States to work with the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Security Council, and the United Nations Human Rights Council to establish a credible and effective international mechanism for accountability for the grave crimes committed during the war in Sri Lanka. The resolution is now in the pipeline. Its outcome depends on the decision to be made by the Foreign Relations Committee. Obviously, the Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington DC will have to work hard in not letting the resolution through. Otherwise, the LTTE rump is sure to portray an approved resolution as recognition of their homeland. The resolution if passed heaps trouble for Sri Lanka as it would establish the way forward for the US acting, especially in the international multilateral context. While many run complacent with the ability of China and Russias veto being available to throw out action sought to be prescribed by the UNSC, that holds water vis-a-vis a resolution,. However, it will not hold if there are moves to put Sri Lanka on the UNSC agenda which could bring in dictates too. To put a country on the UNSC agenda needs most of the votes and veto has no place in that situation. Work is cut out on the diplomatic side. Be it in the conduct of foreign relations or in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has quite clearly floundered making one colossal blunder after another. It just cannot afford to let such issues reach saturation point on the one hand and run around with a begging bowl on the other. Courtesy: The Sunday Times [RFI] As President Emmanuel Macron threatens to withdraw French troops from Mali in the wake of the latest coup, leaders of the.. allAfrica.com 30 May 2021 The man, known only as Vadivelu, from Tamil Naidu, India, was arrested and fined after sharing a video of him ripping a snake in two and devouring it. The theory that the coronavirus leaked from a Wuhan lab was initially dismissed, but intelligence agencies are reconsidering, the Sunday Times said. Egypt and Israel held high-level talks in both countries Sunday to shore up a fragile truce between Israel and the Hamas militant group and rebuild the Gaza Strip after a punishing 11-day war that left parts of the seaside enclave in ruins. Liquor traders received a reprieve on Sunday night as President Cyril Ramaphosa did not announce fresh restrictions on the sale of liquor in anticipation of a third wave of Covid-19. The UK's Vaccines Minister has insisted that the World Health Organisation must be able to fully investigate the origins of the pandemic, following reports that British agents believe it is "feasible" that the coronavirus emerged... allAfrica.com 31 May 2021 [Premium Times] The school's proprietor says the number of the students abducted was not yet determined SMYRNA, Tenn. (AP) Investigators on Sunday continued searching for the bodies of seven people believed killed in the crash a day... Smile Expo Loads Up for an Epic Greece Gambling Conference 2021 Published May 30, 2021 by Lee R The emerging Greece market will come into bloom fall at a conference for the ages. Greece Gambling Conference 2021 is shaping up as the jewel of the fall. The Event Set to take place 14 September at NJV Athens Plaza, Athens, super-promoter Smile-Expo will host Greece Gambling Conference to discuss the opportunities in the emerging Greek market. Themes and Experts Online casino management and promotion experts; lawyers; SEO specialists; and more will reveal emerging gambling regulations in Europe while examining iGaming promotion trends and efficient marketing strategies. Speaker Shortlist The shortlist includes iGaming pioneer and 1710 Gaming Consultant Christina Thakor-Rankin. bringing 25 years of experience working with online casino operators and gambling regulators to Athens to help attendees creation and integrate strategies for marketing and player protection. Marketing Former European Casino Association VP and current ECA Board Member Carlo Pagan will share his expertise on casino branding and marketing strategies. SEO master Nikola Minkov who has shepherded over 700 successful projects as Founder and CEO of Serpact agency will empower attendees to implement more sophisticated content marketing strategies. Affiliate and Legal Affiliate program specialist Levon Nikoghosyan brings long-term gambling software development expertise as Partner Matrix CEO; and lawyer Ario Mansoori will bring 5 years expertise as Nordic Gaming legal associate to educate Greece Gambling Conference 2021 attendees on adapting licensing to different legislations and responsible gambling standards. Topics Vital speaker topics include leveraging high-tech gaming service to maximise customer retention and identification of customer needs; interacting with millennials in land-based and online casinos; high-quality traffic generation solutions for Greece in 2021; SEO-2021: propelling websites into the top rank; and gambling regulation in Greece and worldwide. Popular Speed Dating Greece Gambling Conference 2021 attendees can look forward to a comfortable atmosphere for networking, including the new wildly popular speed dating sessions. Outlook Early birds can still sign up with a 15% discount by using the code GGConf15 to register at the Greece Gambling Conference 2021 website Greece.affiliate.events for this cant-miss event. When LeVar Aikens tested positive for COVID-19, he was worried he wouldn't be able to marry his wife, Adrienne. But the two were married last September, separated by glass. AGENCY [mdash]MaryAnn Wanner, 75, of Agency, died at 4:45 a.m. June 9, 2021 at Ridgewood Specialty Care. She was born February 18, 1946 in Lake City, IA to Lubbert and Erma DeVries. She married Martin Joseph Wanner and he preceded her in death on March 18, 2021. MaryAnn had worked as a beaut DETROIT (AP) Mental health issues experienced by young adults will be the topic of a 10-episode podcast from Michigan State Universitys Science Gallery Detroit and WDET-FM public radio. The first episode of the latest Science of Grief podcast is scheduled to air Wednesday. The series makes space for young adults to share stories, science, and solutions for those who are exploring their grief and mental health. Adam Mabe is current being held on suspicion of first-degree aggravated motor theft, second-degree criminal trespass, vehicular eluding, criminal mischief, reckless driving, DUI or DUID and driving under restraint, according to online court records. New York, US (PANA) - UN humanitarians have expressed deep concern about serious and ongoing abuses carried out against displaced civilians who are also facing dire food insecurity in Ethiopias Tigray region, after months of conflict ATLANTA Ever eat a corn dog on a stick at the restaurant where it was invented, then drive 45 minutes north to visit a 19-foot-tall fiberglass statue of Paul Bunyan holding a hot dog? If not, the state of Illinois wants you to do just that. Other than being part of a micro-tour of prairie pork history, both stops are among a range of sites and experiences the state is spotlighting this summer to resuscitate its tourism and travel industries after the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. J.B. Pritzker unveiled the "Time For Me To Drive" advertising campaign earlier this month, pitching it as a method that "introduces tourists to an Illinois they may not have seen before." Those destinations include "natural assets," such as the Shawnee National Forest and Starved Rock State Park, and "manmade ones too," including the cities of Chicago, Bloomington and Springfield. Also on a list of 60 state-curated itineraries are hundreds of restaurants and breweries, museums and the state's seven national scenic byways and highways. The $6 million campaign spans television, digital, radio and print spots. It has been airing in the seven states surrounding Illinois and in 18 total markets. The first ad, a 30-second spot with a soundtrack reminiscent of REO Speedwagon's 1978 single "Time for Me To Fly," features a cameo by the Gemini Giant in Wilmington, scenes of the Chicago River and Historic Route 66, Abraham Lincoln's home in Springfield and Chestnut Mountain in Galena. REO Speedwagon was formed at the University of Illinois in 1967 and is set to play at the 2021 Illinois State Fair, where it has performed six times since 1987, according to state fair records. "Roll down the windows, turn up the radio and discover all that Illinois has to offer," a narrator says. At the core of the ad and the campaign is a push for travelers to experience Illinois by car. "Recent surveys show that half of Americans plan to travel this summer, and half of them intend to drive," Pritzker said when he announced the campaign. "So, whether you want to ease your way back into travel or are raring to go, taking the great American road trip is a great way to enjoy yourself and to stay safe," Pritzker said. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The American Automobile Association estimates that 34.4 million people will travel by car this Memorial Day weekend, with 1.7 million being from Illinois. The national forecast is up nearly 53% from last year, but is down 23% from 2019. Increased demand to hit the road will likely mean "gas prices are going to be expensive no matter where you fill up," AAA spokesperson Jeanette McGee said in a statement. Nationally, travelers can expect to see the most expensive Memorial Day weekend gas prices since 2014, according to AAA. In Illinois, the average price of gas as of Thursday was $3.26, or 22 cents over the national average. Dollars spent at Illinois pumps in the next few days and as a result of the tourism campaign will likely be a boon for the state, which has a 38.7 cents per gallon motor fuel tax. In 2020, the state saw revenues from the tax fall with less people traveling for business and for leisure during the height of the pandemic. Another part of the campaign's calculus is to recover some of the other economic losses shouldered by the tourism industry amid the pandemic. Before the virus, Illinois saw over 120 million visitors annually who together spent more than $40 billion in the state, according to Sylvia Garcia, acting director of the states Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Those numbers were cut in half as a result of the pandemic last year, Garcia said earlier this month. (The) Time for Me to Drive campaign is not only a milestone in bringing tourism back for this summer, it's also part of our ongoing work towards a strong recovery for the tourism industry over the long term, Garcia said. The state actually saw increases in attendance at its 309 state parks a collection of sites it hopes to promote through the campaign throughout the pandemic. Despite the state's Department of Natural Resources closing its facilities in March 2020 to curb the spread of the virus, then reopening a select 60 sites May 1 and fully reopening May 29, a 6.23% increase in visitors was logged. According to IDNR spokesperson Rachel Torbert, state parks, recreation areas and historic sites recorded 28,451,056 visitors from June 2020 to December 2020. The same seven-month period in 2019 saw 26,731,808 visitors. From Jan. 1 to April 30 this year, the IDNR has logged 6,175,900 visitors. "As you may have guessed, weve seen increased visitors at our state sites as many Illinoisans continue to look for ways to recreate with their families, which allow them to avoid crowds and traveling long distances," Torbert said. Contact Timothy Eggert at (309) 820-3276. Follow him on Twitter: @TimothyMEggert For a guy known for giving us Memorial Day, Gen. John A. Logan is not much remembered in these parts. Sure, protesters at the 1968 Democratic National Convention famously climbed all over the statue of Logan on horseback in Chicago's Grant Park, but there were so many of them in perhaps the most iconic image that you could hardly see the sculpture subject. And who he was and what he represented wasnt really the point in that moment. And, yes, Logan Square in Chicago is named for the mid-19th-century politician and Union Civil War general. Its a fitting tribute because although Logan lived elsewhere in the city during his Chicago residential tenure, he maintained a fulsome mustache that would fit right in with the conspicuous facial hair favored by many a modern Logan Square dude. But even though the Downstate native is one of only three people mentioned in the Illinois state song, alongside Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant (and our tears), Logan is not a man whose biography jumps to the mind of the average or even the learned Prairie State resident. John A. Logan may be the most noteworthy nineteenth century American to escape notice in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, Civil War historian Gary Ecelbarger said, a quote chosen to head the section on Logans legacy on the website of the General John A. Logan Museum, located in his hometown of Murphysboro. Some of the conflicting or varied threads in his life remind us that history is really complicated, says Kate Masur, a Northwestern University historian who has written about Logan in her studies of the early African American Civil Rights movement. The Logan statue in Grant Park, for instance, is one of the 41 under consideration by the citys Chicago Monuments Project, dedicated to examining exactly who is granted such civic pride of place. (Dating to just before the turn of the last century, it is also one of the more artistically successful, with the figure of Logan sculpted by the celebrated American classicist Augustus Saint-Gaudens.) Ive been asked to talk about some of these monuments, says Masur, author of Until Justice Be Done: Americans First Civil Rights Movement, From the Revolution to Reconstruction. And, obviously, theres been a lot of focus on the Lincoln ones and some focus on, like, Grant and McKinley. And nobody has asked me a question about the John Logan statue until you just did. The most profound complications in Logans life stem from his journey on the question of the rights of Black people in America. Prewar, he was a Stephen A. Douglas Democrat from a slaveholding family far Downstate and the point man in the Illinois legislature, Masur says, for an overtly racist law that prohibited Black people from migrating to the state. It was known widely as the Logan Law. That was its nickname, Masur says of the 1853 legislation. She found in Logans papers in the Library of Congress a speech he gave on its behalf. Examine history down from our first account of the negroe (sic) and we find them not suited to be placed upon a level with the white man, Logan wrote. But postwar he served in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate as a Republican, and not just a rank-and-file Republican. This, remember, was the days when Republican signified the party of Lincoln and progressivism and Democrats were often the conservatives. He was considered among the radicals so the most kind of pro-African American rights and pro-Reconstruction Republicans in the Senate, says John Mark Hansen, a University of Chicago political science professor who came to Logan when looking into the history of the South Side, where Logan lived in the 1870s. Indeed, during his House tenure, Logan was to President Andrew Johnson what California congressman Adam Schiff was to President Donald Trump during the latters first impeachment trial. When the House impeached Andrew Johnson, he was one of the House managers during the impeachment trial, which was basically the radicals pursuing their complaints with Johnson, Hansen says. Logans was apparently a kind of battlefield conversion, and not dissimilar, says Hansen, to the one Grant went through. The historical timeline from the Logan Museum says that Logan detested Lincoln at the time of his presidential election, as he did all abolitionists. But three years later, it continues, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863 which Logan accepted as necessary. His attitudes toward slavery and African Americans had changed. He urged Union soldiers to accept the recruitment of African American volunteers. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Despite being a political general, one who got a command post by raising troops, Logan served admirably, according to many accounts, and it was Grant who got him promoted from colonel to major general. Logan was elected to the U.S. House as a Democrat in 1858 and 1860, leaving to take his Union Army command post. When he returned to that body it was as a Republican. This was a very different Logan, the museum timeline says. It was a Logan who voted for Constitutional amendments to abolish slavery and to grant citizenship and voting rights to African Americans. Logan served a second term in the U.S. House before moving on to serve three terms in the U.S. Senate. Throughout this time Logan continued to fight for civil rights for Americas former slaves and supported Womens Suffrage. This history of darkness moving into light will surely complicate Chicagos discussion of the Logan Memorial sculpture, especially as the memorial projects official website underplays the prominence of Logans role in the anti-Black legislation. He allied with Democrat Stephen A. Douglas, and participated in legislation directed towards halting black migration and settlement in Illinois, it says. The best outcome, says Masur, of this discussion about monuments in a way would be that we, in general, come to know more about our history and understand the conflicting and sometimes not admirable aspects of the people who are memorialized on the landscape. And also that we add more monuments. Meanwhile, there was the matter of Memorial Day. In addition to being in Congress, Logan in 1868 began serving as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, a kind of Veterans Administration precursor for former Union soldiers. In his first year in that post, he called for Decoration Day to be a national holiday honoring the nations war dead by placing flowers on their graves. The date he picked, May 30 reportedly because it was when flowers were in bloom and was not the anniversary of any specific battle was the national holiday from 1868 through 1970. Beginning in 1971 Memorial Day (the name supplanted Decoration Day over time) became an official federal holiday celebrated on the last Monday in May. A 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica entry on Logan stated the holiday was an idea which probably originated with him. But its true origins are democratic and, seemingly, grassroots. Following the horrific war local commemorations of the departed took place all over the country, often with a civic ceremony and the laying of flowers upon graves. Logan had a lot of power and clout, says Masur, the Northwestern history professor. So when he puts his stamp on it and says, From now on, this is going to be a national holiday, he just becomes very visible for doing that. But people had been commemorating the fallen from the Civil War even before that. Masur pointed in particular to Yale historian David Blights find, evidence in a Harvard archive of the earliest and most remarkable Memorial Day, Blight wrote in a widely reprinted 2011 piece. It was in Charleston, South Carolina, and the citys Black residents had already reburied the Union soldiers who had died in a POW camp there. There, on May 1, 1865, three weeks after Lees surrender at Appomattox, a parade of 10,000, led by 3,000 Black schoolchildren singing a Union marching song, commemorated the soldiers who had given their lives as martyrs for the cause of human freedom. The war was over, and Memorial Day had been founded by African Americans in a ritual of remembrance and consecration. The war, they had boldly announced, had been about the triumph of their emancipation over a slaveholders republic, Blight wrote. There was a collective power to this and the other commemorations. Still, it took Logans national platform and his popularity among the former Union troops to make these local efforts national. And his words echoed the sentiments of those African American Charleston residents. Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their death a tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance, Logan said in his proclamation to the fellow veterans of his organization. Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I was nosy and had to take a walk to see what was going on, said Stafford, a nurse from Ann Arbor, Mich., here on vacation. I saw the forensic photographer taking photos of the wall and a garbage can. We were here two days ago and I had bad vibes, so we didnt come back that night. Residents of McLean County have witnessed many salient moments in history, including tragedies. One truly horrific blemish on our nations history the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, which happened 100 years ago this week was experienced by two sisters, Julia and Alverta Duff, both born and raised in Normal. Julia and Alverta were daughters of Peter and Fannie Duff. Peter was born into slavery and came to Normal from Kentucky in the years following the Civil War to seek a better life. When he arrived in Normal in the early 1870s, he was hired by Jesse Fell, a respected leader of the Bloomington-Normal community. The Duff family was one of the earliest Black families to establish themselves in Normal. Education was important to the Duffs. Julia enrolled at Illinois State Normal University in 1912, intending to complete a three-year program in home economics. Alverta attended Browns Business College and became a bookkeeper at Casey Brother's Dyeing and Cleaning in Bloomington. Alverta was the only one of her siblings who was able to find a job in Bloomington-Normal because racial discrimination against African Americans was strong. Because she was Black, Julia was not allowed to teach in white classrooms in McLean County. So, she left to find opportunities available in larger cities for African Americans. Julia moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, by November 1918 and began teaching home economics at the Booker T. Washington High School, located in the citys segregated Greenwood section, so named for the main street that ran through it. After World War I, Tulsa was recognized nationally for its affluent African American community known as the Greenwood District. This thriving business district and surrounding residential area (with some 15,000 residents) was referred to as Black Wall Street. The events that took place from May 31 to June 1, 1921, nearly destroyed the entire district. On May 30, a 19-year-old Black man named Dick Rowland was accused of violating 17-year-old Sarah Page, a white girl who operated an elevator in the Drexel Building in Tulsa. Details of the account remain unclear as to whether Rowland simply stumbled into her, or worse. Accounts of the incident circulated among the citys white community throughout that day and became more exaggerated with each telling. Tulsa police arrested Rowland on May 31 and began an investigation. An inflammatory report in the Tulsa Tribune on May 31, stating that a black man had tried to rape a white woman, fueled a confrontation between crowds of Black and white armed civilians surrounding the courthouse, where the sheriff and his men tried to protect Rowland from a lynch mob of 1,000 white men. Shots were fired and the outnumbered African Americans began retreating to the Greenwood District, followed by the white mob. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. In the early morning hours of June 1, Greenwood was looted and burned by white rioters. The well-armed white mob razed 36 square blocks, looted hundreds of homes and businesses, and killed as many as 300 Black citizens. And the attack on Black Wall Street included the first aerial bombing of a U.S. city. Many residents of Greenwood were herded into the streets, including Julia Duff. It has also been thought that her sister Alverta was visiting when the massacre occurred, but that remains unclear. Ten days after the massacre, the Chicago Defender (a Black newspaper) printed a moving account of the tragedy, a letter written by two Black women to an unidentified family member in Chicago. Fortunately, the wealth of details contained in the letter made it possible to identify the authors. E.A., the main author, was Alverta Duff. Her sister, only identified as Julia, was Julia Duff. According to the letter, Julia, who was too shaken to document the account herself, provided two short, emotional postscripts. Alverta wrote that Julia came to her looking for a place to stay. She mentioned how Julia spoke of getting driven out of the home she stayed in, which belonged to the Smart family. White rioters ordered Julia at gunpoint to put down her traveling bags, but she refused. They made Julia march away from her home and then proceeded to loot the building. Alverta wrote that Julia had been awakened at 4 a.m. to the sound and sight of the rioters with their guns. Julia reported to her sister that her legs gave way from under her and she had to crawl about her room, taking things from her closet, putting them in her trunk, for she thought if anything happened, shed have her trunk packed, and before she got everything in, they heard footsteps on their steps and there were six out there, and ordered Mr. Smart to march, hands up, out of the house. In the postscript, Julia added, I dont know what would be best for me to express my feelings, running like someone mad or screaming. All I can say is it is horrible! Not a decent home left in Tulsa, and the men look so forsaken! All those fine churches are destroyed. Despite this horrific experience, the rioters did not scare Julia away and she continued to teach at Booker T. Washington High School when it reopened that fall. After having taught in Tulsa for 15 years, Julia resigned in 1934 and returned to Normal. In June 1935 she earned her degree from ISNU. Julia and Alvertas eyewitness accounts will be featured on the 27th annual Evergreen Cemetery Walk this fall, in honor of the massacre's 100th anniversary. The performances will be 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sept. 25-26 and October 2-3. For the more information, visit mchistory.org. The museum and our community owe a debt of gratitude to filmmaker, historian and freelance writer Paul Lee; local Black history historian Jack Muirhead; and Greg Koos, who was executive director of the museum at the time of the discovery. Without their efforts, the story of Julia and Alverta Duffs experiences during the Tulsa Massacre would have remained hidden. Lee was working on a documentary about Black pioneers of the West when he found the Duff sisters letter published in the Chicago Defender. Lees search for these unnamed witnesses to the Tulsa Massacre provided the museum and McLean County with a rare glimpse into the life of one family, and the life of a community, region, people and time. Pieces From Our Past is a weekly column by the McLean County Museum of History. Candace Summers is director of community education at the museum. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BLOOMINGTON Noor Alsaqri and her sister Salma of Normal grew up hearing stories from their grandparents of how they were forced out of their homes in Palestine in 1948. They became refugees in Jordan with the formation of Israel and eventually came to the United States. They left without anything, said Noor Alsaqri. It was called Nakba, 'the catastrophe.' On Sunday afternoon the sisters joined a rally on the north steps of the McLean County Museum of History with about 60 other people to bring attention to what they fear is another Nakba or catastrophe happening in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah, where they say Palestinians are being evicted. John Dabeet, president of Americans and Palestinians for Peace, traveled from Muscatine, Iowa, to address the rally. Dabeet talked of the brutal Israeli occupation and confiscation of homes. He told his own story of being arrested for his politics. I was tortured in an Israeli prison, he said. I wasnt allowed to go back to Palestine to attend my sisters funeral. He told the crowd that Palestinians will not give up their right to be free. When I die, my kid will carry the flag. When my kids die, their kids will carry the flag until Palestine is free, said Dabeet. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Much attention has been focused on the area recently because of rockets fired into Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas, and Israeli airstrikes that they said targeted Hamas sites but included residential buildings. The 11 days of hostilities, which ended with a ceasefire on May 20, killed more than 230 Palestinians, including 65 children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, along with 12 people in Israel, including a 5-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl, the Associated Press reported. But those speaking at the rally said atrocities and assaults on human dignity against Palestinians go back much further. This time our narrative, our story, is getting out, said Dabeet. We are standing on the right side of history. Mahmoud Ali of Normal, one of the organizers of the rally, said, This is not about talking against Jewish people. This is about the injustice happening there." Ali said, Im against what Hamas does, but he also said Palestinians are out of patience. Those attending the rally chanted, Free Palestine, Stop funding genocide and From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. When the speakers concluded, they marched around the museum and continued their shouts of No justice, no peace. They also carried signs that read, Stand for Gaza. Stop the killing, Free Palestine and I cant keep calm because Palestine is bleeding. Contact Lenore Sobota at (309) 820-3240. Follow her on Twitter: @Pg_Sobota Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 4 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. NEW CASTLE, Del. (AP) President Joe Biden marked his first Memorial Day weekend as commander in chief by honoring the nations sacrifices in a deeply personal manner as he paid tribute Sunday to those lost while remembering his late son Beau, a veteran who died six years ago to the day. As a cold rain fell, Biden made his annual appearance at the commemoration in New Castle, not far from his Wilmington home, a day before he planned to do the same at Arlington National Cemetery on the official observance. The death of his son from brain cancer at age 46 is ever-present for the elder Biden, with the loss defining so much of his worldview, dotting his speeches and stirring his empathy for others in pain. The Memorial Day weekend, long an important moment for Biden, took on added poignancy this year as the president spoke frequently and emotionally of his own loss while expressing the gratitude of a nation for the sacrifices of others. I cant thank you enough for the continued service for the country, said Biden, addressing a crowd of Gold Star military families and other veterans in a ceremony at War Memorial Plaza in the shadow of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. I know how much the loss hurts. Theyre the guardians of us and were the guardians of their legacy, Biden said of those who served in the armed forces. Despite all the pain, I know the pride you feel in the loved one you have lost. Though a tent was overhead, the cold wind whipped the rain onto the guests as they watched a lone military trumpeter play taps at a memorial to Delawares fallen troops. Biden appeared to pay the chill no mind, remaining for the entirety of the 75-minute ceremony and mouthing the words to the closing rendition of God Bless America. When it was time, he snapped a salute to the wreath laid at the memorial. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Biden had attended the ceremony nearly every year for decades, and it was at last years event when he emerged for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, spotted with a mask while laying a wreath. Hours before Sunday's ceremony, the president, first lady Jill Biden and other family members attended a memorial Mass for Beau Biden at their local church. After the service, the Bidens greeted well-wishers outside the church and, for the first time in more than a year, were able to receive warm hugs and handshakes at their home parish. The Bidens walked to Beaus grave, which is on the property of St. Joseph's on the Brandywine, and left flowers amid several American flags that had been placed on the well-manicured lawn next to the marker. Beau Biden served two terms as Delaware's attorney general before declaring a run for governor, and many saw in him the same aspirations that brought his father to the White House. Beau Biden also served in Delawares National Guard and, when sent to Iraq, received permission to wear a uniform emblazoned with a different last name so as not to receive special treatment. That story, which Biden told Friday at a Virginia air force base, was one of the many moments in which Bidens son defined the Memorial Day weekend. After beginning with an emotional remembrance of his late son, Biden acknowledged the unheralded sacrifices made by the service members and their families. You are the very best of what America has to offer, Biden said then. Biden also underscored his recent decision to pull troops out of Afghanistan later this year, expressing gratitude to service members who took multiple tours of duty in Americas longest war. He largely avoided the particulars of international affairs on Sunday, though he pledged to press Russias Vladimir Putin on human rights during their summit in Geneva next month and said that the moment was right to show the world, and namely China, that the United States was ready to lead again after four years of a largely inward-looking foreign policy under President Donald Trump. Its time to remind everybody who we are, he said. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. SALEM, Ore. (AP) Wearing soot-smudged, fire-resistant clothing and helmets, several wildland firefighters armed with hoes moved through a stand of ponderosa pines as flames tore through the underbrush. The firefighters weren't there to extinguish the fire. They had started it. The prescribed burn, ignited this month near the scenic mountain town of Bend, is part of a massive effort in wildlands across the U.S. West to prepare for a fire season that's expected to be even worse than last year's record-shattering one. Keep scrolling for a gallery of climate disasters in 2020 The U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management have thinned by hand, machines and prescribed burns about 1.8 million acres (728,000 hectares) of forest and brushland since last season, officials from the agencies told The Associated Press. They typically treat some 3 million (1.2 million hectares) acres every year. All that activity, though, has barely scratched the surface. The federal government owns roughly 640 million acres (260 million hectares) in the U.S. All but 4% of it lies in the West, including Alaska, with some of it unsuitable for prescribed burning. "All these steps are in the right direction, but the challenge is big and complex," said John Bailey, professor of silviculture and fire management at Oregon State University. "And more needs to be done to even turn the corner." The efforts face a convergence of bleak forces. Severe drought has turned forests and grasslands into dry fuels, ready to ignite from a careless camper or a lightning strike. More people are building in areas bordering wildlands, expanding the so-called wildland-urban interface, an area where wildfires impact people the most. Invasive, highly flammable vegetation is spreading uncontrolled across the West. "I'm seeing probably the worst combination of conditions in my lifetime," said Derrick DeGroot, a county commissioner in southern Oregon's Klamath County. "We have an enormous fuel load in the forests, and we are looking at a drought unlike we've seen probably in the last 115 years." Asked how worried he is about the 2021 fire season, DeGroot said: "On a scale of 1 to 10, I'm a 12. Nothing looks good." In other prevention measures in the West, utility companies are removing vegetation around power lines and are ready to impose blackouts when those lines threaten to spark a fire. Armies of firefighters are being beefed up. And communities are offering incentives for residents to make their own properties fire-resistant. Still, much work remains to change the region's trajectory with fire, particularly in two key areas, said Scott Stephens, professor of wildland fire science at the University of California, Berkeley. "One is getting people better prepared for the inevitability of fire in areas like the wildland-urban interface. That includes new construction," he said. "And the second is getting our ecosystems better prepared for climate change and fire impacts." On the local level, individuals and communities need to create defensible spaces and evacuation plans, he said. On the government level, more resources need to go toward managing forests. "I think we've got one to two decades," Stephens said. "If we don't do this in earnest, we're frankly just going to be watching the forest change right in front of our eyes from fire, climate change, drought, insects, things of that nature." Part of the issue is that increasing wildfire resilience often requires trade-offs, said Erica Fleishman, professor at Oregon State University's College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Cities or states could require defensible spaces around homes. Building codes could call for fire-resistant materials. That would drive up construction costs but also mean homes would be less likely to burn and need rebuilding, she said. "The insurance industry and the building industry and communities and lawmakers are all going to need to have the will to create these changes," she said. Fleishman also believes more prescribed fires could be conducted in the wildland-urban interface, but said "society is risk averse." "Right now, there's not, in many cases, a whole lot of will to do it," she said. Prescribed burns target vegetation that carries flames into forest canopies, where they can explode into massive wildfires. Planning and preparing for them can take two to five years. And carrying them out is a never-ending task, said Jessica Gardetto, spokeswoman for the National Interagency Fire Center, in Boise, Idaho. While targeting one forest, other forests continue to grow, creating "this vast buildup across the landscape," she said. Besides overgrown forests, the West faces a newer threat: cheatgrass, which grows prolifically after a wildfire and becomes incredibly flammable. Gardetto said trying to get rid of the invasive grass is like the endless toil of Sisyphus, the Greek mythological figure who was forced to roll a boulder up a hill, only for it to roll down as it neared the top, over and over again. After a fire is put out, the first thing to come back is cheatgrass. "It starts this horrible cycle that is really difficult to combat," she said. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen signed an agreement last August committing the state and the federal agency to scale up treatment of forest and wildlands to 1 million acres (405,000 hectares) annually by 2025. They have a long way to reach that goal. Cal Fire, a state agency responsible for protecting over 31 million acres (12.5 million hectares) of California's privately owned wildlands, treated some 20,000 acres (8,100 hectares) with prescribed fire and thinning from last summer through March. Meanwhile, California increased the number of seasonal firefighters by almost 50%, according to Lynne Tolmachoff, spokeswoman for Cal Fire. With the fire season getting longer each year, Colorado lawmakers last spring allocated about $3 million to increase staffing at the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, said Mike Morgan, its director. "Historically, wildland firefighters were college students. They'd get out of school on Memorial Day, they'd go fight fire, and they'd go back to school on Labor Day," Morgan said. "Well, now we're having fires every month of the year, and so we need firefighters year-round." The Bureau of Land Management is transforming its seasonal firefighting force to fulltime with a $13 million budget increase, Gardetto said. Despite all these efforts, warnings are going out telling people to be ready for the worst. The Oregon Office of Emergency Management advised residents on Monday to have a bag packed and have an evacuation plan. "Abnormally dry conditions and pre-season fires on the landscape are causing concern for the 2021 wildfire season," the agency said. "Now is the time for Oregonians to prepare themselves, their families and their homes for wildfire." *** Associated Press writers Don Thompson in Sacramento, California; Thomas Peipert in Denver; and Daisy Nguyen in San Francisco contributed to this report. ___ Follow Selsky on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andrewselsky Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHICAGO Kahlil Beth leaned back in his chair, casually resting his hands on his lap and tapping his feet as the nurse steadied her syringe. The 17-year-old boy then pulled out his phone and recorded a selfie video of the needle going into his left arm. Just like that, guys, he whispered before uploading the clip to his Instagram story. Beth is a senior at Whitney Young High School who, like many his age, looks forward to chasing his post-graduation dreams while planning to dance at a music festival again after more than a year of coronavirus pandemic-spurred social gathering restrictions. He also is a Ford model and a social media influencer with almost 1 million followers on TikTok and more than 200,000 in Instagram followers and he wants to use his online presence for good, he said. Thats why, despite his fear of needles, Beth on Saturday decided to get his first Pfizer shot at Thornton Township High School in Harvey, one of Cook Countys new inoculation sites that are all located in suburban areas with lagging vaccination rates. He hopes that by sharing online his journey toward opting for a vaccine, he can convince his peers to make an informed decision. Its important that when they see someone like me, whos like a real person that talks to them every day and stuff like that, that Im actually getting my vaccine and they should too, Beth said while waiting during the 15-minute observation period following the jab. Even before Beths Saturday appointment, his reach as an influencer piqued some curiosity and pushback among his viewers. In total, Cook Countys vaccination webpages have racked up 400 additional clicks thanks to him linking to them in his videos, the countys public health department spokesman said. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Some users have praised Beth for spreading the word, with one comment on an Instagram video a week ago saying, Using your platform RIGHT!!! followed by two clapping emojis. Like many of you guys, Im thinking about getting vaccinated, and I really want to experience the full privileges that come with getting vaccinated, Beth had said in the video. I want to party. I want to really get back to normal life. So I attached a few links where you could do your own research and find out which vaccine works for you. There was, also, suspicion among other commenters including an accusation that the government have mind controlled everyone. Beth, who first educated himself on the coronavirus vaccine through talks with his epidemiologist mother, was disappointed to see the volume of negativity. Ive actually gotten a lot of negative feedback from a lot of my followers who think that Im like acting like a sheep, Beth said. I dont really care about whos hating or not, and I think its mostly these people who are being misinformed. Im just saying this is something that will benefit you and benefit other people. Still, Beth knows he might be addressing people who genuinely are concerned about the safety of the vaccine, and he doesnt want to bark orders at them. Rather, the 17-year-old thinks a better approach is to gently nudge people to do their own research from trusted sources as conspiracy rumors continue festering. By the end of his 15-minute waiting period, Beth , who plans to move to Los Angeles next month to pursue an acting and modeling career, was ready to go back to taking pictures. But first he remarked, My arm hasnt fallen off. Republicans in the Illinois General Assembly asked Gov. JB Pritzker this weekend to veto maps for new legislative districts and the state Supreme Court that Democrats pushed through the House and Senate on Friday. A spokeswoman for the Democratic governor didn't respond to a request for comment. Democrats said they passed fair maps that reflect the state's diversity. No Republicans voted for bills containing the maps. House Redistricting Committee chairwoman Lisa Hernandez, D-Cicero, said the maps were "produced with an unprecedented level of public access. As in any legislative process, we are required to balance diverse interests. Not everyone can get all they want." The House voted 71-45 in favor of the maps after 2 1/2 hours of debate. Lawmakers in the chamber spent about the same amount of time debating new Supreme Court maps and a resolution explaining the proposed districts earlier Friday. Before the Senate voted 41-18 to approve the redistricting bill, with no Republicans supporting it, Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, said, "These are fair maps that live up to our pledge" to represent all Illinoisans. Despite loud opposition from Republicans, Democrats faced little real resistance in the legislature to passing maps of their choice. Hernandez acknowledged partisan advantages for Democrats played a factor in the decisions made in drawing legislative lines. Several Democratic lawmakers, including Hernandez, House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch, D-Hillside, and House Majority Leader Greg Harris, D-Chicago, previously supported a proposed constitutional amendment that would have taken redistricting powers away from lawmakers and shifted the task to an independent commission. But the proposed change in the Illinois Constitution hasn't made it to the ballot. Republicans hit Democrats for past statements in support of creating the independent map-making process. Several Republicans read direct quotes from Democrats who previously said they supported such a system. Republicans asked Democrats to wait to draw maps until decennial Census data is released in August. State Rep. CD Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, said he would support the proposed map if it were drawn by an independent commission "because at least it was done with the right information." But Democrats who hold supermajorities in the House and Senate said an independent process is too late to pursue this year, so they said they were unwilling to risk the potential ramifications of missing a constitutional June 30 deadline for passing a legislative map. Postponing redistricting until July or later could give Republicans a chance of gaining control of map-making through a process outlined in the constitution, Democrats said. Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, said she has been "one of the loudest and longest voices" in support of a constitutional change to create an independent redistricting commission. "I'm sorry we didn't get to change the rules," Cassidy said. "I wish we had." But she said: "I've also acknowledged that unilateral disarmament is not the right path. Let's not pretend that the folks on the other side of the aisle, if the roles were reversed, would be doing anything differently right now. They're not volunteering to unilaterally disarm." Harris said "elections have consequences" and added that Republicans are a minority because the voters disagree with their policies. He referenced controversial policies former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner pushed for and the fact he is no longer governor as evidence. Welch expanded on the Democrats' argument in a passionate speech. "Don't be fooled, the Republicans' goal isn't about making sure every person is represented," he said. "The Republicans' goal is gridlock. ... Not only do our friends on the other side of the aisle want to control the maps, they want to control who is allowed to vote." Welch slammed Republicans across the country, including in Georgia where legislation was passed that Democrats called voter suppression. Welch pointed to the members on his side of the aisle as evidence Illinois voters want diversity among their lawmakers and Democrats have earned that mandate to be the party in power to draw new maps. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. "Take a look," he said, gesturing to Democrats. "We represent the state of Illinois. Diversity is the strength of this great state." Republicans said they hope Pritzker will veto the map. As a candidate, Pritzker previously said he would veto a map drawn by politicians. The governor has changed his position since then, saying he would veto an "unfair" map and wants to make sure any map reflects the state's diversity. He hasn't explained what he would consider unfair, and he hasn't said why he modified his stance. Pritzker also has said he wants to see a legislative map that is fair and reflects the state's diversity. Sen. Jason Barickman, R-Bloomington, said during Senate debate Friday that he hopes Pritzker vetoes the maps. "Governor, keep your promise," Barickman said. "Do the right thing." House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, also directed his comments at Pritzker. "I have every reason to believe he will exercise his veto power," Durkin said. "And for that, I want to thank the governor in advance for living up to that pledge." Durkin mentioned Welch's past support for fair maps, but Welch didn't respond to Durkin in his remarks. The state Supreme Court maps lawmakers are sending to the governor's desk also is a historic moment for the state. Illinois' Supreme Court lines have not been redrawn since 1963. Democrats say it was time to redraw the courts because of the substantial population changes over the last 50 years. Republicans said they suspect it was done to give Democrats another branch of government to control. In Senate debate about Senate Bill 642, which contains the new Illinois Supreme Court map, Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, said Democrats want to protect their slim majority on the seven-member Supreme Court and not create districts with more equal population. "If Democrats were serious about the remapping process for the high court," Rose said, "they would have created an advisory commission to solicit opinions from judges before proceeding with redistricting." "We know what's going on," Rose said, referring to the failure in November by Democratic Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride of Rock Island to win his retention bid. The voters, Rose said, "decided to get rid of their justice because they didn't like him." Rose said the new court map "isn't right. It's absolutely wrong." During floor debate in the House Friday, Republicans pointed out several problems with the language of legislative redistricting legislation. Butler said the legislation calls for putting Springfield's medical district in a single district, while the Google Map of the proposal released by Democrats shows the district would be divided. Several Republicans were also unhappy they were named in the legislation, implying they had spoken with Democrats about specific requests. Despite debate over the last three months that turned personal at times, Butler and Hernandez both recognized their staff as well as the work of the opposing party. "You have handled this with grace, and I appreciate that," Butler told Hernandez. Hernandez acknowledged the work of her Republican colleagues and said she hopes the interaction the redistricting process required with the public continues. "I see more engagement based on what we went through in this process," Hernandez said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SPRINGFIELD The Illinois House narrowly passed a bill Saturday that would require gun owners to submit fingerprints when applying for or renewing a Firearm Owner Identification card. Representatives debated for over an hour and a half regarding House Bill 1091, otherwise known as the Fix the FOID Act. The bill passed with the minimum number of votes required in the House, 60-50. The bill would require FOID card applicants to provide an electronic copy of their fingerprints to the Illinois State Police. It would also require background checks for all gun transfers including person-to-person sales. The bill would also reduce the length of time FOID cards remain valid from 10 years to five years, and up the renewal fee from $10 to $20. Chief bill sponsor Rep. Maura Hirschauer, D-Batavia, however, said the Senate would consider an amendment to the bill restoring the 10-year renewal period at a cost of $10. Hirschauer said the bill is a crucially important step intended to close loopholes in the states FOID system, which she said contributed to a February 2019 mass shooting at the Henry Pratt Company in Aurora. The shooter, who had a conviction for a felony aggravated assault in Mississippi, was not legally allowed to own a gun in Illinois, but he lied on his FOID application, Hirschauer said during debate on the bill. His felony conviction was not detected until he submitted a fingerprint for his (Concealed Carry License), but by that time it was too late. Republicans raised concerns that the bill goes too far in infringing on the rights of law-abiding gun owners, and that a similar proposal with more agreeable terms is currently under consideration in the Senate. A key point of contention is the mandatory fingerprinting provision. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Rep. Keith Wheeler, R-Oswego, said Republicans had originally planned for the Senate version of the bill to be called for consideration. Hirschauer said HB 1091 could be amended in the Senate with the intention of gaining more Republican support. Republicans further argued that halving the amount of time a FOID card remains valid could also contribute to the states already-severe FOID application backlog, and that most firearms used in violent crimes are acquired through illegal means. This is not about public health, not about public safety. It is just another gun grab in Illinois, said Rep. Tony McCombie, R-Savanna. Democratic lawmakers argued the bill would be key to preventing firearms from getting into the hands of individuals who intend to cause harm. As legislators, we have a responsibility to fix our flawed FOID system and stop criminals from getting easy access to guns, said Rep. Denyse Stoneback, D-Skokie. It's been more than two years since the Aurora shooting, and the public has been waiting for the Illinois legislature to act. We can't just keep sending thoughts and prayers. House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welch, D-Hillside, praised the bills passage in a statement, saying the bill offers proven measures to keep kids and families safe. This is a straightforward proposal to address gun violence given the decades-long stalemate at the federal level, and I hope my Senate colleagues give it strong consideration, Welch said. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MIAMI (AP) Jesus Lopez says he feels like a stranger in the place he was born. He's from Guadalajara, Mexico, but his life was in Chicago. After 15 years in the city, he was deported a year ago during the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to go back because I belong there, that's where I have my friends, my family, said the 25-year-old, once a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that gives protections to immigrants brought to the U.S. as children. Lopez, who said he didn't renew his spot in the program because he couldn't afford it, hopes to benefit from new efforts by advocates, groups and attorneys to bring back immigrants they believe were unfairly deported from the United States. With President Joe Biden in office, one of the new proposals from advocates urges creating a centralized Department of Homeland Security office to consider requests from deported immigrants trying to reunite with their families in the U.S. We have deported hundreds of thousands of individuals, and to do that and not even have an effective safety valve to review bad decisions violates due process, said Nayna Gupta, associate director of policy for the National Immigrant Justice Center, the Washington-based nonprofit that proposed the idea. It's a long shot: White House officials have never publicly mentioned the idea, and it doesnt yet have a supporter in Congress. The campaign, however, shows how immigrant advocacy has become emboldened after four years hardline immigration policies under former President Donald Trump. It also shows how varied ambitions are among pro-immigrant advocates. Many are focused instead on immigration bills that have passed the House but appear stalled in the Senate as large numbers of unaccompanied children crossing the border have weakened the White Houses position. The measures would give legal status to DACA recipients like Lopez, more farmworkers and others with special protections. Another bill Biden proposed to offer a path to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally includes some provisions for a chance for deportees to come back to the U.S. But the Biden administration has not spoken publicly or answered questions about the possibility of regularly considering those requests. More than 700,000 immigrants have been deported from the U.S. in the last three fiscal years, according to federal data. U.S. law includes ways for deportees to return, but they rarely succeed. For some deportees, the change of administration offers hope. Claudio Rojas says he feels better since Trump left office, but he still lives with anxiety and can't sleep some nights in his Buenos Aires home. I am not in a detention center, but I feel like I am in jail in my own apartment. I am in Argentina, but I feel I am a foreigner. I can't adapt, said Rojas, a 55-year-old handyman deported in 2019. His wife, two sons and two grandsons are in Florida. Rojas and his family overstayed a tourist visa. After a decade, he ended up in federal custody after a police stop and got a deportation order. Rojas did not leave, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained him again for seven months. He held a widely publicized hunger strike, and two filmmakers made a documentary based on his and others' experiences. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Days before Rojas was to speak at the 2019 Miami Film Festival, he was detained again and deported. The Argentinian has sued and is waiting for a decision from a federal appeals court. I want back the life I lost, all this time that I lost, Rojas said. The National Immigrant Justice Center says Congress doesn't need to act on their proposal and that creation of a centralized process to review applications could be done through executive action because it is based on existing laws. The plan asks the government to take into account factors like people who were eligible for legal status and had applied before being deported or those who have compelling circumstances. The proposal has been shared with White House staff, the group said. It plans to invite Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to discuss the proposal and include a letter signed by 75 immigrants rights organizations supporting the plan. A White House spokesperson referred questions about the proposal to the Department of Homeland Security, which did not immediately respond. Advocates point to how the government has started reunifying families that the Trump administration separated at the border under its zero tolerance" policy. In the process of doing that, hopefully the various agencies involved recognize that this is something that can be done, that we have processes in place, such as humanitarian parole, to bring people back, said Alina Das, co-director of the Immigrant Rights Clinic at New York University School of Law. And while efforts to bring back deported veterans have persisted for years, advocates have started a new campaign with that goal, which Biden promised to carry out during his campaign. In February, three California lawmakers reintroduced a bill to allow certain deported veterans to return. If someone deserves a second chance, those are our veterans, Democratic state Rep. Mark Takano said recently. Besides that effort, DACA might have the most chance of success in Congress. Lopez, the Mexican immigrant, was 9 when he was brought to the U.S. and became a DACA recipient in 2012. He didn't renew those protections a few years later because of money issues. He was arrested in 2019 when Iowa police stopped the car he was riding in with friends and found a small amount of marijuana. He ended up in ICE custody and was released nine months later. Last year, Lopez traveled from Chicago with his two brothers to what he thought was a routine ICE check-in in Iowa. Instead, he was detained and deported. He said he dreams of going back to Chicago to work construction, live with his family and help his grandmother with errands. This new administration gives me the hope of thinking that they see things in a more human way," Lopez said. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ST. LOUIS A high-tech system used by police to detect gunshots sent officers into neighborhoods looking for signs of gunfire more than 15,000 times last year in St. Louis and St. Louis County. But in an overwhelming number of cases there was nothing to be found: no shooting victim, no gunman and no reason to investigate. The ShotSpotter gunshot detection system, run by a publicly traded California company that uses microphones to pinpoint gunfire, now covers about 14 square miles of high-crime areas in the city and North County. In its 13 years in the region, the program has dramatically increased call volumes for reports of gunfire. Calls went up nearly 70% in city neighborhoods after it launched in 2008 and about 400% in the first county region it covered beginning in 2017, according to recent academic reviews of the technology in both jurisdictions. Although ShotSpotter has driven up police response, data shows it often leads to dead ends. Police say the system is still an important investigative tool that can provide key evidence in a case, but the results lead some researchers and activists to call into question whether its a sound use of public money. The two leading police agencies in the region pay ShotSpotter at least $740,000 a year. Another $300,000 is paid by the St. Louis Police Foundation, a nonprofit group that provides private funding for police services. We found ShotSpotter doesnt bring a whole lot of new cases to the polices attention in St. Louis and had no real effect on crime when it came into a neighborhood, according to Dennis Mares, a criminologist with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville who co-wrote a study that provided a 10-year review of ShotSpotter in St. Louis. But what becomes harder to disentangle is: Does it bring any actionable intelligence in cases that also get called in by citizens? That is impossible to sort out. Mares co-authored the study with Emily Blackburn, the manager of the St. Louis police departments Crime Analysis Unit. Their research found that in St. Louis less than 1% of ShotSpotter calls over a five-year period yielded enough evidence, such as shell casings or a witness, for officers to write a report. From 2008 to early 2018 there were more than 19,000 ShotSpotter calls for service in the city, but only 13 arrests uniquely tied to the alerts, they found. Recent results are slightly better in St. Louis County. This year, officers have written incident reports for 151 of the nearly 2,320 ShotSpotter activations, or about 6.5% of the time, according to that police department. Mares says the research doesnt indicate that ShotSpotter lacks value but argues responding to every ShotSpotter call yields relatively few results. Worth the money? I think the issue is: Is ShotSpotter bringing the value that its costing? Mares asked. It could certainly be used to help with long-term strategy and crime analysis, but between the officer time and pricing, I think its overly expensive for what agencies get out of it. Despite the findings, both departments in the last year have doubled down on the program by requesting donations from the St. Louis Police Foundation to expand coverage to more areas. St. Louis police Maj. Shawn Dace says ShotSpotter is a way to confirm where shots were fired and a fact-check for witness and suspect accounts. Its an important starting point for an investigation, Dace said. Unfortunately there have been times where an individual may show up at a hospital and say he was shot at this location and weve been able to disprove that with ShotSpotter. The St. Louis Police Officers Association, the union representing most officers in the city, opposes an ongoing push from criminal justice activists to cut the technology. The notion that its not a really good idea for a police car to at least roll through a neighborhood where shots have been fired is preposterous and contributes to a white flag mentality on violent crime that relegates this city to mob rule, said the unions lobbyist and spokeswoman, Jane Dueker. In the St. Louis region, ShotSpotter works and has resulted in expedited responses to shootings and apprehension of violent criminals. City an early user ShotSpotter sensors began dotting St. Louis roofs and utility poles in June 2008, when the city accepted a $250,000 Justice Department grant to cover the first year of the program. St. Louis was among the first wave of police departments to adopt the technology, but today ShotSpotter and other gunshot detection programs are becoming a standard tool for big city departments. ShotSpotter is used by more than 100 police agencies in the U.S., including New York and Chicago. After a 3.5-square-mile expansion in 2013 and two nearly 3-square-mile expansions last year, ShotSpotter now has sensors across more than 6 miles of St. Louis, or about 9% of the citys land area. The departments three-year contract to cover that area totals about $219,000 a year. On top of that, the most recent expansions last year were funded by a $130,000 donation from the St. Louis Police Foundation and $73,000 from a Justice Department grant. ShotSpotter Senior Vice President of Marketing and Product Strategy Sam Klepper explained how the technology works in a conversation with the Post-Dispatch last year. ShotSpotter sets up about 20 to 25 microphones for every square mile it covers. Each picks up gunfire within about a mile radius. The sensors are triggered by loud, sharp noises and audio is then run through artificial intelligence software that compares the sound with samples of gunshots and to noises such as cars backfiring or fireworks, Klepper said. Typically multiple microphones pick up the sound and theyre able to calculate a location within 25 meters of the gunfire, the company claims. Next comes the team of people who listen to the audio. Staff at incident review centers listen and confirm gunfire before sending an alert to police. The company claims it catches at least 90% of outdoor gunfire within 60 seconds. St. Louis police consider ShotSpotter calls to be Priority 2, the same as a 911 call for shots fired, but not as urgent as a call for a confirmed shooting. The research done by Mares and Blackburn is the most thorough conducted on the systems impact on the city. I do think that other research has shown that ShotSpotter is pretty good at accurately detecting gunfire, especially in recent years, Mares said. Mares and Blackburn found that ShotSpotter in St. Louis adds an average of about 1,000 calls a year in each square mile of coverage, but residents calls for shootings surprisingly fell by about 25% when gunshot detection was added in a neighborhood. When the ShotSpotter contract lapsed for four months in the city in 2016, the research showed 911 calls by residents returned to near their previous level. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Were not sure exactly why that is, Mares said. It could be that people are hearing police sirens so they dont call it in. The finding is concerning because resident-initiated calls tended to uncover more crime, he said. The study found officers created incident reports in fewer than one case for every 100 St. Louis ShotSpotter calls, and reported a violent crime only about once for roughly every 300 calls. For every 100 calls made by residents about shots being fired, however, St. Louis officers reported 7.6 founded crimes. ShotSpotter is no match for a human caller and may actually preempt calls that could be useful to investigators, Mares said. The study also made a few other determinations, including that police response time slowed as the ShotSpotter program expanded. This may not be true for every city, Mares said. But for one like St. Louis with a high level of gunfire, I think the call volumes become burdensome for a department thats been struggling to fill positions when those calls turn up so little. While the research by Mares and Blackburn suggests responding to ShotSpotter calls may not be worth officers time, another review of the department came to the opposite conclusion, suggesting that to be more effective officers need to respond to ShotSpotter calls more quickly. An analysis of the departments operations by consultants with Teneo, a private firm that employs industry experts and former police chiefs, suggested that ShotSpotter calls should instead be made into Priority 1 calls. The assessment found that treating ShotSpotter calls as Priority 2 leads to an average response time of 12 to 14 minutes and may compromise the ability to obtain witnesses and evidence. We believe that responding to ShotSpotter notifications as Priority 1 calls would not significantly hamstring the departments staffing or response times. It would also better enable intelligence and evidence gathering to identify and apprehend some of the citys most violent criminals and reduce the number of guns on the streets, the Teneo report concluded. St. Louis County ShotSpotter contracts today cover about 9 square miles in North County, encompassing parts of Castle Point, Jennings, Spanish Lake and, most recently, Glasgow Village. The county pays about $520,000 a year for ShotSpotter. On top of that, the Glasgow Village expansion will be funded for two years through a $318,000 donation from the St. Louis Police Foundation. The countys first neighborhood with ShotSpotter, about 4 square miles around Castle Point, was the subject of a data analysis by the Policing Project, a think tank associated with the New York University School of Law. The think tank gets funding from ShotSpotter, and ShotSpotter CEO Ralph Clark sits on the projects advisory board. The analysis found that in the first 16 months of installing ShotSpotter there, calls for service for gunfire quadrupled. The review also found that assaults fell by 30% compared with surrounding areas, though the study saw no effect on arrest rates or other crimes. Of the departments more than 2,300 ShotSpotter activations in 2021, 22 were connected to arrests and 151 had a related crime report, including five homicides, according to the department. ShotSpotter alerted police to 21 cases where a victim was found when officers arrived, eight cases where a suspect was on scene and two cases where officers found witnesses. Sgt. Ben Granda, a spokesman for St. Louis County police, said the department supports the program because detectives want to be alerted to a shooting as soon as possible. They value knowing the precise number of gunshots involved in an incident, the locations where they are and the ability to determine if there are multiple firearms being used in the same incident, Granda said. Apart from the St. Louis region, independent research has also delved into ShotSpotters impact on crime and policing. A report on Chicagos ShotSpotter system from the MacArthur Justice Center at the Northwestern University School of Law published this month found that over 18 months, 86% of the citys ShotSpotter calls led to no indication of a crime. The predominantly Black and Latinx neighborhoods where ShotSpotter operates will have inflated gunfire statistics because of the enormous number of unfounded ShotSpotter alerts, the report said. The report argues ShotSpotter may create a sense of overpolicing in the communities of color where it operates. In April, Mitch Doucette, a scientist with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, co-wrote a review of the effect ShotSpotter had on crime in counties that launched the technology from 1999 to 2016. The study found that for counties where ShotSpotter had at least some coverage, there was no discernible impact on firearm homicides, homicide arrests and weapons arrests. Doucette argues there is limited academic evidence today to back up ShotSpotters own research on its effect on crime. In the academic literature, there is limited evidence to suggest that the technology decreases violence overall or has an effect on the patient outcomes, Doucette said, adding that public policy decisions like gun laws have a much clearer impact on crime. Defund ShotSpotter? In St. Louis, cutting ShotSpotter has become a demand of activists in recent weeks as part of an organized effort to defund city police. That campaign has already pushed city leaders to cut $4 million in police funding in the citys proposed spending plan for fiscal year 2022. John Chasnoff, a longtime member of the local advocacy group Coalition Against Police Crimes and Repression, said the campaign has targeted ShotSpotter for cuts both because of the research on dead-end calls and concerns over department surveillance. ShotSpotter commissioned an audit from the Policing Project that found the risk of voice surveillance was low, but Chasnoff said hes still concerned about civil liberties violations. ShotSpotter is perhaps not as intrusive as surveillance cameras, but the fact is that it could be misused and theres little oversight, Chasnoff said. His group supports Board Bill 31, currently before the St. Louis Board of Aldermen Public Safety Committee, that would give aldermen more oversight of the citys use of surveillance technology. If the bill passes, the board would have approval over ShotSpotter and other surveillance contracts, and the city would be required to provide annual surveillance reports accounting for its use. It comes down to the fact that were spending money on an ineffective program thats disinvolving the community rather than encouraging more community engagement with police, Chasnoff argued. We are asking the city to scrutinize police budgets that for years have not been questioned and ShotSpotter is an example of that. Kim Bell of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. Erin Heffernan 314-340-8145 @erinheff on Twitter eheffernan@post-dispatch.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Memorial Day is more than the barbeque seasons first outing the commemoration grew from the Civil War (1861-1865), the bloody conflict that tore this nation apart yet also liberated the enslaved. Multiple communities on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line claim originating the holiday, known then as Decoration Day. Illinois General John A. Logan is credited with an official beginning, calling for placing flowers on soldiers graves on May 30, 1868. Few know one of the first ceremony was African-American in origin. Charleston, South Carolina, is where the war began on April 12, 1861, with the rebel army firing cannons on Fort Sumter. When Confederate forces fled Charleston on March 18, 1865, the first Union troops to enter the city were the African-American 21st Infantry and the 55th Massachusetts. Charlestons Washington Race Course and Jockey Club was used as a prisoner of war camp. Over 260 Union soldiers died and were buried in a mass grave there. The now emancipated African-American community exhumed the bodies and reinterred them in a new cemetery, surrounded by a fence that proclaimed those buried as the Martyrs of the Race Course. On May 1, 1865, over 10,000 freed African-Americans paraded to the racecourse, singing hymns, joining in prayer and carrying bouquets for the grave site. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Why is this important? The American Civil War is often historically remembered as a war between brothers, white men against white man. Too often forgotten is the critical role of African-American troops and enslaved people who fled bondage. What began as a war to save the union became a war of liberation. It was clearly liberation to one Central Illinois resident in 1865. Lacons Horatio Barrington, a sergeant in Company C of the Illinois 14th Infantry, regularly wrote The Daily Pantagraph with his southern experiences. His unit was in General William T. Shermans 1864 March to the Sea from Atlanta to Savannah, which destroyed insurrectionist infrastructure. On December 18, 1864 Barrington wrote from outside Savannah, Georgia, his letter published on January 11, 1865. When the Union Army advanced, African-Americans fled the plantations, forming a long procession that followed the troops. He recounted a woman who said she was 99, hobbling along with the formation, overjoyed to escape slavery. He recounted another woman, about 40-years-old, suddenly flying through the woods as if she were wild, for the marching troops had liberated her children, who probably were sold to another plantation. I have seen many persons overjoyed at some good fortune, or unexpected reunion, but I have never seen anything equal the perfect heaven of delight that this old, black mother seemed to be in. Barrington called out to Northern women to consider their formerly enslaved counterparts: Am I not right in supposing that they are endowed by the Creator with the same love of freedom that he has given to you? Perhaps you can understand better than I, why these slave mothers endure everything, even death, to secure for their children and themselves freedom. Thanks to Don Munsons "It is Begun," a compilation of Pantagraph Civil War reports, for these excerpts. On Memorial Day, we honor those who gave their life for freedom. In recalling its post-Civil War roots, the active participation of African-Americans in their own liberation needs remembering. As we grapple with slaverys racist legacy, recall that given the opportunity, people will step up to freedoms challenge. Mike Matejka lives in Normal. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 We had not seen this before in all the testing we had done since 2016, and to our knowledge, nor has any surface water plant in the state as it is an unrelated contaminant that does not have a defined EPA rule. 100 years ago May 30, 1921: Today is Memorial Day, which will mark the formal opening of Maplewood Country Club. It also will be a day to honor our war dead. Civil War veterans will gather in Normal and be driven to Evergreen Cemetery. There they will decorate their comrades graves. 75 years ago Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. May 30, 1946: Last night was the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Illinois Republican Party. Local members attended a dinner at the Illinois Hotel, where people paraded while dressed in 1860s costumes. The parade led to Majors Hall, site of Lincolns Lost Speech. 50 years ago May 30, 1965: New books include The Spun Sugar Hole by former Pantagraph writer Jerry Sohl, who has also authored several "Twilight Zone" episodes. Sohl likes to shock readers, and has included enough adult themes that the title is barely mentioned in the papers review. 25 years ago May 30, 1996: An eighth-grade graduation party for Shane Dillingham at 1009 Broadmoor had some anxious moments. The backyard deck collapsed under the weight of about 20 people. Two people were taken to the hospital but were released after treatment. Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com. An Accra High Court, has, Friday, at the request of the National Labour Commission, ordered the striking laboratory scientists in public health facilities to immediately call off their industrial action. The executives, members and agents of the Ghana Medical Association of Laboratory Scientists are also not to embark on any industrial action but to comply with the procedure provided under the Labour Act for resolving their dispute with their employer. The Commission secured an interlocutory injunction from the High Court of Justice, calling on members of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Chapter of the Association to call off their industrial action. A statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, in Accra, said the injunction should be served by substituted service through publication in the electronic media for four days. The period is from Friday, May 28 to Monday, May 31. Members of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Chapter of the Association started the strike on Wednesday to back home their demand for the withdrawal of two medical doctors posted to the Laboratory Unit as clinical hematologists. This was preceded by days of sit-down strike. On Thursday, they were joined by their counterparts across the nation amid calls from the Commission, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, and other stakeholders on them to return to the mediation table. Members of the Association say they are against what they call 'other professionals taking over their roles in the health facilities. Patients, especially at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, have been distressed by the action. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS) has suspended Mali from the regional group and has called for an immediate nomination of a new Prime Minister as part of an inclusive government to proceed with the September 2020 transition programme. In a statement issued in Accra on Sunday, May 30, 2021, the Heads of State of ECOWAS reaffirmed the need to respect the transition period of 18 months as agreed by all parties last year. On May 24, 2021, Malis President and Prime Minister were ousted in a coup plot by Colonel Assimi, Vice President of the interim government formed as part of a transition programme to usher Mali back to civilian rule. Their arrest came hours after a government reshuffle that saw two senior Army officers replaced. However, the statement which was released after an Extraordinary Summit in Accra said the Heads of State demand the immediate release of the former President and Prime Minister of the Transition who are kept under house arrest. The Heads of State strongly condemn this recent Coup dEtat, which is a violation of the decisions taken at the extraordinary Summit held at the Peduase Lodge, Aburi, Ghana on 15th September 2020 and a violation of the Transition Charter, the statement added. Further, the statement reiterated the importance and necessity of respecting the democratic process for ascending to power in member states, in conformity with the 2001 ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. They particularly condemn all actions that led to ongoing instability in Mali, and its attendant consequences in the region. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Statistics gathered by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) indicate that teenage pregnancies increased in 2020. Other reports of sexual and domestic abuse increased with people finding it difficult to express their views or find people to talk to especially during the lockdown period. This, coupled with an already existing unmet need for SRHR information and services has become extremely important for organizations such as PPAG to explore innovative ways of ensuring continuous access to healthcare especially sexual and reproductive health services and information In view of this, Yenkasa to wit let's talk was birthed. Yenkasa is an online digital platform with trained professionals ready to handle issues on relationships, sexual health concerns and many more. It is an initiative that was set up with support from Global Affairs Canada. The Executive Director of PPAG, Abena Adubea Amoah speaking at the launch of the digital platform said the centre will "provide friendly, quality and comprehensive services to our clients in the comfort of their homes and privacy on their sexual and reproductive health". The Chief Director of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Hafiz Adam representing the sector Minister said the youths need the right information to be able to grow, focus and contribute their quota to society and to get an appropriate channel to communicate. "Establishing the centre is therefore apt and very useful" he indicated. He said the Ministry has plans to come out with a policy that will include the youth in empowering them to achieve their full potential: "We leave no one behind" Ministry of Health Dr Hafiz Adam who was representing the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu said the health needs, particularly the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescent and young people in Ghana are mounting up, requiring a well-coordinated effort from all partners, stakeholders and government agencies to ensure effective interlinkages in programming. "The Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service is leading this charge, ensuring all our partners understand and work within our policies, protocols and guideline for quality health service delivery, including adolescent sexual and reproductive health" he read. He further expressed excitement to "throw my support behind the setting up of the Yenkasa contact centre"; a centre which will be linked to other existing contact centres in the country providing specialised services to "ensure young people are able to be served within a one-stop system". Source: Rebecca Addo Tetteh/Peacefmonline.com/Pix: Jamila Akweley Okertchiri Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ghana National Fire Service in the Eastern Region has come under intense public backlash for attending to a fire incident in a hired taxi instead of a fire tender. The Fanteakwa North District had been without a fire tender for nearly a month now due to a mechanical fault. It came as a huge surprise to locals in the district when fire personnel stationed at the district arrived at a fire scene in Begoro with extinguishers in a hired vehicle on Thursday (27 May). However, the commander of the Eastern Regional Division of the Ghana National Fire Service, Jennifer Naa Yarley Quaye, said her men deserve to be praised for being proactive despite the challenges bedeviling the unit. Our vehicles are faulty. It has a clutch problem for about two weeks now. We have mechanics who attend to them, but within the period, Akosombo had their problems and Nsawam also had their problems and these same mechanics attended to them so it was only yesterday [Thursday], that these chief mechanics said they had completed servicing the Akosombo vehicle, and that they will be moving to Begoro and unfortunately that incident occurred, Quaye told Accra-based Citi FM. They informed [fire fighters] in Bunsu which was the nearest fire station, but to be proactive, they had to go there with a fire extinguisher while they start fighting the fire, waiting for [fire fighters at] Bunsu to come. They could have decided to wait at the station because their vehicle was not working and waited for Bunsu to come from far away, but they took that bold initiative to move to the fire scene to assist, so I think we should applaud them, she added. Challenges The Eastern Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) currently has 25 fire tenders, with one district having just one tender to respond to distress calls. As we speak, each district has a fire engine. There are 25 of them. Three of them are faulty as we speak, the fire boss said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by UTV Ghana (@utvghana) Source: UTV/asaaseradio.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video As Part of the youth wing activities, Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer of the NPP, Hon Moses Abor has rewarded loyal constituency executives who have served for more than twenty (20) years in various positions. Hon. Moses Abor visited Madina and Ablekuma North constituencies to honour their Organizers. The awardees, Mr Kofi Agyir Arthur and Mr Kweku Duah received motor bikes, fridges and other food items. The Organizers jointly thanked Hon. Abor for recognizing their efforts and loyalty to the party. They disclosed it is the first time such a Regional executive had taken such an initiative. The Regional Youth Commander also encouraged them to work harder in order to break the eight (8), adding their efforts will not be in vain. He asked the party hierarchy to reward long serving patriots in the party as well to serve as motivation to the youth. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The National Treasurer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Kwabena Abankwah-Yeboah, has assured all applicants for the position of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) that they would be treated with utmost fairness. He said the job of the vetting committees was to identify and select persons who could implement government policies and create real and positive difference in the lives of the ordinary citizens. Mr Abankwa-Yeboah, who is part of the vetting committee for the Ashanti Region, said this while interacting with some NPP members in Kumasi. The other members of the vetting committee for the region are the Regional Minister, Mr Simon Osei Mensah, who chairs the committee, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Mr Bernard Antwi Boasiako, and the Deputy Defence Minister-designate, Mr Kofi Amankwah-Manu. Selfless Mr Abankwa-Yeboah said those selected must be well-informed, trustworthy, selfless and hard working to promote the well-being and prosperity of the people in their communities. He said the committee would treat all applicants equitably without fear or favour. He, therefore, urged all those who would not be selected to rally behind the final nominees to support the development of the areas. According to him, those who lose out should not see it as the end of the world as they could serve in other capacities. Mr Abankwa-Yeboah, who is serving as a two-time national treasurer of the party, said the interest of the party should be supreme so that the NPP could retain power in 2024 and break the eight-year cycle. The National Treasurer of the NPP is among other NPP candidates such as Prof. Christopher Ameyaw Ekumfi, Nana Akomea and Mr Stephen Ntim, whose names have popped up to contest Mr Freddie Blay for the National Chairmanship of the party. Source: graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Lululemon Athletica's logo is seen on the outside of their new flagship store on Robson Street during it's grand opening in downtown Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday August 21, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Though a tent was overhead, the cold wind whipped the rain onto the guests as they watched a lone military trumpeter play taps at a memorial to Delawares fallen troops. Biden appeared to pay the chill no mind, remaining for the entirety of the 75-minute ceremony and mouthing the words to the closing rendition of God Bless America. When it was time, he snapped a salute to the wreath laid at the memorial. Spieth and Kokrak made seven birdies and no bogeys on the back nine Saturday to separate themselves from the field. Spieth is at 15-under 195 (63-66-66), while Kokrak is 14 under par (65-65-66). The next-closest competitor is Sergio Garcia, whos celebrating the 20th anniversary of his win here. Hes 10 under par. The two players tied for fourth Ian Poulter and Sebastian Munoz trail by seven. Few courses fit Spieth better than this classic layout in Fort Worth. He won here in 2016 and has two runners-up. Hes finished outside the top 15 just once in eight appearances here. The two players in the final group, Spieth and Kokrak, are each trying to become the third player to win multiple times this season, as well. Spieth is seeking a second title in Texas after winning last months Valero Texas Open to snap a winless streak that lasted nearly four years. Kokrak, 36, earned his first title in the CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK. I walked off the (13th) green and I was like, Well, I'm definitely not the favorite here this week, Kokrak said. He's a Texas guy. I'm an Ohio guy. It's fun. The crowds are crazy. But it's fun to have a local kid and play well and him be in the last group, and I'd be more than happy to spoil it for him tomorrow. Tickets to this years Charles Schwab Challenge include all-you-can-eat food and drink. The unlimited refreshments have undoubtedly added some enthusiasm to the crowds pulling for the kid who grew up next door in Dallas. Their cheers provide a stark contrast to last years Charles Schwab Challenge, which was the first event after the TOURs 91-day hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were no fans on-site, though some watched from the streets that surround Colonial. What a difference a year makes, Spieth said. The same can be said about his game. He entered the final round of last years Charles Schwab Challenge in second place, just one shot off the lead. He was still in the midst of his winless drought and his swing changes struggled to hold up under pressure. He shot a final-round 71 to finish 10th. He finished 107th in last years FedExCup, the worst season of his career. Spieth, who has seven top-10s this season, arrived at Colonial ranked ninth in the this seasons standings. The 2015 FedExCup champion could overtake the top spot with a win Sunday. Spieths ball-striking has been a strength this season. His rejuvenated iron play has been the key to his success this spring. He fought it a bit Saturday, though. He made his first bogey of the week at the fifth hole but rebounded with a birdie at the next. Another bogey at 8 was followed by a good par save at the ninth hole, where he wedged to 12 feet after punching out of the trees. That was rather big for me to make the turn at 1 under feeling like I had got away with a couple, he said. He shot a bogey-free 32 on the back nine but it was evident that he was trying to figure things out. He was rehearsing swings walking down the fairway and on the putting green and after hitting his shots. He would take the club to the top with a bent left elbow, then drop the shaft on his right shoulder to mimic the feel of shallowing out in the transition. Perry Bacon Jr. is a Washington Post columnist. Before joining The Post in May 2021, Perry had stints as a government and elections writer for Time magazine, The Posts national desk, theGrio and FiveThirtyEight. He has also been been an on-air analyst at MSNBC and a fellow at New America. He grew up in Louisville and lives there now. Thank you for reading the Philadelphia Tribune. You have exhausted your free article views for this month. Please press the "subscribe" button below and see our introductory price of $0.25 per week for 13 weeks. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you next month. Developing the agricultural marketing sector By Dr. L.P. Rupasena Feature View(s): View(s): The government has given the highest priority to develop the agricultural sector in Sri Lanka in the Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour election manifesto of the government. To make it a reality, there should be an efficient agricultural marketing system because marketing is considered the engine of agricultural development. The following recommendations have been developed towards this end based on the review of the marketing situation in Sri Lanka and other countries. Agricultural policy formulation Sri Lanka has several policy documents mostly duplicated one into another due to formulation of a new policy without reviewing the existing policy. There were cases where new policy documents were prepared when the Minister changed even in the same government. The mistake has been identified by the present government and planning to prepare a stable policy document after an indepth analysis of the existing policies (Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour, 2019). It is also very rare to prepare a functional plan to implement the strategies given in the policy documents. There were few functional plans but no monitoring. It is a fact that no plan and no monitoring means no progress. Regional experience shows countries have well planning and monitoring systems. India is now implementing the 13th economic development plan while Malaysia is operating the 12th economic plan after independence. In other countries, the planning process starts well in advance and all the stakeholders are involved in planning. Moreover, annual monitoring takes place and progress reports are submitted to the parliament annually. A new plan is prepared every five years. The National Planning Department (NPD) is responsible for preparing and monitoring of economic plans that includes agriculture. There should be a functional plan explaining activities, responsible agencies and time frame to realise the plan. Similarly, there should be a sound monitoring system. Either the NPD or the proposed Planning and Implementation Commission should directly come under the President as envisaged in the Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour. It can be a responsible agency for planning, implementing and monitoring of agricultural marketing policies. Market-led production planning Although the need of commercialisation of agriculture was proposed in several policy documents, the achievements are unsatisfactory. In this regard, agriculture should be transferred to agribusiness and farmers into agro-entrepreneurs to suit with the competitive economic environment. Similarly, the production oriented extension system should be transferred to the market oriented extension system. Extension service should be able to guide what to grow, when to grow, how to grow, when to sell, how to sell and at what price. The marketing-pull approach is innovative as against marketing-push approach that implies producing a product and then pushing it to the consumer. For the marketing-pull approach, there should be a market-led production plan monitored by Agrarian Service centres (ASCs). ASCs should be upgraded as business development centres. Agricultural graduates should be absorbed to the extension service and responsibility should be given to them to develop agriculture in the designated area. Monthly requirement of production of each commodity can be estimated by taking data on per capita consumption and population from the Department of Census and Statistics. Monthly extent required to produce the quantity can be computed with average yield of each crop. Having identified the required extent it can be allocated for each ASC considering agronomic factors such as soil and climate. ASCs should monitor the production plan and report to the divisional agricultural committee chaired by the Divisional Secretory who is responsible to report to the District Secretary. From there, information should be passed to either the NPD or proposed commission at national level. Under this process it does not need to wait to take actions until the media raises the marketing problems. Agricultural value chain upgrading The current agricultural value chain is long and fragmented and has no transparency. Traders hide their margins. Every player in the chain must know others transactions. A well-functioning value chain requires business trust and collaboration of each player in the chain. The proposed mechanism to rectify this situation is a public-private partnership (PPP). Although it has been popular now and implemented in Sri Lanka recently the German Development Institute (GDI) suggested the PPP approach for effective agribusiness in Sri Lanka in 2006. Although the PPP approach is being implemented in Sri Lanka its success is doubtful mainly due to the absence of a transparent information flow. Hence it is proposed to implement a transparent information flow on quantity, quality and price to establish business trust among players especially farmers. There should be an effective and efficient agro value chains to reduce cost, to produce value added products, convenient products and exportable products. Sustainable farmer collective action (formal) Although farmer organisations have being implemented since the 1980s in different forms such as farmer organisations, producer groups, farmer cooperatives and farmer companies mainly through donor assistance and involved in different agencies such as Department of Agriculture, Deparment of Irrigation, Department of Agrarian Development, Department of Cooperatives and Mahaweli Development Authority their sustainability is questionable. Collective farmer actions either formal or informal are needed to solve marketing problems faced by farmers and increase their livelihoods. Success stories especially in Central America and Mexico show the need for government support continually because there is a long time lag (seven years in some cases) to self-sustain farmer organisations. Also the experience in Japan and Korea pointed to the need of vertical integration for effective farmer organisations. Success stories of producer companies established since 2002 by amending the Companies Act 1956 in India reveal that commitment of both members and staff is the major success factor followed by participation, communication and managerial skills. Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium (SFAC) established in 1994 by the Ministry of Agriculture acts as facilitating agency for formulating producer companies and farmer producer groups in India. Considering all these aspects, it is proposed to provide full authority to the Department of Agrarian Development to create, develop and sustain farmer organisations because it has a network required for this task and legal authority. It is necessary to establish a farmer-driven value chain that is capable to compete with existing buyer driven value chains. Poor leadership, lack of entrepreneurship skills and political influence have been identified as the poor performance of farmer organisations in Sri Lanka and corrective actions have been already made to train farmer organisations on entrepreneurship. Evidence shows that training is inadequate and continuous government support is required to sustain farmer organisations. Sustainable farmer collective action (informal) In addition to formal collective actions, informal collective actions should be promoted because they are more successful in Sri Lanka and Central America. The lead farmer- business model implemented by supermarkets in Central America is successful due to low cost to the supermarket. In this model, supermarkets have links with the lead farmer who is responsible to provide required quantity with assured quality. The lead farmer has a network with other farmers. In Sri Lanka, the Cargills business model has registered farmers without written agreement and it is functioning well mainly due to strong business trust established by Cargills by paying higher prices, providing technology and credit facilities. Sri Lankan supermarkets can apply the lead farmer-business model. Government procurement system Although open economic policies are dominant today all the countries in the region have state organisations such as National Food Authority (NFA) in the Philippines, BULOCK in Indonesia, FAMA in Malaysia and NAFED in India involved in agricultural marketing. In Sri Lanka, Paddy Marketing Board (PMB) exists for purchasing of farm products. All these organisations were established during the closed economic period and continue upto now even at a loss. It has been proven that the private sector is not operating agricultural marketing systems effectively mainly due to lack of interest and high cost. It is also argued that existence of government organisations have a big impact on agricultural marketing because it gives a signal of government readiness to the private businessmen. Nevertheless, the sustainable procurement system (SPS) is being practiced in many countries in order to minimise their adverse impact on the Treasury on one hand and to improve food security, employment and livelihoods on the other hand. Denmark and Sweden introduced the green procurement system (GPS) to promote green products. African countries such as Malawi and Ethiopia provide school feeding programmes through government procurement. Public distribution system in India links with public procurement. Thailand has a system of providing requirements to government institutes such as hospitals and security forces through government procurement. Similarly, the government procurement system is now operating in collaboration with small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Based on these success stories the government procurement system in Sri Lanka should be revised to maintain SPS. Farmer organisations can operate as collecting centres of the PMB and medium and small mills can process paddy into rice. PMB can distribute rice to the government agencies at a price on par with the open market. It is also necessary to revise the PMB regulations to enable it to procure other products especially organic products. PMB can be renamed as Food Marketing Authority (FMA). Agro-product labelling Since Sri Lanka has reached the high- middle income country status consumers prefer to purchase safe, nutritious, convenience agro-products. In this backdrop, product labelling can be promoted as innovative marketing strategy to increase demand for agro-products. It is an innovative as well as competitive marketing strategy used to differentiate the product from competitors. Innovative agro-entrepreneurs in the country such as some rice millers, food processors and dairy producers applied labelling and they are highly successful due to growing brand-loyal customers. In Sri Lanka, labelling is not popular in global agro-food value chain except tea because the country mainly exports unfinished products. It may be worth applying in cinnamon exports because Sri Lanka is the number one producer contributing around 70 percent of the world production. It is also possible to adopt labelling Sri Lankan spices due to historical popularity in the global market. Quality is a prerequisite for labelling because quality- conscious consumers create demand for packed/labelled products. Promotion of labelling for export is proposed in the Vistas Prosperity and Splendour policy document. Promotion of agro-entrepreneurship Since Sri Lanka is short of agricultural entrepreneurs, value addition and competiveness have been major issues for decades. The impact of this is severe in terms of meeting domestic demand and promotion of exports. Global value added index and competitive index ranks Sri Lanka below India, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand and just above the Bangladesh. Many countries such as India and Indonesia established business incubation centres to promote agricultural entrepreneurship. Some agricultural faculties such as Rajarata University have technological incubation centres. These centres need to be focused on production of agro-entrepreneurs as well. Direct marketing Traditional commodity marketing channels do not provide adequate returns for farmers to maintain viable likelihoods. Direct marketing to consumers allows farmers to obtain a higher share of consumer price. However, this opportunity is not yet tapped by many farmers despite being potential consumers within the community. Under the community supported agriculture (CSA) system practiced in many countries, farmers directly sell products to the community. Farmers markets, agro-tourism and virtual markets are widely using direct marketing tools today in the world. Digitalisation of economic centres Most of the agricultural products are distributed through economic centres. Operational efficiency of economic centres which is the key in the modern marketing can be improved by introducing an electronic marketing system similar to India. In India, farmers products are weighted electronically, auction is held online and products are transported by the organised transporters. All regulated agricultural markets in India have online wholesale business. Transportation of agro-products through railway The value chain analysis shows high transport cost in agricultural product distribution. This can be reduced through rail transport which is in operation successfully in India. Transport cost was able to reduce by one-third with rail transport in India. In Sri Lanka flower and vegetable transportation takes place on an individual basis on a small scale using railway. Transportation of agricultural commodity through railway is one of the proposals given in the Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour policy document as well. As a pilot, this can be implemented from Jaffna to Colombo. Formula for guaranteed price Decline in agricultural commodity prices during the harvest time is a critical issue in both developed and developing countries. Introduction of a guaranteed price is one mechanism applied in many countries including Sri Lanka. However, setting a guaranteed price is on an ad hoc basis in Sri Lanka. There is no price formula and no specific time period for announcing it. It is proposed to adopt a formula that is cash cost plus added input cost to the family labour and 50 percent profit which is similar to India. (The writer is a Senior Lecturer, Department of Agricultural Systems, Faculty of Agriculture, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. He can be reached at lrupasena@gmail.com) On April 28 Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif posted on his Instagram feed a video of his visit to the memorial in Iraq dedicated to Gen. Qaseem Soleimani, the former commander of Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps assassinated last year by a U.S. drone strike. In a caption, Zarif cited Soleimani for firmness, humanity, [and a] commitment to peace. But the post came after the leak of a lengthy interview in which Zarif candidly described Soleimani as just the opposite an impediment to diplomacy and warmonger. Parts of the interview were broadcast April 25 by the U.K.-based Farsi language news network Iran International. In the Instagram post, Zarif says: Martyr Soleimani was praised by the world for his firmness, humanity, commitment to peace and courage. The peace established today in Afghanistan and Iraq and the defeat of ISIS was more than anything due to General Soleimanis wisdom and courage. Yet, in the leaked interview, Zarif essentially described Soleimani as a war hawk who controlled and undermined him. Zarif said he had zero influence over Irans foreign policy and was forced to make this or that concession or point almost every time I went to negotiate" while following Soleimanis instructions. "The (military) field's success was more important than diplomacy's success. I was negotiating for the (military) field's success," Zarif said, as translated via Reuters. Zarif also complained that in Syria operations, Soleimani used the national civilian airline Iran Air, ignoring his objections. He also said Soleimani colluded with Russia to try and sabotage the nuclear deal with the U.S. and other countries. I have sacrificed diplomacy for the battlefield more than the price that (those on) the battlefield (led by Soleimani) ... paid and sacrificed for diplomacy, Zarif said, according to The Associated Press. Iran could have achieved [more] from the nuclear deal had it not prioritized the military, he said. All the same, AP reported that Zafir acknowledged Soleimanis stature in the interview, which was conducted over seven hours by an economist. I believe that the U.S. by hitting Martyr Soleimani dealt a blow to Iran that would not have been as bad even if they had hit one of our towns, Zafir said. According to Iran Internationals report, Zafir said that after the nuclear deal was signed in 2015, Soleimani was invited to Russia as part of the Kremlins attempt to undermine the new agreement. "That trip was made upon Moscow's initiative without the Iranian Foreign Ministry having any control on it. Its objective was to destroy the JCPOA (agreement)," Zarif said. Zarif is considered by some a potential candidate to replace outgoing President Hassan Rouhani, who cannot run again because of term limits. In the interview, Zarif said he has no intention of running in the June 18 election, Reuters reported. Zarif was Irans key negotiator in the 2015 nuclear deal and in current talks to revive it with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Rouhani rejected Zarifs resignation offer last February after the U.S. withdrew from the agreement under President Donald Trump. According to the AP, the leaked interview set off a firestorm within Iran, where officials carefully mind their words amid a cut-throat political environment that includes the powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, ultimately overseen by the countrys supreme leader. That no doubt explains Zarifs Instagram post, in which he expresses regret that a secret theoretical debate about the need for cooperation between diplomats and the military turned into an internal conflict and that his honesty and compassion was interpreted as personal criticism of Soleimani, a close friend until his death. Iran responded to Soleimanis death with series of missile strikes on U.S. targets in Iraq on January 8, 2020. Afterward, it mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian civilian airliner, killing all 176 people on board. Tehran initially denied responsibility but later admitted the error. In the leaked interview, Zarif said the Iranian military knew instantly it was their missile that took down the Ukrainian jet, but that he was ordered to go tweet and deny anyway. The interview was part of a government legacy project and meant to be kept secret, Iran's state news agency reported. AP said Rouhani had replaced the head of the Strategic Studies Center, the think tank that conducted the interview with Zarif and was responsible for safeguarding it. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. WAGENER A string of questionable money transfers and purchases in this tiny towns fire department has spawned a county investigation and raised difficult questions about Wageners ability to manage taxpayer funds. The State Law Enforcement Division already has an active probe underway into the Aiken County town's finances. Wageners money management practices also have drawn scrutiny in recent years from the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. An Aiken Standard investigation has uncovered hundreds of pages of records that shed fresh light on money issues that have roiled Wageners fire department and divided the town. Among other things: Questionable spending practices in the fire department include checks issued to family members of the former fire chief some for school tuition, school books or emergency loans. Records also reveal purchases made from firearms suppliers and a membership fee paid to the National Rifle Association. Fees collected specifically for the operation of the fire department were transferred to other town bank accounts without explanation. What the money was used for isnt apparent. The controversy led to the dismissal of Fire Chief Mark Redd and his second-in-command, George Day. Redd has not responded to requests for comment, and Wagener Mayor Mike Miller is at a loss to explain how this all happened despite being in charge for more than a decade. The fire department dispute is just the latest in a string of controversies arising from the towns finances in recent years. Among other things, the town has found itself on the defensive for failing to properly insure town hall, neglecting to pay Wageners federal taxes on time and improperly using state money intended for crime victims to shore up other budget holes. The Aiken Standards investigation into the towns shaky handling of taxpayer money is part of a collaboration with The Post and Couriers Uncovered project, which aims to expose misconduct and questionable government actions across South Carolina. The Aiken Standard is among 16 news outlets partnering on Uncovered. The controversy raises fresh questions about the ability of some small towns to properly manage their finances with part-time officials at the helm and few professional staff members to guide them. Time and again in South Carolina, a lack of scrutiny and financial controls has led to allegations of mismanagement or worse. In the past five years, two Allendale town officials and a county emergency supervisor went to jail on embezzlement charges. A town clerk in the tiny Upstate town of Lyman was convicted of siphoning $20,000 and using town credit cards to cover her sons wedding expenses. And a police chief in Westminster pocketed $114,000 meant to pay for protective vests for his officers. Roger LeDuc served as Wageners town administrator on a temporary, part-time basis from February 2019 until the spring of 2020. He told the Aiken Standard the towns struggles are similar to those faced by many small municipalities. Youve got mayors and (members of) councils that have never been involved in local government before, said LeDuc, who is a former Aiken city manager. Theyve never completed a budget, and they dont know how to write up an ordinance or a resolution, so a number of them do get into difficulties. FIRE DEPARTMENT WOES Wagener traces its roots back to 1887, when it was known as Pinder Town or Gunters Crossroads. Like many small towns, its economy benefited greatly when a railroad line was built to connect it with nearby Batesburg. The towns name was changed to honor George Wagener, a Charleston merchant and president of a small railroad that eventually was absorbed by the Southern Railway. Wageners economy has been strongly tied to agriculture since its beginning; the town was known for its fields of asparagus in the 1920s and 1930s. Many locals who dont work in agriculture or the smattering of small, family-owned businesses must drive to Aiken or bigger locations for their livelihoods. With the towns population just under 800, according to the 2010 census, there isnt a large tax base to draw from or money to waste. Ongoing disputes over how the fire department was being run and what it was doing with its money intensified late in 2020. The major battle that followed has been prolonged, heated and public. On one side is the mayor, the primary target in most of the attacks, and Town Council. On the other side are very vocal and social media-savvy supporters of the Wagener Fire Departments former leaders. It all came to a head last November with the suspensions and subsequent dismissals of the departments top two officials, Redd and Day. Memorandums from Miller and Town Council indicate the two men were fired for failing to turn over documents related to the fire departments operation. Those decisions created an uproar. Redd and Days backers held a sit-in at the fire department and accused Miller of mismanagement. Their backers repeated those allegations and vented their anger on Facebook and Twitter. They begged Aiken County Council to intervene and award money to a new organization to handle fire service for the district. In the meantime, Day told the Aiken Standard in November that neither he nor Redd had ever mishandled fire department funds. In February of this year, County Council unanimously passed a resolution that authorized County Administrator Clay Killian and his staff to launch an investigation. To date, the inquiry has not been completed. Meanwhile, the clashes in Wagener continue. Dennis Jackson is a former Wagener Fire Department captain who now serves as chief of the New Holland Volunteer Fire Department. Jackson, who still lives in the Wagener district, worries the controversy is harming the towns reputation. He wishes it would just go away. Theres not going to be a winner coming out of this thing at all, he said. I think both sides have done stuff that is questionable. TRANSACTIONS RAISE RED FLAGS Bank statements obtained by the Aiken Standard include information about a variety of unusual debit card purchases made by the fire department. The amounts spent and the businesses where the purchases were made include the following: $455.96 at OpticsPlanet, which sells rifle scopes and ammunition, in February 2013. $309.99 at Wise Arms LLC, a firearms and accessories vendor, in January 2015. $109.95 at Joe Bob Outfitters, which sells firearms and firearm accessories, in January 2015. $112.95 at Palmetto State Armory, a firearms company, in March 2015. $25 for a National Rifle Association, or NRA, membership in May 2015. The town provided no receipts or documentation to the Aiken Standard to indicate what was purchased. To Jackson, the New Holland fire chief, those transactions raise red flags. The NRA membership, in particular, would seem to have no connection to firefighting, he said. The businesses sell items other than firearms and accessories, but Jackson said he would want proof that the purchases were fire department-related. There should be some documentation somewhere that says, I bought flashlights or I bought traffic vests or something like that, he said. The Wagener Fire Departments bank statements also show numerous fire department debit card purchases from Amazon made between 2013 to 2020. Some totaled hundreds of dollars per month. But no receipts from Amazon were included in the documents provided by the Town of Wagener to the Aiken Standard. CHECKS TO FAMILY MEMBERS Wagener Fire Department spending records obtained by the Aiken Standard show several checks written to Redds family members. Sometimes Redd wrote checks to himself. In many cases, on the copies of those checks, the memo lines are blank, so their purposes are a mystery. Other materials in the FOIA request received by the Aiken Standard from the Town of Wagener included time/activity sheets for Cody Redd. They show that he was paid for work, including filling out fire department reports, cleaning the fire station, checking the fluids in fire trucks and performing other tasks. Cody Redd is a son of Mark Redd. Its not unusual for volunteer fire departments to pay incentives for people to go to fires and work at the fire station, Killian, the county administrator, said. Some fire departments, I think, will pay somebody to be there during the day (at the fire station). Its considered a thank you, if you will, for volunteering, and its usually not a lot of money. But in Aiken County, Jackson said, most volunteer fire departments, including New Hollands, dont compensate their members directly with cash. They (the members) volunteer to be volunteers, Jackson said. Rewarding them with even a small amount of money almost takes the volunteer part out of it, Jackson added. Among the documents given by Miller to the Aiken Standard on May 10 were copies of records from a check ledger that he said belonged to the fire department. Identified as loans or emergency loans were the following transactions: $450 to Brodie Redd for school books on Sept. 17, 2007. $500 to Cody Redd for school tuition on Jan. 17, 2008. $500 to George Day, which was approved by officers, on March 9, 2011. $500 to Mark Redd on Aug. 27, 2011. $150 to Mark Redd on May 25, 2012. $1,000 to Russell Redd on July 24, 2012. $1,600 to Scottie and Brandy Redd for a mission trip on July 12, 2013. $1,000 to Mark Redd on May 27, 2015. $1,000 to Joseph M. (Mark) Redd for $1,000 on Jan. 7, 2016. Brodie Redd, Russell Redd and Scottie Redd are all sons of Mark Redd. When Mark Redd was reached by telephone, he told the Aiken Standard he was too busy to talk. He didnt respond to a follow-up voicemail message that was left. FIRE FEES QUESTIONED Aiken Countys main worry, according to Killian, is the possibility that fire fees paid by property owners in the Wagener Fire District havent been used for operational expenses such as equipment purchases, utilities, fuel for vehicles and firefighting supplies for the department. The Aiken Standard obtained copies of fire department financial records, including Security Federal Bank statements for various accounts from 2011 to 2020. They show more than $63,000 being transferred from the fire departments checking account to the towns General Fund account. There are also transfers from the General Fund account to the fire departments account. The county collects the fees for the volunteer fire departments within its boundaries by including them on property tax bills. Killian said fees for the Wagener Fire Department are sent to the Town of Wagener. In addition, the statements show money moving between the fire department account and accounts for the Wagener Medical Center, a town park and Wageners water and sewer department. What is difficult to determine from those statements alone is what the transferred money was spent on or if the amounts transferred from the fire department account eventually were returned to that account in all cases, Killian said. Just because the money was moved doesnt mean it was used improperly, he added. It just means we need to know more about the transactions before we draw any conclusions." Seven months after the fire controversy erupted in Wagener, the county is still in the process of hiring an outside auditor to help sort out everything. It is unclear whether that delay will also impede the probe SLED is conducting. Agency spokesman Tommy Crosby confirmed that SLED has an open investigation into the Town of Wagener's finances, but he declined to discuss details. Lacking a white-collar crime unit or a forensic auditor on staff, SLED often depends on local communities to hire an auditor to pinpoint possible financial irregularities, The Post and Courier has reported. SLED Chief Mark Keel asked state lawmakers earlier this spring for $159,000 to hire a forensic auditor but the request still needs final budget approval. Killian said he expects the auditor the county hires to sit down with the town clerk or whoever does their books and maybe others to ask questions and examine any receipts that might be available for unexplained fire department expenditures. Even if fire fees were used to make purchases unrelated to fire department operations, the Town of Wagener and the Wagener Fire Department might not technically be in violation of the fire protection services contract with the county, according to Killian. When those transactions occurred could be a factor. Approximately two years ago, Killian said, the county revised its fire protection services contract. I think it (the former contract) always implied it (fire fee usage) was for fire purposes, Killian said. But Im not sure that it necessarily spelled that out. That is still one of the things that weve got to sort out. While making changes to the previous contract, we cleaned up some things, tightened up some things and, frankly, just tried to build in a little more oversight, Killian said. TRUSTED EMPLOYEES When the Aiken Standard asked Miller why fire department funds were transferred to other bank accounts, he said he didnt know. He was also unsure how much of that money was later returned to the fire departments account. Miller was elected Wageners mayor in 2009. For a long time, he said, he trusted Redd,, former Town Clerk Tina Salley and others to handle the financial duties associated with their positions without a lot of supervision. I think it was the responsibility of everyone (among the towns elected officials) to keep their fingers on the pulse, Miller said. But we just sort of carried on with the way things had always been done. Even though there were some warning signs, Millers philosophy didnt change until he opened mail that had been sent to Town Hall one day. I found some bills in there that I was concerned about, Miller said. They were way overdue. Miller began monitoring the towns mail more closely. And what he saw led him and Town Council to begin questioning how the Wagener Fire Department was using its money. I found all sorts of interesting things, Miller said. Among other things, he found copies of several Wagener Fire Department checks for travel and training expenses. All had been written for even amounts and some were for $1,000 or more. Thats not normal, Miller said. He also saw some checks with his signature that he believed had been forged. When Miller and Town Council made demands for more information, Redd and Day absolutely refused to cooperate, Miller said. No one from the fire department showed when Miller and council called a July 2018 meeting with the chief to the discuss the departments future, records show. At least twice last year, according to the mayor, he and Town Council member and Mayor Pro Tempore George Smith tried to meet with Redd and Day prior to their dismissals. They were notified in writing, Miller said. The first time they called to say they couldnt make it. The second time they didnt call, and they didnt show up. Later, Town Council scheduled an executive session that focused on the fire department. Redd and Day, accompanied by fellow firefighter Logan Musser, attended that meeting, but werent at all helpful, Miller reported. We gave them a list of documents that we wanted, and they showed up with no documents, the mayor said. When we asked them questions, they just didnt answer. The Aiken Standard tried to get comments from Wagener Town Council members, but they didnt respond to inquiries. I spoke with the Council members and all are understandably/justifiably a bit reluctant to speak out regarding our current situation, Miller wrote in an email sent to the Aiken Standard on May 24. SLED INVESTIGATION This isnt the first time Miller has called in SLED to review financial irregularities in his town. In the fall of 2017, Miller sent a written request to the agency to conduct an investigation of possible embezzlement of funds by Salley, the former town clerk. Miller identified two checks signed by Salley in 2013 as being suspicious, according to SLED records obtained through an open records request. The check amounts were $44,577.93 and $27,316.56, and the money involved was in the Town of Wageners Capital Project Sales Tax bank account, according to SLED. Salley wrote one of the checks to herself and made the other payable to cash, records show. SLED determined that Salley had purchased cashiers checks to pay the towns bills after it ran short of checks for its account, a case status report stated. Therefore, no crime was committed, the report concluded. SLED closed the case on Jan. 8, 2019. According to SLED records, the FBI also was conducting a probe in Wagener, which included a forensic audit, during SLEDs investigation, and the two agencies worked together. We really cant deny or confirm an actual, specific FBI investigation, Don Wood, the public affairs officer for the FBIs field office in Columbia, told the Aiken Standard. He recommended that the newspaper file a FOIA request, and the Aiken Standard did so May 18. Tina Salley spoke briefly on the record to the Aiken Standard. I was investigated by SLED, and the conclusion was that there was no wrongdoing on my part, she said, adding that the FBI came to the same conclusion. THE BUCK STOPS WITH YOU, MR. MAYOR Salleys son, Christopher, organized last Novembers sit-in at Wagener Fire Department. He contends Miller is the problem in Wagener and has announced his plans to run for mayor this year. In a Facebook Live video created May 17, he said Mark Redd and Day were ousted because they didnt like what the mayor was doing, and the mayor didnt agree with them. Christopher Salley also criticized Miller for failing to keep track of Wageners finances. If you dont know whats going on and if your (Town) Council doesnt know whats going on, then hows anybody else supposed to know whats going on? They dont, (and) you wont tell us, he said. The buck stops with you, Mr. Mayor, Christopher Salley added. Salley could not be reached for comment for this article. His mother said she would pass along a request for an interview, but the Aiken Standard didnt hear from him prior to publication. According to New Hollands Jackson, disagreements between the Town of Wagener and its fire department are nothing new and Miller isnt the only mayor to come under fire as a result. In 2003, the Aiken Standard reported that Mark Redd and six other fire department officers resigned from their positions to protest the lack of financial support from the Town of Wagener. They also said they feared for their and other firefighters safety because their equipment was outdated, but indicated they would help in case of an emergency. Redd later was reinstated as fire chief. Even though he didnt agree with Redds decision to step down in protest 18 years ago, Jackson described the former Wagener fire chief as a good firefighter and said, I respect him. NEW PROCEDURES IN PLACE Following Redd and Days dismissals last year, the department lost two-thirds of its roster and a proposal to merge the Wagener Fire Department with the New Holland Volunteer Fire Department collapsed. David Watson became Wageners new chief in February. The department now has 15 firefighters on staff and he hopes to grow that number to 50 by December. He also wants to build another fire station, Watson told the Aiken Standard. But Watson also faces some controls put in place after his predecessors departure. When he needs the fire departments debit card to pay for something, he must go to Town Hall to get it and then return it with a receipt. There is a gas card that Watson keeps with him so that fire trucks can be refueled in a timely manner. Miller, meanwhile, is eager to find out the results of the countys investigation into fire fee usage in the Wagener Fire District and hopes it wont take much longer to complete. I want it cleared up so that we can move forward, he said. Moncks Corner, SC (29461) Today Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then variable clouds overnight with still a chance of showers. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Like millions of fellow Americans, I'm fully vaccinated and ready for domestic leisure travel again, but enough uncertainty remains that my first priority for hotel and airline reservations is this: They have to be refundable or at least changeable. Along with price, refundability was a top priority of mine even before COVID-19. Plans can change, weather and health can intervene, and it's just plain awful to forfeit money to an airline and get nothing in return. The ongoing pandemic adds an extra layer of uncertainty for travel plans, particularly for international trips. As we've tragically seen in other nations, COVID-19 cases can flare up. Just this month, the State Department issued a "do not travel" warning for Japan. The good news for globetrotters is that hotel cancellation policies are mostly generous and easy to understand cancel by a certain date and you get a refund. At peak times in certain cities, hotels may offer only nonrefundable bookings, however. I just changed the dates of a planned fall visit to New Orleans for that reason. I found it hard to resist the low fares for nonstop flights from Charleston offered by startup Breeze Airways, which amounted to $200 for two people, round-trip, including a checked bag. When I saw the nonrefundable "event rate" hotels in New Orleans on my travel dates, I canceled my original Breeze tickets within the brief period for full refunds. Then I rebooked, for dates when hotels were more reasonable, and if my plans fall through later my room is refundable. Breeze would not exactly refund my flights if I have to cancel, but would keep the funds on hold for future use, like a store credit with a 24-month expiration date. If you can't get a cash refund, that's the next best thing. Sign up for our new business newsletter We're starting a weekly newsletter about the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina. Get ahead with us - it's free. Email Sign Up! Some major airlines just keep your money, if you book their least expensive tickets and end up not being able to use them. Some policies: On Delta, United, and American the least expensive tickets known as "basic economy" are non-refundable and non-changeable if they were purchased after April 30. So travelers on those three big carriers must buy more expensive tickets or risk losing their money. Southwest has no cancellation or change fees, and if you have to cancel one of their least-expensive tickets (the "Wanna Get Away" fares), it will hold the funds and you have a year to use them. The more expensive tickets are fully refundable. Frontier charges fees to change or cancel that rise as the departure date nears, and any remaining value becomes a travel credit. Buying its "works" bundle when booking avoids such potential fees but raises the cost. JetBlue charges a $100 change/cancel fee on the lowest-cost tickets (Blue Basic domestic) but is waiving fees for all tickets booked through June 7. After that, only the more expensive ticket classes have no change/cancel fees. One very good choice, if you have enough airline loyalty program points or miles, is to book award tickets. That's because an increasing number of airlines will simply redeposit the points or miles in your account if you cancel the trip, right up the day of travel. For example, American used to charge a fee to redeposit AAdvantage Miles if an award ticket was canceled. The airline ended that policy Nov. 11. Cancel an award ticket on Southwest, up to 10 minutes before departure time, and they just return the reward points to your account. Know the rules of the airline you choose, though, because some have rules that penalize the budget-conscious. Delta, for example, in late 2020 stopped charging fees to change or cancel award tickets except for basic economy fares. I've missed being able to travel, and I'm starting to make plans again, but if those plans fall through I want my money back. A plan by the State Ports Authority to hire its own truckers is drawing heat from South Carolina's private-sector trucking industry, which worries the move will hurt independent operators and small businesses while giving the agency that operates the Port of Charleston an unfair advantage. "This is anathema to whats been the public policy of this state, and creates an enormously unlevel competitive playing field," said Rick Todd, president and CEO of the South Carolina Trucking Association. "The private sector is best at efficiency and cost-control. The government is not." The plan, first reported by FitsNews.com, calls for the SPA to lease 15 trucks and hire 30 drivers to haul cargo containers between the SPA's terminals and rail yards, what the maritime agency calls its Rapid Rail program. Staffing firm MAU Workforce Solutions held an event May 28 for drivers interested in working for the SPA. The positions pay $17 an hour and offer retirement, health and other benefits. "There is not currently enough dedicated truck capacity in Charleston to handle Rapid Rail volumes that exist," the SPA said in a statement, adding it also is willing to pay more money to companies willing to dedicate capacity to the program on an ongoing basis. The Rapid Rail program moves about 350,000 containers of all sizes a year, or about one-fourth of the cargo moving through the port. The agency's trucks "will only handle rail drayage for which the SPA is the provider to its ocean carrier customers and will not handle third-party business," the agency said. Todd isn't buying that. He said truckers are worried the long-range plan is to move containers between the port and nearby distribution centers, such as the one Walmart is building at the SPA-owned Ridgeville Commerce Center. That site alone will need 70,000 containers to be transported by trucks each year. "They would try to dominate certain services and control certain customers, despite their promises," Todd said, adding the SPA's truckers would be operating without the same regulations and tax expenses that private-sector drivers face. "They would be controlling port users' and customers' freight services, access to trucking capacity and be picking winners and losers." Todd added that he doubts the SPA would stop at 15 trucks and also disputes its contention that its plan is designed to increase the number of trucks and truckers moving cargo. The SPA "would be poaching drivers from the private sector," he said. Sign up for our new business newsletter We're starting a weekly newsletter about the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina. Get ahead with us - it's free. Email Sign Up! Todd said he would prefer the SPA "partner with our initiatives on skilled workforce development to increase the pool of talent, not contributing to moving it from one bucket to another." The plan has caught the trucking association off guard, and Todd said he initially hoped to discourage the SPA from moving forward. He now considers the plan "a mega concern that's hard to overstate." "So we are considering all options to stop this before it gets rolling, including injunctions, legislative and other measures," he said. Liquid asset Shipping firm A&R Logistics has started operations at a new liquid chemical transloading station at its Moncks Corner site, where the company already packages truckloads of plastic pellets for export through the Port of Charleston. The site has 160 feet of liquid transload track served by CSX Corp. trains, where up to three large chemical tanks can be loaded at a time. The loading process takes about an hour. It is the first transloading station of its kind for A&R, one of the nation's largest supply chain services companies. "We can now safely and efficiently move bulk chemical product from railcar to tank to port to customer," A&R President Chris Ball said in a statement. "This benefits customers from a cost, speed and safety perspective with fewer touch-points along the supply chain." This is the first liquid transloading station for Louisville, Ky.-based A&R, which opened its 615,000-square-foot warehouse along U.S. Highway 52 in November. The $60 million development at West Branch Commerce Park takes pea-sized plastic pellets, also called nurdles, brought by trains from Gulf Coast refineries and packages them in roughly 50-pound bags to be exported from Charleston to foreign countries. The pellets are a raw material used in thousands of household goods made by overseas manufacturers. MURRELLS INLET Thanks to two stone benches, a plaque and a handful of rose bushes on Indigo Club Drive between Canterbury and Riceland courts, residents and anyone else who drives through the Indigo Creek neighborhood will remember its beloved neighborhood watch officer. The morning of May 26, more than 50 residents of Indigo Creek gathered to see the unveiling of a memorial dedicated to the late Horry County Police Cpl. Mike Ambrosino. Ambrosino died in August of COVID-19, and loved his job of patrolling Indigo Creek, his wife Tracey Ambrosino said. With tears in her eyes, Tracey said the memorial is a blessing during a bad time for her and her two sons. "I wish that he knew how well he was loved, I mean I'm sure he knew, but I wish he knew," she said, adding that her and her husband were considering moving into the neighborhood before his passing. Indigo Creek's Home Owners Association President Linda Powell said because it owns the streets in the neighborhoods, it hires police to come and do patrols itself. Ambrosino spent the last eight years in Indigo Creek, Powell said, watching for speeders and rolling his window down to talk to residents daily, so it only felt fitting to honor him on the main road into the neighborhood. "Everybody knew him, he could stop and talk to them and everyone just respected him so much, he was such a sincere guy," Powell said. Sign up for our Myrtle Beach weekly update newsletter. Sign up for weekly roundups of our top stories, news and culture from the Myrtle Beach area. This newsletter is hand-curated by a member of our Myrtle Beach news staff. Email Sign Up! Horry County Police Chief Joseph Hill spoke to residents during the unveiling about how happy he is to see support of local law enforcement in the area. He loved hearing stories from residents about their relationship with Ambrosino, he said, and that those relationships are what patrolling is all about. "Mike was a cop's cop, but he also felt like he needed to be part of the community, and this appreciation and dedication to Mike is emotional ... but it's just a testament to who Mike was and what Mike leaves behind," Hill said. Indigo Creek resident Dave Leperi had a special relationship with Mike, he said. His son, David Leperi, has always dreamt of being a police officer, and was an honorary police officer in North Carolina when the family lived there. When they moved to South Carolina, though, Dave wondered how he'd keep his son's dream alive. That is when they met Mike, and he took David, who has Downs Syndrome, on patrol watches with him and invested time in him. Mike didn't have to do that, Dave said, but as a father of a son with special needs himself, Mike just understood, Dave thinks. "All of us in Indigo Creek certainly remember Mike as a great police officer, no doubt, but more importantly, a respectful, loving, caring person with the biggest heart in the whole wide world," Dave said. "And obviously when you do things like including David in the community, and as a friend, that's the bottom line." Financial institutions to widen reach to meet consumer needs By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s): The government will ease restrictions for financial institutions to widen the reach of their services by directing the Central Bank to issue guidelines to these institutions including banks to introduce new products, Finance Ministry sources said. Immediate attention has been focused on guidelines for institutions providing services for payment related mobile applications and revision of the Credit Card Operational Guidelines, in line with the new developments in the credit card industry. Online financial services will be encouraged by easing restricting and creating awareness as the number of people resorting to e-commerce has been increased. But the Central Bank will be strictly monitoring the improvement of such systems to prevent malpractices and irregularities, a senior Treasury official told the Business Times. It will have to reinvent supervisory models to take account of the spread of fintech, blockchain and artificial intelligence. Having no choice than go for online shopping during the mobility restrictions period the urban and semi-urban public began to shift to the digital platform more than ever before. Purchases in the fast moving consumer good (FMCG ) category has doubled in March 2020 and is expected to grow from 20 percent to 70 percent, an official survey revealed. Many merchants who relied on conventional sales through physical outlets rapidly adopted online sales platforms. However, such a swift and widespread transition of sellers and customers to online platforms could not be handled by existing systems leading to system downtimes and interruptions. There was also a reduction in the usage of physical money, in light of the pandemic, thereby leading to a surge in online transactions. Two committees appointed by the National Payment Council have already completed the study on the potential impact of fintech and blockchain and to make recommendations for implementation of regulations covering application of new technology, new payment products, consumer protection and system stability. Apart from these, there are two other initiatives that are currently in the pipeline, to be implemented in the forthcoming year. These are the guidelines for institutions providing services for payment related mobile applications and revision of the Credit Card Operational Guidelines, in line with the new developments in the credit card industry Financial institutions have been directed to conduct sufficient awareness programmes on new products and emphasis should be placed on security features as well as customer protection for staff as well as for customers. As several sectors are badly affected due to the pandemic crisis, it is expected that the procurement of ICT products and services in these sectors will be reduced at least by 50 percent, Executive Chairman of Epic Technology Group Dr. Nayana Dehigama told the Business Times. He noted that this will result in most of the local ICT companies losing usual revenues by a significant portion in the coming months, making it difficult for them maintaining their regular revenue channels for survival. Financial institutions also need to better adopt or partner with fintech businesses offering digital interactions and to accept that there are alternatives to core legacy IT systems which provide greater speed for revenue generation, effective operations and better customer experience, he said. South Carolina reported 159 new confirmed coronavirus cases and five deaths, according to data released May 30 by the state health agency. Those totals are below what the state was averaging a year ago ahead of the Memorial Day holiday. Nearly 37 percent of South Carolina residents are fully vaccinated, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. Statewide numbers New cases reported: 159 confirmed, 109 probable. Total cases in S.C.: 491,648 confirmed, 101,444 probable. Percent positive: 2.4 percent. New deaths reported: 5 confirmed, 0 probable. Total deaths in S.C.: 8,572 confirmed, 1,160 probable. Percent of ICU beds filled: 68 percent. SC vaccines Nearly 45 percent of South Carolina residents have received at least one coronavirus vaccine shot, according to DHEC. Sign up for our new health newsletter The best of health, hospital and science coverage in South Carolina, delivered to your inbox weekly. Email Sign Up! Hardest-hit areas Greenville County (17), Spartanburg County (14), York and Charleston counties (both with 13) had the highest number of newly confirmed cases. What about the tri-county? Along with Charleston County's 13 new cases, Berkeley County had three and Dorchester County had one. Deaths Four of the newly confirmed deaths from COVID-19 were of people age 65 and older. The fifth person was middle-aged, which is considered to be from 35 to 64 years old. Hospitalizations Of the 234 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, 69 were in intensive care units and 40 were using ventilators. What do experts say? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people delay travel until they are fully vaccinated. Charleston City Councilman Harry Griffin was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to court and jail records. Griffin was booked into the Berkeley County jail around 9:30 p.m. on May 29. He was accused of driving under the influence and charged with an offense used for people with a blood alcohol level of less than .10 percent, court records show. It is illegal to drive in South Carolina with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or higher. Griffin, who posted bond, did not respond to a text message and phone call seeking comment. Deputy Carli Drayton, of the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office, said in an email that an incident report would likely not be available until after Memorial Day. The councilman was elected in November of 2017 and represents outer West Ashley. He garnered criticism in recent months after he was accused of speaking with members of the Proud Boys, a far-right hate group, about a rally that was held in downtown Charleston last year. Griffin denied any association with the Proud Boys, but a video was released online showing him supporting some of the ideas the group was putting out ahead of the rally. He also was captured on tape demeaning other members of council. An online petition calling for Griffin's resignation has received more than 36,000 signatures. Craving a primal scream these days? The Woman in Black is humbly and harrowingly at your service. The long-running West End ghost play, which has inspired similarly spontaneous outbursts on Londons West End for 30 years, is now haunting Spoleto Festival USA 2021, having slipped in through a sort of pandemic portal. Well, sure, its literally here due to its temporary COVID-19 closure at New York Citys McKittrick Hotel, where it was enjoying an acclaimed six-week run before the lockdown. The good news is that the hiatus created an opportunity for the production, which is directed by Robin Herford, to land in the festival lineup. It now inhabits Festival Hall with staggered socially distanced pods and a spare, ever inventive set by Michael Holt. But are we sure thats really how the titular, terrifying black-garbed femme fatale who is oft-referenced in the work made its way to Charleston? After all, this centuries-old city is known for plenty of its own roaming apparitions. And they are, naturally, as hospitable as the next Charlestonian to wanderers from parts unknown. This visitor wafts in from across the pond. Based on the 1983 British novel by Susan Hill, The Woman in Black was adapted for the stage by Stephen Mallatratt, who whittled it down to two main characters. They are a solicitor by the name of Arthur Kipps (Peter Bradley) and a young actor (Nick Owen), whom Kipps has enlisted to help him put down for posterity an eerie interlude from his younger years so he may sleep at night. The two delve deeper and deeper into the unnerving goings on at Eel Marsh House, the property of the recently deceased Alice Drablow. The young Kipps had been dispatched by his law firm to the town of Crythin Gifford on the north coast of England to sort through her papers. Its a play within a play, with the actor trying in vain to instruct his fact-focused client on dramatic craft to best share his tale. A successful storyteller, he repeats, conjures reality by way of imagination. Bobbing on a trunk becomes a ride on a horse-drawn carriage. Gazing at an expansive space before becomes Nine Lives Causeway, on which the estate sits. Like paranormal phenomena, the crux of a tale well told lies as much in what is perceived as much as in what is actually seen. The key is leveraging imagination, the actor underscores repeatedly, until finally giving up and taking the role himself. And so with the likes of a clothes rack, said trunk and a loyal if invisible dog named Spider, we tap into our own imaginations, which become every bit as culpable in our increasing unease. Commanding, energetic performances propel the suspense, with Owen whipping up escalating intrigue and Bradley weaving deftly in and out of numerous characters. Still, a star of this show is the playwright, Stephen Mallatratt. Creating gasps of terror in a traditional playhouse is a supernatural enterprise, and he methodically constructs a slow, subtle build, doing so as much by what is not shared as by what is. What are those askance looks from the townspeople? Why cant the young solicitor find an assistant to help with all that paper sorting? From exactly where will the next fright erupt? It must be noted that while we all understand the vagaries of the pandemic to serve up this engaging chestnut, the acoustics in Festival Hall at times challenged. Perhaps this was due to spaced-out seating in the cavernous, concrete-floored venue. And the production is certainly a far shriek from its cozy pub home at The McKittrick Hotel, which likely created a different dynamic. Instead, some audience members where I was seated had to strain to catch the dialogue. It may well be the performers had to push to reach to the back of the house, too, thus changing that measured, intimate unfolding of the tale. Nonetheless, there were ample starts and subsequent twitters as the crowd reacted and recovered from things that go bump and creak and screech in the night. The ride home from the show took on a creepy aspect, too, as we ventured out, amidst Charleston's old homes and darkened corners, which may well be the time-tested domain of our homegrown roving souls. Follow our full coverage of Spoleto Festival USA 2021 here. The Cistern Yard was awash in pulsating rhythms and wails of jubilation to announce the opening of the 45th annual Spoleto Festival USA. The Preservation Hall Jazz Band kicked off the Wells Fargo Jazz series May 28, followed by "A New Orleans Jazz Celebration" tribute to the life and music of Danny Barker on May 29. Though the festival is truncated and limited in capacity, the musicians were limitless in energy as they performed to sold-out audiences. For the members of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Fridays show marked the first public performance since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic 14 months ago. While the musicians are rooted in the tradition of honoring their teachers and masters of the New Orleans jazz tradition, audiences were honored to receive the lesson of resilience delivered out on the yard. Witnesses to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina 15 years ago, and halted by the pandemic, both bands gave a master class on how to acknowledge trauma and tragedy to march towards triumph. The series' opening show began with a procession of the seven-piece Preservation Hall Jazz Band. One by one, each member joined drummers Shannon Powell and Walter Harris, who served as bookends on the stage, inviting the crowd to Come with Me to the Crescent City. The original tune, from the 2013 album "Thats It," set the tone for the evening. Trumpeter Branden Lewis took the lead on vocals and immediately engaged the audience, lining out the lyrics as an invitation to the celebration developing on stage. The swift transition into a dirge was marked by pianist Kyle Roussel, turning to his organ summoning grief for a brief moment before launching into the groove-based One Hundred Fires. Clint Maedgens solo was the standout here, as he used a delay pedal to fill in every inch of the carefully spaced yard at the College of Charleston. His effortless runs and wails tipped the scale from tradition to innovation. Leader Ben Jaffe has consistently steered the groups evolution, expanding our sense of preservation. For Jaffe, preservation does not consist of sorting what is and isnt jazz to create a dusty museum piece. Just as preserving and fermenting can initiate changed states, honoring the past continues to lead Preservation Hall to explore the connective tissues of music throughout the African diaspora and beyond jazzs borders. By connecting jazz to the danzon and Tumba francesa traditions of Cuba in their most recent album, Jaffe and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band have revealed a more complex and richer version of New Orleans story. As we have all gone through our own self-preservation during the pandemic, we can relate to the twists and turns that have made us all forever changed. The constant for this New Orleans institution, is family and fellowship. After a rousing performance of Tootie Ma, which featured trombonist Ronnell Johnson energetically weaving a complex web, quoting Wars Low Rider, Jaffe took a moment to acknowledge his family, including his daughter Emma. With Roussels organ in the background, he sermonized on the tradition his father Allen started in founding the group in 1961. This family affair extends to all members of the band who are connected to foundational jazz families of New Orleans. Each musician embraced one another as Jaffe described their COVID-19 experience, and expressing his gratitude for music, which gave him something worth living for in uncertain times. Powells performance of When We All Get to Heaven honored those lost in the pandemic, and was a needed balm for the soul. The bands encore, Keep Your head Up, was a fitting finale, since the band members streamed this song virtually many evenings in the beginning of the pandemic. No longer needing to join in from a distance, audience members danced and shouted along, embracing joy once again. Powells mastery was on display for a second evening as he joined Dr. Michael White, Catherine Russell, David Torkanowsky, Don Vappie, Gregory Stafford, Jeffery Miller and Kerry Lewis in "A New Orleans Jazz Celebration." White, a clarinetist and professor at Xavier University, served as the musical director for this tribute to banjoist and guitarist Danny Barker. This group of masterful musicians led the audience on a fascinating and entertaining journey through Barkers legacy. White detailed Barkers contributions as a performer, composer, lyricist and educator between each tune. His delivery was more conversational than professorial, as many of the members had connections to Barker, and the audience came away with an intimate look at his impact on jazz and everything in between. The centerpiece for Barkers tribute was his humor and craft of storytelling. Catherine Russells engaging performance of Save the Bones for Henry Jones and Little Girl from Jacksonville delivered roars of laughter from the crowd. Russells physical comedy did justice to Barkers humor and innuendos but did not outweigh her masterful vocality. The bands effortless delivery of Barkers Eh las bas and Choko Mo Feendo Hey did not disappoint, but Whites transcendent performance on Summertime was a showstopperand a beckon that Spoleto, summer and hope is returning. Follow our full coverage of Spoleto Festival USA 2021 here. Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. If you want to know who to blame (or thank) for South Carolina's new open-carry gun law that Gov. Henry McMaster signed earlier this month, I can direct you to the spot on the legislative website that tells you who voted for the bill and who voted against it. Ditto the new law that would have banned nearly all abortions if it hadnt been blocked immediately by a federal judge ... as its sponsors knew would happen. And pretty much any other hyper-partisan bill that the Legislature passed this year. I can even tell you, with a bit more complicated directions, where to find who voted to expand that unnecessary gun law into a crazyland law that would let everybody walk around with a pistol on their hip, even without a criminal background check, or any training in gun safety or any instruction in where they can legally carry those guns, and where it's against the law. Of course, the official votes wont tell you which House members voted for that bill only because they knew the Senate wouldnt which has been a favorite way of deceiving voters for decades, right up until this year, when the Senate became more willing to pass culture-war bills. For that matter, the Senates 28-16 vote for open-carry doesnt show which of those 28 worked feverishly to dilute the bill or to load it down with poison pills in hopes of defeating it, and then voted for it once it was clear it was going to pass. Then again, the fact is that they did vote for the bill in the end, and a bill cant pass unless more people vote for it than against it, so maybe that doesn't matter a lot. More to the point for today's point, the so-called constitutional carry measure that passed the House but was rejected by the Senate was a rare example of legislation that was actually killed. The more common method of death in the Legislature is neglect. Bills can die an agonizing death on the Senate calendar sometimes a single vote away from passage after a single senator objects to debating it. That doesn't happen as often as it used to, but it's been in the process of happening to S.202 to let the state inspector general investigate school districts since March, when it received second reading in the Senate. Thats why the question I usually cant answer and its a question I get pretty much every time I write about what the Legislature has failed to do is whos to blame when bills dont pass. Oh, sure, I can tell you that Sen. Chip Campsen placed an objection on S.202 that prevented its routine debate. But the Senate could get around that block if enough senators wanted to. That means everybody who didnt do that is also to blame. But not one of them could singlehandedly overcome that objection, so each individual senator can deny responsibility. Sign up for our opinion newsletter Get a weekly recap of South Carolina opinion and analysis from The Post and Courier in your inbox on Monday evenings. Email Sign Up! More often, the neglect occurs in the dark, when bills are never even scheduled for a hearing. Sometimes the committee chairman is to blame, because he actively opposes a bill or simply has other priorities. Just as often maybe more often the sponsor wants credit for introducing a bill but doesnt really want it to become law, so he never even asks for a hearing. Sometimes other legislators let the chairman know they plan to fight the bill, so she decides its more productive to use her committees time on bills that stand a chance of passing. Lawmakers blocking legislation sometimes admit to it; often they wont. Often other lawmakers will tell me or other journalists whos holding up legislation if they know and then only off the record. That means I can't responsibly share that information with you unless I spend a lot more time than its usually worth to try to get a lot more legislators to tell me the same thing, which I then have to give the lawmaker in question the opportunity to deny. Which he usually will do. So if you want to know whose fault it is that bills never made it out of committee this year to make people who lobby city and county councils register as lobbyists, or to prohibit judges from setting bail for people arrested while out on bail from another arrest, or to bar people from running for office if they have outstanding ethics fines I cant tell you. Ditto for why even though the Senate passed it 41-1, the House never voted on a bill to prevent a lot of drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel, by requiring everyone convicted of DUI to install an ignition-interlock device on their vehicle. And why the Senate never considered a bill, which passed the House 109-3, to clarify the governors powers during a state of emergency. What I can tell you is that beyond the person who worked to cause each of those bills' death by neglect, every legislator who didnt work to overcome that effort shares part of the blame. That's why the unsatisfying fact is that in most cases, it's the Legislature, rather than individual legislators, that's to blame for all the things that don't get done. And it's why a state that gives an enormous amount of power to its Legislature, and precious little (except during a pandemic) to its governor, or to cities and counties, has a hard time moving forward. Editors Note: The Aiken Standard is one of 16 newspapers collaborating with The Post and Courier on the Uncovered investigative project. WAGENER A string of questionable money transfers and purchases in this tiny towns fire department has spawned a county investigation and raised difficult questions about Wageners ability to manage taxpayer funds. The State Law Enforcement Division already has an active probe underway into the Aiken County town's finances. Wagener's money management practices also have drawn scrutiny in recent years from the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. An Aiken Standard investigation has uncovered hundreds of pages of records that shed fresh light on money issues that have roiled Wageners fire department and divided the town. Among other things: Questionable spending practices in the fire department include checks issued to family members of the former fire chief some for school tuition, school books or emergency loans. Records also reveal purchases made from firearms suppliers and a membership fee paid to the National Rifle Association. And fees collected specifically for the operation of the fire department were transferred to other town bank accounts without explanation. What the money was used for isnt apparent. The controversy has led to the dismissal of Fire Chief Mark Redd and his second-in-command, George Day. Redd has not responded to requests for comment, and Wagener Mayor Mike Miller is at a loss to explain how this all happened despite being in charge for more than a decade. The fire department dispute is just the latest in a string of controversies arising from the towns finances in recent years. Among other things, the town has found itself on the defensive for failing to properly insure town hall, neglecting to pay Wageners federal taxes on time and improperly using state money intended for crime victims to shore up other budget holes. The Aiken Standards investigation into the towns shaky handling of taxpayer money is part of a collaboration with The Post and Couriers Uncovered project, which aims to expose misconduct and questionable government actions across South Carolina. The Aiken Standard is among 16 news outlets partnering on Uncovered. The controversy raises fresh questions about the ability of some small towns to properly manage their finances with part-time officials at the helm and few professional staff members to guide them. Time and again in South Carolina, a lack of scrutiny and financial controls has led to allegations of mismanagement or worse. In the past five years, two Allendale town officials and a county emergency supervisor went to jail on embezzlement charges. A town clerk in the tiny Upstate town of Lyman was convicted of siphoning $20,000 and using town credit cards to cover her sons wedding expenses. And a police chief in Westminster pocketed $114,000 meant to pay for protective vests for his officers. Roger LeDuc served as Wageners town administrator on a temporary, part-time basis from February 2019 until the spring of 2020. He told the Aiken Standard the towns struggles are similar to those faced by many small municipalities. Youve got mayors and (members of) councils that have never been involved in local government before, said LeDuc, a former Aiken city manager. Theyve never completed a budget, and they dont know how to write up an ordinance or a resolution, so a number of them do get into difficulties. Fire department woes Wagener traces its roots back to 1887, when it was known as Pinder Town or Gunters Crossroads. Like many small towns, its economy benefited greatly when a railroad line was built to connect it with nearby Batesburg. The towns name was changed to honor George Wagener, a Charleston merchant and president of a small railroad that eventually was absorbed by the Southern Railway. Wageners economy has been strongly tied to agriculture since its beginning; the town was known for its fields of asparagus in the 1920s and 1930s. Many locals who dont work in agriculture or the smattering of small, family-owned businesses must drive to Aiken or bigger locations for their livelihoods. With the towns population just under 800, according to the 2010 census, there isnt a large tax base to draw from or money to waste. Ongoing disputes over how the fire department was being run and what it was doing with its money intensified late in 2020. The major battle that followed has been prolonged, heated and public. On one side is the mayor, the primary target in most of the attacks, and Town Council. On the other side are very vocal and social media-savvy supporters of the Wagener Fire Departments former leaders. It all came to a head in November with the suspensions and subsequent dismissals of the departments top two officials, Redd and Day. Memorandums from Miller and Town Council indicate the two men were fired for failing to turn over documents related to the fire departments operation. Those decisions created an uproar. Redd's and Days backers held a sit-in at the fire department and accused Miller of mismanagement. Their backers repeated those allegations and vented their anger on Facebook and Twitter. They begged Aiken County Council to intervene and award money to a new organization to handle fire service for the district. Meantime, Day told the Aiken Standard in November that neither he nor Redd had ever mishandled fire department funds. In February of this year, County Council unanimously passed a resolution that authorized County Administrator Clay Killian and his staff to launch an investigation. To date, the inquiry has not been completed. Meanwhile, the clashes in Wagener continue. Dennis Jackson is a former Wagener Fire Department captain who now serves as chief of the New Holland Volunteer Fire Department. Jackson, who still lives in the Wagener district, worries the controversy is harming the towns reputation. Theres not going to be a winner coming out of this thing at all, he said. I think both sides have done stuff that is questionable. Transactions raise flags Bank statements obtained by the Aiken Standard include information about a variety of unusual debit card purchases made by the fire department. The amounts spent and the businesses where the purchases were made include the following: $455.96 at OpticsPlanet, which sells rifle scopes and ammunition, in February 2013. $309.99 at Wise Arms LLC, a firearms and accessories vendor, in January 2015. $109.95 at Joe Bob Outfitters, which sells firearms and firearm accessories, in January 2015. $112.95 at Palmetto State Armory, a firearms company, in March 2015. $25 for a National Rifle Association membership in May 2015. The town provided no receipts or documentation to the Aiken Standard to indicate what was purchased. Donate to our Investigative Fund to support journalism like this Our public service and investigative reporting is among the most important work we do. Its also the most expensive reporting we do. We cant do it without your support. Donate Now To Jackson, the New Holland fire chief, those transactions raise red flags. The NRA membership, in particular, would seem to have no connection to firefighting, he said. The businesses sell items other than firearms and accessories, but Jackson said he would want proof that the purchases were fire department-related. There should be some documentation somewhere that says, I bought flashlights or I bought traffic vests or something like that, he said. The Wagener Fire Departments bank statements also show numerous fire department debit card purchases from Amazon made between 2013 to 2020. Some totaled hundreds of dollars per month. But no receipts from Amazon were included in the documents provided by the town of Wagener to the Aiken Standard. Checks to family members Wagener Fire Department spending records obtained by the Aiken Standard show several checks written to Redds family members. Sometimes Redd wrote checks to himself. In many cases, on the copies of those checks, the memo lines are blank, so their purposes are a mystery. Other materials received by the Aiken Standard from the town included time/activity sheets for Cody Redd, a son of the former fire chief. They show he was paid for work, including filling out fire department reports, cleaning the fire station, checking the fluids in fire trucks and performing other tasks. Its not unusual for volunteer fire departments to pay incentives for people to go to fires and work at the fire station, Killian, the county administrator, said. Some fire departments, I think, will pay somebody to be there during the day (at the fire station). Its considered a thank you, if you will, for volunteering, and its usually not a lot of money. But in Aiken County, Jackson said, most volunteer fire departments, including New Hollands, dont compensate their members directly with cash. They (the members) volunteer to be volunteers, Jackson said. Rewarding them with even a small amount of money almost takes the volunteer part out of it, Jackson added. Among the documents given by Miller to the Aiken Standard on May 10 were copies of records from a check ledger that he said belonged to the fire department. Identified as loans or emergency loans were the following transactions: $450 to Brodie Redd for school books on Sept. 17, 2007. $500 to Cody Redd for school tuition on Jan. 17, 2008. $500 to George Day, which was approved by officers, on March 9, 2011. $500 to Mark Redd on Aug. 27, 2011. $150 to Mark Redd on May 25, 2012. $1,000 to Russell Redd on July 24, 2012. $1,600 to Scottie and Brandy Redd for a mission trip on July 12, 2013. $1,000 to Mark Redd on May 27, 2015. $1,000 to Joseph M. (Mark) Redd for $1,000 on Jan. 7, 2016. Brodie Redd, Russell Redd and Scottie Redd are all sons of Mark Redd. When Mark Redd was reached by telephone, he told the Aiken Standard he was too busy to talk. He didnt respond to two follow-up voicemail messages that were left. Fire fees questioned Aiken Countys main worry, according to Killian, is the possibility that fire fees paid by property owners in the Wagener Fire District havent been used for operational expenses such as equipment purchases, utilities, fuel for vehicles and firefighting supplies. The county collects the fees for the volunteer fire departments within its boundaries by including them on property tax bills. Killian said fees for the Wagener Fire Department are sent to the town. As part of its investigation, the county had Wagener provide financial records from the towns fire department. The Aiken Standard obtained copies of those documents through a Freedom of Information Act request. Miller also gave the newspaper additional documents May 10 and 24. Among them are Security Federal Bank statements for various accounts from 2011 to 2020. They show more than $63,000 being transferred from the fire departments checking account to the towns General Fund account. There are also transfers from the General Fund account to the fire departments account. In addition, the statements show money moving between the fire department account and accounts for the Wagener Medical Center, a town park, and Wageners water and sewer department. What is difficult to determine from those statements alone is what the transferred money was spent on or if the amounts transferred from the fire department account eventually were returned, Killian said. Just because the money was moved doesnt mean it was used improperly, he added. It just means we need to know more about the transactions before we draw any conclusions." Seven months after the fire controversy erupted in Wagener, the county is still in the process of hiring an outside auditor to help sort out everything. It is unclear whether that delay will also impede the probe SLED is conducting. Agency spokesman Tommy Crosby confirmed that SLED has an open investigation into the Town of Wagener's finances, but he declined to discuss details. Lacking a white-collar crime unit or a forensic auditor on staff, SLED often depends on local communities to hire an auditor to pinpoint possible financial irregularities, The Post and Courier has reported. SLED Chief Mark Keel asked state lawmakers earlier this spring for $159,000 to hire a forensic auditor; the request still needs final budget approval. Killian said he expects the auditor the county hires to sit down with the town clerk or whoever does their books, and maybe others, to ask questions and examine any receipts that might be available for unexplained fire department expenditures. Even if fire fees were used to make purchases unrelated to fire department operations, the town and the Wagener Fire Department might not technically be in violation of the fire protection services contract with the county, according to Killian. When those transactions occurred could be a factor. Approximately two years ago, Killian said, the county revised its fire protection services contract. I think (the former contract) always implied (fire fee usage) was for fire purposes, Killian said. But Im not sure that it necessarily spelled that out. That is still one of the things that weve got to sort out. While making changes to the previous contract, we cleaned up some things, tightened up some things and, frankly, just tried to build in a little more oversight, Killian said. Trusted employees When the Aiken Standard asked Miller why fire department funds were transferred to other bank accounts, he said he didnt know. He was also unsure how much of that money was later returned to the fire departments account. Miller was elected Wageners mayor in 2009. For a long time, he said, he trusted Redd, Day, former Town Clerk Tina Salley and others to handle the financial duties associated with their positions without a lot of supervision. I think it was the responsibility of everyone (among the towns elected officials) to keep their fingers on the pulse, Miller said. But we just sort of carried on with the way things had always been done. Even though there were some warning signs, Millers philosophy didnt change until he opened mail that had been sent to Town Hall one day. I found some bills in there that I was concerned about, Miller said. They were way overdue. Miller began monitoring the towns mail more closely. And what he saw led him and Town Council to begin questioning how the Wagener Fire Department was using its money. I found all sorts of interesting things, Miller said. Among other things, he found copies of several Wagener Fire Department checks for travel and training expenses. All had been written for even amounts, and some were for $1,000 or more. Thats not normal, Miller said. He also saw some checks with his signature that he believed had been forged. When Miller and Town Council made demands for more information, Redd and Day absolutely refused to cooperate, Miller said. No one from the fire department showed up when Miller and council called a July 2018 meeting with the chief to discuss the departments future, records show. At least twice last year, according to the mayor, he and Town Council member and Mayor Pro Tempore George Smith tried to meet with Redd and Day prior to their dismissals. They were notified in writing, Miller said. The first time they called to say they couldnt make it. The second time they didnt call and they didnt show up. Later, Town Council scheduled an executive session that focused on the fire department. Redd and Day, accompanied by fellow firefighter Logan Musser, attended that meeting, but werent at all helpful, Miller reported. We gave them a list of documents that we wanted and they showed up with no documents, the mayor said. When we asked them questions, they just didnt answer. The Aiken Standard tried to get comments from Wagener Town Council members, but they didnt respond to inquiries. I spoke with the Council members and all are understandably/justifiably a bit reluctant to speak out regarding our current situation, Miller wrote in an email sent to the Aiken Standard on May 24. SLED investigation This isnt the first time Miller has called in SLED to review financial irregularities in his town. In the fall of 2017, Miller sent a written request to the agency to conduct an investigation of possible embezzlement of funds by Salley, the town clerk. Miller identified two checks signed by Salley in 2013 as being suspicious, according to SLED records obtained through an open records request. The check amounts were $44,577.93 and $27,316.56, and the money involved was in the town of Wageners Capital Project Sales Tax bank account, according to SLED. Salley wrote one of the checks to herself and made the other payable to cash, records show. SLED determined that Salley had purchased cashiers checks to pay the towns bills after it ran short of checks for its account, a case status report stated. Therefore, no crime was committed, the report concluded. SLED closed the case on Jan. 8, 2019. According to SLED records, the FBI also was conducting a probe in Wagener which included a forensic audit during SLEDs investigation, and the two agencies worked together. We really cant deny or confirm an actual, specific FBI investigation, said Don Wood, the public affairs officer for the FBIs field office in Columbia. He recommended that the newspaper file a FOIA request, and the Aiken Standard did so May 18. Salley spoke briefly on the record to the Aiken Standard. I was investigated by SLED and the conclusion was that there was no wrongdoing on my part, she said, adding that the FBI came to the same conclusion. 'Buck stops with you, Mr. Mayor' Salleys son, Christopher, organized Novembers sit-in at Wagener Fire Department. He contends Miller is the problem in Wagener and has announced his plans to run for mayor this year. In a Facebook Live video created May 17, he said Redd and Day were ousted because they didnt like what the mayor was doing and the mayor didnt agree with them. Christopher Salley also criticized Miller for failing to keep track of Wageners finances. If you dont know whats going on and if your (Town) Council doesnt know whats going on, then hows anybody else supposed to know whats going on? They dont, (and) you wont tell us, he said. The buck stops with you, Mr. Mayor, Christopher Salley said in the video. Salley could not be reached for comment for this article. His mother said she would pass along a request for an interview, but the Aiken Standard didnt hear from him prior to publication. But according to New Hollands Jackson, disagreements between the town and its fire department are nothing new, and Miller isnt the only mayor to come under fire as a result. In 2003, the Aiken Standard reported that Redd and six other fire department officers resigned from their positions to protest the lack of financial support from the town. They also said they feared for their and other firefighters safety because their equipment was outdated, but indicated they would help in case of an emergency. Mark Redd later was reinstated as fire chief. Even though he didnt agree with Redds decision to step down in protest 18 years ago, Jackson described the former Wagener fire chief as a good firefighter and said, I respect him. New procedures in place Following Redd and Days dismissals last year, the department lost two-thirds of its roster, and a proposal to merge the Wagener Fire Department with the New Holland Volunteer Fire Department collapsed. David Watson became Wageners new chief in February. The department now has 15 firefighters on staff, and he hopes to grow that number to 50 by December. He also wants to build another fire station, Watson told the Aiken Standard. But Watson also faces some controls put in place after his predecessors departure. When he needs the fire departments debit card to pay for something, he must go to Town Hall to get it and then return it with a receipt. There is a gas card that Watson keeps with him so that firetrucks can be refueled in a timely manner. Miller, meanwhile, is eager to find out the results of the countys investigation into fire fee usage in the Wagener Fire District and hopes it wont take much longer to complete. I want it cleared up so that we can move forward, he said. Foreign debt servicing continues to sustain in fiscal tightening View(s): Fiscal tightening of the treasury and the Central Banks accommodative monetary policy with flexible exchange rate will sustain the economic recovery, servicing debts in a timely manner, officials disclosed. The authorities are getting ready to settle maturities of Sri Lanka Development Bonds (SLDB) within the next two months. Answering a question raised by Business Times at the recent Monetary Policy review media conference conducted virtually, the Central Banks Superintendent of the Debt Department Dr. M.Z.M. Aazim said that debt service payments are being met in a timely manner on account of SLDBs and other state debts. He noted that domestic banks will also be encouraged to purchase SLDBs as it possessed adequate foreign exchange reserves amounting to around US$1 billion. While a high number of bonds will mature throughout the year, the peak will fall in the third quarter, when rupee bonds worth $1.2 billion and SLDBs totalling $1.3 billion will have to be paid back, he added. He reiterated that this repayment is possible due to the maintenance of sustainable, medium-term debt management. Sri Lanka has managed to roll over $693 million of maturing SLDBs helped by post-auction subscription for 9-month bonds, Central Bank data showed. This successful debt rollover has been made after recent failures in the last two auctions of the SLDBs which were heavily under subscribed, economic experts said. Import restrictions currency swaps and debt roll over have helped to service foreign debts up to now; they said adding that there will be difficulties in attracting foreign investors to dollar-denominated bonds in upcoming auctions. One of the remaining options is to seek assistance from China to resolve this foreign debt servicing issue, they suggested. International financial agencies such as the IFC and AIIB have granted funding for Sri Lankan corporate and financial sector, he said adding that the government has secured financial assistance from the ADB and the World Bank, Central Bank revealed. In addition the government is expecting $780-800 million under the Special Drawing Rights facility of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Central Bank confirmed. The IMF director board will take up this matter in June and the money will be disbursed by August. The assessment of that support has taken longer than for other countries due to Sri Lankas daunting economic challenges and high public debt, IMF sources divulged. If Sri Lanka fails to engage with the IMF due to policy differences with the Fund, a successful economic restructuring would be difficult, a veteran economic analyst said Exit yields of maturing bonds would be significantly higher than the 10-11 percent, compared to other countries with an IMF programme, he said. (BS) Dr. B Speaks! The art of accumulating wealth by mining for golden nuggets requires that the prospector patiently sifts through trays of pebbles and sludge e Read more The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration recently executed a federal warrant to search the Wise Owl Animal Hospital, according to unsealed federal court documents. Neither the warrant nor its subsequent return document allege any wrongdoing on the part of the Tamuning animal hospital, nor the two veterinarians named: Joel Joseph and Genevieve Weaver. On May 25, District Court of Guam Chief Judge Frances Tydingco-Gatewood approved the administrative inspection warrant in order to "verify the correctness" of records. She also said the authorization was meant to verify whether the records "are used or intended to be used in violation" of the Controlled Substances Act. A filed receipt shows that rather than seizing documents, copies were made of invoices; dispensing logs; an on-hand inventory for Jan. 1, 2020; a list of employees; and patient files for three pets. Alex Nikoloudakis, diversion investigator for the DEA, said in federal court documents that the inspection as allowed by the warrant was completed on May 25 and 27. Statement from Joseph Although the current case is being brought to the U.S. District Court on Guam by the federal Justice Department, Joseph drew parallels to his longstanding issues with the local government. He sent the following statement to The Guam Daily Post when asked for comment: "It is not a coincidence that the raid eight years ago was just a few days before a court date. GovGuam wanted to bolster their court case. They found nothing, violated my civil rights, and it backfired on them, as they lost badly in court. "Since then GovGuam has been convicted of taking me to court just to cause me emotional and economic harm (SLAPP lawsuit). And have lost EVERY time they have taken me to court (over 40 times). "The recent inspection was stated to have been appropriate, based on the raid (where nothing was found) that was done 8 years ago. Odd coincidence that the civil rights trial for the raid eight years ago is occurring in about one month. It is painfully obvious that GovGuam is going to lose the civil rights case. Every GovGuam official involved has lost any/all immunity. The (assistant attorney general) involved was forced to move to Indonesia. The director of DPHSS 'retired.' GovGuam emails indicate they knew what they were doing was illegal yes, their emails actually state that! "Over the last eight years GovGuam has done everything they could to screw me, find something illegal that I have done, etc., and made my life a miserable hell. They have delayed the civil rights trial for eight years. "This inspection is simply GovGuam trying to dig themselves out of a hole, at taxpayer expense. It reminds me of the definition of insanity. Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result." Note: We've recently updated our online systems. If you can't login please try resetting your password. You must login with an email address. If you don't have an email associated with your account email circulation@postregister.com for help creating one. Terry Thomas is a wildlife biologist and naturalist. You can read more of his work on his website, www.nature-track.com, or pick up a copy of The Best of Nature, a collection of more than 100 of Thomass best nature essays at the Post Register. Follow him on Facebook, Nature-track. Government steps up saline production locally with private sector assistance By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s): Sri Lanka has stepped up efforts to overcome the shortage in any eventuality of the fast depleting stock of saline in hospitals across the country encouraging the private sector to meet the local requirement of over 12 million 500 ml bottles annually. While the State Ministry of Production Supplies and Regulations for Pharmaceuticals is making arrangements to import required quantity, at least two private sector firms have accelerated the ongoing process to begin local saline production at their factories to meet the emergency demand. Laugfs Holdings Ltd is planning to launch operations at its Intravenous (IV) solution (saline) manufacturing plant located in the Koggala Export Processing Zone (EPZ) soon, a company official said. The company had reached an agreement with the government to establish a saline manufacturing plant in 2014 with a buyback agreement with the state in 2019. The company is also exploring the possibility of exporting its products to certain foreign markets including South African region. The group has already invested Rs.2.5 billion in the US$ 30 million project, located on 4-acre land in Koggala, under its subsidiary Laugfs Life Sciences, which was set up to develop IV-related products. Meanwhile Kelun Life Sciences (Pvt) Ltds BOI approved Sino Sri Lanka joint venture project will be starting production of saline for foreign and local markets at its fully fledged plant using Artificial Intelligence within the next two months in the Kandy Industrial Park. The project will employ 110 workers. The investment value of the project is $12-75 million of which $9.5 will be foreign direct investment, a BOI source said. The production capacity of the plant is around 190 million 500 ml bottles per annum with a value of Rs.2.9 million and its local share is around 33 percent or one third of total production. The company plans exporting earnings of $18 million annually, an official said adding that the product process has WHO certification. It will also manufacture injectables to supply to the Health Ministry, helping reduce shortages in the country, resulting in freshly manufactured stocks and also contributing towards import substitution, he disclosed. The government plans to manufacture 50 percent of the countrys requirement of pharmaceuticals locally within the next three years while the country imports 85 percent of its drug requirement at an annual cost of Rs.130 billion. India spearheads almost half of Sri Lankas drug imports followed by Pakistan, US, Switzerland, France, Bangladesh and the UK. Sri Lankas pharmaceutical market is expected to reach $787 million by 2022 with an increase in the countrys ageing population. Glenn Ebersole is a registered professional engineer and a Strategic Business Development/Marketing Executive and Leader in the AEC industry and related fields. He can be reached at jgepsu21@gmail.com or 717-575-8572 . Last week we had the Shootout from George Floyd Square broadcast live from Minneapolis. The video looks like a scene from a dark comedy. I think of it as the shootout at the not OK corral. It was in any event the perfect way to commemorate the anarchy and lawlessness Minneapolis has experienced in the year since George Floyds death. Patrick Coolican was a reporter who wrote (with Stephen Montemayor) the Star Tribune Tribunes most-read story of 2019, on Ilhan Omar. Anyone with the sense of Joe Biden in his dotage could deduce from the story that Omar is a fraudster and liar and I mean of an ilk previously unseen in American politics who has perfected the art of victimhood. Patrick left the Star Tribune to preside over the Minnesota Reformer, a site whose politics are further to the left than the Star Tribune. In my dealings with him I have found Patrick to be a straightforward journalist who knows good reporting when he sees it. Last week he published Deena Winters report on the poor souls living inside the not OK corral. Winter writes: A year after the murder of George Floyd, some residents who live near the four-block area now graced by his name want the people running the autonomous zone to remove the barricades and leave. They say people in the neighborhood have been shot at, robbed, carjacked, threatened with deadly weapons and sexually harassed. This is our home. It does not belong to the world. It does not belong to anyone, Amina Harper said on Instagram. We live here and we deserve to be safe while we live here because most of us cannot afford to live anywhere else. Winters story is Neighbors, feeling bullied, want activists to leave George Floyd Square. George Floyd Square, not coincidentally, is an autonomous zone. Law enforcement is not on hand. George Floyd Square is in the hands of thugs and bullies. The Minneapolis mayor and police chief promised that regular order would be restored once the verdict in the Chauvin case was handed down. From the Governor and Attorney General to the mayor and city council, its Democrats all the way down. George Floyd Square and environs have yet to be retaken. Its a story that tells you everything you need to know about the state of play in Minneapolis and that has gone largely uncovered. I want to give Christian Adams Power Lines last word on Kristen Clarkes fitness to head the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. Christian, after all, has had the misfortune of dealing with Clarke (I have not). And Christians assessment of Clarke encompasses the issue of voting something I did not discuss in my many posts about her. Here is some of what Christian has to say about Clarke: Clarke is no ordinary racialist radical. . .She brings a reputation for being racially greedy. I have some personal experience with her on this point. In 2007, I was working on what would become the Voting Rights Act case of United States v. Georgetown School Board. I was one of the lawyers who spent many days in South Carolina investigating violations of the Voting Rights Act. Georgetown had a voting-age black population of 34 percent but the at-large elections for school board resulted in no blacks ever being elected to the nine at-large seats. While there is no right to proportional representation, in theory, blacks could conceivably have won three of nine seats. Regardless, they had none, and in a school district where the students were almost majority black, this created a system that stoked discontent and lack of responsiveness. . . . The plan adopted in a DOJ settlement agreement created three majority-black districts out of seven (two seats remained elected at large) where it was likely a black preferred candidate would be elected. . . . The DOJ team got wind that Clarkerepresenting the NAACPwas shadowing the DOJ lawyer interviews in the field with local African-American stakeholders, disrupting the progress the DOJ was making and urging locals to hold out for four or more black seats. Four seats out of seven (or nine) would have been well in excess of the general proportion of the black population. Clarke wanted more black seats than the law would allow and was willing to disrupt a settlement that created three black seats where none had existed before. Christian expects more of the same from Clarke, now that she has the power of the U.S. government behind her: Sometime, soon, the Justice Department Voting Section will be on the prowl looking for counties or school districts to sue. You might be a lawyer representing them (call me). In the past, even under Democrat leadership, the DOJ has largely been fair and sought only minority districts that could be supported by the law. Expect Clarke to jettison compliance with the law, because she takes it all personally, and it is all about skin color. And dont expect Attorney General Merrick Garland, faux moderate and figurehead (probably), to stand in Clarkes way. Garland has personally vouched for Clarke as a person of integrity. But Christian points out: Garland hasnt spent much time around her. Lawyers at the Voting Section who worked with her characterize her as a brutish and uncouth racial activist. She seethed racial animosity toward whites (who were not liberals) and Southerners. In the good news department, Christian reports that Clarke is viewed as no Tom Perez or Vanita Gupta in the lawyering department. He adds, however, that shell have hundreds of brighter lawyers who work in the Civil Rights Division behind her. Plus Gupta, herself. Christian also suggests that Clarke has an anger management/violence problem: The FBI made a serious mistake when it failed to interview her former husband prior to her confirmation. The police came to Clarkes house no fewer than six times for domestic abuse. Had they done so, the Senate would have learned who made those 911 calls. (Dont look for that story at Google because they are hiding it. Heres a link.) Theres plenty more in Christians article. Ill conclude, as he does, with this rather ominous statement: Clarke also fought against DOJ deploying assistant United States Attorneys at the polls in the 2008 election, a bipartisan practice that occurred under both Clinton and Bush. This was designed to document problems, deter fraud, and ensure that voting rights were protected. Clarkes opposition to federal lawyers observing an election should serve as a warning that this thoroughly modern woman wants nothing to do with ensuring the integrity of our elections. She has other priorities, and it isnt the content of your character. Had the Senate carefully scrutinized Clarkes character, it would have rejected her on that basis alone. The Wall Street Journal notes that, as the coronavirus disappears in the rear-view mirror, two Americas are emerging: The unemployment rate in April nationwide was 6.1%, but this obscures giant variations in the states. With some exceptions, those run by Democrats such as California (8.3%) and New York (8.2%) continued to suffer significantly higher unemployment than those led by Republicans such as South Dakota (2.8%) and Montana (3.7%). Its rare to see differences that are so stark based on party control in states. But the current partisan differences reflect different policy choices over the length and severity of pandemic lockdowns and now government benefits such as jobless insurance. Nine of the 10 states with the lowest unemployment rates are led by Republicans. The exception is Wisconsin whose Supreme Court last May invalidated Democratic Gov. Tony Everss lockdown. The unemployment rate in Wisconsin is 3.9%the same as Indianacompared to 7.1% in Illinois whose Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been slow to reopen. This chart shows the highest and lowest state unemployment rates: Of course, blue-state governors who imposed long and stringent shutdowns would say that they did so for reasons of public health. Harsh shutdowns, they may argue, were necessary to slow the spread of the Wuhan virus. But there is no evidence of any such positive effect. This has been shown over and over in a variety of ways, but lets add one more. I added up the coronavirus deaths per 100,000 of population, according to the CDC, for the ten states in the Journals chart with the highest unemployment rates, and averaged them. I found that the ten states with highest unemployment averaged 202.6 deaths per 100,000. I then did the same thing for the ten states (all but Wisconsin with Republican governors) with the lowest unemployment. Their average deaths per 100,000 was much lower, at 134.5. Liberal governors would perhaps argue that, for some reason, they faced worse virus epidemics than most states; that their long shutdowns were therefore necessary, and that if they hadnt been so draconian there would have been even more deaths. They can say that, but there isnt a shred of evidence that it is true. The basic data indicate that harsh shutdowns caused enormous damage to millions of lives and gained nothing in terms of public health. PAUL ADDS: I dont think theres any question that lockdowns hurt the economies of states that, for an extended period of time, imposed them, or that they produced more unemployment than would have occurred absent the lockdowns. The Wall Street Journals analysis illustrates the latter reality, which is intuitively obvious, as well. A measurement of lockdowns adverse effects on unemployment would require a more refined analysis. For example, it seems clear that Hawaii is experiencing the nations highest unemployment rate not primarily because it shut down or because it has a Democratic governor, but because it relies so heavily on tourism, and people didnt want to fly to Hawaii, or couldnt, during a pandemic (shutdown or not). A more complete analysis would also include the comparative unemployment rates before and after the pandemic hit, not just what the rates are now. I doubt that this comparison would change the result much, but its a necessary component of measuring the effect. And before fully assessing the impact of shutdowns on workers and before agreeing that two Americas are emerging I will want to know the extent to which the effects of unemployment were mitigated by government payments and how quickly (or slowly) the unemployment rates will drop in lockdown states now that normal service is being restored. As for the impact of lockdowns on public health, I think a sound analysis would show that lockdowns did prevent deaths. Other things being equal, we should expect states like New York, where the pandemic struck early in a densely populated city and where the governor botched the handling of nursing homes, would have more deaths per capita than rural states to which the virus spread later. Thus, to compare deaths per capita in New York and New Jersey with those in Nebraska and Idaho doesnt make much sense to me. Its more probative to compare Minnesota and the Dakotas. Deaths per one million people in Minnesota, where the governor imposed a lockdown, are 1,329. In South Dakota and North Dakota, which did not lock down, deaths per one million are 2,272 and 1,984, respectively (according to numbers reported in Worldometer). We also know that Sweden, which did not lock down, had vastly more deaths per capita than Norway and Denmark, which did. According to numbers reported in Worldometer, Sweden had 1,419 deaths per one million, compared to 433 in Denmark and only 143 in Norway . We would expect more convergence in state-to-state U.S. numbers than in the numbers of separate countries. Thus, its not surprising that we dont see the same stark differences in neighboring states like Minnesota and the Dakotas that we see in Scandinavia. However, the former differences are still telling, in my view. JOHN responds: I disagree. Paul doesnt comment on the Minnesota-Wisconsin comparison, which is as close to apples-to-apples as we are going to get. Minnesota locked down drastically, Wisconsin didnt, and the coronavirus deaths were identical. As for the Dakotas, North Dakota did lock down, unlike South Dakota, and their death totals are virtually the same. As I wrote here, an obvious variable is what percentage of a states population, pre-covid, was in nursing homes. That percentage varies surprisingly widely from state to state. I looked at the Upper Midwestern states in my post, and found that nursing home population went a long way toward explaining covid death rates. There were many more people in nursing homes, per capita, in Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota than in Minnesota and Wisconsin before the epidemic began. I also looked at nursing home populations in various states around the country and found similar correlations. So I continue to believe that there is no sound empirical basis for thinking that lockdowns, or the severity of lockdowns, made a material difference in covid results. PAUL replies here. Jason Riley has just published Maverick: A Biography of Thomas Sowell. Riley is senior fellow of both the Manhattan Institute and the Hoover Institution as well as a weekly columnist for the Wall Street Journal. Yesterday the Journal ran an excerpt of the biography under the headline The soul of black conservatism. Hoovers recent profile of Sowell provides a handy overview of his life and work. It also reminds me that among Sowells many books is A Personal Odyssey, his own account of his life. Peter Robinson invited Riley to discuss Sowell and his new book on the the Uncommon Knowledge episode recorded on May 13 and just posted on May 26. The interview draws on clips of Peters interviews with Sowell over the years. I doubt he has had any other guest more frequently on Uncommon Knowledge than Sowell. Speaking of uncommon knowledge, we can agree that Sowell is its walking embodiment. As we know from the movie, theres something about Mary. Even more, theres something about Thomas Sowell. What is it? Peter comes at the question at the top of his interview by reciting comments he has received in response to viewers of his interviewers with Sowell over the years. They express profound appreciation of the man and his work. By the same token, I think of the stream of letters to the editor published by Forbes long ago when Sowell declared he was giving up his regular column in the magazine. The letters were distraught. Peter asks Riley what it is about Sowell that elicits these comments. I dont think Riley comes close to getting at it. I think it is the profound feelings of gratitude that he elicits from readers of his books and columns for their clarity, their expository gifts, their depth, their evident fairness, and their ability to get to the heart of the matter in prose that sparkles and bites. Especially in his columns, he is able to distill his conclusions in an incomparable aphoristic style. Someone should compile a book of his wit and wisdom like Quotations From Chairman Bill. In any event, the question with which Peter begins the interview is a good one. I think I first read Sowell in his 1975 Commentary review of John Kenneth Galbraiths book Money. Galbraith was the Harvard professor, liberal economist, esteemed intellectual, friend of William Buckley. Sowells brief review punctured Galbraiths balloon. First sentence: For all his sophisticated wit and parade of scholarly eruditionenlivened by lovingly detailed anecdotesJohn Kenneth Galbraith is fundamentally as anti-intellectual as any ungrammatical Archie Bunker. What is your favorite of his books? We all have our own favorites. Its hard to choose. Some would pick his writings on economics, some on affirmative action, some on race and culture, some on other subjects I havent read. I have my own favorites, but here I would defer to our friend Katherine Kersten. I think she would go with A Conflict of Visions. This point about Peters opening question is the only one I wanted to make before leaving readers with this enjoyable interview about a man who means so much to so many of us. Via Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson/Hoover Institution. The idea that the novel coronavirus may have escaped from the Wuhan Institute of Virology has been around for a while. WIV is located within blocks of the market where the Chinese Communist Party says the bat-borne virus jumped to humansa remarkable coincidence if there is no connection. Establishment scientists long denounced questions about the Wuhan lab, raised by Senator Tom Cotton and others, as a conspiracy theory, which increasingly means a hypothesis or set of facts that the Democratic Party would rather suppress. It is often interesting to see how such news stories are covered outside of the U.S., where the news is hyper-partisan. Tomorrows London Times has two stories, this one headlined: Wuhan: the questions China wont answer about how Covid pandemic started. [G]reater awareness of the WIVs research into bat viruses including one almost identical to the pandemics Sars-Covid-2 has reawakened attention to the possibility that there was an accidental leak from the laboratory. At the same time, Chinas own efforts to show proof of another source for the virus have failed, and its increasingly shrill denials about the WIV have helped to boost suspicions that it is trying to cover up a laboratory leak. Chinas ongoing cover-up since day one is only adding fuel to the fire, said Jamie Metzl, adviser to the World Health Organisation (WHO) on human genome editing and a senior fellow with the Atlantic Council think tank. Since the earliest days following the outbreak China has destroyed samples, hidden records, imprisoned citizen journalists. People who hide something often have something to hide. Adding to suspicions about a possible virus leak are concerns about security at the Wuhan laboratory. After a visit in January 2018, American officials reported their concerns to Washington in diplomatic cables that were then leaked to The Washington Post. They warned that the WIV lacked the technicians needed to operate the facility securely. They also warned that this could result in a leak of bat virus with the potential to cause a pandemic. The Times notes that one problem at WIV was that it was run by CCP commissars who knew little about sciencea common problem in Communist countries. Peter Daszak, the alleged scientist who took the lead in denouncing speculation about the role of the Wuhan Institute of Virology, turned out to have an enormous conflict of interest. This is a scandal for which, as far as I know, no price has been paid: [Peter] Daszak, a British zoologist, was a prominent member of the WHO mission that concluded a leak from the Wuhan laboratory was extremely unlikely. He has publicly criticised as pure baloney the lab-leak theory in the press and has attacked it in The Lancet, the scientific journal, where he chairs a commission that considers theories on the origins of Covid-19. The Lancet, to which I subscribe, is a venerable publication that has been taken over by the Left. It now consists, approximately 50/50, of articles on medical science and articles that peddle wokism. On any topic of current interest, you can assume that whatever the Lancet prints will turn out to be wrong. He is also, however, president of EcoHealth Alliance, a US-based non-profit organisation that has collaborated with and funded the [Wuhan] laboratory. Daszak has a monumental conflict of interest, said Metzl. That he is a member of this international team and The Lancet commission is outrageous. True, but it is not at all surprising that institutions like WHO and the Lancet would dishonestly promote a pro-Chinese, anti-science line. For the Left, politics is always paramount. More: Daszak has worked closely with [Shi Zhengli, a bat researcher at WIV]. In 2015 the pair published a paper in the Journal of Virology on research they had conducted at the WIV into bat Sars-like coronavirus. The research took place in a biosafety level-two laboratory, which requires only basic protection with lab coats and gloves. It was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the United States. Two senior Republican congressmen, James Comer, of the congressional committee on oversight and reform, which is investigating the pandemics origin, and Jim Jordan, have begun an inquiry into taxpayer-funded grants issued by the NIH to EcoHealth Alliance, $600,000 of which they claim EcoHealth awarded to the WIV. In a letter addressed to Bidens chief medical adviser, Anthony Fauci, on May 28, they write: If US taxpayer money was used to develop Covid-19, conduct gain-of-function research, or assist in any sort of cover-up, EcoHealth must be held accountable. That wont happen, obviously, as long as the Democrats remain in control of the House. But things could change in January 2023. As the world commemorates Menstrual Hygiene Day , on Thursday, a group of civil societies has raised concern on the stigma and practical difficulties many women and girls face in Nigeria during their periods. At an awareness campaign, which was held at the junior secondary school, Kado-Kuchi in Abuja, the campaigners expressed frustration over the development, even as they counselled the female students on how to cope with the difficulties associated with menstruation. The event was organised by Tabitha Cumi Foundation, a non-governmental organisation that focuses on improving the health and welfare of young girls. They said while the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the poor access to sanitary products and heightened the levels of period poverty, it also exposed the inadequate toilet or washing facilities across schools. Speaking at the programme, the executive director of the foundation, Tayo Erinle, said; The pandemic is threatening decades of progress we have made in building girls knowledge and providing an enabling environment for effective management of menstruation. Therefore on this Menstrual Hygiene Day, we are again investing in our girls by educating them with the right information on menstrual hygiene management (MHM) within the COVID-19 context and Gender Based Violence whilst providing them with the hygiene kits for dignity during menstruation. She said the foundation in partnership with other organisations is currently working to support those she described as marginalised adolescent girls within the Abuja neighbourhood through training of girls on the appropriate ways of managing menstruation and debunking the myths/taboos around it by providing the right information. We are building the capacity of guidance and counsellors to support girls on menstrual hygiene management, protecting their dignity by provision of sanitary pads and advocacy to school management to improve WASH facilities and ensure girls stay in school to complete their cycle of education. About poverty period Health experts describe period poverty as the period of difficulty when girls cannot afford menstrual products during menstruation. They said such girls often resort to unhygienic practices in keeping themselves clean during their period which is said to be approximately four days every four weeks. Menstruation, they said, is an integral part of a womans life but a nightmare for more than 1.2 billion women across the world who they claim do not have access to basic sanitation during their menstrual periods. Describing menstruation as a monthly ritual, Steve Aborisade, advocacy and marketing manager, Aids Healthcare Foundation, AHF, Nigeria said majority of the countrys young girls lack access to sanitary pads which is necessary for optimal health. He said; Young girls still in schools mostly lack confidence when they do not have access to pads. Some of them also avoid schools because they do not have access to sanitary pads for their menstruation. Some schools also lack water and no safe place to change and dispose of their pads. So at AHF, we are trying to ensure that we provide pads for girls and also advocate to other stakeholders to see the need to make this available for our girls. He urged the government at all levels to understand the need that this is an area that requires urgent intervention. For this commemoration we are distributing over 40,000 sanitary pads and we have supported the ministry of women affairs by providing pads to reach about 1,000 girls, Aborisade said. ADVERTISEMENT Chioma Ukachi, principal community development officer, federal ministry of women affairs,said menstrual hygiene is a way of telling our young girls and women how to manage their menstruation. She said the ministry was collaborating with NGOs to ensure awareness creation, sensitising the public on menstrual health hygiene. Misconceptions, cultural beliefs A representative of the federal ministry of health, Ike Adaeze, described misconceptions as barriers like cultural beliefs, social and religious beliefs, among others. She said: We discovered that some cultures recognise that whenever a child is menstruating, she is not supposed to go to school because she is perceived to be harmful to others. This is also applicable to women that go to work. Other misconceptions are some women not having their baths throughout their menstrual cycle. The essence is that if they bathe, it will stop the flow. Another one is if you wash your pant in the afternoon and anybody sees it, they will use it for magic. People also say when a lady disposes of her sanitary pad and someone gets a hold of it, it will be used for charms and it will affect the fertility of the woman. All these things are social and cultural barriers. Menstrual Hygiene Day Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) is a global platform that brings together government agencies, non-governmental organisations, the private sector and the media, among others, to promote good Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM). Menstrual Hygiene Day helps to break the silence and build awareness about the fundamental role that good menstrual hygiene plays in enabling women and girls to reach their full potential. The theme for this years celebration is; We Need to Step up Action and Investment in Menstrual Health and Hygiene Now! #TimeforAction. Attacks on police facilities have continued across Nigeria with at least 12 officers killed in the past two weeks. Over three dozen police officers have been killed in the past two months in targeted attacks on police officers and facilities. The attacks have occurred mainly in the South-east and South-south regions of Nigeria. The police and other security agencies have blamed the attacks on IPOB, an outlawed secessionist group, and its security network, ESN. The group has, however, denied any involvement. Dozens of suspected members of the ESN have been killed or arrested as security agencies move to quell the attacks. The Nigerian Army last week announced that its officials had arrested another top ESN official. To prevent further attacks and restore peace in the South-east and South-south regions, the acting inspector general of police, Usman Alkali, last week launched a new outfit Operation Restore Peace in the two regions. According to the police, the special operation is to counter the IPOB threat and ensure the security of lives and property in the two regions. PREMIUM TIMES highlights the reported cases of attacks on police facilities in the past two weeks (between May 16 and 29). Three officers killed in Delta The Nsukwa Divisional Police Station in the Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta state came under attack by suspected members of the ESN. The attack which occurred around 2 a.m. on May 16 sent the people of the area into panic as gunshots rented the air for hours, forcing the residents to stay awake throughout the night. At least three officers and a suspect were killed during the attack. The building and vehicles parked in the station were razed while the gunmen carted away ammunition. Some of the suspects detained at the station were also said to have been freed by the hoodlums. One officer killed in Imo Gunmen shot and killed a police sergeant whose name was given as Loveday Obilonu, on May 19 in Owerri, the Imo State capital. The sergeant who was shot and killed in his village, Okwu-Uratta in Owerri North Local Government Area of the state, was attached to the operations department of the state police command. ADVERTISEMENT Anambra Attack Gunmen on May 23 attacked the B Division of the Nigeria Police Force in Awka, Anambra State, and the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Awka. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the fully armed attackers came in three Hilux trucks at about 8 p.m. A witness who almost ran into the troubled area located between the popular Ekwueme Square, Awka, said the bandits shot into the air for close to one hour at B Police Division before proceeding to the INEC office. The source, who asked not to be named, said before proceeding to INEC, the gunmen drove to Aroma junction and shot in the air for about 10 minutes which made residents scamper for safety. Five killed in Enugu Gunmen in the early hours of May 25 attacked Iwollo Police Division in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State. The police station was set ablaze during the attack, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), with five officers feared killed. The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mohammed Aliyu, confirmed the attack in a telephone interview with NAN. Mr Aliyu, who could not give details of the incident, said he was already on the ground to ascertain the level of destruction and casualties. More information will be pushed out to the public as soon as we conclude our preliminary investigation, he said. A witness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told NAN that the hoodlums attacked the division in their large numbers in the wee hours of the day. The witness said the attack caused panic in the Iwollo community throughout the night. They succeeded in completely razing down the buildings in the divisional station. The hoodlums might have also killed probably five gallant police personnel that confronted them when they attacked. Another attack in Imo There was panic in Imo State on May 25 as gunmen burnt the Orji Divisional Police Headquarters situated on Owerri- Okigwe Road in Owerri. The situation caused panic in the area as two banks situated close to the scene hurriedly shut down. Businesses were shut and vehicles diverted while motorists scampered for safety after running out of their vehicles. Eyewitnesses told The Punch newspaper that the gunmen attacked the police station after blocking the expressway with their vehicles. There were said to have told nearby traders not to panic. Three killed in Delta Gunmen on May 28 killed three police officers during an attack on a police station in Delta State, Nigerias South-south. The attack occurred in Umutu police station in Ukwuani LGA in the early hours of Friday. A police statement, which confirmed the incident, said two of the gunmen were shot dead by the police during the attack. In the early hours of today 28th may 2021 at about 0130 hours, armed men in their numbers stormed Umutu police station, they shot sporadically at the station, but due to proactive measure already put in place by the Delta State commissioner of police, they were faced with stiff resistance by the men on duty, as the policemen on duty gave them a tough fight, the police spokesperson, Edafe Bright, said in the statement. The armed men had to retreat when they saw that the policemen on duty were not relenting, two of the armed bandits were gunned down while others injured. They had to take a retreat, they quickly carried their dead and ran away. The Command lost two policemen, while one ASP died of High Blood pressure in the hospital, said Mr Bright, a deputy superintendent of police. Police Station, Courts razed in Imo Gunmen on Saturday night, May 29, razed the Atta Divisional Police Headquarters in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigerias South-east. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the attackers shot sporadically for more than one hour before setting the station ablaze. They also razed the Magistrates and High Courts in the area and later vandalised the community health centre. The police spokesperson in Imo State, Bala Elkana, a superintendent of police, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Owerri. It is not yet clear if there was any casualty from the incidents. The Abia Attack Some gunmen on Saturday torched the Police Criminal Investigation Department in Abia, causing panic and pandemonium in Umuahia, the state capital, and its environs. The police spokesperson in the state, Godfrey Ogbonna, confirmed the incident to reporters but said he did not have details of the incident. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the attack on the facility, situated on the busy Uzuakoli Road, occurred around 6 p.m. There has been no report of casualty from the attack. Police react Although at least 12 police officers were killed in the past two weeks, the number of attacks and the weekly casualty figure reduced compared to the previous weeks. The weekly deaths in each of the previous two weeks were not less than 12. In reaction to the decline in attacks, the police spokesperson, Frank Mba, in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, attributed it to three major factors. He said the first factor is that the police are more proactive which makes them to be more on the offensive rather than being defensive. He said the other factors are improved intelligence gathering and the launch of the new operation in the two zones. We now engage the critical stakeholders in these communities to deal with some of these challenges. The launch of the special operation which is the very elaborate operation targeted at restoring peace within the two zones (has also helped). I believe it is the combination of these three factors, he said. Idling tippers and workers View(s): Wasana is a busy service-provider in his thirties, who is always on call. He gets phone calls from the sand-traders in the Baddegama area. He is an experienced and efficient worker in providing his service, which is hard work that cannot be done by everybody loading the tippers with sand using a shovel. When a tipper has to be loaded, he is notified with a phone call; within a couple of minutes he arrives at the site on his scooter and starts loading the tipper. For Wasana, it takes only 20 25 minutes to fill a tipper up to the brim as everyone calls it, one cubic of sand, even though technically cubic is a different measure. His fee is Rs. 300 for filling one tipper. Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the economy, he used to earn on average about Rs. 4,500 a day by loading 15 tippers. He didnt have 8-hour work schedules, but his working time is constrained by the time tippers start coming to buy sand. And neither has he free weekends or other holidays as he is on call for all 365 days of the year. He didnt have a particular working place either; however, he was available for work in a couple of sand-trading sites in the area. One of the income groups hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic was daily income-earners like Wasana. He is still on-call eagerly waiting for calls for his job. But the work is rare now and he gets no more than 2 3 tippers to load a day; as a result, his daily income has gone down to less than Rs. 1,000, and he is often idling, waiting for a call. Sand-trading site One of the sand-trading sites that Wasana used to work belongs to Pemasiri a leading sand supplier in Baddegama. He used to send his own tippers to sand-mining sites in Hambantota these are big tippers which can be loaded with three and half cubic sand. In the sand-mining areas, earth is cut, washed and cleaned in order to get pure sand as a building material; it is done with machinery. Then, pure sand is sold to the traders like Pemasiri; he transports it to his own sand-trading site in Baddegama. Before the pandemic issue, about 3 4 big tippers loaded with sand used to arrive every day and unload in Pemasiris sand-trading site. It can be loaded into 10 15 one cubic tippers with the service rendered by workers like Wasana. The whole load of 3 4 big tippers was estimated to be roughly the daily demand for sand at Pemasiris site; they all were busy in meeting that demand on the same day, because the next day was going to be the same! If there is a delay anywhere in this supply chain, he was going to lose business as he was not the only sand-supplier in the area. It was a competitive market because customers have a wide range of choices with a couple of sand-trading sites within close proximity. The pandemic has affected the construction work and thus the demand for sand too has fallen sharply. Even one three and a half cubic load becomes too big to meet daily demand; as a result, the tipper loads arriving were cut down to about 3 4 tippers a week. While the tippers remain most of the time idling, the tipper drivers lost their work and their daily income of Rs. 3,000 that they earned earlier. Most of the time of the week, they also have to stay at home now without reporting to work. Construction industry At the same time, the activities at the sand-mining site in Hambantota too got paralysed; as tippers do not come to take sand and the miners have to reduce their business activity. The machines are now under-utilised and most of the workers were sent back home. They too lost their work and daily incomes. Sand is an essential material in the construction industry which goes into buildings, houses and, infrastructure work together with other materials, parts and components such as cement, bricks, metal, wood, plastic, aluminum, and tubes; if they are buildings and houses, they also require floor tiles, wall tiles, roof tiles, granite surfaces, railings, electrical fittings, ceramic fittings and so on. The suppliers of all these materials, parts and components should now slow down their production just like what has happened to the sand supply. Together with all that, the workers of all types masons, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, drivers, designers, architects, engineers, and labourers they all lose both their work and income. There is another layer of losses. As businessmen and workers both encountered loss of their incomes, they all have to cut down their spending too. While Pemasiri had the problems of paying off his own bank loan instalment, he had signed as a guarantee for bank loans of his colleagues; hit by the same type of problems, they have now defaulted, putting Pemasiri in trouble with the banks. One of his tippers need repair for which he has to spend a few hundred thousand; as he keeps postponing it, his mechanic has also lost his work and due income. Wasana and all the workers connected to Pemasiris business and all other construction related businesses had their own share of problems of managing their monthly expenses. They all have to cut down their monthly expenses for consumption food, clothing, transport, medicines, and so on, their production would fall too, resulting in loss of work and income. Economy What happens to an economic activity such as sand-trading or its owner such as Pemasiri or its workers such as Wasana happens the same way to the entire economy as well. All economic activities emanating from agricultural or industrial or services activities, are all aggregated into a single number called gross domestic production (GDP). It can be used to construct many different indicators of economic progress as well as loss of a country. According to the Central Banks Annual Report 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has wiped out Rs. 353 billion of Sri Lankas GDP in real terms; in other words, the economy has contracted by 3.6 percent last year. At sectoral level, the agriculture sector has contracted by 2.4 percent, industrial sector by 6.9 percent and, services sector by 1.5 percent. Construction industry, which is part of the industrial sector which contributes over 6 percent to GDP has reported the biggest contraction of 13.2 percent. In other words, the loss of GDP is a loss of work in every sector agriculture, industry and services, so that it reduces income too; Sri Lankas per capita income in US dollar terms has declined to $3,582 from $3,741 in the previous year, 2019 by $159. The governments tax revenue was Rs. 1735 billion in 2019, which was lost by Rs. 520 billion in 2020 widening the budget deficit and, thereby more borrowings. Part of the GDP is for export sales, while GDP and exports usually fall together as well as they grow together. Exports fell from $12 billion to $10 billion, a drop of $2 billion, exerting pressure on the exchange rate, foreign debt payments and, foreign exchange reserves. Beneficiaries One of the economic activities that benefited from the pandemic crisis was the information and communication sector, which has grown by 13.7 percent in 2020. Its not surprising that some of the activities get a boost under different circumstances. Furthermore, tightened import controls have affected the overall economy, but some of the individual businesses started enjoying a gala time; they could raise their monopoly prices in the absence of competition in the protected market. However, it doesnt mean that we must appreciate the spread of the pandemic which has given a boost to the information and communication sector or promote import controls to lift a few business activities. The reason is obvious the magnitude of losses would outweigh the benefit. (The writer is a Professor of Economics at the University of Colombo and can be reached at sirimal@econ.cmb.ac.lk and follow on Twitter @SirimalAshoka). ADVERTISEMENT Gunmen on Saturday night razed the Atta Divisional Police Headquarters in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigerias South-east. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the attackers shot sporadically for more than one hour before setting the station ablaze. They also razed the Magistrates and High Courts in the area and later vandalised the community health centre. The police spokesperson in Imo State, Bala Elkana, a superintendent of police, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Owerri. According to the statement, the gunmen in their numbers stormed the court premises in Atta and set the court buildings on fire. Mr Elkana further stated that gunmen damaged a building which was constructed by the community for the police division. He added that the Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, has ordered a full investigation into the incident. A police station was similarly attacked on Tuesday in Orji, Owerri North Local Government Area by gunmen. Meanwhile, the attacks of police formations in different parts of the state have caused tension and fear among the residents. Businesses and major markets could not open on Saturday in Owerri and its environs, ahead of Mondays sit-at-home order by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra. NAN also reported that human and vehicular movement in the state capital was also limited, in spite of the police assurances of safety of lives and property in the state. However, some small businesses and petrol stations in the outskirts of Owerri were open for business during the day. (NAN) Just over one million Somaliland citizens are expected to file out on May 31 to cast their ballots in the countrys first parliamentary election since 2005, with 246 candidates gunning for 82 seats. The voters are also expected to elect 249 local council representatives across the six regions from the 747 candidates on the ballot. Somalilanders say the election would offer an opportunity for the self-declared sovereign state to show the world how much progress it had made over the past three decades since Hargeisa, its capital city, was totally levelled in a brutal civil war with northern neighbours Somalia. It is an opportunity to show that a country that is not on anybodys map, that is not recognized, is doing things by the book, Edna Ismail, the countrys first female foreign minister, told a group of international election monitors on Friday night. Indeed, Somaliland has a point to prove. The country of about four million people has struggled more from the sweat of her citizens than international assistance to rebuild from the ruins of the civil war. After gaining independence from Britain in 1960, the Republic of Somaliland joined the former Italian-colonised Somalia to form the Somalia Republic. But the union failed to live up to the peoples aspiration. In 1991, after years of violent conflicts, the people of Somaliland withdrew from the republic and reinstated its sovereignty. The countrys application to join the Commonwealth and the African Union, however, remains pending. The election on May 31 is symbolic: it is not just the first time parliamentary and local elections are held on the same day; it would also mark 30 years since the countrys independence from Somalia Republic and 20 years since its first election. Somaliland represents an example of an African country which is committed to democracy and development and deserves the support of every African who wants to see progress on this continent, said Greg Mills, Director, The Brenthurst Foundation, the leader of the Somaliland Election Monitoring Mission (SEMM). Democracy and peaceful progress are essential to growing economies so that they can provide employment and opportunities for their people. The SEMM, which also has as a member the former Sierra Leonean president, Ernest Koroma, arrived in Hargeisa on May 27, to a solitary flag on the tarmac waving furiously in the morning breeze. As the convoy of nearly a dozen vehicles pulled out of the airport and snaked into the city, women in hijabs stood beside piles of rubbles a reminder of the destruction that was visited on the city and stared. Inside the city, Hargeisa was in an election mood. Candidates smiled down from giant billboards and buildings and vehicles were clothed with campaign posters. Party flags were stuck on cars and young men stuck out their heads to chant campaign slogans. Is this a house? a member of the monitoring team asked his driver, pointing to a cluster of shanties near the city centre, as the vehicle bounced through the cratered roads in the capital. Yes, the driver responded, enthusiastically, in broken English. Africa is big and small house, he added, giving himself a thumbs up. Such enthusiasm was apparent across the city as election day drew closer. The current parliamentarians had been elected 16 years ago and had exceeded their statutory term limit by 10 years. With 1.065 million citizens expected to cast their votes in the fourth election since 2005, the electoral commission will be on its toes to deliver an improved performance from the previous polls. Peaceful transition The 2017 presidential election, for instance, was nearly marred by what the opposition parties described as mishandling of electoral results and lack of transparency. Muse Abdi, the current president and candidate of the Kulmiye Party, defeated Wadani Partys Abdirahman Cirro in a closely-fought contest. UCID, the oldest party in Somaliland, makes up the trinity of political parties contesting in the 2021 elections. We have had several presidential elections and each time the losing candidate had accepted the results, so there could be a peaceful transfer of power, Mr Abdi said during a meeting with the SEMM delegation on Saturday. ADVERTISEMENT To curtail multiple voting and improve the transparency of the polls, the National Electoral Commission plan to again deploy the Iris Identification Cameras at polling stations across the six regions; a technology that even the opposition embraced with both hands. Our country is so peaceful, wherever you go you feel peace. You are gonna see it, you are gonna hear it, Saeed Umar, UCIDs vice chairman, said during a meeting that was held on the last day of campaigning. It is the first country who is implementing the Iris system in the world. Every individual has a unique iris. We are ahead of the United States, we are ahead of the European Union, we are ahead of England. And we are hopeful that others will join us in implementing it. The meeting had in attendance representatives of the electoral commission, leaders of the opposition parties, international monitors and observers, as well as representatives of the government of Taiwan. An unrecognised nation Somaliland and Taiwan are two allies that share a common fate: self-declared sovereignties that are unrecognised internationally. Like China over Taiwan, the shadow of Somalia continues to loom large over Somaliland although it gained independence before the former, the latter does not appear on the map of Africa. Although it has one of the lowest GDP per capita in the world at $475 and a capital city that is begging for infrastructure, it is not uncommon for Somalilanders to vehemently clarify the distinction between their country and their bigger neighbour. On Friday, a social media user who tweeted about the elections with the hashtag #SomaliaElections2021 received an angry backlash. Make no mistake, this high powered #SomaliaElections2021 observers aren't here on behalf of @_AfricanUnion. NO, it is an entity of its own. Our trust in @SLNECHQ to deliver a FREE, FAIR and CREDIBLE elections is unwavering. DEMOCRACY made in the horn of Africa pic.twitter.com/SvtWW0ItVK Amb. Gordon K'achola (@kacholla) May 27, 2021 In the past two years, at least 41 offices of the electoral commission, INEC, have been attacked across Nigeria by armed non-state actors. The data on the attacked offices were made available to PREMIUM TIMES by INEC. The attacks occurred in 14 states between February 2019 and May 2021. Imo State topped the log with the most attacks during the period under review. These are attacks as a result of election-related violence, protests unrelated to elections and activities of thugs and unknown gunmen, INEC chairman, Mahmud Yakubu, said. The list does not include damages to facilities as a result of fire accidents, natural disasters such as flooding or rain/windstorms, the snatching/destruction of electoral materials during elections, burglary and attack on election duty officials, he added. According to INEC, most of the attacks on its facilities were orchestrated by hoodlums and unknown gunmen, while some were results of post-election violence and thuggery during elections. The commission said there were 18 attacks on its facilities during the ENDSARS protests last year and 11 attacks carried out by gunmen. Similarly, there were six incidents of thuggery during elections and four incidents in post-election violence, INEC said. Describing the nature of the attacks, INEC said 20 cases of vandalization and 18 arsons occurred during the period. It also categorised three incidents as arson and vandalization. Of the total number of incidents, the commission said 21 attacks occurred last year across nine states. This year, assailants have staged 11 attacks across seven states. Meanwhile, nine incidents occurred in four states during and after the general election in 2019. Below is the timeline of attacks on INEC offices: February 3, 2019: Arsonists attacked an INEC office in Orlu local government after a court ordered a rerun election in Imo State. February 22, 2019: Arsonists set 12 election duty vehicles ablaze at INEC office in Obot Akara local government of Akwa Ibom State. February 23, 2019: Thugs attack INEC office at Oriade local government of Osun State. February 24, 2019: In a post-election violence, arsonists attack the commissions office at Isiala Mbano local government of Imo State. ADVERTISEMENT March 6, 2019: In another arson incident, thugs attacked INEC office at Ibesikpo Asutan local government of Akwa Ibom State. March 6, 2019: On the same day, arsonists attacked the INEC office at Eastern Obolo local government of Akwa Ibom State. March 9, 2019: Arsonists attacked the INEC office at Mpat Enin local government of Akwa Ibom State. March 10, 2019: INEC office at Ngor Okpala local government of Imo State was attacked by arsonists in post-election violence. November 16, 2019: Thugs attacked the INEC office at Nembe local government of Bayelsa State in a vandalization incident. January 14, 2020: INEC office at Aboh Mbaise local government was attacked following a protest against the judgement of supreme court in respect of the governorship election. October 20, 2020: ENDSARS protesters attacked INEC office at Lagos Island. October 20, 2020: In another incident of vandalism, ENDSARS protesters attacked INEC office at Aba South local government in Abia state. October 21, 2020: INEC office at Arochukwu local government of Abia State was vandalized by ENDSARS protesters. October 21, 2020: Arsonists vandalized INEC office during the ENDSARS protests at Nnewi North local government of Anambra State. October 22, 2020: Again, arsonists vandalized INEC office at Okitipupa local government of Ondo sState. The incident happened during the ENDSARS protest. October 23, 2020: INEC offices at Ehime Mbano and Ezinhitte local government of Imo state were vandalized during the ENDSARS protests. October 24, 2020: Arsonists joined the ENDSARS protests to vandalize four INEC offices in Cross Rivers State. The offices include the state headquarters, Akpabuyo local government office, and Bakassi and Calabasas municipal local government offices. October 24, 2020: In Osun State, arsonists vandalised five INEC offices during the ENDSARS protests in a day. The incidents occurred at Orolu local government, Atakumosa, Ifelodun, Irepodun and Ede South local government offices. October 25, 2020: INEC offices at Wukari and Donga local governments of Taraba State were vandalised. November 26, 2020: Boko Haram attacks INEC office at Hawul local government in Borno State. December 13, 2020: Unknown gunmen attack INEC office in Aba South local government of Abia State. January 30, 2021: Bandits attacked INEC office at Giwa local government of Kaduna State. May 2, 2021: Hoodlums attacked INEC office at Essien Udim local government of Akwa Ibom State. May 9, 2021: Arsonists attacked INEC office at Ohafia local government of Abia State. May 13, 2021: Arsonists vandalized INEC office at Udenu local government of Enugu State. May 16, 2021: INEC Enugu State headquarters was vandalized by unknown gunmen and hoodlums. May 18, 2021: Unknown gunmen attacked three INEC offices in Ebonyi State. Ebonyi, Ezza North and Izzi local government were the locations where the incidents occurred. May 23, 2021: Hoodlums attacked INEC office at Igboeze South local government in Enugu State. May 23, 2021: INEC state headquarters was attacked by unknown gunmen in Anambra State. May 23, 2021: Hoodlums vandalised INEC office at Ahiazu Mbaise local government of Imo State. ADVERTISEMENT A former political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, has reportedly been shot dead in Owerri, Imo State. Mr Gulak, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was shot dead on Saturday night by some gunmen, according to a report by Leadership newspaper. The paper said Umar Ardo, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and personal friend of Mr Gulak, has confirmed the killing. I just confirmed the sad and gruesome death of my friend and classmate, the former Hon. Speaker of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, former Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President and former Special Adviser Political to President Goodluck Jonathan, Barr. Ahmadu Ali Gulak. Barr Gulak was said to have been killed last night by unknown gunmen in Owerri, Imo State, the paper quoted Mr Ardo as saying. May Allah (SWT) forgive his sins, bless his soul and reward his good deeds with Aljannah on the Day of Resurrection. May Allah (SWT) also give all his children, relatives, friends and loved ones, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. And may Allah (SWT) bless us with faithful deaths when it is our turn to die. Ameen, he added. A report by the BBC said the police spokesperson in Imo State, Bala Elkana, has also confirmed the killing. The BBC report said Mr Gulak was shot while he was on his way from Imo to Abuja. Mr Gulak was the chairman of the committee which conducted the 2019 APC governorship primary in Imo State that produced the incumbent Governor of the state, Hope Uzodinma, as the candidate of the party. Owerri, with a large concentration of IPOB members and supporters, has been the epicentre of clashes between security agencies and IPOB in the South-east region. Several security operatives, including soldiers, have been killed in deadly attacks in the city. IPOB, a pro-Biafra group, which has been proscribed by the federal government, has denied accusations that it was responsible for the killings. The immediate past vice-president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Emmanuel Osodeke, has emerged as the new president of the union. Mr Osodeke, a professor of soil science at the Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, was elected early Sunday morning during a three-day conference of the union which held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State. He took over from Biodun Ogunyemi, a professor of education at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State. Other members of the union, who were elected alongside Mr Osodeke, include Chris Piwuna of the University of Jos as vice president; Olusiji Sowande of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State, as treasurer while Ade Adejumo, a professor from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, was elected as financial secretary. Also, a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, Austen Sado, was elected as investment secretary; Adamu Babayo from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, was elected the unions internal auditor while Stella-Maris Oke from Cross Rivers State University of Science and Technology, was elected as the new welfare secretary. Mr Ogunyemi will continue to serve in the new executive committee as an ex-officio, apparently to guide the new leadership. Im back to the classroom Meanwhile, Mr Osodekes predecessor, Mr Ogunyemi, described his two-term tenure of office as a period of service to the nation. Speaking on the phone with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, Mr Ogunyemi thanked the union and his colleagues for the support and encouragement. He said whatever that was achieved during his tenure was a product of team work, and urged the successors to continue the tradition. Sure, Im returning to the classroom to continue to do our own bit towards the development of this nation. Earlier on Friday, in his valedictory speech at the conference as reported by Punch Newspaper,Mr Ogunyemi highlighted some of the unions activities including successes and challenges recorded within the last five years of his administration. The tenure of office for elected ASUU leadership is a period of two years and Mr Ogunyemi spent two terms of four years. His tenure was, however, elongated by the dangerous Coronavirus pandemic which paradises activities for almost one year globally. He said, At a point of departure, we must place on record that COVID-19 did not spare our campuses. Many of our infected members had had to combat the COVID attack with resources from colleagues and other people of goodwill because their salaries and emoluments, as well as the unions check-off deductions, were either withheld by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation over the rejection of the discredited Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System. Our other comrades suffered the same fate in the hands of overzealous State University Vice-Chancellors and Visitors. As a matter of fact, we lost at least 30 members. He, however, said the union, in the last three years, has enjoyed tremendous goodwill from quarters he said were too numerous to mention. Mr Ogunyemi said: Despite being a government official, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund has never denied his training in ASUU and the role played by the Union in midwifing the intervention agency. The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission is also another rare breed who projects his clear understanding of ASUUs mission at every meeting with the government. May their race multiply! We equally appreciate the intervention efforts of the Hon. Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu as well as his Labour and Employment counterpart, Sen (Dr) Chris Ngige when it mattered. ADVERTISEMENT We cannot thank them enough. Our profound appreciation equally goes to the Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, who has continued to play significant roles in getting our matters resolved in the last one year. The NLC President and Global President of the International Trade Union Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has stood by us all the way. His strategic intervention, on behalf of the Congress to which we are an affiliate, always made the difference. Comrade Global President, may your shadow never grow less. Nigerians on social media have decried the alarming rate of violent killings in Benue State by suspected herders. Trending the hashtag #BenueUnderAttack on Friday, Nigerian twitter users called the attention of the authorities to gory images as evidence of mass killings. The middle belt state has been under heavy attack as not less than 200 people have been reportedly killed in the last one month. Earlier in the week, this newspaper reported how suspected herders attacked Katsina Ala local government area of the state, killing over a hundred residents and rendering many others homeless. The governor of the state, Samuel Ortom, had repeatedly demanded the federal governments intervention, noting that the attacks are increasingly overwhelming. The state government, against the body language of the federal government, said it would not reverse its ban on open grazing. Mr Ortom has also urged the people to defend themselves against killer herders. Ill no longer announce the deaths of those killed by Fulani herdsmen; rise up and defend yourselves with weapons not prohibited by law, bows and arrows, spears, knives, and similar ones, Mr Ortom said on Sunday. Meanwhile, the federal government said instead of banning open grazing, it would commence rehabilitation of grazing reserves. Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, on Monday, announced President Muhammadu Buharis approval of the rehabilitation of grazing reserves, stating that it would commence in June. The move is aimed at curbing the bloody clashes between herders and farmers across the country. But, Mr Ortom, in a swift response, kicked against the plan which he described as a misplaced priority. We find the move not only shocking and curious but also as a misplaced priority, the governor said through his spokesperson, Terver Akase. Nevertheless, calls to save the food basket of the nation gained national attention on Friday. Below are reactions @JajaPhD: The pictures are so gory. It is sad that these vulnerable were killed in their homeland by invaders. But to see how they were butchered like cattle evokes a deeper emotion. No one should die like this. #BenueUnderAttack Nigeria has a lot of injustice to atone for but on a daily basis, there is even more injustice meted out to those whose only crime is being a combination of poor, innocent and vulnerable. #BenueUnderAttack Everywhere you turn, you see bloodshed. What is the value of a Nigerian life? What is the value of a Nigerian life in Nigeria? How is it business as usual for the Nigerian government while they fail in their duty to secure lives and properties? #BenueUnderAttack ADVERTISEMENT The pictures are so gory. It is sad that these vulnerable were killed in their homeland by invaders. But to see how they were butchered like cattle evokes a deeper emotion. No one should die like this. #BenueUnderAttack Jamal (@JajaPhD) May 28, 2021 @KatorTarkaa: There is ethnic cleansing going on in Benue State, but we are deafeningly silent. Hundreds are being killed, and thousands are compelled to flee their homes! Benue is under attack!! #BenueUnderAttack There is ethnic cleansing going on in Benue State, but we are deafeningly silent. Hundreds are being killed, and thousands are compelled to flee their homes! Benue is under attack!! #BenueUnderAttack KATOR TARKAA (@KatorTarkaa) May 28, 2021 @KatorTarkaa: As the killings keep rising and nothing substantial is being done, we all in Benue State and the entire Middle Belt may end up losing our lives, our identity and our land if we fail to rise up now! This is a genocide and must be referred to as such!! #BenueUnderAttack As the killings keep rising and nothing substantial is being done, we all in Benue State and the entire Middle Belt may end up losing our lives, our identity and our land if we fail to rise up now! This is a genocide and must be referred to as such!! #BenueUnderAttack KATOR TARKAA (@KatorTarkaa) May 28, 2021 @ FS_Yusuf: Ortom needs to know that terrorists have opened a war on his people and he has to prepare his people to fight and protect themselves. Make we forget all the English wey we dey speak here. All of us dey mad! They are killing innocent Christians in Benue State #BenueUnderAttack Ortom needs to know that terrorists have opened a war on his people and he has to prepare his people to fight and protect themselves. Make we forget all the English wey we dey speak here. All of us dey mad! They are killing innocent Christians in Benue State #BenueUnderAttack FS Yusuf (@FS_Yusuf_) May 28, 2021 @ebelee: Nigeria is burning more and more everyday and our government is just gonna keep acting without urgency like all is well. How many more people do these herdsmen need to kill before action is taken ? Hundreds of people 1 night ?? Im sick #BenueUnderAttack Nigeria is burning more and more everyday and our government is just gonna keep acting without urgency like all is well. How many more people do these herdsmen need to kill before action is taken ? Hundreds of people 1 night ?? Im sick #BenueUnderAttack ebele. (@ebelee_) May 28, 2021 @SirWilliam: Tired of saying #BenueUnderAttack, its exhausting. Killings been going on for years by one group of people, and nobody has been arrested, nobody has been prosecuted. The solution right now is State Police and arming the citizens, nothing else. Nigeria will not save us if we keep crying about Herdsmen killings. We have active Terrorists in Power who share same ideology with the Fulani Militia killing people in Benue. Its State Police, armed vigilantes or else Unknown Gunmen will retaliate. Nigeria will not save us if we keep crying about Herdsmen killings. We have active Terrorists in Power who share same ideology with the Fulani Militia killing people in Benue. It's State Police, armed vigilantes or else Unknown Gunmen will retaliate. William (@_SirWilliam_) May 28, 2021 @Renoomokri: Except Benue gets their own Sunday Igboho, these almost daily attacks that have characterised #BenueUnderAttack will continue to happen. If Benue people clash with cows, General @MBuhari will ALWAYS side with cows. Benue needs an Igboho that will side with them. Except Benue gets their own Sunday Igboho, these almost daily attacks that have characterised #BenueUnderAttack will continue to happen. If Benue people clash with cows, General @MBuhari will ALWAYS side with cows. Benue needs an Igboho that will side with them#TableShaker Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) May 28, 2021 @RealDonaldDoo: The first time it was reported that our people were being butchered, there was a cry of horror. Then another hundred were butchered. But when a thousand were butchered and there was no end to the butchery, a blanket of silence spread. #BenueUnderAttack The first time it was reported that our people were being butchered, there was a cry of horror. Then another hundred were butchered. But when a thousand were butchered and there was no end to the butchery, a blanket of silence spread.#BenueUnderAttack Donald (@RealDonaldDoo) May 28, 2021 @funshographix: We can no longer fold our hands and watch anymore. #BenueUnderAttack People are being killed in their lands and the govt is watching. We dont have president or leaders . We are on our own in this country. Nigerians protect yourself with weapons We cannot longer fold our hands and watch anymore. #BenueUnderAttack People are being killed in their lands and the govt is watching. We don't have president or leaders . We are on our own in this country. Nigerians protect yourself with weapons IFA FUNSHO (@funshographix) May 28, 2021 @Yateghtegh: Im even scared of traveling within some towns in Benue for the safety of my life and others. The governor is trying but for how long shall we live in fear. Today Naka, tomorrow Agatu, next tomorrow Guma and the score continues. #BenueUnderAttack https://twitter.com/YateghteghS/status/1398160311182675969?s=19 @Oyimzy: Dont say it is happening in Benue and it doesnt concern you, when they are done with Benue they will have free access to the south. Lend your voice now!!! #BenueUnderAttack https://twitter.com/oyimzy/status/1398166369460490240?s=19 @Uncle_ajala: I just saw gory pictures of about 36 persons that were killed yesterday in Benue state. I dont think our lives and security mean anything to President Buhari, because how can over 36 people died in Nigeria and the President isnt addressing the nation?. #BenueUnderAttack. I just saw gory pictures of about 36 persons that were killed yesterday in Benue state. I don't think our lives and security means anything to President Buhari, because how can over 36 people died in Nigeria and the President isn't addressing the nation?. #BenueUnderAttack. UNCLE AJ (@UNCLE_AJALA) May 28, 2021 @lucky_owoicho: Benue is the food basket Nigeria and majority affected by this herdsmen attack are the farmers. So imagine a large numbers of them being displaced and no means of farming. This affects everyone. #BenueUnderAttack Benue is the food basket Nigeria and majority affected by this herdsmen attack are the farmers. So imagine a large numbers of them being displaced and no means of farming. This affects everyone.#BenueUnderAttack Lucky Owoicho (@lucky_owoicho) May 28, 2021 ADVERTISEMENT Armed bandits on Sunday abducted many pupils of an Islamic school in Tegina, a densely populated town in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State. The bandits reportedly seized the police station in the town and went round the town shooting sporadically into the air to scare residents before breaking into a private school where they abducted children attending Islamic lectures. The school, which consists of nursery and primary schools, also hosts Islamiyya students in the evening and at weekends. The schools proprietor, Yakubu Idris, told PREMIUM TIMES that the gunmen went away with many students, including his younger sister. It is difficult to say the number of students that were abducted, Mr Idris said. Tegina is the hometown of the local government chairperson, Ismail Moddibo. It is in the same local government area with Kagara where bandits earlier this year abducted many students but later released them after negotiation with the state government. Police spokesperson in the state, Wasiu Abiodun, had not responded to calls for comments on the development as of the time of this report. Nigerian human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has charged the President of Cape Verde, Jorge Fonseca, to follow what he preaches on West African integration. Mr Falana gave this charge against the background of perceived duplicity in Mr Fonsecas call for West African integration compared with his governments refusal to respect the ECOWAS Courts judgment ordering the release of the detained Venezuelan diplomat, Alex Saab. The human rights advocate, who led Mr Saabs legal team at the ECOWAS Court, spoke barely 24 hours after the Cape Verdes president reaffirmed what he called the firm will of his country to intensify regional integration. Mr Fonseca sought increase in virtuous forms of movement of persons and goods in his message to Nana Akufo-Ado, chairman of ECOWAS heads of states, in celebration of the 46th anniversary of the creation of the regional community. Aside from garnering prominence in Nigerian media space over the controversial detention of Mr Saab, the archipelago West African country recently also made headlines for unjustly barring three Nigerians from entry into the country while allowing white foreign travellers in. PREMIUM TIMES also reported complaints of unfair treatment by Nigerians living in Cape Verde. Reacting to this, Mr Falana, in a statement to PREMIUM TIMES, expressed skepticism over Mr Fonsecas comment which he described as a possible platitude on the occasion of ECOWAS Day. I can only hope that Cape Verde will practise what it preaches. President Fonseca can show that his words are not just platitudes on the occasion of ECOWAS Day by ensuring that Prime Minister Ulisses Correia and his ministers start respecting all of the institutions of ECOWAS, Mr Saabs defense counsel said. He reiterated in his response that the country has keenly disrespected the ECOWAS court over the unrespected judgement on the Venezuelan diplomat case who would clock 11 months in Cape Verdes detention in June 2021. The President Nicolas Maduros ally was arrested in June 2020 in Cape Verde at the request of the United States for alleged money laundering and other financial crimes. Since then, there have been legal and diplomatic tussles between the parties involved. Cape Verde has, in the matter of H.E. Alex Saab, shown nothing but disdain and disrespect for the jurisdiction of the ECOWAS Court of Justice and the binding nature of its decisions, Mr Falana said. He added, I urge President Fonseca, particularly as a fellow lawyer, to ensure that Cape Verde ends its contempt of the ECOWAS Court and immediately releases H.E. Alex Saab, which the Honourable Court ordered on 15 March 2021. He also advised the country to withdraw its statement that it is not bounded by the provisions of the Supplementary Protocol of the Ecowas Court which was approved by all the member states of the Ecowas at the Summit of Heads of State and Governments held in Accra, Ghana on January 19, 2005. Mr Falana had in March filed a motion at the ECOWAS Commission praying that a sanction be imposed on Cape Verde for snubbing its regional courts judgement. In the motion, he requested an imposition of travel ban throughout the ECOWAS member states against some Cape Verde government officials and their family members. How Cape Verde snubbed ECOWAS judgement The ECOWAS court, in a March 15, 2021 judgement, ordered Cape Verde to release detained Venezuelan diplomat, Mr Saab, and pay him $200,000 compensation for his controversial detention on the West African Island. The court, having established that his arrest was carried out without the existence of an INTERPOL red notice and an arrest warrant, also directed the country not to extradite him to the U.S. as planned. But the Cape Verdean Supreme Court subsequently approved Mr Saabs extradition to the U.S. in disregard for the ECOWAS Court of Justices judgment, ruling that the country was not bound by the decisions of the regional court. ADVERTISEMENT This, the Cape Verdean Supreme Court said, was because Cape Verde was not a signatory to the Protocol establishing the regional court. Cape Verde, through its Prosecutor Generals Office, authorised Mr Saabs extradition to the United States, a fatal blow to the latters legal teams recent victory. Fugitive A U.S. District Court in Florida has since declared Mr Saab a fugitive. The Southern District Court of Florida had first designated Mr Saab a fugitive on August 26, 2019 following his failure to appear to face the money laundering charges filed against him by U.S. authorities on July 25, 2019. Mr Saab later submitted a motion urging the court to cancel the fugitive designation. But the judge, Robert Scola Jr., in a ruling delivered on March 18, dismissed Mr Saabs motion, declaring that the applicant would not be allowed to challenge his fugitive status and the validity of the charges pending against him without his physical presence in court. Saab Moran is precluded from attacking his fugitive status and indictment until he is physically present in this jurisdiction, Mr Scola wrote in the judgment, a copy of which PREMIUM TIMES obtained on Thursday. Saab Moran is a fugitive, Mr Scola declared in a reaffirmation of the courts previous declaration. A party is a fugitive if he intentionally avoids arrest by fleeing, hiding within, or remaining absent from the jurisdiction, the judge added. $350 million money laundering case against Saab The U.S. government on July 25, 2019 filed one count of conspiring to launder money and seven counts of money laundering against Mr Saab and Alvaro Pulido Vargas, also known as German Enrique Rubio Salas The authorities alleged in the charges seen by PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Saab and his co-defendant, Mr Vargas, entered into a contract with the Government of Venezuela to build low-income housing. Mr Saab and other co-conspirators allegedly paid bribes to Venezuelan government officials to approve false invoices for services not performed and to approve the purchase of goods never provided. It was alleged that as a result of these bribes, Mr Saab and his co-defendant received payment on the fraudulent invoices. Investigators alleged that Mr Saab and his co-conspirators laundered the proceeds of their scheme through wire transfers totaling $350,041,500. Mr Saab and Mr Vargas were accused of distributing the funds using bank accounts in the Southern District of Florida. ADVERTISEMENT Some gunmen on Saturday torched the Police Criminal Investigation Department in Abia, causing panic and pandemonium in Umuahia, the state capital, and its environs. The police spokesperson in the state, Godfrey Ogbonna, confirmed the incident to reporters but said he did not have details of the incident. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the attack on the facility, situated on the busy Uzuakoli Road, occurred around 6pm. The stampede started from the densely populated city centre, popularly called Isigate, when the news filtered to the area that the station had been set ablaze. Billows of smoke were seen from the direction of the station, fueling fears among street traders, hawkers, shop owners, motorists, tricycle operators, passersby and residents of the area. The ensuing commotion spread beyond the city centre to adjoining villages, causing abrupt closure of businesses as people scampered in different directions for safety. Many commuters, who were stranded following the disappearance of commercial vehicles from the major roads, walked long distances to their destinations. NAN reported that Umuahia recorded a similar commotion penultimate Friday, when a fatal robbery attack was rumoured to be an invasion of the town by bandits. Two policemen were shot dead in the attack, while the armed men dispossessed their expatriate target of N3 million. NAN reported that Saturdays attack, which left the streets of Umuahia desolate, is coming barely 48 hours to the commencement of the sit-at-home order issued by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra. (NAN) The sudden death of Nigerias army chief, Ibrahim Attahiru, penultimate Friday, threw up controversy over who occupies the vacant seat amid a raging security crisis in the country. There were speculations that Nigerias President, Muhammadu Buhari, who has been accused of nepotism in key appointments, would pick Mr Attahirus successor from the South-east, one of the regions that have repeatedly accused the president of marginalisation in appointments. But the debate was again put to rest on Thursday after Mr Buhari appointed Farouk Yahaya, a major general, as the new military boss. Mr Yahaya replaces Ibrahim Attahiru, a lieutenant general, who was killed in an ill-fated airforce plane crash alongside ten other officers of the army, last Friday in Kaduna. Until his appointment, the new army chief was the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, the counter-insurgency operation in the North-east. Undoubtedly, the newly appointed army chief has an enormous task ahead. Violent attacks linked to Boko Haram, bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers and vandals have continued to claim lives and properties across the country. The president has repeatedly promised to tackle the widespread crises, many of which he met in office, but has largely failed like his predecessors. The Nigerian military is fighting a decade-long insurgency in the North-east while the police, poorly funded and largely under-equipped, are facing a spate of attacks in the South-east and South-south. Deadly banditry has gripped the North-west and North-central, while ritual killings, carjacking, traffic robberies and so on have continued unabated. Nigeria has had 26 chiefs of army staff since 1966, the year it experienced its first military coup, one that would define the nations political atmosphere for another three decades. Below is the timeline of the tenures of Nigerias army chiefs since the first officer in 1966: January 1966 July 1979: The deadly event of January 15, 1966 brought seismic changes to the military and Nigerias system of government. The army sacked the civilian administration after killing Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa and top politicians in the country and took power with Aguiyi-Ironsi as the head of state. It soon became a model that subsequent regimes copied. In the event of Nigerias first coup, the military also had its first chief of army staff, Yakubu Gowon. He spent a brief six months there and he was subsequently chosen to become the Head of State in July 1966 after another coup. Joseph Akahan succeeded Mr Gowon as Nigerias army chief shortly before the outbreak of Nigerias deadly civil war that killed millions, majority of whom were from South-eastern Nigeria where Biafra was declared an independent state. At the heat of the civil war, Hassan Katsina, a major general, was appointed as the chief of army staff in 1968, a position he held for almost three years. David Ejoor succeeded him in 1971. Following his promotion to General Officer Commanding (GOC), Theophilus Danjuma became the chief of army staff to the head of state Olusegun Obasanjo in 1975. Mr Danjuma is the fourth longest-serving chief of army staff. October 1979 August 1990: Ipoola Akinrinade succeeded Mr Danjuma as the chief of army staff in 1979. He served as the first army chief in Nigerias Second Republic. Mr Akinrinade was appointed as the chief of defence staff in 1980 before his voluntary retirement in 1981. ADVERTISEMENT Gibson Jalo, a lieutenant general, replaced Mr Akinrinade as the military chief. Mr Jalo had held several positions in the military before his appointment. He served under the Shehu Shagari administration. In 1981, Mohammed Wushishi was appointed as the chief of army staff having chaired several councils in the military command. He was required to retire in January 1984 after the 31 December coup in which General Muhammadu Buhari came to power. Ibrahim Babangida took over as army boss after orchestrating the coup detat of 1983 and 1985. Mr Babaganda, nicknamed Maradona, was a ringleader and commanded respect at the highest levels of the army. He spent less than two years as the chief of army staff before he led a coup to topple Mr Buhari in 1985. Once Mr Babangida seized power, Sani Abacha, a close ally of his, was appointed as the chief of army staff. Mr Abacha later served as a defence minister in 1990 under the same Babangida regime. Until his death in 1998, Mr Abacha was involved in all the military coups in Nigeria. August 1990 1999: Mr Abacha ceded his position to Salihu Ibrahim in 1990. Unlike Messrs Abacha and Babangida, Mr Ibrahim was less influential. He was unable to assert much authority because Mr Abacha refused to vacate the traditional residence of the chief of army staff. Aliyu Gusau and Chris Alli are other members of Mr Babangidas crew that served as army chiefs between 1993 and 1994. Mr Gusau spent a short spell and was accused of financial misappropriation while Mr Alli was dismissed as the chief of army staff. Similarly, Alwali Kazir and Ishaya Bamaiyi held the position under the Abacha regime. Mr Bamaiyi retired in 1999 at the inception of Nigerias fourth republic. May 1999 September 2010: The restoration of democracy in 1999 saw the installation of Victor Malu as the chief of army staff. He was dismissed in 2001 by President Olusegun Obasanjo. Mr Malu alleged that Americans disliked his views and therefore influenced Mr Obasanjo to fire him before signing the Nigerian-United States Military Cooperation Agreement. Aside from Mr Malu, President Obasanjo appointed three chiefs of army staff under his administration. They include Alex Ogomudia, Martin Agwai and Owoye Azazi. Mr Azazi had a fast career growth in the military. Between May 2006 and June 2007, he rose to the rank of major general, lieutenant-general and general. Less than one month into his inauguration as Nigerias president, Umaru YarAdua appointed Luka Yusuf as chief of army staff. Mr Yusuf retired after a scandal involving the sale of arms to militants from the central command depot, Kaduna armory, which was under his command. In 2008, Mr YarAdua appointed Abdulrahman Dambazau as the chief of army staff. Under his watch the military was accused of attempts to covertly seize power due to Mr YarAduas sickness. Mr Dambazau was retired from service by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2010. September 2010 May 2021: Mr Jonathan appointed Azubuike Ihejerika as the army chief to serve between 2010 and 2014. He became the first chief of army staff from the South-east since the end of the civil war in 1970. In 2014, Mr Jonathan appointed Kenneth Minimah to replace Mr Ihejerika as the chief of army staff. Tukur Buratai, Nigerias longest-serving chief of army staff, was appointed in July 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Buratais tenure as army chief has been characterised by some successes against Boko Haram, but it was also filled with massive extrajudicial killings of hundreds of Nigerians by soldiers under his watch. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the majority of the soldiers and officers involved in the extrajudicial killings were never prosecuted or punished for their crimes. Meanwhile, in one of the cases, the army murdered hundreds of members of Shiite group in Zaria and said it did so because they had blocked a road being used by Mr Buratai and thus endangered his life in 2015. Mr Buratai, a lieutenant general, resigned in January 2021. Long before his resignation, security experts, opposition and federal lawmakers advised the president to fire him alongside other service chiefs. President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Mr Attahiru as the 25th chief of army staff on January 26 alongside other service chiefs including the Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor; Chief of Naval Staff, Gambo Awwal, and Chief of Air Staff, Isiaka Amao. Mr Attahiru died four months after being appointed to the post. Mr Attahiru, 54, was killed along with 10 others including aides and crew when the aircraft they were travelling in crashed in Kaduna. President Buhari Thursday approved the appointment of Farouk Yahaya as the 22nd chief of army staff. Prior to his appointment, Mr Yahaya, a major-general, had served as the General Officer Commanding 1 Division of the Nigerian Army and was the incumbent Theatre Commander of the military outfit in the North-east code-named Operation Hadin Kai. Innovative Sri Lankan engineer takes on the world with high capacity energy storage batteries By Quintus Perera View(s): View(s): Guided by Sri Lankas ancient rainwater harvesting methods through large tanks and catchment areas, a Sri Lankan entrepreneur with engineering skills and competence is progressing quite well with his large scale project producing high energy storage batteries in facilities in Sri Lanka and the UK. Several young, experienced and highly competent Sri Lankan engineers living here and abroad led by Pasidu Pallewela have teamed up to adapt modern technology in inventing energy storage batteries, filling a gap in the energy sector of the world, in storing a large capacity of solar and wind power, compared to other batteries that are in the market at present. Experts say the invention is highly praiseworthy, recognised globally not only because of the involvement in the energy storage but because its bold enough to adopt the same engineering and technological principles that were practised in this country dating back to about 5,000 years, in rainwater storage. Mr. Pallewela, Chairman of both UK and SL facilities, several years ago commenced the manufacturing of the energy storage units in the UK by floating a corporate entity Stortera, UK and StorLion in Sri Lanka to manufacture storage batteries. They have obtained international patent rights on lithium-based energy storage systems, Flow Batteries, Active Battery Management Systems (BM), Wind Turbine Controllers and Electronic Devices. The present societys reliance on energy and energy-storage has prompted these engineers to launch an energy storage system and one of the key requirements and decarbonising modern energy systems has become a task with utmost importance. Engineers Dr. Kosala Vithanage, Buddhika Jayakody and Ceynergy Dynamic Holdings, a major partner of StorLanka, were instrumental in raising a significant amount of foreign direct funding and local investment Employing modern world class technology they are now a world-renowned energy storage battery manufacturer and set up their Sri Lankan factory located at Aniyakande, Kandana some years ago, to export to Europe, US and Australia, among other countries. StorLions long term mission is to use abundant minerals available in the country such as ilmenite, phosphate, iron and graphite to manufacture the batteries. These batteries are unique as their life span is very long. StorLion is giving a 10-year guarantee on its batteries and once the life span is over, they would take back the old battery to reuse some parts while unwanted parts would be disposed with no harm to the environment whereas in the case of normal batteries now used for this purpose the life span is one to three years and these old batteries are discharged to the environment in a manner that is harmful to the environment. The other exceptional uniqueness is that these batteries generally measure 24 in length, 12 to 18 width and little more than 6 in height and in this small space these batteries could even accommodate more than 100 Mega Watts storage. Mr. Pallewela told the Business Times, the energy storage market has accelerated rapidly in recent years with Citigroup estimating that global battery storage markets will surge to 240GW by 2030. These levels of mass deployment are driven by the extensive development of renewable technologies such as wind and solar across the world. He said that there appears to be a mismatch between energy availability and demand and energy storage offers a solution to this along with the added benefits of energy security, additional income streams and back-up power supplies. He said by 2026 the solar and wind storage market could go up to US$1200 billion globally compared to 2015 when it was $22 billion, and is expected to rise to $450 billion by 2022. The StorLion manufacturing plant uses non-toxic and zero waste battery manufacturing technology while their R and D is underway to process locally available minerals such as graphite and Eppawala apatite, adding value to the raw material. Mr. Pallewela pointed out that at the moment these minerals are exported in bulk to other countries at very low values and therefore Sri Lanka as a country is losing its valuable minerals without any significant economic or social gain. At some point in the future, the project is expected to create at least 100,000 direct and indirect employment. Compared to the low-quality batteries that are presently imported to the country, Mr. Pallewela said that their products are of very high quality and can be used for telecom operations, off grid locations with renewable energy, electricity grid balancing, electric grid stabilisation, wind farms, Solar PV farms and in electric vehicles. This product can be used for the telecom industry in Europe and North America. Senior engineers from the telecom industry in Sri Lanka have inspected this product and the manufacturing process and have indicated that the quality, performance and life time of these battery modules exceeds the quality, life time and performance of any imported battery module from other countries, paying almost double the price. He said that, unfortunately, the batteries for local telecom services are being imported under the BOI facility. Due to the tax relief given to these imported batteries, the government has lost billions of rupees in tax revenue during the last five years while losing more than Rs. 20 billion in foreign expenditure. He said that they are poised to replace these imports if they are given the proper opportunity. Stortera, UK and StorLion, Sri Lanka are employing more than 30 well qualified and highly experienced local and foreign engineers here and abroad (more than 20 PhDs among them). For the next two years StorLion hopes to pump in around $19 million and in the next five years the amount would go up to $100 million. Mr. Pallewela pointed out that when such massive projects are undertaken in other countries by locals, the government and other local organisations would support the project. He expects the same degree of support and they hope to acquire a significant global market share as the time progresses. Mr. Pallewela noted that they are very happy to take a cue from Sri Lankas ancient rain water storage and distributing engineering technology in modelling their energy storage, while today this universally appreciated irrigation engineering marvel has been forgotten and ignored. The companys UK facility produces portable storage batteries. ADVERTISEMENT Another building belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was on Sunday set ablaze in Imo State, Nigerias South-east. The INEC office is located at Njaba Local Government Area of the state. Although no life was lost, the building was substantially burnt down, along with electoral materials, office equipment and furniture, Festus Okoye, INEC national commissioner in-charge of information and voter education, said in a statement on Sunday. Video clips posted on Twitter by the electoral commission showed thick dark smoke billowing from the attacked facility. The attack is coming one week after another INEC office was similarly attacked in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of the state. It is also the 8th INEC office to be attacked in Imo State since the 2019 General Election, Mr Okoye said in the statement. He said the latest attack brings to 42 the number of INEC offices that have been attacked nationwide since 2019. INEC buildings, infrastructures and equipment are critical national assets that guarantee the continuity of electoral activities throughout the federation. Attacking these offices is not in the national interest and has the capacity of compromising electoral activities and the credibility of the electoral process, the commissioner added. The attacks on INEC facilities around the South-east and the South-south regions, just similar attacks on security agencies, appear coordinated and with the intention to cause fear and to erode citizens trust in government authority, apparently. IPOB, a pro-Biafra group, which has been proscribed by the federal government, has denied accusations that it is responsible for the attacks in the regions. There was this Alaafin, monarch of the ancient Oyo Kingdom, who ruled over a century ago, known for his fiery and terrifying wickedness. He spared neither malefactors nor critical elements opposed to his method of administration. For anyone who ran afoul of his whims, Alaafin got his dogari (palace guards) to behead them. He then asked the dogari to dig a very deep pit at the centre of the town, whose depth and actual usage were hidden from the rest of the world. Carved out and designated, on the outward, as the shrine where Ogun, the god of iron, was worshipped, this pit was however the place where heads of the victims of the Alaafins wrath were dumped. The specifics were shrouded from all but only a few in the kingdom. After decades of the existence of this bottomless pit, one day, an itinerant drummer stood beside the purported shrine and with the cadence of a master drummer, he drummed that the shrine was actually a harvest pit of heads. All who gathered were aghast. In droves, they quickly left the scene, lest this tyrannical Alaafin descended on them. When word got to the king about the audacity of the drummer, the Alaafin summoned him to the palace and asked that he drummed the particular rhythm which he used to indict him of serial murders. This valiant drummer did exactly that for the Kabiyesi. Taken aback by his effrontery, all who gathered at the palace immediately began to sing his dirge. To their unbelievable shock, the king asked that the drummer be allowed to leave in peace. He also immediately ordered that the barbaric practice be halted and the bottomless pit filled up with sand. For promoters of the ongoing review of the Nigerias 1999 Constitution ostensibly President Muhammadu Buharis hirelings and their Hallelujah chorus group at the National Assembly the foregoing story should signal the road to travel to them. Anyone who truly desires a Nigeria of the dreams of our forefathers should advocate a total U-turn from the ruinous and inequitable path that the Nigerian constitution has driven Nigeria. The Alaafin in the above story made a circuitous turn from the path of ruin. He knew, without being told, that he had reached the end of his tether of villainy. Like the Yoruba bata drum which, when its drummer beats it to the point at which it attains an auditory notoriety, this is an indication that it is on the verge of getting its leather hide face torn, the Alaafin had gotten to the point of rupture. The drummer epitomised a prologue to the calamity afoot for the Alaafin. If he stiff-neckedly chose not to move with the flowing tide, it would have spelled his doom and swallowed him. Alaafin, thus, immediately chose to totally disconnect from his past and erect a footstool for a new future. One other road that these legislators on a frivolous junket should have trodden on the issue of a proper constitution for Nigeria is the gangrenous foot road. It goes thus: When a sore foot is badly managed overtime, so bad that it has developed gangrene, medics know that the solution is to remove the leg; not to tend it. Tending, mending or amending a gangrenous foot is not only an exercise in futility; it may be a route to death. Like that drummer, Nigerians have repeatedly drummed into the ears of successive governments that the country was waiting to explode. Lawyers, for whom dealing with the constitution is a daily routine, have itemized over a hundred lacunas in the rule book which give constitutional fillip to the pall of mutual hatred, divisiveness and calls for secession that hang over Nigeria. Right from the time of the forceful union called amalgamation of the North and South of Nigeria by Sir Fredrick Lugard, Nigerians were left with no doubt that Britain preferred one of the amalgam, to the other. The northern emirate system fascinated Britain. Its pliable and uneducated people who unquestionably carried out orders from the Emirs were the most fitting typology for the British racial exploitation system. They could not stand uppish emerging southern elite, many of whom studied in Britain and saw that the white man was not superior mentally to them in any regard. They even found out that Lugard and many of the colonial governors sent to Africa were the never-do-wells posted as recompense for their outlawry at home. Thus, right from the beginning, Britain and its colonial masters found the south a disagreeable model for its colonial administration. When they were thus leaving in 1960, they left the unseen fundamentals, the key of governance, in the hands of their northern lackeys. Population census was where the rigging of Nigeria, from its fundament, began. Virtually all censuses in Nigeria were fraught with political and hegemonic intentions, leading to gross inconsistencies. The first census conducted in 1911 was done in only a small fraction of the country while the one of 1921 was fraught with inadequate staffing and misconception that it would lead to higher income taxes. It was thus boycotted. Its outcome gave the south 8.4million and the north 10.4million figures. The 1931 census on its own got inebriated by the tax riots while that of 1941 couldnt hold due to the Second World War. The 1952 and 1953 headcounts however gave the total Nigerian population as 30.4 million. Broken down, the North had 55.4 per cent; East, 23.7 per cent and the West, together with Lagos and Mid-West, 20.9 per cent. This was actually the hub of the rigging of Nigeria. The mathematics of this census was that the North now had 174 seats in the parliament; East 73 and West, with Lagos and Mid-West, 65 seats. What that then meant was that, if you add the east, west, Lagos and mid-west figures, they were not up to ones allotted to the north. This surprised geographers of the world whose study across the globe had revealed that more people live in the periphery of coastal areas than in arid north. The United Nations atlas, for instance, says that 44 per cent of all people of the world live within 150 km radius of the sea, due to the high importance of the coast to society. A bigger chunk lives in the semi-coastal areas. Post-independence census was not any better. In May 1962, another headcount gave a provisional figure of 45.1 million as the Nigerian population count. Details of it revealed that the souths figure was more than that of the norths. Controversy ensued immediately, leading to its cancellation. The 1963 census, which later held, was even far more controversial as it returned a population figure of 55.7 million. This figure upped the previous with a difference of eleven million people in less than one year. Criticisms against it was that in the north, a lot of falsification of figures was done under the veneer of religion and culture, especially the ba siga, gidan aore ne (dont enter, it is home of married women) system which signified restrained census officials from entering homes that had women in purdah. Subsequent census figures built on this inequity. During the colonial era when Nigeria was administered as Crown Colony, Nigeria experimented with diverse constitutions, beginning with one of 1913, which took effect from January 1, 1914. It was followed with the 1922 Clifford Constitution, 1946 Richard constitution, 1951 Macpherson constitution and the 1954 Lyttleton constitution. Of all of them, the Lyttleton Constitution, which was named after the 1st Viscount Chandos, Sir Oliver Lyttelton and which began operation in 1954, could be said to be the first federal constitution of Nigeria. It had clearly spelt out federal principles and was what paved way for the Nigerian independence. It was then followed by the 1960 Constitution which reflected Nigerias sovereign nature but retained Queen Elizabeth as titular Head of State. The 1963 constitution, believed to be the best in the history of Nigeria, mirrored the plural nature of Nigeria and spelt out paths that each of the regions needed to walk to attain the height it desired. It was followed by the 1979 and then, the 1999 Constitutions. Those who canvass that if Nigeria was really serious about undoing all the ills that bode calamity for her, she should return to the 1963 constitution, covet the constitutions unhypocritical federal makeup. Some of its features include a provision for fiscal federalism, with the regions given power to collect revenues and pay agreed taxes to the federal government; the local (regional) police system; introduction of parliamentary system of government; creation of office of President; a federal parliament; even distribution of powers; powers to the regions to promulgate their own constitutions, among others. The 1979 constitution, from where the 1999 constitution drew its strength, is very unitary in its tenets and gave untrammeled and even draconian powers to the federal government. Who administers the federal government today? It is the north, in dalliance with a sprinkle of lackeys of the south. Isnt it pathetic that the north keeps on being in charge of customs and immigration, ports, Nigerias oil corporation and the key MDAs in Nigeria? The rigging of Nigeria by this section of the country is further reinforced by the humongous number of northerners in first-rate offices that bear the castrated prefix of federal, making other regions appendages that go to pour libations on the grove of this behemoth. The most grievous and sadistic manifestation of that systematic and systemic rigging is found in the National Assembly where the skewed achievement that the north made in the falsification of population censuses overtime has given the region an octopodal power to effectively frustrate any bill or move made by even a united south. It does not matter if the move is aimed at advancing the development of Nigeria. The most brazen of that rigging can be gleaned in any comparative analysis of the states. While Lagos boasts of 5,6855,781 population, a la census and has 15 members in the House of Representatives and 20 local governments, Kano State, which has almost same population of 5,632,040 with Lagos, has 34 members in the House of Representatives and 44 local governments. Jigawa State, created in 1991 from Kano and with a population of about 3.6 million people, has 27 local government councils and 11 federal constituencies. Between it and its parent state of Kano, with a combined population of 9,232,040, less than twice of Lagos, boast of 45 federal constituencies, thrice of Lagos and 71 local governments, about three and half of Lagos. Niger, home state of military General, Ibrahim Babangida, with a population of 2,482,367 has 19 federal constituencies and Sokoto, which has a population of 4,392,391, lesser than Lagos, boasts of 29 seats. In all these, the north brazenly vitiated a crucial principle of federalism through rigging processes to become more powerful than the other federating units. It has emerged ever since and till this day, the Kabiyesi of Nigerias so-called federal practice. It was that same rigging of Nigeria, from its census and constitutions over the decades, that resulted in a Muhammadu Buhari, with his avalanche of limitations, superintending over a country of extremely endowed peoples. A federally operated Nigeria would be a merit-driven Nigeria and will have no space for charlatans and ethnic bigots and canvassers. It will never give greater importance to cows ahead of human beings and can never throw up charlatans like Abubakar Malami. This is why anyone who canvasses for an amendment of the 1999 constitution is either shamelessly naive or merely embarking on a fruitless sprint. One major reason for this is that, the process of that amendment is so tedious and cumbersome that it can never be completed in the two years life of the Buhari government. Second, a government like one run by Buhari which got elected mainly due to restructuring being one of its electoral promises and which, in six years, has turned a deaf ear to it can never be trusted. Third is that, Buhari and his lickspittles benefit so egregiously from the imbalance and inequity in Nigeria, so much that it would be operating from the dreamland to imagine that they would forfeit this on a platter. To many people, Buhari instigated his lackeys in the National Assembly to begin this puerile and barren constitutional amendment process as a symbolic throwing of bones to a dog to chew, so as to take away distractions of the river of blood that Nigeria has become. Growing Cult of Abidemi Rufais The arrest of Abidemi Rufai, Senior Special Assistant to Dapo Abiodun, the governor of Ogun State, immediately became an instant trend in Nigeria and abroad. Rufai is currently enmeshed in a $350,000 fraud case in the United States of America. Before him, Nigeria has had other sewage ambassadors, in the persons of Ramon Olorunwa Abbas and Obinwanne Okeke. The former, commonly known as Hushpuppi, was an Instagram celebrity arrested in the UAE for a 350 million-worth cyber scam and taken to the US. He is now facing criminal charges of conspiracy to launder money from compromised business email frauds, as well as other scams. The latter, a Nigerian entrepreneur who meandered his way into reckoning and mention in the Forbes magazine, was arrested for internet fraud worth $11m. He has since been convicted and jailed ten years in the United States. Rufai was arrested in New York on May 14 this year by Americas Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Current media reports were to the effect that he would continue to be in detention, having failed to perfect bail requirements. Many people have traded blames on how a maggot of Rufais magnitude could swim in the sewage that is the Nigerian political and governmental river undetected. While many blame Abiodun for not conducting due diligence which led to such stain, others argue that there are a thousand-and-one Rufais in Nigerian politics and government and thus, trying to ostracize a Rufai is akin to stilling a corrupt system that has become part and parcel of our society. Those who single out Rufai for the crucifix are either unfair to him or are on a roller coastal of hypocrisy. The Rufais are us and we are the Rufais. Due to the collapse of the frontiers of values in Nigeria and the rat race for money, whoever has money is the Igwe of the present time. The younger elements impugn us for misleading them into believing that education offers an Eldorado. To them, the world that education offers is at best utopian or non-existent. And they seem very right. Education has become extremely barren to situate the educated in a comfortable world. In fact, it compounds their problem. Todays world is the world of the Yahoo-Yahoo boys, the fraudsters, kidnappers, bandits and their allies who make more money than imagined and have colonized the social and political space. If what defines us is sewers, why then do we expect to have a political or governmental system that is composed of the ideal that we read about in western literature? That in itself is hypocrisy. The Rufais fund political campaigns with their ill-gotten money and contribute immensely to the process of electioneering. So why will you collect their money and deny them slots in governments that are themselves not better than a Yahoo-Yahoo system? The truth is, we cannot continue to eat our cake and still desire to have it. If we desire purity in all our systems, we have to knock down this social system we currently operate that privileges wealth ahead of brain. No serious people of the world make headways with the kind of infected social mindsets that we have now. Rufais are all over the place in the executive, legislature and even the judiciary. We incubate them right from our homes. ADVERTISEMENT Many of these pastoralists are law abiding, they speak the local languages, their children are in schools, their wives engage in trades and have fully integrated into the communities. Consensus among livestock experts is that agropastoralism, peri-urban and urban livestock production systems account for over 90 per cent of dairy products in Sub-Sharan AfricaA ban on open grazing will destroy this system Hyenas urinating upwind to stampede the cattle below. According to a popular adage, when you are in a tunnel, what you need is light, not sound. However, light at the end of the tunnel on issues relating to cattle husbandry in Nigeria is a long time coming, given the ill-tempered and sometimes uninformed exchanges on open grazing. Self-styled experts are attempting to stampede governments to ban open grazing by advancing fictitious arguments such as, there is no land for roaming cattle, while data on land use shows otherwise; or that ranching is the global best practice for keeping cattle, whereas in Sub-Saharan Africa, ranches exist only in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa, and hence it is false to claim that ranches have replaced pastoralism in Kenya and Ethiopia, while the Maasai and the Oromos respectively still practice pastoralism in these countries. The examination of data on land use in Nigeria will illustrate the logic of open grazing. It is true that the population has increased over the years, also more land has been put to farming and the building of infrastructure, but analysis of the data shows that for 20 million cattle and 200 million Nigerians, there is more than enough land. For a start, Kano, one of the most densely populated States in Nigeria, is home to about one million cattle and there is relative tranquility. Nigeria has a land mass of 92.3 million hectares, with 70.8 million hectares of agricultural area, of which only 34-35 million hectares had been cultivated as at last year. For the sake of discussion, lets look at maize production. Available data shows that in 2020, only about 12 million tons were produced. Research findings have shown that 86 per cent of the cereal biomass is made of materials not consumable by humans, but ruminants (cattle, etc.) can convert this into high quality animal protein. The implication is that over 50 million tons of crop residue will be wasted, if not consumed by cattle. Not to mention sorghum that accounts for 50 per cent of the total cereal production in the country and occupies about 45 per cent of the total land area devoted to cereal production. Add to these, the millions of tons of grasses on fallow lands and open ranges. To access these fodders, which are mainly available in situ, cattle must move and openly graze. In most cases, this is done with the expressed permission of farmers for a fee. Cattle generally move along moisture gradients (the North in the wet season and the South in dry season, respectively) on International transhumance stock routes recognised under usufructuary rights. This explains why a kilo of beef sells for N1,700 in Nigeria. Therefore, until the country has a programme to process these quality fodders, banning open grazing will be a dog in the manger policy. But I accept that rogue elements amongst herders engage in criminalities and the justice system has failed to prosecute them. A ban on open grazing literally means changing from agropastoralism to a zero grazing system, cold turkey. In zero grazing, animals are kept in stalls and fed entirely on purchased, specially prepared, rations to enable them to produce plenty of milk or fatten quickly. Agropastoral cows have poor productivity and live on grass and occasional crop residue. I also need to draw attention to a special category of pastoralists called agropastoralists. These are small scale livestock producers who settle in communities all over Nigeria. They negotiate with members of the host community for land to build their homesteads, grow crops and keep cattle. During the cropping season, they kraal the animals away from the farms. In fact, many of the animals in their herds belong to members of the host communities. Clusters of these type of producers exist in the South, along Iseyin-Igangan axis in Oyo State, in Adada-Nkpologu-Adani-Iggah axis in Enugu State and along the Awgu-Nkanu-Abakaliki axis in Ebonyi State, to mention a few. Some of these settlements have existed for upwards of 70 years, sequel to veterinary interventions that made it possible for cattle to stay in one place, year-round. Many of these pastoralists are law abiding, they speak the local languages, their children are in schools, their wives engage in trades and have fully integrated into the communities. Consensus among livestock experts is that agropastoralism, peri-urban and urban livestock production systems account for over 90 per cent of dairy products in Sub-Sharan Africa. These producers adopt research findings, benefit from government extension services and comply with public health regulations. A ban on open grazing will destroy this system and uproot these producers. And the reason is simply the following. A ban on open grazing literally means changing from agropastoralism to a zero grazing system, cold turkey. In zero grazing, animals are kept in stalls and fed entirely on purchased, specially prepared, rations to enable them to produce plenty of milk or fatten quickly. Agropastoral cows have poor productivity and live on grass and occasional crop residue. As the rule of thumb, a local cow consumes 2.5 per cent of its body weight and consumes about 15 litres of water. The average herd size of agropastoralists is between 20-35 animals. So, for a 200-kilogramme cow, a herder must cut and carry 110 kilogrammes of grass and source 200 litres of water daily. This is an impossible task. So, a law-abiding Nigerians trying to eke out a living from the cattle business has two choices stay and lose your means of livelihood or leave town. Against all odds, open grazing has been a success story. Ethiopia has a landmass of 110 square kilometres, with 60 million cattle, three times that of Nigeria, which are into open grazing. Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa, with livestock production covering 40 per cent of the agricultural output and contributing 13-16 per cent of the total GDP. The term ranching is not clearly defined in this country, so all intensive or enclosed livestock production systems are categorised as ranching. However, a ranch is a very large area of rangeland that is enclosed, where animals roam and graze openly. It is in view of this that the Land Use Act recommends the allocation of up to 5,000 hectares for livestock farming. So, if State governors genuinely believe in ranching, they should put their monies where their mouths are, and allocate the recommended hectares to ranchers. The statement that herders should go into ranching because there is no land is incongruent. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), 33 per cent of global land is under cultivation for animal feeds, while 30 per cent of the entire earth surface is permanently under pasture to support global intensive livestock production. Against all odds, open grazing has been a success story. Ethiopia has a landmass of 110 square kilometres, with 60 million cattle, three times that of Nigeria, which are into open grazing. Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa, with livestock production covering 40 per cent of the agricultural output and contributing 13-16 per cent of the total GDP. Without any doubt, cattle production is facing a myriad of challenges associated with husbandry, the misconducts of some herders, climate change and local politics. In todays world, technology is the weapon of first choice to overcome most challenges associated with livestock production. Nigeria has successfully applied genetics to produce high-yielding day-old chicks, hybrid seeds to increase the yields of maize and soybeans for massive production of quality commercial poultry feeds, and veterinary sciences to deliver healthcare services to poultry. Bankers eager to make a quick buck saw the huge internal market and the Nigerian spirit of entrepreneurship and massively funded commercial poultry. Today, that industry is worth about N10 trillion (Poultry Association of Nigeria) and is the biggest in Africa. But, most significantly, commercial and free-range rural poultry exist in all states, thus giving commercial poultry the all-important federal character. The poultry revolution did not just happen, it was made to happen by deliberate government policies, public-private sector partnership and the Nigerian spirit of entrepreneurship. The same technology can transform the cattle industry for the benefit of all, if only Nigerians can make that conscious and deliberate political decision rather than unhelpful legislations driven my emotions. Junaidu Maina is a former Director of the Federal Livestock Department. Adesina is so upbeat about Africa that he has been tagged the continents Optimist-in-Chief. What is he seeing which others are not seeing? Or, rather, in what way is the African story being re-written through the instrumentation of developmental interventions by the AfDB and how can the rest of the continent buy into his admittedly noble dream? Do not judge a runner by the challenges he or she faces, or the strains on their legs as they run, or even the grimaces on their faces; judge them at the finish line. Africa will finish its race for development well, against all odds! That is the prediction of the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina. A cheering prediction indeed. Last week, the world marked Africa Day. The African Public Relations Association (APRA) held its annual conference virtually, in line with the new normal. APRA prides itself in creating an enabling professional environment for accurate perception, goodwill and the understanding of necessary and effective performance of Public Relations practice in Africa. Its annual intellectual fiesta usually draws stakeholders from around the world with the aim of heralding a more positively perceived and prosperous Africa. Delegates and guests from 26 countries attended the 2021 edition. Nobody else could have set the tone for the conference but the president of the continents foremost development financial institution, AfDB the same bank recently named as the Best Multilateral Financial Institution in the world for 2021 by the frontline U.S. magazine, Global Finance. The theme of the conference was One Africa! March to economic integration and the role of Public Relations in the era of Covid-19. Adesina is so upbeat about Africa that he has been tagged the continents Optimist-in-Chief. What is he seeing which others are not seeing? Or, rather, in what way is the African story being re-written through the instrumentation of developmental interventions by the AfDB and how can the rest of the continent buy into his admittedly noble dream? The first plea made by the AfDB president is that Africans have to do themselves a favour: Stop de-branding the continent! Some of the most negative stories being shared about Africa are authored by Africans themselves. While not advocating the denial of verifiable reality, Adesina advocates self-love. There are many positive things about Africa, he notes, than the usual staple of wars, famine, disease and poverty. Among the public relations practitioners who formed the bulk of the audience were champions in branding, messaging and reputation management. They couldnt agree more with Adesina that if you dont say, I am, the rest of the world is not compelled to acknowledge Thou art. We need you as partners in public relations and the media to help curate and disseminate these success stories. Success stories of Africas progress on its path towards the actualisation of the Africa we want, as set out in the Agenda 2063 of the African Union! Your role is critical to ensure that people are inspired by gains being made on Africas journey to prosperity, said Adesina. Because of the crucial role that public relations professionals can play in transforming the continent, the AfDB now plans to initiate a new strategic partnership with the African Public Relations Association in order to help weave a beautiful tapestry of stories of resilience of a continent progressing against all odds! He gave examples of how the work of the African Development Bank impacts the lives of ordinary people. Ms. Jamila from Ghana benefitted from access to improved agricultural technologies through AfDBs Savanna Agricultural Productivity Project. Her testimony: The Banks program has allowed me to expand my cultivated area by 9,000%. Now I will purchase a mechanised harvester for my crops. From Ethiopia one of the female farmers said, I built my house from the proceeds of my farm and now I can support my four children in school, while Ms. Grace from Kenya noted that the Banks support has allowed her to get access to electricity in her village: We once were in darkness, now we can see. Adesina argues that there is no continent without its own peculiar problems and that anyone with an eye on the future cannot ignore Africa. Because of the crucial role that public relations professionals can play in transforming the continent, the AfDB now plans to initiate a new strategic partnership with the African Public Relations Association in order to help weave a beautiful tapestry of stories of resilience of a continent progressing against all odds! COVID-19 ravaged the world. In Africa, 30 million people were pushed into extreme poverty. It is projected that another 39 million could fall further into extreme poverty this year. Foreign direct investment into Africa declined from $45 billion in 2019 to $27 billion in 2020. Similarly, portfolio investments declined from $27 billion in 2019 to $19 billion in 2020. In response, AfDB announced a $10 billion Crisis Response Facility to support African countries in addressing the urgent health and economic effects of the pandemic and provided another $28 million grant to the Africa Centre for Disease Control to enhance its capacity to tackle the scourge. Before COVID, Africa recorded the second fastest economic growth rate in the world. Foreign direct investment grew faster in Africa than anywhere else. Africa was also reforming its business environment. With the advent of COVID, GDP growth declined by 2.1 per cent, the worst in over 25 years. It is noteworthy, however, that 13 African countries posted positive growth rates in the midst of the global recession. A cocktail of new challenges have since arisen but Adesina believes that Africa will bounce back. The AfDB estimates that the continents GDP growth will bounce back to a positive trajectory of 3.4% this year, he said. To show what can be achieved if words are matched with action, AfDB has, in the last five years, positively impacted the lives of 335 million people: 20 million people obtained access to electricity; 74 million people obtained access to agricultural technologies for food security; 10 million people obtained access to finance; 69 million people got access to improved transport services through investments in infrastructure; and 43 million people got access to improved water and sanitation. For public relations practitioners all over the continent, the 2021 APRA conference reinforced the clarion call on all professionals to protect and enhance the African brand. The achievements of the AfDB in Africa is a good signpost to the boundless possibilities of the continent. And who can tell that story better than those gathered at the annual feast of ideas? And the landscape is changing, courtesy of forward-looking projects that should propel trade and improve lives all over the continent: The landmark Sene-Gambia bridge linking Senegal and Gambia, the expansion of the Togo container port, which has increased its capacity three folds; the Kazungula bridge, linking Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia; the 1,000 kilometres highway linking Addis-Ababa to Mombasa, through Nairobi; the Noor Ouarzazarte project in Morocco (the largest concentrated solar power plant in the world); and the Lake Turkana wind power station, in Kenya, the largest of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa. The Bank is now investing in the Desert to Power initiative in the Sahel region to construct the largest solar zone in the world, which will provide electricity for 250 million people across eleven countries. Accelerating industrialisation could create up to 14 million stable jobs over the next decade. AfDB is also supporting 234,000 youths with digital skills to make them competitive in the digital world and create nine million jobs. At the forthcoming African Investment Forum, AfDB and its partners have already prepared to showcase a pipeline of 230 projects valued at $208 billion. Given all of the above, there is cause for optimism if and only if the serious security problems buffeting various parts of the continent are urgently addressed. ADVERTISEMENT For public relations practitioners all over the continent, the 2021 APRA conference reinforced the clarion call on all professionals to protect and enhance the African brand. The achievements of the AfDB in Africa is a good signpost to the boundless possibilities of the continent. And who can tell that story better than those gathered at the annual feast of ideas? Several other insightful papers presented at the three-day virtual event reinforced the theme, One Africa! March to Economic Integration and the Role of Public Relations. And the worthy finale: the 2021 Sabre Awards Africa, at which the best practitioners of the trade on the continent were presented Awards in various categories by the inimitable global PR icon, Paul Holmes. If the conference was an oracle, its verdict would be that Africa is the new frontier of prosperity, as long as the cobwebs of insecurity entangling the continent are cleared. The president of APRA, Yomi Badejo-Okusanya of Nigeria, encapsulated the feelings of his colleagues all over the continent thus: Africa must tell its own story. And there is no better person to tell it than the authentic storyteller on the continent: The African public relations practitioner! Wole Olaoye can be reached through wole.olaoye@gmail.com. ADVERTISEMENT Protesters on Friday burnt a section of the palace of the Emir of Zurmi in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State during a demonstration by residents against incessant attacks by bandits in the area. The protesters, who were mostly from vulnerable rural communities in the area, converged on Zurmi town for the protest, alleging that security agents and the emir, Atiku Abubakar, were not doing enough to protect them. Many persons had been reported killed in a series of attacks on peasant communities in the area and hundreds of others displaced. A resident, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES but asked not to be named to avoid victimisation, said the bandits had vowed not to allow the locals to farm as the rainy season approaches. During the protest, the demonstrators reportedly deposited in the emirs palace the corpses of persons killed by gunmen and set ablaze a section of the palace after the emir allegedly failed to address them. The police spokesperson in the state, Muhammad Shehu, in a statement, said the police were concerned by rising spate of attacks by bandits in Zurmi Local Government Area. The spokesperson said the command has deployed additional tactical operatives to Zurmi and its environs to overcome the rising security challenges in the area. ALSO READ: Groups demand urgent action against insecurity The operatives have since left Gusau to Zurmi, and they were directed to remain there until normalcy is restored. They were also directed to arrest all criminal elements that have been making lives of innocent people unbearable, he said. The police urged residents to remain calm and support security operatives to protect them effectively. The police have also embarked on indefinite show of force and confidence building patrol to all the strategic areas of the state. The show of force comprises operatives from all the Police Tactical units of the command The show of force is designed to complement and strengthen the operational capacity of Police operatives currently operating in different locations that are prone to activities of recalcitrant armed bandits. In the same vein, the Commissioner of Police, Husseini Rabiu, further deployed additional manpower to Zurmi, to support the police and other security operatives in tackling the increasing security challenges in the area, the police statement said Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State on Saturday dissolved government boards and commissions barely 48 hours after sacking his cabinet. The governor also sacked all liaison officers and other political aides. Mr Umahi announced the dissolution during a broadcast to mark the second year anniversary of his second term in office. The governor explained that the dissolution was to give members of the various boards, commissions and aides seeking to contest the 2022 local government council election in the state or the 2023 general elections time to prepare. He further noted that the dissolution was to give time for those seeking to join the opposition opportunity to express their constitutional right to freedom of association. We noticed that as we warm up to our local government election, some of the members of the commissions and boards want to contest elections. Accordingly, the liaison officers are hereby dissolved; members of boards and commissions are hereby dissolved, Mr Umahi said. The governor also announced the dissolution of the management committees of the 64 development centres, senior technical assistants, technical assistants and executive assistants. The governor said the over 4,000 elected and appointed officers serving in his administration represented just one per cent of the 4 million population of the state. The resources of the state would, therefore, not be spent on this small population alone, he added. We had to do two sets of dissolution in our Executive Council and the first has taken place. We dissolved Exco because we have been getting agitations that they want to contest elections, while some of them are not satisfied with what they are getting. So, we had to dissolve so as to give opportunity to those who want to contest elections enough time to prepare. Also those who are not satisfied with what they are getting and want to join the opposition should go and this is very important. We have about 4,000 elected and appointed political office holders and if anybody thinks that I became governor just to take care of this number, the person is making a mistake. We want to come out of slavery and if I dont build schools; if I dont build roads, we are just wasting our time because it is only us that can take ourselves out of slavery, he said. The governor said that an empowerment programme and civil service employment would be given to former members of the executive council, boards, and commissions who would not be reappointed. We will create 3,000 small and medium enterprise jobs and another 3,000 jobs from the civil service to accommodate those who will not return, he said. ADVERTISEMENT The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the Judiciary Service Commission, Civil Service Commission and a few others were not affected by the dissolution. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT The police in Imo State said the former political adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak, was killed on Sunday morning, around 7:20 a.m., while he was on his way to Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, to catch a flight. Mr Gulak was inside a Toyota Camry car with two other people when the car was intercepted and attacked by bandits, the police spokesperson in the state, Bala Elkana, said in a statement on Sunday. Ahmed Gulak left his room at Protea Hotel without informing the Police nor sister agencies in view of the fragile security situation in the South East and Imo in particular. He left without any security escorts and while the cab driver took irregular route to the airport, six armed bandits who rode in a Toyota Sienna intercepted, identified and shot at Ahmed Gulak at around Umueze Obiangwu in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area close to the Airport, Mr Elkana, a superintendent of police, said in the statement. The police spokesperson said the commissioner of police has ordered an investigation into the killing, as Tactical and Special forces have been deployed to cordone the area and arrest perpetrators. READ ALSO: Former adviser to Goodluck Jonathan reportedly shot dead in Owerri Mr Gulak, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was the chairman of the committee which conducted the 2019 APC governorship primary in Imo State that produced the incumbent Governor of the state, Hope Uzodinma, as the candidate of the party. Owerri, with a large concentration of IPOB members and supporters, has been the epicentre of clashes between security agencies and IPOB in the South-east region. Several security operatives, including soldiers, have been killed in deadly attacks in the city. IPOB, a pro-Biafra group, which has been proscribed by the federal government, has denied accusations that it was responsible for the killings. The primaries of the All Progressives Congress [APC) were truncated in many parts of Lagos on Saturday by hoodlums and party officials allegedly favouring particular candidates ahead of the July 24 local government elections. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that hundreds of aggrieved APC members on Saturday kept vigil at the partys state secretariat in Lagos to ventilate their anger about the alleged lack of fairness in the exercise. NAN reports that armed security operatives had mounted heavy presence at the secretariat and barricaded access roads leading into the premises of the party secretariat. In Badagry for instance, voting did not take place in all the 10 wards as there were disruptions and harassment over the wrong voters register. In Agege, wrong accreditation sheets were brought and the electorate could not find their numbers and names on the voters register. There was no primary election in Agege; actually people came out early in the morning to cast their votes but were later scattered by some sponsored hoodlums. The activities of the hoodlums affected all the seven wards across the local government area, said Sola Osolana, an APC chairmanship aspirant in Agege. Mr Osolana said the hoodlums visited all the wards in the council from A-G to ensure the election did not hold or was cancelled. We appeal to the party leadership to shift the primaries to the state secretariat of the APC, Acme in Lagos. It is very clear that some people want genuine change but few want to disrupt the change thereby manipulating the progress of the party, he said. Abiodun Ogunji, incumbent Vice Chairman, Agege Local Government, who is also an aspirant, decried the activities of the hoodlums during the primary election. There was no election in Agege. We want the election to be rescheduled with thorough supervisions from the leaders, he told NAN. Olubukola Sofidiya, also an aspirant vying for a chairmanship position, also decried activities of the suspected thugs. But we believe that justice will be done by the party executive, he said. Speaking with NAN at the party secretariat, Olabode Olaniyi, an aggrieved party member, said that there was no primary election held in Ward F of Ojokoro LCDA, hence the election should be declared inconclusive. Mr Olaniyi, who decried the alleged attempt to impose the incumbent chairman on the people for a second term in office, said that same scenario played out across the seven wards in the council. The agent, who noted that he narrowly escaped death from thugs for standing his ground for justice, called on the party leadership to allow party members to choose the flagbearers. According to him, party members, who supported other candidates than the incumbents were not allowed to vote. ADVERTISEMENT There was no election in Ward F. When I stood against all attempts to silence some of us that support a different candidate, the thugs beat me up and tore my clothes. My tag as agent to Hon. Olateju Adeoye was taken. The thugs came with guns, it was an Okada man that rescued me. We want justice in APC. This election should be declared inconclusive in Ojokoro. There were no votes in Ojokoro LCDA. This applies to almost all the seven wards in Ojokoro, he told NAN. Also in Badagry Topo Idale Ward J, the presiding officer did not bring any document to identify the voters who had been on queue since 8:00 a.m. At Methodist Junior School, opposite General Hospital, the voters register brought by the officials were not for the centre. NAN reports that the same was the situation at Ajido and Gbenapon Primary School centres. Voters were seen around 3 p.m. at most of the voting centres waiting for the returning officials to bring the proper documentation for the voting. Some of the APC chieftain and aspirants expressed their displeasure over the lateness and poor performance of the voting officials. Emmanuel Kappo, one of the aspirants into the council seats, said that it was unfortunate that his people in Topo Idale Ward J could not vote. When they came and discovered that they did not bring the register, the returning officer promised to go and pick it. For the past three hours, my people have been waiting here but nothing is happening here. This is just aimed to frustrate my people who are here waiting to exercise their civic duty, he said. He appealed to the executive of the APC to conduct a rerun election, adding that there was no election in the town. However, Babatunde Hunpe, representing Badagry in the House of Representatives, said the arrangements were alright until some people started disturbing the process in some centres because the process was not in their favour. With the situation of things in Badagry Local Government, it is now left for the state executive of the party to decide on the next steps, he said. NAN reports that most of the voting centres in Badagry did not vote as voters went home after waiting endlessly for hours. NAN reports that the ruling party on Saturday scheduled open secret ballot primaries in the 245 wards across the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to select its chairmanship and councillorship flag-bearers ahead of the July 24 council polls. NAN reports that the results of the primaries are expected to be announced at the APC state secretariat later. The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has scheduled July 24 for the local government election in the state. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT Fire has engulfed spare parts stores at the Ladipo market in Mushin, Lagos State. The fire broke out on Sunday morning from one of the stores dealing in vehicle spare parts in the Alapeju section of the Ladipo Market, Nosa Okunbor, spokesperson for the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency in a statement. Mr Okunbor said the fire was quickly put off by the agency and its collaborators. He said LASEMA received a distress call and swung into action and saved uncountable lives and properties from devastation by the fire outbreak. He added that there was no record of fatalities. Timely response of the Agency to the fire outbreak reported through the Agencys Toll-Freee Emergency numbers 112/767 this morning, saved goods worth several hundreds of millions of naira, from destruction at the motor spare parts market, in Mushin Local Government Area, in Lagos. The incident which attracted the attention of residents also brought traders residing close to the market to their shops in order to either remove their wares or assist in putting out the inferno. ALSO READ: Fire guts another INEC office The Director-General of LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said a storey building was burnt in the inferno. Upon arrival at the scene, agency responders discovered a single-storey building used for commercial purposes. (selling of motor parts) was engulfed in flames, he said. Combined team comprising of the Agencys LASEMA Response Team, (LRT), LASEMA Response Unit Fire, (LRU fire), Lagos State and Federal Fire services, made concerted efforts and subdued the inferno, preventing it from spreading to the surrounding buildings. The fire has been curtailed and damping down is over. The cause of the inferno has not been identified yet, said Mr Okunbor. PLATTSBURGH [mdash] Anthony Tarricone, 94, of Plattsburgh, passed away Monday in his home with his loving wife by his side and under the care of hospice. He was born in Yonkers on Aug. 13, 1926, the son of George and Nancy Tarricone. He graduated Horton High School in Yonkers. He also gradua LEADS helps in COVID-19 efforts to combat pandemic View(s): LEADS, an NGO which works on childrens issues recognising the great need at quarantine centres across Sri Lanka, has responded to requests for help from the administration of quarantine centres in Kandakadu, Ampara and Palamunai. LEADS was successful in raising support with the help of the public in providing for the urgent requirements at the Kandakadu Quarantine Centre. The military personnel at the Kandakadu Quarantine Centre faced a unique situation as elephants approaching the site posed a safety threat to the centre. In response to this need, LEADS provided LED searchlights to keep the elephants at bay along with other essential needs such as water pumps, water boilers, ceiling fans and a 1000 litre water tank for the use of the centre, it said in a media release. As its main course of intervention, LEADS also supports the needs arising in hospitals and is currently raising support with the help of the public and its support network for the medical and psychosocial needs of three centres in Ampara, under the directives of the Ampara Regional Director of Health. Thus far, LEADS has also provided medical equipment such as wheelchairs and hygiene packs worth Rs.150,000 to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Kilinochchi. Apart from these interventions, LEADS is also raising support for medical needs, including high-flow nasal oxygen machines for the use of hospitals as well as PPE and hygiene packs for Divisional Secretariats and local authorities. LEADS will also provide dry rations for 435 families and 200 religious institutions that are economically affected by the spread of the pandemic and the periods of travel restriction. Assistance in the form of dry rations and psychosocial care will also be distributed among Child Development Centres in the Western Province as well as centres in the Badulla and Monaragala Districts. Each citizen is presented with the task of rising to the occasion and being more attentive to the needs of their neighbours. Mr. Jayasuriya also expressed his gratitude on behalf of the organisation to all who joined hands with LEADS in supporting the needs at the Kandakadu Quarantine Centre, while thanking the LEADS network for the immense support received thus far. We are touched by the generosity of the Sri Lankan people and the solidarity of our partners. As the need for support grows even greater in the face of this third wave, we hope you will continue to stand with us as we reach out to those who are most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. LEADS is a national agency which works towards creating safer spaces and brighter futures for the children of Sri Lanka. As an approved charity, LEADS work is integrated in recognising the child as part of a family, community and the nation, through its work with survivors of abuse, underprivileged communities and those at risk of natural and man-made disasters, both at grassroot and national policy level. In the wake of the recent war between the State of Israel and Gaza, which has unfortunately cost many casualties on both sides, pro-Zionist groups in England have held large rallies, sometimes leading to heated conflicts with Muslims. Additionally, a delegation led by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis held a meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson at 10 Downing Street, where they urged action against some Muslim organizations, and asked the Prime Minister to recognize anti-Zionism as anti-Semitism. At the meeting, Marie van der Zyl, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, asked the government to call on social media companies to adopt the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, which includes anti-Zionism, and requested that Ofcom monitor firms' adherence to that standard. The London rabbis felt that these actions would not help to decrease anti-Semitism in England, and on the contrary, would only fuel the fire of hatred, since the Muslims would see that Jews are against them. As to the notion that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism, this is simply untrue; many great rabbis today and in past generations have been against Zionism. The Jewish people have lived in many countries over the past 2000 years, and having their own state is not intrinsic to their identity. One who opposes the current State of Israel does not necessarily oppose the Jewish people. The letter quoted the view of Rabbi Ephraim Padwa, the rabbinical authority of London's Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations, "that we must not take part in any way in actions that initiate any conflicts with the nations of the world. We were commanded to 'seek the peace of the city' of our exile (Jeremiah 29:7)." The letter concluded, "For many years, we have lived peacefully and safely alongside all our neighbours; may G-d help that this continue. Whoever takes part in the above-mentioned actions does not represent us." PDF - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1521599/Rabbinical_Board_Open_Letter.pdf SOURCE Rabbinical Board of UK Jews ZIBO, China, May 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zibo, a city with a profound cultural background, its core spirit "innovation, openness, pragmatism and inclusiveness," of Qi culture accords with the features of reform and innovation. Zibo, a city with solid industry foundation, is navigating towards a development model driven by new growth engines. Zibo, also a city with unlimited potentials, is pursuing a leap-forward development of transformation and upgrade with its own characteristics. The 2021 Zibo China Finance and Industry Development Summit opened at the Zibo Convention and Exhibition Center On May 27th, with the theme of "Create a Future of Industry-Finance Integration and Entrepreneurship - Build a Finance Highland for Innovation". The summit includes a Carbon neutrality panel, a main forum, a Jixia Academy night talk, sub-forums, roadshow competitions, with nearly 100 participants, including leaders of investment institutions, elites in relevant industries and representatives from the academia, contributing their wisdom about the new future of Zibo's industry and finance development. Yuan Peiquan, Finance Deputy Director General of Shandong delivered a welcome speech. Zhang Zhaoyi, Chief Risk Control Officer of Shenzhen Stock Exchange, Li Kanbin, General Manager of the Market Service Department I (Northern Region) of Shanghai Stock Exchange, and Jia Zhonglei, Director of the Intermediary Business Department of National Equities Exchange and Quotations and member of the first Listing Committee, gave speeches; Jiang Duntao, Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee, delivered a keynote speech and Ma Xiaolei, Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee and Mayor, hosted the opening ceremony. Led by Superior Policies, Zibo to embrace both financing and talents Superior business environment and development ecology are the prerequisites for the booming of a city's finance and industry. At the summit, Song Zhenbo, a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Party Committee and the Vice Mayor of Zibo, announced a "1+2" policy package to promote the development of the city's financial industry. "1" refers to the "Advice on Building a Regional Financial Highland for Scientific and Technological Innovation", "2" refers to two complementary policies, namely "Policies on Promoting Cluster Development of Financial Industry in Zibo" and "Ten suggestions on Promoting Cluster Development of Fund Institutions in Zibo". All these policies are attractive, forward-looking,and easy to be implemented. By 2025, the growth of Zibo's financial industry in one year will exceed 35 billion yuan, accounting for more than 7% of the GDP. The tax revenue of the financial industry will surpass 3.5 billion yuan. There will be over 25 newly listed companies. The proportion of direct financing will reach about 20%, and the size of fund asset management will exceed 200 billion yuan. As an old Chinese saying goes, "Willing to come, wishing to stay." When a city is willing to cultivate optimal environment for the development of finance industry and innovation, it will bring new dynamics and opportunities for its economy development and industry reformation Supported by Capital, Zibo to reshape its industrial landscape Food and fodder go before the troops and horses. If the industry is the engine for Zibo's "leapfrog development", then capital can be seen as fuel and the oxidizer. The summit saw the launching of Zibo Longmen Emerging Industry Development Fund of Funds, QiXin Industry and Finance Secondary Fund and Zibo Yingke Scientific and Technological Innovation Industry Fund of Funds. Among them, the billion-yuan-sized Zibo Longmen Emerging Industry Development FoF will be based in Zibo to bring in position management agencies. According to the plan of high quality development "twelve tough battles", based on its industry landscape especially the 11 "new race tracks" hi-tech companies, the fund will fully play the empowering and leading role of the capital market in the real economy for a high-quality growth. Qixin Industry Finance Secondary Fund will foster a better environment for the city's venture capital investment in ways that diversify and improve Zibo's industrial financial system. At the summit, Zibo Caijin Holdings Group Co., Ltd. signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement with V. Stone. Fund and launched a Zhaojin Futures's merger and acquisition project with Shandong Zhaojin Group Co., Ltd. The signing and launching of major funds and projects are a testimony to the progress of Zibo's financial industry. The clustering effect of high-quality capital can help turning technological progress into concrete productivity, which will support and boost Zibo's scientific and technological innovation industry and its new strategic industry by adding new vigor to them. As more and more capital flows in, takes root, and produces positive outcomes, Zibo is gaining momentum for development and embracing the rest of the country with open arms. Platforms created, the summit yields impressive results Carrying on the legacy of "creating a respectful, encouraging, secure and profitable environment for businessmen", the summit won applause for its concrete fruits. The signing of 35 key projects at the summit will further fuel the growth of Zibo's industry, create a gravitational pull of financial capital towards the city and accelerate the integration of finance and industry. Also, help Zibo to build a regional financial highland for scientific and technological innovation. Fund Association of Zibo was also officially launched at the summit. High-quality development must land in specific project media. In an era of industrial upgrade and "4 new economies"blooming, all major cities around the country are building their future competence with projects, particularly with high-quality platform-based ones which can play a critical role and serve as the key driving motor for enterprises and even the whole industry chain in their efforts to replace old growth engines with new ones. With its industrial foundation and focusing on the future, Zibo is paving its "super runways" that cover all industries. Focusing on the needs in finance and industry development, Zibo is taking the initiative to occupy the forefront of the arena in a strive to embark on the "next stage" of high-quality development. KOLs Gathering, Discuss the New Future of Zibo Technology Innovation The summit embraced different opinions from nearly one hundred renowned insiders of the industry, including experts, scholars, entrepreneurs, front runners in venture capital investment and representatives from relevant institutions. Wang Zhongmin, Chairman of Shenzhen Institute of Financial Stability and Development and former Vice Chairman of the National Council of Social Security Fund; Huang Wensheng, Vice President, Secretary to the Board of Directors, General Manager of Finance and Assets Management Department of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation, Chairman and Party Secretary of China Petrochemical Corporation; Sheng Xitai, Chairman of Hongtai Aplus; Yu Kaijun, Vice President, Secretary to the Board of Directors and General Counsel of China National Building Materials Group Co., Ltd.; Liu Erhai, founder and Managing Partner of Joy Capital; Jerry Lou, founder and CEO of Everpine Capital, Li Dapeng, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Zibo Caijin Holdings Group Co., Ltd., Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Qi Shang Bank; Jia Kang, President of the China Academy of New Supply-side Economics and President of the then Research Institute for Fiscal Science of the Ministry of Finance; Wu Xiaobo, finance and business writer, founder of 890 New Business Study, and Blue Lion Publishing and Chen Xi, tenured professor and the Dean of the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering of Columbia University and the recipient of the U.S.'s Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers attended the summit and delivered keynote speeches. An online speech was given by Danielle Shechtman, the 2011 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry The guests at the summit engaged themselves in insightful conversations about the future of capital trends in the field of scientific and technological innovation under the background of transformation between old growth drivers and new ones. Focusing on the trend of venture capital investment in the "4 new competent industries", namely new materials, intelligent equipment manufacturing, new medicine, electronic information, they explored new magnets for value investing and gave advice on how to build Zibo's financial ecosystem and promote the city's industrial development. List published, Zibo stays true to the spirit of value investing The official release of the list of the most promising venture capital institutions in 2021 was the last but not least session at the summit on May 27. Hongtai Aplus, GSR United Capital, Plum Ventures were among 50 entities that made the honor roll. With an emphasis on early investment, these super promising investment institutions facilitated innovation in the industry by investing on enterprises. Against the backdrop of an era characterized by unprecedented major changes in China's capital market, these forward-looking investment institutions with astute senses will play an indispensable part in companies' growth through different phases, thus bringing enduring benefits to society. It is known that two sub-forums and a roadshow competition will be held simultaneously at the summit on May 28, which will create a platform for Zibo's high-quality enterprises and projects to get broader access to capital in an effective manner. With the way ahead broad and promising, the thousand-year-old city Zibo is approaching the most critical moment in its history. With growing momentum, Zibo is poised to fully bring out the underlying impetus for the high-quality development of finance and industry, so as to build a new highland for the development of scientific and technological innovation industry. SOURCE Qingdao Global Venture Capital Online Conference CONCORD, Calif., May 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Youth Homes, a Bay Area nonprofit dedicated to empowering and supporting the community's most vulnerable youth, is teaming up with Sallie Severns, State Farm Agency owner in Walnut Creek, to support the launch of Youth Homes' Empowerment Workshops. Shatae Jones, Vice President of Youth Homes Residential Programs, shared, "Young people are eager to talk and be heard about the things that matter to them. Youth Homes is excited to utilize this opportunity to amplify youth voices. In collaboration with program participants, we will join alongside our young people to host and co-host a series of workshops supporting their personal, professional, financial, and educational goals. A critical component of the initiative is the Youth Homes Tech Lab, which has been designed to help reduce the gap for youth impacted by the digital divide. Those with unequal access to the internet and other information and communication technologies are considered disadvantaged, as they have less access to digital information, including the ability to learn through digital means. Ms. Jones stated that "The Tech Lab will help to reduce inequity around access to the 'tools for success that many of us take for granted." Sallie Severns, stated, "I'm thrilled to partner with Youth Homes on this new initiative to empower foster youth. Empowerment is the result of connection to resources and the ability to access information and learning freely, this translates into removing barriers that affect young people's access to personal well-being, financial independence, housing, and employment opportunities." Ms. Severns plans to include Myles Gamez (https://www.mylesgamez.com/), a Computer Science student in the effort. Myles, who currently works at a Silicon Valley tech firm, plans to collaborate with Youth Homes to develop workshop curriculum. Myles Gamez said of his involvement, "I am excited to give back to my community in such a meaningful way. I want to help other young people realize their potential." About Youth Homes Youth Homes, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has empowered and supported current and former foster youth, young adults living with complex behavioral health challenges, and underserved children since 1965. We are fiercely committed to creating opportunities for youth to process and heal from trauma, develop self-sufficiency and confidence, build and create healthy, safe, and meaningful lives. We believe it is our collective responsibility to join forces and empower these young people who face almost insurmountable challenges. Learn more us and our suite of programs designed to support and empower youth by visiting https://www.youthhomes.org/. Published by Kha Creation LLC, Website Design Company Concord California https://www.khacreationusa.com/ PRLog ID: www.prlog.org/12871591 SOURCE Sallie Severns Venture Minerals' dark horse has always been the flagship Mount Lindsay Tin-Tungsten project in Tasmania, Australia. The company has spent up to A$35 Million on the project and has seen good and tough times. Ever since I started covering Venture Minerals Limited ( ) ( ) and publishing the very first Coffee with Samso - A Targeted Diversified Mineral Explorer - Venture Minerals Limited in October 2020, I have been a strong advocate of the quality of their projects. Since then, Venture Minerals has been de-risking each project. The dark horse has always been the flagship Mount Lindsay Tin-Tungsten project in Tasmania, Australia. The company has spent up to AUD35 Million on the project and has seen good and tough times. The last few years have been frustrating as commodity pricing has been threatening to break out but with no cigars. However, the recent movement in pricing did not bring a sharp rise in the Tin price. This rise has come back with friends in the form of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance and the EV revolution. Today, Andrew Radonjic shares with us: The rising Tin price The dwindling supply-demand equation. Mount Lindsay Tin-Tungsten project Tin and what makes a Tin project work Chapters: 00:00 Start 00:27 Andrew talks about Venture Minerals' recent announcement. 01:59 What does Andrew think about the Tin price and ESG? 07:11 The real story of Tin supply issue. 11:33 Mount Lindsay has great geology. 17:26 How Tungsten could add even more value to Mount Lindsay? 22:00 How long will the current drilling take? 23:55 Conclusion. PODCAST About Andrew Radonjic Mr. Radonjic is a geologist and mineral economist with over 25 years of experience in mining and exploration, with a specific focus on gold and nickel in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Mr. Radonjic began his career at the Agnew Nickel Mine before spending over 15 years in the Paddington, Mount Pleasant and Lady Bountiful Extended operations north of Kalgoorlie. He has fulfilled a variety of senior roles which gave rise to three gold discoveries, totalling in excess of 3 million ounces in resources and the development of over 1 million ounces. About Venture Minerals Limited Venture Minerals Limited is currently exploring in Western Australia for Copper-Lead-Zinc at the Thor Prospect, Nickel-Cobalt at the Pingaring Project (adjacent and along strike to the Quicksilver Nickel-Cobalt discovery), Nickel-Copper (new target) at the Odin Prospect and Nickel-Copper-Cobalt at the Caesar Project. Recently the maiden drilling program at Thor intersected massive sulfides confirming the Copper-Lead-Zinc target is a 20 a kilometre VMS style system. Thor is now a top priority target for Venture moving forward. The Company's initial focus was on realising the full economic potential of the Mount Lindsay Tin-Tungsten Deposit in North-West Tasmania. The Company has already defined one of the world's largest undeveloped tin deposits and has completed a Feasibility Study on Mount Lindsay. The emergence of tin as the metal most impacted by new technology through its use in Electric Vehicles has refocused Ventures approach to developing this asset and an underground scoping study is currently underway. Please let Samso know your thoughts and send any comments to info@Samso.com.au. Remember to Subscribe to the YouTube Channel, Samso Media and the mail list to stay informed and make comments where appropriate. Other than that, also feel free to provide a Review on Google. For further information about Coffee with Samso and Rooster Talks visit: www.samso.com.au About Samso Samso is a renowned resource among the investment community for keen market analysis and insights into the companies and business trends that matter. Investors seek out Samso for knowledgeable evaluations of current industry developments across a variety of business sectors and considered forecasts of future performances. With a compelling format of relaxed online video interviews, provides clear answers to questions they may not have the opportunity to ask and lays out the big picture to help them complete their investment research. And in doing so, Samso also enables companies featured in interviews to build valuable engagement with their investment communities and customers. Headed by industry veteran Noel Ong and based in Perth, Western Australia, Samsos Coffee with and Rooster Talk interviews both feature friendly conversations with business figures that give insights into Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) companies, related concepts and industry trends. Noel Ong is a geologist with nearly 30 years of industry experience and a strong background in capital markets, corporate finance and the mineral resource sector. He was founder and managing director of ASX-listed company Siburan Resources Limited from 2009-2017 and has also been involved in several other ASX listings, providing advice, procuring projects and helping to raise capital. He brings all this experience and expertise to the Samso interviews, where his engaging conversation style creates a relaxed dialogue, revealing insights that can pique investor interest. Noel Ong travels across Australia to record the interviews, only requiring a coffee shop environment where they can be set up. The interviews are posted on Samsos website and podcasts, YouTube and other relevant online environments where they can be shared among investment communities. Samso also has a track record of developing successful business concepts in the Australasia region and provides bespoke research and counsel to businesses seeking to raise capital and procuring projects for ASX listings. Disclaimer The information contained in this article is the writers personal opinion and is provided for information only and is not intended to or nor will it create/induce the creation of any binding legal relations. Read full disclaimer. New Delhi, May 28 : India and landlocked Uzbekistan are set to reboot ties, taking advantage of Iran's likely accommodation in the international mainstream and the rapidly approaching political transition in Afghanistan. Three major factors are likely to shape New Delhi's relationship with Uzbekistan-a resource rich nation with a deep historical connect with India. Separated by only 3000 kilometres, India sees Uzbekistan as a gateway to Central Asia. The country can also become a cockpit of the rivalry between India and China, with Russia as the elephant in the room. Second, the two countries have a shared interest in counterterrorism, with Afghanistan, which may soon become the hub of radicalism as the core concern. These anxieties have been fuelled by US President Joe Biden's decision to pull out of Afghanistan by September, leaving a power vacuum which Pakistan backed Taliban may fill. Also read: Uzbekistan, India moving swiftly to partner on Chabahar "This will impact geopolitics in that region and the issue of Afghanistan could now feature in the India-Uzbekistan bilateral dialogues. The developments in the region after the withdrawal of US troops will be carefully watched. This has also enhanced inter-dependence between India and Uzbekistan," Narendra Taneja, energy expert, told India Narrative. Third, the likely re-accommodation of Iran in the global mainstream during the Biden presidency will provide an important node of connectivity, cementing a strong commercial relationship between New Delhi and Tashkent. Already India, Iran and Uzbekistan have held their first ministerial meeting to leverage the location of Chabahar port. India and Uzbekistan under the 2011 Ashgabat Agreement also plan to build a transit and transport corridor between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. In building ties with Uzbekistan, India is mindful of China's growing influence in Central Asia. "China looks at Central Asia as its backyard and it is important for India to keep this in mind..this essentially means that there will be multiple challenges. We need to be ready with a proper strategy, show support to the regime, intensify connectivity and set up local but strategic pads within the region," Subhomoy Bhattacharjee, Senior Adjunct Fellow dealing with the energy sector at the New Delhi based think tank RIS (Research and Information System for Developing Countries) said. With its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in focus, China, by 2013 had already become the largest investor in Central Asia, overtaking Russia. "Chinese investment has mainly been in infrastructure and extractive industries, which has brought an array of negative environmental impacts and social tensions to the region," the Third Pole, an independent information and research platform, said. It added that experts and environmentalists in Central Asia have already raised grave concerns over the potential ecological and social impacts of the BRI and the lack of adequate assessments in the developing region. Taneja pointed out that India enjoys a high level of trust with Central Asian countries especially Uzbekistan. Analysts point out that with the Russians feeling edged out in their own backyard, India and Russia are poised to work together to collectively ward off growing Chinese influence in the region. (This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative/ -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Los Angeles, May 30 : Oasis legend Noel Gallagher says he was disappointed that his album with Amorphous Androgynous never released. The album, which was due to be released in 2012, was stalled because he was not happy with how it turned out. Noel credits Amorphous Androgynous for "opening a lot of musical doors" for him after he split with his brother Liam Gallagher. "That's one regret I have, that thing never being fully realised. I credit them, along with (electronic musician) David Holmes, with opening a lot of musical doors for me, music I would never have heard of," Noel said in an interview with Record Collector magazine, according to contactmusic.com. Amorphous Androgynous comprised Garry Cobain and Brian Dougans. Hyderabad, May 30 : It is Telugu actor Allu Sirish's birthday on Sunday, but the actor says he has never been into celebrating birthdays in a big way. This year especially, the actor feels the need to be low-key due to the tough times everyone is going through. "We are going through a pandemic this year and I don't think it is in the best interest to have a big celebration. What I am doing, though, is that I will be releasing the first look of my upcoming movie. It's been two years since I had a release and fans are looking forward to it," Sirish, who was last seen on big screen in the 2019 film "ABCD: American Born Desi Confused", told IANS. He added: "I felt the time is not right and we should stay indoors for some more time, till most of us are vaccinated and the cases come down. I was never big into birthdays but this year I felt the need to be low-key." He will mark his special day, of course, but only among close friends. "In a private capacity, I am sending a few hampers from my side to some friends in the industry because we are unable to celebrate together, and I wanted to reach out to friends. Otherwise, no celebrations this year, no fans gathering, no events -- nothing," he says. The actor has already released two pre-looks of his much talked-about next. The film also stars Anu Emmanuel opposite Sirish and is directed by Rakesh Sasi. It is being presented by Sirish's father, producer Allu Aravind. MAS Holdings donates Rs. 130 m to support Lady Ridgeway Hospital project View(s): MAS Holdings and its associates, have honoured their pledge to support the Little Hearts project of the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, one of the largest childrens hospitals in the world, by raising funds to upgrade its infrastructure in cardiac care, towards their ongoing national healthcare efforts In 2019, at the request of the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, MAS embarked on internally raising funds for the Little Hearts project, where the hospital requested the companys assistance to raise Rs. 100 million towards the construction of a Cardiac and Critical Care Complex in aid of children with heart diseases and critical illnesses, with construction being carried out by the Civil Engineering Division of the Sri Lanka Navy. The company was able to successfully raise in excess of Rs.130 million through donations by both MAS employees and an equal-value contribution from the company, the company said in a media release. The hospital superstructure construction commenced in 2020, with funding from the Little Hearts project, alongside the Sri Lankan governments backing. The Cardiac and Critical Care Complex is a 12-story hospital wing with 9 floors of the structure having been completed to date. The building will feature a cath lab, cardiac operating theatres and will increase the number of cardiac ICU beds from 18 to 36. It will also include over 70 medical and neonatal intensive care beds, a fully-fledged bone marrow transplant unit, as well as specialised zones for advanced cardiac investigations and staff-training facilities, allowing for the optimal provision of care for all children. Commenting on their efforts, Director- MAS Holdings, Ajay Amalean said, We are honoured to be able to support the Little Hearts project. Social stewardship is part of our core corporate ethos, and this further showcases the importance MAS places on supporting our nation and our people. Commenting on the project, Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist and the project director of Little Hearts, Dr. Duminda Samarasinghe said, We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to MAS Holdings for their efforts towards supporting us. Every day, we lose around eight children in Sri Lanka due to Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) or critical illnesses and most of them can be saved with the improvement of facilities. Amaravati, May 30 : Sunday marks the second anniversary of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's ascent to power as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Despite taking over a state tottering from financial resources crunch, he has been aggressively pursuing a path of providing social welfare. Reddy rode to power in the 2019 Assembly polls, on the back of a populist agenda that reached out to the poorest and most backward sections of the society. But even before he could take stock of the situation as the residuary state's second Chief Minister, the Covid pandemic struck. Ever since, he has been busy fighting the pandemic on the one hand, and ensuring the delivery of his pet welfare schemes to the people on the other. The ruling YSRCP's victories in the local bodies elections and in the Tirupati Lok Sabha bypoll have been credited to the welfare schemes under which the state government has directly credited Rs 95,528.50 crore in to the beneficiaries' accounts, besides indirectly spending over Rs 36,197.05 crore on Sampoorna Poshana, free power to farmers, Goru Muddha and many more schemes, aggregating to Rs 1.31 lakh crore. Ushering the concept of village and ward volunteers, he ensured that pensions and other welfare services are door delivered, on the first of every month. The last two years have also seen him locking horns with the opposition TDP and farmers who gave their lands for the capital city of Amaravati. By proposing three capitals -- legislative capital at Amaravati, executive capital at Visakhpatnam, and Kurnool as the location for the high court -- Reddy literally set the cat among the pigeons. On the other side of the political spectrum, Reddy has had to contend with the BJP, which regularly brings up his Christian background. Knowing that he has to stay in the good books of the Union government, Reddy has so far largely ignored them. One of the bigger challenges he faced this year was the series of desecrations or thefts in several Hindu temples of the state -- the most high-profile example being that of the unexplained fire which destroyed the temple chariot at the Antarvedi temple. On the whole, Reddy has adroitly managed to hold his own against seasoned political adversaries like TDP leader and former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, maintaining cordial relations with the Central government led by the BJP, and handling the challenges thrown by the pandemic, even as he remains committed to social welfare schemes, minus the financial resources. Washington, May 30 : US President Joe Biden's $6 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year 2022 has drawn mixed reviews from lawmakers and analysts, setting the stage for a potentially heated debate in Congress. The proposal, which included Biden's plan to increase investment in infrastructure, education, health care and beyond, would push federal spending to the highest sustained levels in decades, Xinhua news agency reported. The budget unveiled on Friday calls for total spending to run above $6 trillion throughout the next decade, and rise to $8.2 trillion by fiscal year 2031. Deficits, meanwhile, would stay above $1.3 trillion in the next 10 years. Biden argued that the budget plan reforms America's "broken tax code" to reward work instead of wealth, while also fully paying for the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan over 15 years, referring to the revised 1.7-trillion-dollar infrastructure plan and the $1.8 trillion spending proposal focusing on childcare and education. The White House's budget proposal sparked praise and criticism among lawmakers, whose views are largely divided along party lines. "President Biden's budget is an unequivocal declaration of the value that Democrats place on America's workers and middle class families, who are the foundation of our nation's strength and the key to Build Back Better," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement, noting that the Biden budget makes "historic" investments in the American workforce and economy. "Congressional Democrats look forward to working with the Biden-Harris Administration to enact this visionary budget, which will pave the path to opportunity and prosperity for our nation." Richard Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said committee Democrats will consider the administration's proposals carefully. Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said the committee will soon be holding a hearing on the president's budget "as a first step". Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, meanwhile, lashed out at the budget plan, arguing that "Americans are already hurting from far-left economics that ignore reality". Republican lawmakers have previously lashed out at Biden's multi-trillion-dollar spending proposals, calling them "liberal daydream", and arguing that the tax hikes would lower wages, kill jobs and shrink the US economy. The budget proposal for fiscal year 2022 was released as recent negotiations over Biden's infrastructure plan failed to yield a deal. The White House last week lowered the overall price tag of Biden's $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan to $1.7 trillion, but Senate Republicans then proposed a $928 billion counteroffer, just over half of the President's revised figure. Outside Capitol Hill, the newly unveiled budget plan also prompted heated discussion. "Having followed Presidents' budgets for 40 years, I think it's fair to say that while I might modify some things in the new Biden budget, it would, if enacted, do more to reduce poverty and inequality than any other budget in modern US history," Bob Greenstein, founder of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said on Twitter on Saturday. "We are pleased that President Biden has put forward important details of his budget plan, that his economic assumptions are reasonable, and that he is proposing to offset new costs over time while modestly reducing long-term deficits," the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a watchdog group, said on Saturday. The group, however, argued that the budget adds "too much" to already record-level debt over the next decade and "does far too little" to address rising structural deficits over the long term. According to the group's estimation, US debt would rise from 100 per cent of GDP at the end of fiscal year 2020 and a record 110 per cent at the end of 2021 to 117 per cent by the end of fiscal year 2031. In nominal dollars, debt would grow by $17 trillion, to over $39 trillion by the end of fiscal year 2031. The Peter G. Peterson Foundation, also a fiscal watchdog group, said in a statement on Saturday that the administration proposes increasing revenues to cover the cost of their longer-term initiatives; "however, those costs would not be fully offset during the traditional 10-year window, rather over a 15-year period". "The underlying structural imbalance between revenues and spending that existed before the pandemic budget would remain, leaving an unsustainable fiscal outlook," the foundation said. Beijing, May 30 : China's cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-2, carrying supplies, equipment and propellant, successfully docked with the space station core module Tianhe on Sunday, according to authorities. At 5.01 a.m. (Beijing Time), Tianzhou-2 and Tianhe completed computer-orchestrated rendezvous and docking, Xinhua news agency quoted the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) as saying. The whole process took approximately eight hours, it added. The Long March-7 Y3 rocket, carrying Tianzhou-2, blasted off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the coast of the southern island province of Hainan at 8.55 p.m., on Saturday. Combined with Tianhe, Tianzhou-2 will replenish Tianhe's propellant. Tests on space application project equipment will also be carried out as planned. China launched its space station core module Tianhe on April 29. The country plans to complete the verification of key technologies and the in-orbit construction of the space station through multiple launches within two years. The launch of the cargo craft was the first time that the space station cargo transportation system, composed of the Tianzhou spacecraft and Long March-7 rockets, was put into use. Srinagar, May 30 : Terrorists involved in a double murder in South Kashmir's Anantnag district have been identified, police said on Sunday. The terrorists, who fired at Shahnawaz Ahmad Bhat, 35, and Sanjeed Ahmad Parray, 20, at Jablipora Bijbehara on Saturday evening, have been identified. Both victims have succumbed to their injuries. Police cordoned off the area and an operation was launched to nab the culprits. Washington, May 30 : With the Covid-19 pandemic abruptly cutting off a steadily growing pipeline of cash for US colleges and universities from international students,higher education institutions are now looking to the White House to shore up a besieged visa process to bring those lucrative students back, a media report said. Students from abroad often pay the full sticker price on tuition and fees, making them desirable to admit, but the cash flow halted when the pandemic closed borders, cancelled flights and shuttered buildings, Xinhua news agency quoted the Politico news report as saying on Saturday. Education groups are looking at President Joe Biden to restore it. American colleges and universities lost billions of dollars when the pandemic scattered their students and turned off new applicants, said the report. Now, "their fall semesters are still uncertain as they don't know yet how much international student enrolment they can get amid a Covid-rattled US bureaucracy", it said. "When you add in other factors of community development, they're innovators and creators, it could be quite a disaster long term if they can't get in," Elizabeth Goss, a Boston-based immigration attorney who specialises in obtaining student visas, was quoted as saying by Politico. Nearly 1.1 million foreign students attended college in the US in the 2019-2020 academic year, according to the Institute of International Education, an organisation that tracks their enrolment. "While education groups say it's too soon to predict what fall enrolment will look like, last fall's 43 per cent plunge in new international student enrolment has advocates for those students concerned about the coming semester," said the Politico news report. A recent Moody's analysis stated that last year's decline in international students is likely to hurt university finances for "several years". Enrolment will likely rebound for the fall, but "be slowed by travel restrictions, lingering sourness from the Trump administration's immigration policies and increased competition from other countries", it added. Biden has eased Trump-era travel bans and will allow students on visas to study online if campuses close for Covid-19 outbreaks, but higher education advocates are urging him to loosen restrictions around student visas to ease the process of getting to the US, the Politico news report noted. NAFSA: Association of International Educators, the world's largest international education non-profit, has also asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken to prioritise student and scholar visa processing, extend temporary in-person visa interview waiver eligibility and use video conferencing for required visa interviews, according to the report. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Washington, May 30 : US air passenger numbers are forecast to average as many as two million a day through the Memorial Day holiday, testing the ability of airlines and airports to handle infrequent and, in some cases, unruly fliers, a media report said. While domestic air-travel numbers last Christmas were only half those in 2019, recent Transportation Security Administration (TSA) counts have them now hovering around 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels, Xinhua news agency quoted The Wall Street Journal report published on Saturday as saying. The TSA screened 1.9 million passengers on May 23, a 14-month high. Bookings from leisure travellers heading to the beaches and mountains picked up in March and accelerated in recent weeks, airline executives were quoted as saying at an industry conference this week, said the report. "The surge in travel is just now starting to happen," said Frontier Airlines' chief executive, Barry Biffle. "Memorial Day is going to be big; the Fourth of July is going to be crazy." Many holiday-weekend travellers are infrequent fliers, and now some are coming back after more than a year of staying close to home, The Wall Street Journal report noted. American Airlines Group Inc., the world's largest carrier, said a third of its passengers typically take only one trip a year. The first of the year's four big holiday-travel periods comes as the industry faces a rise in onboard incidents often driven by disputes over mask-wearing. Tensions over masks, which are still required on public transportation through the fall, are exacerbated by the return to busier flights and airports, airline executives and union officials were quoted as saying. Federal Aviation Administration chief Steve Dickson started a town hall last week with a warning for passengers to behave. The agency has received more than 2,500 reports linked to disorderly-passenger conduct this year, the majority of them linked to passengers refusing to comply with the mask policy. "We've never seen numbers like this before," Dickson said. The FAA has extended into September a zero-tolerance policy introduced in January that subjects passengers who flout safety rules to fines and possible jail time, rather than the prior system of warnings. Lucknow, May 30 : Nearly 21 convicts in different jails in Uttar Pradesh have refused to take parole because they feel 'safer' inside the prison. UP DG Jails, Anand Kumar told reporters that 21 convicts in nine prisons of the state have refused parole, citing Covid scare in their districts and said that they were being treated better in the jails of the state. "We are following complete Covid protocol in the jails and taking utmost care of each prisoner," he said. Earlier this month, UP prison department had started releasing undertrials and convicts on bail and parole in compliance with the Supreme Court directives to decongest the over-crowded state jails in the wake of Covid infection during the second wave. UP prisons have so far released 10,123 under trials and convicts on bail and parole in compliance with the Supreme Court directives. As many as 8,463 under trials were released on interim bails while 1,660 convicts were given a parole of 60 days. The maximum number of 703 undertrials have been released on bail from Ghaziabad district jail, while maximum convicts (78) have been given parole from Kanpur district jail. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Srinagar, May 30 : Transgenders in Kashmir are facing hard times as the back to back lockdowns -- the lockdown after the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 and the two lockdowns following the COVID-19 pandemic -- dealt a blow to the economics of this small community in Kashmir rendering many jobless. "We don't have any work to do during the lockdown, we are sitting idle in our homes," said Falak Khan, a transgender. "We didn't have food to eat. During the lockdown we spent all our money. We earn our livelihood by taking part in dance programmes in Srinagar, Jammu and Delhi. Nobody has helped us during the lockdown, we want the lockdown to end for an end to our problems." The transgender community of Kashmir comprising about 4,000 members has traditionally remained marginalised with most of them discriminated against and stereotyped in the role of matchmakers. With no permanent source of income, the community is seeking help during the lockdown period. They say a meagre monthly assistance of Rs 1,000 announced earlier by the government for them is inadequate. After their economic condition worsened in the last two years some volunteers have come forward to help them by providing free rations to tide over the crisis during the lockdown. Relief materials including food grains were distributed among the community members in Srinagar. "We are self respecting people, we are being patient during the pandemic and are hoping that the things will improve in the future," said Khushi, a transgender who took part in the distribution of food materials. "Some people have now come forward to help us with rations and other materials and that's really a welcome step." Muzaffarnagar : , May 30 (IANS) After the Eidgah and the Chhota Imambara in Lucknow, it is now the sugar mills in western Uttar Pradesh that are turning into Covid vaccination centres. Eight vaccination centres have come up in eight sugar mills in Muzaffarnagar alone. The local administration is using the record of cane farmers registered with the mill to reach out to them through SMS. The service is usually used to disseminate information during the crushing season but it is now being used to invite farmers for vaccination. According to Amit Singh, additional district magistrate, "Sugar mills have contact details of each farmer and it helps to reach out to them for vaccination. We send SMSs and ask the farmer to come on a fixed date and time at the sugar mill concerned for vaccination." Besides this, the administration has started vaccination camps at villages. Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Sadar area, Deepak Kumar said, "Not only vaccination but we are also conducting tests to detect Covid positive people in the rural area. The administration has also deployed vehicles to ferry the elderly to the vaccination centres." Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Hong Kong, May 30 : Yuen Kwok-yung, a government adviser and professor of the University of Hong Kong, said that after reviewing some recent confirmed Covid cases, it is believed that the fourth wave of the pandemic in the city has ended. In a statement on Saturday, he said that a fifth wave is possible and the financial hub should get prepared for it, reports Xinhua news agency. "The virus is very powerful and things can get out of control even if there is only one loophole that lets the virus in." Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection reported one new imported case on Saturday, taking the total infection tally to 11,837. The death toll currently stood at 210, while the recoveries have increased to 11,565. Yuen stressed that having a high vaccination rate is the key for people to live a normal life amid the epidemic. Hong Kong launched a Covid-19 vaccination drive on February 26. So far, more than 2.28 million vaccine doses have been administered. About 1.31 million people have taken at least one shot of the vaccine and more than 966,400 people fully inoculated against the virus. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Containing COVID for economic survival: Restrictions or complete lockdown? View(s): The burning question is whether the life threatening COVID-19 could be eliminated by partial and intermittent measures of imposing restrictions with intervals of relaxation or whether a draconian 14-day lockdown is essential. The burning question is whether the life threatening COVID-19 could be eliminated by partial and intermittent measures of imposing restrictions with intervals of relaxation or whether a draconian 14-day lockdown is essential. Current strategy At the time of writing this column, the Government had opted for a limited shutdown of economic activity with measures to ensuring that essential production and services function. Whether such a strategy would succeed in containing the virus will only be known with the passage of time. Medical advice has been that a 14-day complete lockdown is mandatory to control COVID. The current stringent restrictions that approximate to a lockdown are expected to continue till June 7 with two days of limited respite. There is a prospect of further restrictions that would be nearer the advice of the medical associations. Controversy The controversy on the Colombo Port City that gripped the nation has given way to the issue of containing the life threatening resurgence of COVID in the country. While there is no controversy on the urgent need to wipe out COVID, the means of doing so has become one owing to its economic impact. Contrasting views The Governments concern of ensuring the working of the economy is in direct contrast to medical opinion that a lockdown of 14 days is essential to stem COVID. The economic advisors of the Government have pointed out that a lockdown would affect the economy adversely and cause severe hardships to the poor. Economy Undoubtedly, in the perilous state of the economy, especially external finances, inability to meet export orders is a serious threat to the trade balance. Furthermore, the poorer sections of the community will face severe hardships as they would be denied their incomes and livelihoods. As a large proportion of the population are in informal employment on daily wages and hardly have any savings, they would be in severe hardships. Medical view These facts are well-known and non-controversial. The controversy arises with the manner of containing the fast spreading pandemic. Medical opinions here and abroad have stressed that this third or even fourth wave can be checked, only with a two week complete lockdown of the country. Eminent specialists in the field, and four medical associations in the country, are of this view. This strategy is particularly relevant in the context of the countrys inability to vaccinate a significant proportion of the population. International experience Countries that have succeeded in eliminating the virus in their countries have been those that imposed a complete lockdown and closed their borders such as New Zealand and Australia. Other countries like Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore too succeeded due to their stringent controls, responsible social conduct and adherence to preventive measures. Yet even in these countries there have been a resurgence and restrictions re-imposed. Such is the virulence of this pandemic. Precondition There is no controversy that the eradication of COVID is a precondition for economic activity, especially for manufacturing and exports. In the perilous state of the economy, especially external finances, inability to meet export orders is a serious threat to the trade balance. The economic downturn would be enormous. Furthermore, the poorer sections of the community will face severe hardships as they would be denied their incomes and livelihoods, as a large proportion of the population are in informal employment on daily wages and hardly have any savings. Government interventions and community actions are needed to relieve peoples hunger and starvation and other severe hardships. State finances The Governments state of finances are such that it is unable to fund essential medical needs and expand facilities. There have been generous contributions from individuals, religious organisations, businesses and community organisations. These facts are well-known and non-controversial. Alternate strategy At present the Government has opted for a shutdown of the economy and economic activity with means of ensuring that essential services and production units are able to function. Whether this will succeed in containing the virus will only be known with the passage of time. Prior to the stringent restrictions there was evidence of export manufactures, especially apparel production being disrupted. In fact one of the countrys main garment manufacturers has closed its factories. Conclusion All things considered, there can be no controversy on the urgent need to eradicate COVID, but the means of doing so has become a sharp controversy. The Governments obsession in ensuring the working of the economy is in direct contrast to medical opinion that only a lockdown of 14 days could stem the spread of COVID. There appears to be a growing shift to this position or to a near lockdown. The control of COVID is critical for the economy and the paramount concern for the life of people in the country. The economy can function only in a COVID free environment. Therefore, the national priority must be the containment of COVID and relief for the poor, unemployed and impoverished by the shutdown and restrictions. If the current measures prove in adequate to stem COVID, a lockdown will be mandatory. Let us hope that this life threatening resurgence of COVID will be eliminated in the country and the world sooner rather than later, and there will be an economic revival. Yavatmal : , May 30 (IANS) From the crack of dawn today (Sunday), the sprightly 82-year-old Baba Karnail Singh Khaira has been a busybee, shuffling around at his modest 'Guru Ka Langar', near Karanji village on NH-7 here. With folded hands and a welcoming smile, the bespectacled Khaira Babaji warmly ushers in hordes of tired and famished travellers, offers them a seat and orders his loyal team to serve them piping hot meals, although today is "very special". "It's the 415th anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, the Fifth Sikh Guru, today... As per traditions, I offer 'rose sherbet' to all who come to my 'langar' for a month," the beaming Khaira Babaji told IANS. When the national lockdown started from March 24, 2020, Khaira Babaji's ramshackle 'langar' proved to be a life-saver for millions, mostly uprooted migrants or those stranded for weeks away from their homes and kin, waiting in long queues for their fill. At that time, the humble 'Guru Ka Langar' was the only decent eatery on a 450-km stretch serving meals - free, 24X7 - to anybody who walked in, migrants, travellers, villagers, and even mute stray animals. Now, a year later, the world-famous 'langar' has started an 'oxygen bank' with 15 cylinders given free to needy Covid-19 patients in the pandemic second wave. After IANS first highlighted his yeoman services (May 31, 2020) in this remote, forested, tribal corner of Maharashtra, Khaira Babaji became an international celeb, much sought after by the paparazzi. His awe-inspiring story is what legends are made of - and he earned the admiration of millions, from celebrities to stars to politicians or commoners and was featured in the TV series "Bharat Ke Mahaveer". Thousands world-over like US-based author Sabina Khan, Amardeep Singh of Bengaluru, Yavatmal's Kishore Tiwari and Salim Khetani, Narendra Narlawar, Amritsar Gurudwara Guru Ka Bagh's Baba Satnam Singh and Baba Kirpal Singh, Amreek Singh Malli and many more sent big or small donations that kept the 'langar' fires burning without a break. "In contrast, many international TV channels came, shot and telecast my films/documentaries, and suo moto assured to organise funds for my 'langar' services. They made billions of rupees 'selling me' through sponsors. However, I am still waiting for them to fulfil their promises. But, Wahe Guru is great..," said Khaira Babaji, looking skywards. Located in a desolate area, the 'langar' is linked with the historic Gurudwara Bhagod Sahib in Wai, around 11 kms away in a dense jungle, visited mostly by Sikhs. It was here that the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh stayed in 1705, while en route to Nanded, some 250 km away, where he was assassinated on October 7, 1708. Nearly 125 years later, it bloomed as the world-famous 'Gurudwara Takht Hazuri Sahib Sachkhand' (Nanded), one of the most revered Five Takhts in Sikhism. "Gurudwara Bhagod Sahib is barely accessible, so in 1988 we started this 'langar' branch on the highway. I was assigned to manage it with the blessings of Nanded Gurudwara Sahib's Baba Narinder Singhji and Baba Balwinder Singhji," recalls Khaira Baba. The pandemic Lockdown 2.0 was a different experience for him, he chuckled. "My photos and phone numbers are all over on social media... Now, people call me up hours before and request me to keep food ready for big or small groups 50, 100 or 500 people! This is Guru Nanak's blessings..!" The 'langar' serves breakfast of tea with hard bread or biscuits, meals comprising rice, rotis, dal, vegetables, biryani with daily menu change, providing soap and borewell water for bathing to the visitors. Born in Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) the young Karnail left home at 11 to answer "a mysterious call for service to humankind", later travelled all over India, lived in countries of the Middle-East and Europe for nearly 10 years organizing funds for Gurudwara services. "Though semi-literate, I speak fluent English, Hindi, Punjabi, Arabic, Dutch, German and of course, Marathi," Khaira Baba said with pride. Attributing his daily lonesome grind in the dust and blazing sun as 'marzi (desire) of Wahe Guru', his sole possessions are 3 sets of clothes and travelling around in the three service vehicles donated by devotees to the 'langar'. He drove down to run 'langars' outside Delhi during the ongoing farmers agitation. Khaira Babaji calculated the number of persons fed based on the disposable plates count as 3 million plus for the past 15 months, 2 million in the initial 75 days, rest in the last 12 months (June 1, 2020-May 31, 2021), besides over 600,000 'take-away parcels', and still counting... The 'Guru ka langar' has kept two donation boxes outside in which people drop coins/notes, but the collection is never counted and the money ploughed back into public service. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in) Ajmer, May 30 : Unfazed by the increasing spread of Covid-19 and related deaths, the rural folks in Rajasthan are relying on superstitions and crude practices of quackery, instead of health experts and medical help. Worse still, many people are even against vaccinations because they believe that the pandemic is a curse from God. Many others are influenced by misinformation. On May 27, Dhapu Bai Gemati (70) of Baghelo Ka Kheda village in Bhilwara district hid from her family for five hours after slipping away from the vaccination centre in Kiratpura. Passerbys, who initially thought they had stumbled upon a dead body, found her hiding in the bushes. When they discovered her, she begged with folded hands asking not to be vaccinated, claiming it would kill her. She was shaking with fear when the sarpanch came and talked her into going back home. Her relatives said they will bring her back for vaccination after some counselling. Even as the people of Dantra Dhani village in Bhilwara district believe that hanging shoes at the faAades of their houses will ward off the "evil spirits", those in Lachchipura village of Ajmer are keeping campfires alive throughout the night to please their village deities in hope that they would protect their lives. Similar is the situation in Nagaur, Bhilwara, and Tonk districts of the state, where the villagers infected with Covid-19 are turning to priests and quacks. Because of the dearth, or even complete lack, of medical facilities in some of these areas, the administration is unable to create awareness among these people about seeking proper medical help in case of diseases. Also, the faith in traditions is so deep-rooted in the minds of people that all efforts by the district administrations to prevent them from gathering for rituals and functions are proving fruitless. In Sagariya village of Bhilwara district, more than 100 people gathered in the first week of May to perform the last rites of an 80-year-old man, defying the lockdown and flouting restrictions that specify that no more than 20 persons should be present at a funeral. " The people fled when they saw us. We seized 15 vehicles from the spot," said Bhagirath Singh, the SHO of Shahpura police station. However, the relatives of the deceased once again defied orders and organised a community feast later, which was also attended by a large gathering as a mark of unity. A similar incident was reported from Ajmer, where some members of the Koli community organised a grand funeral in the city's Dhola Bhata area for a person who died of Covid-19. This, when on average, four Covid-related deaths are reported from the area every day. "We had appealed to the people to desist from organising functions or rituals that involve the gathering of people, but in vain. Hence, we have requested the authorities to take stringent steps to prevent such gatherings," said Lalit Verma, a former corporator from Dhola Bhata. Verma said the district administration and the police should strictly enforce the state government order banning marriage functions till June 30. "It is a major challenge to prevent marriages held in villages on the occasion of the Akha Teej. A large number of weddings are held in May because the month is considered auspicious for marriages. We have taken steps to prevent such functions and avoid gathering of crowds," said Chinmaya Gopal, the district collector of Tonk, who has ordered around 60 families who had planned marriage functions to cancel their plans. "Social gatherings and marriage functions are the major sources of Covid-19 spread in the rural regions of Nagaur. Many positive cases from these areas have been referred to our hospital," said Anil Jain, superintendent of JLN Hospital in Ajmer. A major hurdle before the Rajasthan government in containing the spread of the virus is the deep-rooted traditions and superstitions in the minds of rural people. In Dantra village of Bhilwara district, a tribal area with only 3,000 residents, 28 Covid-related deaths were reported in a span of 30 days. Yet, the villagers refuse to take vaccinations against the virus - they believe that hanging shoes on the facades of their houses would keep the "evil spirits" at bay, and that quacks, who often use crude practices such as searing their skins with hot iron rods, could cure the disease. "We have launched an awareness programme and are trying to convince people to take medical help," said C.L. Sharma, the sub-divisional officer of Asind block of Bhilwara. The district administration has so far sealed three clinics run by quacks in Pushkar town and Bhilwara. Raids to nab more such practitioners are on in Jahajpur, Mandal, Badnore, and Asind areas. In the first half of May alone, eight Covid-19 patients, who were initially treated by quacks, were admitted to Mahatma Gandhi Hospital at Bhilwara. Even as the government machinery and the medical fraternity wage a war to protect people from contracting the virus, some religious leaders are putting more hurdles in their way. One Prem Agarwal at the Siddheshwar Peeth of Jhanki Wale Balaji recently told the devotees that reciting Hanuman Chalisa 11,000 times within 15 days could contain the spread of the virus in Rajasthan. This has prompted thousands of people across the state to congregate at temples and homes to chant the Chalisa, thus increasing the risk of more people contracting the virus. (The author is an Ajmer-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.) Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Tehran, May 30 : Iranian President Hassan Rouhani congratulated his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad on his fourth seven-year term in last week's presidential election. By high turnout in the presidential election, the Syrian people have taken a major step toward determining the fate and prosperity of their country, Rouhani was quoted as saying on Saturday. The Iranian President regarded relations between the two countries as "friendly and brotherly" and expressed confidence that this relationship will further grow in the years to come, Xinhua news agency reported. On May 27, Assad was re-elected for a fourth seven-year term with 95.1 per cent of the ballots in the election in government-held areas and dismissed by the opposition as a sham. Three contenders, including Assad, ran in the May 26 polls, Syria's second presidential election since the country's civil war started in 2011. The election was condemned as fraudulent by Syria's opposition as well as countries such as the US, the UK, France, Germany and Italy. Assad, 55, has ruled Syria since 2000. His father, Hafez al-Assad, governed Syria from 1971 to 2000. New Delhi, May 30 : India may continue to pursue investment opportunity in the Farzad-B gas field in Iran, even though ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) lost the development rights of the block that it discovered over a decade ago to local firm Petropars Group, highly placed government sources told IANS. Reports from Iran indicate that months the after ejecting India from the ambitious $1.8 billion project, Tehrann has now brought in Petropars Group to develop the gas field in the Persian Gulf. But the sources said that this would not deter the Indian entity from pursuing energy assets in the country and remain invested in the project. In fact, they indicated that Iran may formally announce a partnership with the Indian firm once development work of the field picks up pace. Sources in the Oil Ministry said that Indian consortium including IndianOil, Oil India and OVL, which bagged the exploration contract for Farzad-B in 2002, may remained invested in the upstream project as equity partners with other local and international entities even without operatorship or development rights. They are in talks with Iranian authorities in this regard to formalise the arrangement that gets India a share in gas fields output, they said. If this option is permitted, it will allow the consortium to get their share of gas to India at applicable rates decided by Iran. Though the exploration contract signed by the Indian consortium expired in 2009, the sources said that a deal could be negotiated so that India has a presence in the field as equity investors. Early indications Iran also favour this arrangement, they said. Farzad-B, which was discovered by OVL in the Farsi block about 10 years ago, had an in-place gas reserve of 21.7 trillion cubic feet, of which 12.5 Tcf is believed to be recoverable. If India gets a share of this gas, it could reduce its dependence on expensive LNG. Iran had been dilly dallying over grant of development right of Farzad-B for few years now. Things had come to a standstill since the US imposed sanctions in 2018 on Iran with India also moving slowly on the matter. This pushed Iran into suggesting that India was not serious about investing the project and decided to offer operatorship of the gas block to a local company. The sources said that changes in geo-political scenario in the Covid-19 world, which suggests that Tehran may soon be out from US sanctions favour more active participation of India in Iranian energy assets. If Iran decides to offer equity holding in the project, Indian consortium claims would once again be considered. "There are two issues to Farzad-B project. Iran not giving development rights to OVL but an Indian consortium continues to have part ownership of the block and would get its share of profit whosoever develops the project," the sources said. The OVL-led consortium have invested close to $100 million in the project. India and Iran were initially targeting concluding a deal on Farzad-B field development by November 2016 but later mutually agreed to push the timeline to February 2017. The deadline to wrap up negotiations was later targeted for September 2017. But, with deal stuck over pricing of gas. Sanctions delayed the process thereafter and despite visits of ministers from both sides no agreement could be reached. OVL pushed for the deal with a sweetened offer that included investment of close to $11 billion. But that also did not break the ice and the project remains in limbo. (Subhash Narayan can be reached at subhash.n@ians.in) Hyderabad, May 30 : Seven years after formation of Telangana as a separate state, Congress party is still struggling to regain the lost ground in its former stronghold. The party's defeat in the recent by-election to Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly constituency shows that its fortunes in the state continue to plummet. Reeling under defections of a dozen MLAs to ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) since 2018 Assembly polls and series of electoral debacles since, Congress is facing its worst crisis. The emergence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the main opposition party following its victory in Dubbak Assembly by-election and its impressive performance in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls late last year has only added to woes of Congress party. With the central leadership of the grand old party taking no step to set the house in order in Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), which remained virtually headless following resignation of Uttam Kumar Reddy in December last year, the party appears to be in a total disarray. Political analysts say that bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh by granting statehood to Telangana was itself a political gamble by the Congress to arrest the slide in its traditional stronghold. The party was hoping to remain afloat at least in Telangana by claiming credit for carving out the separate state. However, TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao dashed its hopes by rejecting the proposal to merge his party with Congress. He decided to maintain the identity of TRS as a political party and vowed to transform newly created state into 'Bangaru Telangana' or golden Telangana. KCR, as Rao is popularly known, succeeded in claiming credit for achieving the goal of separate state by winning the public mandate. In 2014 elections, held just before formal bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, TRS won 63 seats in 119-member Telangana Assembly. The Congress party, which was completely wiped out in Andhra Pradesh due to the public anger over bifurcation, could win 22 seats. However, the party failed to keep its flock together as several of its leaders defected to TRS. In 2018 Assembly elections, held a few months before the term of the Assembly was to end, Congress faced a disaster. It could win just 19 seats, though it had forged electoral alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and other TRS opponents. However, the worst was yet to come for the party. Even before it could gear up for Lok Sabha elections in 2019, it had lost as many as 12 MLAs to the ruling party. Though the party salvaged some pride by winning three Lok Sabha seats, with the reduced strength in Assembly it lost the status of main opposition to Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), a friendly party of TRS. The party suffered a huge embarrassment as it failed to retain Huzurnagar Assembly seat, where by-election was necessitated with the resignation of Uttam Kumar Reddy following his election to Lok Sabha. The TRS wrested the seat from Congress as its candidate S. Saidi Reddy was elected with a huge margin of over 43,000 votes. Uttam's wife N. Padmavathi Reddy finished a distant runner-up. It was in September last year that the AICC named Manickam Tagore as new incharge for Telangana, replacing R. C. Khuntia. However, even his appointment could not stop the party's slide in the state. The BJP, which became aggressive following its impressive performance in Lok Sabha polls by winning four seats, added to the worries of Congress. Projecting itself as the only viable alternative, the saffron party started making inroads with 'Mission 2023'. The BJP wrested Dubbak from TRS to further consolidate itself. The saffron party, which hardly had any presence in the constituency, pushed Congress party to third position. The Congress party suffered another humiliation a month later as it could win just two seats in 150-member Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). In its best-ever performance in the civic body, the BJP bagged 48 seats to deny the TRS a clear majority. The emergence of BJP as the main opposition party sent alarm bells ringing. Owning moral responsibility for the defeat, Uttam Kumar Reddy resigned as the party chief. The party suffered more blows as it lost several leaders to BJP. They included D. K. Aruna, who was later made national vice president of BJP and actress Vijayashanti. The beleaguered party faced another jolt late last year when its MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy announced that he would quit the Congress and join the BJP soon. Rajagopal Reddy stated that the BJP is the only alternative to TRS, as the Congress party had failed to put up a strong fight. If Rajagopal Reddy defects to the BJP, the Congress will be left with just five MLAs in the Assembly. Former MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, who resigned TRS to join Congress on the eve of 2018 elections, recently quit Congress party and is now working to bring together non-BJP and non-Congress parties against TRS. Even after six months, the central leadership of Congress party has not named a new state president. The groupism in the party came to fore with leaders lobbying for the posts publicly targeting each other to mar the prospects of their rivals. Fearing that change of leadership would impact the party's chances in Nagarjuna Sagar by-election, the high command delayed naming Uttam Kumar Reddy's successor. The Congress party was pinning its hopes on this by-election to revive its fortunes in the state. Its leaders were confident that senior leader and former minister K. Jana Reddy will wrest the seat from TRS to give the party a new hope. However, Jana Reddy, a seven-time MLA lost by over 18,000 votes to TRS debutant Nomula Bhagat, whose father Nomula Narasimhaiah had defeated the Congress leader in 2018. Narasimhaiah's death in December last year caused the vacancy and the by-election was held on April 17. The only solace for the Congress party was that it finished runners-up and BJP was distant third with its candidate forfeiting his deposit. Political analysts say while it's not all over for the Congress party, it is facing an uphill challenge to revive past glory in the country and especially in Telangana. "The party's decline at the central stage has weakened its position in this State too. But it can revive its position, and the upcoming elections could be one last opportunity to not lost further ground," said analyst Palwai Raghavendra Reddy. "Congress still has a fixed vote bank in the country, and more so in Telangana. The party has to ensure it does not slip further and lose its loyal cadre to the ruling TRS or the BJP, which aims to occupy at least the position of main opposition in Telangana," he said. The analyst says Congress was suffering due to the delay in naming the new leader and lack of a popular face. "Congress needs to first decide on who would be the face of the party in the next elections, bind all leaders together with the common goal to win in the State. The party should try to ensure that no more prominent leaders leave Congress, but if there are any trojan horses in its ranks, they need to be weeded out sooner than later," he added. New Delhi, May 30 : Even as a Delhi Court on Saturday sent two time olympian and star wrestler Sushil Kumar to four-day police custody, the Delhi Police Crime Branch is still looking for three more persons in connection with its probe into the Sagar Dhankar murder case. A senior Delhi Police official related to probe said, that the police has till date arrested nine people in connection with the murder case. Delhi Police on Friday arrested two werestlers -- Rohit and Vijender after their role in the murder case emerged. Sushil Kumar was arrested on May 23 from Delhi after he was on the run for 18 days since May 4. He was involved in the murder of Dhankar at Chhatrasal Stadium. Dhankar was allegedly thrashed by several people in Chhatrasal Stadium over a minor tiff. He later succumbed to his injuries. On Thursday evening, the Crime Branch sleuths had taken Sushil Kumar to Haryana and Chandigarh and was questioned about the places where he stayed during his run and who all were the persons who helped him in getting shelter. Sushil Kumar has reportedly shared several names during his questioning. The Olympian was quietly taken to Haryana and Chandigarh on Thursday evening and returned to the national capital on Friday morning. A crime branch source said that on the basis of the revelations by Sushil Kumar, the police is looking for Vinod Pradhan, Pradeep a.k.a. Bablu and Praveen a.k.a. Choti in connection with the murder case. The source said that all three were present during the incident at Chhatrasal Stadium. Police also recovered a double barrel gun from a vehicle that was recovered from the stadium premises. He said that the double barrel gun belonged to Pradhan. The source said all the three people belong to Jhajjar district in Haryana and police is collecting information about their whereabouts. Delhi Police has already arrested several people belonging to Neeraj Bawana and Kala Asauda gangs in connection with the murder of Dhankar. Earlier, a Delhi court had issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Sushil Kumar. Delhi Police had also issued a lookout notice for Kumar who won a bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and silver in the 2012 London Olympic Games. The source also said that Prince, a friend of Sushil Kumar who shot the video of thrashing of Dhankar has turned a witness in the case. (Anand Singh can be contacted at anand.s@ians.in) London, May 30 : The B.1.617 coronavirus variant could "pick up speed and become a big problem" in the UK as the country further eases its lockdown, an expert has warned. The UK's fight against coronavirus could turn bad "very, very quickly" unless the government acts cautiously on easing lockdown further, Xinhua news agency quoted Professor Tim Gowers from the University of Cambridge as saying to the Guardian on Saturday. "So I think if that's the way you're going to play things, then you should be very, very cautious about every step you take... And maybe everything (will) be okay, maybe the number of people who are vaccinated will be just enough. "But if it's not OK, we know, because of mathematics, that things will get bad very, very quickly. "Or at least, maybe it won't look that quick to start with, but it'll grow exponentially. So it'll pick up speed and become a big problem," he said. Meanwhile, Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chair of the UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), also warned that the variant is "clearly more transmissible". "We need to be reassured that we're in a very different position now in that we've got a highly vaccinated population and we just need to continue moving at speed," he told the BBC on Saturday. "We do know that with this particular variant you do need two doses to offer complete protection, and so we're very, very keen to make sure that all those, particularly higher risk groups, that's the over-50s and those with underlying illness, receive their second vaccination as soon as feasible." Meanwhile, the B.1.617 variant cases doubled in a week in England to almost 7,000, prompting concerns that the government's lockdown roadmap will be derailed. The roadmap is expected to see all legal limits on social contact to be removed on June 21. It is understood that a final decision on the planed easing of lockdown will not be made until June 14. More than 38.8 million people, or more than 70 per cent of adults in Britain, have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures. The UK's overall Covid-19 caseload and death toll currently stood at 4,496,823 and 128,037, respectively. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New Delhi, May 30 : Chef Jose Andres, who is the founder of World Central Kitchen based in Washington D.C, recently visited Mumbai. The celebrity chef and Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, who have partnered with Indian Hotels Company for its #MealsToSmiles initiative visited the TajSATS team in Mumbai at the kitchen where the meals for medical and healthcare workers is prepared. They were also accompanied by Manish Gupta, Chief Executive Officer -- TajSATS. IHCL has delivered over 4.25 lakh meals to healthcare providers at 32 hospitals in eight cities across eight states, including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, New Delhi and Varanasi to date. These meals are being delivered through the Taj Public Service Welfare Trust (TPSWT) and TajSATS -- an IHCL company and India's market leader in airline catering, in partnership with brands and individuals across the globe. (Puja Gupta can be contacted at puja.g@ians.in) Sanaa, May 30 : Yemen's Houthi militia said they attacked the King Khalid Air Base in Saudi Arabia's southwestern city of Khamis Mushait with two explosive-laden drones. "The drones hit the air base accurately," Xinhua news agency quoted Houthi spokesman Yehya Sarea as saying on the rebels-run al-Masirah TV on Saturday. But the Saudi-led coalition said that it intercepted and destroyed a bomb-laden drone launched by the Houthi militia toward Khamis Mushait. Cross-border missile and drone attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis have escalated since February when the group began a major offensive against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government army to capture the oil-rich province of Marib. A recent UN-brokered negotiation between Yemen's warring sides and other relevant parties has failed to produce a cease-fire agreement. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government. Sofia, May 30 : The Bulgarian government has extended the nationwide Covid-19 pandemic emergency until July 31, the cabinet said in a statement. The epidemic emergency was initially declared on May 14 last year with a duration of one month, replacing the state of emergency implemented on March 13, Xinhua news agency. It has already been extended several times, with the last extension to the end of May. "The prolongation of the epidemic situation and the implementation of anti-epidemic measures in the country aim to reduce the impact of Covid-19 on public health and the health care system, taking into account the real risk of the spread of different variants of SARS-CoV-2 in Bulgaria with high infectivity," the statement issued on Saturday said. A total of 417,133 confirmed Covid-19 cases with 17,581 deaths have been registered in Bulgaria so far. The Balkan country has been seeing a downward trend in the epidemic since mid-April. Meanwhile, vaccinations have been picking up pace, with 1.283 million doses administered till date. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Former AG laments lack of quality investigators View(s): Shortly before his retirement, Attorney General Dappula de Livera made a statement that he would not be able to file indictments in respect of the Easter Sunday attacks prior to his leaving of office, as the investigation files submitted to him were not complete. The statement took even Public Security Minister Sarath Weerasekera by surprise. He called for a report from the Police Inspector General on the matter. The retiring Attorney General was not wrong in saying he could not file indictments based on incomplete investigations, as indictments can only be served on the basis of a complete set of evidence. He probably made his position clear before his retirement so that he would not be blamed after his retirement. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and the Catholic Church have been calling for justice for the victims of the Easter Sunday attacks, and have been repeatedly highlighting the lethargic pace at which investigations have been going on. Dappula de Livera clearly did not want to be made the scapegoat for the delay in serving justice to the victims after he left office. In a pre-departure interview, Mr. de Livera said COVID-19 had brought the administration of justice in Sri Lanka to a grinding halt, a time when delays in the system are already a perennial problem. The retiring Attorney General speaking to News First went on to detail the challenges faced by the justice system and he said delays caused by COVID-19 were a curse to the system. He said it will have serious repercussions and consequences in the administration of justice in the country. The Attorney General, who retired on Monday (24), said Sri Lanka Police, the Attorney Generals Department and the Judiciary are mandated to bring about justice and all three bodies must work together and move together to ensure that justice is served to the countrys people. Mr. de Livera said one of the main reasons for delays is the delay in detecting and investigating crimes by the Police in addition to the delay in crimes being reported to authorities. Victims of crimes are also reluctant to come forward to testify as a certain percentage of them have a lack of confidence in the system. They believe they will be subject to secondary victimisation by the system that should protect them, said the retiring AG. He also noted that this attitude was present mainly due to the delays and because the system is not user-friendly. Explaining the delays in high profile cases, Mr. De Livera said that such cases are often complex in nature and are delayed due to the slow pace of investigations. He said after he was appointed Attorney General, he took on the challenge of expediting these high profile cases which are of public interest. Over the past two years he had moved the Chief Justice to appoint 14 Trials-at-Bar to try the high profile cases in Sri Lanka. These cases are: 01. The Rathupaswala shooting in 2013 02. The Welikada Prison massacre in 2012 03. The abduction and enforced disappear ance of 11 youth by Navy personnel 04. The abduction and enforced disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda 05. The Elephant trafficking case of known trafficker Ali Roshan 06. The Avant-Garde high seas arms trafficking case 07. Central Bank Treasury Bond Scam of February 27 2015 08. Central Bank Treasury Bond Scam of March 29 2016 09. Central Bank Treasury Bond Scam of March 31 2016 10. Damages to Buddha statues in Mawanella 11. The Wanathawilluwa explosives dump 12. Criminal Negligence case against Former IGP Pujith Jayasundara 12. Criminal Negligence case against Former Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando 13. Illegal financial activity by ETI In addition, he had also called for Trials-at-Bar in regard to four cases connected to the April 21 2019 terrorist attacks. There are some cases that remain unsolved including the assassination of Lasantha Wickrematunge, the murder of Wasim Thajudeen and the assault on Keith Noyahr. These must be investigated, he said. In the Wasim Thajudeen case, the two people accused of falsifying evidence are dead. The case on falsification of evidence will conclude, however the main case will and must continue to ensure justice is served. Todays Police personnel are having serious capacity issues as they do not have quality investigators. The Police have problems with efficient and productive investigations mainly due to the lack of experienced and trained officers, the retiring AG said. He also pointed out that at the Magistrates Court, often junior Police officers are leading the prosecution in certain cases. The former AGs lament about the lack of experienced investigators contributing to delays in the administration of justice has increased relevance in terms of the investigations into the Easter Sunday attacks. While the absence of Shani Abeysekara, who made considerable headway in the investigations soon after the attacks, has slowed down the process, the withdrawal and transfer of several other experienced officers from the Easter Sunday attack investigations has caused even further delay. Mr. de Livera went on to point out that there is clear evidence of a grand conspiracy linked to the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, and he said information by the State Intelligence Service, with times, targets, places, method of attack and other information is clear evidence there was a grand conspiracy in place with regard to the April 21 2019 attacks. While there is still a great deal of public speculation with regard to the mastermind behind the attacks, the retiring AG said the identities of those involved in the grand conspiracy must come by way of evidence. Two weeks after the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks, the terrorist network was dismantled and over 200 people arrested. Thereafter the pace of the investigations slowed down and the arrests made have been only of those suspected to have minor involvements. No progress has been made with regard to apprehending Sara Pulasthi who is suspected to have fled to India. There is no indications as yet to several matters that have come to light in Parliament through Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauff Hakeem as well as Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentarians Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara. It is time the pace of investigations into the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks increased, and the masterminds behind these heinous attacks brought before the Law. Only then will the ends of justice be met. (javidyusuf@gmail.com) Mogadishu, May 30 : The Somali Armed Forces have said that it killed 37 al-Shabab militants in the Middle Shabelle region amid the ongoing military operations to flush out the extremists in the southern part of the country. "The Somali National Army (SNA) last night carried out a planned operation in the Galka-Harare area of Middle Shabelle where the militants were based, killing 37 al-Shabab militants and capturing two others," the armed forces said in a statement issued here on Saturday. The incident came after the government forces killed 15 al-Shabab militants, including key members, during an operation in Gal-labashiir village in Middle Shabelle region on Friday. The government forces have intensified security operations against the Al Qaeda allied terrorist group as the country prepares to hold presidential and parliamentary elections within 60 days. The terror group which has been fighting to overthrow the government has vowed to disrupt the elections. Al-Shabab has been designated as a terrorist organisation by Australia, Canada, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, the UK and the US. The US State Department has open bounties on several of the group's senior commanders. It has carried out major attacks including the September 2013 Westgate shopping mall attack (71 deaths), October 2017 Mogadishu bombings (587 deaths) and December 2019 Mogadishu bombing (over 85 deaths). Lucknow, May 30 : Union minister Santosh Gangwar, MP Satyadev Pachauri, UP minister Brijesh Pathak, BJP MPs Kaushal Kishore and Rajendra Agarwal, MLAs Dinanath Bhaskar, Dalveer Singh, Lokendra Pratap Singh and Sanjay Pratap Jaiswal, MLC Rajkumar Agarwal.... the list goes on. More and more BJP leaders are airing their resentment against the Yogi Adityanath government over its Covid management, rather mismanagement. UP law minister Brijesh Pathak was the first to blow the lid off the state of affairs in the state when he wrote a letter to senior health officials, expressing his anguish on the stressed-out health facilities amid Covid surge last month. In the one-page letter, Pathak, an MLA from Lucknow, lamented that he had received a frantic call from the residence of Yogesh Praveen, informing him that his condition was critical and needed an ambulance. However, the ambulance did not reach him and the historian died. BJP MP Kaushal Kishore, who lost his elder brother to Covid, wrote to chief minister Yogi Adityanath, demanding action against Balarampur hospital and King George's Medical University doctors who have been 'ignoring' patients. He claimed in his letter that ventilators were not in working condition in these hospitals. In another instance, BJP MP from Meerut, Rajendra Agarwal wrote to Yogi Adityanath, complaining about inadequate arrangements, especially lack of medical oxygen in the city. Rajendra Agarwal stated in his letter that both government and private hospitals in Meerut are staring at an acute shortage of medical oxygen. Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Labour Welfare Council, state minister Sunil Bharala, on the other hand, protested about the lack of beds, oxygen, and life-saving drugs in Meerut and asked chief minister Yogi Adityanath to directly intervene on behalf of Covid-19 patients. BJP MLA from Badaun, Dharmendra Shakya, levelled serious allegations against the Badaun Medical College and sought a probe into the matter. Another BJP MLA, Dinanath Bhaskar from Bhadohi, sent a letter to the chief minister seeking an inquiry into the circumstances that led to the death of a local BJP leader Lal Bahadur Maurya. Bhaskar further said that the doctors were abusive and told the patient to get "Yogi Adityanath to treat you." The most disturbing case is that of BJP MLC Rajkumar Agarwal, who lost his son, Ashish, to Covid because the hospital did not allow him to give an oxygen cylinder to the patient who was gasping for breath. Agarwal wrote letters, complaining against the hospital but no action has been taken till date. Talking to IANS, one of the BJP lawmakers, who wrote a letter to the chief minister, said, "If we had not put our letters on the social media, no one would have even known about them. The chief minister's office has not responded to even one letter. If this is the response to elected representatives, then we can understand the plight of the common man." He said further, "Our voters now taunt us and we are helpless. If our own kin have died without proper treatment - and the government is not even apologetic about it-you can imagine what happens to the people." A BJP legislator from a district adjoining Lucknow, said, "The situation is still explosive in the rural areas and the problem is that the chief minister depends on feedback from his Team 9. I have been seeking an appointment but have not got one yet. More people in my constituency are dying due to lack of treatment than of Covid. Even the death rate among non-Covid patients is escalating because all facilities for them have been shut out. Doctors are now demanding a negative Covid report before even treating fractures." A two-term BJP MP, meanwhile, said that elected representatives were facing massive public anger in their respective constituencies. "The problem is that we are helpless because the bureaucracy does not listen to us. We have informed our leaders about the situation but no one is doing anything. We have to face public anger and I do not know how this will reflect in the upcoming assembly elections," he said. He added that the panchayat elections and the BJP's poor performance in it were an indication of the things to come. The deep disquiet in the BJP has now spread to its mentor organization, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). A RSS functionary, admitted that this was the first time in seven years that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's image had been dented due to pandemic mismanagement. "The middle class are the worst-hit - and now the virus is spreading to the villages. The pandemic could have an adverse impact on the poll outcome," he confessed. BJP spokesman Ashok Pandey, however, downplayed the situation. "I admit that things were bad but now the chief minister is hitting the ground and setting things right. We have managed to control the situation and Covid is ebbing too," he said. A MLA, on the other hand , said, "The damage is irreparable. Those who have lost their family members to mismanagement, will not forget things in a hurry." Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Male, May 30 : Maldivian President Ibrahim Solih will appoint delegates to monitor and coordinate his country's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, state media reported. State-owned PSM News reported on Saturday that President Solih will appoint delegates to each of the country's atolls, to whom local councils and Covid-19 task forces can report to and request assistance. According to the Ministry of Health, regional delegates will be selected from the country's existing cadre of state ministers and deputy ministers, reports Xinhua news agency. The Maldives is currently witnessed a third wave of the pandemic, with daily Covid-19 cases averaging above 1,000 for the past month. The Maldives has recorded a total of 61,844 cases, with 155 deaths. The number of active cases stood at 245,818, including 252 who have been hospitalised for treatment. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Colombo, May 30 : Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa made an inspection visit to the coastal area which is affected by the debris washed up from the burning X-Press Pearl container ship in the waters off the Colombo Harbour, his office said. During the inspection visit to Uswetakeiyawa on the outskirts of Colombo on Saturday, the Prime Minister issued directives to the officials to expedite the provision of relief to the fishermen affected by the situation, Xinhua news agency quoted an official statement as saying Rajapaksa also instructed the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) to take all necessary measures to protect the marine environment. An official from the Sri Lanka Navy told Xinhua that efforts were still underway to put out the fire in the vessel which is now confined to the stern area. The official said heavy smoke is still emanating from the vessel and an explosion from the vessel was reported early on Saturday morning. The vessel is registered under the flag of Singapore and was carrying 1,486 containers with 25 tonnes of Nitric Acid and several other chemicals and cosmetics from the port of Hazira, India on May 15. The vessel sent out a distress call while being close to the Colombo Port on May 20, and caught fire soon after that. The Sri Lankan Navy immediately dispatched vessels to bring the fire under control. The MEPA said on Friday that a major environmental disaster was expected following the burning of the vessel and the impact was being assessed. General Manager of MEPA Terney Pradeep said the coast line from the south along the west coast had debris washed ashore and the public had been strongly advised not to touch any of the debris as it could contain hazardous material. State Minister of Urban Development, Coast Conservation, Waste Disposal and Public Sanitation, Nalaka Godahewa told the media on Friday that a large amount of marine life had been killed as a result of the pollution from the ship. He said that fish, turtles and other marine life had been killed and more such loss of life was expected over the next few days. The Sri Lankan government has decided to pay a certain amount of compensation for the fishing community which has to suspend fishing activities and those who are involved in related industries. Abuja, May 30 : Nigerian police have confirmed the release of 14 university students and staff who were kidnapped last month in Kaduna state. About 20 people including students and two staff of the privately-owned Greenfield University in in the Chikun local government area of the state were kidnapped by unknown gunmen on April 20, reports Xinhua news agency. Mohammed Jalige, a spokesman for the police in Kaduna, told reporters that the students were found after being released by their abductors on Saturday afternoon, at a location along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway. According to Samuel Aruwan, a commissioner for internal security and home affairs in the state, the two staff of the university were among those released by the gunmen. "Fourteen persons were released in total, comprising students and staff," Aruwan said in a terse statement. Police authorities in Nigeria confirmed the abduction on April 21, saying the gunmen infiltrated the university in large numbers and abducted the students and two staff, while killing one member of staff. On April 23, the gunmen killed three students in their captivity. The bodies of the students were found at a location close to the school. This was followed by the gruesome killing of two more students on April 26. On May 1, one of the abducted students was released by the gunmen after his parents paid an undisclosed ransom, according to local media reports. Damascus, May 30 : The Syrian Foreign Ministry has accused the European Union (EU) of being a "partner in the unjust war against Syria", as the bloc decided to renew sanctions on the war-torn country. "Once again, the European Union proves its complete distance from reality, its full partnership in the unjust war on Syria, and its responsibility for the bloodshed of Syrians and destruction of their achievements," the Ministry said on Saturday. The EU recently said it will renew its sanctions against the Syrian government for another year, reports Xinhua news agency. The EU sanctions were introduced in 2011 as a response to the alleged violent repression in the country. Currently, 283 individuals and 70 organisations are on the sanctions list, which includes a ban on entry to the EU and a freeze on European assets. The 27-member bloc also has a ban on oil imports from Syria. The EU's decision comes as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has won his fourth seven-year term in office in last week's presidential election. The Ministry further said the "renewal of unilateral, inhuman coercive measures against Syria affect the Syrian citizens in their life, health, and livelihood, and constitute a flagrant violation of the most basic human rights and principles of international humanitarian law". It further charged that the EU has lost credibility due to its "wrong approaches and its blind subordination to the US policy". New Delhi, May 30 : Taking congnisance of reports regarding some private hospitals giving package for Covid-19 vaccination in collaboration with luxury hotels, the Centre directed states to stop the violation of guidelines and take action against such institutions. In a letter to states and Union Territories on Saturday, Union Health Ministry said, "vaccination carried out in star hotels is contrary to the guidelines and must be stopped immediately". "Necessary legal and administrative actions should be initiated against such institutions. Therefore, you are also requested to monitor and ensure that National Covid Vaccination drive is carried out as per the prescribed guidelines." It is directed that the officials should monitor and ensure that Covid vaccination guidelines are followed while carrying out the world's largest exercise. Under the guidelines, vaccination can be carried out at "government and private Covid vaccination centres, workplaces, near to home covid vaccination centre for elderly and differently-abled persons to be organised at group housing societies, RWA offices, community centres, panchayat bhawans, school and colleges, old age homes etc on a temporary basis." Covid vaccination packages by luxury hotels - which include a comfortable stay, healthy breakfast, dinner and wifi, along with "vaccination by experts from a renowned hospital and clinical consultation on request" - have drawn criticism on social media. Raising acute vaccine shortage, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday said, "how private hospitals were getting the doses if centre does not have enough stocks for states". Sisodia said it was vaccine shortage that has forced the state government to suspend the inoculation programme for the 18-44 years age group. Over 21 crore doses have been administered so far since the world's biggest vaccination drive began in India on January 16 this year. The government aims to vaccinate the entire country by the end of December this year. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Mumbai, May 30 : Bollywood actress Sunny Leone shared a video, showcasing her hilarious moves and owning it too. Sunny posted a video on Sunday on Instagram. In the clip, she is seen walking on a hallway in an exaggerated manner. The actress is dressed in a metallic gold coloured lehenga. "When you got no moves but own it anyway #SunnyLeone #behindthescenes#OnSets," she wrote as the caption. The actress did not share what the behind-the-scenes video is from. Talking about her work, Sunny is all set to step into the digital world with the web series "Anamika", directed by Vikram Bhatt. The actress will engage in action sequences in the series. The series co-stars Sonnalli Seygall. She is currently in Kerala shooting for the upcoming psychological thriller film "Shero". Directed by Sreejith Vijayan, the film is slated to release in Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Malayalam. Baghdad, May 30 : Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held meetings with Iraqi leaders during his official visit to Baghdad to strengthen bilateral ties in various fields. Iraqi President Barham Salih met with Qureshi on Saturday, and the two sides discussed bilateral relations and stressed the importance of cooperation in combating terrorism and extremism to stabilise the region and the world, Xinhua news agency reported. "The world and the region, in particular, are facing the challenges of terrorism, extremism, and the escalation of tensions that affect global security and stability," Salih said. "Iraq's close relations with the Arab world, Islamic neighbouring countries, and its relations with the international community are a cornerstone of security, stability, and development in the region." For his part, Qureshi affirmed "his country's commitment to supporting Iraq's security and sovereignty and expressed aspiration towards consolidating bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields with Iraq". Qureshi also met Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, as the two discussed ways to enhance cooperation between Baghdad and Islamabad in the security, economic and military fields. They also discussed the file of religious visits as Pakistan wants to facilitate visa procedures for Pakistani visitors to Iraq Moreover, Qureshi conveyed an invitation from the Pakistani leadership for al-Kadhimi to visit Pakistan. Qureshi also met his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein. At a press conference after the meeting, Hussein said that he discussed with Qureshi "the export of Iraqi oil to the Pakistani market, cooperation in the agricultural and industrial fields, in addition to encouraging religious tourism between the two countries". For his part, Qureshi told reporters that his country is looking forward to more cooperation with Iraq in the fields of combating terrorism and religious tourism, stressing Pakistan's commitment to supporting Iraq in all fields. Qureshi arrived at Baghdad airport on Friday and was received by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Salih al-Tamimi. Lucknow, May 30 : A young woman, aged 19 years, allegedly drugged her parents and facilitated theft in her own house with the help of her lover. The fact came to light during the investigation of a case of theft lodged by a businessman, Manoj, who said that thieves had stolen Rs 13 lakh cash and ornaments worth Rs 3 lakh from his house in Gosainganj area. Deputy Commissioner of Police, South, Khyati Garg said: "All the lockers where valuables were stored were broken open but there was no sign of forced entry into the house. When quizzed, the businessman's daughter, Khushboo, confessed to her involvement in the crime." Police have arrested Khushboo, her friend Vinay Yadav and one of his aides, Shubham Yadav on Saturday evening. The stolen goods have also been recovered. One of the co-accused, Ranjeet Yadav, is still on the run," the DCP said. According to the police, Garg said Manoj did not approve of his daughter's relationship with Vinay, after which Khushboo decided to elope with the money in the house. Khushboo offered 'kaadha' laced with sleeping pills to her parents. After they dozed off, she allowed Vinay and his aides to enter the house and commit theft. After they escaped, Khushboo closed the door from inside and went to sleep, police said. Cops became suspicious when Khushboo could not explain why she herself did not take 'kaadha' on Friday night. Medics sans conscience View(s): My dear Doctor Padeniya, I thought I should write to you now, when our little Paradise island is facing its greatest health crisis in a century. You are the boss of the most powerful medical organisation in the country at a time when thousands are getting infected with the coronavirus and dozens of people are dying every day. Your organisation, the GMOA, is a trade union. Therefore, you have to fight for the rights of your members who are doctors. We appreciate that. However, you have said repeatedly that you also wish to protect patients, and you are always prepared to fight for that. In the past, the GMOA, indeed, fought for what they thought were just causes, such as when you staged strikes to oppose private medical schools, both when JR built one at Ragama, and more recently when another was set up in Malabe under MR. The jury is still out on whether you fought for the right cause then. In more recent years, however, we saw the GMOA change, especially during the yahapaalanaya era. It began talking about other issues. It worried about trade agreements that the country was entering into. You gave your reasons for that, but many asked why a doctors union was fighting for these issues. Those would have been difficult moments for the GMOA. You didnt hesitate to stage strikes to get what you want, even if it meant inconveniencing the public and putting their health and lives at risk. You always justified your actions, saying that you were fighting for the greater good of the people. Some of the causes you fought for were, quite frankly, embarrassing. There were times when you staged strikes demanding duty free car permits for doctors, and even more shockingly, asking for prestigious schools for your children. We still cant understand how that would help your patients. Doctor, remember the time when the GMOA was on strike and the controversial Ranjan who is now languishing in jail caught you out, being still able to get an appointment at your private practice? As always, Ranjan taped the conversation, but you offered a not so convincing explanation for that too. You even opposed the suwa seriya ambulances that were imported from India. Some of your chaps publicly denounced the scheme saying the public should think twice before calling them because they risked getting electrocuted. In the pandemic, where would we be without those ambulances, Doctor? What puzzles us now, Doctor, is not what you did then. We realise that, as a trade union, you were being selfish. What we cannot understand is why, after shouting all these years for various causes, justified or not as they maybe, you are now suddenly silent. Your silence is indeed deafening! The trade union which shouted from the rooftops about medical schools, school admissions, duty free car permits, international trade agreements and ambulances is now silent when the country is facing its greatest health crisis in almost a century. Even when you say something, its rather non-committal. Is it because, as Basil maama quite openly told us, you had wanted some nominations for the GMOA at the last general elections? Or is it because you have now ceased to become a genuine trade union that serves doctors, and transformed into yet another branch organisation of the pohottuwa party? Is that why Pavithra did your bidding, sacking four members of the Medical Council, the apex body that regulates doctors, including some very respected non-partisan members who had the guts to stand up to you in the Council? Is that also why you were silent about her muttiya and the peniya? Is that also why you never issued a statement on your own calling for a lockdown, because you knew that it would upset Gota maama? Instead, you waited until it was no longer possible to stay silent and then, when the other major medical bodies went public calling for a lockdown, you just joined them. Considering how you and the GMOA have behaved in recent times, none of this is surprising. What was shocking though was your latest attempt trying to sneak in through the back door to the top of the vaccine queue, surreptitiously submitting lists of your extended families for vaccination. We realise that, as family members of health workers, they are at greater risk. Still, how are they different from all others such as nurses, attendants, technicians and all of their family members? Or, do you think you are more entitled because you got higher A Level marks and a medical degree? Dont get me wrong, doctor. There are thousands of doctors who do honest work and stand up for what is right, such as the lady doctor in Piliyandala who stood up to thug Lokuge and the other lady doctor who defied the Moratuwa Mayor who thought he could decide who got vaccinated. Then there are other doctors who work from morning till night in difficult circumstances, putting their own lives at risk to save those of others. I am sure none of them would want to jump the queue like you do. By claiming to represent them, you are only disgracing them and the good work they do. What you and your union have done in recent years, Doctor Padeniya, is not to win the legitimate rights of your profession. Instead, you have shown that there is no difference between you and the likes of the Moratuwa Mayor because you both believe you can take the law into your own hands! Yours truly, Punchi Putha PS: If I am not mistaken, doctor, there is that matter of the contempt of court charges against you, the same charges that landed Ranjan in prison. Even if that ends unfavourably, you must be sure that, with all that you have done for the pohottuwa, you can get a pardon from Gota maama, no? New Delhi, May 30 : LIC's holding across 296 companies where its holding is more than 1 per cent, slipped to an all-time low of 3.66 per cent as on March 31, 2021, down from 3.70 per cent as on December 31, 2020 and from all-time high of 5 per cent as on June 30, 2012, as per primeinfobase.com, an initiative of PRIME Database Group. According to Pranav Haldea, Managing Director, Prime Database Group, this was on account of profit booking by India's largest institutional investor. In INR value terms though, it reached an all-time high of Rs 7.24 lakh crore in quarter ending March 31, 2021, an increase of 6.30 per cent over previous quarter. Sensex and Nifty rose by 3.70 and 5.10 per cent respectively during this period. LIC also continues to command a lion's share of investments in equities by insurance companies (76 per cent share). Holding of Insurance companies as a whole also declined to a 5 year low of 4.80 per cent as on March 31, 2021 down from 5.00 per cent as on December 31, 2020. In INR value terms, it went up by 3.09 per cent from the previous quarter to an all time high of Rs 9.48 lakh crores as on March 31, 2021 Holding of domestic Mutual Funds in companies listed on NSE also reduced to 7.23 per cent as on March 31, 2021 down from 7.42 per cent as on December 31, 2020. According to Haldea, holding of Mutual Funds has now declined for four consecutive quarters, after 24 quarters of continuous rise (from 2.81 per cent as on March 31, 2014 to 7.96 per cent as on March 31, 2020). Net outflows by domestic Mutual Funds stood at INR 26,810 crore during the quarter, as retail investors booked profits. In INR value terms, the holding of domestic Mutual Funds went up by 4.81 per cent to Rs 14.30 lakh crore as on March 31, 2021 from INR 13.64 lakh crores on December 31, 2021. Holding of Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) stood at 22.60 per cent as on March 31, 2021, down from 22.74 per cent as on December 31, 2020, despite net inflows of Rs 55,741 crore during the quarter, according to Haldea. In INR value terms, FPI ownership also reached an all-time high of Rs 44.66 lakh crore as on March 31, 2021, up 6.77 per cent from Rs 41.83 lakh crore as on December 31, 2020. According to Haldea, retail holding (individuals with up to Rs 2 lakh shareholding) in companies listed on NSE remained the same at 6.90 per cent as on March 31, 2021. In INR value terms though, retail holding in companies listed on NSE also reached an all-time high of Rs 13.63 lakh crore from INR 12.69 lakh crore on December 31, 2020. On an overall basis, retail holding went up in 863 companies listed on NSE in the last 1 quarter. The average stock price of these companies in the same period increased by 5.52 per cent. On the other hand, retail holding went down in 713 companies. The average stock price of these companies increased by a much higher 15.57 per cent. According to Haldea, this further validates the oft-used phrase that retail buys at the peak and sells at lows. New Delhi, May 30 : In 1946, Baloo Lal Panagariya, then 25 years old, arrived in Jaipur to join the editorial staff of the newspaper Lokvani, devoted to exposing the excesses of the British and princely rulers of Rajputana. Though unremarkable in itself, the story behind this event is one of the triumph of human spirit over adversity. Baloo Lal was born in a remote village in Rajasthan, in a family that could not scrape together two full meals a day. He lost his father at five and mother at fourteen. The village lacked even a primary school. Yet, thanks to the wisdom and sacrifice of his mother and his own perseverance, he completed his education, went on to serve with distinction as a civil servant in the newly formed state of Rajasthan and, after retirement, wrote the first definitive book on the history of the freedom movement in Rajasthan. In a very real sense, Baloo Lal's journey from the village of Suwana to the city of Jaipur was a long and arduous one, much more so than that of his own son, decades later from Jaipur to Washington, DC. His success led to more milestones in the next generation, with two of his children being honoured with Padma awards and another with a presidential award. Arvind Panagariya's "My Father: The Extraordinary Story of an Ordinary Man" (HarperCollins), adds a new dimension to the history of India. It is a reminder that post-independence India was built not just by a handful of leaders working at the top but numerous ordinary citizens who shaped its many contours from below. "A simple, charming, old-fashioned tale of a decent man who struggles to rise from poverty into the middle class, from a pre-modern life to a modern life. Such a person's life, honestly captured, is not only unique but the only certain data of history we possess," says author Gurcharan Das of the book. Arvind Panagariya is Professor of Economics and Jagdish N. Bhagwati Professor of Indian Political Economy in the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. He is also the Director of the Deepak and Neera Raj Center on Indian Economic Policies at Columbia. He served as the first vice chairman of NITI Aayog from January 2015 to August 2017. He holds a PhD in economics from Princeton University. He is the author of 20 books, among them "India Unlimited: Reclaiming the Lost Glory". He was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2012. Balrampur : May 30 (IANS) Despite strict instructions by the Yogi Adityanath government against disposal of dead bodies in rivers and other water bodies, video of a body of Covid patient being thrown into a river has surfaced. A case has been registered against the family, the police said. The incident was apparently shot by a couple of people who were driving by the spot in Balrampur district on May 28. Two men, one of them in a PPE suit, are seen lifting a body on the bridge over Rapti river. The man in the PPE suit can be seen tinkering with the body -- probably trying to get it out of the body bag. The Chief Medical Officer of Balrampur has confirmed that the body was indeed of a Covid patient, and the relatives were trying to dump it in the river. A case has been filed against the relatives of the deceased and the body has been handed back to them. "Preliminary investigations have revealed that the patient was admitted to hospital on May 25, and he died three days later. As per Covid protocol, the body was handed over to his relatives. The relatives threw the body into the river. We have filed a case and strict action will be taken," said Balrampur Chief Medical Officer V.V. Singh. Earlier this month, hundreds of bodies had washed up on the banks of river Ganga in parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh after which the chief minister asked all district magistrates to ensure that the bodies were properly disposed of. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Tel Aviv, May 30 : Opponents of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are expected to form a coalition in order to establish a new government ahead of a deadline which would otherwise mean new elections. Israel has held four elections in the past two years but all have failed to produce a clear majority, reports dpa news agency. Former Defence Minister Naftali Bennett of the pro-settler Yamina party has decided to opt for an alliance with opposition leader Jair Lapid of Yesh Atid, Israeli radio reported on Sunday. An official announcement is expected soon. Bennett was reportedly planning to inform party members on Sunday. He agreed with Bennett that the two would share the office of Prime Minister, with Bennett initially to take the role for two years, and then to be replaced by Lapid. Lapid's centrist party came in second in the elections on March 23, behind Netanyahu's right-wing Likud. After the March elections, Netanyahu had failed to form a government, so President Reuven Rivlin appointed Lapid to do so. Lapid's pro-reform party planned to continue coalition talks Sunday with Gideon Saar's right-leaning New Hope. It has already reached agreements with the left-liberal Meretz Party, the Labour Party and former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party. Lapid is trying to ensure the support of several small parties that are far apart on the political spectrum, in order to form a minority government that would be acceptable to Arab deputies. They are united above all by their rejection of Netanyahu, who is currently being tried for corruption. However, the smaller parties have widely diverging political goals. Lapid's mandate to form a government will run out on Wednesday midnight. If he succeeds, it would end bring an end to the era of Netanyahu, in office since 2009. He was also Prime Minister from 1996 to 1999. Washington, May 30 : The US is on track to reach a target calling for 70 per cent of adults to have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine by July 4, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). New CDC data released on Saturday indicates that more that half of all adults in the US, or more than 51 per cent, are now fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, marking another milestone in the country's pandemic recovery, reports dpa news agency. Some 167.2 million people 18 years or older have received at least one dose, according to the CDC data. President Joe Biden set a goal earlier this month of hitting the first milestone by July 4, when Independence Day is celebrated. The target was expected to be reached hit, with the number standing at 61 per cent more than a month out. Still, the pace of vaccinations varies across the country, with the north-east and west coast among the regions with the highest take up while the south has moved more slowly. The CDC indicated that speaking of the entire US population of some 330 million, around 40 per cent of the population are already fully vaccinated now. Three vaccines are in use in the US: the two manufactured by Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech, which are administered in two doses, as well as the single-shot Johnson & Johnson jab. This month, US authorities extended the authorization of Pfizer/BioNTech's shot to children as young as 12. Rome, May 30 : Italian investigators have released two of the three men who were detained following a deadly cable car accident last week, with the third under house arrest, as officials continue their investigation. The accident occurred on May 23 in Piedmont region, west of Lake Maggiore, on a line that links the resort town of Stresa with the 1,500-metre-high Mount Mottarone, dpa news agency reported. Fourteen people were killed and a five-year-old boy, who lost several members of his family, was seriously injured. The magistrate in Verbania on Saturday ordered that the director of the cable car service and the operative head of the service to be released, Italian ANSA news agency reported, citing judicial sources, as there was not enough evidence against them. Only the cable car's service chief remains under house arrest, as the judge doubted some of his statements, ANSA quoted investigating prosecutor Olimpia Bossi as saying. The evidence so far indicates that a cable broke shortly before the gondola arrived at the mountain station about 1,300 metres above sea level. It is not known what caused the cable to snap. An emergency brake should have been activated, but this did not happen. The gondola raced back towards the valley at high speed on the support cables, slammed into a cable car pillar and overturned several times. Investigators suspect the safety braking system had been deactivated because there had previously been irregularities in the running of the cable car. According to media reports, the operators might have tampered with the device to avoid a stoppage of the service, after it had been suspended for a long time due to the coronavirus. The region of Piedmont has declared a day of mourning for the victims and people are due to observe a minute's silence on Sunday. Bogota, May 30 : At least six people have died in protests in the Colombian city of Cali, local media reported. Newspaper El Tiempo said there were six deaths on Saturday, while RCN Radio put the toll at seven, reprts dpa news agency. President Ivan Duque on Friday night sent additional military assistance to support police in the Valle del Cauca district, the epicentre of the protests of which Cali is the capital, after several people died in protests earlier in the day. Overnight he extended the order to seven other districts. Four people died on Friday in Cali in armed clashes over street blocks which have been affecting the mobility of residents and goods, local media reported. Since the end of April, there have been numerous protests in different cities in the South American country. At least 44 people have died in connection with the demonstrations, according to the national ombudsman's office. Initially, the demonstrators had protested against a tax reform that has since been withdrawn. Opposition to a health reform, which has also been scrapped, and advocacy for the fragile peace process were then some of the new issues that brought people out onto the streets. Colombia has witnessed a civil war that lasted more than 50 years and cost the lives of 220,000 people. Baku, May 30 : Azerbaijan has shown openness to possible Russian mediation in establishing a demarcation line with its hostile neighbour Armenia. "Azerbaijan is ready to constructively resolve the issue of the border line with Armenia," Prime Minister Ali Asadov said at a meeting with other heads of government of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). In this context, he said on Saturday, they supported a proposal by Russia to form a trilateral commission, reports dpa news agency. Armenia's acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had previously spoken out in favour of a withdrawal of Armenian and Azerbaijani troops and the deployment of international observers. Since the recent war over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, there have been repeated tensions in the border area. During the war over Nagorno-Karabakh, which lasted from September 27 to November 9, 2020, Azerbaijan reclaimed large parts of the territory it had lost in the early 1990s. More than 6,000 people died in the fighting. Russia had brokered a ceasefire between the two hostile countries. Most recently, the arrest of six Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani security forces has caused tensions. Azerbaijan stated that the men had wanted to cross the border in the direction of the Kalbajar region, but Armenia denied this. Moscow, May 30 : Russia will support Belarus with $500 million in credit over the coming weeks, the leaders of the two countries have agreed. During a meeting in Sochi on Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his visiting Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko agreed the sum would be paid out by the end of June, dpa news agency quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying. This is the second tranche of a credit package that was agreed before the controversial forced landing of a passenger aeroplane in Minsk on May 23 in order to arrest a dissident blogger, Roman Protasevich, and his partner Sofia Sapega. During their meeting, Putin and Lukashenko spoke about trade and economic cooperation, Peskov said. Belarus' economy is weak, and it has already borrowed billions of dollars from Moscow. During the opening of the meeting, both leaders complained about pressure from Western countries on Belarus. After the incident with the plane, the Ryanair commercial flight between Athens and Vilnius that was forced to reroute and land in Minsk, the European Union (EU) and the US imposed fresh sanctions on Belarus, which the Kremlin slammed as an emotional reaction. Peskov emphasized that the fate of Sapega, who is a Russian national, mattered to the Russian authorities, but said the 23-year-old had a residency permit in Belarus. Meanwhile President of the EU Parliament, David Sassoli, said he wants to keep up pressure Belarus in order secure the release of the blogger and his girlfriend. Sassoli suggested that photos of Protassevich be exhibited at all airports in the EU and in the European Parliament. "We will keep the attention and the pressure up and hope that this will lead to the release of Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega," he said in remarks to Germany's Funke media group. Sassoli called the EU's initial reaction to the forced landing of a passenger jet in Minsk as "strong and unified". Cairo, May 30 : Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi arrived in Cairo on Sunday for talks with senior Egyptian officials over the ongoing ceasefire in place between Israel and the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The trip is the first formal visit by an Israeli Foreign Minister to Egypt in nearly 13 years, dpa news agency reported. Ashkenazi is due to meet with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukri. Ashkenazi said he would discuss in Egypt a permanent ceasefire with Hamas and the rebuilding of Gaza that was largely devastated during 11 days of bloody fighting with Israel earlier this month. A ceasefire, mediated by Egypt, has been holding between Israel and the Hamas since May 21. The 11-day conflict in an around the Gaza Strip left at least 243 Palestinians and 12 Israelis dead. "We will discuss establishing a permanent ceasefire with Hamas, a mechanism for providing humanitarian aid & the reconstruction of Gaza with a pivotal role played by the international community," he said on Twitter. He added that Israel is "fully committed" to the return of its soldiers being held by Hamas. Egypt was the first Arab country to recognise Israel in 1979. Egypt, which borders Gaza, has mediated in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on several occasions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Sunday address the nation during the 77th edition of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat'. The broadcast will coincide with seven years of his government in office. PM Modi is expected to talk about the COVID-19 pandemic, replying to feedback he had sought from people earlier this month. Over 7,000 submissions were received, with several citizens expressing desolation over the country's weak healthcare infrastructure and slow pace of vaccination, Business Standard reported. Also Read: Mann Ki Baat: India has put up spirited fight against COVID-19, says PM Modi The prime minister in his previous show aired on April 25, had invited ideas and suggestions from people on his social media accounts regarding topics for his next 'Mann Ki Baat' address. "PM Narendra Modi looks forward to sharing his thoughts on themes and issues that matter to you. The Prime Minister invites you to share your ideas on topics he should address on the 77th Episode of Mann Ki Baat," his social media posts read. Also Read: India proud of scientists who worked on COVID-19 vaccines: PM Modi During his previous address, PM Modi had stated that the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic is testing people's patience and their capacity to withstand pain. 'Mann Ki Baat' is held on the last Sunday of every month. The programme is broadcast in regional languages right after the Hindi broadcast on All India Radio. 'Mann Ki Baat' also streams live on PM Modi's and his office's YouTube channels. Memo to US: Dont do the dirty on the Lankan people Has the American Government developed second thoughts on sharing its Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine largess with Sri Lanka? View(s): View(s): On the day following the enactment of the controversial Port City Bill which enshrined Chinas solid presence on the island as a legal tenant in the Lankan law books, enjoying undisturbed possession of a 2.69 square km land mass next to the capitals heart for the next 99 years, the American Government may have showed its evident displeasure toward the countrys paradigm shift East by pricking the nation where it hurt most: the health of the Lankan People. Americas self-proclaimed paternalistic role as the worlds sole reigning superpower, professing a creed of reaching out to humanity beyond borders sounded a discordant note last Saturday when it was revealed that the Biden Administration was wavering over their decision whether to include Sri Lanka in its list of nations earmarked to get a share of its stockpile of some 60 million Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines in June. Hopes that Sri Lanka was a confirmed recipient of the AstraZeneca vaccine had been raised when the Chairman of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation of Sri Lanka said at a meeting held at the Presidential Secretariat last Friday that the US State Department is to give 2-5 million doses of AstraZeneca out of which 600,000 doses are expected to arrive by June. State Health Minister of Production, Supply and Regulation of Pharmaceuticals Professor Channa Jayasumana also told the media on May 18, three days before the Port City Bill was enacted, that Sri Lanka was on the list of nations to be given a consignment of the AstraZeneca vaccines, under President Bidens plan to donate Americas excess vaccines. We expect to receive a portion of these excess AstraZeneca vaccines, he said. US Embassy spokesperson Nancy VanHorn told the media last Saturday of US plans to share about 13 percent of the vaccines produced for the United States by the end of June. She said, We will work with COVAX and other partners to ensure these vaccines are delivered in a way that is equitable and follows the science and public health data. We dont yet know which countries will be receiving vaccines, but a decision will be made soon. VanHorn said that on May 17, President Biden reaffirmed his commitment to leading an international and coordinated vaccination effort, announcing that the US will provide 80 million doses of vaccines to meet global needs but warned the United States still remained in two minds whether to include Sri Lanka in the list of beneficiaries of Covid vaccines it intends to share with the world. From a broad American perspective, Americas bad blood over Lankas slippery slide towards Chinas gravitational pull is, perhaps, understandable. For years she has treated the former British colony, Lanka, as a natural ally, sharing the same democratic ideals and a capitalistic economic policy which had made her Lankas largest trading partner. Throughout the years, a generous amount of American aid had flowed, even though it had not been in tidal waves successive Lankan governments may have expected it to be. But the once sweet chummy relationship that existed between the two unequal nations soured no sooner an Oriental Genie appeared on the desolate Lankan land scape, promising to grant Lankas every wish in her quest for prosperity provided it met with its own hegemonic interest to expand her regional and global power. With one whispered condition, though: should Lanka default on payback day, she would forfeit hocked assets as punishment. Giving a twist to Britains old colonial policy used to build her far flung empire of the flag following trade, here was the new neo colonial version of the flag following loans. Thus while the Lankan Government, with a loud roar of patriotism, tore up Americas MCC agreement, scorning a gift of US$ 480 million to improve the countrys infrastructure, it had displayed no such chauvinistic inhibitions when it came to accepting unlimited Chinese aid to develop its ports, to build the Mattala airport, to build its highways, its coal plant, even to build on Lankan waters a brand new city they themselves would occupy for the next 99 years. If the American Government had been miffed at the rate of Chinese expansion in Lanka and appalled at Lankas inordinate worship to the Eastern hemispheres new Rising Sun, then the incorporation of the Chinese built, Chinese hoisted, Chinese occupied and dominated Colombo Port City into law and to the body politic, would have been the last straw needed to awake the superpower to the consequences that ensue when it takes long held relationships for granted and abandons friendly impoverished nations to the mercy of their foes. On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden called for a deeper investigation to probe the origins of the virus and called on China to assist the international probe. In a statement, Biden said the majority of the US intelligence community had coalesced around two likely scenarios: that the virus was transmitted to humans via contact with an infected animal, or it emerged from a lab accident. The Chinese Embassy in Washington immediately dismissed the idea as a conspiracy theory. But while Biden may deem it necessary to probe the source of the virus, whether it came from a Wuhan bat or a Wuhan lab, the more important task at hand is to treat the wound and not the arrows source. The arrow may belong to a government. But the sore suffered belongs to the people. Take the present wretched plight of the 600,000 who along with 325,000 others first received the first dose of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine, shortly after it was approved for emergency use by the World Health Organisation. The vaccine was first administered to the frontline workers, to those in the health sector, members of the Armed Forces and Police and to parliamentary members. After these prioritised groups were inoculated, Colombo residents were then in line to receive their vaccinations. The second round of vaccinating the prioritised groups with the remaining 300,000 odd AstraZeneca doses saved for the purpose began in late April, with the Government promising steps will be taken to procure the second dose for the remaining 600,000 before the deadline, for the period during which the second dose must be given for optimum effect, ran out. On May 1, Government health officials said Sri Lanka is looking at sources other than India to purchase the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in view of delay in securing the vaccines from the Serum Institute of India. Desperate at its failure to procure the AstraZeneca vaccine on time, the Government even toyed with the idea of giving mix and match cocktails, until the WHO declared it had not approved of giving one brand as the first dose and another as the second. Hopes faded fast with the Government giving up on its bid to secure the AstraZeneca vaccine from India and announcing it planned to turn to other nations to secure it. In mid-May, Colombo Mayor Rosy Senanayake issued a statement assuring the people that she has used her local and international network to obtain the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine and that it will be available within two weeks. Similarly the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce also issued application forms on its own asking its members to register themselves and their staff to obtain the AstraZeneca vaccine they hoped to secure soon and provide at Rs, 5000 per jab. The following day, May 19 the Government shot down the private sector initiative stating the Government was not in a position to acquire a separate stock for the private sector of the AstraZeneca doses and the private sector would be included in the national vaccination programme where jabs would be administered free of charge. Soon the Government, which had initially dragged its feet in securing the vaccines at the market price, finally decided it will be willing to pay any price to obtain the elusive AstraZeneca. The Daily Mirror newspaper reported on Wednesday, a senior cabinet minister as saying the cabinet of ministers yesterday discussed the issue and decided the government was willing to purchase the stocks at any quoted price. We just desperately need these 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca as the government is aware of its obligation to provide the dose to those who received the first jabs. This Thursday, in response to an inquiry from the Chairman of the State Pharmaceutical Corporation as to the possibility of AstraZeneca validating as genuine vaccines obtained from third parties, AstraZeneca Ltd. warned of the inherent dangers in such seedy transactions. In a letter to the Chairman, it said it had learnt that numerous private traders and companies had been approaching the government in Sri Lanka to sell the COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca. It said: There is currently no private sector supply, sale or distribution of the vaccine. If a trader or company other than AstraZeneca offers private vaccines, it is likely counterfeit, so should be refused and reported to the relevant authorities. While the Government rush was on to find the elusive AstraZeneca, the situation on the ground turned grim when it was revealed that the all powerful government doctors union, the GMOA, had used its privileged position to get doctors wives, children, fathers, mothers, family members, even their servants vaccinated with the AstraZeneca second dose. This caused a furore in the ranks of the Public Health Inspectors Union on Tuesday at the Health Ministrys decision to grant this privilege only to doctors ignoring .other health workers, who also face the same risk in the fight against COVID. The infuriated PHIs Union Head, Upul Rohana, declared that it is important to vaccinate the family members of other officials such as nurses, paramedics, junior staff members and all other members linked to the health sector. Accordingly, Upul Rohan said, we have decided to withdraw from all services at these MOH offices in a bid to show our protest, Next in line to join the queue to strike was the Grama Niladhari Association (GNA) which rightly complained that let alone their families, even they had not received the vaccine. Condemning the arbitrary action of the GMOA of taking power into its own hands, the GNA President Sumith Kodikara said on Wednesday: A total number of 12,000 Grama Niladharis across the country have decided to stay away from all their duties and to join hands with the TU and continue our action from tonight. Faced with the possible crippling of the system at grassroots level, the Government answer was not to give them the vaccinations they desperately sought but by an extraordinary gazette notification issued the following day to proclaim services rendered by Grama Niladharis, among others, as an essential service. Meanwhile the connected, the influential, the monied or simply the fortunate out of the stranded 600,000 made prisoners to the AstraZeneca after getting it as their first dose, had no qualms of making their own hay while the sun shone on a privileged grouping. Alerted by a network of contacts through WhatsApp messages, they rushed from one centre to another in the hope of getting the jab. For them, as it was for the doctors and their families and friends, as it was for similar groups who exploited the opportunity their privilege granted to get their kith and kin vaccinated on the sly, it was a case of each one for oneself and God for us all. And who can blame them, when negligence and total mismanagement by the authorities to procure adequate doses of the AstraZeneca on time and organise its dispensation in an orderly systematic manner which guaranteed fair distribution to all, lay at the heart of the original sin? Thus, even at this eleventh hour when more than 500,000 AstraZeneca hostages still remain in a wretched state, hapless and forsaken in the midst of this virulent COVID third wave, a public appeal must be made to US President Joe Biden to touch the rosary he carries with him in his pocket gifted to him by his dead son Beau, and remember the words he quoted from the Ecclesiastes in his victory speech this January that there is a Time to build, a time to reap, a time to sow, a time to heal; and remind his Catholic heart that this is the time to forgive, the time to transcend American distaste toward foreign governments which publicly embrace American foes, and, in the name of humanity, to grant the grace of life saving 600,000 AstraZeneca doses from his nations 60 million stockpile, earmarked to be shared with the world to the Lankan people. And thus ensure that the sins of the State do not visit its helpless citizens. London, May 30 : The coronavirus disease did not develop naturally, but was created by Chinese scientists in a Wuhan lab, who then tried to cover their tracks by reverse-engineering versions of the virus to make it look like it evolved naturally from bats, according to a breakthrough research conducted by a team of researchers. The research, conducted by British Professor Angus Dalgleish and Norwegian scientist Birger Sorensen, is forthcoming in the scientific journal Quarterly Review of Biophysics Discovery, the DailyMail.com reported on Friday. In the 22-page paper, the researchers describe their months-long "forensic analysis" into experiments done at the Wuhan lab between 2002 and 2019. It concludes that "SARS-Coronavirus-2 has no credible natural ancestor" and that it is "beyond reasonable doubt" that the virus was created through "laboratory manipulation". The paper also alleges of "unique fingerprints" in Covid samples that could only have arisen from manipulation in a laboratory and that "the likelihood of it being the result of natural processes is very small". "A natural virus pandemic would be expected to mutate gradually and become more infectious but less pathogenic which is what many expected with the Covid-19 pandemic but which does not appear to have happened," the scientists wrote in the paper, according to the Daily Mail report. "The implication of our historical reconstruction, we posit now beyond reasonable doubt, of the purposively manipulated chimeric virus SARS-CoV-2 makes it imperative to reconsider what types of Gain of Function experiments it is morally acceptable to undertake. Because of the wide social impact, these decisions cannot be left to research scientists alone," they added. Dalgleish and Sorensen wrote that they have had "prima facie evidence of retro-engineering in China" for a year, but their theory was rejected by academics and major journals, the report said. Dalgleish is a professor of oncology at St George's University, London, while Sorensen is a virologist and chair of pharmaceutical company Immunor. Many experts have until recently denied the lab-leak theory and claimed that Covid-19 originated as a natural infection leaping from animals to humans. But now there has been a shift. A team of 18 scientists from Universities in the US, Canada, the UK and Switzerland have signed a letter in the journal Science arguing the need to determine the origin of the Covid-19 pandemic. The US' top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci also said he is "not convinced" Covid-19 developed naturally. US President Joe Biden, last week, ordered the intelligence community to re-double efforts to examine how the virus originated, including the lab accident theory. The European Union, the UK, Australia and Japan also have joined the US in seeking a deeper probe into the origins of the pandemic. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Lucknow, May 30 : The Uttar Pradesh Congress has launched its 'Sewa Satyagrah' during which party workers will distribute about 10 lakh medicine kits sent by party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Medicine kits have been sent to other districts from the party's state headquarters in Lucknow. Each kit also includes a letter from Priyanka. The Congress has decided to provide basic medicines for Covid treatment in view of the poor medical care rural areas of the state. Each kit contains six medicines that are needed for Covid treatment. A pamphlet with instructions is also in the kit. A UP Congress spokesman said that the block presidents of the party will distribute these kits in consultation with doctors. The party will also arrange for sanitizers for villages. The first consignment of 18,000 litres has already reached Lucknow. Meanwhile, in her letter that is being sent in the kits, Priyanka has congratulated all the newly elected village heads and has appealed to them to help in combating the pandemic. "IT is now clear that the government is more concerned in building the image of its leader than in saving lives," she wrote. She further said that it was unfortunate that despite being the biggest vaccine manufacturer, there is a shortage of vaccines in the country. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) San Francisco, May 30 : Apple is being sued by a man due to repeated accusations that he was behind numerous thefts at Apple Stores in the US, attempted robberies that were conducted by others who were impersonating him. The lawsuit, filed on May 28 in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, is suing Apple and Security Industry Specialists, a contractor working for Apple on store security. The lawsuit claims the plaintiff Ousmane Bah was falsely accused of performing some Apple Store thefts, which led to his arrest in New York in November 2018, AppleInsider reported. The lawsuit appears to be a continuation of another legal action by Bah against Apple and SIS, launched in April 2019. It seems the claims are the same as in that lawsuit, but specifically takes aim at the activities in the Massachusetts Apple Stores. According to the lawsuit, Bah received a learner's permit for driving in New York state in March 2018, which took the form of a printout that contained details of his height, weight, date of birth, and eye colour, but not his photograph. Bah lost his temporary permit within the following two months but had received a permanent plastic version with his photograph. The missing temporary permit is alleged to have been used by someone else as identification for an Apple Store theft in Greenwich, Connecticut in April 2018. The man is said to have not resembled Bah at all, aside from being Black, such as being 6 foot 1 inch tall when Bah is 5 foot 7 inches. Bah said Apple and SIS created a record for Bah as the thief in the video and published the information to both SIS agents and Apple Stores in the US. Gurugram, May 30 : A 34-year-old woman's left hand turned black due to infection after she was administered an antibiotic injection at a private hospital located in Dundahera village of Gurugram. The woman was given the injection after undergoing an abortion on April 23. Woman's husband has filed a complaint of negligence against the hospital at the district's health department. The woman Vinita, is currently residing with her husband Sarfaraz in Gurugram's Chakkarpur village. Sarfaraz alleged that on April 23, he and his wife had visited Park Hospital located in Dundahera village of Gurugram for an abortion. "After the abortion, the doctors at the hospital administered my wife an antibiotic injection which caused a reaction in her body. The doctors informed us that the right hand will have to be amputated as the reaction is spreading," Sarfaraz said. "Despite negligence on the part of the hospital they are not willing to accept our request and are asking for a huge amount for the operation," he added. "My wife had been operated on April 23 and was discharged on the same day. Since then she has been suffering severe pain and the very next day on April 24 we again visited the hospital and the doctors changed her medicine. On April 25, an ultrasound of the hand was conducted and later we were referred to the RML hospital in Delhi," Sarfaraz said. He stated that at RML hospital the doctors told him that infection has spread in her hand due to reaction of an antibiotic injection and if the hand was operated upon within 6-8 hours then there was no need to amputate the hand. But since he had reached the hospital four days later, now the hand will have to be amputated to stop further infection. Sarfraz said his wife was the sole breadwinner of the family as he was jobless due to covid-19 and have no food to eat. Recently an NGO had provided the family with some eatables. He also claimed that now he has no money for his wife's operation. Meanwhile, Chief Medical officer of Gurugram Dr Virender Yadav told IANS, that "In connection with the matter the health department did not receive any complaint. Once the matter will be reported an action will be initiated against the hospital". No one from the hospital management was available for comments. Lucknow, May 30 : Khushi, the under-age widow of one of the Bikru massacre accused, Amar Dubey, is critically ill. Dubey was killed following the massacre in the Kanpur village that saw eight police personnel shot dead by Vikas Dubey's gang. Khushi had been married for barely three days when the massacre took place and her husband was shot dead in an encounter later. She was also arrested after the incident. In September last year, when the lawyers proved that she was a minor, the court ordered her to be shifted to a shelter home in Barabanki from the jail. According to doctors, Khushi complained of severe chest pain on Saturday evening and was brought to the district hospital. Sources said that her condition deteriorated and she started vomiting blood after which she was referred to Lucknow for treatment. B.N. Maurya of the district hospital, said that Khushi Dubey was being treated, but some investigation cannot be done in Barabanki, so she was referred to Lucknow. Khushi's family members told reporters that she had been very ill since November last year but, despite their pleas, she was not given proper treatment. New Delhi, May 30 : Mocking Goa Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, his counterpart in the GST Council, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister P.T.R. Palanivel Thiagarajan said that Goa Chief Minister had perpetrated a misdemeanour on Goas citizens, and the GST Council, by nominating Godinho to represent Goa. "I also charge the CM of Goa with perpetrating a misdemeanour on Goa's citizens, and the GST Council, by nominating him (Godinho) to represent your beautiful State," Tamil Nadu FM said in a statement on Sunday while rejecting Godinho's charge that he should apologise to the people of Goa. He added further that the BJP should exercise minimal quality control in its MLA Acquisition procedures. "Finally, I sincerely request the BJP, even across the political divide, to impose some minimal quality control on its 'MLA Acquisition' procedures. If it had done so, Goa, and the nation would be saved a lot of pain," Thiagarajan added. He said Godinho's statements at the meeting "were highly repetitive, largely vacuous, hectoring, mostly redundant to others' inputs, supercilious, and with inputs from the Minister from Uttar Pradesh". Thiagarajan said there was no need for him to apologise to the people of Goa. Thiagarajan stuck to his position that "One State-One Vote" mode of the GST Council was fundamentally unfair and he always believed in a truly federal governance model. "Every statement I made during the entire meeting was entirely consistent with these two principles," he said. Godinho on Saturday had demanded an apology from Tamil Nadu Finance Minister for insulting small states, Goa in particular, during the 43rd GST meeting chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday. Addressing a press conference, Godinho, who represents the Goa government at GST Council meetings, said that the TN Finance Minister's alleged comments dismissing the stature of small states in the Indian Union were condemnable, a day after Godinho and Palanivel Thiagarajan clashed with each other. "The Finance Minister of Tamil Nadu should apologise. What is he trying to tell me? That he is against the Constitution of the country? Does he not believe in the Constitution of India? Does he not believe in equality before law? Does he not believe that whatever your status, whatever your standing in society, whether your constituency comprises of lakhs of voters or a few thousand voters, everybody has got one vote," Godinho said. "I want to remind the new Finance Minister of Tamil Nadu Palanivel, refrain from conducting yourself in a manner as a big brother versus small brother or big state versus small state. We all have equal rights. His attitude should be condemned by one and all right-thinking people. He should not target Goa," Godinho said. The Goa Minister said that during the meeting, Palanivel allegedly said that more attention should be paid to the sentiments of bigger states, rather than smaller states like Goa. "I took offence at yesterday's meeting because he said 'what is Goa, it is a small thing, it is a small population. You should listen to me', he was trying to tell the Union Finance Minister," Godinho said, recounting the incident at the GST Council meeting on Friday. New Delhi, May 30 : The three-member Congress committee which was constituted to resolve issues in Punjab between chief minister Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu, has summoned 25 MLAs to Delhi on Monday to take their feedback on the ongoing tussle in the party, sources said. The meeting is scheduled at Congress war room in Delhi. The Congress has constituted a three-member committee comprising Malliakarjun Kharge, Harish Rawat and J.P. Agarwal -- to resolve the issues between Navjot Singh Sidhu and the Chief Minister. Rawat is also Punjab Incharge of the Congress. Sidhu has been attacking the Chief Minister, saying that he is waiting as the high command has intervened. Sidhu dared the chief minister to prove his allegations. But seeing the fate of the committee in Rajasthan the disgruntled group says that this is to buy time as nothing much is expected and the AICC will not take risk of replacing the Chief Minister as there is nobody of his stature to face the Akali Dal specially the Badal family, the Congress will have to devise a middle path as 20 MLAs are reported to be unhappy with the Chief Minister's style of functioning. Chennai, May 30 : It is sexual harassment complaint season here shredding the reputation of organisations and individuals. Communication strategists and experts are of the view that one sexual harassment complaint is enough to bring down to dust an organisation/individual reputation built over decades. They also said it is the top management's task to fight the damage and then repair it. Messages on WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, email will be exchanged between thousands of people and read by lakhs thereby damaging an organisation/individual reputation. The cases currently in point are the reputation of city based famous institutions - Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan (PSBB), Maharishi Vidya Mandir Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Loyola College- and also that of Tamil movie lyricist Vairamuthu. On the corporate side, the most famous case was the Infosys sexual harassment episode that blew up in 2002. "Reputation is built brick by brick and can't be bought and built like a product brand, image and perception," Harish Bijoor, brand expert and founder of Harish Bijoor Consults Inc, told IANS. "Reputation is actually an organisation's responsibility towards its stakeholders and it cannot be shaped by communication. A product is sold, a brand is bought and shaped by communication differentiation. A brand's image and perception can be controlled," a communication strategist told IANS preferring anonymity. Experts to whom IANS spoke were unanimous on the do's and dont's for organisations hit with sexual harassment complaint. "Own it up first and explain the steps taken on the complaint. Anything less than this will backfire," Sleeba Varghese, Creative Director, S Factor based in Ernakulam in Kerala and into image management and others. A communication strategist said PSBB bungled in its communication strategy relating to the sexual harassment complaint by not admitting it initially. The issue recently blew up with social media posts by school students and alumni alleging a commerce teacher harassing students and inappropriate behaviour. The school management had said it is taking suo moto notice of the allegations and will take necessary steps to address the situation in a free, fair and transparent manner. Assuring the parents of its students, the school said it has zero tolerance towards any behaviour that adversely affects the physical, emotional and psychological well being of the students. The school management also said these allegations were not brought to its notice earlier. Two DMK party MPs-Dayanidhi Maran and Kanimozhi- had tweeted on the issue demanding a probe and making the school management accountable. Meanwhile the issue got a lot of traction in the social media and there were posts about the caste, religion of the school promoters. Reacting to such posts a Y.G. Madhuvanthi- daughter of actor Y.G. Mahendran a PSBB trustee- in a video said caste/religion colour is being given about the school which should not be done. This in turn took the social media discussions on Aryan versus Dravidian and others. "As a member of the PSBB promoter family, Madhuvanthi who is also the state executive member of BJP shouldn't have got herself involved in the debate. Social media will discuss many things and she shouldn't have joined the issue. This added fuel to the fire," a communication strategist said. "The communication from the sexual harassment hit organisation should be focussed on the issue on hand and its resolution process," he added. According to him, the top head of the PSBB management should have come out with a statement on the action taken on the complaint which in the long run would save the institution. On the other hand, facing a similar situation, the Maharishi Vidya Mandir school issued a statement referring to the complaints against its commerce teacher and said he has been suspended and an inquiry has been instituted. Experts also said if the sexual harassment complaint against an organisation/individual is overlooked initially, it would bite at a crucial moment and cite lyricist Vairamuthu's example. Seventeen women had complained against Vairamuthu for sexual harassment in 2018 in the Me Too movement. But no action was taken against him then. But the issue bit him now. Vairamuthu on Saturday announced his decision to decline the ONV Kurup literary award after learning that the ONV Cultural Academy would be taking a relook on the award to him in the wake of sexual harassment complaints against him. The announcement of award for Vairamuthu recently resulted in a controversy with many noted personalities opposing it citing that he is accused of sexual harassment. The other sexual harassment complaint against a famous educational institution was against the famous Loyola College. Last year The Tamil Nadu State Commission for Women ordered Chennai's Loyola College to pay Rs 64,30,000 to a former staffer towards damages for sexual harassment, mental agony and in back wages. The Loyola management declined to respond to the media citing the matter as subjudice. In 2002 faced with sexual harassment court case against its senior official Phaneesh Murthy, Infosys initially was not forthcoming. But later Infosys set the record straight by answering queries from an online business magazine www.domainb.com. Speaking IANS on the condition of anonymity told IANS: "After the sexual harassment complaint against then senior official Phaneesh Murthy, the company brought in the whistle blower policy." (Venkatachari Jagannathan can be contacted at v.jagannathan@ians.in) Mugello : , May 30 (IANS) Swiss Moto3 rider Jason Dupasquier has succumbed to injuries sustained in a crash at a qualifying race at the Italian Grand Prix on Saturday, organisers MotoGP said on Sunday. He was 19. "We're deeply saddened to report the loss of Jason Dupasquier," MotoGP tweeted. "On behalf of the entire MotoGP family, we send our love to his team, his family and loved ones. You will be sorely missed, Jason. Ride in peace." Dupasquier, only in his second season in Moto3, was struck by another bike after he fell. After doctors attended to him there, he was airlifted to Florence's Careggi hospital where he underwent chest surgery for a vascular lesion. Dupasquier's team, Pruestel GP, has withdrawn from Sunday's race. Kolkata, May 30 : The outlawed Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) in Myanmar has alleged its second-in-command, 'Major General' Sao Khun Kyaw, was assassinated on May 26 by killers sent by the military junta. SNA spokesperson, 'Colonel' Hsur Sai Tun said Sao Khun Kyaw, an ethnic Shanni from Mohnyin Township in Kachin State, died from bullet wounds on Thursday morning after being shot at close range. "His security team was attacked and then he was shot by the assassin. Only he was killed and one of our other members was injured. We killed the assassin. "There was no personal grudge, he was killed by Myanmar's army," Tun told IANS . But he refused to provide evidence of the assassin's links to the junta. The spokesman said the group is still investigating the assassination. Sao Khun Kyaw joined the armed struggle following the 1988 pro-democracy uprising and moved to the Kachin Independence Army territory. He was appointed Vice Chairman of the northern section of the All Burma Students' Democratic Front, responsible for military affairs. He was accused of being the key perpetrator of the 1992 killing of students in the front's Pajaung camp, where 35 of 106 detained front members were executed between August 1991 and May 1992. He accused them of being government spies. Some died during torture and others were summarily executed, including 15 suspects on February 12, 1992. Extensive torture and extrajudicial killings followed as leaders of the northern wing of the student army formed after the 1988 crackdown attempted to extract confessions from detainees. Sao Khun Kyaw then left the front and joined the Restoration Council of Shan State, which was formed in 1999. He worked as a central committee member in the armed group and was promoted to 'Colonel'. In 2006, he was arrested by Myanmar's military in Nam Kham Township, northern Shan State, on his way to Kachin State to join the SNA. Sao Khun Kyaw was given four death sentences. He was released from prison, among many prisoners during the April 2018 presidential pardon, and returned to the SNA as the armed group's deputy. The SNA said it was formed in 1989 to fight for political equality, self-determination for the ethnic Shanni community and to establish a Shanni state. Myanmar's military intelligence has often resorted to covert killings, usually using hired mercenaries, to eliminate leaders of the country's many ethnic rebel armies. SLASSCOM partners with SLANSHEI to equip IT graduates on industry-essential soft skills View(s): Capability building is an integral part of the Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM) agenda in the journey towards its vision of growing the IT and BPO industry of Sri Lanka to generate revenue of USD 5 billion in exports creating 200,000 highly skilled workforce and facilitating 1,000 startups by 2025. Identifying the soft skills gap in the existing pool of IT graduates, the chamber joined hands with Sri Lanka Association of Non-State Higher Education Institutes (SLANSHEI) to raise awareness of the need to instill soft skills among IT students. Sri Lanka is blessed with a promising talent pool of IT graduates, and to increase their employability, it is essential that we help them improve their soft skills and make them holistic professionals, shares SLASSCOM Chairman Channa Manoharan. To commence the co-working programme with local universities and higher education service providers to develop students soft skills, SLASSCOM and SLANSHEI conducted a webinar Essential soft skills for IT graduates required by the industry. Renowned academic Emeritus Professor Colin Nisantha Peiris from the Faculty of Humanities & Sciences in the School Of Natural Sciences at Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) kick-started the webinar thanking both SLASSCOM and SLANSHEI for initiating this programme to support IT undergraduates. COO of 99x, SLASSCOM Board Lead for the HR Forum Shehani Seneviratne spoke of the need to improve the quantity and quality of graduates as a crucial element of the realisation of SLASSCOMs Vision 2025. SLASSCOM is committed to focus on the quality and work readiness of graduates coming out of universities and we will work with universities to help enhance graduates employability with technical skills, soft skills and professional skills she added. This was followed by CEO of hSenid Business Solutions and PeoplesHR, and SLASSCOM Board Lead for Entrepreneurship & Innovation Forum Sampath Jayasundara sharing the findings of the Employability (soft) Skills Survey 2019 conducted by PWC and the Rejected CV Analysis of fresh graduates 2020 survey. The industry is expecting good graduates to be employed at entry level, but they are unable to recruit full requirement of their recruitment needs due to inadequate skills, he averred, highlighting that organisations were most satisfied by graduates capabilities in conceptual knowledge in technical areas from top ranked universities and least satisfied in communication skills. There is a need to improve graduate capabilities in analysing and interpreting data, willingness to learn, professionalism, adaptability and flexibility, he noted. Emphasising the importance of holistic education, he also mentioned that undergraduates should have technical and theoretical knowledge to have the adaptability of switching from one technology to another, given the pace at which new technologies are being invented. Director Technology Consulting at PwC Sri Lanka and member of the SLASSCOM General Council Haresh Perera shared the SLASSCOM Professional Skills Framework with the participants, highlighting five skill pillars: Personal Growth, Communication and Relationships, Industry Focus, Creativity and Innovation, Fit for the Future, and Technical skills. Its important to have this framework in place he said, and shared that the university-level skill development project, which commenced in March 2021, was focused on its objective of defining and developing a single framework that will fulfil the skills gaps and support industry stakeholders to have a competent workforce. New Delhi, May 30 : Amid the coronavirus pandemic across the country, junior doctors and nurses have faced harrowing experiences coupled with a litmus test on a frequent basis while on duty. A 27-year-old junior doctor Vinod Chauhan, who began his career recently, recalls a harrowing incident during the Covid-19 pandemic, and said, "On the very first day of my joining, a Covid-infected woman died whom I could not save. I have not forgotten the name of that patient till date. I had never thought of experiencing such an incident on the very first day." Chauhan had completed his MBBS from abroad in 2018 and returned to India to practise medicine. During the Covid-19 pandemic last year, his first duty as a qualified doctor in December 2020 was in the Covid ward of Delhi's AIIMS Hospital. He told IANS, "It was entirely a new experience for me, I was doing CPR constantly trying to save a Covid patient. But unfortunately, I could not save him." "The process of discharge summary, death certificate etc of the deceased patient had to be completed but I was told by the hospital authorities that I have to complete this process. This experience was all new to me. It took me 12 hours to complete all formalities instead of the usual 6-hour." During the second wave of Covid-19 infection, a friend of Vinod Chauhan asked for help in arranging medicines for his family, but he could not manage it despite all efforts, following which he had strained ties with his friend. Vinod is not the only resident doctor who has undergone this kind of experience during the corona pandemic. A total of 550 doctors mainly young have died in the second wave across the country. However, there were some doctors who were working as interns in hospitals. The 26-year-old Samar Ajmat, who works in the emergency ward of LNJP Hospital at New Delhi, joined the hospital in January this year and while treating Covid-19 patients also contracted the virus during the second wave. Sharing her experience with IANS, Samar said, "When I joined the hospital in January 2021, the situation was normal at that time, but after a few months the situation changed completely. During the second wave of the pandemic, more critical patients came as compared to the first wave. Every patient had lower oxygen levels." "While treating several Covid-19 patients, I got infected on April 27 and recovered after 15 days and joined the hospital again. As fellow doctors were constantly getting infected, the doctors looking after patients were fewer in number." He said, "As a doctor is present in the Covid ward, there are only Covid patients lying everywhere. After wearing the PPE kit, we are unable to know who were the doctors working with us." However, there were some junior doctors who could not save the patient even after taking full care due to which they faced sleepless nights. The 24-year-old Vishnu (a junior doctor) working at RML Hospital, told IANS, "I was about to take off my PPE kit after I moved out of the Covid ward. Suddenly I got the news that a patient was having trouble in breathing. It took me some time to wear the PPE kit again." "I immediately informed my senior doctor. But even after every possible effort, that patient could not be saved. The patient was watching a movie during his last moments and told me that 'I will get well soon'." Vishnu said, "I had not been able to sleep that night after receiving news of the Covid patient's death." Equally disturbing has been the time for nurses working in the hospitals. Due to restrictions imposed, nurses had to stay outside for 12 hours continuously as a result of which they were afraid to even touch their own children in the house. Meghna (name changed), Nursing Officer working at Delhi's RML Hospital, told IANS, "I have a three-year-old son who used to play with me. During the second wave it became so difficult that even touching my own child instilled fear in me." "Due to the lockdown there was no mode of transport available to visit the hospital. I used to leave my house at 6 a.m. from Faridabad and returned home at 6 p.m." Nurse Meghna's friend Shaurya (name changed) recalls, "During the second wave there was a major shortage of beds. Many of our family members urgently required beds in the hospital but even after working in the hospital we could not help them." "People feel as we are working in the hospital, facilities like beds are easily available to us. This is a wrong conception as we, too, have to struggle like common man." There were many junior doctors working in the emergency and Covid wards of hospitals who had to work overtime as the fellow doctors had been infected with Covid-19. Many a times they have had to sleep in the hospital. According to junior doctors, they are giving their 100 per cent and want every patient's life to be saved but the family of the patients sometimes feel that "we are negligent after which they indulge in fights with us. It pains us to see such things". The resident doctors and nurses have learned a lot during the second wave of the pandemic though now India is witnessing a decline in new cases of Covid-19 infection. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New Delhi, May 30 : On completion of seven years of the Modi government, the Congress has said that Modi Govt is "Harmful for the Country" and has accused it of "committing 7 Criminal Blunders in 7 Years". The Congress has said that the Modi government has failed on all fronts -- from economy to securing national security while surrendering to China. Addressing a press conference on Sunday Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "The systematic destruction of the Indian economy has forced a deceleration. Even before the pandemic, GDP Growth fell from 8.1 per cent in FY2015-16 to 4.2 per cent in FY2019-20. The Indian economy has registered a recession for the first time since Independence. The GDP growth was minus 24.1 per cent in Q1 of FY2020-21 and minus 7.5 per cent in Q2 of FY2020-21. The overall GDP growth for FY2020-21 is expected to be close to minus 8 per cent." Blunders like Demonetisation and a shoddy GST implementation and a national lockdown at a 4-hour notice has hurt the Indian economy badly. As a result, even Bangladesh has now overtaken India in per capita income. The Modi government promised 2 crore jobs every year. On the contrary, under the Modi rule, India saw the worst unemployment in 45 years in 2019. As per CMIE, during COVID-19, close to 12.2 crore people lost their jobs and almost 75 per cent of the 12.2 crore people were small traders and wage-labourers. The congress alleged that all-round failure of the Modi government has ensured that prices of essential commodities like Edible Oils, Pulses and Petrol/Diesel have hit the roof. The management of COVID-19 by the Modi government has been abysmal to say the least. With over 2.77 crore infections and 3.22 Lakh deaths, India saw its PM missing in action, Congress said. At a time when experts were warning the Modi government of a second COVID wave, it was in a rush to create a PR stunt by declaring victory over COVID-19. With shortage of beds, oxygen supply and life-saving drugs, citizens have been forced to see their loved ones dying. Thousands of bodies have been found floating in the Ganga river across UP and Bihar. The vaccination strategy is the worst implemented against any crisis, ever. Decentralized procurement, placing orders very late, no financial support to manufacturers to enhance capacity, not approving enough sources and not procuring enough doses. At the current average of 15.34 lakh doses administered per day, it will take India till May 31, 2024 to vaccinate its adult population. Surjewala accused the Modi Government of surrendering India's strategic interests to China and woefully compromised National Security. "The Modi government has undermined the astounding valour and insurmountable grit of our Armed Forces, who faced Chinese incursions and aggressions with indomitable courage and sacrifice." The Modi Government has agreed to withdraw Indian Armed Forces from dominant positions in 'Kailash Ranges' (Southern Bank, Pangong Tso Lake Area), where the Chinese are at a disadvantage, without any quid pro quo by China. One of the most strategic and provocative incursions into the Indian territory by Chinese is in 'Depsang Plains'. Chinese have occupied our territory 18 kilometres inside the LAC up to Y-Junction (bottleneck). This has also jeopardized one of the most important and strategically placed Air Strips i.e. DBO Air Strip (DBO-Daulat Beg Oldi). "The Modi government is hatching a cruel conspiracy to mortgage agriculture and agricultural land in the hands of crony capitalists," Surjewala said. When all sectors were posting contraction, Agriculture was the only sector that registered a growth during the first COVID-19 wave. The farmers have been protesting for more than 6 months in harsh weather, but the government is completely apathetic to their demands. So far, 475 farmers have been martyred in this fight to save their futures. This is a clear case of complete apathy towards farmers who are fighting for their rights and to save their dignity but the government seems to be occupied in filling the pockets of their friends, he said. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Chennai, May 30 : The Cuddalore district police have set up a special Covid-19 care centre to treat policemen and their families who are contracting the vrus. About 101 police personal across the district have tested positive during the second wave of the pandemic. These personal are attached to seven police sub-divisions and are undergoing treatmentSixty-four of them were being treated at various hospitals and the others were under home quarantine. After a policeman complained of difficulties to get oxygen beds for treatment, the department set up a separate ward with all the facilities. An 18-bed hospital with oxygen facilities were set up at the Police hospital, Cuddalore to provide the best of medical care to the policemen and their family members infected by the disease. A senior police official told: "We are in the process of setting up a 100 bedded ward with oxygen facilities. A marriage hall is being converted for this process and will benefit policemen, their families as well as frontline workers who are engaged in fighting Covid-19." Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Porto, May 30 : Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne is out of hospital after suffering a fractured nose and eye socket during the team's Champions League defeat to Chelsea in the final. The 29-year-old playmaker was replaced by Gabriel Jesus in the 60th minute on Saturday evening, following a collision with Blues centre-back Antonio Ruediger, reports DPA. De Bruyne left the field in tears in Porto and has provided an update on his injury. "Hi guys just got back from the hospital," the Belgium international posted on Twitter on Sunday morning. "My diagnosis is Acute nose bone fracture and left orbital fracture. I feel okay now. Still disappointed about yesterday obviously but we will be back." De Bruyne did not say whether his injuries would affect his participation in Euro 2020. His Belgium team begins its campaign against Russia in St. Petersburg on July 12. Patna, May 30 : Despite the lockdown, there was no let up in crimes in Bihar, with a leader of the ruling Janata Dal-United shot and critically injured in Patna on Sunday. The incident occurred at Saguna More under Danapur police station in the city around 12.30 pm. Preliminary investigation revealed that two armed men opened fire on Arshad Hussain near Saguna More, and he sustained three gunshot injuries. Passers-by took him to the nearby Hi-Tech hospital where his condition is critical. "We have some clues about the attackers. Raids are on to nab them," said investigating officer R.C. Singh of Danapur police station. In another incident, a brother of hardcore active Maoist leader was gunned down in Mahuar village under Imamganj police station in Gaya district on Monday morning. Imamganj is considered as a Maoist-dominant area in Gaya. The deceased was identified as Chotu Paswan, the younger brother of rebel leader Gautam Paswan. The eyewitnesses have said that four armed men on two bikes indiscriminately fired at Chotu Paswan when he was returning from agricultural land. The local villagers put the dead body on Gaya-Imamganj main road to protest against the attack. They only handed over the body when police officials promised swift action. Hyderabad, May 30 : The Telangana government on Sunday decided to extend the lockdown for another 10 days but with an increased daily relaxation time. The decision was taken at the state Cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. The lockdown, which was to end on Sunday, has been extended for 10 days from May 31. The Cabinet, however, decided to increase the relaxation from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. from present 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. According to a statement from Chief Minister's Office, relaxation for one more hour will be given to enable people to return home. Thus, practically relaxation will be from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Chief Minister directed the administration to ensure strict implementation of the lockdown from 2 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day. The state government had announced a 10-day lockdown from May 12 to rein in the surge in coronavirus cases. This was later extended by another week. The decision for further extension of the lockdown was taken after the Cabinet felt that continuing the curbs for few more days would further help the state in checking the spread of Covid. Industry and Information Technology Minister K.T. Rama Rao said the Cabinet also decided to allow limited revival of economic activity. Guidelines in this regard will be issued soon. Bengaluru, May 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed woman loco pilot Sireesha Gajini of the South Western Railway (SWR) for also steering the Oxygen Express ferrying the life-saving gas from Jharkhand's Jamshedpur to Bengaluru on May 21. Interacting with Gajini, of Karnataka, in his monthly "Mann ki Baat" radio programme, Modi told her that all mothers and sisters would be proud to hear that one Oxygen Express was being run by an all-women crew. "Every woman of the country will be proud of you. Not only they, every Indian will feel proud of you," he told Gajini during his two minute chat with her. "Sireesha ji, you are doing an outstanding job. Many women like you came forward during the coronavirus pandemic and gave the nation the strength to find against the disease. You are also a great example of naari shakti (woman power)," he added. Gajini told Modi in English that she worked with great pleasure when she piloted the Oxygen Express. "I happily worked for this mission. For delivering the oxygen, everything is checked, including safety, formation, leakage," she said. Gajini, 33, and her co-pilots N.P. Aparna and Neelam Kumari, drove the train, carrying 120 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen in six cryogenic containers, at 100 kmph from Tamil Nadu's Jolarpettai to Whitefield station in Bengaluru, covering 125 km in 90 minutes. "The women pilot crew took over the train's electric engine when their turn came at Jolarpettai and piloted it for 125 km to Bengaluru. They forayed into a domain, considered as a male reserve for long," a railway official told IANS. Thanking the Prime Minister for calling her, Gajini said the Railways has been always supportive. Asked from where she got the inspiration to become a loco pilot in the railways, she said: "My parents are my inspiration. My father encouraged me and my two sisters to study well and supported us in our professional careers." An engineering graduate, Gajini joined the zonal railway as a local pilot in April 2013 after a year stint in a software firm here. New Delhi, May 30 : Scores of Delhi University teachers and students have appealed to the administration to scrap the final semester examinations, which are scheduled to commence on June 7, in light of the deaths of 50 professors and teachers of the varsity and its affiliated colleges due to the coronavirus. Delhi University on May 20 postponed semester exams for final-year undergraduate and postgraduate students for the second time and announced that these will now commence on June 7. The exams, which will now be held in the open-book format online, were earlier scheduled to start from May 15 but were postponed to June 1 owing to the spike in Covid cases. The varsity students have said that they will also appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding scrapping of the final semester examinations. Earlier, they had written to the Ministry of Education and the DU administration seeking postponement of the final year examinations amid the raging Covid cases. According to Delhi Teachers' Association (DTA), an organisation of Delhi University academics, those professors who had succumed to Covid include Vinay Gupta (Physics department), Veena Kukreja (Political Science department), Prateek Chaudhary (Music department) and SK Gupta (Faculty of Law). Among the retired teachers, who had died of Covid, include Narendra Kohli, Narendra Mohan, K. D. Sharma, Bhikshu Satyapal, S.S. Rana, Debu Chaudhary, Ramesh Upadhyay and former Principal of Rajdhani College, B. S. Yadav. Hansraj Suman, DTA in-charge, claimed that DU has the largest chunk of teachers to have succumbed to the deadly virus. He said that out of the 50 fatalities, 28 were permanent teachers, 16 retired teachers and four ad hoc teachers. Suman added that lives of several teachers could have been saved if the hospitals and healthcare facilities would have been made available to them ahead of the intense wave of Covid-19 that struck in February-March this year. He said that the way people have endured unprecedented circumstances between April 20 and May 7, students and teachers are not mentally competent to appear and conduct examinations immediately following the danger posed by the Covid-19 infection. In such circumstances the examination should be postponed till July. On the other hand, DU's Dean of Examination, D.S. Rawat, told IANS that the exams for final year students would start from June 7. Earlier, the examinations of the final year students were slated for June 1, but now the examination will be conducted in the open-book format online. Chandra Mani Dev, President of Delhi University student organization, Chatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS), has also demanded immediate suspension of exams. He said while large number of teachers have died due to Covid, on the other hand there are still hundreds of students who have tested positive for the virus. Many students hail from native places outside Delhi where they don't even have internet facility. Therefore, it is not fair to conduct these exams right now. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Mumbai, May 30 : Bollywood star Madhuri Dixit Nene took to social media on Sunday to express pride and happiness on her elder son Arin graduating from high school. The actress took to Instagram on Sunday and wrote: "A proud moment for Ram and I, as Arin graduates from high school with flying colours. Congratulations Arin and to the graduating class of 2021. We appreciate how hard this year has been for all of you and we salute your resilience, strength, hardwork , and focus to rise above the situation and succeed. So, follow your passion and understand that one day you will have the power to make a difference, use it well. Wishing you success in everything you do. Love you always. #ProudParent #ClassOf2021 #GraduationDay." The actress also shared a video where she is seen preparing her son for his graduation day and how he is rejoicing. In March this year, Madhuri made an Instagram post to celebrate her son's 18th birthday. She wrote: "My baby is officially an adult. Happy 18th birthday, Arin. Just remember that with freedom comes responsibilities. From today the world is yours to enjoy, protect and brighten. Make good on all the opportunities that come your way and live life to the fullest. Hope your journey is an unforgettable adventure. Love you." Chennai, May 30 : Tamil Nadu state Congress president K.S. Alagiri on Sunday said that he supports the view of state Finance Minister, P.T.R. Thiagarajan that the "One State One Vote" in the GST Council was unfair. Alagiri, in a statement, said that treating higher revenue states and lower revenue states at par was unfair and also accused the Central government of "taking a biased stance and politicising the views expressed by non-BJP ruled states". Alleging that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's, the rights of the states were taken away despite promises of cooperative federalism, he noted that in the recent GST Council meeting, the Centre ignored the state's demand for extension of GST compensation period, which was to end in 2022, by a period of another five years. While the country has been placed under lockdown, making newspaper distribution impossible, the Sunday Times team produced your favourite Sunday newspaper in digital format to bring you the latest news, feature stories and political commentaries. We are happy to announce that we are giving you free access to our digital paper. Click here to access the free epaper. If you like to be a subscriber to our regular epaper please click here. New Delhi, May 30 : If you smoke tobacco, then it is high time to crush and throw it away forever as health experts on Sunday warned that it can put you at high risk of Covid-19 by affecting your body's immunity. According to experts, smoking impairs lung function, thereby reducing immunity and making it harder for the body to fight off various diseases. "In general smokers have depressed or disturbed immune systems in the form of non-specific immune defence mechanisms in the body like natural killer cells, mast cells and macrophages," Anshuman Kumar, Director Surgical Oncology, Dharamshila Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, New Delhi, told IANS. "Smoking slows down the formation of specific defence mechanisms in the form of cellular (T cells, B cells), humoral circulating antibodies," Kumar added. Ahead of World No Tobacco Day, which is observed on May 31, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General said that smokers have up to a 50 per cent higher risk of developing severe disease and death from Covid-19. J.B. Sharma, HOD and Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology, Action Cancer Hospital, New Delhi, said that Covid-19 primarily affects lungs and with compromised health of lungs, a chronic smoker is surely at the higher risk of Covid-19's severity. According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, tobacco use is a major risk factor for the four main Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) -- cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung disease and diabetes. Apart from these diseases, smoking tobacco can also affect your gums and lead to several gum-related diseases. "Smokers are three to six times more likely to develop gum diseases or periodontal disease as it decreases the blood supply in the gum. They are also six times more likely to develop oral cancer than non-smokers," Pranshu Tripathi, MDS, JR Dental, Dwarka, New Delhi, told IANS. Therefore, experts find a need for smokers to visit a counsellor or a mental health expert as individually delivered smoking cessation counselling can help them quit this unhealthy habit. "There are nicotine gums available to control the urges of taking tobacco, apart from that counselling and mental health experts are also available," Kumar said. Tobacco cessation therapy is majorly divided into two parts -- psycho counseling and medicinal therapy. As per Vaishakhi Mallik, Associate Director, Vital Strategies, public education campaigns are a critical tactic to highlight the health harms of tobacco use, support cessation efforts and addressing the tobacco epidemic. (Vivek Singh Chauhan can be reached at vivek.c@ians.in) Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, May 30 : As the Centre on Sunday announced the expansion of the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS), industry participants have lauded the move and said it would support more businesses amid the second wave of Covid-19. FICCI President Uday Shankar said that the relaxations announced under the scheme will serve the MSMEs well. "Relaxations announced under ECLGS 1.0 both in terms of extension of period of repayment as well as offer of an additional 10 per cent loan will serve the MSMEs well. Removal of the Rs 500 crore cap for eligibility under ECLGS 3.0 and inclusion of the civil aviation sector are also welcome," he said. Noting that the new scheme ECLGS 4.0 provides financial support to the critical healthcare sector, Uday Shankar said: "We hope that the banks will go all out in disbursing the loans in a quick and timely manner." He noted that there is a need to ramp up the health infrastructure in the country over the next few months to prepare well for any future waves. On the announcements made by the State Bank of India and Indian Banks' Association (IBA), the FICCI chief said: "We welcome the steps taken by the banking fraternity to support industry, particularly the MSME sector, during this hour of crisis. The second Covid-19 wave has been devastating for a large number of businesses and it was only appropriate for the banking sector to come forward and announce these measures." Commenting on the inclusion of the civil aviation sector among the beneficiaries of ECLGS, SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director, Ajay Singh, said that the it is a timely move and should help the sector that has been the most severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. "World over, we have seen governments come to the rescue of their airlines multiple times over the last one year. Airlines in Indian have been at the very forefront of this war against Covid and the government's recognition of the difficulties being faced by our industry is certainly a move in the right direction," he said. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Chennai, May 30 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on Sunday visited Covid facilities at Erode, Tiruppur and Coimbatore districts where the daily cases are hitting new high in the western pockets of the state. The CM also reviewed the treatment being provided to the patients at these centres. Stalin inaugurated Car Ambulance facilities at Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts and also ordered for more recruitments of doctors and nurses in Covid facilities at Erode and Tiruppur. He also inspected the additional oxygen beds which were set up at Erode Government Medical College Hospital in Perundurai, where a temporary shed with 300 oxygen beds was inaugurated on Friday. Here, oxygen facility will be provided using oxygen cylinders and concentrators. The Chief minister also was apprised of the construction of a new permanent building with 400 oxygen beds at the cost of Rs 14 crore. The Car Ambulance facility aims to help the Covid patients receive quick access to transportation to the healthcare centres. It is available to patients in home quarantine who call the Zonal-level volunteers ,after which the free vehicle will arrive at their door steps. These ambulances will also be used for patients to travel from screening centres to hospitals or Covid care centres. This will help reduce the waiting time for 108 ambulance services. Stalin also flagged off as many as 50 car ambulances to ferry Covid-19 patients to the healthcare centres. The car ambulance model was earlier initiated in Chennai and mooted in Coimbatore to contain the spread of viral infection while transporting the patients. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Bengaluru, May 30 : Amid the pandemic's second wave, Karnataka has received 2,913 ventilators from the Centre to treat Covid patients in hospitals across the state, an official said on Sunday. "The state has received 2,913 ventilators from the Central government - 2,025 in Phase 1 and 888 in Phase 2 so far. All ventilators from Phase 1 have been installed in district hospitals (578), state-run medical colleges (574), taluk hospitals (708) , composite healthcare centres (24) and private hospitals (141)," an official from the Chief Minister's Office in a statement here. Of 888 ventilators in the second phase, 712 have been installed and the remaining 176 will be used as per need. In view of the surge in positive cases and increasing admission of severe Covid patients into ICUs, 2,737 ventilators are in use. Demand for additional ventilators will be met as per the need in any hospital. "Each taluk hospital has been given 50 oxygenating beds and 6 ventilators in their ICUs after the pandemic's first wave," the statement said. Admitting that technical snags were detected in some of the ventilators installed in the hospitals, the official said the staff has been given helplines of vendors for servicing the machines at any time. "When ventilators are installed in the hospital, the technical staff are given a demo to operate and an online facility for rectifying snags, if any," said the official. The state Health Department has also supplied ventilators to private hospitals, as they have been directed to reserve 80 per cent of their beds to treat Covid patients referred by the government doctors. In a related development, city-based German auto-component major Bosch has offered to repair ventilators in Covid hospitals free of cost, Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan said. Company Vice President Ramesh Saligrama said ventilators with snags would be repaired as part of its corporate social responsibility. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Moscow, May 30 : Moscow on Sunday reported over 3,000 fresh Covid cases for the fourth consecutive day in a row, raising fears about the spread of the deadly virus. Sunday's figures turned up 3,719 new cases. But Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the uptick could be explained by a recent week-long holiday, during which people were less inclined to go to the doctor. That means the cases that would have normally been reported that week are being concentrated in the present. However, Sobyanin has in the past complained that vaccination drives aren't moving quickly enough in the city. The percentage of city residents who have been vaccinated is lower than in any other European capitals, DPA reported. He said it was a "scandal" that many people are refusing vaccination. At the moment, about 11 per cent of Russians have received a shot against Covid-19. Most lockdown limitations were lifted in Moscow months ago. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Paris, May 30 : French President Emmanuel Macron has threatened that the country would withdraw troops from Mali if political turmoil there leads to greater Islamist radicalisation. It follows a second coup in nine months in the West African nation, the BBC reported. Macron warned of the risk of Mali "moving towards" greater Islamist influence. France has 5,100 troops in the Sahel region which has been a front line in the war against Islamist militancy. French troops have been supporting forces in Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad to battle militants in the Sahel region since 2013. Macron told Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper that he had told regional leaders that France would not support countries where there was no democratic legitimacy or transition, and that France had no intention of keeping its troops in Africa forever. For decades France has provided military support to back leaders of its former colonies in Africa, often sending troops or despatching air strikes to counter armed rebels. The French President has for some time been muttering about reducing, or withdrawing, the more than 5,000 French troops in the vast and troubled Sahel. He is frustrated about a lack of commitment from most other European countries to fight the multiple militant Islamist groups in the region. They are considered a threat to Europe, both in terms of possible jihadist attacks on the continent and illegal migration. But Macron faces another dilemma related to recent political events in two countries where French troops are active, Mali and Chad. Mali has had two military takeovers in the past nine months. Chad has had one. Macron has been demanding an end to military rule in both. In Mali, he has threatened to withdraw French troops if the political chaos and uncertainty leads to an increase in radical Islam. But he is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Although French forces and their allies have failed to defeat the jihadists, who are becoming increasingly active in the Sahel and neighbouring regions, the fear is that, if France leaves, Islamist militancy will become even more rampant. 2021 Toyota Prius Prime red charging on city street Alternatively fueled vehicles are beginning to become more common on California roadways. While plug-in electric hybrid cars like the 2021 Toyota Prius Prime still have a reserve of gasoline, they depend more on electricity than regular hybrid cars. Since many drivers have not yet had the ability to drive a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle before, Ammaars Toyota of Vacaville is promoting their stock of Toyota Prius Prime models. At the time of this writing, there are two 2021 Toyota Prius Prime models available at the dealership. One belongs to the XLE trim and the other belongs to the Limited trim. The 2021 Toyota Prius Prime XLE has a 1.8-liter engine, which generates 95 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque. The transmission for this vehicle is an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission and has front-wheel drive. It is colored in classic silver metallic and has a starting MSRP of $30,000. The 2021 Toyota Prius Prime Limited has a starting MSRP of $34,000. It has more features than the XLE, including integrated LED fog lights and LED accent lights, intelligent clearance sonar, intelligent parking assist, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert and a color head-up display. This model is painted with the magnetic gray metallic exterior. Shoppers seeking to learn more about either of these models, or other hybrids at Ammaars Toyota of Vacaville are encouraged to call the dealership at (707) 446-7000 or visit the dealership at 500 Orange Drive, Vacaville, California, 95687 or by chatting with a representative through the chat function on the dealership website. Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the lawsuit against Centro De Salud De La Comunidad De San Ysidro, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The San Diego employment law attorneys at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a lawsuit against Centro De Salud De La Comunidad De San Ysidro, Inc., alleging the company violated California Labor Code. The lawsuit against Centro De Salud De La Comunidad De San Ysidro, Inc., is currently pending in the San Diego County Superior Court, Case No. 37-2021-00017369-CU-OE-CTL. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here. Allegedly, Plaintiff was from time to time interrupted by work assignments while clocked out for what should have been Plaintiff's off-duty meal break. Additionally, Defendant allegedly administered a uniform practice of rounding the actual time worked and recorded by Plaintiff and California Class Members. As a result, Plaintiff and California Class Members were allegedly paid for less hours than the actual amount worked. Additionally, as a result of rigorous work schedules, Plaintiff and California Class Members were, on occasions, unable to take thirty (30) minute off-duty meal breaks. Plaintiff and California Class Members were also allegedly required, on occasions, to work for more than five (5) hours during some shifts without receiving a meal break. For more information about the lawsuit against Centro De Salud De La Comunidad De San Ysidro, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other types of illegal workplace conduct. ***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT*** Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the lawsuit against USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The Los Angeles employment law attorneys at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a lawsuit against USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, alleging the company violated California Labor Code. The lawsuit against USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, is currently pending in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Case No. 21STCV16199. To read a copy of the Complaint, please click here. According to the lawsuit filed, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to provide wages when due, and (f) violated the Private Attorneys General Act, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in Labor Code Sections 201, 202, 203, 226, 226.7, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1 2698 and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct. The complaint further alleges USC Verdugo Hills Hospital committed acts of unfair competition in violation of the California Unfair Competition Law, Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 17200, et seq. (the UCL), by engaging in a company-wide policy and procedure which failed to accurately calculate and record the correct overtime rate for the overtime worked by PLAINTIFF and other CALIFORNIA CLASS Members. As a result of DEFENDANTs intentional disregard of the obligation to meet this burden, DEFENDANT allegedly failed to properly calculate and/or pay all required compensation for work performed by the members of the CALIFORNIA CLASS and violated the California Labor Code. For more information about the lawsuit against USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is a labor law firm with law offices located in San Diego County, Riverside County, Los Angeles County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Orange County and San Francisco County. The firm has a statewide practice of representing employees on a contingency basis for violations involving unpaid wages, overtime pay, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination and other types of illegal workplace conduct. ***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT*** Manhattan Beach Toyota offers upcoming graduates $500 rebate on untitled Toyota Models Graduating amidst the pandemic is no mean feat. Manhattan Beach Toyota is honoring such customers. It is offering up to $500 rebates on all new untitled Toyota models to recent or upcoming college graduates, including graduates from accredited degree programs. This rebate program, however, does not include Toyota Certified Used Vehicles (TCUVs) and Scion Certified Pre-Owned vehicles. To avail the program, customers should have graduated within two years preceding the vehicle sale date or lease contract date. The customer could also be enrolled in a graduate program that is due for completion in the next six months. Eligible customers also need to meet credit approval requirements, i.e., they need to submit proof of present or future employment, when they submit their application. For confirming their eligibility, customers need to furnish either of the following documents: a copy of the diploma, letter from the school registrar of the college/university notifying the graduation date and the type of degree earned, a copy of the final transcript confirming the graduation date and type of degree earned, or a copy of the current transcript that confirms present enrolment in a graduate degree program. Those interested in learning more about the College Graduate Program at Manhattan Beach Toyota can visit the dealerships website at https://www.manhattanbeachtoyota.com/ or call the dealership at 855-995-7001. The dealership is open all seven days of the week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Manhattan Beach Toyota dealership is located at 1500 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. Are you Ready to Join the Worlds Largest Economic Sector? Australasian Academy Preparing Students for Global Hotel Management Careers View(s): View(s): Hotel and Tourism Management (Hospitality Management) sector provides great career opportunities in Sri Lanka and abroad. The demand for highly trained and skilled personnel keeps increasing year on year in all the countries that promotes Tourism. Australasian Academy of Hospitality (AAH) offer complete education and training options for energetic, enthusiastic students who have a passion for people and service. Those students who are active and have leadership skills make excellent Hotel Managers because they are very organised, creative and innate leaders. To work in tourism and hospitality, you need to be outgoing, enjoy relationships with people, sacrifice time to develop a rewarding career, be service oriented and have the ability to work with teams. Why Hotel Management at AAH? At Australasian Academy students have the opportunity of learning not only hotel management, service skills and Food and Beverage operations, but also focus on finance, accounting, and marketing, preparing students with a wider educational context where graduates will have a holistic view of the operations of a hotel and the tourism industry at large AAH also provides practical training within the state-of-the-art facility at Duplication Road, Colombo 3 with faculty of leading industry professionals from Sri Lanka and qualified from Australia and Canada. The ultimate learning outcome for students will be far ahead of their peers in the industry. Career Without Limits Hospitality degrees are for people who want to see the world. Enter an industry that continues to grow and change. It is for people who love teamwork and face-to-face interaction. A hospitality management degree gives you the chance to follow your interests in limitless locations, making unforgettable experiences and giving you a highly rewarding career. A hospitality management course prepares you for a successful career and several high-level positions. Furthermore, the hospitality industry is one of the most expansive and diverse, which means youll never be limited in your job search. Whether you want to go down the hotel management career path, want to run an exotic, remote resort or fancy managing a casino, the choice is yours. Paid internships Local and International Hotels The uniqueness of AAH Hotel Management programmes is the internships that are provided for our undergraduates in Leading star class hotels in Sri Lanka and Overseas. All programmes from Certificate III to Advanced diploma are embedded with supervised paid internships which make sure that AAH graduates are work ready by the time they graduate. Transfer Options AAH students have the option to complete the Advanced Diploma right here in Sri Lanka at fraction of the cost of Studying in Australia or complete a year or two in Colombo and Transfer to Australia, Canada, or Switzerland to complete the Degree. If you are looking for a dynamic and challenging career after your O/Levels or A/Levels in an ever-changing field, please give us a call and speak to one of our Education Counsellors today to keep the first step towards your career success. We will only use Jason Stopnitzky and Performance Brokerage Services when buying or selling a dealership. Performance Brokerage Services, a new car dealership broker is pleased to announce the sale of Poway Hyundai and Poway Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Poway, California from Mark Abelkop to Pedder Auto Group. Born and raised in South Africa, Mark Abelkop grew up in the car business under his father, who was a leading Chrysler dealer in South Africa. Abelkop moved to the United States in 1987 with his family, and purchased his first American dealership, Mitsubishi in San Diego. Over the next 30 years he built an illustrious career in San Diego County, acquiring additional dealerships. As he transitions to semi-retirement, Poway Hyundai and Poway Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram were his last two stores, and it was important that he found the right buyer for them. Abelkop commented, I have personally been on both sides of around a dozen buy/sell agreements. Jason Stopnitzky of Performance Brokerage Services ensured that this one was by far the easiest and smoothest I have experienced. He was available 24/7 and remained on top of any issues that came up, remained in constant contact with everyone involved in the transaction, and was pro-active throughout. Everything that was promised was delivered and I have no hesitation in recommending Jason and his family, whether you are a buyer or seller. Over the last 5 years, Performance Brokerage Services has represented for sale over 200 automotive dealerships making it the highest volume automotive dealership brokerage firm in North America. Jason Stopnitzky, the exclusive agent for this transaction and Co-Founder of Performance Brokerage Services commented, It was a pleasure to work with such fine principals during this transaction. David Pedder is a progressive, forward thinking dealer, who surrounds himself with some of the best talent in the business. I anticipate we will see tremendous growth from Pedder Auto Group in the future. This was a great fit to take over the legacy Mark Abelkop has built in Poway. Pedder Automotive Group was founded in 2008 by Owner David Pedder. The family owned and operated dealer group has 5 dealerships in Southern California, representing Nissan, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram brands. Pedder commented, We are so grateful to Jason Stopnitzky of Performance Brokerage Services for his professionalism and hard work to find us such a great opportunity in our desired area. We appreciate how smooth and easy the transaction was. We will only use Jason Stopnitzky and Performance Brokerage Services when buying or selling a dealership. It was a pleasure working with Mark Abelkop, and we thank him for the ease of doing business. The dealerships will remain at their current locations at 13811 and 13910 Poway Road in Poway, California 92064. Representing Pedder Auto Group in this transaction was Jim Barone of Ferruzzo & Ferruzzo, LLP, based in Newport Beach, California. Representing Mark Abelkop in this transaction was Leslie Chayo based in Beverly Hills, California. About Performance Brokerage Services Performance Brokerage Services, Inc. is the nations highest volume dealership brokerage firm, specializing in intermediary services to buyers and sellers of automotive, commercial truck, motorcycle, RV and equipment dealerships. Performance Brokerage Services offers a unique approach by providing complimentary dealership assessments, no upfront fees, no reimbursement of costs and is paid a success fee only after the transaction closes. Clients benefit from utilizing an extensive network of industry related accountants, attorneys, hundreds of registered buyers and longstanding relationships with most of the auto manufacturers. With corporate offices in Irvine, California, and 5 regional offices in Utah, Florida, Texas, Virginia and New Jersey, Performance Brokerage Services provides its clients national exposure with local representation. After 25 years, 700 transactions and with a 90% closing rate, the companys reputation is unmatched and governed by the utmost ethical conduct, integrity and transparency. For more information about the services offered by Performance Brokerage Services, visit https://performancebrokerageservices.com. Marjan's Musical Soirees Pianist Marjan Kiepura and narrator Jane Knox are hosting a new podcast series called Marjans Musical Soirees - featuring artists, music and conversation. This first podcast is dedicated to Frederic Chopin's mazurkas. A dance form with special rhythms and accents, the mazurkas would become the most extensive of all of Frederic Chopin's genre. Chopin composed 58 of these wondrous concert pieces for the piano. Publishers referred to them as "Souvenir de la Pologne", these gems would create the Polishness that we hear in his music. Large color paintings featured in the video version of this podcast are by the noted Polish painter Zofia Stryienska, a gift to Marjans parents, stars of opera, stage and screen, the Polish tenor Jan Kiepura and the Hungarian soprano Marta Eggerth. Future podcasts will include a unique blend of music and conversation and feature artists that have been part of Marjans own musical heritage. Music will include piano, opera, operetta and film. Listen to Marjans Musical Soirees on your favorite podcast player, YouTube or at http://www.patriamusic.com. The case of Uruguay that inauspicious, high-income utopia south of Brazil seemed like everything of which the lockdown lobby had dreamed. A hard imposition of lockdown policies early in the pandemic. No one leaves their homes. No travel. Mask up. Keep the virus out. Crush it with coercion. No crowds! No fun allowed! And boom: it worked. Covid stayed away! For the world press, Uruguay was the ideal. It was not Brazil with its Trump-like president and federalist chaos. Uruguay officials behaved with intelligence, pushing the most extreme lockdown policies recommended by the WTO. By comparison, Uruguay was stiffer and stricter even than the US or the UK. The people went along. And there we go: perfect virus control. Be like Uruguay, they said. It gets better. The scholars got involved in the party. Hats off to the great Uruguay!: The International Monetary Fund jumped into the fashion fray. A fact finding mission yielded a report dated (if you can believe it) May 25, 2021, said the following: The policy response to the pandemic effectively deployed available policy space while balancing medium-term objectives. The governments efforts have simultaneously focused on mitigating the economic and social effects of the pandemic while advancing reforms to tackle pre-existing macroeconomic imbalances and boost potential growth. The successful handling of the health crisis kept a low case count for much of 2020, while preventing large-scale lockdowns and, thus, limiting the impact on economic activity. While the situation deteriorated markedly in recent months, the countrys fast vaccine rollout is commendable and should allow for a prompt reopening of the economy. Wow, thats some seriously high praise for a wicked crackdown on all essential rights and freedoms. Guess thats what you have to do, right? So says the IMF. And yet these bureaucratic reports take time. How could the IMF have known what was about to happen? That report which probably took months to get approved by layers of editors was surely finished before 250,000 cases and 4,000 deaths hit the country in 2021. Suppression worked great until it completely stopped working. How, for example, could the IMF have known that the New York Times would have run the following nearly two weeks before the IMFs final report? Uruguay has the worlds highest death toll per capita: For most of the past year, Uruguay was held up as an example for keeping the coronavirus from spreading widely as neighboring countries grappled with soaring death tolls. Uruguays good fortune has run out. In the last week, the small South American nations Covid-19 death rate per capita was the highest in the world. So the virus broke through after all, huh? Its true the charts look terrible. But this might be geography, not policy driving outcomes. Indeed, I would not say that Uruguay is a disaster. It is what it is, consistent with this virus that has outsmarted every government in the world. The demographics of severe outcomes there are the same here as they are everywhere in the world. The virus is a threat at the level of 94% to the elderly and sick and mostly a nuisance at 99.98% to most everyone else. For the healthy under 65, it is mostly mild. For kids, nearly nonexistent. Its severe for others, as any new virus would be. The important point is not that Uruguay is the killing fields but rather that the country that all experts in the world praised for successful suppression had utterly failed to do just that. All experience suggests that the virus is going to come. The virus is going to do its thing. You can defer to it and protect the vulnerable as best you can. Otherwise you have a choice: crush social and market functioning and delay the problem or allow the non-vulnerable to get on with their lives exactly as nations have chosen to do for hundreds of years in the face of a new pathogen. Whats striking about the case of Uruguay is how it was held up as the model by media and intellectuals the world over. There is no need for public health to defer to the power of a virus! Surely intellectuals with states to do their bidding can overpower any force in the world, even that which is invisible and ubiquitous! Let this nasty Coronavirus be the test, they said. Let government officials display once and for all the powerful miracles of which they are capable, provided they are given a free hand to do what they will and the people fully comply! Uruguay did everything right, and then everything went wrong. If you are willing to look and consider honestly, what we have with the case of Covid-19 is the greatest failure of expertise in our lifetimes, and an awesome and transformative case of the utter failure of state power to achieve what it had promised to achieve provided we give up all our rights and liberties. We did what we were supposed to do. What do we have to show for it? What do Uruguayans have to show for it? If the response to this fiasco is a sense of global fury at the experts who failed us, that would not seem entirely disproportionate or unjustified. And, yes, that now includes the International Monetary Fund. Civic education has emerged as a major front in the bitter clash spilling over into many domains between left and right in America. Since the civic-education battles revolve around the nations core principles and fundamental character, they may prove the decisive front. Education in general and civic education in particular shape students understandings of themselves, fellow citizens, the nation, and other nations and peoples. Consequently, the outcome of the raging debate about the content and goal of civic education is bound to have a major effect on Americas ability to secure freedom and protect equality under law, provide economic opportunity and spur growth, revitalize civil society, and defend the free and open international order against antidemocratic and unfree regimes ambitions to bend it toward authoritarianism. Civic education is an old idea. According to the classical tradition rooted in Plato and Aristotle, the whole of education should aim at forming the soul by cultivating the virtues. Education, in this view, involves both the training of the body through disciplined physical exertion and the formation of the mind through study of science and the humanities -- not least the principles of ones own nations political order. For the classical tradition, education is civic education. To a significant extent, the modern tradition of freedom agreed, with the crucial proviso that educations principal goal was to prepare students for the rights and responsibilities of freedom. Accordingly, liberal education puts study of the principles of a free society at the core of the curriculum. At the same time, liberal education places a good deal more emphasis than did classical education on introducing students to the diversity of views on the great moral, economic, legal, political, philosophical, and religious questions, and on equipping students to think for themselves. Such study -- concentrating on great works of literature, history, philosophy, and theology -- is part and parcel of civic education well understood because it cultivates the virtues of reasoned inquiry, tolerance, and civility, all of which contribute to good citizenship in a liberal democracy. Civic education as Americans tend to think of it today involves telltale innovations. Contemporary American educators treat civic education as a specialized undertaking, walling it off from other subjects. They increasingly ascribe to it a participatory component, believing correctly that engagement in political affairs and the life of the community is an important part of citizenship in a free and democratic society while supposing dubiously that schools are well-suited to direct outside-the-classroom action. And for some time now, a large swath of American educators has treated the proposition that the United States is systemically racist as civic educations indisputable premise. In general, American progressives want more of the civic-education innovations. For them, civics is a stand-alone subject. In their view, it involves to a considerable extent, and in some cases primarily, the promotion of social justice in and beyond the classroom. Instead of concentrating on teaching the basic facts and preeminent ideas of U.S. history and exposing students to different perspectives on the American experience, progressive educators betray a tendency to inculcate as a self-evident truth that the nation was conceived in, and remains suffused with, racism. Meanwhile, conservatives incline to the traditional view that civic education should be grounded in the study of the nations self-proclaimed moral and political ideas -- the principles of freedom and self-government set forth in the Declaration, Constitution, and other seminal writings from the founding. Such an approach includes exploration of the many ways the nation has fallen short of its professed standards but it does so in light of the United States of Americas distinction as the first nation ever to come into existence by declaring its dedication to the universal principles of individual freedom and human equality. It also brings into focus how the American experiment in ordered liberty, despite the legal protection it gave to slavery at its founding, has made great progress in honoring unalienable rights, the securing of which, the Declaration states, is governments first task. In a recent Atlantic essay titled Can Civics Save America? distinguished journalist George Packer attempts to broker a viable accord in the civic-education battles. The country could certainly use a level-headed and intelligent mediator -- not nonpartisan, necessarily, but capable of reporting the situation accurately and identifying the common ground on which education in a pluralistic and, at the moment, deeply divided, nation can take place. A writer of the center-left, Packer seems to fit the bill. He is devoted to classic liberal notions of individual freedom, human equality, toleration, civility, and reasoned discourse. In 2019, he wrote judiciously and movingly, based on his own experience as a New York City parent, about schools damaging efforts to inculcate progressive orthodoxy. And he recognizes that we face a dire situation in which schools today barely teach civics -- that goes for the facts of American government as well as the virtues of persuasion and compromise on which liberal democracy depends -- even as citizens demonstrate shocking ignorance about the basic operation of our constitutional system and trust in government plummets. Packers ambitions at mediation, however, are thwarted by his softening and sprucing up of the progressive position, and his crude distortion of the conservative alternative. Packer finds hope in an initiative led by Harvard Professor Danielle Allen and iCivics Executive Director Louise Dube. Their report, funded by the Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Humanities, was released to the public in March. According to Packer, Educating for American Democracy tries hard not to choose sides in the culture war. It seeks to reconcile love of country and its ideals with rigorous criticism of its failings. It aims to make students more skilled and empowered as democratic citizens. And rather than tell schools what to teach or students what to think, its purpose is to guide the education of students in how to think. These are admirable goals in the abstract, but Packer overlooks the invitation to politicization of the schools woven into the initiatives emphasis on, as he puts it, acting on issues of the present. He dismisses Ethics and Public Policy Center Senior Fellow Stanley Kurtzs critique of action civics on the strange grounds that it is unreasonable to believe that children in 21st-century America can be made to sit quietly at their desks as they did in 1957, learning how a bill became a law. But human nature has not changed so greatly in the last 65 years as to extinguish students capacity -- or obviate the political imperative -- to learn how government works. Nor has human nature undergone alterations that would lead one to doubt that an overwhelmingly progressive educational establishment will exploit action civics to enlist students in progressive causes while discouraging participation in conservative ones. Packer, moreover, misses the pronounced leftward tilt in the accompanying Roadmap to Educating for American Democracy. Writing in City Journal, Mark Bauerlein shows that despite its conciliatory rhetoric, the initiative downplays the American founding while celebrating the history of the countrys supposed successive refoundings. The reports decidedly progressive message is that institutional and social transformation counts for almost everything in civics education while preserving the nations constitutional heritage counts for little. Packer would have been less likely to overlook these serious flaws in Educating for American Democracy had he paid more attention to conservative views about civic education. Instead, he derides conservatives for wanting to institute a fixed view of civics and U.S. history in place of inquiry, debate, and disagreement. In contrast to Packers caricature, however, Kurtz argues -- consistent with longstanding conservative thinking -- for bringing into the civics classroom that vigorous examination from many angles of important moral and political questions central to liberal education. All Americans should want to conserve liberal education because in a free society it is the comprehensive civics education. It provides the common ground and encourages the habits of mind and heart that enable individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to appreciate the nations core principles and fundamental character. Before the November election, candidate Joe Biden's campaign let it be known that the Democratic nominee would part ways with environmental activists by supporting mining in the United States for technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Unnamed sources from Team Biden told Reuters: "A Biden administration would emphasize green energy, and in order to get more solar panels, you need more raw materials. These materials don't come out of a test tube." The message to lunch-bucket voters and their employers: a pragmatic old-school Democrat, Biden understood you can't make an omelet (or electric car) without breaking eggs (or mining lithium and other necessary metals). Biden wouldn't be one of those Democrats who hype clean energy while allowing environmental groups to block the means necessary to produce it. It felt like the dawning of the age of Aquarius to industry. "The Biden campaign understands the need for domestic supply chains," Rich Nolan, head of the National Mining Association, told Reuters at the time. A strong supply chain of critical metals and elements also happens to be essential to Biden's push to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to half their 2005 level by 2030. That means electric cars. And that means mining. Biden's start looked promising. In February, the president signed an executive order to prevent supply chain disruptions, a smart response to shortages of personal protective equipment for health care workers in the early COVID-19 days and later shortages of automotive semiconductor chips -- which hurt automotive workers. A fact sheet noted, "The U.S. could better leverage our sizable lithium reserves and manufacturing know-how to expand domestic battery production." Then, Tuesday, Reuters ran this headline: "Biden looks abroad for electric vehicle metals, in blow to U.S. miners." According to the report, two unnamed Biden administration officials had disclosed that the plan is to rely on "ally countries" to provide the "bulk of metals" needed to build electric vehicles, a decision meant to appease environmental groups. The Center for Biological Diversity has opposed lithium mining in Nevada, even though lithium is essential to EV (as electric vehicles are known in wonk circles) manufacture. Loop Capital Markets analyst Christopher Kapsch wrote of the "irony in extensive efforts by an organization professing to have the environment's best interests in mind to halt a project that will play a meaningful role in supply the global EV industry, and thereby helping the world's ongoing energy transition, tantamount to addressing/resolving climate change." And here's the thing: EVs are going to use lithium. The only question is where manufacturers get it. Importing lithium from as far away as Australia or South America means added greenhouse gases will be released to process and transport the metal. Before President Donald Trump approved the Thacker Pass Lithium Project during his last days in office, there was only one producing lithium mine in America, Silver Peak in Nevada. If Biden is serious about America beating China in the race to produce the most EVs, Washington should be pushing for U.S. mining which China cannot disrupt. So, is Biden walking back a pro-industry position helpful to his 2020 campaign now that he's in office? I reached out to the administration and was told the administration had no response. National Mining Association senior vice president Ashley Burke argued that Biden's ambitions are so big and the timeline to approve new mining so protracted that America must rely on imports for now. "The amount of minerals needed to ramp up production with the speed and volume that the administration has articulated is staggering, so it shouldn't be a surprise that the administration is looking to all available resources to meet those immediate needs. But immediate planning and needs, and long-term strategy are two different things," she said in a statement. It can take a decade to get approval for a mining operation, said James Calaway, chairman of the ioneer (This is correct name and spelling), which plans to mine boron and lithium on Nevada's Rhyolite Ridge, so it makes sense to look to foreign metals until U.S. mines are open for business. Then again, Calaway has no use for environmentalists who say they want to curb greenhouse gases but then want to "count on people who aren't us to produce these materials." It's a safe bet that mining in America will leave a smaller footprint than mining anywhere else. So it's time, Calaway said, for the Biden administration to make it clear that it supports mining. Here's an idea. Instead of hiding behind words like resources and reserves, Biden and company could use the m-word: mining. COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM UGC enlists graduate trainees to help with online university admission process View(s): A team of 30 graduate trainees will work around the clock to assist students applying for university entrance online, the University Grants Commission (UGC) said recently. UGC Chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunge told Education Times, that this years application submission will be online via the UGCs website (www.ugc.ac.lk). No supporting documents from school principals and grama niladharis will be necessary during the initial submission, he added. Candidates are informed that it is compulsory to apply for university admission online. The deadline for applications is June 11 and we have no plan to extend, as we need to accelerate university entrance. I requested 30 graduate trainees (from the Governments graduate training programme) and trained them in the university admission process. They are currently working with senior staff to sort out issues students face while filling application forms online, Prof. Amaratunge said. According to him, out of the 30 trainees, ten will work physically at a separate building adjoining the UGC premises at Ward Place in Colombo 7, even during the lockdown. Upon my request these trainees were given the COVID vaccines as they are essential staff who will be assisting the university admission process. They are also being given transport to the premises and are provided with food and an extra allowance. The trainees are able to assist in all three languages, and they are being guided by senior UGC officials, he said. He also said applicants can chat online to obtain support entering required data, can get live assistance while uploading their forms and can expect prompt replies after sending emails to the email address apply2020@ugc.ac.lk. Respecting the current situation we do not want students to travel in search of documents.During this initial process for school candidates, we will not request for school leaving certificates or any other supporting documents signed by school principals. We are obtaining details from the Examinations Department. For private candidates, we are getting details, if necessary, from the Elections Department. So there is no need to visit the grama niladhari officers now. Once travel restrictions are eased and schools are re-opened, other documents can be submitted, Prof. Amaratunge said. He also said candidates who do not have internet facilities to apply for university admission online are facilitated free of charge at Open University of Sri Lanka Regional Centres (NAC Centres), Education Ministry Provincial and Zonal ICT Centres and the Information & Communication Technology Agencys (ICTA) Nenasala Centres island wide, during working hours. If students have any difficulty in filling out the application form online they can also call the Government Information Centre on 1919. Prof. Amaratunge said this is the initial step in digitalising the university admission process. Even during the previous lockdown, students came from outstation areas to the UGC premises to get help to fill university admission forms. Now students can download the admission handbook for 2020/2021 via our website and obtain assistance from our team here to fill their applications without coming to our office, he said. (Nadia Fazlulhaq) Traverse City, MI (49684) Today Some passing clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some passing clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 57F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. The Morongo Casino Resort & Spa and Casino Morongo are looking to hire dozens of new team members at two job fairs set for Monday, May 10 and Tuesday, May 18 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Morongo Grand Ballroom. WE CAN : A solution put forward by the Rotaract Club of IIT to clear all concerns that have been clouded by misjudgment regarding Menstruation View(s): Menstruation. The one essential biological process experienced by almost every woman, that keeps mankind sustained. Menstruation is a common, shared experience by every woman and only women know what it is like to get her first period or the changes that her body must bear every once in 28 days. However, in many parts of the world, predominantly due to cultural discrepancies and detrimental concepts that have been taken into consideration, the concept of menstruation is highly stigmatized. Sri Lanka, being one such country with highly valued culture, which is to some extend perhaps may be a good thing, also fosters taboo surrounding the topic of female reproduction health. This has resulted in the lack of educational resources on female reproduction and menstruation for those who really need it, in many areas of the country. Therefore, the Rotaract Club of Informatics Institute of Technology (RACIIT), along with Happy bleeding, Lets talk, Yeheliya Foundation, Momiji Natural and Youth Rise longed to bring a change and break the taboo surrounding this topic with the initiation of project We Can. Project We can is centered upon numerous sustainable development goals such as Good health and wellbeing, Quality education, Gender equality, Decent work and economic growth and Responsible consumption and production. Additionally, it also aims in securing the Rotary focus areas of Disease prevention and treatment, and Basic education and literacy. The first phase of the project was to create a sense of awareness amongst the general public by carrying out a social media campaign including thoughts from well-known public figures on social media simply just to gain a greater reach. The campaign comprises of three main goals to be achieved, which are to be accomplished in the basis of steps alongside the project plan. The steps to be implemented throughout the campaign are creating awareness based on the thoughts by women, as for the second step, a few thoughts by men to create equality, and finally bringing into the conscience of our audience regarding the ill-effects of period poverty and advocating taking further steps to eliminate this matter in Sri Lanka. Apart from the social media campaign, the main idea behind this initiative is to reach out to women who are unaware of as to how to maintain their menstrual health and men who need to know the stigma surrounding their beliefs. As for phase 2, we visited a few schools along with Ms.Nadeesha Paulis, a writer, journalist, period cup advocator and founder of happy bleeding, who also thrives to accomplish the same goals in breaking the stigma around the topic of menstruation and educating young women. Our journey of enriching young lives started off with Sacred heart convent, which took place on the 6th of April 2021. Following the educational session poured into these young minds, we allocated a little time for these young girls to clarify any doubts which surprisingly went even better than expected, with the session drowning in a flood of questions. The next call was to Gnanissara Maha Vidyalaya, Aluthgama, where like day 01, a few RACIITians along with Nadeesha paid a visit on the 21st of April 2021. The significant element that stood out from this visit was the fact that this school was a mixed school, giving us the privilege of enlightening both young girls and boys. The following day, we visited Badanagoda junior school where we also carried out the same procedure to upkeep our focus. Throughout all these visits, the whole concept of breaking the stigma was highly emphasised whilst also engaging the students in normalising the word period and letting them know that being on your period or simply, being a woman does not signify your impurity or whatsoever society tends to utter. With this we move on to our third phase which intends to combat against period poverty in Sri Lanka. Period poverty refers to the unavailability of education on menstruation and hygiene, as well as having little to no access to basic sanitation for essential hygiene amenities during the menstruation period. These factors frequently result in social stigmas that exclude women from basic activities, such as attending school or work and may even lead to physical health risks. Given that this initiative focuses on breaking the stigma surrounding the topic of menstruation, we donated, 25 young girls from low income families, reusable sanitary pads which could be re-used for over two to three years, to a viable community beseeching for aid due to financial instability. Thus, rounding off this minor brief of yet another great initiative put into action by the RACIIT, they were able to reach out and enlighten many young girls and boys leaving aside the colour, social status or culture, hoping that one-day menstruation will not be a taboo but a naturally occurring, sanctified gift given to a woman. Written by: Avisha De Mel Greenville, NC (27833) Today Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low near 65F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Emma Urbaska, an employee at Boomerang, on Elliot Street, in Brattleboro, steam cleans a shirt when opening for the first time on May 18, 2020, after being closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beckley, WV (25801) Today Widely scattered showers or a thunderstorm this evening. Then partly cloudy. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Widely scattered showers or a thunderstorm this evening. Then partly cloudy. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. HARTFORD A fire displaced twenty-two people at a multi-family home on Saturday afternoon, fire officials said. Firefighters responded around 2 p.m. to what was described as a working fire at a multi-family home located in the citys Asylum Hill neighborhood, officials said. The crews were able to knock down and contain the fire to the first floor within 11 minutes after arrival, according to officials. The Hartford Fire Department Special Services Unit is working with the American Red Cross to assist those that were displaced. The fire is under investigation by the Hartford Fire Department Fire Marshals. La Bambas celebrates solid 55 years View(s): It was exactly 55 years ago, the well known outfit La Bambas from Moratuwa, decided to begin their colourful musical journey. Their first noteworthy public performance was at the Coconut Grove, the popular Night Club at the Galle Face Hotel on 25th May 1966. La Bambas, the pioneer vocal harmony singing group to emerge from the music crazy town of Moratuwa during the golden era of Sinhala group songs in 1966, celebrates its 55th Anniversary last week with the remaining members due to the pandemic situation. The band La Bambas were active in the local music arena until the demise of its leader Brian Fernando in 2013, when the other members- namely Priya Peiris, Lasla Fernando, Rolinson Ferdinando, Erinto Perera and Malsiri Wijesuriya decided to lie low, but without quitting music altogether. La Bambas pursued their brand of soft and lilting music exclusively with unplugged instruments, comprising classical (gut stringed) box guitars, percussion sound sand conga drums, supplemented with two, three and four part harmony singing. As a very popular 70s group songs outfit (also referred to as kandayam gee), they belonged to the exclusive type of quality local harmony singing outfits which bravely continued with the traditional unplugged trend without giving way to the easier way out with fashionable electronic sounds mostly depicting western beat groups. The 1966 original line up of La Bambas comprised of Brian, Rolinson, Lasla, Erinton, Priya and Sunll Perera. But since the migration of Sunil as early as in 1968, another close friend and neighbour Malsiri Wijesuriya joined the group. This combination endured the virtual life span of the band as one un-separable unit. Performing with unsophisticated gut stringed acoustic guitars and percussion instruments and singing in delightful 3 and 4 part harmony, they emerged as a trump card with their own creations such as Cock-a-doodle-do, Nuwara Menikela , Enna yanna nelum wile, Lake Nadee, Piyakaru Mala, Kurulan Piyambaala and many more . A remarkable highlight in their career was the 15 year stint they performed three days weekly during the 1980/90 era at the Hotel Lanka Oberoi the largest and most prestigious five star hotel at that time. It is with great pride that La Bambas proclaim that everything they musically ventured was totally home spun and Moratuwa oriented. All composing , melody making , musical and vocal arrangements were planned out by ourselves and never depended on any outside sources Priya reminisced with a sense of achievement . La Bambas belonged to a rare breed of performers, who boldly appeared on stage with unplugged instruments an unfamiliar sight to many nowadays audiences . Their repertoire is astounding and unique in comparison to other groups. They are fully conversent with a wide range of evergreen English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish favourite, American cowboy, plantation and Dixieland hits and music from all around the world to any kind of audiences. LARGEST SPANISH COLLECTION ON CD LA Bambas produced a one of a kind CD in collaboration with Soorya records in 2016, to mark their golden jubilee. This comprised the largest compilation of Latin American favorites (the real source for the inspiration and evolution of Kandaayam gee) ever recorded by anyone in Sri Lanka plus Caribbean calypso and English originals composed to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination and Ceylon tea as the best beverage in the world. Apart from performing music, La Bambas, at the request of the Sri Lanka Army had conducted over 15 music workshops for a large number of army musicians in various towns of the Wanni District during the past decade. Also, they were listed as the first such group to voluntarily perform for the injured soldiers in the army hospital during the War. POTTSVILLE Schuylkill County District Attorney Michael A. OPake and the Schuylkill County detectives are asking for the publics help in locating a man who failed to appear in court as required earlier this month. Detectives said that Matthew R. Bittner failed to appear at the Schuylkill County Courthouse on May 13 for status conferences. The original charges against Bittner are felony firearms not to be carried without a license and misdemeanor offenses of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bittner, 25, is described as white, about 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighing about 165 pounds. He has a last-known address of 318 W. Ninth St., Hazleton, detectives said. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Bittner or other fugitives in Schuylkill County is asked to call the district attorneys office at 570-628-1350 or the Schuylkill County Tip Line at 570-624-3988. Information can also be submitted by email to dadd@co.schuylkill.pa.us. In addition, detectives said that anyone who may see or come in contact with Bittner should call the Schuylkill County 911 Center or their local police immediately. All information received will remain confidential. A list of Schuylkill County bench warrants is available at www.co.schuylkill.pa.us. Addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Pennsylvania, with a particular focus on the Latino population and those age 65 and older in rural communities, is the objective of a project spearheaded by the Penn State Extension. The Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement, or EXCITE, is a joint effort between the nations cooperative extension system and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and involves Schuylkill among the 10 state counties targeted. Katherine Cason, Penn State Extension assistant director for food, families and health programs, said the initiative will address hesitancy of the COVID-19 and other flu and adult vaccinations. As trusted members of the communities they serve, Penn State Extension educators are in a unique position to address the issue of vaccine hesitancy and safety with unbiased, research-based educational programming, she said in a news release. Public health recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic have been confusing, even contradictory, as scientists gained an understanding of the virus, noted Maria Luisa Tejada de Rivero Sawers, extension educator in food, families and health, who co-directs the project with Cason. This situation has led to fear and anxiety among the public, resulting in lagging vaccination rates in some rural communities, Tejada de Rivero Sawers said. We want to increase our audiences knowledge and trust for the COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines in general, as well as explain the benefits of herd immunity. The two-year pilot project will align with the CDCs Vaccinate with Confidence campaign, designed to reinforce confidence in COVID-19 vaccines by building trust; empowering health care personnel; and engaging communities through immunization education programs, community dialogues and clinics. Educators initial efforts will focus on those 65 and older in rural communities. A second phase will provide outreach to urban and rural counties with Latino communities. In addition to Schuylkill County, educators will focus on Adams, Berks, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne and York counties, where only about 12% of Hispanic adults have been fully vaccinated as compared to nearly 32% of non-Hispanic adults, according to state Department of Health statistics. The Latinx population is overrepresented in coronavirus cases and is more likely to suffer severe outcomes, Tejada de Rivero Sawers said. Latinx adults also have been harder hit by the economic impact of the pandemic. While many are open to getting vaccinated, there remains a sizeable share, particularly among younger Hispanics, with vaccine hesitancy. The project begins in June with a needs assessment to understand the drivers of vaccine confidence and the barriers to vaccination among seniors and Latinx populations. The information will help guide print, radio and social media promotions to dispel myths and allay fears. Webinars and community-based sessions also will be offered, during which participants can share their personal stories and ask questions. For more information, visit https://extension.psu.edu/youth-family-and-health. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on education has put more of an emphasis on summer school for Schuylkill Countys public schools. Each district plans to offer learning opportunities during their extended time off, some using programs offered by Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29. Christine Joy, the IUs mathematics supervisor and online learning program director, said a significant amount of students were affected by the virtual component of online learning, whether it was internet problems or not having parents around to keep them on task. Talking with county principals, I hear that compared to a regular school year, they have a significant number of students that are struggling with classes, she said. Joy said districts did or will receive money from the federal COVID-19 aid packages that will help address learning loss. In addition to existing Schuylkill Online Learning, MakerSpace camps and credit recovery programs for students in grades 6-12, the IU will offer several new programs this summer: an elementary virtual enrichment summer camp for grades 3-5 and online secondary preparatory courses. For the credit recovery and summer camp programs, students have the option of meeting with teachers in person for extra help. Furthermore, she said, she has seen more interest in the IUs accelerated learning program, which offers courses not otherwise taught, allowing students to take classes required for graduation. Blue Mountain Superintendent David H. Helsel said a credit recovery program will be offered for middle and high school students and an extended school year will be provided for qualified special education students. Gillingham Charter School The school will hold a summer school program from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays through Thursdays. Executive Director Nicolle Hutchinson and the summer school coordinator, Melissa Breen, said it supports students who need more time exploring concepts taught throughout the previous year. Mahanoy Area Two programs, both funded through the latest round of the coronavirus stimulus package, will be offered to students in the high school. An in-person summer school for a credit recovery program for students in grades 7-12 will be held Mondays through Thursdays in June, with both morning and afternoon sessions. Eligible students need to receive 50% or higher on their overall course grade to participate. There will also be a virtual program for grades 7-11 for learning loss and closing the educational gap via Educere, running next month through August. Minersville Area Summer school for students in grades 6-12 is being conducted in conjunction with IU, Superintendent Carl G. McBreen said. Students who pass those assignments will be reimbursed. In addition, the district is operating an extended school year and summer program for students enrolled in the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, or CCLC, Schuylkill Academic Assistance and Enrichment Activities, or ACHIEVE, afterschool program. North Schuylkill Two virtual summer programs are being offered, Superintendent Robert J. Ackell said. One for students in grades 6-12 will run July 1-30 through Edmentum, with registration taking place in the high school lobby June 24, at which time the $125 per course is due. The money will be reimbursed after a student receives a passing grade. A second one for those in grades 3-5 will be run through Schuylkill Online Learning in three virtual face-to-face sessions: June 14-July 2, June 28-July 16 and July 12-30. The sessions will cover English language arts and math and will include 45-minute face-to-face sessions with a teacher and additional opportunities for independent practice. Students recommended by elementary school officials received invitations by mail. Ackell said a summer school plan was one of the first discussions held to ensure student success for the upcoming school year. Pine Grove Middle and high school students will be able to utilize the districts free online Credit Recovery Summer School from June 22-July 29. Superintendent Heath W. Renninger said teachers will be available in-person to help students. Students in grades 1-4 can attend the free PGASD Summer Scholars from Aug. 3-5 and 10-12. Renninger said that the program will offer engaging learning activities to help students get a jumpstart on the new school year. Pottsville Area An in-person summer school will be offered to students at John S. Clarke Elementary Center, funded by aid money, while students at D.H.H. Lengel Middle School and Pottsville Area High School will utilize Edmentum for virtual learning, with in-person learning available. In addition, Schuylkill ACHIEVE will offer a Summer of Explorers program at the elementary center. The four-week program will include science, technology, engineering, arts and math workshops, activities as well as a free breakfast and lunch. It is open to students who have completed grades 1-3. Saint Clair Area The district will offer a summer school for four weeks; literacy instruction Mondays through Thursdays for four weeks; and an extended school year Tuesdays and Thursdays for six weeks. In addition, Superintendent Thomas McLaughlin said the district will host the Schuylkill ACHIEVE program Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for six weeks and the Schuylkill YMCA day camp all summer. Schuylkill Haven Area Superintendent Shawn Fitzpatrick said summer school and tutoring will be offered virtually and in person for students in grades K-12. Shenandoah Valley Summer school will be offered to address learning loss for all students in the district from 8 a.m. to noon, Superintendent Brian K. Waite said. The program for elementary school students in grades 2-6 will take place June 14-July 2 and will target English language arts and math skills, while the one for high school students in grades 7-12 will focus on math, science, social studies and English and will run June 2-25. Tamaqua Area Superintendent Raymond J. Kinder said summer school options will be available at all grade levels, with the offerings different depending on grade level. Those at the high school will include courses required for graduation, while the ones at the middle and elementary school level will focus on core academics. Tri-Valley The district will offer five programs for students to address learning over the summer. They are the Dawg Days Summer Camp, a Title I program that will reinforce math and reading basics in late July and early August; Schuylkill County Online Learning Elementary, or SCOL, Summer Enrichment Camps, which consist of daily virtual live lessons that focus on math and English language arts for students in grades 3-5; the Schuylkill ACHIEVE Summer of Explorers program, which will have four sessions in June and July; and a credit recovery program for grades 7-12 through Capital Area Online Learning Association. Superintendent Mark D. Snyder, Ed.D., said additional content recovery is available through SCOL Secondary Booster Courses for grades 6-12, which focuses on core subject areas. Upper Dauphin Superintendent Jared Shade said a six-week in-person summer school will be held. He added that students identified by district personnel received letters asking them to seriously consider attending, but participation is voluntary. Williams Valley The district will have six summer school programs for students, according to Superintendent Diane R. Best. The five-week Viking Summer Academic Camp is a summer remediation program for students in grades 7-12, while the Vikes Summer Camp is a five-week summer remediation and enrichment program for students in grades K-6, both of which will take place in June and July. There will also be a 21st CCLC Schuylkill ACHIEVE program for students in grades K-4, and a CCLC summer camp for students in grades 5 and 6, both of which will occur in June and July, with transportation provided, field trips to area attractions and organizers following guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the districts Health and Safety Plan. In addition, the district will have a science summer enrichment program in June and July, and extended school year opportunities, Best said. POTTSVILLE About 10 people were part of a protest in front of the Schuylkill County Courthouse alleging sexual predator problems in local government. Standing on the sidewalk near the front steps of the courthouse, the protesters held handmade signs toward the passing traffic. Many drivers sounded their horns in support of the message as they drove by. The event was sponsored by the Schuylkill County Democratic Womens League and the Schuylkill County Young Democrats. The signs included Honk if you hate predators, Honk if you hate pervs, Officer Litwhiler is a sexual predator, and another referring to county Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. Lisa Nagele Hollenbach, president of the womens league, held a sign that read, Tens of thousands of Republicans in this county. And these are your best? In the announcement of the protest, the womens league on its Facebook page said the county Republicans have a sexual predator problem that mentioned names, including Halcovage, accused of sexual harassment with repeated call for him to resign as commissioner; Douglas Litwhiler, who was recently accused of preying on young girls; and Tamaqua Area school board President Larry Wittig, who was acquitted in 1972 of sexual assault of a teen girl. It also mentions county judge candidate Chris Hobbs, who was not accused of any crime, but was assigned as a public defender in a case involving the Rev. Ronald J. Yarrosh, a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown, who had pleaded guilty to charges of theft and possession of child pornography in 2005. We still have questions. There are thousands of Republicans and were asking if this is the best theyve got for us in candidates, Hollenbach said. We want both parties to put up decent, moral, law-abiding candidates that we can trust to run our government. We want law enforcement and a judicial branch that will prosecute these crimes to the fullest extent of the law. We want to have confidence in those people, whether theyre Republican or Democrat. I dont think thats too much to ask to have people we can trust to run the county, be in law enforcement or the judiciary. Hobbs was contacted about his name being attached to the list because of doing his job as a public defender in the 2000s. My understanding is they cite a case from 2006 when I worked for the public defenders office and I was assigned to handle a probation revocation hearing for Yarrosh, who was accused of some pretty serious things, Hobbs said. As a public defender, you dont have a choice who you represent. If an accused person is eligible financially, theyre afforded a Constitutional right to due process in an attorney. It certainly wasnt a voluntary representation, and by me representing an individual, I certainly dont condone that individuals actions. I would never apologize for doing my job, just as any lawyer has a duty to represent a client to the best of their ability. Hobbs added, I dont know anybody in that group. No one has ever reached out to me to ask any questions. It was my job as a public defender. Also attending was Anthony Kodack, of Ashland, whose Facebook page Schuylkill County Sheriff Candidate Doug Litwhiler likes young girls has drawn much attention and has received comments from women who claim that Litwhiler harassed them over the years. Since the page was created, Litwhiler, who won the Republican nomination for county sheriff, has stated that he is withdrawing from the race. I have been pretty busy, Kodack said about the page and interviews with news media organizations. I have seen negative comments on our page, but whether or not they are one of his fake profiles that are out there or if theyre real people, I dont know. Somebody called me a Demo-rat the other day that its all a ploy against Litwhiler. Kodack added, There has not really been anything personal against me. Ive gotten mostly positive feedback that Im doing a great job and keep up the good work. Actually, its all these women coming forward who deserve all the praise and gratitude. Im just glad to give them a platform to speak up. One of the women attending was Amanda Addvensky, of Mahanoy City, who claims that she was hit on by Litwhiler when she worked at a bar in the borough. I was sexually harassed and assaulted by Officer Doug Litwhiler about six years ago, Addvensky alleged. That was my last encounter with him and hopefully it is forever. He harassed every young woman in the bar. Litwhiler was contacted after the event and said it is a politically motivated. This is organized by the Democrats. It is what it is. They should worry about protesting their governor and their great president that we have right now, Litwhiler said. Its organized by the Democrats and Im not going to give the time and satisfaction with my comments. Let them do what they want to do. Its a free county and you can protest whatever you want to protest. As for the signs naming him as a sexual predator, Litwhiler said, I have never sexually assaulted anybody or sexually harassed anybody, so they can keep on spewing their lies all they want. Halcovage and Wittig could not be reached for comment. Days after arresting Sushant Singh Rajput's ex-flatmate Siddarth Pithani, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has summoned the late Bollywood actor's domestic help Keshav & cook Neeraj for questioning in the drugs case linked to the death of the actor. As per reports, the duo were reportedly attempting to flee NCB's Mumbai unit for eight months and were reportedly outside the Maharashtra capital. As per reports, both Keshav and Neeraj returned to Mumbai in August to work at the residences of different Bollywood celebrities. NCB summons Sushant Singh Rajput's former aides Keshav and Neeraj #BREAKING | After Siddarth Pithani's arrest, NCB summons Keshav & Neeraj in drugs probe related to Sushant Singh Rajput's death. Tune-in here for #LIVE updates - https://t.co/RZHKU3wOei pic.twitter.com/XvIQkVm0Ut Republic (@republic) May 30, 2021 NCB reveals key fact in Siddarth Pithani's arrest Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB's) Mumbai Zonal Unit chief Sameer Wankhede elaborated on Siddarth Pithani's arrest after the former roommate of Sushant Singh Rajput was arrested from Hyderabad in the drugs case related to the death of SSR. Siddarth Pithani was arrested by the NCB with the help of its sub-zonal team in Hyderabad two days ago & was brought to Mumbai on a transit remand following which he was produced before the ACM court. Recounting NCB's mission, Sameer Wankhede explained to reporters that Siddarth Pithani had been intercepted two days ago in connection with 'crime number 7'. NCB has got custody of late Sushant Singh Rajput's former roommate Siidarth Pithani until June 1. "Two days before, we intercepted Siddarth Pithani in Hyderabad. We brought him to Mumbai today on transit remand and was produced before the ACM Court. We have his custody till June 1. A series of charges such as Section 27, 27A, 28, 29 and other relevant sections are levelled upon Siidarth Pithani," NCB's Sameer Wankhede told reporters. The NCB began probing the alleged use of drugs in some quarters in Bollywood after the death of Sushant Singh Rajput (34) in June last year. The central agency started its probe on the basis of some WhatsApp chats having references to drugs. The NCB had arrested Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik, some staff members of Sushant Singh Rajput and a few others under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Rhea Chakraborty, Showik and some other accused are currently out on bail. NCB arrests Siddarth Pithani in Sushant Singh Rajput-linked drugs case Siddharth Pithani was present in Sushant Singh Rajput's Bandra residence where he was found dead under mysterious circumstances on June 14, 2020. The former claimed that he was the first to see his dead body, having called the locksmith to open the door when the late actor did not answer calls on the day of his death. Siddarth Pithani had previously been questioned multiple times by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which are probing the death case first registered by Bihar Police, on Sushant's father KK Singh's complaint, against Rhea Chakraborty and the others. As per sources, Siddharth Pithani was arrested on May 26 after the NCB got his phone dump from CBI. In the record obtained, Siddarth Pithaniu was allegedly found to be involved in the supply of marijuana to various groups. NCB also claimed that he was running a well-organised racket of supply. Sources also said, "We are hopeful to nab more people who are involved in this network." The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on March 5 filed a chargesheet before a special court in Mumbai in its drugs angle case related to the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput last year. The 12,000-page charge-sheet has named 33 accused, including actor Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik. The voluminous document has statements of over 200 witnesses. Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. As India is witnessing a decline in daily COVID-19 cases, World Health Organization's (WHO) Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, on Sunday said that the situation is still 'concerning and challenging'. While speaking to ANI, Dr. Poonam added that even after a decline, India is witnessing a 'plateau' of cases. Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh is the regional director of WHO's South-East Asia region. She also warned India to not let the guard down due to the lesson learned from this surge due to the second COVID-19 wave. Lesson learned from this surge is at no cost can we let our guards down. We must take #COVID19 vaccine at first available opportunity. While we can't predict next surge but we can prevent it, which we must: Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2021 The official further added that this surge has put an immense burden on already overwhelmed health services. The statements from WHO official came as the country is continuously reporting lower number of fresh cases. On Saturday, India reported 1,65,553 fresh COVID-19 infections, which was the lowest figure in 46 days. The country has also recorded an improvement in recoveries with declining deaths and positivity rate. Before warnings from World Health Organization (WHO) came, states in India had already declared an extension of COVID-induced restrictions to curb the spread and bring total control over the virus. Centre has also ramped up testing as well as vaccination drive in the country. Another reason why WHO doctor gave her advice is due to the fear of a possible third wave of coronavirus which as per some medical experts is likely to occur. WHO supports local jab production Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has extended support to countries like Africa, South America, and South Asia to ramp up local production of COVID-19 vaccines, said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Saturday. Marking shortage of vaccines, WHO chief added that the organization is trying to address the gaps in production. He also explained that U.N. health agency had reached out to South Africa, Senegal, Egypt, Rwanda, Brazil and Bangladesh for talks on increasing capacity. India's vaccination drive With Dr. Poonam's advice to citizens to get vaccinated, it is also important to note that India's total vaccination count has climbed to over 21.20 crore. The Government has also informed that it will provide nearly 12 crore doses of vaccines for national COVID vaccination in the month of June. In May, 7,94,05,200 doses were available for National COVID Vaccination Programme. The vaccine inoculation in age-wise data has reached 35.8% for those above 60 years, 43.3% for those between 45-60 years, and 20.9% for the 18 above population. (Inputs from ANI) (Image: ANI) After Antigua Prime Minister Gaston Browne vowed that his government is determined to revoke fugitive ex-diamantaire Mehul Choksis citizenship, he has now informed that India sent a private jet to Dominica carrying documents related to the deportation of Choksi, who is wanted in a Rs 13,500 crore bank loan fraud case, while speaking in a radio show. However, Indian authorities have not confirmed it officially. As per Antigua News Room reports, a Qatar Airways private jet had landed at the Douglas-Charles airport in Dominica, leading to speculations about the deportation of Choksi who was detained in the Caribbean island nation after his mysterious disappearance from neighboring Antigua and Barbuda. PM Browne further told the radio show that the jet came from India carrying necessary documentation needed for the deportation of the businessman, the media outlet reported. Available data of Qatar Executive flight A7CEE showed that it left the Delhi airport at 3.44 pm on May 28 and reached Dominica at 13.16 local time on the same day, via Madrid. Antigua PM vows to revoke Mehul Choksi's citizenship Antigua PM Browne on Sunday said that his government is determined to revoke Choksis citizenship and to concurrently pursue his extradition to India to face criminal charges, according to reports in Antigua Newsroom. Antigua Prime Minister Browne also said that Indian fugitive Mehul Choksi was funding the main opposition United Progressive Party and that is why the Opposition released a statement in support of Choksi. He also mentioned that there has been no violation of Choksis legal and constitutional protections, despite the decision to revoke his citizenship. Browne, added, "We live in a globalized world where cooperation among states is required to fight and defeat criminals." First picture of Mehul Choksi in custody In the picture accessed by Republic TV, a pale-faced and red-eyed Choksi behind the bars stared at the camera through the prison grill. The runaway diamantaire is accused of allegedly siphoning off Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the Punjab National Bank (PNB), using letters of undertaking. Having fled Antigua Island on May 23, Choksi was traced in Dominica and was nabbed by law enforcement personnel following the yellow notice alert issued for him. (With PTI Inputs) In a breaking development, former AIADMK Minister M Manikandan has been booked for rape based on a complaint lodged by Tamil actor Shantini Theva, as per sources. Adayar women's police station confirmed on Sunday that the AIADMK leader was booked under various sections of IPC, including being charged with rape. Tamil actor Shantini Theva has accused former AIADMK Minister & leader M Manikandan of cheating on her after being in a relationship with her for five years and lodged a complaint against him on Saturday. Ex-AIADMK Minister Manikandan booked for rape Former AIADMK minister M Manikandan booked under various IPC sections including for rape, based on a complaint from a female actor in Chennai: Adyar Women Police Station ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2021 Actor accuses AIADMK's Manikandan of abusing, cheating her Speaking to the press, Shantini Theva, who was also a former ambassador for Tamil Nadu tourism, claimed that she was physically & mentally abused by the former AIADMK Minister for nearly five years while they were in a relationship during which she was also allegedly forced to abort thrice after becoming pregnant. The actor also alleged that the Minister had threatened her family. Narrating her ordeal to the media, Shantini Theva claimed that she met AIADMK leader Manikandan in 2017 and got close to him after the latter promised to do business together in Malaysia. The actor revealed that she frequented the ex-Minister's bungalow as she was told by Manikandan that his wife did not take good care of him and that he allegedly wanted to marry her. Noting that she had reportedly tagged along with the AIADMK leader to several places during his official tours, Shantini Tehva claimed that she was tortured and was also forced to abort after becoming pregnant as the AIADMK leader had objected to it, citing that he was allegedly a Minister. Explaining what led her to file a police complaint against AIADMK leader Manikandan, Shantini Theva claimed that the ex-Minister had threatened to leak a photo of the actor (which he had allegedly taken without her knowledge). Further, she claimed that Manikandan had many photos of her in his possession and filed a police complaint against him, seeking her photos to be deleted. On being asked why she did not raise a complaint while she was physically abused by Manikandan, Shantini Theva asked who would have taken her complaint seriously if she had filed one then & went on to say that they (Manikandan & her) had taken life forward at multiple points after compromises. Noting that all the details of her abuse had been mentioned in the complaint, Shantini Theva claimed that she had WhatsApp photos as evidence to show that she lived with Manikandan for five years. Showing pictures from her alleged WhatsApp chat with the AIADMK leader (which she attached with her complaint to the Police), Shantini Theva claimed that Manikandan had threatened her by saying that he had photos of her including those in a compromising position. Aurangabad, May 30 (PTI) Maharashtra minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan on Sunday said the Narendra Modi government had failed to handle the COVID-19 pandemic effectively and had overseen the loss of 12.21 crore jobs. Addressing a virtual press meet on the Modi government completing two years of its second term, and seven overall, Chavan said the Centre had kept all decision-making powers in its hands but was now blaming the state governments after the COVID-19 outbreak spiralled out of control. Queried on whether he had any favourite minister in the Modi dispensation, Chavan said "good words" could be spoken about Union Minister and Nagpur MP Nitin Gadkari who despite ideological differences, maintains "dialogue with other parties". "He is the right man in the wrong party. He has a positive approach towards Maharashtra but his powers are being continuously curtailed," Chavan said, though he did not elaborate on his assertion. "The price of petrol had reached Rs 100 per lite. Some 12.21 core people have lost their jobs. The per capita income of Bangladesh is now higher than that of India. The policies of the Centre have devastated the country," the former Maharashtra chief minister claimed. Chavan alleged the Centre had a discriminatory attitude towards Maharashtra on all fronts, including aid and GST compensation. He also attacked the BJP over the Maratha quota issue, and asked the ruling party at the Centre to come up with a solution after the Supreme Court, on May 5, struck down a state law granting reservations in jobs and education to the community. He congratulated BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sambhaji Chhatrapati for trying to meet leaders of all parties to evolve a consensus on the Maratha quota issue. PTI AW BNM BNM (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) NASA on Saturday announced that its ready to launch a Falcon 9 rocket on June 3 at 1:29 p.m. ET under the SpaceX's 22nd cargo resupply mission to send the micro-animals which includes 5,000 tardigrades dubbed as 'water bears, 28 glow-in-the-dark baby squids,Tardigrades, Butterfly IQ Ultrasound and new solar panels into the space. The microscopic creatures will reach the International Space Station next week for the astronauts to study stress factors that affect humans in space. NASAs resupply mission carrying scientific research and technology will launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Experiments aboard include studying how water bears tolerate space, whether microgravity affects symbiotic relationships, analyzing the formation of kidney stones, and more, NASA explained in a release. Tardigrades [ tiny, just 0.04 inches or 1 millimeter long] are the tiny bear-like creatures that tolerate environments more extreme than most life forms can. And therefore, these microorganisms will assist NASA in more research related to the biological survival under extreme conditions in the space. Scientists will study how different environmental conditions affect the tardigrade gene expression both on Earth and in Space. On 11 April 2019, Israeli spacecraft Beresheet carrying these microbial creatures crashed into the moon. However, these life-forms survived the crash as they were stored in dehydrated "tun" state and could be resuscitated later. [Baby bobtail squid just hours after hatching. Image credit: NASA/Jamie S. Foster/University of Florida] Spaceflight can be a really challenging environment for organisms, including humans, who have evolved to the conditions on Earth, principal investigator Thomas Boothby said in NASA release. One of the things we are really keen to do is understand how tardigrades are surviving and reproducing in these environments and whether we can learn anything about the tricks that they are using and adapt them to safeguard astronauts. [Microgravity on Animal-Microbe Interactions (UMAMI) investigations done by NASA. Credit: NASA] "Some of the things that tardigrades can survive include being dried out, being frozen and being heated up past the boiling point of water. They can survive thousands of times as much radiation as we can and they can go for days or weeks with little or no oxygen," Thomas Boothby, assistant professor of molecular biology at the University of Wyoming and principal investigator for the experiment, separately told a news briefing. NASAs Microgravity on Animal-Microbe Interactions (UMAMI) examines the effects of spaceflight on the molecular and chemical interactions between beneficial microbes. According to NASA, the gravitys role in shaping their interactions is not well understood, and therefore, scientists aim to study beneficial microbes such as the bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, to determine whether spaceflight alters the mutually beneficial relationship with other animal hosts and microbes. This could, in turn, help NASA support development of protective measures and mitigation to preserve astronaut health on long-duration space missions. [A cotton seedling for the TICTOC investigation prepared for flight. Credit: NASA] Butterfly IQ Ultrasound research Scientists are also testing commercial off-the-shelf technology Butterfly IQ Ultrasound that demonstrates use of a portable ultrasound with mobile computing device. In order to study the results with the use of such a device in the microgravity, astronauts onboard ISS assess the quality of the ultrasound images, including image acquisition, display, and storage. On the right footing By Shannine Daniel Two young entrepreneurs have found the perfect fit for their footwear brands online View(s): View(s): If you are a shoe enthusiast, finding the right footwear can sometimes be a tedious process, even though there are seemingly plenty of options available in the local market. Identifying the need for quality and style, quite a few local entrepreneurs have launched their own brands online, and Gabriella is an online platform which attracts attention with its innovative designs. In operation since 2014, Gabriella is named after the daughter of its founder and creative director Hashani Perera. Right now Hashani is in charge of designing shoes for her brand, while her mother-in-law Shanika handles the sales and marketing end of the business. Hashani launched Gabriella after pairing her love for shoes and designing, with the need to start her own business that would allow her to work from home and take care of her young daughter. Since we launched our business online before the pandemic, we were able to be ahead of our competitors. As many people prefer to shop online nowadays, we have had an advantage. Many big local brands launched their websites and online platforms only recently, after the pandemic situation broke about, Hashani told the Sunday Times Magazine. Though having no background or qualification in design, Hashani says she used her life experience her father had worked as IT Manager at Bata and she would often visit their shops and factory. Now with her experienced and qualified staff at the factory and her quality assurance personnel Hashani feels they have a firm foundation. Its a small team each with their specific role. Three members handle the online platform while six work at a factory owned by Hashani and her family in Bandaragama. They have established an efficient supply and distribution network across the country, and have also branched out into the international market. We used to import shoes from countries like China and Thailand, and we initially invested almost Rs. 100,000 for the imports. But there were issues with shoe sizes and delays in shipping and delivery so we opened up our factory later on. We source many local materials, except for certain materials which cannot be found here. We spent a lot of time initially, tracking down dealers and suppliers in areas like the Fort and Pettah, and we built a good relationship with many of them over the past few years. They have been kind to us and are helpful; now we can call them and ask for materials we need, Hashani said. Gabriella also has handbags, tote bags and other leather products and Hashani has also launched a parallel clothing line. Having just completed a degree in digital marketing, around a month ago, she hopes it will help her to run her business and make her brand the number one Sri Lankan online fashion marketplace. Customers can access Gabriellas website (www.gabriellaspick.com), their Instagram page (gabriellas_pick) and their Facebook page (Gabriella) and orders through their website. A step-by-step guide for the process is available on their Instagram page. Gabriellas footwear is also available at the Tribe Store at One Galle Face and also the Warehouse at Independence Arcade. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Sole Print, an up-and-coming brand and small online business begun last September by Nethmie Wickremasinghe, with the support of her mum and sister. Nethmie decided to take the plunge and start her own online business, after completing a BA (Hons) in International Business Management last June, when jobs were hard to come by due to the COVID situation. Over the past eight months Nethmie has built up a loyal customer base with quite a few regular customers, and believes her degree has helped her immensely to understand and process and the operational aspects of her business. From my young days I have been fascinated by sandals and shoes. I believe that whatever outfit you wear, a good pair of sandals or shoes not only adds value to your fashion appeal, it helps you create the perfect look and complement your fashion accessories. I also believe that shoes let you express yourself and help you stand out which is why I wanted to start my own shoe line. We want to expand our line to include heels, boots and platform heels soon, Nethmie said. While finding a good manufacturer was a challenge initially right now promoting Sole Print as a brand online and bringing in more customers is an uphill task with many new startups emerging last year and the boom in e-commerce. Sole Print currently operates online mainly on Instagram and Facebook, but Nethmie plans to launch a website soon. Once the business grows she may consider opening a physical store, but for now she is looking to make their brand of footwear available at other stores. Though she too does not have a qualification in design, she spends time researching new trends, which inspire her. Her mother and sister meanwhile handle orders and sales. The manufacturing process is outsourced to a factory in Moratuwa. We take orders for customised products as well, and most of the sandals that I design are simple and elegant; basically sandals that I would like to wear. Nothing too flashy or bulky, Nethmie said. High quality and durable materials are used, but we try to provide our customers value for money by maintaining affordable prices. For now, our price range is between Rs. 1500 2000. Once we finalise a design, along with our manufacturer, we handpick the colour and the material suitable to develop the sample. If and when the sample is satisfactory, our manufacturer starts production, making sure that equal time and care is given to each pair of sandals. Each pair of sandals goes through a quality check before being delivered, she said. Sole Print has its own size guide, which Nethmie said is direct and easy to use, necessary only for the first purchase so customers can get a perfect fit.Browsing through Sole Prints Instagram page, allows customers and potential customers the option of choosing a design, where after they can send a direct message through the app confirming their order. Then they need to provide the required details such as the product code, size and colour. Once an order is placed, products are delivered to clients within a week but with the current lockdowns could take upto ten days, Nethmie said. The pandemic has brought with it other considerations. Since we started our business during the pandemic, I have realised that most customers prefer to shop online. So we have taken all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our customers, she says. As many as 61 earthquakes have jolted the Democratic Republic of Congo within the last 24 hours just a week after the long-dormant Mount Nyiragongo volcano erupted, prompting the civilians to flee their homes. On Saturday, the volcanos crater continued to collapse, which contributed to the earthquakes and caused ash emissions visible from the city of Goma, the Goma Volcano Observatory (GVO) said in a report, as obtained by CNN. The observatory has been monitoring the volcanic activity in collaboration with the Belgian-Luxembourg consortium, AfricaMuseum, and the European Center of Geodynamics and Seismology. A group of 20 scientific experts has been created to monitor the situation. When Mount Nyiragongo erupted last night just outside of Goma in the DRC, thousands of Congolese fled for their lives. UNHCR is grateful that Rwanda opened its borders to allow many into the neighboring town. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) May 23, 2021 The eruption of Mount Nyiragongo in DRC earlier on leading to evacuation of the residents near the mountain. pic.twitter.com/89sKBrSZz5 Jane Kyalo (@Jane_FKyalo) May 23, 2021 We are allocating 2 million of emergency funding for those affected by the Mount #Nyiragongo eruption in #DRC. The situation remains fluid, but it is already clear that the eruption and the continuing seismic activity displaced hundreds of thousands.https://t.co/FbWhJ1tmS1 Janez Lenarcic (@JanezLenarcic) May 29, 2021 The recent volcanic eruption has caused several earthquakes, and tremors experienced as far as the Rwandan capital of Kigali and throughout the region. Saturdays volcano outburst has killed nearly 31 people, as a possibility of four possible future scenarios for the volcano continues to linger, sources have told CNN. Officials have also cautioned about a worst-case scenario in the report accessed by the network that states an eruption under Lake Kivu could emit toxic gas and cause debris to be sent flying into the air as a result of continued magma flow. The report warned that the lava flow might lead to severe asphyxiation outcomes as well as burns or death due to the impact. It additionally warned that if lava erupts in the river, residents should keep a considerable distance away, as the explosions could produce dangerous ballistics. 28/05/2021. 16:30 Nyiragongo fianlly shows up, there still plume venting from the crater. Le Nyiragongo est finalement visible, le un panache sort de son cratere. pic.twitter.com/R4hfNjOolT Charles Balagizi (@CharlesBalagizi) May 28, 2021 [Tens of thousands of people are evacuating the city of Goma in eastern Congo. Credit: AP] [Torrents of lava poured into villages after dark in eastern Congo. Credit: AP] Mount Nyiragongo,a volcanic mountain overlooking the city of Goma, Eastern DRC is currently in eruption. Residents who live near the area have been told to evacuate.The last time this volcano erupted in 2002 it wrecked havoc. #Goma#NyirangongoErupts pic.twitter.com/3GW6I51QO0 Josphat Machagua (@JosphatMachagua) May 22, 2021 The report also cautioned about volcanic fumes and gas emissions becoming more frequent and the release of concentrations of lethal gas in the months ahead due to the increased underground magma. A spokesman for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Jens Laerke, meanwhile stated at a press briefing that as many as 400,000 people have been displaced due to the volcanic eruptions that occurred yesterday, Large traffic jams were observed yesterday on the main exit roads from Goma, people are moving in all directions, mostly on foot, carrying what they can, but also in cars, and on boats, he said. He added, Forty-four percent of the 5 million internally displaced persons in the [Democratic Republic of Congo] is in North Kivu, where also 33 percent of the population is severely food insecure. Furthermore, he said, that the crisis was happening against the backdrop of a situation of already high needs in North Kivu." The military governor of Congos North Kivu province, Lt. Gen. Constat Ndima Kongba, has ordered the evacuation of 10 of 18 neighborhoods. Indian Army facilitates evacuation Earlier on May 22 when the Mount Nyiragongo volcano first erupted, the Indian army contingent led the rescue operations in Goma as part of United Nations missions. Forces facilitated a smooth evacuation and protection of civilians and other UN personnel in Volcano-affected Goma Town. The Indian Army has a significant presence in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of MONUSCO, a UN peacekeeping mission headquartered in the Eastern town of Goma and bordering Rwanda. Mali's coup leader and newly-appointed head of transitional government left for emergency regional talks in Ghana on Saturday, state television reported. ORTM broadcast footage showing Col. Assimi Goita, who led the country's 2020 coup, boarding a plane for Ghana's capital Accra, where the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is holding a summit on Sunday to discuss the instability in Mali. Mali's constitutional court on Friday announced that Goita was to take over the role of president of the country's transitional government after the resignation of President Bah N'Daw. N'Daw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane resigned on Wednesday after they were released from detention. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Vast tracts of land in Australias New South Wales state are being threatened by a mouse plague, leading to the worst outbreak in decades. According to the Associated Press, millions of rodents have infected the agricultural plains across the state and one family has even blamed mice chewing electrical wires for their house burning down. The state government has described the plague as absolutely unprecedented as mice have entered homes, inside containers and even found their way into water tanks. Australian Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said, Were at a critical point now where if we dont significantly reduce the number of mice that are in plague proportions by spring, we are facing an absolute economic and social crisis in rural and regional New South Wales. As the NSW Farmers, the states top agricultural association, predicted that the plague will wipe more than one billion Australian dollars from the value of the winter crop, the state government ordered 5,000 litres of the banned poison Bromadiolone from India. Marshall said that the government had to go down this path because they need something that is super strength in a bid to blast these mice into oblivion. But the federal government has yet to approve the emergency application to use the poison as critics fear that it will not only kill the mice but also animals that feed on them, including wedge-tail eagles and family pets. Theyre in roof cavity, bed The infestation is a cruel blow to farmers in Australia as they recently battered by fires, floods and pandemic disruptions. As per AP, patches of the road are dotted with squashed mice, haystacks are disintegrating due to the rodents that have burrowed deep inside and sidewalks are strewn with dead mice that have eaten poisonous bait. The farmers are dealing with the stench of mice urine and decaying flesh. Theyre in the roof cavity of your house. If your house is not well sealed, theyre in bed with you. People are getting bitten in bed, said Jason Conn, a fifth-generation farmer near Wellington in central New South Wales. Another farmer said that he estimated that he drowned 7,500 mice in a single night last week in a trap he set with a cattle feeding bowl full of water at his farm. Another added that mouse carcasses and excrement in roofs were polluting farmers water tanks and leaving people sick. Now, locals are hoping for heavy rain to drown the mice in their burrows. They are also hoping that disease and shortage of food would trigger a dramatic population crash as mice feed on themselves, devouring the sick, weak and their own offspring. They are also hoping that winter frosts will help contain the numbers. (With inputs from AP) Amid changing geopolitics, China has reportedly offered to substantially increase its investments in Pakistan following a period in which it had stopped spending money left and right due to corruption in both countries. The Frontier Post reported that Beijing has offered to increase the size of its carrot meaning investments and loans to Islamabad. The decision was made to boost the morale of Pakistan in view of the prevailing international situation. As per reports, the offer to increase its financial assistance, however, comes with a caveat that China expects Pakistan to take a bold stand with regard to its policies with the US. even though Pakistans Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi recently said that his country will not give any new bases to the US, China was not satisfied with the statement. Now, Pakistan is weighing its options on how to deal with both China and the US, especially with respect to the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan. China-Pakistan relations It is worth noting that Pakistan highly values its relations with China despite disputes over debts and stalled building projects on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). However, the locale populace in Pakistan has been contesting such Chinese-led investment-oriented development strategies. According to ANI, concerns about debt traps, lack of transparency, aggressive diplomacy and friction due to excessive use of Chinese labour have often resulted in discord at the local level. Chinese projects faced resistance in Balochistan. Last month, a car bomb even exposed at a hotel in Quetta in which the Chinese ambassador was staying. In 2020, there were also protests by Pakistani labourers working on Chinese-funded projects in Karachi on the issue of unequal pay and there were even demonstrations in Muzaffarabad against the construction of dams by Chinese firms on the Neelum and Jhelum rivers. Image: AP Belarusians distraught by the intensifying crackdown on political opposition in their homeland demonstrated in Moscow on Saturday. Braving the rain, they staged a small protest in front of their country's embassy in the Russian capital. The demonstrators in Moscow, and others in cities across Europe, had been called into action by exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. The rallies coincided with the first anniversary of the arrest of her husband, activist Syarhey Tsikhanousky. He was detained following his announced presidential bid against authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Tsikhanouskaya ran against the president in her husband's place during the country's August election. Official results of the presidential election gave Lukashenko 80% of the vote and won him a sixth term in office. Protests alleging the election results were manipulated immediately broke out and Tsikhanouskaya fled to Lithuania. Saturday's demonstrations came less than a week after a Belarusian opposition journalist was detained in Minsk. Raman Pratasevich had been traveling on a Ryanair flight to Lithuania which was diverted to the capital after an alleged bomb threat. Western leaders called the incident "state terrorism" and launched new sanctions on Belarus and a ban on international flights over the country. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Belarus's exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has praised protesters in Lithuania for standing in solidarity with her country. She was speaking at a rally on Saturday in Lithuania's capital Vilnius. It marked the first anniversary of her husband Syarhey Tsikhanousky's arrest in Belarus, days after he announced a presidential bid to challenge authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Around 150 people turned out in Vilnius for the event. Along with Tsikhanouskaya, thousands of Belarusians have fled to Lithuania since authorities escalated a harsh crackdown on dissent last year. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Thousands of people, masked and tested for the coronavirus, packed inside a Paris arena for a concert on Saturday as part of a public health experiment to prepare France to host big events again. The show at the AccorHotels Arena in eastern Paris featured 1980s French rock band Indochine and DJ Etienne de Crecy. But the attention was mostly on the concert-goers. The Paris public hospital authority helped organize the event to determine whether it's safe to allow 5,000 masked people to dance together in the open pit of an indoor concert arena without social distancing. The attendees were seeing the show for free but were required to take three virus tests, two before and one after the concert. To further reduce risk, organizers only allowed people between 18 and 45-years-old without underlying health conditions to participate, according to the hospital authority. France has not allowed such music concerts since early 2020. Cultural venues were shut for most of the past 14 months as authorities tried to contain persistent surges of virus infections that filled hospitals and were linked to more than 109,000 deaths. France's COVID-19 hospitalization rates and confirmed cases have steadily declined in recent weeks as vaccination increases. Similar test concerts have been held in other European countries including in Spain, the Netherlands and Britain. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Protesters gathered in Vilnius on Saturday in solidarity with demonstrators and political prisoners in Belarus. The rally was called by Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhaunovskay on the one year anniversary of her husband Syarhey Tsikhanousky's arrest in Belarus, days after he announced a presidential bid to challenge authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Similar solidarity protests were held in cities including Warsaw, Moscow and Kyiv. Official results of the presidential election gave Lukashenko 80% of the vote and won him a sixth term in office. Protests alleging the election results were manipulated immediately broke out and Tsikhanouskaya fled to Lithuania. The protests, some of them attracting as many as 200,000 people, have continued for months, a significant challenge to Lukashenko. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) The United States recently announced that it is drawing up a list of targeted sanctions against key members of the Belarusian government following the arrest of critic Roman Protasevich. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Friday said that the Biden administration would re-impose sanctions against nine Belarusian state-owned enterprises. The US is also developing additional penalties to target officials in the administration of President Alexander Lukashenko over the forced landing of a Ryanair and the arrest of a dissident journalist, Psaki said. Further, she informed that the US has issued a Do Not Travel warning to American citizens urging them to steer clear of Belarus. American pilots have also been issued a notice to exercise extreme caution when considering flying in Belarusian airspace. Moreover, Psaki said that the Treasury Department is also crafting an executive order that will provide the United States increased authorities to impose sanctions on elements of the Lukashenko regime, its support network, and those that support corruption, the abuse of human rights, and attacks on democracy. Belaruss forced diversion of a commercial Ryanair flight under false pretenses, traveling between two member states of the European Union, and the subsequent removal and arrest of Raman Pratasevich, a Belarusian journalist, are a direct affront to international norms, Psaki said during a press briefing. Intl reaction over hijacking Meanwhile, the forced landing and abdication have set off shockwaves across countries. The EU member states have agreed to cut the blocs air links with Belarus and have strongly condemned the outrageous actions that endangered aviation safety. US President Joe Biden said that Belarus' forced diversion of a commercial Ryanair flight and subsequent removal and arrest of Raman Protasevich, a Belarusian journalist travelling abroad are a direct affront to international norms. He welcomed the EUs call for sanctions against Belarus and instructed his administration to curate options to hold Minsk responsible. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), on the other hand, said that it was strongly concerned by the forced landing of Ryanair flight FR4978 in Belarus. The UN aviation agency said that Belarus' actions are in violation of existing treaties. The International Air Transport Association also strongly condemned the incident and called for a full investigation by authorities. However, it is imperative to note that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, on Monday, defended Belarus' use of military jet to divert passenger plane. Image: AP STORY: Egypt Israel - Israeli foreign minister in Egypt for Gaza talks LENGTH: 00:11 FIRST RUN: 1050 RESTRICTIONS: TYPE: Natsound SOURCE: ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY STORY NUMBER: 4328395 DATELINE: 30 May 2021 - Cairo SHOTLIST: RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ++QUALITY AS INCOMING++ ISRAEL'S FOREIGN MINISTRY Egypt - 30 May 2021 ++MUTE++ 1. Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi descending steps of plane 2. Ashkenazi being greeted by Egyptian officials 3. Ashkenazi walking towards car STORYLINE: Egypt's foreign minister Sameh Shukry on Sunday met with his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi in Cairo. The two ministers were set to discuss efforts to shore up a fragile truce - brokered by Egypt - between Israel and the Hamas militant group in Gaza. The ceasefire ended 11 days of fighting between Israel and Hamas earlier this month. Egypt said Ashkenazi's trip was the first public visit by an Israeli foreign minister to Cairo in over a decade. Meanwhile, Egypt's intelligence chief, Abbas Kamel, flew to Tel Aviv for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian officials in Ramallah. =========================================================== Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: info@aparchive.com (ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service (iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Voice against child abuse By Anuki Hewavithana View(s): View(s): Child abuse has been on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. Beyond the statistics are real victims. Behind the numbers are disrupted lives. Addressing this grave issue, the Rotaract Club of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, has launched the Voice Against Child Abuse initiative aiming to garner public attention on the matter, alleviate stigma surrounding victims, understand the thought process of a pedophile, and slowly but surely rid our country of child abuse. Be the Voice the first phase of the project, spreading awareness about child abuse and educating the public commenced in October 2020 with the launching of the projects own Facebook page. A series of trilingual awareness flyers were released on Fb, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Shortly after, the Instagram page up and running. In November, the National Child Protection Authority endorsed the project. On the World Day for Prevention for Child Abuse on November 19, a video compilation featuring 40 personalities from 20 other Rotaract and non-Rotaract clubs was released. Under the leadership of Kusala Fernando and Ashinsani Fernando, a series of articles penned by club members was published on the clubs official blog and Facebook page which ended up reaching thousands as they were in all three languages. Phase 2 Be the Change is focused on educating the public on preventing child abuse, empowering children, and building a guide for teachers. Collaboration with a few other Facebook pages such as Ammai Babai etc. helped reach young parents. Parapuraka Abhiyachanaya, the Interschool debate competition saw eight schools from four districts taking part on Zoom on March 1 and 2. After a close final battle, Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya was crowned champions with D.S. Senanayake Vidyalaya adjudged runners-up. The recorded episodes were broadcast on the official Facebook pages of VACA, SCC, FoS and Lankadeepa. The final attracted over 6000 views! May 19 was marked as the day of The Final Pledge of Project Voice Against Child Abuse where a zoom conference was live streamed on the projects Facebook page. The official launch of the VACA theme song Igilenna ida denna (Let them fly) also took place. A cartoon addressing the fine line between good touch and bad touch compiled with the aid of Toon Studios, with characters brought to life by the club members was also released as it is believed that a cartoon is the best way to reach the minds of the little ones. The publication of a syllabus for teachers on how to identify an abused child and what to do took place on this day as well. This is to be integrated in to the curriculum of school and preschool teacher-training with the collaboration of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Psychiatry. Chaired by Hansana Priyan, vice president of the community services avenue, assisted by Anuki Hewavithana, Ashinsani Fernando and Sanduni Wijerathna, the VACA project is overseen by club president Thanuja Kotawalagedara and secretary, Sandamini Liyanage. The public relations team is headed by the editors, Afrah Niyas and Shanya Mudannayaka with the community service subcommittee headed by Kusala Fernando, Fayaz Ahmed and Charuka Deshapriya. Turkey's foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu arrived in Greece on Sunday. Cavusoglu's first stop was the northeastern Greek region of Thrace, near the Turkish border, home to many members of the Muslim community. There, he met the Mufti of Komotini, Ibrahim Serif, and the Mufti of Xanthi, Ahmet Mete. The private visit comes a day ahead of his official visit to Athens where he's scheduled to hold formal talks with his counterpart Nikos Dendias. Greece and Turkey have been at loggerheads for decades over a long series of issues, including territorial rights in the Aegean, maritime and aviation boundaries, and minority rights. After an escalation of tension last year, the two countries have sought to improve ties, and Dendias visited Turkey in mid-April for talks with Cavusoglu. However, a joint news conference after that meeting descended into a rare public exchange of accusations, with the ministers trading barbs and listing their respective grievances. One of the grievances Cavusoglu cited was about the Muslim minority in Greece, which Greece recognizes as a religious minority but Turkey refers to as an ethnic Turkish minority. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Islamabad has conveyed to the leadership in Afghanistan that it will no longer conduct official business with Kabuls National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib for terming Pakistan as a "brothel house". According to ANI, earlier this month, Mohib had called Pakistan a brothel house while giving a public speech in Nangarhar province. Following his remarks, a senior Pakistani official privy to the matter to VOA news that his government would not hold bilateral agreements with the Afghan NSA over his comments against Islamabad. The Pakistani official, on condition of anonymity, said that Islamabad had shared its strongest protest with the Afghan government in connection with the remarks. The official added that Mohibs remarks outraged leaders in Islamabad, who denounced them and said that they debased all norms of interstate communication. He said that it has also been conveyed that the Afghan side is not serious in engaging with Pakistan, but only in the blame game and degrading Pakistans sincere efforts. Baseless allegation The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan has already released a statement in connection with the remark and counted it as a "baseless allegation". The ministry also said that such remarks undermine trust and mutual understanding between Islamabad and Kabul. It is worth mentioning that the controversy highlighted political tensions and historic mistrust plaguing relations between the South Asian neighbours, which share a nearly 2,600-kilometer border. Meanwhile, in his speech, Mohib, who routinely accuses Pakistan and its spy agency of supporting and directing the Taliban's in Afghanistan, added that Pakistani tribes, including Pashtuns and Balochis, are not happy with their country's government, adding that Pashtuns and Balochis are fighting for their rights. His remarks came just days before Pakistan's military chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Kabul and had a meeting with President Ashraf Ghani in the presence of Nick Carter, Britain's Chief of the Defense Staff. (With inputs from ANI) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan went back to parroting the Jammu & Kashmir rhetoric and claimed that his country would resume talks with India if Article 370 was restored. In a live question and answers session with the public, Pakistan PM Imran Khan reportedly said that the country's ties with India could not be mended without the restoration of Article 370 as it would amount to 'turning the back' on Kashmiris. Imran Khan harked back to his rhetorical narrative by asserting that his government will not talk to India unless it reverses the steps taken on August 5, 2019, including the abrogation of Article 370 and revocation of statehood. Thaw in bilateral ties between India and Pakistan During his maiden visit to Sri Lanka on February 24, Pakistan PM Imran Khan called for resolving differences with India via dialogue. Claiming that he had unsuccessfully attempted to diffuse tensions in the bilateral relationship after assuming power in 2018, he emphasised the need to improve trading ties with India. In a joint statement issued a day later, the Director Generals of Military Operations of both countries agreed to strictly observe all agreements and stop firing from February 25. Softening the brash tone further, Imran Khan told participants at the recently held Islamabad Security Dialogue that India can benefit from more trade and connectivity to Central Asia if both nations resolve their issues. Speaking at the same event, Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa maintained that it is time to bury the past and move forward. However, there was a setback when the Pakistan Cabinet rejected the proposal of the Economic Coordination Committee to import sugar, cotton and yarn from India. Article 370 abrogation & formation of PAGD A Presidential notification combined with requisite legislation passed by both the House of Parliament in August 2019 led to Article 370 becoming virtually redundant. This implied that the special status of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was scrapped. Furthermore, the region was bifurcated into the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. Thereafter, restrictions on the movement of people and communication were imposed in the state, which was gradually lifted over the months. After leaders such as former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were released post months of detention, 6 political parties joined hands to form the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration in August 2020. The principle aim of this alliance is to strive for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A and statehood. Subsequently, PAGD emerged as the single-largest party in the first-ever District Development Council polls in J&K by bagging 110 seats. Islamabad, May 29 (PTI) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday expressed full confidence in the country's nuclear capability to defend itself. Khan visited a nuclear facility of the Strategic Forces Command, which is responsible for protection of nuclear assets. Pakistan is committed to continue working towards the promotion of an environment of peace and stability at the regional and global levels, Khan was quoted as saying by an official statement issued by the prime minister's office. During the visit, the prime minister was apprised of various facets of Pakistans Strategic Programme, it said. Khan appreciated and acknowledged the efforts of the scientists and personnel associated with Pakistans Strategic Programme and "expressed full confidence" in the country's "nuclear capability and protection to strengthen the national defence", the statement said. The visit came a day after Pakistan celebrated 'Youm-e-Takbeer' (The day of greatness) to commemorate the nuclear tests it conducted on May 28, 1998 in response to India's Pokhran tests and establishing a "credible minimum nuclear deterrence". Pakistan carried out the tests after India conducted a series of five nuclear bomb test explosions at Pokhran in May 1998. On his arrival to the nuclear facility, Khan was received by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Nadeem Raza and Director General Strategic Plans Division Lieutenant General Nadeem Zaki Manj. PTI SH SCY AKJ SCY (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) The Indian Coast Guard has sent three ships to aid the Sri Lankan navy in the fire fighting operation to douse the massive fire at the Singapore-flagged MV X Press Pearl, which has been fuelling severe environmental concerns off the coast of Colombo. Sri Lanka has deployed four tugs in the fire fighting operation. The massive fire at MV X Press Pearl is perceived as the worst marine ecological disaster by Sri Lanka's top environment body in the history of ecological disasters in the country. The cargo vessel MV X Press Pearl was carrying a consignment of chemicals and raw materials for cosmetics from Hazira in Gujarat to Colombo Port on May 20 when it caught fire some 9.5 nautical miles away from the port of Colombo. Apart from the 325 metric tonnes of fuel in its tanks, the vessel was loaded with 1,486 containers carrying about 25 tonnes of hazardous nitric acid. 25 crew members of the ship who were of Indian, Chinese, Filipino, and Russian origin, have been rescued on Tuesday and safely brought ashore. "ICG formations at Kochi, Chennai & Tuticorin remain on standby for immediate assistance. Indian Coast Guard is maintaining continuous liaison with Sri Lankan Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Environment Protection Authority & other authorities," Ministry of Defence said. #WATCH | ICG ships Samudra Prahari, Vaibhav & Vajra continue with firefighting onboard MV X Press Pearl. According to Indian Coast Guard, fire has considerably reduced with moderate density smoke. Aerial reccee carried out by ICG aircraft. No oil spill detected Source: ICG pic.twitter.com/JlBMmxnPVk ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2021 India's assistance in the fire fighting mission According to the ICG, the joint firefighting efforts have yielded positive results with the fire being moderately reduced and the two countries continue to douse the flames. Authorities say the fire was under control and the possibility of the ship's sinking was less. The Sri Lankan Air Force have dropped fire dousing materials to pacify the fire. On May 25, India responded to the SOS of the Sri Lanka Navy and deployed ICG Vaibhav, ICG Dornier and Tug Water Lilly for fighting the fire in tandem with the Sri Lankan Navy and Air Force. Maritime Pollution Preventive Ship Samudra Prahari has also been deployed by the Indian Coast Guard. Ecological impact Sri Lankan environment groups fear the damage that has been caused to the marine life and ecology surround the region in Negombo Lagoon which is a major tourist attraction. Darshani Lahandapura, Chairperson of the Marine Environment Pollution Authority (MEPA), said that according to the available information so far this would be the worst marine ecological disaster in the island nation. She added that the plastic beads floating in the waters covering the affected coastal area are badly affecting the marine ecology in the respective areas. The officials said a large number of dead sea turtles, birds and small fish could be seen along the coast. STORY: New Zealand Australia - Maori welcome for Australian PM in New Zealand LENGTH: 01:02 FIRST RUN: 0757 RESTRICTIONS: No Access New Zealand TYPE: Natsound SOURCE: NZ POOL STORY NUMBER: 4328380 DATELINE: 30 May 2021 - Queenstown SHOTLIST: RESTRICTION SUMMARY: NO ACCESS NEW ZEALAND NZ POOL NO ACCESS NEW ZEALAND Queenstown 30 May 2021 1. Various of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny receiving Maori welcome, woman chanting 2. Close of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern 3. Man speaking in Maori at welcome ceremony 4. Close of Morrison listening 5. Close of Ardern listening 6. Morrison singing 7. Morrison greeting people with traditional Maori hongi 8. Morrison and wife Jenny greeting Ardern with traditional Maori hongi STORYLINE: The leaders of Australia and New Zealand on Sunday had their first face-to-face meeting since the coronavirus pandemic prompted the neighboring nations to close their borders. A Maori welcome ceremony was held for Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison as he arrived in the New Zealand tourist resort of Queenstown. He greeted his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern with a traditional Maori hongi, in which the pair pressed noses together. Morrison is the first major world leader to visit New Zealand since both countries shut their borders last year to contain the virus. The neighbors opened a quarantine-free travel bubble last month, although a recent outbreak of the virus in Melbourne has prompted New Zealand to suspend that arrangement with Victoria state. Growing friction with China and how to sustainably reopen the countries' borders are likely to be high on the leaders' agenda. China has blocked some Australian exports after Australia excluded Chinese telecommunications company Huawei from its 5G phone network and called for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus. New Zealand has also been outspoken against China on some issues in recent months, but so far it has maintained better relations with Beijing than Australia has. =========================================================== Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: info@aparchive.com (ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service (iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) In a sensational development, Antigua & Barbuda PM Gaston Browne has revealed that fugitive ex-diamantaire Mehul Choksi might have gone to Dominica on a 'romantic trip' with his girlfriend and was busted, as per Antiguan media reports. Having fled Antigua Island on May 23, Mehul Choksi was traced in Dominica and was nabbed by law enforcement personnel following the yellow notice alert issued for him. As per Antiguan Newsroom, the Antigua PM said that Mehul Choksi might have gone on a trip with his girlfriend to Dominica and had got caught after. India sent private jet carrying Mehul Choksi deportation documents: Antigua PM It is pertinent to point out that Mehul Choksi's wife had filed a missing complaint with the Police after the fugitive had gone missing on June 23. Earlier on Sunday, Antigua PM Gaston Browne had informed that India had sent a private jet to Dominica carrying documents related to the deportation of Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in a Rs 13,500 crore bank loan fraud case, while speaking on a radio show. However, Indian authorities have not confirmed it officially. As per Antigua News Room reports, a Qatar Airways private jet had landed at the Douglas-Charles airport in Dominica, leading to speculations about the deportation of Choksi who was detained in the Caribbean island nation after his mysterious disappearance from neighboring Antigua and Barbuda. PM Browne further told the radio show that the jet came from India carrying necessary documentation needed for the deportation of the businessman, the media outlet reported. Available data of Qatar Executive flight A7CEE showed that it left the Delhi airport at 3.44 pm on May 28 and reached Dominica at 13.16 local time on the same. Antigua PM vows to revoke Mehul Choksi's citizenship Antigua PM Browne on Sunday said that his government is determined to revoke Choksis citizenship and to concurrently pursue his extradition to India to face criminal charges, according to reports in Antigua Newsroom. Antigua Prime Minister Browne also said that Indian fugitive Mehul Choksi was funding the main opposition United Progressive Party and that is why the Opposition released a statement in support of Choksi. He also mentioned that there has been no violation of Choksis legal and constitutional protections, despite the decision to revoke his citizenship. Browne, added, "We live in a globalized world where cooperation among states is required to fight and defeat criminals." First picture of Mehul Choksi in custody In the picture accessed by Republic TV, a pale-faced and red-eyed Choksi behind the bars stared at the camera through the prison grill. The runaway diamantaire is accused of allegedly siphoning off Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the Punjab National Bank (PNB), using letters of undertaking. Having fled Antigua Island on May 23, Choksi was traced in Dominica and was nabbed by law enforcement personnel following the yellow notice alert issued for him. Creating one of the most spectacular and surreal scenes in recent times, a blazing meteorite unexpectedly fell from the sky and crashed into Indonesias Mount Merapi volcano. The historical event occurred on May 27, when it was caught on a CCTV camera at Megadata facility in Kalitengah Kidul, Jogjakarta which is where the mountain is located. Luckily, at the same time, a local Indonesian identified as Gunarto Song was also taking photos of Mount Merapi volcano and caught the meteor in all its glory. Meteor yang terlihat (pada detik ke 21) dari CCTV Megadata, di Merapi yang berlokasi di Kalitengah Kidul. mau coba cek cctv gunung agung sapa tau dapat juga pic.twitter.com/twL5ECvP5F VolcanoYT (@VolcanoYTz) May 28, 2021 Speaking to Indonesian Media outlet Kumparan later, he said that he took the photos from a location in Batu Alien in the Kaliadem Cangkringan district last Thursday. Explaining his venture, he said that he was all prepped to capture the mountain amidst a backdrop of full moon when he saw the meteor crashing and clicked it. Suddenly there was a bright ray of light as if falling from above onto the top of Merapi volcano, Terming the whole event as super bright and fast:, he aplained that he took at 4 seconds exposure when he shot it. Meteor shower in the Caribbean A few weeks ago, a meteor in Santiago de Cuba that streaked across the night sky exploded, creating boom sounds as it entered the Earths atmosphere, residents and eyewitnesses reported. According to Cubas National Centre for Seismological Research (CENAIS), the event turned the sky into a shade of crimson, as the explosion sent shockwaves and lightning across the horizon. In February, several meteorites streaked across the sky in western Cuba during the broad daylight, a phenomenon which was also recorded by the observers in the Florida Keys, and from Vinales, a town in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, according to several local reports. The event created ripples among the astrophile as it occurred at about 1:16 1:17 p.m. EST on Feb.1. Residents of Vinales, Cuba reported seeing a long smoke trail in the sky, while some others claimed that they saw a meteor, in orange white colour that lit bright, appeared in the sky for at least 4 seconds. Astronomers of the Institute of Physics of the University of Antioquia later confirmed the meteors trajectory from south-southwest of Cuba to the north. Image: gunarto_song/Instagram Russian President Vladimir Putin and his visiting Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko took to sea on Saturday. The presidents held an informal meeting on a yacht off the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Footage of the meeting shows the leaders talking, looking out at dolphins in the sea and being joined for lunch by Lukashenko's son, Nikolai. The Belarusian leader has faced strong international blowback this week after Belarusian authorities detained an opposition journalist in Minsk. The journalist had been traveling on an international Ryanair flight which was diverted to Minsk after an alleged bomb threat. The European Union banned flights from Belarus in response. The long-term impact of that move is not clear, but many fear that it could drive Belarus into closer relations with Russia, which has dismissed criticism of the plane diversion. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) During their meeting in Sochi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko discussed economic cooperation, particularly trade and the COVID-19 outbreak, according to an official. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Saturday, May 29, said, "There were mainly two major topics, namely the further development of the trade and economic cooperation of Russia and Belarus as well as the fight against the pandemic." Putin, Lukashenko discuss economic ties According to a Kremlin official, the leaders met informally on Friday, May 27, before holding a formal meeting on Saturday. According to reports, the two-day summit between Putin and Lukashenko took place while the European Union and the United States condemned Belarus for deploying a fake bomb threat to force a Ryanair plane to land in Minsk. Belarusian authorities escorted the plane down with a fighter jet before detaining journalist Roman Protasevich and his Russian partner Sofia Sapega. Both are in prison on charges of instigating disturbances. Protasevich faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Several European countries have put flight bans on Belarusian airlines, while the United States has said that complete blocking measures against nine state-owned Belarusian enterprises will take effect on June 3. Washington also stated it was working with the EU on a list of targeted penalties on Lukashenko's administration officials. According to a Kremlin spokeswoman, Putin and Lukashenko have directed their respective transport ministries to manage all issues of air communication. Belarus flight diversion incident The Kremlin spokesman noted, "The transport ministries of the two countries - Russia and Belarus - are instructed to organize all the aspects of air communication, including with regard to the upcoming holiday period and with regard to a large number of Belarusians, who want to come to Russia's Black Sea coast, and, what is important, with regard to the fact that a large number of Belarusians have to somehow return to their homeland." Meanwhile, the international community has strongly criticized Belarus's government, led by Alexander Lukashenko, for forcing an airplane to land in Minsk and detaining journalist Raman Pratasevich, who was on board. Massive rallies have erupted across Europe in the midst of the crisis, calling for the journalist's release. (with inputs from ANI) Picture Credit: AP At Panadura Covid ward, it was hell on earth, then a miracle happened By Namini Wijedasa View(s): View(s): Sometimes, the Panadura Base Hospital (PBH) COVID ward got so cramped that doctors couldnt reach patients at the far end for fear of stepping on someone. There were patients on, under and in-between beds. The first wave had been mild. The hospital wasnt a designated COVID centre. So the dedicated Bhikshu ward held infected patients pending transfer. During the second wave, medical staff realised they needed more space and mixed surgical ward was partitioned into male and female sections. But the 18 beds were never full. The third wave hit everyone hard. The patients kept coming, a doctor said, and the ward was creaking with the load. Meanwhile, the Government instructed all hospitals to manage cases in-house until beds freed up at specialised treatment centres. By April 25-26 , PBH took around 50 patients a day and most were symptomatic. Those without symptoms were also accepted as home-treatment wasnt yet allowed. The ward was poorly ventilated and humid. It was meant for 18 but it had gone well above. There were patients on the floor, even under the beds, the doctor said, requesting anonymity. There was a point when they couldnt even lie down and had to sleep seated. Some needed more care and monitoring but it was so packed we couldnt reach them. It was also dangerous for medical staff. The viral load was high. The ward also couldnt be modifiedeven to fix an exhaust fanbecause workmen didnt dare go inside. The intensive care unit (ICU) wasnt meant for COVID patients. And there was no high dependency unit (HDU). We had a road accident victim who tested positive for COVID after arriving at the hospital but we couldnt transfer him to the ICU as it would mean shifting all the others out, the doctor recalled. He had severe brain damage and we hooked him up to a ventilator in the ward. He passed away after two days. Dealing with the pandemic in such a situation was terrible, he confessed. Every day, it seemed worse. More than physically, medical employees were emotionally and mentally drained. It was hell on earth. The nurses had a particularly gruelling experience. Patients were dying. Some could have been saved but couldnt be tended to in time. It wasnt possible to introduce procedures amidst the mayhem. All they could do was administer oxygen but with increasing numbers it was risky to keep cylinders inside the packed ward. So these were positioned outside with tubes sent through the windows. It all changed with an appeal for help. Sandya Salgado and her husband, Priyath, are Panadura natives who, along with others, have assisted the hospital for years. The marketing communications professional received a request for gloves and personal protective equipment (PPE). She messaged a doctor and asked about the situation. He replied: I wish I could show you how people are suffering inside this ward. We have never ever seen so many people gasping for air like this. Just want to let you know that your efforts will save many, many lives in the next few months. Sandya turned to social media. On May 17, she published on Facebook their goal to turn two wards at PBH into an HDU because of escalating patient numbers and deaths. She called it a herculean fundraising overdrive and begged for funds to buy high flow nasal cannula therapy machines, each costing Rs 1.3mn. She also wrote on LinkedIn and created a flyer. I have secured five, she wrote. I want to keep going until we get at least 25. I know its a crazy target. But I know we can come together to achieve this. By the next day, there were enough funds for ten machines. The goalpost shifted to other essential lifesaving equipment such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bi-level positive airway pressure (Bi-PAP) therapy machines; multi-para monitors, oxygen concentrators, ventilators, infusion and syringe pumps. Within eight days, more than Rs 40mn was raised. On Vesak Day, 26 May, there was a small openingno politicians, no ribbon-cuttingand COVID patients were shifted to the refurbished wards. The project was one hundred percent people-funded, Mrs Salgado said, with people donating in cash and kind. The Rotary Club of Colombo Regency donated a wall oxygen system and other high-valued machines. A group of friends from Panadura reached out to their contacts. Other groups, including one called Spread a Little Love, joined hands. The appeal went international. The corporate sector and trust funds also pitched in. All this was done within just a week, she updated on Facebook. This just shows the power of the people, rallying round a worthy cause with ZERO political patronage. As for the donors, there was no expectation of any tamashas, she said. No ribbon cutting, no posing for pictures with donations, no plaques. Just making sure the equipment reached the hospital to start the ward. Every cent has been accounted for and a detailed report is to be released. The integrity and honesty of the organizers coordinators and the genuineness of the cause are key factors in the success of such projects, Mrs Salgado said. Some donations were Rs 200 rupees. The average was between Rs 5000-10,000. And it went up from there. Everyone wanted anonymity. They knew they wouldnt get their face or name published, she reflected. They were giving to a cause they truly believed in. It was a round-the-clock operation: calls, zoom meetings, conversations with hospital staff to ensure there was no duplication, giving clarifications to donors, ordering equipment, ensuring delivery and so on. We moved mountains, Mrs Salgado said. The Regional Director of Health Services approved Rs 3mn to build the structure and portioning. The engineer started work before the money was even passed, saying he will bear the cost if it isnt paid. The office also loaned their vehicles whenever necessary. The challenge was to decide on priorities, a medical officer said, sharing his experience of the project. A list was drawn up of equipment and a special hospital committee decided what equipment was urgent. Whatever we asked for, we got, he smiled. It was like we won a lottery. We went from minus to plus, plus, plus and everybody is happy. The new ward is almost full now. Doctors know it will reach capacity soon. But they are finally confident of providing a quality service that was unimaginable before. And more work is in the pipeline. Australian PM Scott Morrison and his New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern on May 30 met in Queenstown, marking their first talk in person since the coronavirus closed borders in 2020. The two leaders hinted at expanding the trans-Tasman travel bubble to include other Pacific Islands and they shared a traditional Maori Hongi greeting that signified the sharing of life force. While taking to Instagram, Ardern shared a picture in which the two leaders are seen touching noses and sharing breath. In the caption, Ardern said, Its been such an incredibly hard year since then, so to be able to finally welcome the PM here felt really special. Thank you to Ngai Tahu for the powhiri, and for the very special gifts you shared with Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny. It is worth noting that according to Maori tradition it is said that the god Tane-nui-a-Rangi moulded the shape of the first woman, Hine-ahu-one, from Earth and breathed life into her by pressing his nose against hers. The Maori ceremony also included a New Zealand representative singing Waltzing Matilda in Maori. They both emphasised that the two countries shared prosperity and Ardern also said that family is incredibly important, and Australia, you are family. Meanwhile, given their success in tackling COVID-19, both leaders engaged in some backslapping over the border reopening. Their meet is politically significant as well as it is believed to be the first meeting of world leaders without masks in a nation devoid of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. It is only Morrisons second time leaving Australia in more than a year and he noted the last time he met Ardern was in Sydney at the start of the pandemic. Maori tradition Meanwhile, in 1987 Maori was made an official language of New Zealand. Many Maori cultural practices are kept alive in contemporary New Zealand. All formal Maori gatherings are accompanied by oratory in Maori; action songs; formal receptions of visitors, accompanied by the hongi, or pressing together of noses on greeting, and sometimes by ritual challenges; and cooking of food in earth ovens (haangi) on preheated stones. Maori have played a role in the governing of New Zealand since the mid-19th century when Maori members first entered Parliament. Seven seats out of a total of 120 are reserved for Maori in the New Zealand Parliament. All voters who claim Maori ancestry may vote in a Maori electoral district, but a Maori may register in either a Maori or a non-Maori (general) district. Image: Instagram Colombo, May 29 (PTI) Sri Lanka's apex environment body said on Saturday the country was facing its worst marine ecological disaster triggered after a Singapore-flagged cargo ship caught fire near the Colombo beach, fuelling severe environmental concerns. The cargo vessel - MV 'X-PRESS PEARL'- was carrying a consignment of chemicals and raw materials for cosmetics from Hazira in Gujarat to Colombo Port on May 20 when it caught fire some 9.5 nautical miles away from the port of Colombo. The firefighting effort on May 21 was assisted by the Indian coastal guard vessels and an aircraft, in addition to the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force. Apart from the 325 metric tonnes of fuel in its tanks, the vessel was loaded with 1,486 containers carrying about 25 tonnes of hazardous nitric acid. Darshani Lahandapura, Chairperson of the Marine Environment Pollution Authority (MEPA), said that according to the available information so far this would be the worst marine ecological disaster in the island nation. "With the available information so far, this can be described the worst disaster, she said. The plastic beads floating in the waters covering the affected coastal area are badly affecting the marine ecology in the respective areas, she said. Lahandapura said the fishing breeding points and mangroves around the Negombo Lagoon, a major tourist attraction, were very sensitive and the resultant pollution could affect them. She said an explosion was heard from the ship wreck last night. According to a statement issued by the ships owners in Singapore, "by 9.45 am Sri Lanka time today, the vessels hull remains structurally intact, as do the bunker tanks, and there has been no loss of oil into the ports waters. The Sri Lankan Navy has also confirmed that there have been no oil sightings since the fire began. The Sri Lanka Air Force dropped fire dousing material this morning. Authorities say the fire was under control and the possibility of ships sinking was less. The ministry of fisheries has assured that there was no reason to fear consuming fish as the fishing in the affected area had been banned from last Sunday. The fishermen affected by the fishing ban are to be provided livelihood support, the ministry said. MEPA officials said a large number of dead sea turtles, birds and small fish could be seen along the coast. India on Tuesday dispatched ICG Vaibhav, ICG Dornier and Tug Water Lilly to help the Sri Lankan Navy extinguish the fire on the container ship. India's specialised pollution response vessel Samudra Prahari will reach on Saturday to augment pollution control efforts, the Colombo Gazette reported on Friday. All 25 crew members of the ship - of Indian, Chinese, Filipino and Russian nationalities - were rescued on Tuesday after a 'fire alarm' dispatch was sent. PTI CORR MRJ MRJ (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Sri Lankan authorities say they will sue the owners of a Singapore-registered cargo carrier that has burned for 11 straight days off the island's west coast and caused some of its worst-ever marine pollutions. Police on Sunday said a criminal investigation was also launched into the blaze aboard the MV X-Press Pearl, which was carrying 25 tonnes of nitric acid and a huge amount of plastic raw materials. Police on Sunday said a criminal investigation was also launched into the blaze aboard the MV X-Press Pearl, which was carrying 25 tonnes of nitric acid and a huge amount of plastic raw materials. Sri Lanka's Marine Environment Protection Authority said it met with attorney general Sanjaya Rajaratnam on Sunday to plan legal action against the owners of the vessel, its crew, as well as insurers. "We have gone through the details and will be taking action against those responsible," MEPA Chairman Dharshani Lahandapura told reporters in Colombo. Sri Lanka facing worst ecological disaster Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's apex environment body on Saturday said that the country was facing its worst marine ecological disaster, which was triggered after a Singapore-flagged cargo ship caught fire near the Colombo beach, fuelling severe environmental concerns. The cargo vessel - MV 'X-PRESS PEARL'- was carrying a consignment of chemicals and raw materials for cosmetics from Hazira in Gujarat to Colombo Port on May 20 when it caught fire some 9.5 nautical miles away from the port of Colombo. The firefighting effort on May 21 was assisted by the Indian coastal guard vessels and an aircraft, in addition to the Sri Lanka Navy and Air Force. Apart from the 325 metric tonnes of fuel in its tanks, the vessel was loaded with 1,486 containers carrying about 25 tonnes of hazardous nitric acid. Chairperson of the Marine Environment Pollution Authority (MEPA), Darshani Lahandapura, said that according to the available information so far this would be the worst marine ecological disaster in the island nation. "With the available information so far, this can be described as the worst disaster, she said. The plastic beads floating in the waters covering the affected coastal area are badly affecting the marine ecology in the respective areas, she said. Lahandapura said the fishing breeding points and mangroves around the Negombo Lagoon, a major tourist attraction, were very sensitive and the resultant pollution could affect them. According to a statement issued by the ships owners in Singapore, "by 9.45 am Sri Lanka time today, the vessels hull remains structurally intact, as do the bunker tanks, and there has been no loss of oil into the ports waters. The Sri Lankan Navy has also confirmed that there have been no oil sightings since the fire began. The Sri Lanka Air Force had dropped fire dousing material on Saturday morning. Authorities said that the fire was under control and the possibility of the ships sinking was less. The Ministry of Fisheries has assured that there was no reason to fear consuming fish as the fishing in the affected area had been banned from last Sunday. The fishermen affected by the fishing ban are to be provided livelihood support, the Sri Lankan Ministry said. MEPA officials had said a large number of dead sea turtles, birds and small fish could be seen along the coast. India on Tuesday had dispatched ICG Vaibhav, ICG Dornier and Tug Water Lilly to help the Sri Lankan Navy extinguish the fire on the container ship. India's specialised pollution response vessel Samudra Prahari reached the spot on Saturday to augment pollution control efforts, the Colombo Gazette reported on Friday. All 25 crew members of the ship - of Indian, Chinese, Filipino and Russian nationalities - were rescued on Tuesday after a 'fire alarm' dispatch was sent. (Image: AP) STORY: Greece Turkey Cavusoglu - Turkish Foreign Minister arrives in Greece LENGTH: 00:34 FIRST RUN: 0948 RESTRICTIONS: TYPE: Natsound SOURCE: TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY STORY NUMBER: 4328386 DATELINE: 30 May 2021 - Alexandroupolis SHOTLIST: RESTRICTION SUMMARY: TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY HANDOUT Alexandroupolis, northeastern Greece - 30 May 2021 1. Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu disembarking from plane, greeting officials STORYLINE: Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu arrived in Greece Sunday, as the two NATO member states seek to patch up relations strained by a series of disputes, including over energy exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean. Cavusoglu's first stop was the northeastern region of Thrace, near the Turkish border, where he was set to visit members of the Muslim community. Greece recognizes the community as a religious minority but Turkey refers to it as an ethnic Turkish minority. The private trip comes a day ahead of Cavusoglu's official visit to Athens where he's scheduled to meet with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias. Greece and Turkey have been at loggerheads for decades over a long series of issues, including territorial rights in the Aegean, maritime and aviation boundaries and minority rights. After the escalation of tensions last year, the two countries have sought to gradually improve ties, and Dendias visited Turkey in mid-April for talks with Cavusoglu. But a joint news conference after that meeting descended into a rare public exchange of accusations, with the ministers trading barbs and listing their respective grievances. =========================================================== Clients are reminded: (i) to check the terms of their licence agreements for use of content outside news programming and that further advice and assistance can be obtained from the AP Archive on: Tel +44 (0) 20 7482 7482 Email: info@aparchive.com (ii) they should check with the applicable collecting society in their Territory regarding the clearance of any sound recording or performance included within the AP Television News service (iii) they have editorial responsibility for the use of all and any content included within the AP Television News service and for libel, privacy, compliance and third party rights applicable to their Territory. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) The Ukrainian ambassador to Thailand collapsed and died on Sunday while on a resort island with his family, authorities said. Andrii Beshta, 44, was declared dead on Lipe Island in southern Satun province, Governor Ekkarat Leesen told The Associated Press. Police quoted his teenage son, who was staying in the same hotel room, as saying his father vomited and fainted early on Sunday. He said he was feeling fine before. Police said they suspect he may have suffered a heart failure. Leesen said the body was sent to the police hospital for an autopsy. Beshta had assumed the post of ambassador in January 2016. He is survived by his wife, daughter and two sons, according to the embassy's website. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) The daughter-in-law of a politically influential British magnate was in custody in Belize on Saturday, under investigation in the shooting death of a police superintendent. Police Commissioner Chester C. Williams told 7 News Belize television that Jasmine Hartin initially balked at making a statement, preferring to wait for the presence of her attorney. She was found on a dock near the spot where police Superintendent Henry Jemmott was found dead early Friday in the town of San Pedro. Hartin is the partner of Andrew Ashcroft, son of Michael Ashcroft, a former deputy chairman of Britain's Conservative Party and a major financial backer. He also holds Belizean citizenship and was once its representative before the United Nations. The incident seems rather personal and not an attack, Williams said. From what we know is that they are friends. From what we have been made to understand they were drinking. From investigation they were alone on the pier and yes they were both fully clothed. He said Hartin was somewhat in a emotional state walking herself on the pier. We believe that she is to some extent affected by it. LinkedIn accounts indicate that both the younger Ashcroft and Hartin were connected with a local resort in Belize. Jemmott's sister, Marie Jemmott Tzul, told local media that her brother loved life and was the father of five children. "My brother would never kill himself. My brother had a passion for life. He looked forward for his children, his five children and his fiancee, and me and the other family members," she said. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Protests have taken place across Brazil in a bid to demand the impeachment of President Jair Bolsonaro over his management of the COVID-19 crisis that has claimed nearly half a million lives in the country. According to The Guardian, thousands of people gathered in front of Congress in the capital, Brasilia, and called for the presidents impeachment and demanded more vaccines. The demonstrations also turned out in more than 200 cities and towns for what is the biggest anti-Bolsonaro mobilisation since Brazils COVID-19 outbreak began. Brazil has registered nearly 460,000 deaths and it has the third-highest number of coronavirus cases at more than 16 million. The recent protest piled pressure on Bolsonaro, while the countrys Senate is already holding an inquiry into his governments handling of the pandemic and the slow roll-out of the vaccine programme. As per reports, opposition parties, trade unions and social movements accuse the Brazilian President of stalling the programmer and disregarding the consequences. Govt more dangerous than virus Saturdays protest saw marchers carrying homemade placards remembering the loved ones they lost to the pandemic. They blamed the far-right president for trivialising the coronavirus as a little flu and sabotaging containment efforts such as social distancing or lockdowns. One of the protesters, whose two relatives died as a result of the governments inaction, even said that this government is more dangerous than the virus. In the capital city, the protesters marched alongside a giant plastic doll of the president. Posters demanded his impeachment and called for more vaccines and emergency financial aid. There were reportedly also calls to better protect indigenous people and to stop deforestation of the Amazon. Meanwhile, the demonstrations come with Bolsonaro at arguably his lowest ebb since he took office in 2019. Recent polls suggest that growing anger at the rightwing populists handling of COVID-19, with 57% of the population now backing his impeachment. The president also appears particularly rattled by the reemergence of his political rival Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the former leftist president who looks poised to challenge him for the presidency in next years election. Image: AP/Twitter Thousand of people protested against Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro on Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, calling for his impeachment and criticizing his handling of the pandemic. Many protesters were calling for the vaccination process to be accelerated and for the return of the R$600 emergency aid, which is now between R$150 and R$250. The crowd marched through Rio's Downtown with flags and drums, demanding the impeachment of Bolsonaro. "We have a president that, instead of making Brazil an international example, made us a lab of new virus strains", said teacher Juliano Teixeira at the protest gathering. Although protesters focused on the usage of masks and hand sanitising against the coronavirus, many spots were crowded during the march. Protests also took place in other capitals of the country in the morning and more are scheduled for later in the day. Poverty - defined as households living on less than a minimum wage - soared in Brazil during the first quarter of 2021 to its highest level in at least nine years, after falling last year, according to the social policy center of the Getulio Vargas Foundation. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) The British intelligence services reportedly believe that it is feasible that the pandemic began after the COVID-19 virus leaked from a lab in Wuhan. According to Sunday Times, the UK agents are investigating a possible leak from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Even though British, American and other western intelligence agencies had appeared to discount the possibility of a lab leak, they now said that there has been a reassessment and further deemed the possibility as feasible. The report said that the development, which Beijing has repeatedly denied, has prompted the US diplomatic sources to share their concerns we are one wet market or bio lab away from the next spillover. UK MP Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, told the media outlet that the silence coming from Wuhan is troubling. Tugendhat said that Britain needs to open the crypt and see what happened to be able to protect everyone in the future, which means starting an investigation, along with partners around the world and in the WHO. When asked about the speculation that the virus could have escaped from a Wuhan lab, UK Vaccine Minister Nadhim Zahawi told Sky News that he thinks it is really important that the WHO is allowed to conduct its investigation unencumbered into the origins of the pandemic. we should leave no stone unturned to understand why, Nadhim said. Wuhan lab leak theory It is imperative to note that lab-leak theory, initially trotted out by former US President Donald Trump then dismissed as "highly unlikely" by a delayed World Health Organization mission to China, has resurfaced in recent days. China rejects the theory the virus may have emerged from a virology lab in Wuhan. It has instead accused the US of peddling "conspiracies" and politicising the pandemic. But the intensifying probe into COVID-19 origins globally holds relevance days after a previously undisclosed and controversial Wall Street report propelled conspiracies claiming three researchers from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) sought hospital care after they fell sick in November 2019. This was a month prior to Beijing's opening report of COVID-like symptoms in a patient. Fueling speculation on COVID-19 lab leak theory, the confidential US report read, "The US government has reason to believe that several researchers inside the WIV became sick in autumn 2019, before the first identified case of the outbreak with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illness. Image: AP/Pixabay A 23-year-old pregnant migrant woman was rescued with the help of the fire rescue ladder after she was stuck atop the border barrier near downtown El Paso and Ciudad Juarez at the US-Mexico border. The migrant from Honduras was attempting to climb the 18-foot-high steel bollard wall when she was unable to get down onto the other side safely. The US Mexico Border Patrol agents responded to the incident and sought the help of the El Paso Fire Department, according to Fox 14. Officers helped the migrant woman descend safely without hurting herself from the tall barrier. She was immediately rushed to the University Medical Center for a medical evaluation. However, both the migrant woman and her baby were safe. Sources told the on-ground reporters that the pregnant woman had entered the US illegally. She was processed and expelled the same day into Mexico under Title 42 by the border authorities. This comes as only last week, members of the House Border Security Caucus travelled to El Paso to examine the migrant processing facilities and tour a portion of the border wall amid the onslaught of the migrants at the border under the Joe Biden administration. At a presser following his visit, Brandon Judd, President of the National Border Patrol Council said: We are rewarding lawless behaviour. That cant happen in a country as great as ours. [A migrant family crosses the border into El Paso, Texas, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. After waiting months and sometimes years in Mexico, people seeking asylum in the US are being allowed into the country as they wait for courts to decide on their cases, unwinding one of the Trump administration's signature immigration policies that President Joe Biden vowed to end. Credit: AP Photo/Christian Chavez] Theres no other governor that provides more resources than Gov. Abbott to secure the border. Brandon Judd, President of the National Border Patrol Council Texas leads all states in securing the border, and we are about to do more than ever. pic.twitter.com/AQHd30R3yk Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 24, 2021 Department of Homeland Security data showed as many as 172,348 unauthorized migrants were taken into the custody in March and the number since then shot up to 178,622 as of last month. The GOP called the issue of the US illegal immigration taking a hike, with risks of sex trafficking, and drug smuggling, as he called the crisis like theyve never seen before. "We dont even have to go back to Trump's policies if we would simply hire judges, put them on the border, and adjudicate these cases immediately, it would end, Judd told reporters. Congresswoman Yvette Herrell, representing New Mexico's largest congressional district, called the migrant crisis costly and cruel. Two toddlers aged 3 and 5 tossed by 'smugglers' Last month, smugglers at the US-Mexico border tossed two toddlers aged 3 and 5 from atop the 14-foot border wall in Santa Teresa. The shocking 29-second surveillance footage, which was first observed by a Santa Teresa CBP agent, was released to the public by the US Customs and Border Protection. The footage that caused a stir showed a smuggler dropping a three-year-old girl and a five-year-old girl, sisters from Ecuador, from off the top of the barrier installed at the border, then he quickly runs to the Mexican side and flees along with another smuggler waiting in the ambush. Antigua and Barbuda police chief Atlee Rodney has denied claims that fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi was "abducted, tortured, and forcibly taken to Dominica." He added that the police have no evidence to back these allegations. Rodney stated the police have "no information or indication" that Choksi was forced to leave Antigua following his alleged kidnapping. He mentioned that only Mehul Choksi's lawyer has claimed that he was abducted and forcibly taken to Dominica. "The only assertion we are hearing is from the attorney and Dominica Police have not confirmed it. We have no involvement in his [Mehul Choksi] movement from Antigua to Dominica or wherever he left," Atlee Rodney said. Rodney's statement came after pictures of Mehul Choksi in police custody with injury marks on his body had surfaced. The pictures, tweeted by AntiguaNewsRoom, showed bruises on Mehul Choksi's hands, wrist, and left eye which appeared swollen. In one of the images, Choksi can be seen standing behind a gate with iron grilles, similar to a jail cell. On Friday, a Dominican court heard a habeas corpus plea filed on behalf of Choksi. He is currently being kept in a quarantine facility. The Dominican court has restrained authorities from deporting him to any other country till June 2. Mahul Choksi is wanted in India for his alleged involvement in the Rs 13,500-crore Punjab National Bank loan fraud case. He was last seen going for dinner in his car in Antigua and Barbuda on May 23. He was later reported missing. On May 27, the Dominica government confirmed that Choki was "detained" in the country for illegal entry. While Choksi's lawyers have maintained he was abducted. Also Read: Mehul Choksi's photos from Dominica surface; show him behind bars, with injury marks Ban on chemical fertiliser: Experts call for phased withdrawal By Duruthu Edirimuni Chandrasekera View(s): View(s): An experts committee tasked with overseeing the recently announced ban on chemical fertiliser imports has recommended to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa not to impose the ban on the tea and rubber sectors until sufficient quantities of organic fertiliser were available and to defer the withdrawal of the subsidy until such time, Plantations Minister Romesh Pathirana told the Sunday Times. The committee appointed by the minister was to advice the Presidential Task Force on Creating a Green Sri Lanka with Sustainable Solutions to Climate Change. Its recommendation was that the withdrawal of the plantation sector chemical fertiliser subsidy be carried out gradually as the correction of the soil structure will considerably minimise the use of fertiliser but is possible only over a period of time. An interim report was submitted with these recommendations to President Rajapaksa and a full report would follow, Mr. Pathirana said. Until sufficient quantities of organic fertiliser are available, we recommend lifting the ban on chemical fertiliser for the tea and rubber sectors, subject to certain conditions, according to the recommendation of the committee members representing the plantations sector. They were appointed separately by Mr. Pathirana to explore the possibility of curtailing the use of chemical fertiliser and gradually switching to using organic fertiliser. There is indiscriminate overuse of chemical fertiliser. This is because of the fertiliser subsidy which has been provided for decades, Malinga Gunaratne, a committee member who is also in the Presidential Task Force, told the Sunday Times. He added that the committee felt that an incentive to those producing organic fertiliser should be given. The pH values of soil in almost all tea estates will be checked within the next 6-8 months, Mr. Pathirana said. The members have recommended making a pH assessment on soil before the fertiliser is applied. It would also be necessary for the officials of the Tea Research Institute (TRI), the Rubber Research Institute (RRI) and the Tea Smallholdings Development Authority (TSHDA) to educate all concerned on the correct procedure in obtaining soil samples for assessment of pH and also leaf samples for assessment of nutrients in rubber, the committee recommends. Mr. Gunaratne noted that as only about 30 percent of the chemical fertiliser was absorbed by the soil and the rest evaporated, the committee members recommended that fertiliser be injected into the soil instead of applying on the top soil to arrest this situation. He pointed out that chemical fertiliser had 46.5 percent nitrogen while organic fertilizer had 2 percent nitrogen. The members also recommended tea bush by bush (plant by plant) fertilisation again to minimise chemical fertiliser application. In the case of paddy cultivation, the soils pH value should be between 5.5 and 6.5. Mr. Gunaratne said that applying nitrogen/chemical fertiliser to paddy fields without correcting the soils pH value would be futile. He said the current 180 million tonnes of chemical fertiliser imports could be cut to a conservative estimate of 150 million tonnes if the recommendations were carried out. The US lawmakers on Saturday introduced a 'Taiwan Diplomatic Review Act' to rename Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States in order to recognize an important democratic ally. The move aims to bolster ties between Washington and Taipei as the US plans to provide diplomatic visas to Taiwanese diplomats. In a joint statement issued Saturday, US Congressman Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) and Congressman Steve Chabot (R-OH) said in a joint statement that the United States policy refers Taiwan as Taiwan, not Taipei or Chinese Taipei, adding that this is why 2019 the Coordination Council for North American Affairs was renamed as Taiwan Council for US Affairs. The council serves as a counterpart of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), the de facto US embassy in Taiwan. The two US representatives were joined by Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ), and Congressman Ken Buck (R-CO) in introducing the bill. Following this longstanding policy, the Taiwan Diplomatic Review Act directs the Secretary of State to enter into negotiations with the Taiwan Council for US Affairs to rename the councils office in Washington, DC, the Taiwan Representative Office in the United States, the United States Representative Brad Sherman said in a statement, Saturday. In a media release, Sherman stated that The Taiwan Relations Act codified the policy of the United States to preserve and promote extensive, close, and friendly relations between the people of the United States and the people of Taiwan. As the bilateral relations between the US and Taiwan strengthened, the prior Administrations took action to rename Taiwans representative entities. Clinton Administration saw Taiwans office in Washington renamed to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices (TECO), the Congressman stressed. He, further said that the Taiwan Diplomatic Review Act directs the Secretary of State to enter into negotiations with the Taiwan Council for U.S. Affairs to rename the Councils office in Washington, DC the Taiwan Representative Office in the United States. As a founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, I have consistently worked to strengthen our bilateral relationship with Taiwan, said Congressman Chabot in a media release. Thats why Im pleased to introduce the Taiwan Diplomatic Review Act with Congressman Sherman today to ensure that Taiwans representatives here are accorded the dignity they deserve and to strengthen congressional oversight over Taiwan policy. As our two countries grow steadily closer, this critical legislation will bring necessary improvements to the interactions between our two governments. Strengthening US congressional oversight on Taipei US Congress would also play a role in overseeing US-Taiwan relations through the Senate confirmation process as the Taiwan Strait remains one of the major flashpoints between China and Taipei. The Taiwan Diplomatic Review Act includes the Taiwan Envoy Act, legislation introduced by Congressman Chabot and Sherman in the 116th Congress, to require Senate confirmation of any individual appointed to serve as the Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). Republican representatives believe that the Taiwan Diplomatic Review Act will ensure Taiwan's representatives are accorded the dignity they deserve, all the while strengthening the US congressional oversight over Taiwan policy, according to Focus Taiwan. As currently the Taiwanese officials and diplomats have no provision of diplomatic visas from the US, the Act will create a new visa category that applies to Taiwanese as a diplomatic move. Note: We've recently updated our online systems. If you can't login please try resetting your password. You must login with an email address. If you don't have an email associated with your account email please call (208) 542-6777 for help. We get it. You don't want to see the ads. We'd just ask you to understand that those ads help us pay the bills and our reporters. Please, consider white-listing the Standard Journal in your ad-blocker or, even better, purchase a subscription so that you can help support quality local journalism. Six members of the Afghan security forces have been killed by a roadside bomb near the site of a railway that is being built to link eastern Iran with Afghanistan's western province of Herat. Herat's provincial governor, Wahid Qatali, said those who were killed had been guarding the site of the railway line in Ghoryan district. The Afghanistan Railway Authority confirmed the May 29 attack on the Iranian-Afghan infrastructure project. When completed, the 225-kilometer-long cross-border railway is meant to link the Iranian city of Khaf with the western Afghan city of Herat. The first three sections, spanning a combined length of 140 kilometers, were inaugurated in December 2020 when a test freight train transported 500 tons of cement between Iran's Khaf station in Iran and Rozanak station in western Afghanistan. Work under way within Afghanistan on the last 43-kilometer section of the railway is meant to be completed by mid-2022 -- passing through the districts of Ghoryan, Zenda Jan, and Enjeel to reach Rabat Paryan in the Kushk district before heading to Herat. The construction project is managed by the Railways of the Islamic Republic of Iran (RAI) and the Afghanistan Railway Authority (ARA). Tehran plans to extend its section of the railway to Iran's southern port city of Chabahar, allowing Afghanistan to improve its trade through connections to Central Asia, Russia, Turkey, and Europe. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, at least seven people were killed late on May 29 when a mortar shell struck a wedding party in the northeastern province of Kapisa. Reports say the mortar shell exploded in the province's contested district of Tagab during skirmishes between Taliban militants and Afghan government forces. Both sides blamed each other. Earlier on May 29, at least four people were killed and 11 others wounded when a roadside bomb struck a minibus that was carrying students and university lecturers in the northern province of Parwan. With reporting by dpa Belarusian authorities have briefly detained Alyaksey Shota, the editor in chief of the independent Hrodna.life news portal, in the western city of Hrodna. In a statement on May 30, police in Hrodna said that the news portal had posted material that was "recognized as extremist." Shota was later released after questioning. In March, a court in Hrodna found Shota guilty of disseminating extremist material and imposed a fine. Shota's detention comes amid a crackdown on independent journalists and opponents of authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Belarus dispatched a fighter jet to intercept a Ryanair commercial flight on May 23 and forced it to land in Minsk, where journalist Raman Pratasevich and his girlfriend, Sofia Sapega, a Russian national, were taken off the aircraft and detained. The plane was flying over Belarus from Athens to the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius. The move sparked international outrage and demands for Pratasevich's release. The European Union banned flights from Belarus. Shota had previously worked for Tut.by, the country's largest independent online media outlet. Earlier in May, police launched a probe of Tut.by, searching the homes of several of its editors and blocking its website. The Belarusian Association of Journalists said last week that 27 media workers were behind bars, either awaiting trial or serving sentences. Belarus has been gripped by nearly unprecedented political turmoil since last August, when Lukashenka declared victory in a disputed presidential election. Belarusians have taken to the streets around the country to protest. Security forces have arrested more than 30,000 people, including dozens of journalists who covered the rallies. The crackdown has pushed most of the top opposition figures out of the country. With reporting by TASS Hundreds of supporters of the Belarusian democratic opposition answered exiled presidential candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya's call to join a rally on May 29 in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius. The date marked the first anniversary of the arrest of Tsikhanouskaya's husband, vlogger Syarhey Tsikhanouski. Rallies in support of democracy in Belarus took place in several countries on the same day. The Belarusian rights group Vyasna says detained journalist and opposition activist Raman Pratasevich has been moved to a pretrial detention facility run by the countrys main security agency, the KGB. In a report on its Telegram channel on May 30, Vyasna also said that Pratasevich had received a package from his sister but that an unspecified book had been taken from it. Vyasna did not reveal the name or location of the facility. Previously, Pratasevich had been held at pretrial detention center No. 1 in the capital, Minsk. Pratasevich, 26, is facing charges of being behind civil disturbances, an offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He was a key administrator of the Telegram channel, Nexta-Live, which has been covering the mass protests that broke out in Belarus following the disputed presidential election last August. Security forces have arrested more than 30,000 people, including dozens of journalists who covered the rallies. Belarus dispatched a fighter jet to intercept a Ryanair commercial flight on May 23 and forced it to land in Minsk, where Pratasevich and his girlfriend, Sofia Sapega, a Russian national, were taken off the aircraft and detained. The plane was flying over Belarus from Athens to the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius. The move sparked international outrage and demands for Pratasevich's release. The European Union has since banned flights from Belarus. With reporting by TASS U.S. President Joe Biden says he will press Russian President Vladimir Putin to respect human rights when the two leaders meet in June. The June 16 summit in Geneva, Switzerland, comes amid escalating tensions between the United States and Russia. "I'm meeting with President Putin in a couple weeks in Geneva making it clear we will not, we will not stand by and let him abuse those rights," Biden said during a speech honoring the U.S. holiday Memorial Day on May 30. The White House said on May 28 that it was planning to "move ahead" with the meeting between the two leaders after Microsoft flagged a cyberattack on U.S. government agencies by Nobelium, the group behind last years SolarWind hack that originated in Russia. The Kremlin has said it has no information about the attack. Biden said in March that he believed Putin was a "killer," which prompted a diplomatic row that led to Moscow recalling its ambassador to Washington for consultations. Biden first proposed a summit in a call with Putin in April as his administration prepared to levy sanctions against Russian officials for the second time during the first three months of his presidency. The White House said Biden plans to discuss Ukraine during the summit. Russia annexed the Ukrainian region of Crimea in 2014 and Kremlin-backed separatists took control of a chunk of eastern Ukraine that same year. The Biden administration has also criticized Russia for the arrest and jailing of opposition leader Aleksei Navalny and publicly acknowledged that it has low to moderate confidence that Russian agents were offering bounties to the Taliban to attack U.S. troops in Afghanistan. With reporting by Reuters and AFP The lawyer for a French tourist detained in Iran a year ago says Iranian prosecutors have confirmed that his client will be tried on charges of espionage and "propaganda against the system." The 35-year-old French citizen, Benjamin Briere, was arrested in Iran in May 2020 -- allegedly while flying a drone and taking photographs in a prohibited area near the Iran-Turkmenistan border. He could face the death penalty in Iran if convicted of espionage. A conviction for spreading "propaganda against the system" could result in a prison sentence ranging from three months to a year. Briere's lawyer, Said Dehghan, said on May 30 that Iranian authorities told him their investigation had been completed and that prosecutors had confirmed the charges. "The prosecutor is preparing the indictment and sending it to the [Islamic] Revolutionary Court for the continuation of the judicial process," Dehghan said. The lawyer said the charge of "propaganda against the system" was the result of a social media post by Briere in which he allegedly pointed out that while "the hijab is mandatory" in Iran, it is not in other Islamic countries. Briere is being held in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad. He had also been facing charges of "corruption on Earth," one of the most serious offenses under Iranian law, and drinking alcohol -- which is punishable by flogging. But Dehghan said those charges were dismissed after the investigation. Confirmation of the charges against him comes days after the French weekly Le Point published an open letter by Briere's sister, Blandine Briere, in which she called upon French President Emmanuel Macron to push for her brother's release. She said the charges were "baseless" and that Briere had become a "negotiating tool" amid tensions between Iran and the West over Iran's nuclear capacity. France is part of a group of countries - along with the United States, Britain, China, Russia, and Germany - that say they are trying to restore a nuclear deal struck with Iran in 2015 but abandoned in 2018 by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Arrests of foreigners in Iran -- especially dual nationals, who are often accused of espionage -- have multiplied since Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States from the agreement and reimposed harsh sanctions against Tehran. Tehran insists its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes. But suspicions remain in other countries, including France, that Iran is secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons. With reporting by AFP, Reuters, AP, and BBC China Harbour Engineering Corporation gets contract for linking Athurugiriya interchange and New Kelani Bridge By Damith Wickremasekara View(s): View(s): The Government is to build the elevated expressway linking the Athurugiriya interchange and the New Kelani Bridge as the first foreign direct investment project in expressway construction in the country, Cabinet was told this week. M/S China Harbour Engineering Corporation (CHEC), which already has a large project portfolio in Sri Lanka, won the contract with Cabinet approval being granted. A senior Highways Ministry official said this arrangement, also called the availability model, was the best option, instead of applying for Asian Development Bank or World Bank funding as these would take longer to negotiate. The four-lane elevated highway will be on the basis of design, build, finance, operate and transfer. The investment is USD 800mn (Rs 158bn at prevailing rates) and covers 17 km from Athurugiriya to Orugodawatta, the official said. It is a total of 32 km when interchange roads are considered. The interchanges will be at Aturugiriya, Koswatte, Rajagiriya and Orugodawatta. Bids comprising financial and technical proposals were invited in May last year. While six parties collected the documents, two submitted bids, but one was rejected as there was no bid security, authoritative sources said. This left CHEC the sole responsive bidder. When finalising technical and financial matters, the RDA retained M/S PricewaterhouseCoopers (India) as transaction adviser. It was agreed with CHEC that there will be an 18-year concession period three years construction and 15 years operation and maintenance instead of a 33-year concession period. This is more beneficial to the Government, the Cabinet paper claims. A semi-annual availability payment model was agreed upon. These payments are a means of compensating a private concessionaire for its responsibility to design, construct, operate, and maintain a tolled or non-tolled roadway for a set period of time. They are made by a public project sponsor in this case, the RDA based on particular project milestones or facility performance standards. The average income from the toll fee which is collected by RDA will be about USD 17mn (Rs 3.3bn) semi-annually, the Cabinet paper states. Therefore, the financial burden for the government will be minimised. The project is expected to be completed by end November 2023. Last year the government terminated a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded light railway transit (LRT) project due to come up in the same area. Iranian President Hassan Rohani has dismissed the head of the country's central bank, Abdolnaser Hemmatti, because he is running as a candidate for president in an election in June. Reuters quotes Hemmatti as saying during a meeting late on May 29 via the Clubhouse social media app that Rohani told him: "If you stand in the election, you cannot remain the central bank chief because it affects monetary and exchange rate policies." Hemmatti said he told Rohani that he "had no problem with his decision." Meanwhile, Iranian state media outlets say the deputy chief of the Budget and Planning Organization, Hamid Pourmohammadi denied reports on May 30 that he has replaced Hemmati as the central bank governor. Hemmatti is one of seven candidates approved recently by Iran's hard-line Guardians Council to run in the June 18 presidential election. Rohani himself cannot seek reelection after having served two consecutive four-year terms. Based on reporting by Reuters, Fars, Tasnim, and Iranian state TV PRAGUE -- Russia is facing a cut in staffing at its diplomatic missions in the Czech Republic so severe that it will likely deal an irreversible -- although not fatal -- blow to Kremlin espionage efforts in the country. The development comes amid the worst diplomatic row between the two former communist countries in decades, and centers on the Russian Embassy in Prague -- long suspected of being a nest of spies -- and consulates in the cities of Brno and Karlovy Vary. Prague has given Moscow till the end of May to send home most of its diplomatic staff -- orders that came in response to Czech intelligence findings that two agents of Russia's GRU military intelligence agency were responsible for a deadly explosion at an ammunition depot on Czech soil. The pair of agents are the same accused of a nerve agent poisoning in Britain in 2018 that sent a Russian double agent and his daughter to the hospital, and killed a British woman. By far the biggest foreign mission in the Czech Republic, the Russian Embassy in Prague has long been suspected by Czech intelligence of serving as a nerve center for Russian spy activity, not only targeting the Czech Republic but also other European locations. The expulsions -- especially the second round numbering 63 -- have dealt a "powerful blow" to Russian espionage activity not just in the Czech Republic but elsewhere in Europe, explained Aleksandr Morozov, a Russian journalist and researcher with the Boris Nemtsov Academic Center at Charles University in Prague. "Moscow was not expecting the Czech Republic to carry out a further round of expulsions. The Russian hub in Prague was practically destroyed as a result," Morozov told RFE/RL. "It will take years to create such an intelligence hub under diplomatic cover in any other European country, because it took many years in the Czech Republic as well. This is a big loss for Moscow. Such activity cannot be simply taken and transferred to another country." Russia is likely to respond to the expulsions with an increase of hostile activity targeting the Czech Republic, security analysts say. "Even before this incident, Russian intelligence services in Central Europe, including in the Czech Republic, were very active trying to restore lost Russian influence, break Euro-Atlantic ties, and sow doubt over the Czech Republic's foreign policy within the Euro-Atlantic bloc. These activities will continue to escalate given this new impetus, including more cyberattacks by Russian state and nonstate actors," predicted Jan Padourek, a former deputy director of Czech counterintelligence. Government institutions, the armed forces, and firms in the energy and industrial sectors could be targeted by cyberattacks, the National Cyber and Information Security Agency (NUKIB) warned on April 20, given the "current situation on the domestic and international front." Tit-For-Tat Expulsions The row erupted on April 17 when Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis announced the findings of the Czech Security Intelligence Service (BIS) and the National Center for Combating Organized Crime (NCOZ) on the 2014 explosion of the arms depot in Vrbetice, an incident that many Czech politicians and commentators declared an "act of state terrorism." Czech intelligence concluded the same two GRU agents accused of the March 2018 poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury were also behind the Vrbetice blasts in October and December 2014. Czech intelligence found that the two main suspects in the Salisbury incident -- Russian GRU operatives identified by an open-source investigative organization as Aleksandr Mishkin and Anatoly Chepiga --were operating in the Czech Republic and had booked a visit to the Vrbetice ammunition depot under false identities just days before the first explosion. According to Bellingcat, at least six operatives from the infamous GRU unit 29155 were directly involved in the plot that it said was supervised on the ground by their commander, General Andrei Averyanov, underscoring the importance of the plot to the Kremlin. Weapons in the depot were being stored for Bulgarian arms trader Emilian Gebrev, who had already survived two poisoning attempts that Bulgarian investigators linked to GRU unit 29155. Russia has denied the Czech accusations, claiming they were concocted by Washington, and responded to the Czech expulsions by ordering out Czech staff in Moscow and placing the Czech Republic on an official list of "unfriendly" states. The United States is the only other country on the list. The tit-for-tat expulsions meant Russia would have to withdraw 63 diplomats and other staff from Prague, although the Czechs gave the Russians until the end of May to do so, while Russia gave the Czechs one day to pack and leave. Kremlin Shock The Kremlin did not expect the robust reaction from Prague, according to Padourek, triggering outrage in Moscow. "The unprecedented Czech response to Russian terrorism really surprised Moscow. Such a massive reaction to Russian interference is just unheard of for a state the size of the Czech Republic," Padourek told RFE/RL, adding that Moscow has tools beyond the embassy at its disposal. "It would be wrong to think that Russian espionage activity in the Czech Republic will end. Russian intelligence services operate not only from diplomatic missions, but often from other sectors as well: using journalists, businessmen, entrepreneurs, students, representatives of international or Russian organizations with offices in the Czech Republic as cover," Padourek explained, adding that the Russian community in the Czech Republic now numbers some 45,000, tripling in the last decade. The spike in tensions between Moscow and Prague comes with relations on a longer downward trajectory. In 2020 alone, three Prague municipal officials -- including the city's mayor -- were under police protection amid various threats linked to and disputes with Moscow, much of it over the Soviet role in liberating Czechoslovakia during World War II. There was also an alleged poisoning plot involving a Russian diplomat that later proved untrue, and a wave of cyberattacks believed to have originated from Russia that targeted Czech hospitals, the Health Ministry, and other key government targets. According to self-exiled former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Russia's network in the Czech Republic includes "high-ranking Czech government officials" and is part of a wider network in EU states, including in the "inner circle" of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Prague's 'Little Moscow' The Russian Embassy, housed in a grand villa, is situated in the leafy Prague district of Bubenec. Originally owned by Jiri Popper, a Jewish banker whose family fled Czechoslovakia ahead of the Nazis during World War II, the complex was occupied by the Gestapo, and later the Red Army, before Czechoslovak President Edward Benes gifted it to the Soviet Union after the war. In 2008, Lisbeth Popper, the daughter of Jiri Popper, tried unsuccessfully to get it back, including court action and the filing of two complaints with Russia that Moscow ignored. Before the recent tit-for-tat expulsions, 122 people were employed at the embassy, 45 of whom had diplomatic status. The consulates in Karlovy Vary and Brno had a total of 18 employees, eight of whom had diplomatic status, according to Czech media reports. In 2019, BIS director Michal Koudelka said that Moscow, including its embassy in Prague, had financed a network in the Czech Republic established by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) whose aim was to infiltrate targets in the Czech Republic and its allies through attacks on computer network servers. According to the investigative news magazine Respekt, the operation involved Russian nationals and Russians living in the Czech Republic who had acquired Czech passports and were selling malware through two private firms to ordinary customers. Including the embassy complex, Russia owns a total of 32 buildings in Prague, most in the vicinity of the embassy in the Prague 6 district. The area has been dubbed by one Czech investigative journal as Mala Moskva, or Little Moscow. Karlovy Vary, the spa town nestled in the mountains on the western fringes of the Czech Republic, has long been a favorite of Russian tourists and -- as the BIS warned in 1997 -- Russian intelligence services. The BIS said at the time that the Russian intelligence services had purchased a significant amount of real estate in Karlovy Vary. In 2000, Der Spiegel estimated real estate holdings belonging to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) to be worth $30 million. The German magazine grimly noted: "They are a few kilometers from Germany's border and inside NATO territory -- what could be better?" Many not swept up in the diplomatic expulsions will likely remain behind to pursue Kremlin espionage actions, explained Anthony Sam Lichtenstein, a global security analyst and director at Stratfor of RANE. "Russia often employs intelligence officers with nonofficial cover (NOCs) -- who do not have an official cover story to conceal their true identity and do not have diplomatic immunity -- and these officers will remain in-country or be brought in from elsewhere to pick up some of the work being done by those intelligence officers working under official cover who were expelled," Lichtenstein told RFE/RL in e-mailed comments. Despite the increased security risks, especially from further cyberattacks, Padourek said the current "resetting" of relations between Moscow and Prague was long overdue. He mentioned the cutting down of the "oversized Russian diplomatic mission in the Czech Republic," the removal of the Russian state-run company Rosatom from a tender to construct a new nuclear plant in the country, and the halting of efforts to purchase Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine as positives, adding that Russia is far from a strong economic partner, accounting for only some 2 percent of total Czech exports. "The Czech Republic now has a unique opportunity to continue the course, to openly admit that current relations with Russia are not based on common values and the economic cooperation is completely insignificant, globally speaking," Padourek said. "Given that, it is clear that Czech-Russian relations are by no means exceptional and do not deserve special attention." Hollywood actor Steven Seagal, who has Russian citizenship, has joined a pro-Kremlin political party. The A Just Russia party backs almost all Kremlin initiatives and supports President Vladimir Putin but is a rival of the ruling United Russia party. At a ceremony on May 29, Seagal posed for pictures next to one of the party leaders, Russian writer Zakhar Prilepin, who is associated with Russia-backed separatists that are fighting against Ukrainian government forces in eastern Ukraine. Seagal, who has personal ties with Putin, was given Russian citizenship in 2016. The 69-year-old actor has starred in Hollywood action movies such as Above The Law (1988), Hard To Kill (1990), and Under Siege (1992). His films were popular in the Soviet Union and then in Russia and other ex-Soviet republics. One of several Western actors and athletes who have been granted Russian citizenship under Putin, he was appointed by the Foreign Ministry as a special envoy for cultural ties with the United States in 2018. The U.S.-born martial artist has retained his American citizenship. Based on reporting by Reuters and dpa Belarusian opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya hailed the support that has been expressed by people around the world after Belarus diverted a commercial jet to Minsk and arrested a dissident journalist on board. "I am very touched by the support I see in Lithuania and all around the world," Tsikhanouskaya told reporters in Vilnius on May 29 as protests were held in several European capitals as part of a global day of solidarity with the Belarusian opposition. Afterward she expressed her thanks "for the amazing atmosphere today" on Twitter. Tsikhanouskaya called for the protests to mark the first anniversary of the arrest of her husband, Syarhey Tsikhanouski, a popular blogger, who planned to run against authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka in the countrys August 2020 presidential election before he was arrested. Tsikhanouski remains in jail and faces many more years in prison if convicted of the charges against him related to his attempt to participate in the election. In addition to the solidarity protest in Vilnius, demonstrations were held in Kyiv and Warsaw, where the parents of Belarusian journalist Raman Pratasevich, who was forcibly detained together with his girlfriend Sofia Sapega on May 23 after the jet was diverted, spoke. "Im calling on all EU countries and the United States to please help us free Raman and Sofia, as well as everyone else who has been imprisoned," Pratasevich's mother, Natallya, told the crowd of several hundred. "We want to live in a free country, in a country where everyone has the right to express his beliefs," his father, Dzmitry, added. The demonstrators held pictures of Pratasevich and Sapega and waved the red and white flag of the Belarusian opposition. They chanted "Long live Belarus" and held up signs with slogans such as "Help Belarus" and "Freedom for Belarus." Pratasevich, 26, is facing charges of being behind civil disturbances, an offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Members of the Media Freedom Coalition issued a statement on May 29 condemning the forced diversion of the plane and the arrest of Pratasevich. "This unprecedented and shocking action constitutes a full frontal attack on media freedom and has serious implications on the right of freedom of expression and opinion more broadly," the coalition said in a statement posted at the website of the U.S. State Department. It said the action is "all the more troubling when seen in the context of the large-scale campaign to silence independent voices in Belarus." The statement, signed by the governments of 21 countries, said some 400 journalists and workers in the media in Belarus have faced various forms of repression as they reported on the disputed August 9 election. The Media Freedom Coalition also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Pratasevich and other journalists and media workers. Lukashenka's decision to intercept the Ryanair flight and arrest Pratasevich has drawn additional sanctions from the United States and threats of sanctions and more serious actions from the European Union. Most European countries have urged their aircraft to avoid Belarus airspace and banned Belarus carriers from their skies, and the UNs International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has launched an investigation. Lukashenka, who met in the Russian Black Sea resort city of Sochi with Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 28, said the reaction by Western countries to the incident had been an outburst of emotions. Lukashenka was in Sochi for a second day of meetings on May 29. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that Russia was prepared to send the second $500 million tranche of a $1.5 billion loan to Belarus "in the immediate future." With reporting by Reuters and AFP WASHINGTON D.C. -- Walter Barber wasnt killed during the Vietnam War, but exposure to a chemical agent used by the U.S. military ultimately cost him his life. Barber passed away 10 years ago from illnesses caused by Agent Orange -- a chemical herbicide whose side effects continue to cause health problems for veterans of the Vietnam War and sometimes their children and grandchildren. Use of Agent Orange by the U.S. military began in 1962 with Operation Ranch Hand, when the U.S. forces began spraying chemical herbicides and defoliants to kill jungle vegetation and crops in Vietnam. The damage from Barbers exposure lay dormant and undetected for years. Then, in November 2010, he began to feel ill. What appeared to be a common cold soon resulted in a hospital visit, where doctors discovered five different types of cancer they attributed to Agent Orange. He died nine days later at the age of 61. He went so fast that nobody could believe it, said Vickie Barber, his wife of 41 years. He worked on a Thursday, Friday he was in the hospital. It was just boom, boom, boom. The doctor explained to me that (Agent Orange) lays dormant in your system, she added. It happened to a lot of our guys, more than I can even imagine. Barber and fellow Richland County native Larry Albert Bowers were both recently selected to be part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Funds In Memory program. On Oct. 16, the VVMF will host an induction ceremony on the East Knoll of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial where each 2021 honorees name will be read aloud. Both families plan to attend. The program honors Vietnam veterans who did not die while in the service, but died later as a result of their service. Most inductees died from health issues caused by Agent Orange exposure or PTSD. Were happy that hes going to be honored, Vickie said. I put him in the program when a friend told me about it because I could and I think he deserves it. Barber will officially be inducted later this year along with 360 other veterans from across the country, including Bellville native Larry Bowers. Barber enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967 and was sent to Tokyo to work as a medic. He later requested to be sent to Vietnam because he felt he could do more to help wounded soldiers on the ground. While working as a combat medic with the 199th Light Brigade, Barber received the Combat Medical Badge and a Bronze Star Medal. He also received the Army Commendation Medal for Valor for his actions during an intense firefight near Saigon in December 1968. An Army citation stated that with total disregard for his personal safety, Specialist Barber rushed to the side of injured personnel and gave them excellent medical attention until evacuation was possible. Barber served one year in Vietnam and left in June 1969 as an escort for the body of his first cousin Floyd Barber, who was killed in action. He then married Vickie, his high school sweetheart, and finished up his military service stateside in Fort Polk, Louisiana. Most wars when the guys come home, theyre celebrated. But the Vietnam vets were not, she added. They were a bunch of kids. They were just kids when they went. In spite of his commendations, Barber wasnt one to brag about his military service. His son, Mel, said his father would be happy to see his fellow service members recognized. He didnt care about himself. He would have been happy for the other guys, Mel said. Bowers' story began with his enlistment in the U.S. Marine Corps shortly after graduating from Clear Fork High School in 1965. He spent 13 months in Vietnam, where he fought on the ground during the Tet Offensive. Also like Barber, Bowers spent most of his life post-service in good health and unaware of the toll Agent Orange was taking on his body. There were no warning signs, with one exception -- a heart attack at age 43. But in the five years before his death, Bowers battled heart, lung and kidney issues. His doctors at the VA Hospital in Prescott, Arizona attributed his health issues to chemical exposure. He died in 2019 at the age of 72. Im just so proud of his service, said Bowers daughter, Lorice Sherman. I have this grateful heart knowing that he wont be forgotten and that hell be memorialized in this program. It just means everything to me. This story is part of the SoJo Exchange from the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous reporting about responses to social problems. Click here to read the original story. The idea of getting vaccinated had been rolling around in the back of Tyler Morsch's mind for weeks. As a 28-year-old, he didn't feel in any particular danger, but he finally decided he should start looking for a Covid-19 vaccination clinic this week. Then he heard the magic words. "Free beer," he said. Saturday was the first day that Erie County worked with a local microbrewery to host its Shot and a Chaser program, offering individuals who got their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at Resurgence Brewing Company a free pint glass and coupon for the vaccinated person's drink of choice. Under normal circumstances, it would be beyond strange for a brewery to host a vaccination clinic in the shadow of 1,000-gallon fermentation tanks, with a brick wall separating a bustling bar service from health care professionals handling syringes filled with the Moderna vaccine. But these are not normal times. "Given the world we live in right now, it's not so weird," said Ben Kestner, Resurgence Brewing's director of taproom operations. County Executive Mark Poloncarz, who was nursing his own drink in one hand while directing vaccine recipients to open table with the other, was happy to see the county's first Shot and a Chaser effort going so well. Before the vaccinations started at 11 a.m., there was a line out the door. As demand for the Covid-19 vaccine continues to fall, the county is taking a new approach. It's offering free beer. Programs like the Shot and a Chaser program are among the more creative outreach efforts to try and attract individuals who would otherwise not consider vaccination a priority, especially younger adults. New Jersey and Suffolk County have picked up on the idea, offering free drink vouchers at participating breweries for those who agree to get vaccinated. Poloncarz said he's happy to see others pick up the idea. "We're going to do more people today at our first-dose clinics than most of our first-dose clinics in the last week combined," Poloncarz said. "It's been a success. We figured it would be pretty good, but now we're seeing the results." That's not a very high bar, given that many of the county's first-dose clinics have had less than two dozen people show up. At one site, only one person showed up, Poloncarz said. Comparatively, more than 100 people had been vaccinated at Resurgence by mid-afternoon, including some walk-ups and restaurant patrons who decided to get the vaccine at the spur of the moment. Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein, who was also on site to vaccinate individuals, said she walked from table to table earlier in the day to recruit people who hadn't gotten vaccinated yet. At one table, one woman who hadn't been vaccinated agreed to get a shot after everyone else at the table told her she should. "There was a lot of social pressure at her table," she said, "so I was able to vaccinate her." Kestner said some Resurgence employees also agreed to get vaccinated, especially kitchen staff. Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein gives a vaccination to Brian Vaughn at the Resurgence Brewery in Buffalo Saturday, May 8, 2021. County leaders hope the vaccine-for-beer effort will attract younger residents, particularly those in their 20s and 30s who have consistently had the highest rates of positive Covid-19 cases in recent weeks. Morsch, who had picked up his free beer at the bar after getting vaccinated with a friend, said he got the shot for more peace of mind when visiting his family and traveling. But he acknowledged that among younger people, there's a sense of invincibility that makes them slower to seek out the Covid-19 vaccine. "This is the best way to do it," he said. "Bring some fun into it." Since rolling out the program two weeks ago with commitments from Resurgence and Flying Bison, both Buffalo-based breweries, three other county breweries have signed on. Shot and a Chaser vaccine clinics will be offered at Flying Bison on Wednesday, and Saturday at Steelbound Brewery in Springville and the Thin Man Brewery on Chandler Street in Buffalo. The 12 Gates Brewing Company in Amherst will host the program on May 20. Clinic hours vary by location. Plenty of online appointments are available. Walk-ups are also accepted. Health experts say these programs might seem like gimmicks, but if they get several thousand more community residents vaccinated, that's a good thing. They don't expect these types of efforts to be enough to get the region to herd immunity, however. MANSFIELD A new local donut truck, The Roaming Donut, has rolled into Richland County, giving residents a new, updated and adventurous way to explore different flavors of donuts. Katrina and Brenton Burgess, a local married couple, always talked about owning a donut food truck. As traveling enthusiasts, they love visiting donut shops wherever they go. We just wanted to add a little variety to the area and just bring something fun and different, Katrina said. The Burgesss purchased a 1987 Toyota Winnebago in May 2020 while they were in Washington, Oregon. After getting it fixed up and having it towed 2,000 miles to their home in Mansfield, they received help from their friends Dave Strausbaugh and Britni Harp, owners of Frenchie Roast, with putting their food truck together. After helping their friends with their mobile coffee shop, the Burgesss revisited the idea of a donut truck. My wife had said a long time ago that if she could, she would like to have a donut shop, and we didn't think that was possible until we saw how easy it was with [Frenchie Roast], Brenton said. One year later, they brought their donut truck idea to life. Due to the pandemic this past year, food trucks have successfully bloomed. A lot of people weren't able to eat inside, and I think food trucks are just more appealing because it's something that was easy to just go and grab [food], Katrina said. The Burgesss both have jobs outside of their newfound business. Katrina works as a hospice nurse at Southern Care and was full-time until December 2020. Now she is PRN and plans on making the Roaming Donut her full-time job in the summer. Brenton owns his business as a residential contractor. The Roaming Donut will have a different menu each week. Donuts will be made on the truck as customers put in orders for a fresher, richer taste. After its grand opening on May 20, the donut truck has already become a hit. We did a car show at Landoll's Castle And then we did a fundraiser in Crestline, and both of those went well, Katrina said. They kind of helped us ease into it and then our grand opening... We stayed steady and had a lot of people come. The Roaming Donut wont be limited to the Richland County area. Ashland, Crestline, Loudonville and other surrounding counties will also be privy to the new food truck. The Burgesss are also taking on clients as a vendor for events such as graduations and weddings. We kind of want to stay close to our areas and we don't plan on moving or anything and the vehicle we have now, Katrina said. Currently, the Burgesss park nearside the Frenchie Roast twice a week in the mornings to early afternoons. They plan on being open four to five days a week as more people are outside during the summer. Those interested in The Roaming Donuts whereabouts, menu or for catering inquiries can visit their Facebook page. One of the reasons that we wanted to do it is just to bring people together to come out with the other food trucks that are in town and everybody come together and have a place to meet, as a community, Brenton said. Richmond, KY (40475) Today Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. I want to go home, but I have no money and I dont know what I will do By Namini Wijedasa Ukrainian ship captain Gennadiy Gavrylov who was aquitted along with five others over the Avant Garde case questions Sri Lanka's justice system as he looks at a bleak future View(s): View(s): More than five years after being arrested while at the helm of MV Avant Garde, Ukrainian ship captain Gennadiy Gavrylov is free to go home. But he has no job, no money and it will cost thousands of dollars to renew his paperwork at a time when the world is fighting a crippling pandemic. I want to go home, Mr Gavrylov, 54, told the Sunday Times, which also interviewed him in June 2019. But I still dont understand how it is possible to arrest innocent people. I did nothing illegal and this was understood from the first day. When I was in prison, they asked me why only I am inside. But what could I do against what the prosecutor wanted? Mr Gavrylov spent ten months in remand prison. His passport was later returned to him but his bail conditions prevented him from leaving. He petitioned the Supreme Court against his treatment. Finally, on May 21, the Colombo High Court Trial-at-Bar unanimously acquitted Avant Garde Chairman Nissanka Senadhipathi and six othersincluding Mr Gavrylovsaying the floating armoury in the Red Sea maintained by Avant Garde and Rakna Lanka was completely legal. The High Court judgment observes that, merely by virtue of holding a legal contract with a shipping company to captain the MV Avant Garde, Mr Gavrylov was remanded, prevented from returning to his country and had to undergo a heart operation without the presence of his family. The Court said this calls for a reevaluation of the Sri Lankan justice system. This was a good experience for me, said Mr Gavrylov, who speaks heavily-accented English. Now I know what I will do next time. But he showed little amusement about his future. He had hoped to see his aged mother, who was born in 1937 and was paralysed after a stroke. But she died in June last year. He once earned US$8,000 a month as a ships captain. Since 2015, he has survived on a small allowance from a benefactor. I dont have money, he said. I dont know what I will do. My documents must be renewed every five years but they expired while I am here and I dont know how much it will cost now. Usually, its big money. Ukraine is also not in a good situation now. With the pandemic, the economy has gone down. Sri Lankan people are good, Mr Gavrylov said: The country is also very good. But politics, I dont know. I sent many letters to the previous President and Prime Minister but I did not get a reply. Back home, Mr Gavrylov has two adult sons. One is an IT professional, the other is shipping. Gennadiys father was a chief engineer on civil ships. His mother was a teacher. He started his job in 1987. He first worked as a seaman, then motorman, engineer, navigator and ships captain. He climbed the ladder step-by-step. In August 2017, Mr Gavrylov collapsed at the Supreme Court where his fundamental rights petition was being examined. Tests showed he had serious heart ailments. It was a problem that began in prison, he said. Being locked up was a shock to him. He shared his cell with a Bulgarian. I felt very sad, very bad, Mr Gavrylov reflected. It was always closed and we needed permission to go outside. I had to sleep on the floor with a mattress. It was found Mr Gavrylov suffered triple vessel disease. In 2019, he finally had heart surgery after hesitating over the absence of his family. Think how you will feel if you go to another country and they cut you open, he said at the time. Whether you will live or not is a big question. Rocky Mount, NC (27804) Today Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Sachin Jain has been a part of the Indian arm of De Beers that dates back to 2010 when he came on board as Head of Retail. In year 2014 he took over as President of Forevermark and today he is the Managing Director of De Beers, India. His single-minded focus, leadership skills and sharp vision have led to the phenomenal growth and expansion of the brand. Today, Forevermark Diamonds is one of the most trusted brands in the industry. As Managing Director of De Beers India operations, Sachin is responsible for the Forevermark business in the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East GCC business. He is also a very respected and invaluable member of the jewellery trade helping shape the future of the diamond business. Throughout his two-decade career, Sachins steely determination to succeed against all odds, his strong sense of ethics and eternal optimism has held him in good stead in the business of building and establishing global brands in India. Here, in an Interview with Rough&Polished, Sachin Jain sees immense potential for further growth of the Forevermark brand in India. Please walk us through the Forevermark brand and its journey in the Indian industry since its launch in 2011. Also, tell us about the initiatives, expansion programs and growth of the brand over the years for the benefit of our readers. Forevermark is the diamond brand from the De Beers Group that has over a decade of history in the business of diamonds in India. The brand was launched in 2008 to focus on the Asian market and made its debut in India in 2011. It has grown on a massive scale in the last 10 years expanding to over 62 markets across India. We are present in both urban, Tier I metro markets as well as in Tier II/III locations, where we partner with select authorized retailers who share the same brand ethos as us. Indian consumers can buy Forevermark jewelry by walking into any of our partner stores that have a dedicated Forevermark brand corner. Recently, based on extensive market research and consumer feedback that tells us there is an increasing demand for our rare and responsibly sourced diamonds, weve set up nine exclusive Forevermark boutique stores in Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Delhi, Noida and Gurugram. At these stores, a customer can get expert advice on the diamonds they want to buy, they can learn about the diamond grading system, they can choose the carat weight or even find the perfect diamond cut for their piece of jewelry. Weve seen some very interesting shifts in the Indian diamond market since inception and have constantly innovated and come up with new concepts, designs and campaigns for ever-evolving consumers. We currently have 270 doors in India and aim to reach 275 by the end of 2021 along with our retail partners. India is a very important market from a global perspective as well. Any expansion plans on the horizon? What promotional support does Forevermark offer the associates? Are they required to follow Forevermarks protocols to run their business? Currently, we are present across 62 markets in India at present with a total of around 270 doors, which we are looking at expanding shortly. We also retail through our nine exclusive Forevermark boutique stores. We offer 360-degree support, including national and local marketing, visual merchandising, exclusive product design, sales training and retail sales support to all our partners. In terms of designs, do your franchisees decide their styles or Forevermark mandates its designs to be followed? What designs does Forevermark prefer its partners to offer consumers ... contemporary, ethnic or both? Every year, Forevermark launches the Spring/Summer and Autumn / Winter jewelry trends across markets based on market research. The designs or inspirations that come through this research are further conceptualized / curated by our design team in Milan. These trends form the backbone of every jewelry piece our retail partners craft. When customers walk into any of our partner stores in India, they get the best of both our worlds the elegant, intricate designs and craftsmanship that our partner brand brings to the table basis the trends and the natural, rare and responsibly sourced beauty of a Forevermark diamond. In terms of customer preferences for jewelry designs, that varies from market to market. India is a vast and culturally very rich country. Women in South India love traditional, intricate jewellery pieces while in North India we see the preference for large pieces of jewellery. We are also seeing young women being drawn to classic, elegant diamond jewelry designs that are informal, playful and experimental. Women today want jewellery that is versatile and can be worn daily. Keeping this sentiment in mind, we recently launched the Forevermark ICON collection which symbolizes a womans individuality. How effective were the India-specific marketing campaigns initiated in India to popularize the Forevermark brand? Are more campaigns on the anvil now? All Forevermarks India-centric campaigns were launched only after extensive market research and trends on the consumer buying behaviour and, therefore, very successful in reaching out to the customer base that they were targeted at. Through our campaigns over the years via TVCs, outdoor marketing or digital and on-ground consumer connect activities we have seen the buying patterns in our consumers shift towards making more emotional diamond purchases that represent deep meaning in their relationships and lives, whether in celebrating milestones or achievements. Our marketing strategies in India have been very region and consumer-specific and have worked well for the brand. We will continue to explore interesting and innovative marketing strategies for Forevermark in India in the future as well. To name a few India specific were Tribute Collection, Icon Collection, Traditional Setting and Circle of Trust. How does Forevermark work with jewelers to maintain the quality and price of Forevermark brand jewelry? In which other area of business does Forevermark offer support to partners/associates? We choose our partners very carefully. They must have the same brand ethos as us, with the same high standards of quality, precision and workmanship. Once they come on board, we become true partners to all our authorized retailers and assist them in every aspect of the business. We work together to give our customers the best of both our worlds. Forevermark diamonds are some of the most beautiful natural diamonds in the world. The Forevermark Grading Process at the De Beers Group Institute of Diamonds offers consumers an unparalleled reassurance of this diamond. The institutes world-class diamond grading process takes place in one of its global laboratories in Surat, India; Maidenhead, UK; and Antwerp, Belgium. Combining over 130 years of expertise with cutting edge technology, the institute ensures that every polished diamond it grades is natural and untreated, and evaluated according to stringent processes. Only after the diamond has passed through each of these steps does the brand determine whether a diamond is eligible to be inscribed as Forevermark. Under such scrutiny, only less than 1% of the worlds natural diamonds are eligible to become a Forevermark diamond and are then available at the outlets of our trusted retailers. The integrity of this process is ensured by using a black box system where diamonds are distributed in anonymous boxes to gemmologists who impartially assess every diamond according to criteria based on the 4Cs: colour, clarity, cut and carat. The pandemic has impacted the Indian G&J industry and the coming festive season will be challenging. Will the promotional campaigns be increased to help the partner retailers? Despite the challenges thrown at us during the most unpredictable and uncertain 2020, we have kept going at a frenetic pace adapting and adopting new ways of efficiently running our business and reaching out to our consumers. In the January-March quarter of 2021, the company recorded a 30% increase in sales over the same quarter of the previous year, largely due to pent-up demand. The brand is positive that this year, Akshaya Tritiya will be a positive and encouraging festive season as people who were unable to buy gold and diamonds earlier, will loosen their purse strings. Forevermark is a sought-after brand worldwide, but is the demand consistent in India? Since 2011 how is the brand faring in the Indian market which is already crowded with numerous brands? India, the USA and China are Forevermarks largest markets globally. In India, we have shown a consistent upward graph since we launched here. The volume of Forevermark diamonds that we drive through Indian partners is much higher than in other parts of the world. Wrapping up, we know that Gen Z is concerned about human welfare, responsible sourcing, environmental issues etc. But now, the lab-grown diamonds (LGDs) sector is being promoted as a protector of all the above-mentioned concerns. Will De Beers address these issues more effectively going forward? Then I must say that Forevermark is the perfect brand for gen Z! Each Forevermark diamond is natural, beautiful, rare and most importantly, responsibly sourced. What we take from nature, we give back ten-fold through our various initiates and the extensive work we do for the communities we associate with. We are already addressing these issues as we speak. De Beers has announced 12 ambitious sustainability goals for the coming decade that are based around four pillars leading ethical practices across the industry; partnering for thriving communities; protecting the natural world, and accelerating equal opportunity. We aim to include gender parity throughout our workforce in our diamond producing partner countries. We are also working towards becoming carbon neutral within our operations by 2030. Weve also recently extended our global partnership with UN Women for five more years and joined the newly formed HeForShe Alliance. Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough&Polished Marine life devastated by burning ships toxic debris View(s): Authorities are still trying to determine the enormity of the environmental damage caused by the burning MV X-Press Pearl container vessel, with toxic debris from the ship washing up along an increasingly large stretch of coastline and leaving marine life devastated. As of yesterday, debris from the vessel had washed up along the coastline from Marawila in Puttalam to Maggona in Kalutara. Accordingly, debris has now washed up on beaches across four districts in two provinces. The Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) noted that the coastline from Dikovita to Kochchikade had suffered severe environmental damage due to the disaster, while extensive cleanup operations were ongoing at 21 separate beaches. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa led a team of Government Ministers and officials yesterday to tour Wattalas Uswetakeiyawa, which is among the areas hardest hit. He also directed officials to provide relief to thousands of fishermen who had lost their livelihoods due to restrictions on fishing in the aftermath of the disaster. Accordingly, the Rs 5000 allowance that is paid to those who have lost livelihoods owing to travel restrictions imposed to counter the COVID-19 pandemic will also be paid to these fishermen from Wednesday. With an increasing number of dead marine life washing up along beaches in the affected region, fears are rising of an unprecedented environmental catastrophe. However, the authorities now say fears of an even worse disaster brought on by an oil spill from the stricken vessel have receded, at least for the moment. The fire on large parts of the vessel had been brought under control by yesterday. An escalation of the fire on Friday night had those engaged in firefighting operations worried. This had been largely brought under control again by last afternoon, officials said. The authorities are hopeful that much of the oil aboard the vessel had ignited and burned off, but are unsure how much of oil still remains. That could only be determined by an inspection team that will go aboard the vessel after the fire is doused and the vessel is stabilised. Meanwhile, Harbour Police Dhief Inspector Kamal Senanayake said they were unable to record the statements of the 25-member crew of the vessel as they were in quarantine. They are due to be questioned over claims that they knew about a nitric acid leak on the vessel but did not take steps to alert the Sri Lankan authorities until they arrived in Sri Lankan waters and anchored at the outer harbour of the Colombo Port. Only the range of groups tested will give a reading whether caseload is dropping or not By Kumudini Hettiarachchi and Ruqyyaha Deane View(s): View(s): Sri Lanka which is in lockdown needs to keep a close eye on the situation to check whether the number of infections and deaths is coming down. This was the call from public health expert Prof. Kamini Mendis who reiterated that such monitoring should be transparent. There should be clarity on how testing is being carried out to assess whether case numbers are reducing because of the lockdown. To get an accurate reading whether the case-load is coming down, there is a need to know whom we are testing, said this Professor Emeritus of the University of Colombo and Public Health and Malaria Expert formerly of the World Health Organization (WHO). If some of these tests are being carried out on COVID-19 positive people after 14 days to check whether they are free of the infection to be released from treatment centres, this testing will not give us a true picture of the degree of spread, she said, pointing out that then these test results give us no indication of the actual new cases. Prof. Mendis said: The range of categories that need to be tested include people in the community; the patients who walk into hospital OPDs; the contacts of people who become positive; and those who are referred for testing with symptoms of COVID-19. To know whether the COVID-19 infections are coming down, we need to know who exactly is being tested. Then and only then will Sri Lanka know whether the situation is getting better or worse and on which finding, short-term decisions can be made, she said. Making use of full potential of lockdowns Focusing on the lockdown, Prof. Mendis said that keeping a tight rein on peoples movement for four or five days and then releasing it for a day will not serve the purpose, as people flock to shops to buy their stuff. When people are told that the lockdown would be eased on a certain day to get supplies, it is an invitation, naturally, to rush out of their homes. This is the worst thing for a COVID-19 spread. Ideally, we should have the shops selling provisions, vegetables and fruit and also pharmacies open. One person from one house can be allowed to leave their home and buy what they require. This will not lead to crowding and people who are aware of the dangers of the disease will take precautions. As has been proven during the pandemic by the experiences of other countries as well as our own, the transmission of the virus can be effectively controlled through these measures. This is why lockdowns should be used to their fullest potential, she said. She explained that with farmers allowed to cultivate their land so that there is no food shortage, like in earlier lockdowns, we should allow the vegetable and fruit lorries to operate and choonpaan trishaws to sell their bakery products. It is just a logistical and organizational issue that the administrators at ground-level in their own areas can handle with efficiency. Vaccinate the vulnerable to prevent severe disease and death clinician Every day, clinicians battle to save the lives of COVID-19 patients with severe disease in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs).The ICUs are full and the wards are also full, said a clinician, declining to be named in view of the Health Ministry sending out instructions muzzling independent voices from the ground-level.He said that they are still getting a lot of patients with bad pneumonia and even after they survive the acute phase, they are oxygen-dependent for about three weeks. There is also permanent damage to the lungs and in the long-term, these people would need frequent medical treatment like others with respiratory illnesses such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).The clinician says that from among those seeking treatment for severe COVID-19, about 5% have lung complications. So it is vital to prevent patients from going into COVID-19 pneumonia. We are seeing bad COVID-19 induced pneumonia in this third wave, which we did not see in the first and second waves. Therefore, it is critical to vaccinate the most vulnerable people who will get severe disease. They are the elderly and those with co-morbidities, he added. When asked about treatment, this clinician said that a person with mild disease is monitored so that they can respond if that person goes into severe disease. While the monitoring is going on they provide a lot of nutrition, fluids and also Vitamins C and D. However, there is no proven benefit of these vitamins against COVID-19. For those with severe disease, intravenous antibiotics, dexamethasone (a steroid) and blood thinning medications are administered, the doctor said, adding that when necessary they are also given oxygen. Testing strategy needs a change revisions on the table but no action An urgent and immediate change in the testing strategy is essential in view of COVID-19 leaving a trail of infections and deaths across the country, the Sunday Timeslearns.A revised strategy is on the table but action is yet to be taken to implement it. The current need is to identify the positive people quickly through Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) which is speedier and cost-effective for large numbers, rather than RT-PCRs which take a longer time to yield results and are more expensive, it is understood.RAT can detect asymptomatic cases who have high viral loads and as such is effective in breaking the chain of transmission. It costs around Rs. 800 to 1,000 per test kit, sources said.Even though RAT can miss around 20% of cases and RT-PCR tests are more sensitive, not all such RT-PCR positive results indicate an active infection, it is learnt. In addition, the turnaround time for RT-PCR testing is around 2-4 days and the cost is nearly 5-7 times higher than RAT.RT-PCR is not a screening test but a diagnostic tool and in emergency situations as of now, should be used only to confirm when there is a doubt about the RAT result, sources said. They added that the Health Ministry would be able to save a lot of funds while also easing the load on the laboratories if the switch from RAT to RT-PCR is done without delay. Close Curiosity, NASA's Mars rover, has captured photographs of "shining" clouds above the Red Planet. This image was constructed of 21 photos color-corrected, so the scene may be seen as how a human eye would see it. Until NASA's scientists saw earlier-than-expected clouds in 2020, the agency was prepared to take some of them in mid-January 2021. Ice crystals in the clouds reflect the setting sun's light. "If you see a cloud with a shimmery pastel set of colours in it, that's because the cloud particles are all nearly identical in size," Mark Lemmon, an atmospheric scientist with the Space Science Institute in the US, said in NASA's blog. "That's usually happening just after the clouds have formed and have all grown at the same rate," he added. NASA Curiosity Rover Saw Wispy Puffs on Mars According to The Verge, NASA's Curiosity rover described the clouds on Mars as "wispy puffs filled with ice crystals that scattered light from the setting sun, some of them shimmering with color." Clouds are not abundant on the low, arid surface of Mars. However, they typically originate towards the equator during the coldest part of the year. Scientists noted that clouds began to build sooner than expected last year - two years ago in Earth time - and that they were prepared this year. Not only are the photographs beautiful, but they also revealed new insights to NASA's Curiosity team. The early clouds are more elevated than most Martian clouds, which normally hang around 37 miles above the planet's surface and are composed of water ice. NASA said the clouds at a higher altitude are most likely formed of frozen carbon dioxide or dry ice. Curiosity sent both black-and-white and color shots - the black-and-white shots vividly reveal the rippling features of the clouds. However, the color photographs captured by the rover's mast camera and pieced together from several views are quite breathtaking. Twilight clouds, also called "noctilucent" (Latin for "night gleaming") clouds, become brighter as they fill with crystals and then dim when the Sun's position in the sky descends below their altitude. This is just one of the essential indicators scientists use to identify their altitude. Additionally, Curiosity captured photographs of shimmering "mother of pearl" clouds with pastel hues. NASA Curiosity Rover Probably Saw Frozen Carbon Dioxide, Dry Ice on Martian Surface The highest clouds reach 60 km above the surface on Mars. But NASA claimed these "early clouds" were at higher altitudes where it was very cold, indicating they were "possibly frozen carbon dioxide or dry ice." "I always marvel at the colors that show up: reds and greens and blues and purples," Dr. Lemmon said in an ABC Australia report. Dr. Lemmon added it's "really cool" to see brightly-colored objects on Mars. The NASA scientist team is still researching the red planet's cloud patterns. RELATED ARTICLE: Jupiter's Icy Moon Europa 'Glows in the Dark' Due to Radiation, Scientists Say Check out more news and information on Space on Science Times. Private sector to import, refine and distribute fuel Cabinet approves energy ministers proposal; CPC Act to be amended View(s): View(s): The Government has decided to open to the private sector the business of supply, refining and distribution of petroleum products which are at present handled by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). Accordingly, the Government has decided to amend the Petroleum Corporation Act No. 28 of 1961 so that the authority of granting permission for such operations will be entrusted to the minister in charge of energy. The proposal was submitted by Energy Minister Udaya Gammanpila to the cabinet. According to the Cabinet paper, any party selected after following a proper procedure could be given permission to import, refine and distribute petrol, diesel, kerosene, Furnace oil, Petroleum products and alternative fuel. Justifying the amendment, the Cabinet paper said that according to the 1961 Act, the CPC held the monopoly on oil imports, refinery and distribution, but under a 2002 Special Act, the Lankan Indian Oil Corporation was also granted permission. However, since the Act was not effective now, the original Act needed to be amended to grant permission for competitive institutions to take part in import, refining and distribution, the proposal noted. At present, the CPC is working on a proposal to establish a new refinery on a Build Operate and Transfer basis with a capacity of refining 100,000 barrels a day, but according to the Act the CPC does not have permission to enter into a joint venture or invite a competitor. PARIS (AP) Thousands of people, masked and tested for the coronavirus, packed inside a Paris arena for a concert Saturday as part of a public health experiment to prepare France to host big events again. The show at AccorHotels Arena in eastern Paris features 1980s French rock band Indochine and DJ Etienne de Crecy. But the attention was mostly on the concert-goers. The Hostess bakery in Seattle a plant that has operated here for more than seven decades and that is known for treats including Twinkies and Ding Dongs - will close along with two other Hostess bakeries following a nationwide strike by its bakers union. Hostess Brands Inc., based in Irving, Texas, operates 36 bakeries nationwide and has about 18,300 employees. It warned earlier this month that the strike, by about 30 percent of its workforce, could lead to bakery closures. The Seattle factory at 434 Dexter Ave. N. employs 110 people. The Seattle Hostess building was built by another company more than 100 years ago, but the exact date is hard to pin down. The current property record says the building was constructed in 1900. But a 1905 parcel map shows the building wasn't there yet, and an assessment at the state archives indicates it was built years later. Part of the property was sold by the Dexter Horton company in 1906 and by 1916 the site was home to Three Girls Bakery. The building was renovated in 1928, state archive records show. Historic pictures of the Seattle plant known for Twinkies, Ding Dongs and Wonder Bread are shown above. "We deeply regret this decision, but we have repeatedly explained that we will close facilities that are no longer able to produce and deliver products because of a work stoppage - and that we will close the entire company if widespread strikes cripple our business," Hostess Brands CEO Gregory F. Rayburn told The Associated Press. Thousands of members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union went on strike last Friday to protest cuts to wages and benefits under a new contract offer, which the union rejected in September. Union officials say the company stopped contributing to workers' pensions last year. The Hostess company goes back to 1930 in Kansas City, and the Seattle plant was operating at the Dexter location in that decade. By September 2004, Interstate Bakeries ran the company but filed for bankruptcy and it was renamed Hostess Brands Inc. in 2009. Earlier this year, Hostess Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Information from The Associated Press and Seattle Room librarian John LaMont is included in this report. Casey McNerthney can be reached at 206-448-8220 or at caseymcnerthney@seattlepi.com. Follow Casey on Twitter at twitter.com/mcnerthney. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas took a major step Sunday toward becoming the nations largest state where the GOP is making voting harder following the 2020 elections , with the Senate approving a bill that would empower poll watchers, create criminal penalties and add new restrictions on where, when and how to vote. Advocates say the changes would disproportionately affect minorities and people with disabilities. The legislation still has two remaining steps before it becomes the law in Texas: a final vote of approval in the GOP-controlled House that was expected Sunday, which would send the bill to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who is is expected to sign off. America's largest red state already has some of the tightest voting restrictions in the country and is regularly cited by nonpartisan groups as a state where voting is especially difficult. It was one of the few states that did not make it easier to vote by mail during the coronavirus pandemic, instead sending droves of voters to the polls to cast their ballots in-person. Senate approval of the wide-ranging legislation happened at 6 a.m. Sunday, hours after after a final version of the 67-page bill was released from private negotiations on Saturday. Democrats questioned Republicans about the legislation for eight hours in their final attempts to block the changes from becoming law. The timing gives the public little time to review or protest the overhaul during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, and the legislative session ends by law Monday. So what's included in the planned changes and how did they come about? Here are some details: WHAT THE LEGISLATION MEANS FOR VOTERS AND ELECTION OFFICIALS The GOP legislation known as Senate Bill 7 proposes cutting back on early voting, banning drive-thru voting and making it a felony for elected voting officials who send unsolicited mail ballot applications to Texas voters. Harris County which includes Houston, the nation's fourth-largest city, and is a Democratic stronghold introduced drive-thru voting for November's election but courts blocked election officials from sending mail voting applications to all registered voters. Final wording of the legislation also adds a voter ID requirement to mail ballot applications, requiring voters to submit a driver's license or social security number. Early voting on Sundays also could not begin before 1 p.m., which Democrats say would depress turnout among Black churchgoers who cast their ballot after morning worship services in souls to the polls efforts. Additionally, the bill would require people who are helping voters to disclose their relationship to the voter, whether they were paid to help and whether the voter is eligible to receive assistance and could face a state jail felony for violations But partisan poll watchers looking to raise concerns to their political party would have more access and election workers could be charged with a crime if they block a poll watchers view. It is a solution in search of a problem, said Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier, chairwoman of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus. I dont know what they are trying to address. They won the election, I dont know where the voter fraud is occurring. The answer from Republican state Rep. Briscoe Cain, one of the lead authors of the bills: "We dont need to wait for bad things to happen to protect the security of the election. HOW DID THE LEGISLATION GET HERE? Republican lawmakers in Texas are looking to add restrictions similar to those their GOP colleagues in Florida, Georgia and Arizona made into law using former President Donald Trumps unsubstantiated claims of election fraud to justify new rules in the name of election security. (Elections experts say election fraud is exceedingly rare.) In Texas, the GOP has insisted that the changes are needed to restore confidence in the voting process, and not a response to Trumps false assertions. Republicans in Texas continued seeing their margins of victory shrink in November but still won up and down the ballot. Originally, GOP members of each chamber had submitted their own omnibus voting legislation just before the states filing deadline. Sundays combined legislation added 12 additional pages of new restrictions. The latest version also deleted language that would allow election officials to have poll watchers removed if they breach the peace. PROBLEMS WITH TRANSPARENCY The final version of the bill was hashed out behind closed doors by a 10-person, bipartisan committee of lawmakers from both chambers before it was sent back to the full House and Senate for final votes. Known as a conference committee, the panel is majority Republican, so the party that proposed the restrictions remained in control. Voting rights advocates were alarmed that the committee met without making its negotiations public. And some Democratic members of the committee said they had little to no input on the final contents of the bill. ___ Acacia Coronado is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Francis has invited representatives of Lebanons Christian community to the Vatican on July 1 for a day of prayer and reflection about the worrisome situation in the country. Francis announced the encounter during his Sunday noon blessing, saying the aim was to pray together for the gift of peace and stability." He asked for prayers ahead of the meeting and for Lebanon itself so the country can enjoy a more serene future. Lebanon, a Mediterranean nation of 5 million, has the largest percentage of Christians in the Middle East and is the only Arab country with a Christian head of state. Christians make up a third of the population. Lebanon has been enduring an unparalleled financial, economic and political crisis for months, which has been worsened by the coronavirus pandemic. Francis met in April at the Vatican with Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and urged all Lebanese political leaders to urgently commit themselves to the benefit of the nation. Because of political deadlock, the country has been without a government since the Cabinet resigned days after a massive blast at Beiruts port on Aug. 4, killing 211, wounding more than 6,000 and damaging entire neighborhoods. In recent weeks, with foreign currency reserves dwindling at the central bank, Lebanon has been witnessing severe shortage in medicines as well as fuel, with people having to wait in line at gas stations to fill their cars. Electricity cuts last more than 12 hours a day. Cardinal Bechara Rai, head of the Maronite Catholic church that is the largest in Lebanon, has criticized the countrys political class and urged them to quickly form a Cabinet to bring Lebanon out of its crisis. Excuses are not convincing anyone regarding delays in the formation of a government, Rai said last week. It looks like Cabinet formation is in a long vacation. The stalemate is a killing to the country and the people. It must stop. During his meeting with Hariri, Francis reaffirmed his desire to visit Lebanon as soon as conditions permit. The July 1 meeting, presumably, will be an opportunity for the pope to express his solidarity now, given that a visit in the near future isnt possible. According to Lebanons power-sharing system, the president has to be a Maronite Christian and the parliamentary speaker a Shiite Muslim, while the prime minister has to be a Sunni. Parliament and Cabinet seats are equally split between Muslims and Christians. It wasn't immediately clear which representatives of Lebanon's Christian community would be coming to Rome. ___ AP reporter Bassem Mroue contributed from Beirut. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) The chief editor of a popular Internet news site in one of Belarus largest cities was detained and his residence searched amid a crackdown on independent journalists and opponents of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. Police said Sunday they were investigating Hrodna.life editor Aliaksei Shota on suspicion of extremism. The publication focuses on Belarus fifth-largest city Grodno. City police said the website posted information products that were duly recognized as extremist, but did not give details. The website said he was held by police for several hours before being released, and that computer hard drives were taken by police from his home. Shota has collaborated with the countrys most popular internet portal Tut.by, which authorities closed this month after arresting 15 employees. Belarus crackdown escalated a week ago with the arrest of dissident journalist Raman Pratasevich jand his girlfriend who were aboard a commercial flight that was diverted to the Minsk airport because of an alleged bomb threat. The flight was flying over Belarus en route from Athens, Greece, to Vilnius, Lithuania. The move sparked wide denunciation in the West as an act of hijacking and demands for Pratasevich's release. The European Union banned flights from Belarus. Pratasevich is charged with organizing riots, a charge that carries a potential sentence of 15 years. The day after his arrest, authorities released a brief video in which Pratasevich said he was confessing, but observers said the statement appeared to be forced. The Belarusian human rights group Viasna said Sunday that Pratasevich had received a package from his sister but that an unspecified book had been taken from it. Large protests broke out last August after a presidential election that officials said overwhelmingly gave a sixth term in office to Lukashenko, who has consistently repressed opposition since coming to power in 1994. Police detained more than 30,000 people in the course of the protests, which persisted for months. Although protests died down during the winter, authorities have continued strong actions against opposition supporters and independent journalists. ATHENS, Greece (AP) Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Sunday began his trip to Greece with an unofficial visit to the northeastern province of Thrace, where most of Greeces Muslim minority resides. The official part of Cavusoglus trip will take place Monday morning, when he will meet with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He and Dendias will also have an informal dinner later Sunday. Cavusoglu arrived by official plane at the Greek city of Alexandroupolis on Sunday and proceeded to the city of Komotini, where a large part of the Muslim minority resides. In #Greece to meet members of Turkish Minority in #WesternThrace and discuss our bilateral relations, Cavusoglu tweeted. His mention of a Turkish minority is diplomatically sensitive, because Greece recognizes the minority as a religious one, while Turkey refers to it as an ethnic Turkish minority. Greece has tried to promote the ethnic diversity of the minority, highlighting its Roma and Pomak components, in an effort to contain Turkish influence and possible secessionist sentiment. Cavusoglu met with the two Turkish-approved muftis, of the cities of Komotini and Xanthi, whom Greece doesn't recognize, having appointed its own. He also visited the grave of Dr. Sadik Ahmet, who was elected in the Greek parliament in 1989 as the head of the openly pro-Turkish Party of Friendship. Equality and Peace. It was Ahmets election that prompted Greece to change its electoral law to introduce a national vote threshold of 3% for parties to gain parliamentary seats. Cavusoglu also visited Komotinis Bayar Minority Gymnasium and Lyceum, a junior and senior high school named after a former Turkish president. He told media after the school visit that when he meets with Greek officials, he will "bring up the subject of the rights of the Turkish minority in western Thrace. Despite Cavusoglus statements about the minority, both countries expect the visit to be relatively low-key and avoid the tensions generated in Dendias visit to Ankara in April.) The two ministers traded barbs and listed their respective countrys grievances against the other in a rare public exchange of accusations. Greek officials view the visit as preparing a meeting between Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in mid-June, on the sidelines of a NATO summit. The hope is that this summer will be less tense between the two allied but antagonistic neighbors than the previous one, when clashes over delimitation of maritime zones and search for oil and natural gas dominated. Greek and Turkish deputy foreign ministers also held talks this past week on lower-level cooperation issues, such as tourism, the environment and improved transport links between the two countries. ___ Ayse Wieting contributed to this report from Istanbul. LONDON (AP) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has married his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, in a small private ceremony that came at the end of a tumultuous week during which a former top aide said he was unfit for office. The couple wed Saturday at the Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral in front of a small group of friends and family, Johnson's office said Sunday, confirming newspaper reports that were published overnight. Photos taken after the ceremony in the garden of the prime minister's residence showed Symonds in a long white dress and floral headband. Johnson wore a dark suit. The Prime Minister and Ms. Symonds were married yesterday afternoon in a small ceremony at Westminster Cathedral,'' Downing Street said. The couple will celebrate their wedding with family and friends next summer. The couple have reportedly sent save-the-date cards to family and friends for a celebration on July 30, 2022. Under current coronavirus restrictions in England, no more than 30 people can attend a wedding. Johnson, 56, and Symonds, a 33-year-old Conservative Party insider and environmental advocate, announced their engagement in February 2020. Their son, Wilfred, was born in April last year. The marriage is Johnsons third. He has at least five other children from previous relationships. Johnson's previous marriages would not have stopped him from having a Catholic wedding because they didn't take place in the Catholic church, Matt Chinery, an ecclesiastical and canon lawyer, told Times Radio. In the eyes of the Catholic church, Boris Johnson woke up last week as somebody who wasnt married and had never been married and so was free to marry in the cathedral this weekend, he said. Johnson was baptized as a Catholic but he was confirmed as a member of the Church of England as a teenager. The last British prime minister to marry in office was Lord Liverpool in 1822. The wedding followed a difficult political week for Johnson. His former top aide, Dominic Cummings, on Wednesday told lawmakers that Johnson had bungled the governments response to the coronavirus pandemic and said he was unfit for the job. Britain has Europe's highest coronavirus death toll, at over 128,000 people, but it has also produced one of the world's most successful vaccination programs, inoculating 74% of its adults. Daily deaths have plummeted to single digits of late, compared to over 1,800 one day in January. On Friday, a government ethics adviser released his long-awaited findings on the cash for curtains" scandal in which Johnson was criticized for failing to disclose that a wealthy Conservative Party donor had paid for the redecoration of the prime minister's official residence in London. Although Johnson later settled the bill, the inquiry found that Johnson had acted unwisely in carrying out the work without knowing where the money had come from. He was cleared of misconduct. The opposition Labour Party was not giving Johnson any space for a honeymoon, with one Labour lawmaker, Jon Trickett, suggesting that the weekend wedding was a good way to bury this weeks bad news. Sri Lanka sinking deeper into murky waters over burning ship By Chris Kamalendran and Sandun Jayawardana View(s): View(s): The local agents of the doomed MV X-Press Pearl this week refused to comment on Government claims that vital information about a nitric acid leak from an on-board container had been withheld from Sri Lankan authorities for at least ten hours after the vessel reached anchorage outside the Colombo Port. A senior official from Sea Consortium Lanka (Pvt) Ltd said all matters related to the disaster will be handled by a team of lawyers based in Sri Lanka and Singapore. On Friday, State Minister of Coast Conservation Nalaka Godahewa said the vessel had called at two portsin Qatar and Indiabefore heading towards Colombo for a scheduled stop. Late notification It was found out much later by Sri Lankan authorities that the ship had requested at each destination to shift a container of nitric acid as it was leaking. Both turned it down citing inadequate facilities. X-Press Pearl reached Sri Lankan waters around midnight on May 19. But it did not inform the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) or the Colombo Port control room of the leak, Dr Godahewa said. The first indication came via email at around 10a.m.ten hours laterrequesting permission to rearrange this container when they berth at Colombo International Container Terminals (CICT) around midnight on May 20. There was no indication of an emergency. And it was at 12 noon that day (official data shows it was at 12.40p.m.), more than twelve hours later, that the crew notified the SLPA of a fire before saying it had been successfully managed onboard. At 2p.m., the vessel asked for help. Despite this omission, Minister Godahewa was evasive when asked why immediate action had not been taken against the local agents or any other party. He said there must be an investigation first and that it could not be done when even the fire wasnt out yet. Harbour Master K. M. Nirmal P. Silva, meanwhile, pointed out that the vessel had declared the presence of dangerous cargo but not the leak. He also said it could not be determined whether the fire was triggered by the leak or some other factor. The ship had gone to the two other ports with the same condition and not faced a problem, he added. It was not immediately clear why he attempted to distance the leak from the disaster that followed. MV X-Press Pearl was a Singapore-flagged container cargo ship and only three months old. It has 322 tons of bunker fuel in tanks and the worst environmental damage will occur if whats left of the ship breaks apart or it sinks, emptying the oil into the sea. Authorities have said they are on alert for this. Debris spreads far and wide The ship contained 1,486 containers with 25 tons of nitric acid, caustic soda solid, sodium methoxide solution, cosmetics, methanol and vinyl acetate, etc. It had 25 crew members on board. Official reports state they had released its carbon dioxide flooding system to extinguish the fire but it was not successful. By yesterday, debris from the burning vessel along with contents of containers washed up along the coastline from Marawila (Puttalam district) to Maggona (Kalutara district) said A Navaratnerajah, Chairman of the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA). This means remains were scattered on the beaches of four districts in two provinces. Oceanswell, a marine conservation research and education organization founded by marine biologist Asha de Vos, published a dispersion model prepared by Charitha Pattiaratchi and Sarath Wijeratne, oceanographers at the University of Western Australia to see where debris and oil will travel between May 25 and 27. In a nutshell, the currents are shifting southward and we can expect to see more accumulation of debris towards Colombo and the South, it said. Oil will likely get washed up north of Colombo. Meanwhile, dead marine animals, including turtles, have started appearing. They are likely to have succumbed to exposure to toxic chemicals from the ship. The coastline from Dickowita to Kochchikade is severely polluted by debris, Dharshani Lahandapura, Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) Chairperson, told the Sunday Times. Cleanup was already going on in 21 beaches. There was serious concern about the impact on marine life, Prof. Navaratnerajah said: We continue to collect samples but it will take time to determine the full extent of damage to beaches and marine life or how long it will take for things to return to normal. The toxic chemicals and cosmetics could have a severe negative effect on the marine food chain, said Deeptha Amarathunga, Senior Scientist at NARA leading the expert team studying the environmental impact. Chemicals mixed with seawater will cause reactions that could alter the pH level of the seawater in the immediate vicinity, Dr Amarathunga said. While larger fish might be able to escape, smaller fish and organisms such as phytoplankton, which provide food for a wide range of smaller sea creatures, will die, he warned. This, in turn, will negatively impact the marine food chain needed to sustain a balanced ecosystem. Meanwhile, the micro-plastics seen in the form of tiny pebbles among the debris, too, will harm marine life We will not be able to remove all of them and they will be in the environment for a very long time, he noted. We have collected water and sediment samples up to Lunawa as of Saturday and will continue to collect samples for testing from other areas where we hear debris has washed ashore, he said. We will also routinely collect samples from affected areas over a month or so and test them continuously to gauge the impact. Since fishing in affected areas is prohibited, Dr Amarathunga said, the public need not fear eating fish. Much of the blaze was doused by Friday but the fire escalated on a part of the ship again that night. It could have been to one of its fuel tanks igniting, said Ms Lahandapura. It is not certain how much oil was burned up and how much is left. To assess this, the fire must be completely out and the ship cooled. Fishermen hit Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa led some ministers and senior officials to Uswetakeiyawa in Wattala for an inspection. On his instructions, the Government yesterday announced that the Rs 5,000 allowance granted to those who lost livelihoods owing to movement restrictions will be extended to fishermen affected by the latest disaster. All day-fishing activities from Panadura to Negombo were banned over fears that fish in these regions were contaminated by chemicals or plastic pellets from the ship. Fishing in the Negombo lagoon is also suspended. The disaster occurred around 9.5 nautical miles (17.5 km) off the Colombo Port. At a press conference, the Government rejected reports it had allowed the ship into Sri Lankan waters despite knowing of a risk. Firefighting efforts were hampered by adverse weather. The harbour master said it was the worst weather he had seen during his 17 years on the job. The crew were evacuated and quarantined. Two were admitted to hospital for injuries while another tested positive for COVID-19. Several explosions onboard reignited fires that were doused, while some containers fell into the sea and sank. The containers predominantly contained chemicals, making it more difficult to control the flames. There was no ban on multi-day fishing trawlers operating in deep seas. Fishermen in parts of the country were also encouraged to continue their work. Meanwhile, the public are urged not to fear eating fish. There is a misconception that it is unsafe to eat fish but those sold recently and currently on sale were caught prior to the incident, said Kanchana Wijesekera, State Fisheries Minister. We have already suspended all fishing activities along the affected stretch of coast. The restrictions will remain until agencies like MEPA and the Coast Conservation Department (CCD) tell us its safe to recommence. Minister Wijesekera said the fishing ban will hit a large number of fishermen who carry out day-fishing in the Negombo lagoon and Gampaha and Colombo districts. About 5,600 day-fishing vessels are affected. The Fisheries Department has identified some 28 professions directly connected to the fisheries sector in these areas. They include producers and sellers of dried fish, transporters and fish vendors. The Minister said the Government hopes to provide financial relief in lieu of lost wages. It has been discussed with the District Secretaries of Colombo and Gampaha as well. Details of affected persons are being collected. Fishermen in the Wattala, Pamunugama, area didnt go out to sea for nearly two weeksfirst owing to inclement weather and then the ship disaster, said Lal Nissanka, President of the United Rural Fishermens Society. All of us are engaged in day-fishing activities, he pointed out. This is the best season for prawns, but we have not been able to reap that harvest. There are over 1,400 fishermen in our society who have not been able to go out to sea. This has had a devastating financial impact on us. Investigations and claims MEPAs Deputy Director-General Jagath Gunasekara lodged a complaint with the Colombo Harbour Police on May 23 in respect of the marine pollution, Police Spokesman Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Ajith Rohana said. The harbour police have started investigations and reported facts to the Colombo Magistrates Court. On judicial orders, samples taken from the sea and debris were sent to the Government Analyst. Ship workers including the captain are still under quarantine therefore police were unable to record statements. However, police will contact the local agent and further action will be taken, DIG Rohana said. Investigations are continuing also to arrest those who collected debris from the vessel on the Negombo beach while ignoring warnings from authorities that they could contain dangerous chemicals. Eight suspects have been taken in while a lorry allegedly used to transport these goods was also confiscated. Separately, MEPA will lodge an interim claim with the X-Press Pearls owners for compensation for damage caused to the marine environment, Ms Lahandapura said. This is because it could take months to accurately calculate the full extent of losses as it was a complicated process. A similar process was followed when the container vessel MT Blue Diamond caught fire off the Eastern coast of Sri Lanka in September last year. Various Government agencies incurred Rs 442 million in cost while investigations proved the actions of the ships captain had also contributed towards the incident. Legal action was instituted against him in the Colombo Magistrates Court leading to a guilty plea and a fine of Rs 12mn. The vessel was allowed to leave once the total payment was deposited with the Finance Ministry. But it took around four months to assess the damage caused by an oil slick from the ship, Ms Lahandapura said. It was only a few weeks ago that the Attorney General forwarded MEPAs assessment to the local insurer of the shipping company. The insurer has informed us that they need time to study our report and we are hopeful of a positive response from them, she reported. The cleanup More than 1000 persons, mainly military, were toiling since Wednesday to clean up debris. Booms were laid at the entrance to the Negombo lagoon to protect marine life in case of an oil spill, MEPA General Manager Terney Pradeep Kumara told the Sunday Times. The biggest concern continues to be the possibility of hundreds of tons of thick bunker oil leaking into the sea. That would compound an already bad disaster. There is currently no danger of the ship breaking and releasing the fuel, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne told media on Friday. The Dutch salvage company hired by the shipowners had sent a 12-person team of firefighting experts to Sri Lanka to assist in the operation. Their equipment arrived the following day, the Commander said. Unfortunately, the weather on both days was severe with wind speeds reaching from 45 to 60 knots at times. This resulted in the fire spreading quickly throughout the vessel. The fire has now been controlled considerably with only the aft portion of the vessel still in flames. There is still smoke coming from other parts of the vessel and flames are sporadically visible as wind speed picks up. The Navy was working together with the salvors to put these out. Sri Lankan authorities requested Indian assistance on May 25 as Indian Coast Guard (ICG) vessels are equipped to prevent any oil spill from spreading, the Vice Admiral stressed. While there is no danger at present of the ship breaking up, we cant say whether how much of the oil on board the vessel has been exhausted and how much still remains, he said. The Indian High Commission noted in a media release on Friday that ICG Ships Vajira, Vaibhav and a Coast Guard Dornier aircraft were currently part of the joint operation. Samudra Prahari, a specialized pollution response vessel, arrived in the area yesterday to augment pollution control efforts. The operations focus has been on preventing the spread of fire towards the vessels bow, thereby protecting anchor, cable chain and associated machinery in highly inclement weather, the release added. There was heavy smoke only near the accommodation/superstructure area in aft portion of the ship. This was being tackled. Overall, the MV X-Press Pearl is currently assessed as being stable and not having issues with watertight integrity, the release said. Sri Lanka Navy Spokesman Captain Indika De Silva said naval vessels along with tugs from the SLPA and specialised tugs hired by the nominated salvor initially fought the fire. An explosion onboard, however, worsened the fire while strong winds further fanned the flames. Indian assistance was therefore sought as the next phase of the contingency plan with authorities is preparing for a possible oil spill. More than 12 years before he shot and killed nine of his coworkers at the Valley Transportation Authority, Samuel James Cassidy was an emotionally volatile person with a penchant for abusive behavior, according to an ex-girlfriend who filed a restraining order against him in March 2009. In an interview, the woman, who The Chronicle is not naming because she is an alleged victim of sexual assault, said she and Cassidy met on Match.com in early 2008 and dated seriously for about six months. Two months into their relationship, she said, Cassidy proposed. She declined. Thats when she said Cassidys behavior turned both verbally and physically abusive. She recalled one specific incident where he raped her while he was drunk, but acknowledged that her memory of the relationship had faded over the years. He was mentally unstable, up and down, she said. Sometimes he was a nice gentleman, sometime(s) hed get really angry about some small tiny thing. While police found 22,000 rounds of ammunition and 12 guns at Cassidys home after the shooting, the woman didnt recall him as having an obsession with guns in 2008: I didnt ask him. ... He didnt mention about that. On the day of the shooting, Cassidy was scheduled for a hearing at work for allegedly making racist remarks to his coworkers. The woman said she did not remember him as racist. Im Chinese, and he dated me, she said. His ex-wife was ... Hispanic. However, the woman did remember Cassidy complaining fairly often about his job particularly about having to wake up early in the morning to get to work, and about dealing with coworkers he felt were mean to him. Cassidys ex-wife told The Chronicle that he also complained about his job. Im a Christian. I go to church, Cassidys ex-girlfriend said. I told him, nobodys perfect, right? I say, you know what, if people dont like you, ignore them. Just ignore them. Dont pay too much attention. That helped him. Even so, Cassidys temper continued to flare, and by the end of the year, the woman said, the pair had broken up. The woman said she once called police on Cassidy after their break-up, when she found him stealing her television and VCR player out of her home. I really cared about him. I didnt want to make him in trouble, she said. She said he also once stole her car for a month, returning it only after the cars front bumper had broken. In March 2009, Cassidy and the woman filed restraining orders against each other. In a sworn declaration filed with Cassidys restraining order, the woman said the relationship ended when she refused to have anal sex with Cassidy that February. Her declaration also detailed a broader pattern of sexual assault. Twelve years later, the womans memory of the relationships timeline differs by a few months from her sworn declaration. Minor discrepancies are common in memories of sexual assault survivors, according to research. Amy Hardy, a psychology researcher at Kings College London, has found that people recall traumatic events like sexual assault differently from non-traumatic ones, with their memories of the former often more fragmented and occasionally contradictory, particularly around events peripheral details. However, victims generally recall the strongest, most central details of their traumatic experiences accurately, according to Jim Hopper, a teaching associate at Harvard Medical School and expert on psychological trauma. Regardless of the relationships exact end date, the woman said she hadnt heard from Cassidy since they filed their restraining orders. I moved forward, she said. Enjoyed my life. The woman expressed grief for Cassidys victims, and shock that he could have killed so many people. But he got a temper, I know he got a hot temper, she said. Really hot. Susie Neilson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: susie.neilson@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @susieneilson A year ago, two men met by chance in San Franciscos quiet Glen Park neighborhood an encounter that within minutes destroyed both of their lives. Its been a year of anguish for countless relatives and community members. And for San Francisco, a year of failing to learn the lessons of that Memorial Day morning. At about 8:20 a.m., 94-year-old Leo Hainzl, took what would be his last walk with his dog, Rip, to Glen Canyon. He crossed paths with a man whod slept on the streets of the neighborhood for years and had often menaced passersby through a fog of mental illness. Police said Peter Rocha, now 54, attacked Hainzl with a stick, causing him to fall, hit his head and die within hours at a hospital. A year later, Rocha apparently remains in that fog. He languishes today in a County Jail cell, trapped in an all-too-common purgatory. A judge said hes too mentally ill to stand trial, ordering him in December to a locked state psychiatric hospital for compelled treatment that could make him well enough to face a judge and jury. But Californias psychiatric hospitals have no available beds. And so Rocha waits behind bars, where medication is optional. Incredibly, hes on a waiting list of 1,523 people all of them incarcerated and in the same situation. Then theres this: If a state hospital eventually restores Rochas competency, he will be sent back to County Jail, where hes free to refuse treatment. The harm compounds, and no one benefits. The longer the wait drags on, the weaker the case against Rocha may get. Witnesses memories fade or they move or die. Reaching a resolution in the case becomes less possible with each passing month, and hope for Rochas recovery fades, too. We as a family are infuriated, said Ramiro Rocha, Peters younger brother by two years. He and their mother live out of state and havent received a phone call from Peter in months. Hes in a psychotic state right now, Ramiro Rocha continued. He needs medication. Im certain hes not taking it. If he was in a mental health facility, theyd make sure he gets the proper medication that he deserves. Leo Hainzl deserved so much better. So did Peter Rocha. Their encounter in Glen Canyon was a tragedy officials should have seen coming and should have tried far harder to prevent. Rocha became homeless in 2004 and slept for years in Glen Park, often in a planter box outside St. John Catholic School on Chenery Street. He carried crutches slung over his shoulder that he waved at strangers. When Rocha threatened his neighbors, police would respond. Theyd offer help. Hed decline. And theyd leave. Again and again and again. That is, until May 25, 2020, when police booked him into jail and city prosecutors soon charged him with murder, assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse. And there hes sat ever since, a symbol of our supposedly progressive city and state and their profound failures to address twin homelessness and mental health crises. Rochas plunge into despair in Glen Park belied a happy childhood in the Outer Mission, his brother said. Their mother was a nurse, their father a graphic artist whose jelly-bean mosaics of celebrities such as Elvis and Queen Elizabeth were so good that the Jelly Belly factory in Fairfield displayed them and sent him on trips around the world to promote them. The Rochas divorced when Peter was in his early teens, and his father died of Lou Gehrigs disease in 2012. Peter was your all-American kid, his brother said, popular with girls and a good student. He served in the Marine Corps for four years after graduating from Jefferson High in Daly City. After his military service, he took up jujitsu and opened a studio in Berkeley. His brother and mother moved to Phoenix in 1994, keeping in touch with Rocha mostly via phone calls, even as some of them became strange and alarming. Rocha would ask his brother whether certain events had really happened and seemed to question his own memory and perception. He said, Im trying to figure this out. I think Im losing my fing mind, his brother recalled. He knew things were slipping, and he didnt know what to do about it. Rocha bounced between apartments. He told his family hed repeatedly sought help for his mental illness, including at a veterans hospital, only to run into roadblocks. His brother isnt sure whether he was ever officially diagnosed or prescribed medication. Before the Glen Canyon encounter, Rocha had no criminal record. Eventually, he became homeless. He no longer had a phone. His brother and mother would go years without hearing from him. They felt helpless. Under the states strict privacy laws, they had no right to see his medical records or find out if he was receiving care. Ramiro Rocha said his mother would tell him to go to San Francisco and save his brother. Shed encourage me to go, saying, Youve got to go find him, he said. Hypothetically, what if I found him? Now what do I do with him? Do I handcuff him? No, I could be arrested. Im not a professional, he continued. Theres nothing I can do. So they stayed in touch via phone as much as they could. And continued to listen to Peter describe the visions in his fraying mind. Including that nasty, nasty large dogs in the neighborhood were out to attack him. If Peter Rocha was a fixture of Glen Park, Leo Hainzl was, too. Hed lived in the same brown house on Sussex Street since 1967, growing tomatoes under his front steps and owning a succession of dogs that he walked for at least 6 miles every day, often in the canyon. Hainzl was born in Austria. During World War II, he became a displaced person, sent to a resettlement camp in Germany, according to the Glen Park Association. In 1953, he moved to Melbourne, Australia, to work as a farmer before immigrating to San Francisco seven years later. He had two brief marriages, and neighbors dont think he had any children. He worked as a welder and ran a construction company before retiring, still keeping a garage full of tools. He was youthful and gregarious even in his 90s, often spotted hanging off ladders or climbing on his roof, fixing his home. Neighbor Simon Rowe said Hainzl was always in top form when Rowes 80-year-old mother came to visit, lighting up when shed walk by. He hadnt lost his spark for lively conversation, Rowe laughed. He always had a twinkle in his eye. We should all be so lucky to be so engaged and vital at that ripe old age. Hainzl read every word of the Economist each week, underlining the parts that interested him as he sat on his front porch with his dog. He built a metal holder next to his reading spot for his beloved cans of Red Bull. At the end of his life, I swear he only drank Red Bull and ate only steak, said his next-door neighbor, Caitlin Steele, whose family bought Hainzls house and is remodeling it. They plan to move in this summer. Rip was taken in by another family with kids. A large memorial service for Hainzl wasnt possible, a result of the dawning pandemic, but about a dozen neighbors gathered in front of his house a few weeks after his death to share stories. Hainzls killing also prompted neighborhood conversations about why police and other city officials did so little to address their repeated reports about Rocha. Shawn Zovod called 911 five months before Rocha allegedly killed Hainzl. She, too, was walking in the canyon when Rocha approached, complaining about dogs like the one she was walking. She said Rocha told her she needed a beating and said, I should be the one to do it. By the time police arrived, Rocha had wandered off. Officers told her they knew Rocha and that he had declined offers of services. Zovod said Rocha threatened other neighbors with dogs, including an 89-year-old woman. She alerted Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who added Rocha to his list of the people in District Eight who most need mental health care. The aim of the list is to spur the city to intervene with aid, but it doesnt seem to be working. A year ago, 22 people were on the list. Now, there are 28. Few seem to get off the list, unless they die. A central problem is that the city and state dont have enough early intervention programs and treatment available for mentally ill people who know they need help. Authorities are also reluctant to compel people like Rocha into treatment, even if they deteriorate so much that they no longer realize theyre sick. Under the states legal standard, people can be held involuntarily for treatment if they are deemed a danger to themselves or others or are gravely disabled. The argument against compelling treatment is protecting peoples civil liberties, but to some of Rochas neighbors, leaving him to sleep in a planter box and threaten neighbors over apparent hallucinations seemed cruel and risky. Often, only a tragedy can move the government to compel people with profound mental illness into sustained treatment that may remove the fog. But even in these extreme cases, we lack the hospital beds. Its the most dystopian version of progressive politics, Mandelman said. Were all about civil liberties, but we dont make the investments in basic services for sick people. We have this entirely negative version of liberty, about being free from things. But your freedom to live a decent life with dignity? We apparently dont care about that at all. When a private mental health hospital with 117 acute psychiatric beds opens in Sacramento next month, it will be the first new psychiatric hospital in the state in 30 years, said Sheree Lowe, vice president of behavioral health for the California Hospital Association. Twenty-five counties have no inpatient psychiatric services at all, she said. This all stems from Californias decision decades ago to close many psychiatric hospitals that were viewed as inhumane and move care into the community. But the state failed on that second promise. If we as a state put more of our time and energy and resources into prevention and early intervention, we may not have this backlog of people who are being criminalized because theyre sick, Lowe said. We dont criminalize anybody because they have diabetes or congestive heart failure, but we seem to want to do it for people who have a brain illness. Alex Barnard, an assistant professor of sociology at New York University, has studied Californias laws and describes them as abandoning people into autonomy. The reality of the state of California right now, he said, is there are a lot of people who have been so repeatedly failed by the social service system and the mental health system that they do need a higher level of care that isnt available to them. When COVID-19 struck, San Francisco Mayor London Breed immediately asked the state and federal governments for 5,000 more hospital beds. The mental health emergency requires some of this same urgency. It also demands that the city add more street crisis teams to help people like Rocha instead of relying on police, who are ill-equipped to handle such cases. And we need more places for the teams to take people like a round-the-clock crisis facility in Tucson staffed by medical professionals offering a range of services from a living-room-style hangout area to inpatient treatment beds. Arizona doesnt have the same sort of focus on dangerousness in their treatment standard. Theyve made it much more medically based, said John Snook, executive director of the Treatment Advocacy Center, a national organization pushing for better mental health care. There isnt that artificial barrier of, Oh, theres nothing we can do until that persons dangerous, which has been used as an excuse for avoiding care in California. Its important to note that the vast majority of mentally ill people will never be violent. But in some cases, compelling treatment can keep people from deteriorating to the point they are dangerous to themselves or others. Thats surely a more compassionate answer than waiting for a crime and then jailing them indefinitely with no care. If youre talking about someone whose psychosis was so severe that they acted out in such a violent way and then theyre sitting in a jail cell possibly without treatment, its hard to imagine a more awful scenario, Snook said. Its a nightmare. So how will this nightmare end? A spokesperson for the states psychiatric hospitals declined to say how long people declared incompetent to stand trial are typically on the waiting list for care. But Rochas attorney in the city Public Defenders Office, Will Helvestine, said the states current estimate for Rocha receiving a hospital bed is August. Thats six months after a deadline set by a San Francisco judge. Weve lost months and months of potentially valuable treatment time, and were no closer than we were last summer to getting Peter the treatment he needs, Helvestine said. The lawyer said hes grateful to Glen Park neighbors whove reached out to ask about Rochas well-being. The community seems to understand, he said, that while Mr. Hainzls death was undoubtedly a tragedy, the inability or unwillingness of the state to properly treat Peter is a tragedy in its own right. Ramiro Rocha said he was shocked to learn so many people like his brother are waiting for a hospital bed. He believes both Hainzl and his brother are victims of a broken system. This was 100% preventable, he said. I dont know what its going to take for citizens to stand up and say, Enough is enough. These people need help. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf Instagram: @heatherknightsf Growing up in a Black family that lived in the South, I heard stories about Tulsas Greenwood district, which was known as the Black Wall Street. This week marks the 100-year anniversary of the districts destruction in the Tulsa Race Massacre one of Americas worst incidents of racial terrorism. Over two days, a white mob indiscriminately shot Black people in the street and used airplanes to drop dynamite on Greenwood buildings. An estimated 300 people were killed, 1,200 homes were burned and at least 60 businesses, including a school and hospital, were turned to rubble, according to a 2001 report by an Oklahoma commission. My grandfather talked about Greenwood like it was Americas first Black utopia. Ten thousand people lived within 35 square blocks lined with countless Black-owned businesses. My grandmother said the Black Wall Street, by its very existence, was an act of defiance against race-based social and economic barriers of the time. When I moved to the Bay Area as an adult, older Black folks talked to me with similar reverence about San Franciscos Fillmore district and West Oaklands Seventh Street in the 1940s. They were the Bay Areas versions of Black Wall Street areas with thriving, self-sufficient Black economies but which only existed for brief periods due to racist federal policies that pushed out Black residents. Socioeconomic inequality has since kept us away. As America turns its gaze toward the lost Black Wall Street of Tulsa, Im wondering when, if ever, we will see another version in our own backyard. Political leaders have been having the same conversation about rebuilding the regions Black economy for more than a decade. Yet, its been 70 years since places like the Fillmore and Seventh Street truly thrived. During World War II, high-paying shipyard jobs brought thousands of Black people to San Francisco and Oakland. As The Chronicle reported, between 1940 and 1945, Oaklands black population soared from 8,462 to 21,770, and San Franciscos from fewer than 5,000 to 32,000. Black San Franciscans built their cultural center in the citys Fillmore District. The area came to be known as the Harlem of the West. A similar expression of Black economic success transpired along Seventh Street in West Oakland as Black residents opened bars and nightclubs. Both neighborhoods crumbled not long after the passage of the 1949 Housing Act, which facilitated the destruction of poorer neighborhoods in the name of redevelopment. Between 1970 and 2019, the Black populations in both San Francisco and Oakland declined by about 50%, according to U.S. census data. The numbers continue to drop. The prospects of a future Black Wall Street revival worsened during the pandemic. From February to April 2020, 41% of Black-owned businesses in the U.S. permanently closed, compared with 17% of white-owned businesses, according to research from UC Santa Cruz. Businesses in majority Black neighborhoods in the Bay Area have also been less likely to receive money from last years Paycheck Protection Program than their white counterparts, according to a Chronicle review of PPP data that relied on analysis from nonprofit news organization Reveal. Michael Carter of the Oakland organization Black Wall Street Movement USA sees a recurring theme throughout history: Whenever Black people overcome entrenched barriers to create economically successful communities, he says, outside forces work to tear them down. These types of communities come in waves. The obvious reason is because white folks had a head start. Black folks built the country and white folks benefited from it, Carter told me. Any sign that (Tulsas Black Wall Street) is being replicated is then systematically disrupted. However, at the root of why those communities come together is for survival. I witnessed this sense of survival and solidarity after last years George Floyd protests, as Black-led organizations worked to stimulate Black economic growth. In September, Oakland City Council Member Loren Taylor established Eastside Oakland Ventures. The business incubator helps East Oakland entrepreneurs who have little economic or social capital. Oaklands Black Cultural Zone, a nonprofit promoting Black culture and local businesses in East Oakland, opened the Akoma Outdoor Market around the same time. The market hosts local Black food vendors and retail businesses. Also in 2020, across the Bay Bridge in San Francisco, a group of native residents created SF Black Wall Street. The name was inspired by Tulsas Black Wall Street. Earlier this month, it was one of 17 organizations to receive some of the $3.75 million that Mayor London Breed redirected from the citys police budget to organizations supporting Black businesses and entrepreneurs. We read these things asking where are the Black people in San Francisco and thats offensive because we are still here, co-founder Tiffany Carter told me. Theres Black history and Black culture in San Francisco, but its our mission to reclaim it. Tulsas Black Wall Street gave us a blueprint for self-sustainability a century ago. A similar community here can only work if we, as Black folks, are fully supporting ourselves socially, financially and emotionally. Buying from Black-owned businesses cant just be an option for us; it has to be a requirement. We must show more support to entrepreneurs at places like the Akoma Outdoor Market. If our friends have ideas for a business, we need to do a better job of directing them to organizations like Eastside Oakland Ventures. I was trying to find a way to describe this accountability to Carter. He told me the word for it was spirit. Its not about the individual. Its about the spirit that tells us to say, I will not let my community disappear, he said. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Justin Phillips appears Sundays. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips Can California regions regulate groundwater without destroying their businesses and communities? Thats the question being posed as regions and localities implement the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), the historic 2014 state law that brought regulation to Californias diminishing groundwater supplies. Groundwater is the water buried in aquifers, the underground spaces between rocks, soils, and sand. Layers of aquifers are called groundwater basins. California has hundreds of them, and we could not live without them. Also, 85% of Californians depend on groundwater, which constitutes roughly 40% of Californias water supply (and 46% in drought). SGMA was designed to protect the most overdrawn groundwater basins, often in rural regions, by requiring plans to balance the amounts of water being pumped from, and recharged into, aquifers by 2040. Complying with the law and achieving sustainability is expected to dramatically change the California landscape over the next decade. Two decades from now, state residents and businesses will have to use considerably less groundwater, agricultural land will have to go out of production, and local ecosystems will have to be restored. SGMA tried to cushion disruptions from its changes by giving local agencies new power and broad discretion to form and elect a new species of local government called Groundwater Sustainability Agencies, or groundwater authorities for short. The idea was to encourage democratic collaboration in the making of groundwater sustainability plans thus avoiding the fights that have long plagued water policy in California. These groundwater authorities, having been created by local communities themselves, would be more inclined to listen to all stakeholders and to develop plans that would minimize local pain. But the Indian Wells Valley Groundwater Authority covering 11,000 square miles in the western Mojave, including parts of Kern, Inyo and San Bernardino counties, which sit above a very large pool of groundwater has disdained conciliation with an alarming ferocity. Last year, it approved a groundwater plan so politically incendiary that it might have shocked Thomas Hobbes, the philosopher who saw human life as a war of all against all. If the plan survives multiple legal challenges, it could bring a swift end to agricultural production in an important region for pistachios, force the closure of the valleys oldest business, and cut off water to the unincorporated rural community of Trona (pop. 1,900). At the heart of this conflict in Californias inland desert is, ironically, the United States Navy. The Indian Wells Valley is home to the Navys largest single landholding in the world, the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, covering 1.1 million acres, an area larger than the state of Rhode Island. Ridgecrest, the biggest city in the valley, is a military town, owing its economy and its relatively high education levels to the presence of this installation devoted to the research, development, acquisition and testing of weapons systems. Local officials, led by former China Lake commander and Kern County supervisor Mick Gleason, have fought for decades to grow and protect the Navy base. To make sure that SGMA wouldnt affect Navy water, they moved quickly to set up an authority in the Ridgecrest city hall that they controlled, and that largely excluded major water pumpers in industry and agriculture from the body. In the process, the authority produced a plan for valley groundwater that is bizarrely one-sided, even for the crazy world of California water. Rather than phasing in changes over the next two decades, as the law anticipates, the authority plan immediately imposes enormous pain through fees greater than $2,100 per acre foot of water so high that they represent an effective ban on agriculture or water-needy industry in the valley. Mojave Pistachios, a major nut producer there, says the fees would force it to abandon a $35 million investment in trees made in 2011, before SGMA. Searles Valley Minerals, a going concern since 1873, says its water bills would increase by 7,000%, forcing immediate closure and the loss of hundreds of jobs. Even stranger is the plans justification for such high fees, which could take this water war statewide: a need to pay for major infrastructure to import new water into the Mojave. Such a project is quite literally a pipe dream, since it would mean taking water that now goes to the Central Valley or Los Angeles, regions with more power than the Indian Wells Valley. This ill-considered plan has already backfired. Pistachio growers and Searles refused to pay the fees and instead filed expensive lawsuits that could reduce the groundwater authoritys power and budget. The mineral company even launched a public campaign against the groundwater authority, with backing from residents and businesses of Trona, whose water supply is also at risk under the plan. Searles campaign highlights the fact that it is the only U.S.-based company to produce a critical ingredient for the pharmaceutical glass used in COVID-19 vaccine vials. The controversy has drawn the attention of politicians far beyond the desert, in Sacramento and in Congress. And that, in turn, has brought wider scrutiny to, and created water risks for, the massive Naval base, which the groundwater plan was designed to protect. Searles, in legal documents, has attacked the Navy, claiming that its water rights are senior to that of the base. The good news is that compromise seems possible. While there are disputes over the models of how much water is being overdrafted now, both sides agree that there is enough groundwater in the basin to last hundreds of years. The pistachio growers have proposed alternatives that would raise fees and reduce their water usage to the authoritys preferred target, but over the two-decade period set up by the law. If a deal cant be done, the state should step in, put the current plan on hold and push the authority to renegotiate. Unfortunately, state leadership, when it comes to managing water and water infrastructure, is rarer than rain these days. And there are already signs of local conflict and litigation threats at other authorities. So, now would be a good time for the state legislature to send a message by beefing up oversight in SGMA. For starters, the state should provide more technical and financial support for the inexperienced local people designing these plans. California should also require that all stakeholders in a basin have real representation on the boards of groundwater authorities. California water planning is enough of a battle already, without folks in the high desert igniting a water war. Joe Mathews writes for Zocalo Public Square, a Los Angeles media nonprofit affiliated with Arizona State University. A bill passed by Assembly Democrats last week would give California voters the questionable privilege of voting twice to fill the same U.S. Senate seat on the same election day in November 2022 one a standard vote for the next six-year term, the other a technical contrivance to fill the few months remaining in the current term, which expires in January 2023. How did the states ruling Democrats come to the brink of foisting this hokey stopgap on the electorate? By doing their utmost to prevent voters from deciding the fate of a powerful and ostensibly elective office. The 17th Amendment, which instituted the popular election of senators more than a century ago, also prescribes an election to fill any vacated Senate seat. It further allows governors, with state legislators permission, to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election. Politicians in California and other states have taken liberties with this undemocratic artifact, allowing governors to anoint unelected senators for long periods instead of following the spirit of the amendment by letting voters have their say. Gov. Gavin Newsom is a case in point. When Kamala Harris vacated her Senate seat to become vice president in January, Newsom pretended he wanted no part of the power to pick the next senator. If that were true, he could have called a special election as Christine Pelosi, the chair of the state Democratic Party Womens Caucus, urged him to do in a Chronicle opinion piece last year. Instead, he appointed political ally and then-California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to serve the two years left in Harris term. That in turn allowed him to handpick Padillas successor as the states top elections official, normally an elected post, along with newly minted Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerras successor as attorney general. The problem is that Newsoms appointment would put Padilla in office until January 2023, three months beyond the next regularly scheduled general election, which is in November 2022. The law in California and other states permits that, but federal courts have rightly suggested its in conflict with the 17th Amendments requirement that gubernatorial appointees serve only until a senator may be elected to the remainder of the term. The obvious public-minded solution would be for Newsom and his fellow Democrats to expedite a special election for the rest of Harris term. That would be in keeping with democratic norms, the Constitution and widespread practice. Vacancies in the House and state Legislature, for example, are always filled by special elections. Oregon and four other states require U.S. Senate seats to be filled the same way, and nine of the states that allow gubernatorial appointments also require expedited special elections to replace such temporary appointees. Moreover, given a likely vote on whether to recall Newsom, California is expected to hold a statewide election this year in any case. Some state Democrats are now plotting to speed up the recall voting even as the Senate election is delayed. A bill by Assembly Member Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin (Placer County), sensibly proposes to start filling Senate vacancies the same way we replace representatives and legislators: with elections. But while Kileys bill was going nowhere, the Assembly passed legislation by Assembly Member Marc Berman, D-Menlo Park, to hold the nominal special election for the last few months of Harris term on the same date as next years general election. By then, Padilla will have been a senator for nearly two years without facing any voter other than Newsom. As Kiley told CalMatters, the Democratic bill addresses the conflict with the Constitution in the most undemocratic way possible. And as a legislative analysis of Bermans measure noted, filling vacancies by appointment means that the voters do not have the opportunity to choose the person who represents them for a period of time, which can present questions about whether the appointee will represent the interests of the voters or of the politician who appointed them. Democrats in the state Senate should live up to their label, kill this bill and recognize Californians right to elect all our representatives. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. Petaluma Mayor Teresa Barrett knew exactly what was going on when a coalition of multinational oil companies spent roughly $78,000 to support her opponents in her last re-election campaign. That kind of cash stood out in a city where there is a $200-per-person cap on campaign donations. Why would an oil-funded political action committee care about who held a part-time job that pays $40 a month? They went after Barrett because she represents Sonoma County as one of the 24 locally elected representatives who also serve on the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. It was very clear that they didnt want me on the air district board, she said. Barrett won re-election anyway in that 2018 race and remains on the air board, where another bruising political battle is being waged. And local officials who typically fly below the radar are being targeted again because they serve on a regional board that is far more powerful and potentially influential to the rest of the country. The fight is between forces who are usually united under the Democratic Party umbrella: Its labor unions siding with the oil companies who provide their jobs against environmentalists and racial justice advocates. Their standoff affects the air breathed by the 7 million Bay Area residents whom the air district is charged with protecting. But it is a complicated battle. And this disagreement in California previews the challenges facing America as it transitions away from fossil fuel something both Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Biden have promised to do. The proximate issue is a proposal coming before the air board on Wednesday. The proposed change would require refineries to install technology that greatly reduces the particulate matter they emit. It is a technology that, environmentalists point out, is already widely in use, including even in oil-friendly states like Texas. If the board made those changes, it would not only reduce the number of particulates, according to the air district, but could literally save lives. The district has calculated that exposure to particulate matter from the Chevron refinery in Richmond increases mortality in the region by up to 10 deaths per year and up to six deaths per year from the PBF Martinez refinery. Environmentalists back the idea and so do racial justice advocates. They point to studies showing that the most stringent of the proposed options before the board Wednesday would not only clean up the air, but also improve the health of the mostly low-income Black and brown neighborhoods that surround the refineries. In Richmond, the asthma rate is twice the state average. Labor and the oil industry leaders say implementing the more stringent changes could have another impact: It would kill jobs. If the board approves the tougher of the cleanup options before it on Wednesday, the cost of implementation would force us to close the Martinez refinery, Timothy Paul Davis, PBF Energy Western Region president, wrote to the air district. A closure would put 600 full-time employees out of work, plus another 2,000 members of the local building trades union who work on other projects at the plant, said Kevin Slade of the Western States Petroleum Association, an industry group. Davis estimated that implementing the technology would cost $800 million. The air district pegs the cost at $255 million. Privately, some industry opponents were dubious that PBF would close a refinery that it just bought in 2019 from Shell Oil for $1 billion. Health officials say it is impossible to put a price tag on how the change could improve the health of those living near the refineries. Amanda Millstein, a pediatrician who practices in Richmond, remembers her surprise when she first starting working in the East Bay city years ago. After she would examine a newborn, a parent would often ask her, Does she have asthma? My mind was blown, said Millstein. My patients and their families expect their kids to develop asthma. Its not an if, its a when. Richmond, Millstein said, is an environmental sacrifice zone. Many of her patients dont have the mobility as in the money or job prospects to move out of the neighborhood. So the health impacts of the polluted air hurt families for decades, she said. Millstein is a part of Climate Health Now, an organization of health care professionals concerned about the environment. She wants the air board to adopt the most stringent standard before it. Yet she is sympathetic to the impact it could potentially have at the refineries, noting that as a pediatrician, I get that joblessness is as much a determinant of health as anything else. Im not doing what Im doing to make people lose their jobs. But these jobs, Millstein said, are killing people and thats not OK. We need a just transition. The words just transition ring hollow to Contra Costa County labor leader Bill Whitney. Just transition means just unemployment, said Whitney, CEO of the 35,000-member Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades Council. Many of his members who work at the refineries make between $80,000 and $120,000 and have good benefits. Whitney doesnt doubt the science of climate change, nor does he doubt that America is in period of energy transition. But he worries that stricter environmental standards are being proposed without much regard to the livelihoods of men and women who like to work with their hands. This is akin to running and jumping off a cliff and falling into the abyss and thinking, I hope that theres a soft landing there, Whitney said. Whitney also understands what its like to be a local politician; he used to serve on the Benicia City Council. He said his labor union didnt fund the current round of ads targeting local officials serving on the air board about Wednesdays vote, but said dragging people into the transparency of the bright sunlight, they become responsible for their vote. And so, were back to politics. Air board member Davina Hurt has noticed her email and voice mail boxes filling up after online ads started appearing on local news sites urging people to ask her to vote for and against the proposed change. Hurt, who is a Black woman, said its interesting to be called out in this way. While the Black community is underrepresented in elected office, they are often over-represented in terms of the pollution burden, said Hurt, who is a member of the Belmont City Council. If we really support equity and diversity and inclusion, we need to give those people (living in communities near the refineries) a chance by cleaning up the air they breathe. Hurt is undecided how shell vote on Wednesday. She is also thinking of the workers who could potentially lose their jobs if a refinery closed. Said Hurt: Its a very difficult, hard question. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli Not long ago, Daniel Evers found himself experimenting with a mixed batch of pizza dough recipes. Hed fiddle with different techniques, often sampling pizza within 15-minute intervals, all in a quest to find the perfect texture for his newest business venture. Evers is the chef-owner of newcomer Itria, which opened on May 20, as first reported by Eater, and joins San Franciscos growing pizza scene. Evers wanted to create a pizza that would travel well during delivery and takeout, so he fashioned a dish thats a cross between classic round pies and focaccia bread. The dough is slowly fermented over a couple of days so that it really develops that structure, and we bake it a little bit longer than a traditional pizza so that it's crispy and holds up well in the box, Evers told SFGATE. A limited menu of four pizzas is currently available for delivery or takeout, and includes the classic margherita, soppressata, mushroom, and Hawaiian options. Theres also a chop salad thats texturally modeled after a Burmese tea salad, Evers says, thanks to a healthy dose of crispy fried chickpeas, garlic chips, and toasted sunflower seeds. Its a pretty short and sweet menu [and] we took a [look at] things that you would expect on a pizza delivery menu and really tried to make them as good as we can, Evers said. We've kind of taken our spin on them. Angelina Hong of Gourmand Group Evers also has an impressive resume filled with past gigs at some of San Franciscos top restaurants. Previously, he worked as chef de cuisine to Michelin-starred restaurant ALs Place, and was the executive sous chef at Cotogna. Before that, Evers spent time inside popular New York City kitchens, like Osteria Morini and Marea under James Beard-award-winning chef Michael White. Evers, who partnered with Rooster & Rice board member and investor Min Park, says that opening a brick and mortar was the natural progression he was headed towards, especially after executing pop-up events in San Francisco, beginning in 2019. And after several years of working at restaurants, he decided that Cotogna would be the last before he took the plunge and opened Itria. I wanted to try to do my own thing. If you want to keep developing your own personal techniques and style, you really need to do it on your own and make those decisions yourself, Evers said. He admits that the pandemic pushed the opening further than he had intended, but he believes that the timing worked out for the better, especially as several local restaurants succumbed to permanent closures in 2020. Evens expects to open Itria for full service by late July or August, with a larger menu of handmade pasta his personal specialty among other Italian staples. And upon opening, Even suspects that the restaurant will phase out delivery since its too much to operate out of our kitchen. He added that Itria will always have a pizza component on its menu. For now, hes looking forward to bringing all his culinary ideas to the table and serve his guests indoors. I think people are excited at the prospect of being able to go out and have more of that friendly face-to-face service. I think that's the thing people have really been missing. I know I have. Itria is currently open for takeout and delivery Wednesday through Sunday between 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Find them at 3266 24th St. in San Francisco. Take a look at other restaurants that opened in May across the Bay Area Bistro Central Parc Three years after it closed, Bistro Central Parc has made a comeback under new ownership. Its new owner, Bayram Evsen, hopes to stay true to the restaurants original menu of French cuisine, but hopes to add Italian dishes too. Read more. Shokudou Stewart Chen, chef-owner of Umi in Potrero Hill, opened his latest restaurant in San Franciscos Bernal Heights neighborhood late last month. Shokudou focuses on Japanese izakaya eats, with options that include grilled hamachi collar and beef skewers wrapped with enoki mushrooms. Read the full story from Eater. Trader Vic's Passengers at Mineta-San Jose International Airport can kick off their vacation with an original Mai Tai at Trader Vics newest outpost. The classic tiki bar expects to open Memorial Day weekend in Terminal B. Read more. Vida Cantina Theres a new vegan restaurant in San Francisco that focuses on plant-based Mexican food. Vida Cantina opened at the beginning of the month at the former Belden Place outpost, as first reported by Tablehopper. Searchers on land and in the air continued over the weekend to look for a college student who went missing while on a trip to Hawaii. Samuel Joseph Martinez, a 23-year-old senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was reported missing after he did not arrive back home on May 25 as expected. According to police in Kauai, Martinez arrived on May 12 and had a number of permits to camp around the island. Martinez's father, Ted Martinez, told the Lincoln Journal Star they last heard from him shortly after he landed; he told his family he got a ride to a grocery store and was planning on heading to his mountain campsite afterward. Investigators say they tracked Martinez's last cell phone pings to near Waimea Canyon Drive on May 12 at 8:20 p.m. "According to a preliminary report, flight records and safe travel records indicate that Martinez did indeed land on Kauai on May 12 and was screened for entry onto the island at the Lihue Airport," the Kauai Police Department wrote on Facebook. "Further investigation revealed that Martinez acquired eight separate permits to camp at different locations around the island, including Kokee State Park and the Kalalau Trail." After Martinez failed to arrive for his connecting flight home at LAX Tuesday, his family filed a missing persons report. Repeated attempts to get in touch with him have failed, although his family told local media they hope he is just out of cell range. Over the weekend, the Kauai police and fire departments, search and rescue teams, officers from the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Kauai Civil Air Patrol combed the island for any sign of Martinez. Officers on ATVs drove the length of the Waimea Valley, stopping to ask campers and hunters if they had seen the man. Kauai Police Department/Handout Unfortunately, we havent found any sign of Mr. Martinez throughout our searches. We also havent encountered anyone who has accurately identified him and his whereabouts, Investigative Services Bureau Assistant Chief Bryson Ponce said in a statement. At this point, there are several possibilities that could have taken place, especially on an island with dangerous terrain in places like Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park trails, but we are still hoping for the best. Martinez is 6 feet tall, 180 pounds and has brown hair and eyes. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the Kauai Police Department at 808-241-1711. SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) Members of the Shinnecock Indian Nation and their supporters including Pink Floyd's Roger Waters urged local officials to spend $5.3 million and preserve a property in the tribes ancient burial area on Long Island. Newsday reports that the 4.5-acre property on Montauk Highway that is now on the market is sacred to the Shinnecocks but is regarded as prime Hamptons real estate. It really is and has been documented as the most significant Indian burial site in the state of New York, Kelly Dennis, a member of the Shinnecock Nation Tribal Council of Trustees, told the Southampton Town Board at a meeting Tuesday. Under a deal proposed by tribal leaders, the nonprofit Peconic Land Trust would purchase the title and demolish a six-bedroom house on the property. The town would then buy the development rights from the land trust using $5.3 million from the Community Preservation Fund, which is funded through a 2% tax on real estate transfers. Peconic Land Trust President John Halsey said there is a possibility of reinterring remains of Shinnecock ancestors that have been returned to the tribe by cultural institutions. Waters, an area resident and supporter of the tribe, attended the town board meeting and called the proposed land deal a potential for joy. I will remember this day for the rest of my life because I think its incredibly important to this community and to all of us who are here and who are lucky enough to be part of this, Waters said. Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said the board would make a decision during its June 8 meeting, but he expressed support for the proposal. It is an extraordinary place, Schneiderman said. Its hard not to be moved when youre there. To not feel a sense of something very spiritual, mystical. COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Five people were injured when two boats collided on Lake Murray on Friday night, state officials said. News outlets reported that the accident happened Friday evening. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources said a cabin cruiser boat carrying two people collided with a pontoon boat with six onboard. Turmeric: Hopes for price drop turn sour By Chrishanthi Christopher View(s): View(s): Despite repeated assurances from the Government that the price of turmeric would drop from January this year with local farmers sending their harvest to the market, the price remains high, consumers complain. They say a 100-gram pack of turmeric powder is being sold at Rs 450 or more just as the case had been during the height of the demand following the imposition of the import ban in December 2019. The Department of Export Agriculture (DEA) which had repeatedly reassured consumers of a price drop in January 2021 now says the yield is not sufficient to bring down the price. DEA Director Upul Ranaweera said the local production was enough only to meet 45 percent of the countrys requirement and as such no price ceiling could be imposed. He said the harvest produced only 30,000 metric tonnes of raw turmeric and with 5,000 metric tonnes set aside for seedlings for cultivation this year, only 25,000 metric tonnes was available for processing before they were sold to the public. When this amount was dried and cured, only about 3,500 metric tonnes of turmeric powder could be made. For every seven kilograms of raw turmeric, one kilogram of dried turmeric can be obtained. We need at least 7,500 metric tonnes of dried turmeric every year to cater to the countrys demand, he said. However, he said the DEA was optimistic that the required harvest of 60,000 metric tonnes could be achieved next year. We will impose a price ceiling then, he said. Meanwhile, the smuggling of turmeric continues via the Colombo Port and the Northern and North Western seas. Last month, Customs detectives busted an attempt to smuggle in turmeric rhizome along with other goods in two containers. Customs spokesperson Sudatta Silva said the importers would be requested to re-export the stocks to the country of origin. However, several container loads of turmeric forfeited in 2020 still remain in the Customs yards, the Sunday Times learns. Exporters have abandoned their consignments and have refused to re-export the stocks as it was a costly exercise. Despite the Sri Lanka Navy keeping a strict vigil in the countrys Northern and Northwestern seas, turmeric is being smuggled into country in fishing vessels from India. Last month two dhows loaded with 2,790 kilos of dried turmeric were detected in the North-western waters. In March, two suspects were caught with 349 kilograms of dried turmeric in the Thalai Mannar seas. Also in two separate incidents in the same month, 2,209 kilograms of turmeric were sized in Manalkulam and Silawathurai. The Customs said the seized turmeric would not be released to the market, as it was the Government policy of achieving self-sufficiency in turmeric production. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) As Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis struggled to contain the coronavirus pandemic, Democrats readied to pounce. The state's economy was in tatters, infections and deaths were on the rise and there were doubts about the Republican's plan to lead Florida out of crisis. Now that the pandemic appears to be waning and DeSantis is heading into his reelection campaign next year, he has emerged from the political uncertainty as one of the most prominent Republican governors and an early White House front-runner in 2024 among Donald Trump's acolytes, if the former president doesn't run again. As DeSantis' national stature has risen, he has remained defiant in the face of continued attacks on his hard-line opposition to mask mandates and lockdowns. Hold the line. Dont back down, he told a crowd at a party fundraiser in Pittsburgh on May 20. And in the state of Florida, with me as governor, I have only begun to fight. That fight will happen soon, as he campaigns for a second term and pressure builds on Florida Democrats to regain their footing in a state that has swung toward Republicans for several election cycles. Unless they find a new formula, Democrats could find themselves shut out of statewide office for the first time since Reconstruction. This isnt just one race this is two races in one, given how Ron DeSantis is trying to use a reelection win as a slingshot to then be the odds on favorite" for the GOP nomination in 2024, said Fernand Amandi, a Democratic pollster in Miami. If they manage to prevent him from getting reelected, they almost certainly eliminate any possibility of him running for president. DeSantis won in a nail-biter three years ago against Democrat Andrew Gillum, and Democrats worry whether they can field a candidate able to win back the governors mansion for the first time since 1994. U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, a former Republican governor who is now a Democrat, announced his campaign for governor this month. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the only Democrat currently holding statewide office, has teased a June 1 date to publicly announce whether she will run. Some Democrats had hoped U.S. Rep. Val Demings, who helped manage the first Trump impeachment and was considered as President Joe Biden's running mate, would join the race. Instead, she is considering a run for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Marco Rubio. Regardless of who gets in the Democratic contest, toppling DeSantis will be a tall order, said Ryan Tyson, a Tallahassee-based Republican pollster. The Democrats fail to understand that the state of Florida is changing under their very noses. Floridas population continues to boom, but many of the states new residents are older and come from parts of the country friendlier toward Republicans. Before last Novembers presidential election, Republicans had narrowed the registration gap with Democrats to about 117,000. On Election Day four years earlier, Democrats had a 327,000 voter registration lead. Since then, Republicans have continued to gain with the Democratic advantage now barely over 100,000. Both sides will try to nationalize the race, partly to draw support from big-money donors from outside the state. For DeSantis, its also about raising his national profile. That of course, probably will become a line of attack for Crist and Fried, who accuse DeSantis of being more interested in pursuing his political ambitions than in tackling the concerns of Floridians. Just like our former president, he always takes credit but never takes responsibility, Crist said when he announced his bid for governor. In a video hinting at her possible entry into the race, Fried called DeSantis an authoritarian dictator. Appealing to Trump supporters might be smart as the Republican Party deepens its allegiance to the former president, whose shadow will no doubt loom over high-profile races like the one about to unfold in Florida. During his Pittsburgh visit, DeSantis applauded Trump for recognizing the military and economic threats posed by China and sympathized with him over his battles against social media companies such as Twitter, which banned him from its platform. The governor is definitely made efforts to to appeal to the Trump base. The disadvantage to that, of course, is that the former president is so polarizing, said Kevin Wagner, a political scientist at Florida Atlantic University. But in the state of Florida, where the former president did really well, appealing to his base of voters seems like a pretty prudent move. DeSantis ambitions could become muddled if Trump runs in 2024. That would force DeSantis and other hopefuls to wait it out or begin redefining themselves beyond Trump's shadow. Democrats thought the pandemic would be a strong line of attack against DeSantis. In November, Floridians were about evenly divided about the governor's handling of the pandemic, with 49% approving and 50% disapproving, according to AP VoteCast. In that same poll, 48% had a favorable opinion of DeSantis while 45% viewed him unfavorably. But with about 18 months before the November 2022 election, it remains to be seen how the pandemic might play out in the campaign. The pandemic has become a key talking point against what DeSantis called the militant left. Weve saved millions of livelihoods from the brunt of lockdowns," he said in Pittsburgh. "All I can say to any state that has not followed suit: Open your state, open your schools, take off these mask mandates, let people live and thrive. While he spent his first years as Florida governor casting himself as a defender of the environment, including the states cherished Everglades and imperiled coastlines, and even as a booster for his states underpaid teachers, DeSantis has more recently taken a sharper turn to the right. During Floridas just-completed legislative session, DeSantis successfully pushed for an anti-riot law that countered the Black Lives Matter movement. He won legislation that excoriated social media companies that, the governor charged, censor conservative thought. On a recent appearance on Fox News one of many DeSantis showcased a freshly signed law that tightens voting rules amid unproven claims among Trump followers that Trump was denied a second term because of election irregularities. The governors priorities certainly got through, and that can only be good for him, said Susie Wiles, a Republican strategist who helped Trump win Florida last year and continues to work for him. What is good for him has proven to be good for the state, which in turn makes his fortunes good going into reelection next year. ___ Associated Press writer Hannah Fingerhut in Washington contributed to this report. LAS VEGAS (AP) Authorities are hoping the public can help identify a young boy who was found dead Friday by hikers on a trail in the Mountain Springs area of Southern Nevada. A mother and metro Las Vegas authorities misidentified an 8-year-old boy as a young homicide victim and the boy, an older half-brother and their father were all found safe in Utah. BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) The Burlington school district is searching for a site to build a new high school after chemical contamination was found in the existing school. It's contracted a real estate firm to identify five to 10 sites that appear viable including the current property, which is expected to take up to two months, WCAX-TV reported. After that the district will narrow down the choices to a few options to test. Conceptual designs will also be created. DENVER (AP) Earlier this month, a story began making its way around the internet: A 15-year-old boy in Colorado had reportedly died after receiving a coronavirus vaccine. It appeared in the Twitter feeds of prominent vaccine critics, where it generated thousands of likes and retweets. It showed up on Facebook, and in both Spanish and English on websites that traffic in coronavirus misinformation. It eventually made its way into a local television news story. Never mind that the report had not been verified. Or that it came from a federal database where literally anyone can report anything, a database containing a bold-face warning that the report does not mean that health care personnel or the vaccine caused or contributed to the adverse event. Never mind that, at the time, 15-year-olds werent eligible to receive the vaccine in Colorado. Or that clinical trial data would later show the vaccine to be overwhelmingly safe and effective for adolescents. Or that the news station intended its story as an attempt to dispel rumors, not to perpetuate them. A germ of misleading information about the vaccines had been unleashed into the wild. And, at an office along the Hudson River in upstate New York, a counterterrorism expert and West Point grad working with Colorado health authorities began tracking it. By weeks end, the report had failed to gain significant traction in Colorado. So the expert Clint Watts, the founder of a company called Miburo Solutions gave Colorado officials a recommendation on what to do: Nothing. Given the storys lack of spread at the time of this writing, additional messaging about the incident is not recommended at this time, especially before facts surrounding the report are confirmed by CDC, Watts wrote in his weekly update to the state. This is public health in 2021 it takes an army, and every army needs an intelligence officer. The idea is: Can we spot very quickly vaccine conspiracies which are affecting the uptake of the vaccine and distribution of it? Watts said during a recent interview. The information battle Colorado has been working with Watts and his team of 20 at Miburo for a couple months now, using information the team gathers to help shape messages to the public about the safety and efficacy of the coronavirus vaccines. Messaging campaigns are nothing new in public health. The state has also hired a marketing firm to create a more traditional public relations campaign aimed at persuading Coloradans to get vaccinated. Miburo is a subcontractor to that work, being paid $31,900 for an initial 3-month contract that the state expects to extend soon. Colorado is the only state Miburo is working with. But, in some ways, this is unique in the history of state public health efforts. Its less information dissemination and more information warfare. Misinformation about coronavirus vaccines is rampant online, actively harming governments efforts to end the pandemic. A February poll commissioned by the state asked people who were either on the fence about the vaccine or opposed to receiving it what information they had seen that made them less likely to want to get vaccinated. Of the group, 45% said they had heard the vaccines were unsafe; 12% said they had heard the vaccines have caused deaths; and 8% said they had heard the vaccines contain microchips or were being used to control the population. (The vaccines, though they have side effects that can be unpleasant, are overwhelmingly safe, and there is a robust monitoring system to look for dangerous side effects. They do not contain microchips, and videos that purport to show magnets sticking to peoples arms at their injection sites are fake.) Fighting on the information battlefield is Watts turf. After graduating from West Point, he served in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer. Later came stints back at West Point at the Combating Terrorism Center and in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Hes tracked Al Qaeda and the Islamic State. Hes examined Russian disinformation. Thats him in 2019 testifying before a U.S. House committee on deepfake videos. As a consulting firm helping clients respond to disinformation, Miburo has long tracked conspiracies and disinformation across the globe its team members speak 10 different languages between them. It was active in monitoring foreign propaganda during the presidential election. But, late last year, the team began to notice a convergence online. All the focus turned to the coronavirus vaccines. We knew, Watts said, it was the conspiracy space that would endure for the entire year. Falsehoods move much faster than the truth The conspiracy theories and misinformation that Watts and his team track comes from local sources or around the globe. Theres geopolitics at work, as rumors that appear in Coloradans Facebook feeds might originate in Russian or Iranian attempts to weaken the United States or jockey for international influence. Theres commerce some people promoting anti-vaccination conspiracies use those rumors to sell their own products. Theres domestic politics and extremism; theres religious belief. A typical weekly report from Miburo to the state contains a rundown of popular vaccine misinformation posts circulating on social media and on general themes that seem to be prominent like the idea that the vaccines can cause vaccinated people to shed particles that can harm others, which is not true. The reports also highlight Colorado-specific stories that are gaining traction locally or nationally, along with suggestions about how to respond to them. And the reports provide updates on local anti-vaccination activity, such as the screening of an anti-vax film earlier this month in Parker that drew prominent activists. Rachel Chernaskey, a director at Miburo who oversees the Colorado work, said much of what circulates in Colorado is the same as what is circulating nationally. A lot of it is stories that are legitimate news stories that are amplified by communities that are trying to spread anti-vaccine content, Chernaskey said. Most of the misinformation in English comes from domestic groups, she said. Information in Spanish is more likely to originate from foreign sources, like the Russian state-controlled news outlet Russia Today, which she said will often try to highlight problems in the United States vaccination efforts in contrast to Russias diplomatic efforts to distribute vaccines around the world. Sometimes, as with the story about the 15-year-old boy, stories in Colorado will draw national attention. It happened after the mass-vaccination site at Dicks Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City was temporarily closed when several recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine began feeling dizzy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigated and three weeks later determined that the symptoms were most likely caused by anxiety, not by the vaccine. But, by then, the story had already spread across the country, being used as an example of why people should not get vaccinated. Falsehoods move much faster than truth, Watts said. Verifying any of these incidents as actually having anything to do with the COVID-19 vaccine takes much longer than the speed and volume at which youll see conspiracy theorists level that sort of information. Turning information into action Colorado Gov. Jared Polis recently sat down at his regular press briefing flanked by three people in white coats a fact that he was eager to point out. We have three great doctors here today, he said. This is how Colorado is playing offense in the information battle. The same February poll in which the state asked people why they were hesitant to receive the vaccine also asked people whom they trust most to deliver reliable information about the vaccines. The answer? Doctors. Among respondents, 91% said they trust doctors a little or a lot. (If you are unsure about the vaccines, yourself, chances are nothing youve read here will change your mind; the same poll found only 49% of people trust the news media a little or a lot, the second-lowest among the options, just ahead of social media.) So, after Miburo identified growing chatter online promoting the false belief that COVID-19 vaccines can harm fertility, CDPHE brought an OB/GYN doctor into one of its press briefings to rebut the claim and provide the facts. Polis played panel moderator and asked the three doctors at his briefing which streamed live on Facebook questions about how the vaccines were tested and determined safe. No question is too small or too large to get answered, said Polis, who referred to the doctors as straight shooters. And we dont want a lack of information or inaccurate information to stand in the way of you getting this life-saving vaccine that could protect your life and the lives of your loved ones. One of the doctors, Dr. Suchitra Rao, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Childrens Hospital Colorado, was exactly the kind of expert that Watts has been urging governments to highlight. With vaccinations now opening to adolescents, he believes that the next front in the information war will be over kids. When it was her turn, Rao glanced at her notes and spoke clearly. Its understandable that families are going to be asking a lot of questions around the vaccine and what to do for their families, she said. Unfortunately, misinformation and myths can spread more easily than the facts. So I recommend that families turn to their trusted sources of information pediatricians, as well as other primary care providers, who know a lot about how vaccines work and vaccine safety. And Polis nodded in agreement. RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Democrats who have transformed Virginia at whiplash speed over the past two years will be defending their full control of the statehouse this fall. But first, they are trying to get an usually high number of House incumbents past primary challenges. Fourteen House Democrats are spending and organizing against challenges from their own party this year, compared with only three Republican incumbents. Like somebody that drinks too many Red Bulls, too much energy is not always healthy for the party, said Albert Pollard, a former Democratic House delegate who went on to say he thinks the vast majority of incumbents will hold on. Several factors seem to be driving the surge in primary challengers, which is far higher this year than any other since at least 1999, according to the nonpartisan Virginia Public Access Project. Some observers say its just an appealing time to be a Democratic candidate. David Toscano, the former Democratic minority leader, said he toiled in the wilderness for years trying to find good candidates when the partys membership was in the 30s out of 100 seats. People thought they would have a hard time raising money or being competitive, he said. And then, even if they won, they would still be part of what at the time was a fairly powerless minority. Now the Democrats are in the majority, everybody wants to run, he said. In solidly blue northern Virginia in particular, a number of longtime officeholders - including the longest serving delegate, Ken Plum - are being challenged. Some Democrats are facing challenges from the ideological left, though two of the chamber's most progressive members, Del. Lee Carter and Del. Ibraheem Samirah, also have primary opponents. They're learning what its like to be in power," said Matt Moran, formerly the chief of staff for Republican House Speaker Kirk Cox. "No one is ever satisfied. A handful of delegates who are running in one of the three statewide races for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general without giving up their House seat have also created potential openings. For instance, Carter, who is making a bid for governor, has two opponents. At least two Democratic challengers are getting a boost from Clean Virginia, the good governance and environmental advocacy organization founded by wealthy investor Michael Bills as a way to counter the influence of Dominion Energy. In the Democratic-leaning 79th House District in Hampton Roads, Del. Steve Heretick, one of the caucus' more centrist members, has two primary opponents, Dante' Walston and community organizer and activist Nadarius Clark, who is being backed by Clean Virginia. Clark, 26, wants to bring a more progressive perspective to Richmond. In an interview, he criticized Heretick's votes against bills allowing localities to remove Confederate monuments, ending qualified immunity and banning assault weapons. The first passed; the others failed. This doesnt sit well with me, and the district deserves a better choice, Clark said. Clark's campaign manager, Sully Peterson-Quinn, said the campaign's next finance reports will show Clark has raised over $500,000 in the last quarter, an eye-popping amount for a first-time candidate. Heretick declined an interview request made through Kate Sarna, spokeswoman for the House Democratic Caucus. Sarna, speaking generally, said the incumbents have proven themselves" and their opponents haven't shown an understanding of how they will pass effective legislation. The state Senate, where Democrats have a more narrow majority, is not up for election this year. Once the June 8 primary results are in, attention will turn to the November general election, where the stakes are enormous. Democrats have passed transformative legislation over the past two years that's made Virginia an outlier in the South. They've expanded voting access, loosened abortion restrictions, legalized marijuana, passed a clean energy mandate, repealed the death penalty and raised the minimum wage. Even if a Democrat were to win the race for governor, losing control of the House would make it far more difficult to pass priority legislation in a building where bipartisanship is rare. In what's seen as a sign of enthusiasm, both parties are contesting an unusually high number of seats. Democrats have candidates in 95 districts, a number that's still in flux, said Grant Fox, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Virginia. Republicans say they currently have 96. With only three incumbents to protect in the primary election, and with their slate of statewide candidates already settled in a May convention, Republicans have their eyes on the fall. They are hoping their unusually diverse field of both statewide and House candidates and a backlash against single-party control in Washington will power them to a win. GOP Del. Emily Brewer, the caucus' deputy campaign chair, said her recruiting efforts were made easier by the Democrats' agenda, particularly what she called a soft-on-crime approach to criminal justice, and schools that were virtual for most of the past year. Kids not being in schools really put a toll on the family unit and (was) probably the hardest on mothers. So I think thats why we have a record number of women running, she said. Come September, Pollard said, Virginia is going to look like the final scene of Braveheart, where two opposing armies line up for battle. Its going to be hand-to-hand combat," he said. "I give the edge to Democrats. ___ This story has been updated to correct the number of House districts in which Democrats currently have a candidate. DETROIT (AP) Patience may be a virtue, but perseverance is the key to success. And 30-year-old Detroiter Tia Russell has needed a lot of both to fulfill what she says she was called by God to do help those in need. However, she says she can always use a little help with her efforts. In 2012, she started Take My Hand, a nonprofit that provides resources to metro Detroiters who deal with a range of obstacles, from mental illness to low-income families who may just need a little help to get by. The organizations name stems from the concept of elevating others. When you take someone elses hand, youre bringing them out of something and showing leadership by bringing someone along, Russell told the Detroit Free Pres s. I realized I cant help everyone ... so why not start with my hand and reach out to someone else so they can feel uplifted? And they do the same to make a difference. She launched the organization with her friend, Dynasty Washington, but things initially didnt take off and came to a standstill for personal reasons. But Russell was patient. And in 2017, she relaunched the nonprofit with new vigor and determination. I felt in my spirit that I was supposed to be out here doing community outreach, she said. And she persevered. Since the organizations fresh start, Take My Hand has hosted a multitude of events from donating coats to foster children and giving women free makeovers, to hosting community dinners and mental health awareness seminars. Most recently, the nonprofit created and distributed baskets for children going back to school and to families during the quarantine. This year, I said, I gotta go hard with this giving, she said after Take My Hand concluded an event showing appreciation toward front-line workers. A key part of Take My Hands events and overall growth, has been Russells friend and Take My Hands executive director, AJanae Ruffin, who Russell says is a dependable member of her team and is by her side 24/7. Ruffin, 28, of Detroit, said she was drawn to Take My Hand because of the nonprofits mission to provide resources and support to the community. Whether its delivering baskets in the community or hosting an event, Russell said she is grateful for Ruffin for being an active participant in the planning and implementation. Ruffin says its the fulfillment she gets helping others with Take My Hand that keeps her coming back. She recalled being touched by the organizations annual Self-Awareness Day, which usually takes place in March, when she assisted in giving women makeovers, as shes a hairstylist. Its the instant gratification that I got from being able to use the services I was blessed with to make someone feel better. It really made a difference, Ruffin said, recalling how some women cried tears of joy after getting their new style, telling her how they havent seen themselves look that good in years. When I did that event, and how I felt doing it, I knew I wanted to do more. This years Self Awareness Day was about appreciation for those who worked during the pandemic, entitled the You are a Hero edition. Ruffin also attributes Take My Hands success to being versatile in their reach. We give back to children for back to school, (and families) at Thanksgiving events. Its not just the homeless, (we help) low-income people, as well, Ruffin said. (A lot of) people have something for the homeless, but not low-income families who need a little bit of help; and if youre blessed to have the resources, we should share them out to our community and help people. While the organization as a whole is grateful to have impacted so many in a variety of ways, Russell said she wishes the organization had more volunteers. Russell often encourages friends and other organizations to partner with Take My Hand in an effort to build relationships and help with retention. For Take My Hands adopt-a-child event, Russell reached out to several Black-owned businesses asking them to adopt. She said she was pleasantly surprised when many agreed. One of my objectives for (Take My Hand) is to ensure that millennials are giving back to their communities, because our generation is pretty selfish, she said. With that in mind, she said if she can convince a young person to volunteer even just once, she feels she has accomplished something positive. Russell said that while Take My Hand is a year-round nonprofit, she takes advantage of the holidays to really push volunteering efforts because its when others are more inclined to give or participate in the community. As last Christmas approached, Russell partnered with Dream Rich, Silk Hair Company, and Smoke Promotions for Girls, Boys and Christmas Toys, a toy drive event in addition to Take My Hands first adopt-a-child event. Russells friend, Darylynn Mumphord, wanted to host a toy drive last year, so they put their minds together and partnered for the toy-filled event where Take My Hand accepted wish lists from more than 20 families, and the other partnering organizations accepted new, unwrapped toys for children of all ages. Over 50 children received new toys on Christmas thanks to the effort. As Russell spends a lot of time rallying volunteers, planning events, outreach and delivering items for Take My Hand, she still manages a full-time job as a psychiatrist transcriptionist and as a mother of a 2-year-old. Fortunately, she said she has a support system that makes her duties seem easy. Being a parent is literally a second job, it can be challenging. But I feel like when God calls you to do something, you (have to) do what youre told, she said. Me balancing parenting and my purpose, when things come up, it all falls in line with time management. Overall, Russell said she wants to be more consistent with Take My Hand while bettering the organization and her community. Eventually, Russell wants to open a resource house where community members can do laundry, search for jobs, children can do homework, and overall feel motivated. I want Take My Hand to take (the community) by the hand and take them wherever they want to go, and (help them do) whatever they want to do in life, said Russell. Russell says she is grateful for the opportunity to host events for the community, showing metro Detroiters that they matter, adding that you dont have to know someones full story to want to care for them. She encourages others to give back when they can, referencing Take My Hands mission to unite and inspire individuals to improve the quality of life of others by supporting, motivating and assisting the community. Not only do we provide resources and bring awareness to the underserved, we also encourage everyone to give back; because theres always someone doing worse than you, she said. DOVER, Del. (AP) Gina Havens and Donna Dambrosio have visited several breweries throughout Delaware along with their husbands and seem to always leave with the same feeling there is an amazingly tasty array of craft beverages available throughout the First State. So, they thought, why not bring some of these Delaware delights together under one roof? It took a lot of work, and construction delays during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the DoubleD Taphouse finally opened its doors and taps last week at 137 Jerome Drive (Suite 130) in the shopping center adjacent to the Walmart, just south of Cheswold. My husband Dwayne had the idea of visiting one place to have all the taps, said Mrs. Havens, who co-owns the DoubleD Taphouse with Mrs. Dambrosio. We love going to different breweries, and so do (the Dambrosios) and he just thought, Hey, this would just be a really great idea to just open up our own. Theres nothing from up north to south like this. Weve been planning this since October 2018, so its taken a while. The unique thing about DoubleD Taphouse, the owners say, is that they are not locked into just one particular Delaware craft beer brand, distillery or meadery. They can bring several different tastes together. Right now, its just pour local, promote local so it is all Delaware craft brews, Delaware wines and Delaware distilleries, Mrs. Havens said. We also have meads because theres two meaderies in Delaware. We have moonshine from Feebs (Distillery in Milford) and she was so kind to give me her recipe so I could duplicate it here. We have peach and blueberry moonshine slushies. They already have a catchy slogan DD Taphouse, helping you make pour choices. This is quite an endeavor for Mrs. Havens and Mrs. Dambrosio, who were longtime employees of the Capital One credit card company. They are first-time business owners and are learning something new every day. I think the best part of owning your own business is just because its yours. You get to report to yourself, said Mrs. Dambrosio, who worked for Capital One for 29 years. Yes, its a lot of work, and its more work, but its just something that we enjoy. When it was announced to my team (at Capital One) that I was leaving I was like, Yep, finally hanging up the headset after 29 years. Mrs. Havens, who worked with Mrs. Dambrosio at the credit card company for 19 years, said, We gave our two weeks notice and here we are. Still, theres something to be said about being a first-time business owner. I was very nervous (at last Thursdays grand opening), Mrs. Dambrosio said. It was a whole different type of review, as we all called it, and actually it worked out really good. We work very well together. Everything hasnt always gone quite as smoothly as the DD Taphouses grand opening did. It was January 9, 2019, when we started rolling and getting the process done, Mrs. Havens said about preliminary plans for the taphouse. Then we had a hiccup with one location and then we moved on to this one and then COVID hit and we just got delayed construction which was fine. Were here now. DD Taphouses initial offerings include craft beers from Revelation Craft Brewing Co. (Rehoboth Beach), Dogfish Head Brewery (Rehoboth Beach), Crooked Hammock (Middletown), Big Oyster (Lewes), Mispillion River Brewing (Milford) and Brimming Horn Meadery (Milton). Judging from comments on the businesses Facebook page, the moonshine slushies have become an instant hit. There is no food available at the DoubleD Taphouse but Mrs. Dambrosio said customers are welcome to bring their own food inside. The owners said they might try to get some food trucks to come in the future. James Nolan, of Magnolia, was fine without food when he visited the establishment for the first time last Friday. Im here to try the craft beer, Mr. Nolan said. Its a new place in town and I wanted to come check it out and see what theyve got on tap and see what theyve got going on over here. I found out about it on Facebook Im actually in the sales industry, too, so I just wanted to come down and check it out and see what theyve got going on. Its a neat place and its exactly a great location right off the highway. Great spot. KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) A mortar shell hit a wedding ceremony in northern Afghanistan, killing at least seven people, mostly children, and wounding at least four others, a police spokesman said. Taliban insurgents attacked a government security checkpoint in the district of Tagab and one of their mortar shells hit a civilian house, Kapisa provincial police spokesman Shayeq Shoresh said Sunday. He said the attack happened the night before. But Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a tweet accused police of firing several mortar shells toward the civilian house, causing the casualties. Both the Taliban and government forces routinely blame each other for attacks. The assailants are rarely identified and the public is seldom informed of the results of investigations into the many attacks in the capital. The United Nations has repeatedly demanded both sides take more precautions to protect civilians. In the first three months of this year, the U.N. mission in Afghanistan said 1,783 civilians had been killed or wounded in Afghanistan, up 29% over the same period last year. Recently, Afghan national defense and security forces and the Taliban have increased operations against each other in most of the provinces of the country, where most often civilians are caught in the crossfire. Meanwhile, the Islamic State group in a statement Sunday claimed credit for a roadside bomb that struck a minivan full of university lecturers and students in Kapisa on Saturday, killing at least four and wounding 11 others. The militant group in its statement said the minivan was carrying Shiite apostates. ___ Associated Press writer Maamoun Youssef in Cairo contributed to this report. Springfield, Ill. (AP) Illinois became the first state Sunday to pass a bill that will ban police from lying to youth during interrogations -- a practice that adds significantly to the risk of false confessions and wrongful convictions. It is expected to be signed into law by the governor in coming weeks. The original sponsors, state Senator Robert Peters and state Representative Justin Slaughter, garnered bipartisan support for the bill that culminated in a near-unanimous vote to pass it in both houses. House Minority Leader Jim Durkin, a Republican and former Chicago prosecutor, joined as a co-sponsor and helped propel the bills passage. Ill never be accused of being soft on crime, but Im more interested in seeking the truth than a conviction, Durkin said. I believe in fair play. We should never tolerate, under any circumstance, the use of deception to seek a statement or an admission by any defendant, let alone a juvenile. Though few Americans realize it, police regularly deceive suspects during questioning to try to secure confessions, from saying DNA placed them at the scene of a crime to claiming eyewitnesses identified them as being the perpetrator. Detectives also can lie about the consequences of confessing, saying, for instance, that admitting responsibility is a quick ticket home. Minors -- who have been found to be two to three times more likely to confess to crimes they didnt commit -- are especially vulnerable to such pressure tactics, said Laura Nirider, co-director of the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, who consulted on the bill together with the national Innocence Project and the Illinois Innocence Project. Though it is currently legal for police in all 50 states to lie during interrogations, Oregon and New York are considering similar legislation, said Rebecca Brown, policy director at the national Innocence Project. The Oregon bill, sponsored by a former law enforcement officer, passed the House this week and heads next to the Senate. A bill still pending in New York would apply to adults as well as minors. There, deceptive interrogation techniques have contributed to several infamous juvenile wrongful convictions, including 15-year-old Yusef Salaam of the so-called Central Park Five, now also known as the Exonerated Five. The five Black and Latino teens were coerced into confessing to a rape they didnt commit in 1989 and served prison time before being exonerated in 2002. Illinois has in recent years uncovered at least 100 wrongful convictions predicated on false confessions, 31 of them involving people under 18 years of age. Senate Bill 2122 was supported not only by individuals who themselves falsely confessed to crimes, but also by the states Chiefs of Police, the Illinois States Attorneys Association, and the Office of Cook County States Attorney Kim Foxx. The history of false confessions in Illinois can never be erased, but this legislation is a critical step to ensuring that history is never repeated, Foxx said in a press release. I hope this is a start to rebuilding confidence and trust in a system that has done harm to so many people for far too long. SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (AP) The Associated Press has withdrawn its story about Illinois passing a bill that will ban police from lying to youth during interrogations because the bill has not been finalized. AP will publish a corrected version of the story. US firms bid to purchase power plant shares: President defers decision amid CEBEU protest By Niranjala Ariyawansha View(s): View(s): A United States-based energy companys bid to link its proposal to purchase 23.9 percent shares of the Kerawalapitiya West Coast Power plant with projects to build a Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) and pipelines has run into a storm. Amid opposition from the powerful Ceylon Electricity Board Engineers Union (CEBEU), President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has ordered that the decision be deferred till June 18 for a Treasury-appointed expert committee to go through the proposal and make recommendations. The committee, comprising senior officials from the Treasury, the Power and Energy Ministry, the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) and the Kerawalapitiya West Coast Power Plant, was required to give its report by June 10. The committee will look into the unsolicited proposal put forward by the US-based New Fortress Energy (NFE), which wants to buy the 23.9 percent shares the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) holds in the 300 MW state-run diesel power plant. The proposal has hit a snag as the Ceylon Electricity Board has, meanwhile, called for international bids for the construction of an FSRU to supply LNG (liquefied natural gas) to the Kerawalapitiya plant, the three power plants at Kelanitissa and other LNG-based power plants to be set up in the future. The bids will close on 18 June. The Sunday Times reliably learns that the committee held its first meeting on May 19 and the second on May 21, but the CEB representatives did not attend the meetings in what was seen as a protest against the move to consider the US companys proposal. A senior Treasury official said NFE was willing to buy 23.9 percent of the shares in the Kerawalapitiya Plant, only if it was given the opportunity to construct an FSRU that would cater to the LNG needs of the present and future power plants of the country. With the CEB engineers union sending a letter to Power Minister Dallas Alahapperuma, expressing its opposition to the NFE proposal, President Rajapaksa ordered that the decision be put off till June 18. In its May 2 edition, the Sunday Times revealed that the CEBEU would object to the proposal. Another area of contention is the building of the pipeline to carry LNG from the offshore FSTU to be located 10 km off the coast to the power plant. The American company has proposed that it should be in control of the pipeline, but CEB engineers insist that it should be built and maintained by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. They say it is strategically important and beneficial to the country that the FSRU, the pipeline system and the gas supplies remain in separate hands. MEXICO CITY (AP) The notoriously violent Jalisco cartel has responded to Mexicos hugs, not bullets policy with a policy of its own: The cartel kidnapped several members of an elite police force in the state of Guanajuato, tortured them to obtain names and addresses of fellow officers and is now hunting down and killing police at their homes, on their days off, in front of their families. It is a type of direct attack on officers seldom seen outside of the most gang-plagued nations of Central America and poses the most direct challenge yet to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's policy of avoiding violence and rejecting any war on the cartels. But the cartel has already declared war on the government, aiming to eradicate an elite state force known as the Tactical Group which the gang accuses of treating its members unfairly. If you want war, you'll get a war. We have already shown that we know where you are. We are coming for all of you, reads a professionally printed banner signed by the cartel and hung on a building in Guanajuato in May. For each member of our firm (CJNG) that you arrest, we are going to kill two of your Tacticals, wherever they are, at their homes, in their patrol vehicles, the banner read, referring to the cartel by its Spanish initials. Officials in Guanajuato Mexico's most violent state, where Jalisco is fighting local gangs backed by the rival Sinaloa cartel refused to comment on how many members of the elite group have been murdered so far. But state police publicly acknowledged the latest case, an officer who was kidnapped from his home on Thursday, killed and his body dumped on a highway. Guanajuato-based security analyst David Saucedo said there have been many cases. A lot of them (officers) have decided to desert. They took their families, abandoned their homes and they are fleeing and in hiding, Saucedo said. The CJNG is hunting the elite police force of Guanajuato. Numbers of victims are hard to come by, but Poplab, a news cooperative in Guanajuato, said at least seven police officers have been killed on their days off so far this year. In January, gunmen went to the home of a female state police officer, killed her husband, dragged her away, tortured her and dumped her bullet-ridden body. Guanajuato has had the highest number of police killed of any Mexican state since at least 2018, according to Poplab. Between 2018 and May 12, a total of 262 police have been killed, or an average of about 75 officers each year more than are killed by gunfire or other assaults on average each year in the entire United States, which has 50 times Guanajuatos population. The problem in Guanajuato has gotten so bad that the state government published a special decree on May 17 to provide an unspecified amount of funding for protection mechanisms for police and prison officials. Unfortunately, organized crime groups have shown up at the homes of police officers, which poses a threat and a greater risk of loss of life, not just for them, but for members of their families, according to the decree. They have been forced to quickly leave their homes and move, so that organized crimes groups cannot find them, it reads. State officials refused to describe the protection measures, or comment on whether officers were to be paid to rent new homes, or if there were plans to construct special secure housing compounds for them and their families. This is an open war against the security forces of the state government, Saucedo noted. Lopez Obrador campaigned on trying to deescalate the drug conflict, describing a hugs, not bullets approach to tackle the root causes of crime. Since taking office in late 2018, he has avoided openly confronting cartels, and even released one capo to avoid bloodshed, saying he preferred a long-range policy of addressing social problems like youth unemployment that contribute to gang membership. But former U.S. Ambassador Christopher Landau said in April that Lopez Obrador views the fight against drug cartels as a distraction ... So he has basically adopted an agenda of a pretty laissez-faire attitude towards them, which is pretty troubling to our government, obviously. ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) The candidate of a leftist-green coalition easily won election Sunday as mayor of Croatias capital, Zagreb, preliminary results showed, marking a major blow to the ruling conservatives in the European Union nation. Tomislav Tomasevic got around 65% of the ballots, while right-wing candidate Miroslav Skoro won around 34%, the state Croatian television reported after all ballots were counted following Sundays runoff election. NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (AP) Officials at a college in Conneticut received a complaint of a noose hanging from a construction site on campus but determined that the looped cable was not in fact a noose. A construction crew working on campus hung an American flag from a cranes cable in recognition of Memorial Day, Central Connecticut State University President Zulma R. Toro said in a news release quoted by the Hartford Courant. The cable has a steel loop at its end." BANGOR, Maine (AP) Maine's health department has received almost $2 million to support cancer prevention programs around the state. The money is from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Center for Chronic Diseases Prevention and Health Promotion. Maine's two U.S. senators said the money will help the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention Cancer Prevention and Control Programs conduct more cancer surveillance. The senators said the Maine CDC can also increase access to cancer screening and improve outcomes for people with cancer. They said cancer is the leading cause of death in the state, and Maine has a higher cancer death rate than the U.S. as a whole. This investment in the Maine Department of Health and Humans Services will help to improve the health of Mainers and ultimately save lives," said Republican Sen. Susan Collins and independent Sen. Angus King. CONCORD, N.H. (AP) The head of a failed New Hampshire mortgage firm who bilked investors out of tens of millions of dollars has once again been denied a chance at early release. Scott Farah, whos served about two-thirds of a 15-year federal prison sentence, was denied a request for compassionate release last week by a federal judge. Farah cited his deteriorating mental health related to a previous unsuccessful plan for release, his age and weight, and the declining health of his aging father. BOSTON (AP) Coronavirus developments around New England: MASSACHUSETTS More than half the population of Massachusetts is now fully vaccinated from COVID-19, according to public health data released Saturday. Nearly 7.8 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Massachusetts as of Saturday. That includes more than 4.1 million first doses and nearly 3.4 million second doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. There have been more than 249,000 doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine administered. More than 3.6 million people have been fully immunized in the state. The number of new daily cases of COVID-19 increased by about 200 Saturday while the number of newly confirmed deaths in Massachusetts rose by nine. The new numbers pushed the states confirmed COVID-19 death toll to 17,504 since the start of the pandemic, while its confirmed caseload rose to about 661,000. The true number of cases is likely higher because studies suggest some people can be infected and not feel sick. There were about 240 people reported hospitalized Saturday because of confirmed cases of COVID-19, with about 70 in intensive care units. The average age of those hospitalized was 59. ___ MAINE Maine is continuing to make progress in vaccinating as many residents as possible against COVID-19. As of Saturday, more than 1.4 million vaccine doses have been administered in the state. More than 59% of the populate has received both doses. More than 715,000 first doses have been administered with about 699,000 final doses. ___ VERMONT Vermonts capital city plans to lift its indoor mask mandate on June 15. The Montpelier City Council voted Wednesday to do away with the mandate thats been in place for nearly a year, mychamplainvalley.com reported. Montpelier City Manager Bill Fraser and Assistant City Manager Cameron Niedermayer wanted guidance from other communities. We did reach out to other localities that put mandates in place. Most of them are still in place and will remain in place, they told me, until the governors state of emergency is rescinded, Niedermayer said. The South Burlington City Council revoked their mask mandate Tuesday night while council members in Vergennes voted to leave their mandate in place. Burlington decided to keep its mandate while the city council will discuss the issue again on June 7. Gov. Phil Scott says if Vermont reaches 80% of eligible people vaccinated, he will drop the remaining virus mandates. He said he expects that could happen this coming week. ___ NEW HAMPSHIRE New Hampshire is moving toward making it easier for paramedics and others to become nursing assistants to address workforce shortages exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. The Senate passed a bill Thursday that would allow certain military personnel, emergency medical technicians and paramedics to take the licensed nursing assistant exam without having to take the standard courses. The bill passed the House last month. It now goes to the governors desk. ___ RHODE ISLAND Rhode Islanders who've lost or misplaced their COVID-19 vaccine record or simply want another can get a free copy from the state. Residents can get the document through portal.ri.gov/VaccineRecord. From this website, residents can search for and print proof of their COVID-19 vaccination. If the individual needs a second dose of vaccine, the record will tell them when they're eligible for the second dose. Only people who have received their COVID-19 vaccination in Rhode Island will be able to look up their vaccination record online. Those having trouble finding their vaccination record online can call 401-222-8022 for help. ___ CONNECTICUT The number of COVID-19 cases has varied considerably by county in Connecticut. Fairfield county has recorded the most, nearly 100,000 cases, since the start of the pandemic, followed by New Haven with nearly 92,000 and Hartford with nearly 84,000, according to state health data. The remaining counties had considerably few cases. New London has reported more than 22,000 COVID-19 cases, followed by Litchfield with more than 14,000 cases, Middlesex with nearly 13,000, Windham with nearly 11,000 and Tolland with about 9,500. Statewide, Connecticut has reported more than 347,000 COVID-19 cases. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Alabama lawmakers have approved a program that would allow some state inmates to receive up to a year off their sentence by completing vocational or other training, although most prisoners will not be allowed to participate. An estimated 2,500 inmates out of state prison population of about 20,000 will be eligible to participate in the new program called the Alabama Education Incentive Time Act. It will allow inmates to earn up to 12 months off their sentence by completing vocational, apprenticeship or other educational programs. Supporters acknowledged that a relatively few number of inmates would qualify for the program, but called it a start that the state could build upon in the future. Sen. Clyde Chambliss, who sponsored the legislation, said research shows that inmates who complete quality education programs are much less likely to return to prison. If they can get a job when they get out, then they have a fighting chance, Chambliss, R-Prattville, said. However, the law as approved by lawmakers would exclude most state inmates under Alabama law. The program excludes inmates convicted of violent offenses, which under Alabama law includes many robbery and burglary convictions. Chambliss said state numbers showed an estimated 2,500 inmates would currently be eligible to participate. As of March, there were 16,907 inmates housed in state prisons, work release and community work centers, and about 8,000 more in the jurisdictional custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections. Chambliss called the bill a compromise. He said an earlier version would have let about 1,500 more inmates qualify. Cam Ward, director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, said qualifying inmates will get considered for parole earlier, although the release decision will be up the state parole board. It is a small number. But if it works than you can build upon it going forward, Ward said. Its a great idea. The Alabama Legislature has been slow to embrace sentencing changes. Ward, a former state senator and representative, said such a bill would have never passed five or six years ago. The law will exclude inmates from participating if they have been convicted of a class A or B felony classified as violent under Alabama law. However, state law classifies some robbery and burglary offenses as violent. We all think when we hear violent rape, murderers, child molestation, stuff like that, assault. In many cases you can have a burglary or robbery where a person was not physically harmed, Ward said. The legislation directs the Alabama Department of Corrections to get rules in place for the program next year. The U.S. Department of Justice has an ongoing lawsuit against the Alabama prison system. Federal officials contend male inmates in Alabama prisons live in unconstitutional conditions with high rates of inmate-on-inmate violence and a pattern of excessive force by staff. The state has disputed the findings. COLUMBIA, Md. (AP) A Maryland man has been charged with murder and rape in connection with the 1982 abduction and slaying of a woman who had been walking to the grocery store. Howard County Police announced Thursday that 62-year-old Howard Jackson Bradberry Jr. of Laurel was arrested at his home May 25. Vaccine roll-out: Clear and strict plan need of the hour By Kumudini Hettiarachchi and Ruqyyaha Deane View(s): View(s): The vaccine rollout against COVID-19 has been mired in controversy since its very inception. While ugly scenes were witnessed this week with powerful people demanding priority for their personal lists, nearly 600,000 men and women who received the first dose of AstraZenecas vaccine are sick with worry that they will not be able to get their second dose. Sri Lanka needs to come up with a quick but well-thought out plan to overcome this issue while allaying the concerns of the public, said the President of the Association of Medical Specialists (AMS), Dr. LakKumar Fernando said yesterday. He said that there is a shortage of vaccines and unwittingly Sri Lanka got stranded by placing its trust in assurances given by the World Health Organization (WHO) that the country would get adequate vaccines for 20-27% of its population. The country was to receive 1.7 million doses by June through the global vaccine initiative, COVAX, but has got only 264,000 doses up to now. To aggravate the crisis, Indias Serum Institute reneged on its promises to provide 1.5 million doses of COVISHIELD, even after Sri Lanka made the full payment. Without crying over what we should have done, the government needs to face the challenge and act promptly, said Dr. Fernando, calling for the setting up of a small group of experts to come up with an alternative plan in case the people who have got the first dose of AstraZeneca since mid-February, are unable to get the second from the same vaccine. A clear and strict vaccine roll-out plan even at this late stage is essential, he said. Having studied research and data from across the world, Dr. Fernando tells those who got the first dose of AstraZeneca that they can await their second dose in 16 weeks (four months). So those who got the jab in mid-February can hold on until mid-June, as they have developed a certain level of immunity against the virus. He stressed that the government needs to continue all efforts to secure the 600,000 doses needed for the second jab of AstraZenecas vaccine from a credible source with manufacturer guarantee. If, however, all such efforts fail, the government would have to decide on experts recommendations whether these people should start all over again and get a different vaccine or there would be mixing and matching of two vaccines but of the same base. A scientific option may also be to mix and match AstraZenecas vaccine and Gamaleyas Sputnik V vaccine as they are both developed on an adenovirus vector base. Sri Lanka could launch a clinical trial with people who are willing to participate, he added. Vaccination is the final rescue mission to put our programme on track to win the confidence of the public, while successfully beating the pandemic, the AMS said in a scathing statement issued on Thursday. In a statement titled COVID-19 vaccine roll-out What are we doing and who is responsible for the current mess?, the AMS said that they had witnessed the programme taking another dramatic turn with the display of thuggery by the Mayor of the Moratuwa Urban Council. It said: We have come to know about several such ugly acts of politicians in Kurunegala and Galle as well during this vaccine roll-out. We have already protested against certain high handed actions of a powerful health sector trade union in relation to administration of the second dose. The vaccine doses received by Sri Lanka so far: January 28 500,000 doses of AstraZenecas COVISHIELD (donation from India) February 25 500,000 doses of AstraZenecas COVISHIELD (purchased from India) March 7 264,000 doses of AstraZenecas COVISHIELD (from COVAX)March 31 600,000 doses of Sinopharm (donation from China)May 4 15,000 doses of Sputnik V (purchased from Russia)May 26 500,000 doses of Sinopharm (donation from China)May 27 50,000 doses of Sputnik V (purchased from Russia) Vaccines given to people AstraZenecas COVISHIELD: First dose to 925,242 (frontline workers and public) and second dose only to 341,962 people. Sinopharm: First dose to 563,409 Sputnik V: First dose to 14,984 No response from SPC Numerous calls and text messages to a high official of the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) by the Sunday Times to get a timeline for when the different varieties of vaccines would arrive in the country proved futile. Mucormycosis or black fungus With concern among the public about mucormycosis, clinicians have explained that this is not a new disease but has been around for decades. There is no evidence of an increased incidence of the disease up to now, assures the College of ENT and Head and Neck Surgeons of Sri Lanka. The ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgeons in Sri Lanka have the necessary skill and experience to manage rhino-cerebral mucormycosis with surgery and anti-fungal therapy, the college says. What is mucormycosis? Mucormycosis is a life-threatening fungal infection occurring in humans, according to the college. The Sunday Times understands that mucormycosis could be caused by exposure to mucor mould commonly found in soil, plants, manure and decaying fruits and vegetables. Pointing out that the commonest sites of involvement with this infection are the nose and paranasal sinuses, the college explains that the danger of the disease is its invasive nature which could lead to life-threatening complications or severe morbidity (disease) including blindness and other neurological complications. The college gives the following as causing an increased risk for this infection: Pre-existing diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hematological (blood and bone marrow) malignancies and HIV. Use of steroids while steroids are proven to be effective in improving the cytokine storm in COVID-19, especially pneumonia, it could lead to immuno-suppression and secondary infections such as mucormycosis. This is why steroids should be used under the guidance of doctors. Severity of the COVID-19 infection as it suppresses or alters the systemic immune response to secondary infections. The college gives the early symptoms of sino-nasal mucormycosis as: Headache with nasal obstruction especially if it is not responding to simple analgesics Nasal discharge which is brownish or bloodstained Fever Facial pain or facial numbness Swelling and/or discolouration of the face Swelling and/or discolouration of the palate Teeth becoming loosened ATLANTA (AP) Police said a 2-year-old Atlanta child was found safe Sunday after her mother was stabbed in what investigators described as a violent domestic dispute. The Atlanta Police Department said in a news release that a relative brought 2-yr-old Tamar Massey to authorities. Police had initially asked for the publics assistance in locating the child after she was taken from her home by the suspect in the stabbing. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A cookie wrapper nearly put Nashvilles police chief in prison for a long time. Well, a cookie wrapper, Chief John Drake said, and racism. When he was a kid growing up in East Nashville, Drake always visited Weiss Market on Main Street to buy the $1 cookies. I used to eat them like crazy, he said. Months before he graduated from East High School, Drake got called into his guidance counselors office. Two white Metro Police officers in plain clothes were waiting for him. They told the teenager about a rape and beating of an 89-year-old woman in the neighborhood, Drake said. They told him theyd found a cookie wrapper at the scene. A wrapper from the same cookies he loved. I was scared to death, Drake said. Then the officers showed him a picture of the suspect, a Black man who appeared to be at least 10 years older than Drake, he said. His fear turned to anger. They asked me, Doesnt that look like you? And I said, No, that looks nothing like me. All Black people dont look alike. The officers left with an ominous warning for the teenager: We have enough to build a circumstantial case against you. Later, police processed a fingerprint the attacker left at the scene, and it didnt match Drakes, so the graduating senior was ruled out as a suspect. Still, the incident left Drake upset andfeeling violated. I didnt like the police after that, he said. I grew up not having a lot of trust. It wasnt his familys first traumatic experience with white officers. THE TAILLIGHT WAS OUT In 1974, when Drake was 9 years old, an older cousin died when his motorcycle collided with a patrol car. In a Tennessean story about the crash, Metro Police said Drakes cousin, Little Page Drake Jr., smashed his motorcycle into the police cruiser going the opposite way during a high-speed chase through East Nashville. The three-vehicle chase started when a police officer turned on his cruisers blue lights after noticing the motorcycles tail light was out, Metro Police said. During the chase, the motorcycle collided with an on-coming police sergeants cruiser, police said. The sergeant told the newspaper he tried to avoid hitting the motorcycle. But one witness told The Tennessean the police sergeant suddenly pulled his cruiser in front of Drakes motorcycle. Chief Drake said he grew up being told and believing white police officers may have intentionally killed his cousin. Still, Drake was close with another cousin who idolized the kind, honorable Black police officers living in his neighborhood. That cousin, Paul Flournoy, convinced Drake to apply to the police academy with him. Of course there were bad stories (about police), but there were good stories, too, Flournoy told the Tennessean. Why cant we become policemen and change things? Flournoy urged Drake. Why cant we be police that people can look up to? That resonated with Drake, who, smiling, added, Paul always talked me into stuff. After a 32-year climb through the ranks, Drake, 56, was named police chief last year. I believe in change, and in fact, I embrace change, Drake said that day. I am here to tell you change is coming. Drake inherited several challenges around the issue of race: A Nashville Community Oversight board study this year found the Metro Nashville Police Department disqualified Black candidates at a higher rate during the past five years than their white counterparts. In 2018, the New York-based Policing Project found Black drivers in Nashville are stopped at 44 percent higher rate than white drivers. Even taking into account extra patrolling in high crime areas, where more people of color live, the report said, unexplained racial disparity still remains. A 2016 Tennessean story showed Nashvilles police department has a disproportionately high number of white officers compared to the citys population. About 85 percent of Nashvilles officers were white and 12 percent were Black, according to the most recent survey by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. In 2019, Nashvilles population was 63 percent white and 28 percent Black, U.S. Census figures show. The gulf is wider here than in Memphis, Knoxville, Atlanta, Austin, Denver and other comparable cities. As Drake tackles these issues, he wants Nashvillians to know his first-hand experience with racism in policing. In Nashville. We cant keep ignoring it exists, first and foremost. We have to be able to talk about it; we have to be able to share our experiences the way I do, he said. When it comes to this profession, the way Im trying to build trust is by being transparent, being honest and open. And that includes sharing his story of being falsely accused of raping and beating an elderly woman when he was a teenager, a story he sometimes tells his officers and trainees. When people see my uniform, they dont see what Ive gone through. I want to make sure while Im here, I can make it better. HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP) A highway section near the University of Southern Mississippi has been named to honor a civil rights pioneer who was wrongfully convicted after he tried to enroll at the all-white university in the 1950s. The Hattiesburg American reported that a ceremony was held Thursday to name a section of U.S. Highway 49 in honor of Clyde Kennard, the first Black student to apply for admission to the university. Kennard, an Army veteran, was denied admission when he applied in 1955 and again in 1959. Legislators voted to name the segment of highway for Kennard during the 2021 legislative session. Kennard was convicted of purchasing $25 worth of chicken feed he knew to be stolen in 1960 and sentenced to seven years in prison. Posthumous investigations into Kennards case showed the charges against Kennard were fabricated, and the only witness against him has recanted his testimony. A judge in 2006 threw out the conviction. Kennard died in 1963, after being released from prison early because he had intestinal cancer. Dennis Dahmer, son of slain civil rights leader Vernon Dahmer, said stories like Kennards need to be told so younger people can be inspired by the generations who have gone before them, the newspaper reported. It is a horrific story of how the Mississippi justice system was used to thwart the integration of USM and lead directly to Clydes untimely death, Dahmer said. Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker said the marker will flank the very campus where Kennard was denied the opportunity to continue his education. As I was getting ready this morning, a word that came to mind was redemption. Redemption acknowledges the wrong and the collective failure of humanity, he said. Redemption doesnt undo the injustice, but it can repent for it. It can work to correct it. It can bend that arc of the moral universe. As Theodore Parker and Martin Luther King Jr. said, a little more toward justice. LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) The shelter at Oasis A Safe Haven the only Lake Charles-based nonprofit shelter for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse remains closed and stripped down to the studs, nearly nine months after Hurricane Lauras destructive landfall. Victims either have to stay at shelters outside the area or wind up returning to their abuser. Kathy Williams, Oasis executive director, said Tuesday that its unclear when the shelter which can house up to 33 people will reopen. The $145,313 paid out by the insurance company is well below the nearly $800,000 worth of damages the facility suffered during Hurricanes Laura and Delta. The closest domestic violence shelters are in Jennings, nearly 40 miles east, or DeRidder, nearly 50 miles north, Williams said. There are 15 domestic violence shelters throughout Louisiana. Oasis is the only local shelter for domestic violence victims in Calcasieu, Allen and Cameron parishes, and the only shelter for victims of sexual violence in Southwest Louisianas five-parish area, which also includes Beauregard and Jeff Davis parishes. I can promise you we would be full if we were open, Williams, a survivor of domestic abuse, said of the shelter. I know what its like to be beat up and not have a place to go, so I know what these (victims) are going through, staying at home, being abused. The education building at Oasis, which assists with after-school and summer playgroups for children, is also gutted, Williams said. ROADBLOCKS Purchasing a 12-passenger van to transport victims to out-of-town shelters has been impossible, Williams said. The nonprofit received a $25,000 grant and has other money set aside to purchase a van. We went to dealerships all over the place, and they cant find a van to give us an estimate on, she said. Everything is shut down from COVID-19, and it just trickles down. Its crazy. Putting victims on a Greyhound bus to a nearby shelter isnt an option either, Williams said. The bus service isnt stopping in Lake Charles because of damages caused by Hurricane Laura. Its really difficult right now to leave, Williams said. Hotels are full too, or theyre $250 a night. The post-hurricane housing shortage has made it challenging for victims to get out of an abusive situation, even if they can afford to move, Williams said. If you have money and want to find a place to rent, good luck, she said. Its just one thing right after another. Oasis has received more calls from victims asking for protective orders, Williams said. The facility hasnt received many calls from victims asking about the shelter. However, she said, many residents know the shelter isnt open. The word is pretty much out, she said. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso said domestic violence cases are down 15 percent from the same time last year, with sex crimes down 22 percent. The sheriff said hes unsure as to why these numbers have dropped, with one possible reason being that Calcasieu Parish has fewer residents since Hurricane Laura. Im not sure if its because (those crimes) are not being reported, Mancuso added. I hope thats not the case. Hopefully, people are seeing the signs of abuse early and getting out of those relationships. The shelter continues to receive plenty of calls to take in the homeless, Williams said. The facility can only shelter domestic violence and sexual assault victims. There is a huge homeless population in Lake Charles, she said. INSURANCE DISPUTE One issue of contention between Oasis and the insurance company involves the shelters subfloor, Williams said. The main shelter sits on piers, but Williams said that water impacted the subfloor from underneath and from the roof during the hurricanes. When (contractors) tore up the tiles and the wood floor, the subfloor was reading 60 percent moisture, Williams said. The insurance company wanted them to cut out pieces of the subfloor, instead of replacing the whole thing. Februarys freezing temperatures caused 25 pipes to burst and brought 1-2 inches of water throughout the shelter, Williams said. If the subfloor wasnt ruined before, it was then, she said. We were kind of lucky to be down to the studs when those pipes broke. The insurance money Oasis received helped pay for new roofs throughout the facility, including the shelter, administrative and education buildings. A $50,000 deposit paid for mitigation work, which included drying out and gutting all buildings. Thats where were at, Williams said. Oasis has signed a contract with its attorney to push the insurance claim along, Williams said. She said the contractor has indicated the insurance company appears close to agreeing on a settlement. Something will happen if they dont settle soon, she said. CONTINUED SERVICES Aside from the forcing the shelter to close, Hurricanes Laura and Delta did not interrupt any of the services Oasis provides, Williams said. All of the 11 full-time staff suffered significant housing damage from the storms, yet continued to assist victims throughout the region. One of the centers outreach advocates was given a cell phone weeks before Hurricane Laura, with the rest of the staff transferring their phones to it when they evacuated. The sexual assault hotline was transferred to a staffers personal phone. We were still able to get all of our calls, she said. Our outreach advocates never missed a beat. They stayed in touch with all of their clients throughout the parishes. Outreach advocates help victims in various ways, including support groups, and one-on-one meetings to help with recovery from trauma. Because some victims of domestic violence continue to live with their abuser, the advocates also offer victms a plan for them to live as safely as possible until they can leave the situation, Williams said. The sexual assault group includes a volunteer coordinator, community educator and outreach coordinator. One is on call 24 hours a day for cases when a rape victim is taken to a hospital. After victims are released from the hospital, an outreach advocate follows up to offer additional support. Oasis staff also assist with legal advocacy, community education and a 24-hour crisis hotline. Williams said the hurricanes, COVID-19, Februarys freeze and last weeks flood are factors that can lead to increased abuse. Its probably worse right now because youre at home, you have no place to go, and the abusive person is there with you, she said. Any little thing can trigger a mood. The Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault recently awarded Oasis with the Sexual Assault Program of the Year award in Baton Rouge. AURORA, Colo. (AP) Elchin Dadashov has wanted to be a police officer in the United States since he was 10 years old. He was that age when the Soviet Union collapsed, and the scrim of the iron curtain was lifted from his native Azerbaijan. As a new galaxy of books, films and television shows inundated his world, one movie in particular became ingrained in the mind of the young boy living in an urban area 8 kilometers from the capital city of Baku. It was an American feature that followed Los Angeles police officers as they endeavored to fight crime amid palm trees and neon lights. I forget the name of the movie, I mean Im 39 now, Dadashov said in a recent phone interview. But from 10 years (old) I wanted to be a police officer in the United States. The Aurora resident made a leap toward that goal in 2018 when he finally made it through the annual green card lottery and made his way to New York. From there, he met an Azerbaijani acquaintance in Colorado and started working security jobs while applying to become a law enforcement officer with various Front Range agencies. He first applied to positions with the Colorado State Patrol and the Arapahoe County Sheriffs Office, but twice failed English language examinations administered during the hiring process. He then applied to a position with the police department in Aurora, where he passed the English exam after taking months of language courses, he said. A City of Aurora spokesperson confirmed Dadashov was interviewed on May 19 to become an entry-level officer via the June academy, but his application was rejected two days later. Aurora allowed non-citizen permanent residents to apply to the citys police and fire departments in 2019. Before he applied for a position on the Aurora police force, Dadashov signed up to volunteer with the department as a Russian language interpreter and to aid a volunteer team that is sometimes called upon to search for people who go missing in the city. In January 2020, he got a volunteer identification card, a lanyard and a reflective vest emblazoned with Aurora Police Department text, and waited to participate in the program. Shortly thereafter, the COVID-19 pandemic threw the departments volunteers into an indefinite purgatory. The group of mostly senior residents, who are generally assigned clerical and sometimes liturgical work for Aurora police, were told to wait for further instructions. Theyve yet to receive any, and the program remains effectively paused. So Dadashov, who served one year in the Azerbaijani army after finishing his university studies in computer programming, continued working as a security guard, mostly trudging through a graveyard shift tasked with protecting marijuana shops across the Front Range. He regularly commuted to Longmont from his home in the citys Pheasant Run neighborhood via the Denver-Boulder Turnpike in his white Ford Crown Victoria. After his regular shift on April 19, a Colorado State trooper pulled Dadashov over as he was heading south on Interstate 25 in Denver. A 31-year-old man called 911 to report Dadashovs Crown Vic as it sped past him on Highway 36 because it looked suspicious, according to recently released Colorado State Patrol records. In his final report, the trooper who pulled Dadashov over noted the words special response vehicle were stamped beside a fallen hero vanity plate and a thin blue line flag sticker on the outside of his car, which also sported a panel of lights on the roof and a push bar on the front grill. Inside the car, troopers noticed a cage separating the front and backseats, a laptop mounted on the dashboard and a holstered shotgun along the center console. A reflective vest denoting Aurora Police volunteer was draped on the passenger seat. Trooper Galen Peterson found Dadashov wearing a tidy black uniform bedecked with a reverse American flag on his right shoulder, a black and white security patch on the left side of his chest, a bullet-proof vest, and a body-worn camera. He had his Aurora police lanyard around his neck, with the Aurora police volunteer laminated ID card visible through a clear plastic casing. On his waist he was wearing a duty belt adorned with pepper spray, a Glock handgun and a gold badge bearing the word officer. At this point, he appeared as a police officer to me, Peterson, who has worked in the field for seven years, wrote of the initial interaction. Authorities found three knives, four sets of handcuffs, three handgun magazines and 5.56 millimeter rifle ammunition in the car after determining Dadashov was not employed by Aurora police and he was not a licensed law enforcement professional in Colorado. Dadashov was briefly placed into handcuffs, but eventually released after Peterson concluded he couldnt meet the statutory threshold to arrest him as his actions didnt qualify as impersonating a police officer under state law. Upon examining the (Colorado Revised Statutes) we decided that driving aggressively in a patrol car as if an officer trying to get through traffic to a call or to catch up with a traffic violator did not constitute an act as in the statute, Peterson wrote. The state law outlining the crime of impersonating a peace officer states: A person who falsely pretends to be a peace officer and performs an act in that pretended capacity commits impersonating a peace officer. The language, which was last updated in 2004, is classified as a class 6 felony and carries a punishment of up to 18 months of incarceration and $100,000 in fines. It did not qualify based on the statute as a police impersonator, Trooper Josh Lewis, spokesman for Colorado State Patrol, said about a month after the incident. An act is essentially something that law enforcement would do, so stopping a vehicle, running with lights activated, effecting an arrest, something like that where a person purports to be a law enforcement officer by their actions. Dadashov was insistent that he never used his overhead lights while driving home from Longmont on April 19, according to State Patrol records. Lewis said the State Patrol investigation into the encounter has been closed, but could be reopened if new information becomes available. Dadashov was then released, and agreed to follow troopers to a nearby substation for further questioning. He explained that he was a volunteer with Aurora police, and that he had purchased all of his tactical equipment himself as a means of protecting himself during the course of his work as a security guard. He said he keeps his Aurora police-branded material with him so he is always ready if police ask him to aid in a missing persons search, or if he passes motorists in distress. He was let go and never cited or charged with any crime. At the end of his report, Peterson noted that while we did not feel there was enough to convict based on the act portion, that there is a huge perception piece and that if a person felt he was trying to pull them over based on his driving in his appearance, he would have a problem. Authorities later returned all of Dadashovs weapons, which they had seized while he was being questioned. For his part, Dadashov said he understands the prospect of a police impersonation accusation a spokesperson for State Patrol titled a press release detailing the April incident suspected police impersonator but that his appearance and equipment are standard for hired security professionals, such as Denver Metro Protection Services and Front Range Patrol. Neither of those companies require patrol workers to be certified with the state licensing board, according to job requirements posted on their websites. Its just some misunderstanding where somebody called, he said. Thats why there was no charging. Dadashov said he almost never uses the flashing lights atop his car, but he has turned them on various times in Aurora to prevent other motorists from sliding into the back of stuck or stranded cars during winter storms. He said hes never attempted to pull someone over. No, never, Im not stupid, he said. Convicted or suspected police impersonators are common across the country, including those who attempt to scam people on the phone, rob others in person, or simply appear to be in a position of authority. Such was the case of a Florida man with a history of impersonation who was arrested on a weapons charge near Orlando in March after he was seen leading a police-style motorcycle escort adorned with a gun, pepper spray, a baton, body camera and radio. The suspect later told police that he carried the weapon he was not permitted to have on his person in an effort to intimidate residents he approached, according to WKMG-TV Orlando. The dynamic of asserting dominance over others could be one explanation as to why a person would mimic the garb and gear of a police officer, according to Apryl Alexander, associate professor at the University of Denvers graduate school of professional psychology. When I hear about these types of stories I think about power and control, which is dynamic that we see in situations like domestic violence and other situations where someone is trying to maintain a position of authority, she said. Dadashov is adamant that he procured all of his tactical gear as a means to protect himself while guarding marijuana shops, a notion that has been solidified after robbery attempts at stores hes stood sentry for, he said. He also keeps freeze-dried meals in his car to give to anyone he may pass who is in peril or trapped in their vehicle in the winter. Its actually standard gear, Dadashov said of his arsenal. For security work, you never know. In 2016, a Marine Corps veteran who was working as a security guard at the Green Heart dispensary in Aurora was shot and killed during a late night robbery attempt. The man who was killed, 24-year-old Travis Mason, also had plans to become a police officer, according to family members. He was shot three times, including once in the head, and his murder remains unsolved. Tim Cullen, CEO of Colorado Harvest Company, a marijuana firm with a shop on East Yale Avenue, said security at dispensaries across the metroplex became more serious following Masons death five years ago. He said he contracts with a third-party firm that vets the guards who keep tabs on his shop 24 hours a day. As the industry has found ways to move away from cash-only transactions by implementing cashless ATMs and delivery services via smartphone apps, Cullen said break-in attempts at his store have dwindled. We have not had an incident occur at our stores in knock on wood its been quite a while now, and its not dumb luck. Its a waste of your time to try to get in there, he said. I think the word finally got out that there is no cash or product in my stores. Still, Dadashov told state troopers that he bought equipment like his tricked out car for his security job because (of) the presence it has, according to Petersons report. At night he feels it has more impact than a normal vehicle. Rick Johnson, a Denver-based private investigator who regularly sniffs out public corruption and fraud cases, said he believes people who wear tactical gear without being sworn peace officers are seeking social grandeur. In 2016, Aurora Public Schools hired Johnson to investigate former school board director Eric Nelson, who was later found to have lied about a slew of credentials on his resume. Its a power trip, obviously, he said of Dadashovs actions. But I find it very unusual that they didnt cite him or arrest him I would think Aurora PD would be livid I mean livid with whats going on. An Aurora detective also spoke with and interviewed Dadashov, but no local charges were recommended. Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson said its been years since a police impersonator was spotted in Aurora, though any such cases should be thoroughly investigated. We do not take that lightly, she said of the recent incident involving Dadashov. A spokesperson for Attorney General Phil Weisers Office deferred comment on the matter to the office of Denver District Attorney Beth McCann as the incident occurred in her jurisdiction, leaving any potential prosecution to her attorneys. A representative from McCanns office did not respond to requests for comment by press deadline. A spokesperson for the Aurora Police Department condemned anyone who imitates a police officer and warned anyone who believes they may be in contact with such a person to turn on their hazard lights, call 911 and drive to a public parking lot. Police impersonators can pose a great danger to safety to unsuspecting citizens and officers alike, Officer Crystal McCoy wrote in an email. When a citizen is in contact with any officer they should examine their uniform for a police patch, name tag, duty belt gear (body-worn camera, a presence of a police radio, handcuffs, firearms) and can request a department issued business card. They can always call the non-emergency number or 911 if needed to verify the identity of an officer they are in contact with. If in the presence of a police officer they can ask the officer to have a sergeant or any superior to respond to the scene. The situation may allow for a citizen to take out their phone and photograph/video the individual they are in contact with. This is very common for police officers to be filmed or photographed and may aid in identifying an impersonator if that becomes the case. Aurora police warned residents to be leery of potential impersonators at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last spring after a woman claimed she was stopped by a suspected impersonator in late March. The woman later admitted to local prosecutors that she had fabricated the story in an effort to get additional pandemic-related resources from her employer. The charge of impersonating a police officer has been filed eight times in Auroras two judicial districts in the past three years, though only one case was based in the city, and the charge was eventually dismissed, according to spokespeople for the 17th and 18th Judicial District Attorneys Offices. The lone local accusation was levied against a woman who purported to be a corrections officer as she was applying to get a job as a bounty hunter. The same woman, who is transgender, has a lengthy criminal history in the state and has previously sued the state Department of Corrections for violating her constitutional rights by incarcerating her in prisons and jails with men. Other impersonation cases in Arapahoe County centered on a 29-year-old man who authorities said last year contacted a salon worker claiming he was a Lone Tree Police officer, and another 20-year-old man who in 2018 pulled a person over in Elbert County while driving a truck dressed with flashing gold and white lights and a siren, according to court records. After interacting with Dadashov, authorities confiscated his Aurora police department paraphernalia, officials said in a news release issued last month. The manager of the police departments volunteer program, Claudine McDonald, said Dadashov has been effectively taken out of the program. She said he has received formal communication informing him that he is no longer welcome to lend his efforts as a volunteer. The entire volunteer program is in the process of being retooled, McDonald said. But the Azerbaijani national said he is still waiting for a call alerting him that the volunteer program is back up and running, and hes ready to provide Russian translation services whenever needed. He can also help with Azerbaijani, Ukranian and Turkish in a pinch, too. For now, hes studying his English-as-a-second-language homework between security shifts, readying himself to become an American police officer. Its my oldest dream, he said. Dadashov said he still drives to work in his decked-out 2009 Crown Victoria, even though he reportedly mentioned to authorities that he would get rid of it, according to the State Patrol report. He has no criminal history in Colorado, and hes never made a district court appearance, according to state records. That Dadashov wasnt charged with a crime following his recent encounter with the law worries Alexander, who said she hadnt even heard of the incident until last week. One of the biggest concerns in the public right now is lack of accountability and justice, she said. I just hope nothing comes of this. Thats kind of my biggest worry: What if something does happen and were going to look back on this and here was an incident that we didnt take seriously. At the end of his report, Trooper Peterson noted that Dadashov appeared completely at ease and the tone was conversational, according to the State Patrol file. He mentioned that he didnt cite him for possible traffic infractions like driving without a front license plate due to his cooperative attitude. He really wants to become a police officer, he wrote. CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Sunday that his country will return to stricter lockdown measures in the face of a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases that indicate the virus is surging again in Africa's worst-affected nation. Positive cases in South Africa in the past seven days were 31% higher than the week before, and 66% higher than the week before that, Ramaphosa said in a live TV address. He said some parts of the country, including the commercial hub Johannesburg and the capital city Pretoria, were now in a third wave." We do not yet know how severe this wave will be or for how long it will last, Ramaphosa said. In response, Ramaphosa said that from Monday the nighttime curfew would be extended by an hour to start at 11 p.m. until 4 a.m. A maximum of 100 people would be allowed at indoor social gatherings and no more than 250 at an outdoors gathering. The number of people attending funerals will be limited to 100 people and after-funeral gatherings were banned completely, Ramaphosa said. Nonessential businesses must close by 10 p.m. We have tended to become complacent, Ramaphosa said, warning virus infections were surging again at a time when the country moves into its winter months and people were more likely to gather together indoors, likely further increasing infections. South Africa's decision to go back to a stricter lockdown reinforces as the crisis in India has already done so starkly how the global pandemic is far from over. We have seen in other countries the tragic consequences of leaving the virus to spread unchecked, Ramaphosa said. We cannot let our guard down. South Africa has more than 1.6 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 56,000 deaths, more than 30% of the cases and 40% of the deaths recorded by all of Africas 54 countries, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. South Africa recorded 4,515 new cases over the past 24 hours and Ramaphosa said the positivity rate among tests conducted was now a cause for concern. South Africa had been under lockdown level one, the lowest of its five levels, but was now reverting to an adjusted level two," Ramaphosa announced. Authorities did stop short of reimposing the strict measures like limits on people's movements during the day and a ban on the sales of alcohol and tobacco products that were in place at times last year. South Africa has seen two previous surges in infections, the first in the middle of last year and a second, much worse wave in December and January, when the emergence of a variant pushed infections and deaths to higher levels than the first surge. The virus was currently following the same trajectory" as those waves, Ramaphosa said. Experts have warned that this wave, arriving with the Southern Hemisphere winter, might be even worse. The surge in cases also cast more attention on South Africa's lagging vaccine rollout. Only around 1.5% of the country's 60 million people have received a vaccine. Health workers were the No. 1 priority but less than 500,000 of the 1.2 million health workers have been vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson one-dose shot. South Africa only began vaccinating its elderly citizens two weeks ago. In total, 963,000 South Africans had received a vaccine by Sunday, the government said, although half of those have only received the first of two required doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. South Africa has "secured" more than 50 million vaccines, Ramaphosa said, but currently has only 1.3 million doses in the country that are ready to be rolled out. More Pfizer-BioNTech doses are expected to arrive next week, and weekly after that, he said. South Africa hopes to vaccinate around 40 million people by the end of the year, a target that looks increasingly unlikely. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) Aa suspect has been arrested in connection with the death of a Scottsdale man whose body was found in a Phoenix park, according to authorities. Maricopa County Sheriffs officials said 28-year-old Edward Nichole Hughes has been booked into jail on suspicion of homicide, probation violations, assault, criminal trespass and burglary. RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) A jailed suspect denies any involvement in a series of BB gun shootings that shattered windows of about 100 vehicles on Southern California freeways. Jesse Leal Rodriguez was arrested last week and charged with attempted murder and other crimes in connection with a BB gun attack that broke a window of a Tesla. The charges deal only with a single attack and not the many other similar attacks on dozens of vehicles in recent weeks. All the incidents are under investigation, and more charges could be filed in the future, prosecutors said Friday. In a jailhouse interview with the Southern California News Group, Rodriguez denied being involved in any of the shootings. I didnt do any of them, he said. Not one person has reported that they saw me shoot. The Riverside County District Attorneys Office declined to directly address his statements. Rodriguez is scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday. The 34-year-old said he doesn't have an attorney. Authorities said a Tesla was shot at Tuesday in the city of Norco and the vehicles video system captured footage of a maroon Chevrolet Trailblazer around the same time. Later that evening, authorities pulled over a Trailblazer and arrested the driver, Rodriguez. A BB gun and BBs were found in the vehicle, a police statement said. Rodriguez said he regularly traveled the freeways where the attacks happened because he worked in construction throughout Southern California. The Anaheim resident said he was two weeks from completing training to obtain his contractors license at the time of his arrest. Investigators are still reviewing many videos from freeway and other cameras, officials said. The news group reported that Rodriguez was convicted of firearms violations in 2010 and 2012 and he admitted in 2012 to being part of a criminal Orange County street gang. He said he is trying to put all that behind him. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has corroborated the news that a private jet from India has landed at Douglas-Charles Airport in Dominica as fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi continues to be in detention of Dominica Police. Speaking to a radio show in his country, Browne confirmed that India had sent a private jet to Dominica along with documents pertaining to the deportation of Mehul Choksi. Tweeting a picture of the jet, Antigua Newsroom posted, "PM confirms Private Jet in Dominica is from India." PM confirms Private Jet in Dominica is from India https://t.co/239DMbda8I via @AntiguaNewsRoom a AntiguaNewsRoom (@AntiguaNewsRoom) May 30, 2021 Meanwhile, no immediate official confirmation came from the Indian authorities about it. A Qatar Airways private jet landed at the Dominican airport on Saturday, Antigua News Room reported, which led to conjectures about the deportation of Choksi, who was detained in the Caribbean island nation after his mysterious disappearance from neighbouring Antigua and Barbuda. Also Read: Mehul Choksi repatriation: No evidence he was abducted, forcibly taken to Dominica, says Antigua police chief Browne told the radio show that the jet came from India carrying necessary documentation needed for the deportation of the businessman, the media outlet reported. Publicly available data of Qatar Executive flight A7CEE shows that it left the Delhi airport at 3.44 pm on May 28 and reached Dominica at 13.16 local time on the same day, via Madrid. The Dominica High Court has stayed the removal of Choksi from its soil and placed a gag order on the developments until the matter is heard in an open court on June 2 Choksi has alleged that he was abducted from Jolly Harbour in Antigua and Barbuda by policemen looking like Antiguan and Indian and taken to Dominica Also Read: Mehul Choksi's photos from Dominica surface; show him behind bars, with injury marks Purported pictures of 62-year-old Choksi that have surfaced in Dominica show him with a red swollen eye and bruises on his hands. Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted for allegedly siphoning Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) using letters of undertaking While Modi is in a London prison after being repeatedly denied bail and is contesting his extradition to India, Choksi took citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 using the Citizenship by Investment programme before fleeing India in the first week of January 2018. The scam came to light subsequently Both are facing a CBI probe. (With inputs from PTI.) How I discovered Dante By Seneka Abeyratne View(s): View(s): Of all the cities Ive visited, Florence is my favourite. Ive been there only once, way back in the mid-70s. But I fell in love with it instantly. The old city with its rabbit warren of narrow streets and passages, churches, museums, shops, and restaurants, not to mention the River Arno flowing nonchalantly under the famed Ponte Vecchio is so picturesque that the moment you step into it, you enter a state of heightened consciousness. The feeling of wonder and excitement that the splendour of Florence produces is so strong that it is almost palpable. After all, it was in Florence that the Renaissance in art and architecture began in the 15th Century and spread to the rest of Europe. I have a clear recollection of climbing a hill and gazing down at the city and telling myself: Wow, this is where it all began! I never imagined that one day I would be visiting the birthplace of the Renaissance and immersing myself in its charming ambience. During that time (15th and 16th centuries), Florence was ruled by the House of Medici, a powerful and wealthy banking family and political dynasty, which poured money into the arts and sciences. One of the early Renaissance painters sponsored by this dynasty (there were several others too) was Sandro Botticelli, who produced many great works of art, including The Birth of Venus and Primavera (both are housed in the Uffizi Gallery.) Botticelli was born and bred in Florence and spent most of his life there. Florence was as much a part of Botticelli as Botticelli was of Florence. The author that Botticelli admired most was the poet Dante Alighieri, who lived about 200 years before him. He too was a Florentine whose love for his native city was perhaps even greater than Botticellis. But unlike Botticelli, Dante went into politics and was banished from Florence by his enemies. The mental anguish and emotional trauma he experienced nearly drove him over the edge. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise for it was in exile that he produced his greatest work The Divine Comedy, an epic narrative poem in three interconnected parts: Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The essence of The Divine Comedy (consisting of 100 cantos) is that to reach heaven, one must pass through hell and attain purification of the soul. And hell, as envisioned by Dante, is an utterly morbid place where one encounters all sorts of terrifying creatures (including Satan himself), who derive sadistic pleasure from subjecting those who are unfortunate to end up there to extreme forms of torture and punishment. The Divine Comedy, when it first appeared in print, had such an impact on the people of Italy that church attendance shot up dramatically! The poem (widely regarded as one of the greatest works of world literature) is written in the first person with the pilgrim Dante himself assuming the role of the narrator. During his epic journey of self-discovery, he is accompanied at various times by three guides: Virgil (his role model representing human reason), Beatrice (his true love representing faith and grace), and St Bernard of Clairvaux (a 12th-century Benedictine monk representing meditative mysticism). The Divine Comedy, though it explores a range of religious, historical, political and philosophical themes, is written in the vernacular. In fact Dante is credited with having unified the unwieldy Italian language into a cohesive whole and ignited the flame of the Italian Renaissance in literature in the 14th century. The Divine Comedy, which has inspired a huge number of writers, artists, and intellectuals, is one of the most widely read books of all time. Botticelli was so captivated by the poem that he produced an illustrated version of it in the form of 92 drawings. Perhaps the most famous of these is the Map of Hell (La Mappa dellInferno) which figures prominently in Dan Browns gripping novel, Inferno. So, how did I discover Dante? Well, prior to visiting Florence I was familiar with the great Renaissance artists Botticelli, da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Bellini, Gorgione, and Titian, to name a few and was thrilled to see some of their works displayed in the various art galleries, including the Uffizi and the Accademia. The zenith of my short visit was seeing Michelangelos celebrated sculpture David in the Accademia. The emotional high I experienced upon encountering this masterpiece was identical to what I felt upon encountering his equally famous sculpture La Pieta in St Peters Basilica, Rome, a couple of days earlier. My final stop was the Florence Cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, and this was where I discovered Dante, vis-a-vis a fresco by Domenico di Michelino (a Renaissance artist) of the author holding a copy of his epic poem and standing at the entrance to hell. Dante was new to me and so was his tour de force. Upon returning to Toronto (where I was studying at the time), the first thing I did was to buy a copy of The Divine Comedy and read it from cover to cover over a period of several months. What astonished me was the power of Dantes imagination, the depth of his intellect, and his ability to create a major work of fiction in verse form that holds the readers attention door to door. Ironically, The Divine Comedy is anything but comic for it is full of strange encounters and terrifying incidents! But love is the connective tissue that binds the three parts of the poem together. One might call it the overarching theme. (Italy is marking the 700th anniversary of Dantes death this year with a year-long programme of events) MURRAY, Iowa (AP) A third teenager has died after a freight train hit the pickup truck he was riding in with three other teens on Thursday, and the fourth teen remains hospitalized. Iowa State Patrol spokesman Sgt. Alex Dinkla said Saturday that Rylon Cook, 15, of Osceola had died from his injuries. Authorities had previously said that Brooklynn Eggers, 14, and Gavin Werner, 15, who were both from Murray, Iowa, had died at the scene of the crash in rural south-central Iowa. JENNINGS, Mo. (AP) A 2-year-old boy was killed and a woman was critically hurt when a vehicle hit them as they were crossing a street in a St. Louis suburb. Police said the vehicle fled after crashing into the pedestrians shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday in Jennings, Missouri, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for 10 Cuban migrants who went missing last week after their boat capsized 16 miles south of Key West. Authorities had rescued two women and six men on Thursday and recovered two bodies. The Coast Guard, partner Department of Defense and local agency crews searched continuously the past three days to locate the missing 10 people, Capt. Adam Chamie, the Coast Guard's commander of the Key West sector, said in a statement. The decision to suspend a search is always difficult and is made after careful consideration of all the facts. Our deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones impacted by this tragedy," he said. The Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force and other agencies launched a search for the others, but did not locate any of the missing people. Survivors told authorities they left Cuba on Sunday and their vessel sank Wednesday evening. The search encompassed an area about the size of New Hampshire, the Coast Guard said. The survivors were found in the water Thursday while a Coast Guard crew was on routine patrol. Coast Guard crews have interdicted 308 Cubans at sea since October, 200 of them in the past two months. Only 49 Cubans were interdicted by the agency between October 2019 and September 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic halted travel and prompted lockdowns. LONDON (AP) The British government may require National Health Service workers to be inoculated against COVID-19 a contentious proposal that was immediately criticized by opposition leaders as counterproductive. The U.K. government's vaccine minister, Nadhim Zahawi, told Sky News on Sunday that officials were considering the move in hopes of preventing medical workers from spreading COVID-19 to their patients. The government has already asked the public to comment on a similar requirement for care home employees. Its absolutely the right thing and would be incumbent on any responsible government to have the debate, to do the thinking as to how we go about protecting the most vulnerable by making sure that those who look after them are vaccinated, Zahawi said. There is precedent for this. Obviously, surgeons get vaccinated for hepatitis B, so it is something that we are absolutely thinking about. British authorities are scrambling to protect their plans to lift all COVID-19 restrictions on June 21, allowing people to enjoy their summer holidays, amid concern about a fast-spreading variant that was first discovered in India. New infections and coronavirus-related deaths have risen over the past week, though the current figures are still a fraction of the levels reported during the January peak. While Britain has Europes highest coronavirus death toll, at over 128,000 people, public health officials say the situation has improved since last winter because of the rapid rollout of vaccines. More than 74% of British adults have received at least one dose of vaccine. The opposition Labour Party was quick to condemn the proposal for compulsory vaccinations, saying it would be better to work with staff to address their concerns than to force them to get the shot. Given we have got a recruitment crisis in parts of the NHS, I think its far more important we try and work with staff rather than against them, said lawmaker Thangam Debbonaire, a party spokesperson on such issues. Threatening staff, I dont think, is a good idea. ___ Follow all of APs pandemic coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak ACCRA, Ghana (AP) West African leaders suspended Mali from their regional bloc Sunday over what they said amounted to a coup last week, Ghanas foreign minister said after an emergency meeting to address the political crisis in Mali. The bloc, the Economic Community of West African States, is worried about the security implications for West Africa because of the continued insecurity brought about by the political upheavals in that country, Foreign Minister Shirley Attorkor Botchwey said. At the end of their summit, the heads of state of the ECOWAS member nations demanded that Malian authorities immediately release former transitional President Bah NDaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, who are being kept under house arrest. In their statement, the leaders condemned the arrests by Mali's military, which they said violated mediation steps agreed to last September, a month after a coup detat led by the same man who has now again taken power in Mali, Col. Assimi Goita. ECOWAS also called for a new civilian prime minister to be nominated immediately, a new inclusive government to be formed and the 18-month transition of power leading to February 2022 elections to be carried out, saying a monitoring mechanism will be put in place to assure this. In addition, the statement said, the head of the transition government, the vice president and the prime minister should not under any circumstances be candidates in the planned Feb. 27 presidential election. ECOWAS urged all international partners, including the African Union, the United Nations, and the European Union, to continue to support the successful implementation of the transition in Mali. The heads of state expressed strong and deep concerns over the present crisis in Mali, which is coming halfway to the end of the agreed transition period, in the context of the security challenges related to incessant terrorist attacks and the Covid-19 Pandemic with its dire socio-economic impacts, the statement said. Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo opened the summit in Accra on Sunday, saying ECOWAS must remain resolute in supporting the people of Mali to find a peaceful solution, and restore democracy and stability in the country. Malis constitutional court on Friday named Goita as the West African nations government leader days after he seized power by deposing the president and prime minister and forced their resignations. Their arrests last Monday by the military took place hours after a new Cabinet was named that left out two major military leaders. The court said Friday that Goita would take the responsibilities of the interim president to lead the transition process to its conclusion. The deposed interim president and prime minister had been appointed following the August 2020 coup led by Goita. The military coup against then President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita led to mediations by ECOWAS that were also led by Nigerias former leader, Goodluck Jonathan. The transitional government was set up with Goita as transitional vice president. Elections were to be held in February and March 2022. After taking power, Goita assured that the elections would still be held, though it wasn't clear what part the military would play in the government. The international community, including the African Union, has condemned the power grab. The U.N. Security Council has said the resignations of NDaw and Ouane were coerced. The U.S. has already pulled its security force support and other bodies, including the EU and France, are threatening sanctions. Goita has justified his actions by saying there was discord within the transitional government and that he wasnt consulted, per the transitional charter, when the new Cabinet was chosen. Akufo-Addo said Sunday that ECOWAS was committed to the peaceful transition in Mali, with the basic goal of restoring democratic government, and working for the stability of Mali and of our region. He acknowledged that a May 14 dissolution of the government by the transitional prime minister was worrying and the reappointment of the new, broad-based government on May 24 hours before the arrests generated considerable tension between various groups, particularly the military, as the former ministers for defense and security were not reappointed. Goita attended the summit after being named transitional president by the court. Presidents Umaro Sissou Embalo of Guinea Bissau, Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, Alassane Outtara of Ivory Coast, Adama Barrow of The Gambia and Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria were also in attendance, along with presidents from Burkina Faso, Niger, Togo and Liberia. The heads of state called for the immediate implementation of all the decisions made Sunday. Jonathan is expected to return to Mali within the week to engage stakeholders on these decisions. ___ Associated Press writer Carley Petesch in Dakar, Senegal, contributed to this report. RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Lenora McQueen came to Richmond four years ago to learn more about her fourth great-grandmother. Thats when she found out where she was buried in the city. She knew freed and enslaved Black cemeteries arent usually well-maintained, but she expected to find some evidence of its past; perhaps a few headstones or grave shaft depressions in the ground. What I saw threw me, said McQueen, who had traveled more than 1,500 miles from her home in Texas to find this burial ground on North Fifth Street. An abandoned, graffiti-covered auto service station and a set of billboards overlooking Interstate 64 are the only landmarks for the Shockoe Hill African Burial Ground, the former public cemetery where McQueens ancestor, Kitty Cary, is buried. Its also called the Second African Burial Ground. Gravestones in the walled Shockoe Hill and Hebrew cemeteries across the street are still part of the landscape and recognized in the National Register of Historic Places, but the city systematically erased the segregated resting place where historians estimate that more than 20,000 freed and enslaved Black people were buried. McQueen and a team of archaeologists and historians say its long past time for the city to respect and memorialize the burial ground stretched across a constellation of public and privately held property especially as state and federal officials evaluate the area for highway and rail expansion projects that Preservation Virginia, a privately run group, recently deemed a threat to the burial ground in its annual listing of the states most endangered historic places. Hoping to help preserve the cemetery and begin the process of creating a memorial there, McQueen and other researchers filed preliminary paperwork last year to include the Second African Burial Ground on the national register. At the same time, the city, which also is working with community partners to build a slave heritage museum and memorial site about 1.5 miles away in Shockoe Bottom, recently bought an acre of the original Second African Burial Ground site for $145,000 in a tax auction. City officials said they intend to reclaim the space and create a memorial there. The city has not developed specific plans yet, but an ordinance the City Council approved last year directs the mayors administration to make plans for its inclusion in the Richmond Slave Trail. A city news release last month said Mayor Levar Stoneys administration plans to contract a cultural resources firm to perform further research and an archaeological investigation of the site to help determine how the city should memorialize the history of the cemetery. This important acquisition is yet another step in our efforts to reclaim the hidden and abandoned history of the African-Americans who built this city, Stoney said. If we are to truly reconcile the shameful history of slavery and injustice and heal as a city and a nation, we must respect and honor the memories of those who lived and died under this oppression by telling their stories so they will not be forgotten. Historical Black cemeteries tend to disappear over time, McQueen said. That doesnt mean theyre still not there. They just lie beneath. While city officials are now turning their attention to the reclamation of historical African American burial grounds, Ana Edwards, a local public historian who has worked with McQueen, said past city officials systemically took part in their destruction while preserving and caring for historical cemeteries where white residents and Confederate soldiers were buried. Municipal cemeteries are always going to suffer at the whim of city leadership and what they decide is the best use of the property, she said. Because Black lives, property and civic space was not valued ... its obviously not unusual that they closed the cemetery and decided to repurpose the site. Richmond established the cemetery in 1816 on 2 acres along what is now Fifth Street, splitting them into two distinct sections for freed and enslaved Black people. Ryan K. Smith, a VCU history professor and expert on local cemeteries, said local Black residents demanded that the city create the new burial ground because of the poor condition of the citys first Black burial ground in Shockoe Bottom. It remained the citys primary public cemetery for Black people through most of the 19th century, expanding across an estimated swath of 31 acres. Officials recorded the last burial there in 1879 after they determined that it had become overcrowded and unable to hold any more burials. Smith said grave robbers plundered human remains from the cemetery and sold them to doctors at the Medical College of Virginia and other teaching hospitals while it was still actively used for burials. And as the city grew and developed in the post-Civil War years, city engineers used bones and remains from the graves as fill when new roads were built through the burial ground. Progress continued to scar the landscape of the cemetery, rendering it unrecognizable by the early 20th century. After decades of neglect and maltreatment, the city sold part of the property to Sun Oil Co. in 1960 without acknowledging the history of the cemetery, Smith said. Edwards said the First African Burial Ground in Shockoe Bottom, which the city opened in the late 18th century, suffered a similar fate. The city largely neglected the site for two centuries until she and other local residents started advocating for its reclamation. Their work has resulted in tentative plans for a memorial campus that includes the First African Burial Ground, Lumpkins Slave Jail and neighboring parcels of former auction houses that constituted the nations second-largest slave trading hub for several decades before the Civil War. Smith said historical records show that the city maintained both sections of the segregated Shockoe Hill cemetery when it was still actively being used. He said its unsurprising that the city would abandon and build over the Black portion of the cemetery given that city leaders sought to cultivate a heritage and historical narrative that excluded the memories of Black residents. In the 1870s, (cemeteries with Confederate graves) like Hebrew, Hollywood and Oakwood start to see a real drive to care for those graves, to preserve and maintain them in the public memory, he said. And then Monument Avenue gets laid out in the 1890s and going forward. Its during those same exact years that African American sites like (the Second African Burial Ground) are ... erased from public maps. Smith and McQueen said there are newspaper accounts from the period that show Black community members, such as Richmond Planet Editor John Mitchell Jr., protested the desecration of the site. City officials, however, largely ignored them. In a recent journal article, Smith quoted Mitchell from a 1896 Richmond Planet article where he shamed people who profited by the desecration of the burial ground on Poor-house Hill, North 5th Street when graves were dug into, bones scattered, coffins exposed, and the hearts of the surviving families made to bleed by the desecration of the remains of their loved ones. As part of the DC2RVA high-speed rail project, the state is considering plans to construct new rails that historians and preservationists say would disturb the burial grounds. State officials previously determined that the project would not have an adverse impact on the cemetery site, but McQueen and others objected, saying that they did not do enough historical research. State and federal officials last month reopened a historical evaluation process to determine whether the project may negatively impact the site. Its a nuanced situation, because the exact boundaries of what remains of that cemetery are unknown, said Julie Langan, director of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Its hard to know how much of that cemetery actually still survives because of all of the projects and mistreatment of it over decades. We know that it has been adversely impacted by ... multiple projects. What we dont know is what is the integrity of whats left. While inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places would not prevent the rail project, it would require state and federal officials to give the site greater consideration and negotiate terms to mitigate the impact the project would have on the site. As officials and community members are starting to think of how to commemorate the site, McQueen said one concept shes thought of is a sculpture wall or statues that would bring to life the scenes of two funeral processions that Frederick Law Olmsted, a park designer known as the founder of American landscape architecture, witnessed in 1853. In his account of them, he described what people were wearing, a carriage carrying a casket and riding horses that were part of the procession. It could be a way to honor and respect the lives of people the city mistreated and tried to forget, she said. By Sue Gilmore Bay City News Foundation The title opener in San Francisco author Ethel Rohan's new short story collection, "In the Event of Contact" (Dzanc Books, $16.95, 180 pages), revolves around Irish identical triplets, one of whom cannot bear to be touched in any way by any other human being. One of her sisters seethes with jealousy and resentment when she sees someone she considers a rank interloper managing to break through that barrier. In "F Is for Something," a Catholic priest with a failing memory and a mysterious blemish in his past tries to outmaneuver his overcontrolling housekeeper and come to terms with a dreaded upcoming encounter with his supervising bishop. We meet other ordinary human beings who are somehow adrift or groping for resolution or connection in this remarkable anthology, the third from Rohan, who is also the author of the well-received 2017 novel, "The Weight of Him." These deft, character-driven tales are delivered in prose that is spare but sharp, steely and shot through with uncannily apt imagery that occasionally registers with delicious little shocks of recognition for the reader. There is not a trite phrase or a wasted word in any of the 14 stories, none of them longer than 18 pages. But you'll not want to immerse yourself in more than one at a time, instead giving yourself ample time to let each one marinate. Rohan, born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, immigrated to San Francisco at age 22 and now lives in the city's West Portal neighborhood with her husband and two daughters. She recently took the time to answer some queries about her craft. These stories all feature Irish or Irish-American characters. Is there something about the Irish persona or experience that draws you to them as protagonists? Rohan: This short story collection, my fourth full-length book, continues a definite pattern of fixations in my storytelling, and Ireland and its people remain front-and-center. I'm most imprinted by and fixed on my beginnings and the pivotal experience of my early years. That tends to be universally true. I also remain closely connected to Ireland and my family and friends there. I return every year, sometimes for extended periods. That craggy island and its extraordinary people are deeply encoded within me, and it's not surprising that my writing reflects that. How did you come up with the title, and would you argue that it is a unifying theme for the entire book? Rohan: Yes. The unifying theme for the entire book is the absence and trespass of contact -- be it phobia, loneliness, isolation, emigration, missing persons, getting run over by a truck or physical abuse. The collection centers on characters who experience breached boundaries in one way or another and bears witness to how they respond to these various fractures. Many of these stories have deft, abrupt endings that incorporate sudden epiphanies. Is that something we can call a hallmark of your style? Rohan: My style is to get in and out as quickly as possible and to only stay inside the story as long as is absolutely necessary and not a word longer. Story endings are extremely difficult, and that's particularly true of the short story, because of course there's much less space to work with and zero room for missteps. I don't think in terms of character epiphanies but more about moments of grace, i.e., those external and internal influences that work on the character over the course of the story and that culminate in some shift in the protagonist and their world, however small, but by necessity, pivotal. Otherwise, to my tastes, the story isn't a story. You seem to be an expert deployer of the precisely apt simile, much more liberally deployed here than murkier metaphor! Do these come readily to you, or are you constantly crafting to get just the right one with the right tone? Rohan: It's a mix of both. When the gods are kind, the prose and imagery can flow, and other times, arriving at specific, nuanced and evocative language can be similar to needling free a splinter that's buried deep below the skin. I'm not satisfied, though, until I can at least fleck the prose, every scene, with the stuff that shines. How extensively do you self-edit, and what are you most likely to jettison, on second reflection, if anything? Rohan: I am a serial reviser. Beginnings and endings in early drafts tend to be the most murdered, as are flowery and imprecise prose. In early drafts, there's a lot of warming the engines and driving beyond the finish line, letting everything in and allowing the writing to be crappy. In revision, the onus is on me to be ruthless -- what stays can only be what best serves the story. It's rewriting, not writing, that brings us to our best work. I won't dare ask if you have a favorite, but which story did you sweat over the most and why? Rohan: Hmmm. There was a LOT of sweat lost during the making of this collection. You referenced "F Is for Something," a story that took me a year to finish. I was annoyed in earlier drafts by a dismissive interior critic that told me I would lose readers as soon as they realized the protagonist was an elderly Catholic priest with dementia and that I should give up on the story and invest myself elsewhere. But I loved the story's characters, place and premise, and none of it would leave me be. I'm so happy that I persisted and that the story is now published as a part of this collection. How might an individual story germinate within your head? Please elaborate! Rohan: I'm most interested in character and relationships -- and especially tension in relationships and missed connections, I'm also interested in place. So the sparks for my stories tend to be a character in a specific place and in a moment of disruption. I then let the character(s) loose, to do, think and say for several scenes as I figure out how and why they became who they are when we meet them. I often interview my characters in my mind, or on the page, asking what (mis)shaped their lives and why am I entering their world now? What is the story of theirs that I most need to tell? What's to be lost and gained, and why does it matter? Why should we care? What is next on the agenda for Ethel Rohan the writer? Rohan: I have two completed novel manuscripts I'd love to see published. One is historical fiction set in New York City, specifically vaudeville and Coney Island. The other is contemporary fiction set in the Bay Area (Half Moon Bay). Both novels continue my fascination with disturbance as catalyst and wounded characters teetering at the edges of things, places, people and themselves. Upcoming Author Virtual Events 7 p.m. June 7: Ethel Rohan, Yang Huang and Adrian Ernesto Cepeda for the "Odd Monday Reading Series" on Zoom via Folio Books in San Francisco. RSVP needed for login link: https://www.yanghuang.com/events/2021/5/13/odd-monday-reading-series 2 p.m. June 27: Ethel Rohan, Jenny Bitner and Maw Shein Win, in a virtual conversation hosted by Alibi Bookshop in virtual. RSVP needed for login link: alibibookshop@gmail.com 3 p.m. June 30: Ethel Rohan and Jeannine Ouellette via Zoom, hosted by Maryland Writers Center in Bethesda, Maryland. RSVP needed for login link: https://www.writer.org/event/rohan-ouellette Copyright 2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. Copyright 2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) Volunteers installed the 26th annual Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks in San Francisco on Saturday afternoon in preparation for the start of Pride Month on Tuesday. The triangle, which organizers with Pink Triangle of Twin Peaks say covers about an acre on the hillside, will be illuminated nightly for a month starting Tuesday, using 2,700 pink LED nodes from Illuminate, the nonprofit organization behind the light display on the Bay Bridge. Two days of test lighting on Saturday and Sunday will lead up to the official illumination ceremony set for about 9 p.m. Tuesday, with San Francisco Mayor London Breed and other dignitaries, for the first day of Pride Month. Before the lighting ceremony, a Pink Torch Procession will set out from Oakland City Hall, with Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf and others crossing the Bay Bridge with a pink torch that will then be delivered to Mayor Breed at Twin Peaks by Dykes on Bikes for the official illumination. The installation of the triangle is a community-building event "which brings together LGBTQs with families from across the Bay Area who turn out to volunteer to install the giant display and learn about LGBTQs person-to-person," organizers said in a news release. "Many families bring children to meet us as individuals and to learn the 'History of the Pink Triangle' during the ceremony." Organizers said the triangle itself is a reminder and a warning of what can happen when groups are singled out as they were in Nazi Germany, which used the symbol to brand homosexuals as undesirable, just as triangles of other colors were used to distinguish other segments of the population not deemed wanted. "It is the same kind of senseless, irrational hatred that still haunts gays, Jews, Blacks, Asians, transgender persons and other minorities today," organizers said. Volunteers will return on July 1 to take down the triangle. Copyright 2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. Copyright 2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Letters to the Editor View(s): Many unanswered questions over tragic death of Wishma in a detention cell in Japan The tragic death of Sri Lankan Wishma Rathnayake in a detention camp in Nagoya, Japan despite her repeated calls for hospitalization and medication has received publicity in the New York Times of May 18 and stirred up a hornets nest across the globe. The mysterious manner in which she died does not appear to have generated much condemnation in Sri Lanka, probably due to the COVID-19 epidemic the country is grappling with. Initially, it was reported that she had high fever and subsequently her face and limbs turned numb and her health deteriorated to such an extent where she could only take a little water with sugar and a slice of bread. Though she begged for hospitalization for treatment, all her pleas fell on deaf ears of the authorities who suspected that she was faking illness to avoid deportation. The 33-year-old died alone in her cell on March 6. With this unfortunate death, Japans immigration system has been subjected to criticism. Critics say that she became a victim of an opaque and capricious bureaucracy, which provides unfettered powers for the immigration authorities to deal with foreigners who have overstayed their visas. The authorities blunt refusal to ignore her appeals for medicationa patient who had been ailing for some time in detention campcertainly deserves outright condemnation by civil society. Twenty four detainees have died in custody since 1997 according to the Japan Lawyers Network for Refugees, including in the recent past, an Indonesian and a Nigerian. None of those cases evoked the kind of public anger and outrage that Wishmas case has. Though the detention centre is reported to have a medical facility, it is deemed to be more or less a village dispensary with limited medical facilities. A doctor who is reported to have examined her had recommended immediate hospitalization, but the authorities had refused. How effective are the Sri Lankan foreign missions in dealing with Sri Lankans domiciled in those countries is the question that begs answers. According to the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Sri Lankan Embassy, Japan, there are 26 detainees in Japanese Immigration Detention Centres. Readers would recall that the present Labour Minister on assuming duties recalled the Labour Officers attached to the foreign embassies for pecuniary reasons. These Officers main task was to look into the welfare and grievances of the Sri Lankans irrespective of the fact whether they were over-stayed detainees or not. Had we not recalled them, the precious life of this victim could have been easily saved without any embarrassment to the government. Athula Ranasinghe Colombo 5 A fine gesture to mark anniversary of an educational institution After reading the letter by Dr. Channa Ratnatunga on planting trees, in the Sunday Times of May 9, I also wish to share an exemplary gesture by the Jaffna National College of Education on its 21st anniversary on May 2. Although the related events were conducted online, student teachers all over the country planted trees in their own premises, at schools, temples, churches and mosques to mark the anniversary of their college. They did this in their own regions, as the college is presently closed due to the prevailing COVID situation an effort for future generations. I was highly impressed seeing the images of student teachers, planting trees in their college uniforms, on-line. It is, I suppose, the best way to commemorate the anniversary of an educational institution. S.Varahan Jaffna Belcampos slogan is simple enough: Meat you can trust, from start to finish. But the trust part is proving complicated after a former employee alleged eariler this week that the high-end California meat purveyor has been misleading customers about the sourcing of pricey cuts for sale in its Santa Monica butcher shop, where a pound of tenderloin filet costs nearly $50 about the same as you can expect to pay for a whole Belcampo chicken or a couple of bone-in pork chops. The ex-employees claims are a potential problem for Belcampo, which has long touted the transparency of the meat it sells. The company says that thanks to the vertical integration of its supply chain, the beef, pork, lamb and poultry it raises humanely on farmland in Northern California is meat you can trace, from Belcampos pastures to Belcampos own slaughterhouse to any of Belcampos five restaurants or three butcher shops scattered around the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Evan Reiner says thats not true. In a series of story posts on Instagram this week, Reiner said Belcampo is lying to your face and selling meat it didnt raise, repackaging and pricing it as if it were the companys own. Reiner claimed Belcampo has been misrepresenting beef that is not grass-fed, organic or local as well as poultry from third-party suppliers. I apologize to all the customers that I lied to for the past 2 1/2 years in order to keep my job, Reiner wrote, followed by images from the Santa Monica store of beef in shrink wrap printed with the names of other processors, including the mass-production wholesaler National Beef Packing Company, along with Country Day turkey breast from Minnesota and chickens from Pasturebird and Marys (both of which are California farms that say their birds are free-range, but sell at other stores for half the price of a Belcampo chicken). Reiner tells InsideHook that Belcampo had relied on outside suppliers on and off since he started there as a butcher in 2018, with more meat from third parties filling the shops cases starting around May 2020. After an injury last July kept Reiner out of work for nearly four months, it was full-blown Rocker Brothers when he returned in November. (Belcampo told the San Francisco Chronicle in a statement that Reiner was terminated last week.) Rocker Brothers, a family-owned wholesaler in Los Angeles, admits that they sell meat to Belcampo in a volume that has increased throughout the pandemic. Theyre a customer of ours, weve fulfilled their orders based on their specifications or needs, and what they did with the product afterward we have no control or say over, Ryan Grable of Rocker Brothers tells InsideHook. Some of the products that Rocker and its wholesale competitors supply are largely on par with Belcampos cuts of meat, including grass-fed beef and organic, free-range poultry, though Reiner says much of the beef that ended up in the cases was restaurant choice stuff, corn-fed a lower grade than Belcampos bespoke grass-fed offerings. In a response posted on their website, Belcampo acknowledged serious issues with the integrity of claims on some products and how we communicated them to our customers in Santa Monica. The company acknowledged ordering from wholesale suppliers when it runs out of specific cuts from its own farms or partners, which it claims are the primary source for the meat it sells. The same high standards used for our own production should be adhered to when sourcing third-party products, Belcampo wrote. Belcampo said it is investigating all of its locations for compliance with our strict guidelines for sourcing and labelling. The company didnt respond to inquiries from InsideHook, but CEO Anya Fernald posted a four-minute video on Instagram apologizing for the situation. The issues that surfaced are inexcusable and I can only ask for forgiveness and ask for you to look at the bigger picture of our actions in the community and integrity, Fernald said. I am committed to rebuilding and, as of now, there are no external-source products in any of our shops, and moving forward we are focusing on a culture of accountability and integrity in the bricks-and-mortar stores to ensure that something of this nature never happens again. Though the company said it remains committed to the utmost transparency, presenting an outside suppliers cuts of meat as your own is troubling, says Terry Ragasa, co-owner of the butcher shop Sutter Meats in Northampton, Mass. You trust somebody to do the right thing when their whole business model is based off of that transparency, says Ragasa, who sells beef, pork and lamb raised mostly on farms within a 20-mile radius of his store. Thats why people shop at places like ours, because they know that we have their best interests in mind, and were not going to betray that trust. Seems like this place had broken that rule. Fernald fully embraced the idea of transparency when she started Belcampo in 2012 with a $50 million investment from Todd Robinson, a retired financial executive who had been buying fallow farms in Northern California with the idea of raising grass-fed beef. The ownership of the entire supply chain insures that we can guarantee that everything were doing is what we say were doing, Fernald told The New Yorker in 2014. In the industrial context, you cant look anyone in the eye. Theres no individual company thats responsible for anything and theres no traceability. Belcampo launched as consumers were taking a keener interest in the provenance of what they eat. After Michael Pollans 2006 book The Omnivores Dilemma, People really started looking at supply chains and the sustainability of the food systems that theyre supporting, Ragasa says. The company quickly expanded, building its own abattoir and opening restaurants and butcher shops (often jointly) around California. Belcampo briefly had an outpost in Hudson Yards in New York City, and also ran a combination eco-lodge and farm in Belize. When you get bigger, it gets cheaper to do business, Fernald told Forbes in 2017. Though responses to Reiners Instagram posts have tended toward outrage from people who feel misled, duplicitous business practices are all too common in the food industry, particularly by higher-end companies that know they can get away with it. The Oakland chef and food activist Preeti Mistry tweeted this week that such deceptions stem from privilege in a society trained to trust wealthy and white. She elaborated by phone to InsideHook. We all have shortages and stock gaps, and its like, what do you do in that moment? says Mistry, author The Juhu Beach Club Cookbook: Indian Spice, Oakland Soul. The way that we all kind of buy in, for good reason, to this local, organic, regenerative, sustainable model, and then the folks that are making the most off the top are not even following the rules? Yeah, it just feels like a punch in the stomach. Editors note: InsideHook has covered a number of initiatives from Belcampo in recent years, and they took home the top prize at one of our Great Steak Debate events in 2015. This article was featured in the InsideHook LA newsletter. Sign up now for more from the Southland. The post Beloved California Butcher Belcampo Admits to Selling Fraudulently Labeled Meat appeared first on InsideHook. You are now listening to the sounds of the New Generation. A podcast created for those who desire a new way of gaining information rather than reading a traditional newspaper. In our show we will discuss everything from sports, pop culture, politics, and local news. To stay up to date on our latest episodes every week be sure to follow us on your favorite podcast service. And dont worry, we keep it short. SHELTON The citys school nurses dedication and professionalism during the pandemic was formally acknowledged this past week by the city and district. The nurses themselves recalled the toll the past year has taken on them. I get emotional when I look back and think about what this year has mentally and emotionally done to everyone and I'm happy to see things finally turning around, Adrianna Collins, school nurse supervisor and COVID-19 liaison, told Hearst Connecticut Media on Friday. Mayor Mark Lauretti praised work that reached a new level of dedication and professionalism, deserving of special recognition and read a proclamation at the Board of Education meeting saying so. The districts 12 nurses were honored during the school boards regular meeting, held live once again at the districts administrative offices, something not done since the onset of the pandemic more than a year ago. Each nurse in attendance received a bouquet of flowers. Collins recalled how in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic stopped the country but when the schools shut down, Shelton school nurses continued working in the hospital, nursing homes, COVID-19 testing sites and, most recently, vaccination clinics. When the new school year began, our school nurses took on unprecedented responsibilities, including contact tracing and symptom screening and ensuring that pre-pandemic duties, like administering a child's routine medications, happen safely, Collins said. School nurses roles in the pandemic increased day by day, according to Collins, as they began working around the clock with administration enforcing quarantine regulations for students who were out sick and calling the families who might have been exposed and quarantining classrooms when necessary. Collins role as COVID liaison became a 24-hour 7-day a week position, she said. She would spend most of her day and evening consulting and educating families and staff on procedures for the district. Myself as well as the nursing staff have established close relationships with our administration which have fully supported us along the way as well as the staff at Naugatuck Valley Health to ensure open lines of communication within the district and the continuity of care throughout the Valley, Collins said. Blessed are the givers and grateful are the receivers, Lauretti said last week, reading from a proclamation read as part of National Nurses Months presented in honor of the nurses. Your contributions have not gone unrecognized as the city appreciates your hard work in keeping our students and staff healthy and safer from COVID-19. The key word about school nurses is indispensable now more than ever, Board of Education Chair Kathy Yolish said. When I think of all they do throughout the day, I wonder how they manage to keep smiling and get the job done. Not only do they take temperatures, apply bandages, stop bloody noses, dispense required meds, provide a change of clothes and soothe those nervous bellyaches, they provide hugs and soothing words of comfort as well as sympathetic ears for listening to concerns. Yolish said during the difficult times of social emotional concerns because of the pandemic, the school nurse has an added job of helping kids and adult staff cope and providing assurances as well as compassion on a daily basis. They let everyone know that things are going to be all right. I cannot emphasize how valued and appreciated our school nurses are now more than ever, Yolish said. In addition to Collins, the districts nurses are Melissa Dos Santos and Bridgette Cordova, from Shelton High; Theresa Hellauer and Noelene Peterson, from Shelton Intermediate School; Lauren Reynolds and Karen Kellogg, from Perry Hill School; and elementary school nurses Stephanie Elliot at Sunnyside, Judy Lambert at Elizabeth Shelton, Jessica Scimanna at Booth Hill, Karen Chappa at Long Hill and Briana Workman at Holy Trinity Catholic Academy. Our Shelton Public Schools nursing staff has always been a vital part of our school environment, Superintendent Ken Saranich said. During this pandemic, they have stood out for their dedication, patience, guidance and kindness, he said. Their willingness to work the front lines and to keep our Shelton School families safe and well has reminded us of all of the value they add to our community. Laurettis proclamation stated school nurses are essential in normal times, but the onset of the pandemic made their jobs even more vital. The hours you devoted to handling contact tracing, answering many questions and volunteering to get the staff of our public schools vaccinated has made a huge difference in the lives of our children, their families and your co-workers, Lauretti said. This year was not easy for anyone, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel, Collins said. As vaccine rollout picked up, we sketched out the logistics of our school-based sites to vaccinate our teachers and staff and moved forward with immunization clinics for our students and the community. It is such a great feeling to finally see the many months of hard work and perseverance by our nurses, teachers and staff finally paid off, Collins said. We made it through a pandemic. brian.gioiele@hearstmediact.com CAMERON, La. (AP) Scores of people in coastal Louisiana are still living in campers on dirt mounds or next to cement slabs where their houses once stood. Unresolved insurance claims and a shortage of supply and labor are stymieing building efforts. And weather forecasters are warning of more possible devastation to come. Nine months after two back-to-back hurricanes hammered their towns, residents are still struggling to recover even as they brace for another onslaught of storms in the season that starts Tuesday. Were scared to death for this next season, said Clarence Dyson, who is staying with his wife and four kids in a 35-foot-long (11-meter-long) camper with bunk beds while the home they had been renting in Cameron Parish undergoes repairs after Hurricane Laura. The parish a Louisiana designation similar to a county is made up of small communities on the southwestern coast where residents have lived for generations, either working in the shrimp industry or more recently at one of the areas liquefied natural gas plants. The region features a stunning, peaceful landscape where families go crabbing together, birds perch on swaying strands of marsh grass and wind-gnarled oak trees grow on the long ridges called cheniers that rise above the marsh. About 70% of the parish is wetlands or open water. Last fall, however, the area was battered by hurricanes that carved a path of destruction. On Aug. 27, Category 4 Hurricane Laura rammed into the coast near the town of Cameron with maximum winds of 150 mph (241 kph). Just six weeks later, Hurricane Delta, carrying 97-mph (156-kph) winds, made landfall about 10 miles (16 kilometers) away. Of the several communities hit, the towns of Cameron, Creole and Grand Chenier, in Cameron Parish, took the worst beating. Laura flattened homes, nearly gutted the First Baptist church, stripped trees of their branches and leaves and toppled power lines. Nine months later, the parish's electric lines have been replaced by ramrod straight poles. Oak trees denuded of leaves and branches are started to sprout new growth. Piles of debris have been hauled away. And Booths Grocery Store, in business since 1957, is once again selling beer and bait. But for most of the parish, recovery is still an ongoing process. Cement slabs and mounds of dirt still mark the place where homes used to be. The sounds synonymous with rebuilding the whine of circular saws cutting lumber or nail guns hammering shingles are rare. Building contractors are in short supply; most are already slammed with work in the more densely populated, hurricane-damaged Lake Charles area farther north. Lumber prices have soared due to a trade dispute with Canada and a temporary shutdown in production when the coronavirus pandemic hit a year ago. Leaders of the First Baptist Church in Cameron have been trying to get a contractor to come out and give them a quote so they can apply for a building permit. Most of the church has been gutted to the studs, with pews currently stacked in the buildings center. This is the fourth hurricane the small congregation has survived as well as one fire, said Cyndi Sellers, a longtime church member who was baptized and married there. In the meantime, the small congregation holds services in the meeting room of the parishs governing body. They try to soften the space with plastic sunflowers and a blue cloth across the podium. A cross with a Bible verse attached to it stands on a table. Sellers says rebuilding will help the congregation. They need to be able to worship together on Sunday, to be able to have that family and to have that support emotional, spiritual support to get through what theyre going through, she said. And theyre going through a lot. Sellers has gone through quite a bit herself. As a young child, she took refuge in the Cameron Parish courthouse when Hurricane Audrey hit in 1957, and has seen many other storms in the more than 60 years since. Finally, after Laura, she and her husband had had enough and decided to move inland to a town about two hours away. The stress that you go through when theres a storm in the Gulf, if you dont live on the coast you cant really imagine what its like, she said. Meanwhile, forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are predicting 13 to 20 named storms six to 10 of which will become hurricanes and three to five of which will be major hurricanes for this year's Atlantic season, which runs from June through November. The stress of rebuilding and worry about future storms have prompted some to consider moving inland. But many who did just that after Hurricane Rita in 2005 were still unable to escape Lauras wrath. The 2020 storm was so powerful, it was still a hurricane when it hit Shreveport about 200 miles (322 kilometers) north of the coast. Clarence Dyson and his wife considered leaving but decided to stay he is working at an LNG plant being built in Cameron. He also used to catch shrimp, but his boat was destroyed by Laura. Federal officials just recently made it a little easier for residents to stay on their properties while they rebuild, by allowing the trailers it provides to be placed on lots that lie in the flood plain. The movable living quarters can be seen everywhere, often parked near the cleared slabs and elevated mounds where houses used to be. Some residents intend to build something more permanent. But not 67-year-old Margaret Little. She plans to stay in a one-bedroom trailer that can be hooked to a truck and hauled away when the next hurricane comes. Like Sellers, Little lived through Hurricane Audrey. She remembers holding on to a fence for dear life and how her dog had to fight off snakes when the family found refuge in a pump house. Hurricane Rita took her nice brick house in Grand Chenier. Then Laura wiped out the trailer shed bought to replace it. By the time Delta came, there was nothing left to take. Littles husband loves to crab and shrimp, and they have replanted the fruit trees they lost in Laura. But she draws the line at permanently rebuilding. I cant lose another house. I just cant, she said. __ Follow Santana on Twitter @ruskygal. Shippensburg, PA (17257) Today A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. A glory that transfigures both you and me On Saturday, Chairman of the National Committee for Handling Covid-19 and Economic Recovery cum Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto said that currently there is a trend of increasing active cases, reports Xinhua news agency. Jakarta, May 30 (IANS) Concerns about a Covid-19 resurgence in Indonesia following the Eid al-Fitr may come true as the government has predicted that there would be a 50 per cent rise in positive cases in mid-June. The daily confirmed active cases began to show an increasing trend in recent days in the country. According to the Health Ministry on Saturday, cases in the country rose by 6,565 within one day to 1,809,926, with the death toll adding by 162 to 50,262. "The rate of the national active cases stands at 5.4 per cent, lower than the global figure of 8.8 per cent. However, we need to anticipate the increasing trend of active cases since the past week," the Mnister said. Airlangga pointed out that based on data as of May 26, 55.6 per cent of these active cases were found in Java Island and 22.9 per cent in Sumatra Island. Given the fact, he decided to extend the micro-scale restrictions of people's activities from June 1 to 14, and expand the areas that will implement the policy to four provinces, namely Maluku, North Maluku, Gorontalo, and West Sulawesi. "Thus, as of June 1, a total of all 34 provinces have been determined to implement the policy," he said. After monitoring for two weeks, the government will continue to closely observe the progress of the cases in the next two or three weeks, and tighten travel requirements after the holidays, Airlangga explained. Previously, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said that during the period from April 22 to May 14 (before and during the Eid holidays), there were 3.9 million passengers travelling by land, sea and air. In the May 15-24 period (after the Eid holidays), there were around 2.5 million passengers using public transportation means. This condition showed the potential for a surge in the public mobility. Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy called on the local governments whose areas could be sources of the spread of the virus to check the implementation of the policy to control the transmission of the virus. In addition, he said the government has been on the alert of the spread of new variants. Meanwhile, the Indonesian Medical Association's Chairman Daeng M Faqih called on about 200,000 doctors in the country to be prepared until the end of July to face the possible resurgence. The Association has issued a policy that all doctors in Indonesia should be able to tackle Covid-19 cases and they will have special trainings in efforts to handle the disease, he added. --IANS ksk/ "The projects have recently been completed by the Citizens' Charter National Priority Program within Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development in different parts of Qarghayi district of Laghman," Xinhua news agency quoted the statement released on Saturday as saying. Kabul, May 30 (IANS) Fourteen developmental projects have been completed and put into use in Afghanistan's Laghman province, the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development said in a sttement. The projects included the building of 540 meters of water canal; building and reconstruction of 912 metres of supporting walls along a river; digging 11 deep water wells for providing potable water to villagers; as well as the reconstruction of 105 metre of a district road, the Ministry said. But province has witnessed heavy clashes between security forces and Taliban militants in recent weeks. In its latest attempt to gain ground, the Taliban militants overran Dawlat Shah district in Laghman. In a statement last week, the provincial government claimed that more than 50 militants were killed and some 60 others injured during clean-up operations. Taliban militants have intensified activities since the start of the US-led forces withdrawal from Afghanistan on May 1. --IANS ksk/ "Azerbaijan is ready to constructively resolve the issue of the border line with Armenia," Prime Minister Ali Asadov said at a meeting with other heads of government of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Baku, May 30 (IANS) Azerbaijan has shown openness to possible Russian mediation in establishing a demarcation line with its hostile neighbour Armenia. In this context, he said on Saturday, they supported a proposal by Russia to form a trilateral commission, reports dpa news agency. Armenia's acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had previously spoken out in favour of a withdrawal of Armenian and Azerbaijani troops and the deployment of international observers. Since the recent war over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh, there have been repeated tensions in the border area. During the war over Nagorno-Karabakh, which lasted from September 27 to November 9, 2020, Azerbaijan reclaimed large parts of the territory it had lost in the early 1990s. More than 6,000 people died in the fighting. Russia had brokered a ceasefire between the two hostile countries. Most recently, the arrest of six Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani security forces has caused tensions. Azerbaijan stated that the men had wanted to cross the border in the direction of the Kalbajar region, but Armenia denied this. --IANS ksk/ Two journeys and a book By Adilah Ismail In the last of our series on the 2020 Gratiaen Prize shortlisted writers, Ameena Hussein speaks about her own journey retracing a famed Moroccan explorers sojourn in Sri Lanka View(s): View(s): In 2014, Ameena Hussein was at a Silk Routes Conference in the Maldives organized by the University of Iowa. She had been a 2005 Fellow of the Universitys International Writing Programme. This six-day conference brought together writers, teachers, literary organizers and cultural entrepreneurs from different countries. In between discussions, a name kept cropping up: Ibn Battuta. The 14th century traveller-scholar had long fascinated Ameena. Though the Muslim Moroccan scholar and explorers name was referred to in passing he was a figure that lingered. Ameena and her husband Sam Perera balance time between homes in Colombo and Puttalam. In 2015, Sam returned from a trip to the Puttalam town with a surprise a photograph of an unusual street name: Ibn Battuta Street. Seeing the sign kindled an idea. Could she retrace his journey in Sri Lanka? It was a mad idea, reflects Ameena, laughing. But she set to work. Ibn Battutas chapter detailing his experiences in Sri Lanka is easily accessible but a physical copy of The Rihla, his book on his voyages, took time to source. Ameena read and researched widely around Battuta, Sri Lankan history, colonial writings around Sri Lanka, academic work anything and everything that she thought would be useful to put together a portrait of the man and vignettes of 14th century Sri Lanka. The research around the book was a good form of Pandoras box, she says. What is most interesting for me as a Lankan is that he provides an insight into the hazy 14th century history of this country, before white colonialism made its entry in the 16th century writes Ameena in Chasing Tall Tales & Mystics: Ibn Battuta in Sri Lanka. Published in mid-October 2020, the book is the outcome of diving into this Pandoras Box to parse a historical traveller from Sri Lankan cultural memory memory that has accrued and shifted, or at times been erased according to the vagaries of geography and time. Ameena writes that Battuta had a dramatic arrival to Sri Lanka. From the Maldives, where he had resided for nine months, he wanted to head to South India and then travel to Sri Lanka (Serendib) later. But inclement weather and a captain ill-equipped to navigate the wind and turbulent seas, saw his three-day journey stretched into nine and he tumbled into Sri Lanka instead. The book states that Ibn Battuta probably came to Sri Lanka in early September, leaving in November. It weaves the past with the present, interspersing passages from The Rihla, historical anecdotes, chats with Sri Lankans about Battuta as well as Ameenas own personal history which proves to be a calling card within the Muslim community paving the way for candid conversations about the traveller. It also contains commentary around her experiences trying to retrace Battutas journey in Sri Lanka, including a pilgrimage to Adams Peak, and visits to certain towns. To chart his route and stay on the island, Ameena bought multiple one-inch maps of specific areas from the Survey Department (her visits earned her the nickname Sithiyama Miss). She covered her living room with these maps, poring over them. For five years, Ibn Battuta dominated her life. She quips that for five years, she was with two men Sam and The Rihla placed by her pillow. I was obsessed with the man. I would talk incessantly about him. My parents and Sam were the poor victims. They would time how long it took for me to say Ibn Battuta during conversations, she laughs. I was fascinated by him, but he was also extremely flawed and I wanted to portray this in my book. He was a social climber, he meddled in politics, he wasnt this likeable man all the time and he was very strict as a Muslim jurist, she explains. He was a contradiction in himself but he was observant this, I would put to his training as an Islamic jurist. He was a complex man like all human beings. A challenge while researching was a lack of continuity, as names of places in Sri Lanka changed over time, and a dearth of translations across source material in English, Sinhala or Tamil prevents a deeper cross-pollination of resources. In the book, some of the gaps are offered to the reader through abstract possibilities which Ameena contextualizes and argues locating these among existing narratives and records. Battutas own accounts are sometimes scant on detail a highlight of Battutas journey in Sri Lanka was the climbing of Adams Peak but we are told he is sparse in emotion in his descriptions of the experience. A reluctance to be interviewed the sight of a notebook and pen would clog free-flowing conversation and navigating red tape bureaucracy while visiting certain sites were also small hurdles. But what Ameena remembers most is the generosity of people many were generous in lending books and articles, sharing their time and knowledge and critiquing initial drafts of chapters. The travelling, writing and research took three years and she worked with Michael Meyler to edit the book over two years. The book is also slated to be translated into Sinhala soon. Known as one-half of the duo behind the Perera Hussein Publishing House, not many would know she is an introvert, Ameena says an admission that seems at odds with her exuberant public persona. There are times when I need to retreat and thats when I go to Puttalam. I dont talk to anyone, I dont see anyone. I can go for hours without talking. I can be quiet with Sam so the three hours that we travel to Puttalam in the car, we dont exchange a word. We just listen to music loud music, she says, simply. Although well-known in Sri Lankan English writing circles, she remains hesitant to refer to herself as a writer. Im most comfortable as Ameena Hussein Publisher because thats a defined job. Im on sure ground as a publisher, she reflects. People can say youre not a writer or they can say youre a crappy writer or .. all sorts of things. And I feel kind of shy to say Im a writer because I feel I can always be better. A writer is a work in progress. With each book, I want to be better. For Ameena, writing is a compulsion and stories take time to ferment. I write because I have things to say and I have stories in my head. And its when a story becomes too big to stay in my head that it gets onto the page, she says. The idea for her novel Moon in the Water followed her for years and in Chasing Tall Tales & Mystics: Ibn Battuta in Sri Lankawe see a similar trajectory. The story of a Moroccan scholar and explorer clambers out of Ameenas imagination, is fleshed out through his own narratives and historical and academic records and spills over onto paper, woven with the writers own personal history and travels around Sri Lanka. The trip is the first formal visit by an Israeli Foreign Minister to Egypt in nearly 13 years, dpa news agency reported. Cairo, May 30 (IANS) Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi arrived in Cairo on Sunday for talks with senior Egyptian officials over the ongoing ceasefire in place between Israel and the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Ashkenazi is due to meet with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukri. Ashkenazi said he would discuss in Egypt a permanent ceasefire with Hamas and the rebuilding of Gaza that was largely devastated during 11 days of bloody fighting with Israel earlier this month. A ceasefire, mediated by Egypt, has been holding between Israel and the Hamas since May 21. The 11-day conflict in an around the Gaza Strip left at least 243 Palestinians and 12 Israelis dead. "We will discuss establishing a permanent ceasefire with Hamas, a mechanism for providing humanitarian aid & the reconstruction of Gaza with a pivotal role played by the international community," he said on Twitter. He added that Israel is "fully committed" to the return of its soldiers being held by Hamas. Egypt was the first Arab country to recognise Israel in 1979. Egypt, which borders Gaza, has mediated in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on several occasions. --IANS ksk/ During a meeting in Sochi on Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his visiting Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko agreed the sum would be paid out by the end of June, dpa news agency quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying. Moscow, May 30 (IANS) Russia will support Belarus with $500 million in credit over the coming weeks, the leaders of the two countries have agreed. This is the second tranche of a credit package that was agreed before the controversial forced landing of a passenger aeroplane in Minsk on May 23 in order to arrest a dissident blogger, Roman Protasevich, and his partner Sofia Sapega. During their meeting, Putin and Lukashenko spoke about trade and economic cooperation, Peskov said. Belarus' economy is weak, and it has already borrowed billions of dollars from Moscow. During the opening of the meeting, both leaders complained about pressure from Western countries on Belarus. After the incident with the plane, the Ryanair commercial flight between Athens and Vilnius that was forced to reroute and land in Minsk, the European Union (EU) and the US imposed fresh sanctions on Belarus, which the Kremlin slammed as an emotional reaction. Peskov emphasized that the fate of Sapega, who is a Russian national, mattered to the Russian authorities, but said the 23-year-old had a residency permit in Belarus. Meanwhile President of the EU Parliament, David Sassoli, said he wants to keep up pressure Belarus in order secure the release of the blogger and his girlfriend. Sassoli suggested that photos of Protassevich be exhibited at all airports in the EU and in the European Parliament. "We will keep the attention and the pressure up and hope that this will lead to the release of Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega," he said in remarks to Germany's Funke media group. Sassoli called the EU's initial reaction to the forced landing of a passenger jet in Minsk as "strong and unified". --IANS ksk/ Saied and Menfi affirmed the congruence of views between the two countries on bilateral, regional and international issues of common interest during a joint press conference held at Carthage Presidential Palace here on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported. Tunis, May 30 (IANS) Tunisian President Kais Saied met visiting President of the Libyan Presidency Council Mohamed Menfi here to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation. The Tunisian and Libyan people are "one people and one family with a shared future", Saied noted. For his part, Menfi said the relations between the two countries are historical and lasting, adding he discussed with Saied over many common issues between the two countries. "Our consultations were characterized by a spirit of brotherhood and friendship... We discussed all issues of common interest, reviewed views on several local and international issues and discussed bilateral cooperation in several areas, including economic and social fields," he said. --IANS ksk/ By Laure Al Khoury BAGHDAD (AFP) -- Conspiracy theories, fake reports and mudslinging -- in Iraq, false news thrives and risks real-life consequences as authorities struggle to counteract its spread. Misinformation about political, social, security and economic issues abound online in the country, said Aws al-Saadi, a founder of Tech 4 Peace collective, an Iraqi organisation that tracks "fake news". "There are hundreds of pages circulating false information on Facebook and Twitter," he told AFP. "Iraq has become a virtual battleground of fake news" both in local politics and between major international players vying for influence in the tinderbox country, he said. "And it is a free for all," Saadi added. He pointed to an incident that happened in January as tense relations between Saudi Arabia and Iraq were easing with the opening of a border crossing between the neighbours. Radical groups loyal to Iran -- regional rival of Saudi Arabia and heavyweight in Iraq -- launched a campaign on social media accusing a Saudi national of carrying out a double suicide attack in Baghdad that killed 32 people. His picture was published on Twitter and Facebook and widely shared, even though it was revealed that he had in fact blown himself up in a rare suicide attack in Saudi Arabia in 2015. The Islamic State group eventually claimed the Baghdad bombing. Monitoring team In the restive country that has seen almost two decades of conflict and crisis, concerns over the impact of misinformation prompted the authorities to set up a "surveillance service" tasked with tracking information. Staff from the interior ministry spend hours in an office full of computer and television screens monitoring endless streams of news on television and online. "When a piece of information seems suspect, they raise the alarm" and an investigation is carried out to confirm or debunk the news, said General Nebras Mohammad, who heads the misinformation department, which includes the surveillance service. About 25 million Iraqis use social media, according to DataReportal figures, but only 34,000 of them follow the surveillance service Facebook page, where debunked false news is posted. Saadi said that Facebook is "the main vehicle for false news in Iraq", and that there is a new trending fake story "almost daily". Some of it is ultimately harmless, like recent widely shared posts claiming a young man from Mosul had married four girls in one day that was shown by Tech 4 Peace to be a promotion for a beauty salon. But some cases are more insidious, such as using a blaze at a Covid-19 hospital in Baghdad in late April that killed 82 people to garner likes and follows by posting fabricated reports of more fires at other health centres. Stirring up division Sometimes misinformation takes on a more political slant, stirring up still latent sectarian tensions in the country. "These are organised campaigns of thousands of pages, mainly via Twitter, with political objectives," led by both pro-Iranian factions and their opponents, Saadi said. "Millions of dollars are spent" on this, he added. In late August 2020, a rumour spread online that a man from the Sunni-majority city of Tikrit had been arrested with a car loaded with explosives in the Shiite-majority south. Another version of events claimed the man was a member of the powerful Hashed al-Shaabi state-sponsored paramilitary coalition made up of Iran-backed groups. Both stories were untrue but the heated sectarian rhetoric they sparked was very real. Authorities said that while the man was arrested for having a car full of explosives, he had no political motives or affiliations. Amid the expanding sea of misinformation, authorities have raised concerns over its impact in the lead up to general elections set for October, around which rumours are already swirling online. Mohammad said the anti-"fake news" team has stepped up grassroots campaigns that include distributing leaflets and raising awareness of the legal consequences of spreading false information. But the campaigns are in an uphill battle in a country where under dictator Saddam Hussein, the only source of news was state-run. Many young plugged-in Iraqis, like 24-year-old student Abdullah, take it upon themselves to verify their sources of information. "I don't trust news that I read at first glance, I first check the source, whether it's from the government or elsewhere," he told AFP at a Baghdad cafe. Laws that criminalise the spread of false information have not been updated since 1969. A new draft cybercrimes law is under consideration by parliament, but it has already come under fire from rights groups, including Human Rights Watch, which said it "could be used to stifle free expression". Two court cases last week, one certainly historic and the other less clear-cut, both signal that in the push towards renewables and away from fossil fuels, change is afoot. Globally, the loss by Royal Dutch Shell in a landmark case in The Hague led by seven climate activist groups sent shockwaves through the fossil fuel industry. The court not only ruled that Shell must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 from 2019 levels, but it found the company responsible for emissions from its customers and suppliers and said that its activities constituted a threat to the right to life as set out in the European Convention on Human Rights. Closer to home, eight high school student activists claimed a partial victory last week in a class action brought on behalf of all Australian children when the Federal Court found federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley had a duty of care not to cause young people harm from climate change. While Justice Mordecai Bromberg stopped short of issuing an injunction that would have prevented the minister from approving Whitehavens Vickery Extension Project in northern NSW, he did say that approving the mine would have a small but foreseeable impact on climate change. Echoing the Shell verdict, he said that would increase the risk of catastrophic harm experienced by young people in the future. Whitehavens response was predictably bullish, if contradictory, defending a continuing role for high-quality coal in contributing to global CO2 emissions reduction efforts. Shell took a different tack, highlighting instead its investment in billions of dollars in low-carbon energy, including electric vehicle charging, hydrogen, renewables and biofuels. A former Bandidos bikie has been charged after police allegedly uncovered a clandestine drug lab, weapons, jetskis and two classic cars during raids at a home and storage sheds in Sydneys west. Jared Treloar, 39, was arrested after officers executed a search warrant at a house at Werrington Downs on Thursday morning, allegedly finding more than $34,000 cash, a large number of anabolic steroids, an expandable baton, and a slingshot. Police found allegedly found a clandestine laboratory concealed in storage sheds in Sydneys west. Credit:NSW Police The man who police say is a former Bandidos bikie member was refused bail and appeared at Penrith Local Court the same day. Later that day, police searched three storage sheds at St Marys, allegedly locating about $300,000 worth of the prescription drug Xanax. Parliament revisited; Recalling the early days of wading in gumboots to visit the Duwa By Nihal Seneviratne View(s): View(s): Winding my way along the old road to what was then known as Kotte many nostalgic memories keep flowing in. This old road has now been replaced by a four-lane freeway which I traversed for over 33 years leading to the new Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte as the area is now known. Most of all I recall the request made by Anandatissa de Alwis, MP for Kotte to accompany him to view the site for the new Parliament to be built, as he had been requested to do so by President J R Jayewardene. As I accompanied him to the site popularly known as Duwa, I was reminded of the stories related to me by my friends that they used to go shooting ducks there in those days. As we arrived we found we had to get gum boots to go across to the site as it was marshy land. So we did, and Anandatissa de Alwis was able to report to Mr Jayewardene who had already been totally enamoured by the model of the new Parliament given to him by master architect Geoffrey Bawa. All credit to Bawa for his enlightened thinking that he could build a Parliament on this marshy site. On a bright April morning in 1982 at the auspicious hour of 10.13 am, Sri Lanka inaugurated its new capital, Sri Jaywardenepura Kotte to the triumphant sounds of conch shells and reverberating drums. When one third of the construction of the Parliament was over, President Jayewardene followed tradition and deposited nine different gems and other ritual items to invoke the blessings of the deities on the project. The site popularly known as Kotte would eventually become the sumptuous home of Sri Lankan politicians. The historic Diyawanna Oya, a body of water, was reclaimed from what was once a marshy wasteland. A 300-acre lake was created on which now stands the Parliament of Sri Lanka. The building was designed by Geoffrey Bawa, Sri Lankas best known architect and stands as an elegant embodiment of the rich cultural and aesthetic heritage of this land. The silver plated chandelier, weighing one tonne, in the main Chamber and skilfully carved mahogany wall outside the Members special entrance stand testimony to his work. Kotte was a capital of Ceylon in the 15th Century, and it is regarded as a return to the fortified city. The idea behind this was to methodically ease the congestion of Colombo. Today, the city of Colombo is still growing from the original one and a half million inhabitants. The idea was to make Sri Jayewardenepura the administrative capital of Sri Lanka and it was so gazetted. It was to hold the diplomatic community, Government Ministries and offices, hospitals and schools but this has not happened as originally planned. Anandatissa de Alwis suggested the site to President Jayewardene after being informed by Geoffrey Bawa that it was the most suitable. He said, if we are going to build a new capital, why not return to the capital of the Kings? When the Portuguese arrived in 1505, the shrewd Sinhalese tried to keep Kottes proximity to the Colombo port secret. They led the foreigners through a labyrinth excursion on horseback that stretched over seven miles. But the Portuguese saw through this as they could still hear their ships gun boom. Hence the popular saying Like the Portuguese going to Kotte. The building has a huge copper pitch Kandyan roof to disguise its height. In the main pavilion conclave, layers of space on every level are articulated by rectangles of dark wood and glass. Even the stucco columns on the ground floor are unadorned and fuse easily with the simple wooden beams above. The structure has a definite Eastern flavour. Bawa commented, We have a marvellous tradition of building in this country which has got lost. It got lost because the people followed outside influences over their own good instincts. I just wanted the building to fit into the site so I opened it into blocks. You must run with the site, after all, you dont want to push nature out of the building. Rupert Scott writing in an Architectural Review states, most important, the building appears to be in tune with the climate, topography and a culture. To stand at the entrance to the complex, besides the reflecting pools and terrace slopes of cascading water, it has to be kept in mind that for centuries the site was a marsh. Constructing the building fell to a consortium of two Mitsui companies. An international team from Japan, Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore along with the skilled labour of masons and carpenters from Sri Lanka all completed the project in a very impressive period of 26 months. Its real heroes are the artisans of Sri Lanka most of them unacknowledged craftsmen who helped create the magnificent work of art and culture. The opulent Chamber, the focal point of the complex, is covered with a shimmering tented ceiling made of thousands of small pressed aluminium parts linked by a tiny brass sequence. Suspended from the centre of the atrium is the enormous silver plated chandelier with over 500 bulbs in the double palm motif designed by Lankan artist and sculptor Laki Senanayake. He was given only six months to create this and says that he could never have succeeded without the brilliant master thinker Edwin Perera and his skilled craftsmen. Eighteen silver flags, beams and standards of kings, temples and korales displayed prominently from tall steel posts are the craftsmanship of D Wimal Surendra. He was responsible for this as well as the massive silver door leading to the Chamber. The intricately carved square copper door is silver plated and decorated with an elaborate inscription with the words of the preamble of the 1978 Constitution in all three languages English, Sinhala and Tamil inscribed on it. The walls flanking this ornate door are covered with beautiful line drawings of murals by the late artist Manjusri, a Magsaysay Award winner. The story depicted is the Selalihini Sandesaya - an eloquent legend of King Parakrama Bahu VI by a famous Sinhala scholar monk of the 15th Century. The Selalihiniya was the bird chosen as the courier to convey the supplication of the Kotte Kings for a male heir to the deity Vibushana in the nearby city of Kelaniya. The understated elegance of the mural juxtaposes nicely with the lobby walls of the entrance for MPs. The special entrance, usually off limits to the public, is surrounded by wall space covered with multi-dimensional jungle scenes carved in mahogany by Mahinda Abeysekera. The interior of the main Chamber the centrepiece of the entire complex exudes luxury. The plush red carpet, the billowing ceiling, together with black leather chairs for the Members are bathed in indirect lighting. At the Parliaments opening ceremony, Dr Anandatissa de Alwis defended such seeming extravagance by rhetorically asking: Is this unworthy of such a nation that can look towards the world and say we are not made by treaty, we were not created by the United Nations Conference, we were not created by Potsdam, Zurich or Washington. We have a history of over 2,500 years of writing, of poetry, of sculpture, of learning, second to nobody except the most ancient civilization of my Dravidian friends across the floor of this House. These were truly historic and memorable words uttered by the Member of Parliament for Kotte whose valuable contribution must be recorded and not forgotten. (The writer is a former Secretary General of Parliament) Academics warn the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank is ruining the study of languages in NSW schools and want universities to change the way languages are scaled so students dont feel punished for studying them. Sixteen education and language experts have written to the NSW Vice-Chancellors Committee, which runs the University Admissions Centre [UAC], saying the number of students taking community languages has shrunk dramatically since the scaling changed 20 years ago. Students are avoiding languages to protect their ATARs. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer The ATAR is forcing kids to drop languages, said Professor Ken Cruickshank, the chair in languages at the University of Sydney. UAC has its hands tied. Someone higher up has to say, lets work out another way. To rank students applying for university, UAC works out the overall ability of students doing one HSC subject by looking at their performances in all their other subjects, then scales their raw mark up if they are among a strong cohort, and down if they are not. Grave fears are held for a 26-year-old man who went missing while surf-skiing with a friend in waters off North Stradbroke Island on Saturday. Jordan Kelly planned to travel from Dunwich Beach to Cylinder Beach on the northern end of the island with friend Jack McDonald, 28. Rescue workers search for Jordan Kelly from one of eight aircraft that scoured the area off North Stradbroke Island on Sunday. Credit:LifeFlight But at 8pm on Saturday, Mr McDonald paddled into Amity Point alone and suffering from mild hypothermia. Acting Senior Sergeant Mitch Gray said Mr McDonald gave discouraging news about what might have happened to Mr Kelly. The Queensland government has confirmed it will open mass vaccination hubs in the near future, but it says the situation here is different to those in NSW and Victoria. The government last week confirmed it would open 14 community vaccination hubs across the state, but it has now confirmed reports that it will also open a number of even bigger centres to vaccinate large numbers of people. Brisbanes Suncorp Stadium is being considered as a mass vaccination hub site. Credit:Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images Such hubs have already been set up in NSW and Victoria, but government frontbencher Mark Bailey said on Sunday Queensland had unique challenges compared to the southern states. Queensland is very different to Victoria or NSW, where the bulk of the population is in one big city. Its very easy to roll it out in that scenario, he said. On Sunday federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said 53 of the 76 residents at the home had agreed to be vaccinated and would receive their second doses on Monday. Mr Hunt said that nationally about 15 per cent of people in aged care have declined a vaccination when offered. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video We are encouraging all residents or their families for those that have not provided consent to reconsider and to bring themselves forward, Mr Hunt said. It can save the life of mum or of dad or of grandma or grandpa. All Commonwealth aged care facilities in Victoria had been visited for vaccination, Mr Hunt said, along with 99 per cent of aged care facilities nationwide. Arcare chief executive Colin Singh said that staff members and residents at Maidstone who had yet to get the vaccine will be offered the Pfizer dose on Monday. All team members and clients will be offered the Pfizer dose tomorrow (first or second as depending on the situation). The Department of Health is strongly encouraging the uptake of this vaccine. Ms Lim celebrating her 86th birthday in March. Mr Singh said that all Arcare Maidstone staff and residents would be tested for COVID-19 on Sunday, and would be tested again on Tuesday. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation accused the federal government of failing to protect vulnerable aged care residents and their dedicated nurses and care workers. The federation called on the government to act urgently and with transparency like it is a matter of life or death, to spell out numbers, not percentages, of aged care staff and residents nationally who have had one or two doses of vaccinations, or who had had none. The federation called for the government to immediately organise in-reach teams to finalise vaccination of residents and staff. Arcare confirmed nursing federation figures that about 34 of the 110 eligible staff at Arcare Maidstone had received a first vaccination, including the worker with COVID-19, and that 53 of the residents had received their first vaccination dose. Mr Singh said that the facility would let residents families know if any more positive cases had been identified. Ms Chang said she was stunned when given the news in a phone call after 10pm from Arcare Maidstone on Saturday. I guess you never think its going to happen to you but it was a very unexpected late-night phone call, thats for sure, Ms Chang said. Ms Chang, 26, of Yarraville, said she was raised by Ms Lim, who now has advanced Alzheimers Disease. Ms Chang visits Ms Lim twice a week, but couldnt on the weekend due to the state lockdown. Theres definitely a huge sense of helplessness, because theres not much in your capacity, that you realistically can do at this point in time, but the worrys still there, Ms Chang said. Loading On Sunday Ms Chang was still stunned, and nervous, of course, very helpless as a family member, because you have to put all your trust into the aged care sector and all the other government entities to do the right thing, or provide the best response they possibly can. But the thing I guess whats so uncertain is that theres so many cracks, always, in the armour, in the defence shield that were not aware of, because we dont know enough about COVID yet. You hope everyones doing their best with the absolute best knowledge they have but theres a sense of uncertainty. Ms Chang did not want to criticise Arcare Maidstone, where Ms Lim has lived since October. I actually think they do a wonderful job, she said. I cant speak highly enough about the staff. They provide great care. My grandma has pretty progressed Alzheimers and theyre able to meet her needs time and time again. Victorians are being told to go to Centrelink for help if the states snap lockdown means they cant get work, in a message from the federal government that plays down any chances of a renewed JobKeeper wage subsidy. There is a simmering dispute between the Victorian and federal governments over who should pay to support workers through the lockdown, with the acting Victorian Premier saying his government will help businesses but considers help for employees a federal responsibility. Trade Minister Dan Tehan has talked up the federal governments existing support for Victorians. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Trade Minister Dan Tehan said on the ABCs Insiders on Sunday that the federal government was already offering support to Victorians through Centrelink. There is a disaster pandemic leave payment that is available, Mr Tehan said. But Services Australia, the government department that runs Centrelink, says the payment is only for people who have COVID-19 or are in isolation because they are a close contact of someone with the virus. Queenstown: New Zealand has thrown its support behind Australias ongoing trade dispute with Beijing in a significant political signal that the trans-Tasman allies remain unified in dealing with Chinas economic coercion and growing influence in the region. The decision of the New Zealand government to be a partner in the World Trade Organisation dispute on significant tariffs on barley imports coincided with Prime Minister Scott Morrisons visit to Queenstown for critical bilateral meetings with his counterpart, Jacinda Ardern, on Monday. The talks will be dominated by China and its increased assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern greet each other in the traditional Maori greeting ahead of the annual Australia-New Zealand leaders meeting in Queenstown. Credit:Getty Images The two leaders touched noses and foreheads in a Maori hongi a traditional indigenous welcome which is a symbol of unity and sharing the breath of life for the first time since February last year prior to both nations slamming closed their borders. Mr Morrison rejected assertions the alliance was splintering over differences on how to approach China after relations became strained in recent months after Australian officials said they were blindsided by Wellingtons reluctance to put pressure on Beijing on trade and human rights issues. He said on Sunday night both nations were committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Senator Henderson also criticised ABC management for allowing in-house lawyer Sebastien Maury to resign, rather than sacking him, over tweets in which he called the Morrison government fascist and the Prime Minister an awful human being. Senator Henderson worked as an ABC journalist between 1989 to 1997, as part of a 16-year career in journalism before switching to law and then politics. While working at the7.30 Report in 1996 she won a Walkley award, among Australian journalisms most coveted honours, for her coverage of the Port Arthur massacre. An ABC spokesman said the broadcaster rejects the assertion editorial standards have changed in any way due to the use of social media platforms. ABC staff are not prohibited from expressing views on their personal social media accounts but under the code of conduct they are accountable for those views if they breach the social media guidelines. Breaches of the ABC code of conduct can and have led to disciplinary action, the spokesman said. ABCs social media policy, updated in March, states that all ABC employeess personal social media activity must meet several key standards, including: not to damage the ABCs reputation for impartiality and independence, mix the professional and the personal in ways likely to bring the ABC into disrepute, or imply ABC endorsement of their personal views. A political reporter expressing a strong opinion on a contentious issue they may cover would likely constitute a breach, the policy states. In a company-wide email in February, Mr Anderson reminded ABC staff of these short, sharp, common-sense standards, and said disciplinary action for breaches included possible termination of employment. Most of the countrys major media companies have social media policies, including News Corp Australia and Guardian Australia. The Sydney Morning Herald and The Ages policy requires editorial staff to not editorialise, express personal biases, personally campaign or advocate for (or against) policies or do anything to undermine our reputation and stated objective of being Independent. Always. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the ABCs British counterpart, updated its social media policy in October to require staff working in news and current affairs to not express a personal opinion on matters of public policy, politics, or controversial subjects . The new standards were implemented by new BBC chief Tim Davie, who caused a stir in his first weeks in the job by declaring he was prepared to take people off Twitter as part of the BBCs crackdown on impartiality breaches. The ABC has also come under scrutiny for a series of tweets by Four Corners journalist Louise Milligan, which have been seized upon by lawyers for Industry Minister Christian Porter as part of his defamation case against the ABC and Milligan personally. Mr Porter is not suing directly over tweets, but his lawyers are arguing the tweets support his case that the ABC was actuated by malice and acted with the improper purpose of harming him in publishing an online story in February about a rape allegation against an unnamed cabinet minister. In one tweet in March, Milligan said NSW police were very interested to know if I knew of other complainants against #CabinetMinister. My answer: Not in your jurisdiction. Journalism academic Margaret Simons, an honorary fellow at the University of Melbournes Centre for Advancing Journalism, said the recent string of Twitter controversies showed there had been slippage in ABCs management of employees social media conduct. I think some [ABC] line managers feel like they cant or shouldnt interfere. And I would disagree with them on that. But its also a matter of individual journalists responsibility, Ms Simons said. If a journalist is tweeting something which reflects on the work, which goes further than the published or broadcast work, or which could lead people to suspect that theyre not going to be able to do an unbiased job, then thats absolutely a problem for journalism ethics and management of journalists. But she said this issue was not confined to the ABC. I see breaches of that in all media organisations at the moment, and I think that is an issue for management, Ms Simons said. Asked by Liberal senator Andrew Bragg at an estimates hearing last week why the broadcaster would not consider removing journalists from Twitter for breaches, Mr Anderson said: We cant supersede peoples civil liberties. People dont park all their civil liberties at the door on the way through as they come into the ABC, Mr Anderson told the hearing. Christa Lenard, a partner at employment law firm Kingston Reid, said employers were limited by legal standards of reasonableness on how far they can mandate or prohibit an employees use of social media. A direction ordering an employee to shut down their account would breach those standards, she said. Asian-Australian members of NSW Labor are warning a return to Maroubra MP Michael Daley as party leader would damage relations with multicultural communities, insisting he does not understand the gravity of comments he made about Asians with PhDs. A group of Asian Australians including Labor councillors, elected party officials and rank-and-file members have signed a joint statement opposing Mr Daleys plans to nominate as party leader. Former NSW Labor leader Michael Daley says he made mistakes but will never repeat them. Credit:James Alcock The statement, co-signed by 18 Labor members, warns that a second Daley leadership will deliver to the community a message that is out of touch with Labors values. Mr Daley confirmed on Sunday he would nominate for party leader, paving the way for a membership ballot against Kogarah MP Chris Minns, who will nominate on Monday. Chelsea won their second Champions League title and denied Pep Guardiolas Manchester City their first after Kai Havertz grabbed a first-half goal to secure a 1-0 win in Saturdays all-English final at the Estadio Do Dragao. The German youngster, Chelseas record signing, kept his composure as he raced through and evaded goalkeeper Ederson before rolling the ball into an empty net in the 42nd minute to decide a tight encounter played in front of a 16,500 crowd. Premier League champions City were favourites ahead of the final but suffered a desperately disappointing night in their first Champions League showpiece match. Despite winning three of the last four Premier League titles for City, Spaniard Guardiola failed to deliver the coveted European trophy he last won with Barcelona in 2011. The next season of The Crown will feature two episodes on Martin Bashirs pursuit of an interview with Princess Diana and his deceitful 1995 Panorama interview. In a move that will bring fresh heartache for her sons, the next instalment of the Netflix series, due to be aired next year, will shine the spotlight on the BBC reporters dishonest behaviour and how Diana was taken in by his lies. A source close to the blockbuster show, which is written by British playwright Peter Morgan and dramatises real events, said scripts are already out there not only for season five, but also season six, which will draw the series to a conclusion in 2023. Princess Diana on the BBC's Panorama program in November 1995. Credit:AP It has all been written, confirmed the insider, who was not cleared to speak on the record. Peter works very closely with the historical research team who spent weeks poring over the Panorama stuff. The UN: Where diplomacy is 97% alcohol and 2% protocol By Thalif Deen View(s): View(s): UNITED NATIONS A former US ambassador to the United Nations once provided an amusingly light-hearted definition of diplomacy: 97 percent alcohol, 2 percent protocol and one percent Geritol, a multi-vitamin drink probably meant to energise negotiations. But diplomacy at the UN is much more than socialising even as receptions and cocktail parties take place every day until the COVID-19 pandemic brought the world body to a virtual standstill temporarily suspending the routinely heavy drinking, mostly duty-free. Last weeks 11-day old fighting between Israelis and Palestinians shifted the spotlight to the UN Security Council (UNSC) which came under heavy fire for its refusal to condemn the violence in Gaza City or call for an immediate ceasefire. The primary reason was the rejection of draft resolutions by the veto-wielding United States during the Councils closed-door sessions. As a result, the resolution never reached the Council during its open session. But if it did, it would have triggered a US veto perhaps its 46th aimed at protecting Israel. As Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason of Ireland said last week conflict is raging, resulting in utterly devastating humanitarian impact but the Security Council has yet to utter a single word publicly. She complained that Council members had a collective responsibility for international peace and security. It is high time the Council stepped up, broke its silence and spoke out. With its traditionally serious agenda of maintaining peace and security, the Security Council is the worlds only political body with a mandate to declare war and peace. But when tensions die down, it also has had its moments of levity raising laughter in the august chamber. Ambassador Jamil Baroody, the longstanding Saudi envoy to the UN (1945-79), described as the dean of the UN diplomatic corps, back in the 1970s, was a colourful maverick known for his mile-long speeches. In its obituary, the New York Times described him as a UN landmark who was known for his shouting matches while holding the distinction of making one of the longest speeches in the history of the world body, perhaps second only to the long-winded Fidel Castro, who held the General Assembly spellbound for nearly five hours back in September 1960. So, whenever Baroody held forth at Council meetings, the then US ambassador was known to slip out of the chamber and return at the tail end of his speeches. When Baroody once noticed the American envoy returning to his seat, he turned to the President of the Security Council and said: Mr President, I notice the honourable US representative was not in the chamber when I spoke. So, I am going to read my statement all over again for his benefit. The US envoy, this time, remained trapped in his seat, amidst loud laughter. For long now, there have been four strong contenders for permanent seats, with no veto powers Germany, India, Japan and Brazil with Africa insisting on two permanent seats with vetoes, which is deemed a virtual non-starter. But during a discussion on reforms in the Security Council in 2019, one delegate made a strong case for a permanent seat for the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the largest single coalition of Muslim countries at the UN. Perhaps the OIC was right in seeking a permanent seat on behalf of over 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide much more than China, a permanent member, with a population of 1.5 billion, and India, aspiring for a permanent seat, with a population of 1.4 billion. But in an obvious slip of the tongue, the OIC delegate urged member states to ensure permanent membership to the Islamic State which really is one of the extremist organisations operating out of the Middle East. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is officially designated as the Islamic State (IS). And the very notion of permanent seat to the Islamic State triggered both smiles and laughter in the Council chamber. Meanwhile, whenever the General Assembly or the Security Council holds a meeting, the speeches of delegates are routinely distributed no sooner the speaker begins his address. These speeches, marked check against delivery, are left on the desks of all member states, 15 in the Security Council and 193 in the General Assembly. So, there was a moment of hilarity when the Indian Foreign Minister picked up, not his speech, but a speech made by an earlier speaker and began reading it. Iftikhar Ali, the UN correspondent for the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), who covered that meeting, told me it was a monumental faux pas by the Indian External Affairs Minister as he blindly read out the Portuguese delegates speech, instead his own, before his ambassador intervened to help rectify the error. During the debate on security and development, a subject on which most delegates made identical speeches, the Indian minister mistakenly read the wrong speech for about three minutes before Indias envoy to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri, pointed to the right speech lying in a stack of papers in front of the minister. With mikes on, an embarrassed minister whispered to his ambassador: Should I read it from the beginning? And the ambassador advised: Yes, you can start again. The Indian minister really read Portuguese foreign minister Luis Amados speech, without realizing his mistake, as the first portion was about development and security, the theme of the Councils debate. As the minister continued, Ali said, a couple of lines was definitely out of sync: On a more personal note, allow me to express my profound satisfaction regarding the happy coincidence of having two members of Portuguese Speaking Countries, Brazil and Portugal, together here today, the minister said, which was incongruous for an Indian ministers speech. (This article was adapted from a book on the UN titled No Comment and Dont Quote Me on That. Authored by Thalif Deen, a Senior Editor based at the UN, the book is available on Amazon and at Vijitha Yapa Bookshops in Sri Lanka. The link to Amazon via the authors website: www.rodericgrigson.com/ no-comment-by-thalif-deen/) ~Is there a rapprochement between St. Maarten and the Netherlands or not? How quickly can we get the 5th tranche of liquidity assistance? ~ PHILIPSBURG:--- It would seem as if even before the Kingdom Council of Ministers meeting was over, State Secretary Knops dispatched a report regarding the liquidity assistance to St. Maarten to the Second Chamber. This the letter tells a different story than one would get from the initial reaction to the press by both mandataries, PM Jacobs respectively Secretary Knops. MP Wescot, following the different interviews and statements, stated: I am not sure what to think, after the reports coming out of the meeting of the Kingdom Council of Ministers of May 28th. Is there a rapprochement between St. Maarten and the Netherlands or not? Maybe it was the body language by both the Prime Minister and the State Secretary that made the situation seem very confrontational and quite hopeless. It was the culmination of a situation in which, in my opinion, the Prime Minister should have never allowed herself to be in, MP Wescot opined. Getting back to Knops letter to the Second Chamber, there seem to be many nuances to what is being publicly admitted by the St. Maarten government representatives and the State Secretary. In both cases, there seem to have been some unhealthy political posturing. I look forward to Prime Minister Jacobs prompt account of the agreements going forward because that is what matters most at this time. Despite numerous requests, I have not received an updated liquidity position of the country, but I know from historic information and governments own admission that we are severely cash-strapped, with real risks to the livelihood of many. Judging from what Knops told the Second Chamber, there is some understanding between St. Maarten and the Netherlands and I request that the Prime Minister does like her counterpart and inform the parliament of St. Maarten of the current state of affairs post haste. I implore the Prime Minister not to hide behind arguments of confidentially and only if absolutely necessary, share the information with parliament behind closed doors. Apparently, there are steps that the government has agreed to. What are these steps and the timeline to accomplish these? The Prime Minister is keeping the cards close to her chest, because in her view it involves persons. While that might be so, for me what is important are the actions, not so much whom these actions regard. If the steps include evaluation of actions taken by the board(s) of PJIA, then say so. Who is evaluating, is another question that should be answered. How long will it take, is also extremely important to know. We need to get clarity on the position of the Royal Schiphol Group. Has it been decided and agreed to, beyond the shadow of a doubt that they will remain involved? Or does it depend on the outcome of the governments actions? Do we even know what it depends on? Again, there is no way this information can and should be held from the people of St. Maarten and the Parliament. What about the reconstruction of the airport itself with all that is going on? In concluding, Member of Parliament Wescot made the following appeal: This is no longer a matter that only regards the Prime Minister and Chairlady of the Council of Ministers. The coalition government needs to get its act together. This obvious power play between the 2 levels in the coalition is hurting and embarrassing St. Maarten big time. I, therefore, repeat my call, made most recently in the meeting of parliament with Mr. P. Choharis, for this government to reassess its priorities, establish clear leadership and take a stance on our position as a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, both short term and long term. ~ Continues round of meetings with key stakeholders in The Hague ~ The Hague, Netherlands:--- On Wednesday, May 26, and Thursday, May 27, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs met with various members of the Second Chambers Kingdom Relations Committee chaired by Member of Parliament Jan Paternotte. Prime Minister Jacobs used the opportunity during these two days to provide the committee members with information on many high-profile topics currently affecting Sint Maarten. Prime Minister Jacobs began her presentation by acknowledging the role that the committee indirectly plays in decisions made that affect Sint Maarten and in holding the Dutch Kingdom Council of Ministers accountable. As most committee members are newly appointed, it was vital to provide them with some historical background as to how the tumultuous relationship between Sint Maarten and the Netherlands has developed over the years. The committee members were also particularly interested in the corporate governance issues surrounding the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE), World Bank projects, and the vaccination rollout program. During the meeting, Prime Minister Jacobs expressed that, as predicted by the Sint Maarten government at the time, the World Bank has proven to not be the most efficient vehicle for rapid reconstruction after a natural disaster of 2017. The procedures adhered to by the World Bank, including the various stages in preparing a project on average, can take up to 18 months. This coupled with many delays with insurance, bondholders, and court cases added to the delays in the start of the Airport Reconstruction Project. As for the corporate governance situation at the airport, Prime Minister Jacobs explained that the Government of Sint Maarten, as a shareholder, has been taking the necessary steps to structurally improve cooperate governance within the confinement of Sint Maartens legal framework. As such any actions taken by the Shareholder can only be done after having done its due diligence and securing solid evidence. Prime Minister Jacobs indicated that the meeting was an overall promising engagement and that she intends to keep the dialogue ongoing as often as possible as it is important that the committee remains informed in reference to high profile topics on Sint Maarten which they may deliberate on, and through which they can hold the Ministers and State Secretaries accountable for actions taken in relation to the smaller countries within the Kingdom. Support local journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute STAMFORD After nearly four decades on the job, Assistant Chief Thomas Wuennemann is handing in his police badge and starting a new chapter in his life. Wuennemann officially retired from the Stamford Police Department earlier this month after 36 years on the job. He plans to continue to teach at Sacred Heart University, guiding the next generation of law enforcement. The decorated police veteran said it wasnt an easy decision to hang up his police uniform for good. For Wuennemann, being an officer was something he dreamed about as a kid. Ive worked with and met a lot of great people during my time in Stamford. Ive had a lot of fun working here over the years, and thats going to be missed, Wuennemann said. But when its time, its time. Wuennemann said he is looking forward to spending more time with his wife and family in retirement. The Bridgeport-born and Fairfield-raised police officer leaves behind a wide-ranging legacy at the department where he spent his entire law enforcement career. Wuennemann entered the Stamford ranks as a fresh-faced cop in August 1984 after graduating from the University of New Haven with a bachelors degree in law enforcement administration. In his early years with the department, he saw firsthand how Stamford was slammed by the crack epidemic. He recalls the families who were struck hardest by the wave of violence that followed in the epidemics wake. It was in these formative years he learned what he described as one of the most valuable lessons of his career. I can remember guys reaching into their pockets, passing the hat at lineup, because some senior patrolman had identified a family on their post that didnt have money to put presents beneath the Christmas tree, he said. Although we arrested a lot of people and locked a lot of bad people up, there was always this humanistic side to the P.D., and that was something that I really enjoyed being a part of. For Wuennemann, the police mantra to serve and protect went beyond working the daily beats, making arrests and keeping order; it involved giving back to Stamford community. Wuennemann said he carried this community-first principle with him his entire career, from his days walking the Southfield Village patrol beat to his time as a top administrator at the department. The 60-year-old spent most of his years with the department in the patrol division with various stints in other roles. In addition to being a longtime patrolman and supervisor, Wuennemann holds the distinction as the departments first DARE officer, where he was tasked with teaching students the dangers of drugs. From there, he wore a number of different hats for the department. He served in the departments Internal Affairs Division, led the departments substation at Southfield Village, and served as patrol commander of the downtown and South End district. For the past five years, Wuennemann has been Stamfords second-in-command, including a nine-month stint between 2019 and 2020 as interim police chief prior to the hiring of current police chief, Timothy Shaw. In addition to his work as an officer and administrator, Wuennemann has also been a pivotal player behind the scenes in organizing charitable causes, and overseeing public safety for events like Alive@Five, Jazz-Up July and various parade events and Santa Claus rappelling down city skyscrapers. While the 60-year-old has said goodbye to active police duty, he still plans on leaving his imprint on the next generation of young police officers in his role as an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University, where hes taught criminal investigations and crisis intervention courses for the past 15 years. I believe in doing policing right, whether that means doing your investigations legally or crisis intervention and understanding what individuals in crisis are experiencing, and thats something I want to get across to my students, Wuennemann said. For a testament to Wuennemanns teaching ability, look no further than Police Chief Shaw himself. When Shaw first joined the Stamford Police Department back in 1988, he landed Wuennemann - only a four-year vet at the time - as his field training officer. What stuck with Shaw all these years is how much Wuennemann cares for the community he serves. He shows a different side to policing, whether its helping out for the Special Olympics or his work in the field training program. You can just tell that hes the type of person who cares about the department, the community and all the people in between, Shaw said. Both Shaw and Wuennemann were candidates for the role of police chief when the position opened up in 2019. Though Shaw ultimately was appointed chief, he said that Wuennemann showed his true colors over the following year. He was a stand-up guy because he was also up for the job, and to stick around and support me the way he did speaks volumes. His institutional knowledge was key to my transition and the success of my first year, Shaw said. A local fallen soldier is getting a special honor this Memorial Day: Army Capt. Andrew M. Pedersen-Keel, who grew up in Wallingford, will have his name featured on a race car during Sundays Coca-Cola 600. Its a way to keep Andrews name alive, and its all part of trying to raise awareness in this country that many, many people have sacrificed in many, many, many ways, said Pedersen-Keels stepfather, Bob Keiser, who lives in Madison. Its a way to recognize just a few that have given the ultimate sacrifice. ... Were lucky to have Andrews name there. The initiative is part of New Haven company Biohaven Pharmaceuticals Military Salutes Program to honor fallen soldiers, according to a release, which indicates Rick Ware Racing and Nine Line Apparel also are partners in the program. One of four soldiers whose names are being featured on the cars windshields, Pedersen-Keel, a Green Beret with the 3rd Special Forces Group, was killed in Afghanistan in 2013, Keiser said. He had been heading up a Special Forces unit after its captain was injured, and turned out to be a superior leader, according to Keiser. Chief Warrant Officer 3 William Reese, another Army officer with the 3rd Special Forces Group, said he met Pedersen-Keel while deployed in Afghanistan. He was always making sure that everybody else was taken care of, and thats a very, very powerful character trait, and it draws people to you, Reese said. Though Reese only knew Pedersen-Keel for a few months before his death, he considered him a friend. He had a huge smile. He was always smiling, he said. He worked 20 hours (a day) and he was happy to do so because he really enjoyed serving. Reese sits on the board of APK Charities, which provides direct assistance to veterans and Gold Star families. One of the organizations major events kicks off Tuesday. Its a relay ruck from Avon Old Farms, where Pedersen-Keel attended high school, to his grave in Arlington National Cemetery, according to Keiser. During the Ruck 2 Remember, participants will carry 35 pounds while doing a slow jog, switching off after each mile, Reese said. Keiser and Pedersen-Keels mother, Helen Pedersen-Keiser, founded the charity to help keep their sons name alive, Keiser said. For Keiser, the NASCAR event serves the same end. Theres an old saying that a soldier dies twice: once on the battlefield and once when his name is no longer spoken, he said. Biohaven will have four cars in the race, one for each branch of the military, each honoring a fallen member of the branch. The others being honored with their names on windshields include (SEAL) Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Joshua Harris, Air Force Capt. Mark P. McCarthy and Marine Cpl. Steven A. Rintamaki. We are very proud to be a part of the Rick Ware Racing team and work with Nine Line Apparel on such a meaningful opportunity to honor fallen service members, Biohaven CEO Vlad Coric said in a written statement. meghan.friedmann@hearstmediact.com PERU, Ind. (AP) Indianas congressional delegation is pushing for the Air Force to select Grissom Air Reserve Base as a site for new aerial refueling and transport aircraft. The northern Indiana bases 434th Air Refueling Wing now flies KC-135 tankers. The Air Force announced in mid-May that Grissom was among six bases under consideration for assignment of the KC-46A Pegasus planes. Vaccines and the Wests credibility crisis By Mohamed A. El-Erian, exclusively for the Sunday Times in Sri Lanka View(s): View(s): CAMBRIDGE The proper functioning of any interconnected economic system depends on trust. And a global system that has been designed by advanced economies requires a significant level of buy-in from the developing world. Both become even more important as more developing economies, led by China, gain systemic importance. With the world trying to recover from the massive economic shock brought by COVID-19, the mishandling of the global vaccine rollout has weakened trust in the international system that emerged after World War II. Combined with memories of the 2008 global financial crisis, which originated in the advanced economies, todays failures are reinforcing suspicions among some countries that the international order may no longer be fit for purpose. The West, in particular, must take these concerns seriously. With no other multilateral system to replace the current one, the only alternative is a scenario of global fragmentation and rising economic, social, and political tensions. Although the United Kingdom has been ahead of most other countries in vaccinating its population, its struggle to hold down infections associated with the new B.1.617.2 variant from India serves as a timely reminder that no one is safe until everyone is. As former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown notes, whereas nearly half of US and UK citizens have now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, that figure drops to 11% India. In Sub-Saharan Africa, barely one percent of the population has received a single dose. While country-specific problems have contributed to mismanaged and inefficient vaccine deployment in some developing economies, the real issue has been insufficient supplies. As the United Nations pointed out in March, just ten rich countries possess nearly 80% of all COVID-19 vaccines. That has allowed them to start vaccinating even low-vulnerability segments of their population including children as young as 12 while billions of people in the developing world remain totally unprotected. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that countries with large vaccine inventories could donate one billion doses in 2021 without undermining their domestic vaccination priorities. Moreover, several advanced economies have accumulated massive vaccine surpluses as they plan for a round of boosters in the fall. And insufficient funding for COVAX, the international communitys facility to ensure equitable global access to vaccines, further underscores their hesitancy in helping the rest of the world. But this is not just a moral and ethical failure; it is also a practical one. According to IMF research, an additional US$50 billion in funding for global vaccination efforts would yield US$ nine trillion in economic benefits. The longer the global vaccine rollout stumbles, the greater the long-term damage to an already-stressed international system. Designed nearly 80 years ago, that system is centered on advanced economies that historically have provided key public goods, such as a stable international reserve currency (the US dollar) and significant funding for multilateral institutions. In exchange for these contributions, advanced economies have enjoyed enormous privileges, including a de facto veto in matters of global governance, currency seigniorage, and lower everyday funding costs (by serving as a destination for others savings). Yet while the postwar international system grants the advanced economies disproportionate influence in global affairs, its credibility and basic functioning ultimately depend on whether its stewards conduct themselves responsibly. The 2008 financial crisis suggested that they had not done so, and the rich worlds prolonged and excessive reliance on a policy mix over-dependent on monetary policy has since compounded the damage to their credibility. Against this backdrop, the unbalanced, unfair, and inefficient vaccine rollout could strike a huge blow to the systems long-term viability. That would certainly suit China. With its growing economic power and global reach, it has eagerly been challenging the legitimacy and appeal of the Western-dominated order, which it describes as unreliable and dependent on asymmetrical relations vis-a-vis developing countries. But because one cannot replace something with nothing, the result has been the slow but consistent evolution of a kind of hybrid system. The postwar system remains in place, but its dominance is being gradually eroded by the proliferation of arrangements that bypass its core. Examples include new multilateral institutions (such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the New Development Bank), new regional plans (notably Chinas Belt and Road Initiative), and new bilateral trade and investment deals. Owing to these developments, the overall operation of the global economy has been weakened, with significant consequences for all. And the longer that vaccination lags in many parts of the developing world, the more pressure vaccinated countries will feel to adopt a bunker mindset. As the international system fragments, the less stable it will become, reducing the prospects for the kind of synchronised global growth needed to enhance individual countries performance. Moreover, as trust in the system continues to erode, advanced economies will face additional national-security challenges. Trust is a precious commodity: it is hard to establish, easily eroded, and exceedingly difficult to regain. While far from perfect, the current international order is better than any of the alternatives, and still eminently reformable. Advanced economies must not jeopardise it by dragging their feet in the global vaccination effort. Mohamed A. El-Erian, President of Queens College, University of Cambridge, is a former chairman of US President Barack Obamas Global Development Council. He is the author of The Only Game in Town: Central Banks, Instability, and Avoiding the Next Collapse. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2021. www.project-syndicate.org WALLINGFORD Sharon Moye-Johnson thought she was too young and healthy to have a stroke, so she ignored a headache of four days and learned the hard way that she was wrong. Moye-Johnson , now 53, is lucky to be here to share her story and is doing so in the hope she can help others know the signs of stroke and to get to the hospital as soon as possible. I believe in miracles because I am one. Its a miracle I survived, said Moye-Johnson. Moye-Johnson is the first woman and first African American appointed to the position of regional manager of Judicial Court Support Services Division Bail Service. Contributed photo / Fifty-two at the time of her stroke Oct. 12, Moye-Johnson didnt have high blood pressure or any other underlying medical conditions, but doctors believe a case of COVID-19 in April 2020 contributed to the stroke, in her case, a blood clot that caused a dissection of an artery leading to the brain. With COVID-19, Moye-Johnson had a 104-degree fever for 10 days. She wasnt hospitalized and returned to work full time a month later. After a week at Yale New Haven Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery for the Oct. 12 stroke, Moye-Johnson was sent for rehabilitation to Gaylord Specialty Healthcare in Wallingford until Christmas Eve. She continues to undergo outpatient therapy. With the help of Gaylord, a devoted family and a strong faith in God, Moye-Johnson has made huge progress, but is still working on regaining motion in her left arm and hand. She manages more than 50 employees throughout the state and has to drive in the job, so recovering that left arm/hand motion is key. Contributed photo / Raising awareness In this National Stroke Awareness month, Moye-Johnson wants to remind the public of the acronym FAST in recognizing stroke. F is for facial drooping; A is for arm weakness; S is for speech difficulties; and T is for time, meaning if any of the previous symptoms are presenting, call an ambulance, because time is of the essence in treating a stroke. Moye-Johnson said paramedics are trained to treat stroke and that buys more time before getting to the hospital. Moye-Johnson, however, didnt have a lot of the typical symptoms for her, the warning sign was a severe headache for the previous four days that didnt go away with over-the-counter pain medication. Despite the headache, she soldiered on, even cleaning up after Sunday dinner at her parents house, a day before she would wake up unable to walk. When they returned home from her parents house that Sunday, her husband of 25 years, Johnny Johnson, said maybe she was having a stroke and should go to the hospital. She said, Im only 52, I cant be having a stroke. Moye-Johnson went to bed, woke up the next morning and couldnt walk. My legs were like rubber, I couldnt stand, she said. Her son, 21, drove her to the hospital. When they got to the ER, the person registering her told Moye-Johnson to put her thumb to her finger. I couldnt do it, she said. The hospital called a stroke alert, she said, and before she knew it they were asking basic questions such as her name, address, name of the president. She answered all the questions correctly. They said, We think youre having a stroke, she said. She needed a procedure to fix the artery. Doctors told her husband she had a 50 percent chance of survival after surgery. Thankfully, I survived, Moye-Johnson said. Contributed photo / Time Franklin Wendt, an APRN who assisted in Moye-Johnsons treatment, said there are two types of stroke: a dissection, or weakening of one of the blood vessels that provides blood to the brain and a bleeding stroke in which a blockage blocks blood supply to the brain. Time is extremely important, he said of those having a stroke. Wendt said people should watch out for a headache thats new or different and doesnt go away with the typical over-the-counter meds. Other symptoms to watch out for are limb weakness, difficulty speaking, or changes in sensation on one side of the body. She made great progress while she was inpatient, he said of Moye-Johnson. Part of her time at Gaylord was spent at their Taurig House, a transitional living program for patients making good progress, but who arent ready to go home yet. It gives them the opportunity to ease back into community living, Wendt said. Generally, the recovery from stroke happens the first several months, but up to a year before there is permanent disability, so Moye-Johnson has time to recover the motion in her left arm and hand. Contributed photo / After months of hospitalization, as well as physical, occupational and speech therapy, Moye-Johnson is coming along and walking fine, she said, her speech clear. Originally after the stroke she used a cane and a brace to get around, but no longer. She tells therapists that her goal is to get back to wearing four-inch heels every day. Ive come a long way, longer than people expected, she said. Your condition may seem impossible, but with God anything is possible. The care at Gaylord was excellent, she said, and the nurses were phenomenal. Healing Moye-Johnson also credits her recovery to a close, helping family, and God, in whom she has much faith. Her husband has been there every step of the way, she said, as have her siblings and parents, Willie Moye, pastor of Holy Tabernacle Church of God and Christ in Bridgeport, and Lillian Moye. Her parents are still making Sunday dinner at their house, but now always deliver to Moye-Johnsons family in Wallingford, as well. Her four sisters and two brothers have helped keep her home going by cleaning, cooking, staying with her for weeks when she wasnt supposed to be alone. Contributed photo / Her youngest sister started a prayer line for Moye-Johnson and other ill family members on Thursdays at 6 p.m. that brings family members onto a conference call from throughout Connecticut, California, Alabama and North Carolina. It makes you appreciate each other more, she said. A lot of people take life for granted so it doesnt pay to hold grudges because you dont know if anyone is going to be here in the morning. The family is so close that her niece who was supposed to be married in North Carolina changed it to Connecticut so Moye-Johnson could attend. At my nieces wedding we lit seven candles in memory of loved ones and an eighth one for me because she said I could have easily been the eighth, Moye-Johnson said. As in all situations that go bad, its all about attitude, she said. When adversity comes upon you, its good to have a good attitude, she said. Your attitude determines your altitude. A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You dont get far with it. The first anti-vaccine message of the coronavirus pandemic was posted on Facebook months before there were any concrete plans for a vaccine. It was February of 2020, said Seth Kalichman, a professor in psychological sciences at the University of Connecticut. Operation Warp Speed, I think, was officially announced in April, if I'm not mistaken. Anti-COVID vaccine messages were being promulgated on Facebook before anyone had even heard of the coronavirus. No one was calling it COVID. It wasn't named yet, when they were talking about it, Kalichman said. Their first post called it this new virus in China, the China virus, and the new SARS. Since then, vaccines to fight COVID have been developed, approved and distributed to millions of people nationwide though, behind the scenes, a war of words and ideas have raged. Theres no doubt that there is a messaging battle going on, said Max Reiss, a spokesperson for Gov. Ned Lamonts administration. Which side is winning that battle is a matter of opinion. Pointing to high vaccine rates in Connecticut, Reiss said, the right side of the debate is winning. Kalichman, though, said agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have failed to accurately and convincingly and coherently provide public health messaging. He and his UConn colleague, Lisa Eaton, had been studying health messaging around HIV. When the coronavirus pandemic struck, like so many other researchers, they shifted their focus, attempting to determine the earliest origins of the anti-COVID vaccine movement on Facebook. Kalichman and Eaton believe the anti-vaccine machine has been more effective than vaccine supporters. They are being beat. There is no question that they're being beat at their own game, and it's not just the anti-vax groups, Kalichman said. It filters beyond them into media and into social networks, people's lives. That information just moves very differently than evidence-based, science-based information. Timing may be everything The state of Connecticut has budgeted $11 million for communications during the pandemic, which includes development of the COVID Alert CT phone application and contact tracing efforts, among more traditional communication efforts like advertisements. As of now, roughly $10 million has been spent, total, Reiss said, approximating that $2 million has been spent since January, when the first vaccines were distributed in the state. For context, Reiss said the states entire tourism campaign this year is $1.2 million, calling the $11 million COVID communications budget an investment that Connecticut has never made before at this level. The state published its first pro-vaccine messaging in December 2020 10 months after Kalichman and Eaton say the first anti-vaccine messages were posted on Facebook. The problem, experts say, is that pro-vaccine messages rely on science. They are nuanced and careful, intellectually honest and deliberately worded. Anti-vaccination messages rely on pure emotion, confirming fears and anxieties about government overreach, about corrupt politicians or greedy pharmaceutical companies. They don't have any rules, and they don't have to worry about credibility, Eaton said. So that's a huge step up. Those fears are distilled into social media posts by anti-vaccination-focused groups, which are then shared far and wide, taking on lives of their own. They have, like, this propaganda machine, Kalichman said. Now, who does that influence, who does it impact? We don't really know. You might not believe your uncle when he argues there are microchips in every vaccine dose, but his argument is difficult to refute. But timing, Eaton and Kalichman say, is the key to fighting anti-vaccine messages. Like a vaccine inoculates a patient before they contract that disease, so must pro-vaccine messaging pave the way for any misinformation that might derail vaccination efforts, Eaton said. The solution is a vaccine, a social vaccine, it's to inoculate people against these beliefs before the vaccine conspiracy advocates do, Eaton said. If you can get ahead of the messaging, you can actually socially inoculate people from these malignant messages about health care. Hearts and minds When asked about vaccine messaging, Yale New Haven Healths chief policy and communications officer, Vin Petrini, quoted Mark Twain: A lie can travel halfway around the world, while the truth is still tying its shoes. In a way, anti-vaccine proponents are waging a guerrilla war. The use of social media is asynchronous, using emotion and shock value. In that way, a small group of people can have an outsized effect. It's been estimated that of anti-vaccine social media, 12 people are putting out 90 percent of the material, said Sten Vermund, dean of the Yale School of Public Health. And those 12 people get packaged and repackaged and repackaged. Those posts consist of certain themes that have proven effective and so are regurgitated over and over. They have the same content, they have the same themes, Kalichman said. Anti-government, mistrust of public health authorities, concerns about side effects and the overwhelmingly better option of natural immunity. There is also the idea that the vaccines were produced too quickly for them to be safe, according to Eaton. There's a little bit of a fallacy around believing that just because something's fast means that it's inferior, she said. That's something new that came with the COVID vaccine, you hear a lot of people say that. According to Vermund, the way to combat that tactic is on the ground, where people live, through the mouths of people they trust. We in the public health field need to be more strategic and more effective in the public communication narratives, Vermund said. We also need to touch hearts, and not just minds. We also need to influence people through influencers. Vermund pointed to a video posted by Dolly Parton. She was vaccinated publicly, and sang an altered version of her iconic song, Jolene. That's what we need in spades, Vermund said. At the end of the day, I think that's the kind of thing that we need much more of. Its not just Dolly Parton. Morgan Freeman has appeared in a public service announcement, and though he didnt get vaccinated publicly, a short piece about former President Donald Trump that appeared on FOX News has been repurposed as a pro-vaccination message. If it's conspiracy theorists, Donald Trump has to be the spokesperson in favor of vaccines, Vermund said. If it's religiously motivated opposition, religious leaders have to be the spokespersons. If it is political opponents like Rand Paul-types, sort of libertarian, don't tread on me, don't tell me what to do, then it's going to have to be advocates for libertarianism. The 10 percent rule Imagine three groups of people. First, you have those who are willing or even excited to be vaccinated. On the other side of the spectrum, you have people who are not able to be persuaded, who will never get a vaccine. In the middle, you have the battleground. It's persuading the persuadable, as we like to say, Petrini said. We used to use the 10 percent rule: 10 percent that will do it no matter what, there's 10 percent that won't do it no matter what, and there's that 80 percent middle, generally speaking, that we really need to speak to. For some, there are historical concerns, which Eaton said she understands. Some of our participants can talk about medical abuse, the legacy of medical abuse in our society, she said. That is something to be talked through. And I do think for some people, there is sincerely a fear for their children, like they do feel fear in saying, Yes, you can vaccinate my child. Some people will respond to science-based discussion on the myths. Others might respond to appeals to ones sense of civic responsibility or personal responsibility. Some might respond to the idea that they are protecting their friends and family from ruin. For each of those objections, there are different responses. There's probably hundreds of reasons why people are hesitant to get the vaccine, Petrini said. But Vermund said theres a difference between hesitancy and opposition. It's important not to conflate those because hesitancy tends to be people who are not against vaccines, they just are not keen to be front in line for a new vaccine that doesn't have full FDA approval yet, he said. That group is shrinking every single month into the vaccinated group. That's a very different challenge than the vaccine oppositional group, which has a cadre of religious opposition, political opposition, conspiracy theory-ism, Vermund said, calling them tough nuts to crack. Vermund is fully aware that hearing a message from the dean of the Yale School of Public Health will likely have the opposite effect. That's not going to impress the conspiracy theorist, he said. Just the fact that I say it will confirm that they're right. What matters more than anything, he said, is whose voice is speaking the message. Trump did not release a pro-vaccine PSA, but it would have been more effective if he had. That would be a lot more influential than the rest of us making one of these things and just putting it out there because it's easy to overlook it when it's not the big boy speaking for himself, Vermund said. Dolly Parton, I think, was responsible for getting a lot of people vaccinated. I think a lot of people in her constituency saw that video, which was widely circulated. And that's why Tennessee and Alabama rates are not even worse. That strategy is also effective on a local level within Connecticut. What's been particularly effective is partnering with community organizations, and places like churches, and groups that have embedded credibility with audiences, Petrini said. So you can talk to an organization that will then, by its presence, endorse the strength of that message. Ashtabula, OH (44004) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 62F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 62F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Ashtabula, OH (44004) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 62F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 62F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. The self-employed sector in Malaga has not only managed to survive during the pandemic but appears to have achieved a somewhat difficult feat: there are now nearly 6,000 more people on the Regimen Especial de Trabajadores Autonomos (RETA), the register of self-employed workers, in the province than there were two years ago, when the economy was doing well and the word 'coronavirus' had not yet become part of our normal vocabulary. The latest figures from Social Security, which are for April this year, show that 123,974 workers in Malaga are self-employed. This is an increase of 5,855 compared with the same month in 2019, which is five per cent higher and puts Malaga at the top of the list of growth in self-employment in Spain. In fact, most other provinces have lost self-employed workers during the past two years. Nationally, there was a very slight increase, of 0.8 per cent. Only two other provinces have seen an increase of more than four per cent in people registered as self-employed in the past two years and they are also in Andalucia: Seville and Cadiz. It is also striking to note that between April 2019 and April 2020 in Malaga, only 716 people de-registered themselves as self-employed. Undoubtedly, during the state of alarm because of the pandemic, the financial assistance for those who were unable to continue working was a decisive factor in preventing many more doing the same, but even taking that into account it can be seen that more self-employed businesses closed in other provinces than in Malaga. The figures also show that between April 2020 and April this year, the province gained 6,571 self-employed workers, placing it above the level of registrations prior to the pandemic. Profile of the self-employed What is the average profile of someone who is self-employed in Malaga? According to a study carried out by the Institute of Statistics and Cartography of Andalucia (IECA), the average self-employed worker is a male aged 40, (the most common age range is between 40 and 50), who works in the services sector and pays the lowest amount of contribution for social security. Self-employed workers do still tend to be mainly male: only 37 per cent of those registered in Malaga are women. The older the age group, the more pronounced this difference becomes: women represent 40 per cent of those under the age of 40, and the percentage drops to 33 per cent in the over-50s. With regard to age, the figures show that seven out of every ten self-employed people in Malaga are over the age of 40. The most numerous age range is 40 to 50, accounting for 32 per cent of all those registered. People aged between 50 and 59 represent one quarter of the total, and 21 per cent are aged between 30 and 39. About 12 per cent are over 60 and only eight per cent are under the age of 30. The minimum contribution A recent proposal by the government to change the contribution system for self-employed workers has led to concern among this group, whose members normally pay the minimum rate of 286.15 euros a month. This applies to two-thirds of self-employed people in Malaga, who are paying the lowest possible rate. If the new range of options which is being considered by the Ministry of Inclusion and Social Security comes into force, which would involve payments of between 90 and 1,220 euros a month, some of these self-employed workers would end up paying less (those whose income is less than 17,000 euros a year) while others, who earn more than that, will find themselves paying more. The difficulties involved in setting up and running a business are reflected by the length of time they tend to last. About 42 per cent of professionals in Malaga who register with the Social Security as self-employed close their businesses within a year. The survival rate for businesses set up by self-employed workers drops to 22 per cent after five years; in other words, eight out of every ten do not last long enough to celebrate the fifth anniversary of their business. The statistics also show that only 14 per cent are still going after ten years. Cluj-Napoca Mayor Emil Boc says that in his opinion Florin Citu is "the man who can take the party to the next level," adding that Prime Minister and PNL deputy chairman Citu is a man who inspires, who has projects, as proved while governing. "From my point of view, I don't think it's a secret to anyone, I'm glad that the Prime Minister of Romania, Florin Citu, has announced his candidacy. I sincerely believe that he is the man who can take the party to the next level, thanking Mr Orban for the good things he did. In politics, we always talk about the future, and Florin Citu can represent the future for PNL, with a strong team that comprises all of PNL members, because he inspires, he has projects, he has proved by governing, and I believe that with him the national leader of PNL Romania will stand to win as well," Boc said on Sunday at the end of a convention of the PNL National Council. He said he discussed with Citu projects he is considering related to the party. Boc also underlined that the internal party struggle will be won by PNL, when asked if Citu will win the competition for the party's national leadership. "The National Liberal Party will win this fight, with Florin Citu as president," the PNL leader added. Asked what party position he would run for, Boc said: "No position." Prime Minister Florin Citu said that "another type of politician" is needed, given that Romania and Europe are changing. "As for my candidacy, from my point of view, I think it is necessary, Romania is changing, Europe is changing, the world is changing, another type of politician is needed. In my opinion, liberalism means, however, to make decisions as a team. We are a team and we must all participate, for better or for worse. You can rest assured that in my term of office there will not be a minute in which a PNL member is not proud of being part of this liberal team," Citu told a convention of on Sunday of the National Council of the National Liberal Party (PNL). He underlined that only together with his party colleagues will make sure Romania will be liberal. "As you know, I talk less and do more, that's why I do what I say and I do it well and so far I have proved it. Together we make Romania liberal," said Citu. In a message released on Sunday, May 30, the Day of Romanians Everywhere, President Klaus Iohannis says that the talent and competence of all Romanians is needed to build a prosperous country where those who have gone abroad may gladly return. "On the last Sunday of May, we celebrate the Day of Romanians Everywhere, a special day dedicated to the diaspora. We keep you on our mind, all of you who are away from home and loved ones and we know how difficult it was this last year of tribulation, when because of the pandemic, special protection measures were needed. I want to thank you all for the responsibility you have shown and the solidarity you have shown towards those who remained in the country," Iohannis says. He mentions the difficult moments that Romanians abroad and their relatives at home went through during the pandemic. "During the severe pandemic period, many Romanians returned from abroad, not only in their mind, to their homeland, some returning home temporarily or even permanently. However, many other families were separated due to the epidemiological context, but vaccination against VOCID- 19 now offers us the opportunity to end the pandemic and resume all our activities safely, to be able to travel again to reunite with our loved ones." The President tells those who have left the country that, benefiting from European funds, Romania will develop through "the talent and competence of all Romanians." "Overcoming the health crisis will allow us to focus all efforts on a goal of fundamental importance: building post-pandemic Romania. Benefiting from European funds that will facilitate massive investment in all areas, our country will enter a broad development process. We need the talent and competence of all Romanians to build together a prosperous country that offers real opportunities and chances to all, a country in which our fellow citizens who have gone abroad to return with joy," says Iohannis. Incumbent national chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL) Ludovic Orban told a convention on Sunday of the PNL National Council that he would run for party presidency out of a "deep sense of responsibility," noting that he had always been with the party members and viewed them with respect. He said there were many in the party who tried to take a stand against him, adding that for every slap in the face he figuratively received, he turned the other cheek. "The decision to run for the PNL presidency is a decision that was hard for me to make. I did not make it for my career goals, but I did it because I know that in the coming years there is a crucial time for PNL. I am just a man, a man who has risen through his hard work, through constant openness towards colleagues. You know about me that there is no PNL member who needs me, who wants to communicate with me who cannot talk to me. I have always looked respectfully on every member of PNL, regardless of the position in the party, and the greatest honour to me is the honour of being a member of the party," said Orban. He added that PNL is his team and that he never made decisions alone, but in consultation with the party. "The media told me, after the announcement of my friend and colleague Florin Citu, that there was no team behind me. My team is PNL, it is every member of PNL, regardless of whether I had different positions, because there is no other team than the PNL team. All those who have known me for 30 years, know that I have never made decisions alone, I have consulted with the PNL rank and file. In my promotion action I have tried to take into account the criteria of professionalism. Since becoming the national leader, the party has been enriched with people of fame, I have opened the doors to PNL. I have often made risky, courageous decisions on the edge. I am coming before you with my chin up and I am looking you in the eyes without any reason to look down," said Orban He mentioned that under his leadership he had the objective for PNL to become the strongest political force in Romania. "You elected me at the helm of PNL at a difficult time. I had only one goal: for PNL to become the strongest political force in Romania. We won the elections to the European Parliament, taking a risky decision, bringing Rares Bogdan to the head of the list, which helped the penetrating force of PNL. (...) We won the local elections, we prepared the elections meticulously, we made important decisions that led to us winning 17 county council chair offices. We did not win the general election, but you should ask yourselves why not. The Social Democratic Party (PSD) did not defeat us. We had to face the hardest post-December 1989 period (...) We went through a pandemic in Romania. (...) We did not manage to win because the pandemic beat us, not some political opponent. However, we managed to get to power. Of the four highest positions in the state, three belong to the PNL: President Klaus Iohannis, Prime Minister Florin Citu and myself, speaker of the Chamber of Deputies," added Orban. He mentioned that the PNL still needs reorganisation, which is what he did during his term as national leader. "I am running for a new term out of a deep sense of responsibility towards PNL and our common destiny. PNL still needs streamlining, opening its doors to valuable people, reform measures. We did these things during my tenure. (...) I want to conclude by telling you that during the four years in office, there are many who have not been with me, who have tried to position themselves against me, who have had other opinions and who have many times made decisions or influenced public communication, but for every slap in my face, I turned the other cheek," Orban said, adding that he has supported people in public office regardless of whether or not the people were against him. Orban also said that inside PNL there is no "positioning crime." "Each of us has the chance for a political position with one condition: not to harm PNL. Your destiny is in your hands; you, the members of PNL, you have your destiny in your hands, vote as you think is right and appropriate (...) We are the party with the richest history in the EU, we brought modernisation to Romania, we were with the Romanians during the hardest period in their history, and we have to stay that way," concluded Orban. Incumbent national chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL) Ludovic Orban said on Sunday he welcomed Prime Minister Florin Cituu's joining the race for the PNL national leader, adding that the competition would be a "festival of democracy" and would not affect party activity or government. "I welcome the prime minister joining the race for the position of PNL president. It will be a project competition that will give PNL members the opportunity to choose from and I am convinced that the result of this convention will be a positive outcome for the party. In this competition I had a discussion with the prime minister, we started setting a framework, which will be an extremely honest framework, a project competition, a positive competition in which we unveil our offerings to PNL members," Orban said at the PNL headquarters after PM Florin Citu told a news conference at the PNL headquarters together with several leaders and members of the government that he decided to join the competition for the PNL presidency. He said that it is normal for Florin Citu to say that he will win. "I am also running to win, for PNL to win and, obviously, for Romania to win. This competition will not affect the activity of PNL; we remain focused on ensuring a good governance of Romania. Florin Citu and I will continue to present to the party all the decisions that will be taken at the party and coalition level. The fact that it is a competition between the two of us, from my point of view, will not affect the activity of PNL as the main governing party and especially the performance of the government. My team is, was and will be PNL. The convention will decide what positions each one will have," Orban added. He also said that this competition will be a "festival of democracy." "We are joining a competition and obviously this festival of democracy that will take place inside PNL that will mean elections, not only at national level; it will mean practically the election of all party bodies at local, county and national level. Obviously that after this festival of democracy a result will ensue; those who will be elected will take all the statutory decisions that are necessary after the convention," Orban said. Asked if whoever loses this competition should resign from public office, Orban said: "For now, it is a competition between us, in which we try to convince PNL members to support us to get their support. We are a team, regardless of the outcome. PNL is and will be united regardless of the result of the vote." "There are statutory provisions for statutory decisions on support for PNL representatives in public positions; those decisions will be taken only after the convention by all those who will be elected to the various positions that give the right of representation. For now, we have a beautiful competition; we have the opportunity to present the vision, objectives, projects of each of the candidates, so as to show Romanians that PNL is a party with strong human resources, a party that has the capacity to ensure the good governance that Romania needs," added Orban. Prime Minister Florin Citu announced on Sunday that the official document on Romania's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) will be submitted to the European Commission on June 2, for a two-month assessment by the European Commission. "On June 2, as far as I understand, Minister Ghinea will come up with the final version, the final version that we send. Of course it will be assessed by the European Commission and we will see after that," Citu said on Sunday before a meeting of the National Liberal Party (PNL) Political Council. Asked if it is normal for public opinion to know the content of the PNRR after the plan is sent to Brussels, the prime minister said that the document was introduced to the specialist committees of Parliament. "Social Democratic Party (PSD) specialists went to the Ministry of European Investment and Projects and saw the project that will be sent. The version we send, once again not the final version, will be unveiled, but there will be two more months in which it will be assessed by the Commission European," said Citu. JEFFERSON COUNTY An hourslong shootout Friday night near Cedar Hill ended with a sheriffs deputy injured and a suspect related to a homicide investigation dead. The Jefferson County sheriffs department said deputies went to the 8000 block of Lake Drive to serve a search warrant related to an ongoing missing person investigation that detectives believe could be a homicide. After the shootout, a body was found inside the residence. Police said that person, who has not been identified, died before the exchange of gunfire. Police had been on scene for some time gathering intelligence before a man in the house, identified Saturday by police as Anthony Legens, 36, realized they were there. When he did, he immediately opened fire on them, Sheriff Dave Marshak said. This suspect is known to law enforcement, Marshak said in a video of a news conference Friday night. He has a lengthy history. This is not the first time hes encountered law enforcement. This suspect was actively trying to kill police officers this evening. His past encounters with law enforcement included domestic assault, burglary, DWI, weapons possession and drug charges. The Andalucia government has started work to clean up and seal the Rio de la Miel illegal tip in Nerja, which saw 800,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste dumped from 1998 to 2016. Speaking last week about the work, which is expected to take around 12 months, the regional sustainable development representative in Malaga, Jose Antonio Viquez, said, "We are working to keep our commitment to a green revolution in the province." He went on to say that the project was a "priority" for the Junta de Andalucia in order to reduce the environmental and health and safety risks caused by dumping. Environmental impact Viquez highlighted possible pollution of nearby waterways as well as risks to wildlife and people as consequences of the waste left at the site. Work includes cleaning up the area, stabilising the entrance to the old quarry site, the reintroduction of native species of plants, drainage and a plan for environmental control and surveillance. The regional government is set to invest 1.9 million euros in the operation. According to Viquez, the project to clean up the Rio de la Miel falls under the regional government's new decree; 'Towards a Circular Economy 2030' (PlRec2030), which sets out plans to reduce municipal waste deposited at tips by 10 per cent over the next decade. The court case into the scandal is ongoing, with prosecutors calling for two year prison sentences and an 18 month ban on public office for Nerja mayor Jose Alberto Armijo along with councillor Nieves Atencia. A number of local business owners are also facing possible sentences for their links to the illegal refuse site. One time in summer school, she remembers other students asking why she was taking extra math classes because Asians are supposed to be good at math. In high school, she has felt immense pressure to be a good student. There were moments where students hovered over her shoulder because they thought she had the right answers to an assignment and yanked the paper from her hands, Huynh said. She ignored these microaggressions growing up because her parents would say, Dont talk about it, dont tell anyone about it because were in America. And its not really our country. And so we have to obey by their rules because weve been given this opportunity, she said. When I started taking Asian American studies, I finally realized that Ive ignored a lot of things growing up, Huynh said. Hunyh and other students who took Chans class organized with the HANA Center, a community organization focused on empowering Korean American and multiethnic immigrant communities, and lobbied to help get the TEAACH Act passed. They spoke to different student groups about the bill, collected witness slips, and successfully encouraged some of their state representatives to sign on as co-sponsors of the bill. There was no indication that any crime had taken place, Korte said. He said that at some point in the past few years he also spoke with the woman and that she confirmed the two hooked up but that he didnt document the conversations. Korte said that beyond those conversations and flagging the claims to the Bowling Green police chief, he didnt take further steps to investigate. An AP request for comment to the Bowling Green police chief was not returned Friday. Look at that cute cop Asked about concerns that his handling of the case might erode young womens trust that his department would take seriously claims of sexual assault against law enforcement officers, Korte said he could see someone who didnt know him or the community questioning it. I guess my question is, were you ever in a situation where you said, Hey look at that cute cop? Korte asked. Korte also questioned whether the messages with Perkins were fabricated and questioned the credibility of the detective over what he said was a political feud with Perkins. A Scout leaves this world better than they found it. So if they found a broken or worn flag at a grave, Boy Scouts of America Scoutmaster Stacey Locke explained Sunday morning to a group of Scouts at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in University City, they should replace it. Do not walk on the graves, but walk on the aisles between them, she said. And if they spotted stones or rocks atop some gravestones, that means a family member has come to visit placing the stones is a tradition in Jewish cemeteries. Please, anything you see out there, leave where it is, she said of the stones. The exception being obvious trash. About 50 or so Scouts gathered at this cemetery, which garnered national headlines four years ago when a vandal toppled more than 100 headstones. Theyre part of a greater effort organized by the Jewish Committee on Scouting to place flags at the headstones of veterans. About 350 Scouts total ventured Sunday morning to place flags at about 8,000 graves at eight local Jewish cemeteries. Scouts have organized to place flags at Jewish cemeteries for at least 40 years, said Earl Binder, chairman of the Jewish Committee on Scouting for the Boy Scouts of Greater St. Louis. The Scouts are given a little slip of paper with directions to salute and recite a tribute at each one. They name the veteran, thank them for their service, and salute again. At first, they might be a bit hesitant about reciting. I have discovered in years past that that is the most meaningful thing, said Locke, after sending her Scouts down the rows with flags. They really seem to embrace that. Because of the coronavirus, they couldnt place flags on graves last year, and they had to limit participation this year. About 600 Scouts usually register, and the vast majority are not Jewish. Because of the sheer numbers, were kind of eclipsed by the Jefferson Barracks (National Cemetery) one, but both are Scouting events, said Steve Sobelman, an organizer of the event. People tend not to remember that there are servicemen and women all over the cemeteries in the St. Louis area. Unlike the Memorial Day Good Turn event at Jefferson Barracks, where Scouts walk down rows of graves placing a flag at each grave, this effort even though about 1,600 veterans are buried here at Chesed Shel Emeth requires a bit of searching. Carter Steutermann, 13, and Jack Miller, 14, of St. Charles, quietly walked between the rows, scanning them for a round metal Star of David marker that indicates veteran status. The Scouts placed the flag into a slot on the marker. The slot on one particular grave marker was broken, so Jack placed the flag into the ground. He stood and saluted. Albert Sacks, for your service in the Armed Forces of the United States, we salute you, he said. Sacks died in 1974. The boys mothers, April Steutermann and Casey Miller, watched from a short distance. This was the first year for the boys to participate in this event. I think its important, said Steutermann. His uncles in the military, he has other family that have been in service, so I think he understands why its important. Carter thought it was pretty cool and amazing that they get to help. He said the hardest part was trying not to be disrespectful by stepping on the graves. Eva Best, 11, and Maggie Siders, 12, from St. Charles County, also worked hard to walk between rows, and hadnt known about the custom of stones on graves. They read the dates of birth on the graves as they walked 1821, 1844, 1866. They reported they spotted one grave with painted stones on top of it placed in the shape of a heart. One stone said mama on it, said Maggie. Matt Bruns of St. Peters came to the event with his son Ben, 11. Bruns and his wife, Bens mother, are both veterans, and so are his grandparents, great-grandparents, and several other family members. Im surprised how little veterans there are, said Ben, meaning its not like the Jefferson Barracks event he has attended in the past. Here, they placed flags on about 40 graves, and, as Scouts do, picked up pieces of trash as they walked. The biggest challenge, said Matt Bruns, looking up and down the aisles, is not wanting to forget one. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The voting district encompasses Albuquerque, rural Torrance County and other outlying areas that include the Indigenous community of Sandia Pueblo. Registered Democrats dominated early voting, casting roughly twice as ballots as registered Republicans as of Friday. Political science professor Lonna Atkeson, of the University of New Mexico, notes that both major-party candidates have delved into attack ads and negative campaigning a sign that neither campaign is confident. Nobodys felt confident enough that they can just ride it out in a positive way. So theyre both feeling a little stressed, Atkeson said. I mean, we never saw Deb Haaland do a negative ad. The Democratic National Committee brought Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, to New Mexico on Thursday to campaign on Stansburys behalf. At a rally with labor unions and other supporters, Emhoff acknowledged the thin margin Democrats have in Congress and said electing Stansbury would help to ensure the party's legislative initiatives make it to the president's desk. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) The Texas Legislature was on the verge Sunday of signing off on some of the most restrictive voting measures in the U.S., putting the GOP on the brink of a major victory in their nationwide effort to tighten voting access following the 2020 election. A vote in the state House expected later Sunday is the last barrier to sending Republican Gov. Greg Abbott a raft of election changes that would eliminate drive-thru voting, empower partisan poll watchers and impose new requirements in order to cast a ballot by mail in Texas, which already has some of toughest voting laws in the nation. Democrats dug in for one last and longshot challenge on the House floor but had little means of stopping the bill. Hours earlier on Sunday, the Texas Senate muscled the bill through shortly after sunrise after bringing it up for a vote in the middle of the night on a Memorial Day weekend, when the state Capitol was all but empty. Even before the final House vote, Democrats said they would try to block the measure in court. It's an awful bill," said Democratic state Rep. Jessica Gonzalez, the vice chairwoman of the House Elections Committee. But I'm hopeful that this underhanded behavior, the way they undercut the process, will help us when we litigate this." We had to get creative, we had to pivot, store manager Alex Brubaker said. Our readers and our customers have been incredible. It's a rainy weekend, but the bookstore is full. Minnesota lifted all statewide coronavirus restrictions for bars and restaurants Friday, though local governments can maintain their own social distancing and mask rules. About 50% of the U.S. population has now received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 40% of the population is fully vaccinated. Vermont boasts the nation's highest vaccination rate, with nearly 70% of its residents having received at least one dose. The governor is expected to drop all pandemic-related restrictions once 80% of Vermont's eligible population has received at least one dose, a milestone the state expects to hit next week. In mid-2018, Ryan, then just 48, announced that his current House term would be his last. His surprise exit was widely interpreted as an admission that Republicans would lose the House later that year (which they did), and that Ryan was tired of having to pretend that hed not heard or read whatever grotesque comment Trump had made on a given day. Ryan has since gone on to a life of corporate boards and university lecturing gigs, but his endless fence-sitting regarding Trump apparently remains a constant. Once again, we conservatives find ourselves at a crossroads, Ryan said in a speech Thursday in California. And heres one reality we have to face: If the conservative cause depends on the populist appeal of one personality then were not going anywhere. Its an accurate assessment that would have benefited from the addition of the name of that disordered personality: Donald Trump. But even out of office, Ryan wasnt willing to go there. On the same day Ryan was failing to specifically call out Trump, McConnell, still leading the Senate Republicans, was orchestrating the defeat of a congressional commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol covering for the GOPs enabling of Trump as he incited the riot. Its just another illustration of the bizarre, almost wizard-like hold that Americas worst president still has over his adopted party. These are the most-read letters from last week. Bill McClellans satirical column Missouri has a secret weapon to avoid growth (May 23) seems incomplete to me. Missouris GOP Legislature has an arsenal of weapons that stymie economic expansion. Still strong is opposition to adding employment, housing, public accommodations and health care protections for LGBTQ Missourians. However, businesses realize increasingly that inclusive business practices lead to more productive and engaged employees, increased customer satisfaction, and, ultimately, improved competitiveness that improves the bottom line. In addition, four years after the Missouri NAACP issued a warning for Black travelers to stay away, the organization's president, Nimrod Chapel, said the groups travel advisory is still in effect until Missouri makes some meaningful progress in the systemic abuses affecting people of color including disparity in traffic stops and police brutality. Meanwhile, tourism suffers. In the two decades before the United States entered World War II, the military developed war plans for all sorts of potential conflicts, identified by colors, as in War Plan Purple for Russia, Gold for France, Red for Britain, White for another U.S. civil war, Yellow for China and Orange for Japan. Initially these War Plans were planning exercises to justify military staffs spending a lot of time compiling information on the logistical and operational problems that might be encountered. The only one of these plans that kept getting more attention, especially in the 1930s, was War Plan Orange. The other War Plans largely fell by the wayside for practical and political reasons. Orange was different, because Japan had long been on good terms with the United States and an active ally during World War I. Even before Germany turned into a dictatorship and began preparing for war, Japan was already fighting China, a war that unofficially began in 1931 when Japanese troops invaded Manchuria and made plans for taking control of Chinese coastal waters. To the West, the Sino-Japanese war officially began in 1937 when Japan attacked major Chinese coastal cities like Shanghai and quickly captured them. American naval planners were not surprised because in the 1930s they were making frequent, often yearly, updates and revisions of War Plan Orange. This involved a closer look at Japanese military capabilities and what the U.S. Navy discovered was frightening. The West had long recognized the growing power of the Japanese Navy, so much so that the 1920s Washington Naval Limitation Treaty of 1922 was meant to limit a naval arms race among the five major naval powers after World War I, including Japan, along with the U.S., Britain, France and Italy. By 1931 it was clear that the Japanese were cheating, using deception and the establishment of a secretive police state that made it difficult to monitor the growth of its fleet. The invasion of Manchuria also diverted attention from the growing Japanese naval threat in the West Pacific. Japan was doing all this with a much smaller economy than the United States but was able to put a lot more of that economy to work for the military. The U.S. Navy wargaming and war plan efforts in the 1930s accurately predicted what the Japanese could, and ultimately did do during World War II. The only thing Japan or War Plan Orange did not foresee was the Japanese use of Kamikazes and the American development of nuclear weapons. Those two surprises arrived after Japan had lost any chance of winning and the nukes actually shortened a war the Japanese were planning to fight until most Japanese were dead. After World War II, once the four-decade long Cold War began, the color-coded war plans were replaced with less colorful and more numerous OPLANs (Operational Plans). In the early 21st century the U.S. Navy quietly resumed detailed planning, including war gaming and fleet exercises informally known as OPLAN Orange. What details of the new Orange that have emerged mainly concern the need to commit major portions of defense spending to dealing with problems revealed during the planning and wargaming. Nor much has been revealed about Chinese weaknesses and vulnerabilities but you dont need a military planner to point out what those are. An economist will tell you that China is extremely vulnerable to having its overseas trade disrupted, even for a short period. In the 1930s Japans only such vulnerability was importing oil from the United States and the newly developed oil fields in the Dutch colonies that became Indonesia. Other natural resources were imported from Japanese controlled Korea and northern China. Today China is, like 1930s Japan, a dictatorship but one that maintains control by increasing living standards and feas another slide back into the regional separatism that has been a major problem for thousands of years. China must, like World War II Japan, win quickly or at least compel a battered United States to cede control of the West Pacific and Indian Ocean to China. Unlike the 1930s, the enemy has powerful local allies in the form of Japan, South Korea and India. The Americans and Indians have nukes. So does Russia, now a Chinese client because China does not have allies. Russia is dependent on the Chinese economy for survival. Back in the 1960s Russia seriously considered nuking China before it became a major threat. The American warned Russia to not ever try that. Russia fears China, just as World War II Japan feared Russia. In both cases Russia agreed to be a bystander, at least until it was clear who was losing. China is far more economically vulnerable now than Japan was then. China cannot feed itself and is much more dependent on oil imports. China maintains a 90-day oil reserve, but most of it is stored above ground and very vulnerable to non-nuclear ballistic missile attack. China has a lot of these missiles aimed at Taiwan and American bases in the West Pacific, but the Americans have more ABM (anti-ballistic missile) systems than China. OPLAN Orange devotes a lot of effort to determining how China would carry out another surprise attack, with an impact greater than what Japan hoped to achieve. During the December, 1941 surprise attack on the main American fleet base in Hawaii (Pearl Harbor) Japan ignored the more important, to the U.S. fleet, logistic and maintenance facilities at Pearl Harbor. Their attacks on other bases and territories in the West Pacific were meant to solve their own supply problems, without realizing that the U.S. had similar vulnerabilities when it came to sustaining a large military effort in the Pacific. Today China has weapons that could disrupt economic activities via attacks on the Internet and satellite use, but so does the West. In the 1930s Japanese navy leaders told the army, which controlled the dictatorship, that the fleet could go on the offensive for about six months and if that did not induce the Americans to cede the West Pacific to Japan, the remainder of the war would have to be defensive against a rapidly growing American fleet. The reality was worse, as Japan failed to attack key logistical targets at Pearl Harbor, where they found none of the American aircraft carriers but plenty of oil storage sites and fleet maintenance facilities that were left alone as not worthy of a warriors attention. Japanese strategy did not involve using submarines against vulnerable American shipping that was needed to supply Australia, New Zealand and other areas Japan was unable to grab quickly. At the end of the predicted six-month Japanese naval superiority was gone and Japanese carrier capability crippled by the loss of half its carrier force during the Battle of Midway. The Americans could replace lost ships, aircraft and pilots much more quickly than the Japanese so those heavy losses early in the war were fatal for Japanese naval power. Roles are reversed in OPLAN Orange, where China has greater ship building capability than the United States. To make that work China has to keep the sea lanes open for foreign imports. Maintaining sea access against hostile airpower, submarines and trading partners that see China as the aggressor is a daunting task. The availability of nuclear weapons to both sides, as well as the increased importance of EW (Electronic Warfare) and long-range guided missiles makes preparations for a 21st century version of the December 1941 Japanese surprise attack more complicated. China puts more emphasis on developing, testing and in some cases using new hacking weapons on the U.S. by doing it through third parties, in this case criminal hackers based in China or Russia. Using sabotage as part of the surprise military attack is nothing new, but with Internet hacking tool now available, along with the ability to attack clandestinely in peacetime, China believes it now has a decisive weapon for surprise attack that will weaken the United States without angering it sufficiently to trigger a nuclear response. China is also vulnerable, more so than the United States, to electronic attacks via networks or wireless means. China is seeking to deal with this by modifying Chinese links to the international Internet so that China can quickly sever those international links and survive as a China-only Internet for a short period. The main reason for international Internet access is economic and Internet isolation cannot be maintained if it cripples the economy. All this puts Chinas new military bases in the South China Sea, which China is now claiming to own, into perspective. China wants control of the South China Sea to protect about 20 percent of its sea lanes to the Middle East. The six military bases built so far, most of them on artificial islands, are like ships at sea. All are tiny and most are simply sand recently dredged from the shallow waters of the South China Sea and piled atop existing reefs or rocks that are normally visible only at low tide. All these bases have to be constantly supplied with water, fuel and other supplies. Although these islands have only a few thousand personnel on them, they are as vulnerable as warships at sea with that large a crew, like one of the new Chinese aircraft carriers. The South China Sea islands have to be perpetually supplied, as if they were ships that never came back to port. Chinese carriers spend most of their time in port. Another advantage ships have is that they can move to avoid the frequent storms that pass through the South China Sea on their way to the Asian mainland. These typhoons are more powerful than their Atlantic equivalents (hurricanes) and deliver damaging winds and waves that do most of their damage on islands between where they all form before moving west and dissipating some of their strength on the thousands of islands in Southeast Asia. The South China Sea artificial islands have not been hit with a major storm yet, but its just a matter of time. Meanwhile, two of the new Chinese replenishment ships are assigned full-time to get water, fuel and military equipment to the crew of the immobile sand ships. China has its own version of OPLAN Orange for the foreign threats and allows open discussion of these plans in China, especially in military journals. The open discussions are necessary to get useful ideas from a wider audience of military and civilian experts. There are often references to Japanese mistakes during their war with the United States. Less often do these discussions mention the main reason for the American threats to Japan was efforts to get Japan to halt its violence against China. In China some things are simply not discussed in public. The Spanish government has recently drawn up a 676-page policy guide for the country for the next 30 years, called Spain 2050, with objectives including overcoming the gender pay gap, improvements in employment, the economy, equality and climate change, and even making people's lives happier in general. However, it also confirms that the official retirement age needs to rise to 67 by 2027, because of the ageing population. At present it is 66, although those who have paid Social Security contributions for more than 37 years and three months are entitled to retire at 65. The government says that by 2050 one in every three people will be 65 or older, and for everybody in that age range there will only be 1.7 people aged between 16 and 64 (at present there are 3.4). It also warns that no matter how much the birth rate may rise or migration there may be, nothing can completely reverse this scenario, and it also says that other measures are going to be needed in order to sustain the pension system. This news release constitutes a "designated news release" for the purposes of the Company's prospectus supplement dated February 2, 2021 to its short form base shelf prospectus dated January 27, 2021. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 28, 2021 / HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. (TSX.V:HIVE) (OTCQX:HVBTF) (FSE:HBF) (the "Company" or "HIVE") is pleased announce that it has received confirmation from Bodens Energi Nt AB for an additional guaranteed 10 MW of green energy electricity for its GPU data centre in Sweden. This increase is on top of the previously announced 2 MW expansion on January 28, 2021. These combined expansions increase the capacity of the facility by over 50% from 21 MW to 33 MW. Presently we are securing new state of the art performing GPU cards for this expansion. Ethereum Classic As previously announced in April of this year, HIVE started mining Ethereum Classic before the prices surged to the current price of US$75 a coin, and continues to mine Ethereum Classic due to its profitability. We have chosen to mine and sell Ethereum Classic to assist in covering electricity and basic general & administrative costs while saving in cold wallets our Bitcoin and Ethereum production. Only Crypto Miner Mining Ethereum and Coin Inventory (HODL) HIVE continues to be a Holder of mined Bitcoin and Ethereum coins and has been banking them in cold wallets. Our continued strategy is one to continue holding coins, as we feel that it will benefit our shareholders. The current dollar value of our crypto assets is approximately US $79 million (based on US $2,700 Ethereum and US $38,500 Bitcoin) and cash is US $36 million. The value of the coins have been volatile while our cash position remains stable and healthy. This HODL strategy has led to the strengthening of our balance sheet and liquidity which is a substantial improvement from where we were a year ago. ESG Strategy- Bitcoin Mining Council, Michael Saylor and Elon Musk Meeting Recently there has been substantial volatility due to Elon Musk's pronouncements and then China's shut down in Crypto mining. It is great news for the global economy that China is shutting down mining which is mostly from coal generated electricity. Frank Holmes, Executive Chairman said "It was great to participate in the special meeting held on Sunday May 23, 2021 championed by Michael Saylor and special guest Elon Musk along with CEO's from many of the largest crypto mining companies." "The meeting was productive and the bottom line is we agreed to establish a Bitcoin Mining Council to promote education, transparency on sources of energy and accountability for sustainable mining. Further this new organization will strive to standardize energy reporting and set a high bar for ESG standards of care. We believe there is a major macro shift happening and crypto mining is shifting to North America and Europe where executives are more serious and responsible about lowering their carbon footprint. I was proud that not only were we the first public crypto mining company in 2017 but that we have always had an ESG strategy and a focus on only mining with green energy. Finally I was pleased to see other CEO's agree to our goals and would like to thank Michael Saylor for his stewardship and Elon Musk for his ideas and candor." Global Logistics and Chip Challenges As we have mentioned before, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact logistics and the supply of miners from Asia. Today's announcement is part of our continuing strategy to increase our GPU mining capacity. HIVE intends to continue utilizing cash flow to make opportunistic investments in ASIC and GPU new and next generation mining equipment that can provide positive gross mining margins. About HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. is a growth oriented, TSX.V-listed company building a bridge from the blockchain sector to traditional capital markets. HIVE owns state-of-the-art green energy-powered data centre facilities in Canada, Sweden, and Iceland which produce newly minted digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum continuously on the cloud. Our deployments provide shareholders with exposure to the operating margins of digital currency mining as well as a portfolio of crypto-coins. For more information and to register to HIVE's mailing list, please visit www.HIVEblockchain.com . Follow @HIVEblockchain on Twitter and subscribe to HIVE's YouTube channel . On Behalf of HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd. "Frank Holmes" Executive Chairman For further information please contact: Frank Holmes Tel: (604) 664-1078 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Forward-Looking Information Except for the statements of historical fact, this news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation that is based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. "Forward-looking information" in this news release includes information about the potential for the Company's long-term growth; the continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on logistics and the supply of miners from Asia; the continued utilization of cash flow to make opportunistic investments in new and next generation mining equipment that can provide positive gross mining margins; the profitability of Ethereum Classic; the Company's HODL strategy being beneficial to shareholders; and the business goals and objectives of the Company. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to the Company's ability to successfully mine digital currency; the Company may not be able to profitably liquidate its current digital currency inventory, or at all; a decline in digital currency prices may have a significant negative impact on the Company's operations; the volatility of digital currency prices; continued effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may have a material adverse effect on the Company's performance as supply chains are disrupted and prevent the Company from operating its assets; and other related risks as more fully set out in the Filing Statement of the Company and other documents disclosed under the Company's filings at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking information in this news release reflects the current expectations, assumptions and/or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company. In connection with the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made assumptions about the current profitability in mining cryptocurrency (including pricing and volume of current transaction activity); profitable use of the Company's assets going forward; the Company's ability to profitably liquidate its digital currency inventory as required; historical prices of digital currencies and the ability of the Company to mine digital currencies will be consistent with historical prices; and there will be no regulation or law that will prevent the Company from operating its business. The Company has also assumed that no significant events occur outside of the Company's normal course of business. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein. SOURCE: Hive Blockchain Technologies Ltd View source version on accesswire.com: LONGUEUIL, Quebec, May 28, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reunion Gold Corporation (TSX-V: RGD) (the "Company"), following the successful completion of a $10.4 million financing, is pleased to provide details about its planned exploration program at its Oko West Project in Guyana. The program will include a combination of approximately 130 diamond and reverse circulation holes totalling up to 11,000 meters. Carlos Bertoni, Reunion Gold's Acting CEO, stated: "We are excited with the exploration results obtained so far from the trenching and drilling work done at the Oko West Project (see results in previous press releases) and are launching a follow-up program aiming to expand the footprint of three mineralized shear zones discovered in 2020, which has now been tested by trenching and drilling over five kilometres (Figure 1). Gold mineralization is found in north-south shear zones straddling the six-kilometre-long contact of granitic and volcanic rocks within the project boundaries. This new program aims to define the geometry, volume and gold grade of saprolitic material over a strike length of approximately three kilometres and will be executed in such a way that a mineral resource could be estimated, if warranted." Work done so far confirms significant gold mineralization hosted by three shear structures extending for hundreds of meters along strike and downwards into weathered bedrock (saprolite), justifying a comprehensive exploration program consisting of 100 meter-spaced trench and drill hole "fences" on eight blocks (Figure 2). These fences aim to test the lateral and depth continuity of gold mineralization down to unweathered bedrock. In addition to the 11,000 meters in 130 holes of drilling, 25 trenches are planned to provide a continuous near-surface sampling of saprolite. We expect that more than 12,000 samples will be assayed. This program is being launched during the first week of June and will take close to five months to complete, at an estimated cost of approximately C$3.4 million. The Oko West area is in the Cuyuni River basin of Guyana, a traditionally mining-friendly jurisdiction. The Company has an option to acquire a 100% ownership interest in mineral rights covering an area of approximately 11,900 acres. Qualified Person The technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Carlos. H. Bertoni, P.Geo., the Company's Acting CEO. Mr. Bertoni is a qualified person under Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Cautionary Statement This press release contains certain forward-looking information or forward-looking statements as defined in applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are not historical facts and are subject to several risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control, including statements regarding plans to complete a mineral resource estimate, trenching, drilling and other exploration programs, potential mineralization, exploration results and statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions of the Company. Resource exploration and development is highly speculative, characterized by several significant risks, which even a combination of careful evaluation, experience and knowledge may not eliminate. All forward-looking statements herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. About Reunion Gold Reunion Gold Corporation is a leading gold explorer in the Guiana Shield, South America, with a portfolio of projects in Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. The Company's common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol 'RGD.' Additional information about the Company is available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and the Company's website (www.reuniongold.com). For further information, please contact:REUNION GOLD CORPORATION Carlos H. Bertoni, acting CEO orPaul Fowler, Manager, Corporate DevelopmentTelephone: +1 450.677.2585Email: info@reuniongold.com Figure 1: Map of Oko West project area schematic geology, permits outlines and shear zones discovered (red dashed lines). The map also shows gold anomalies from soil geochemistry testing the volcanic - granitoid contact in the eastern part of the project area. Figure 2: Map showing schematic geology, soil gold anomaly and layout of exploration blocks. Source: Reunion Gold Corporation FILE PHOTO: Vial labelled "AstraZeneca coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine" placed on displayed EU flag is seen in this illustration picture taken March 24, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo (Reuters) - A total of 316 cases of rare blood clots with low platelets have been recorded in adults who received AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine in the European Economic Area, an executive of the region's drug regulator said. The figure as of Thursday includes 174 new reports since the European Medicines Agency (EMA) provided an update in April, Georgy Genov, the chief of the watchdog's safety monitoring operations, said during a briefing on Friday. The EMA has been looking into cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) since March and has found a possible link to the vaccine developed with Oxford University, Vaxzevria, and to Johnson & Johnson's single-dose shot. It has, however, maintained that overall benefits of both the vaccines outweigh any risks posed by them. Genov said a further 19 million people had received the first dose of Vaxzevria in the EEA since the April update, adding that the frequency of TTS has not changed - it is still extremely rare - but the fatality rate following symptoms has decreased. He said the drop in death rates possibly indicated that awareness among those vaccinated and those administering the vaccine and treating patients had gone up, leading to early diagnosis and treatment. The European Economic Area comprises the 27 countries in the European Union, plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. (Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru and Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt; Editing by Alison Williams) French and American Soldiers salute at the funeral of one of their comrades at base hospital No. 17, Dijon, France, on Sept. 6, 1918. (Sgt. Reyden, S.C./National Archives and Records Administration) In 1919, when Theodore J. Argiroplos, of Keyser, W. Va., got the government post card asking if he wanted the body of his brother shipped home for burial, he entered "yes" on the appropriate line. Private James Argiroplos, 24, of the 80th division's 317th infantry regiment, had been killed on Aug. 15, 1918, near a place called Hebuterne in France. And he, and thousands of other dead Americans, were eligible to be buried in an American cemetery in France, or brought home. So in a massive and little-remembered project after World War I, the U.S. sent out 74,000 questionnaire cards asking families what they wanted and then tried to fulfill their wishes. Sixty-three thousand answers were received by January 1920, according to historian Lisa M. Budreau. And between 1919 and 1922 the government identified, located, and exhumed about 44,000 bodies and shipped them home for burial. But in certain cases, like that of James Argiroplos, the effort was blocked by the brutality of the war. "Neither the United States nor any other nation up until that time had ever attempted such a colossal task," Budreau wrote in her 2010 book, "Bodies of War." On May 23, 1921, President Warren Harding went to Pier 3 in Hoboken, N.J., to pay tribute to the 5,000 bodies that had just arrived on the funeral ship USAT Wheaton. "These dead know ... nothing of the sentiment or the tenderness which brings their wasted bodies to the homeland, for burial close to kin and friends and cherished associations," he said. "These poor bodies are but the clay tenements ... of souls, which flamed in patriotic devotion, (and) lighted new hopes on the battlegrounds of civilization." Roughly 100,000 Americans died during World War I, from combat, the influenza pandemic and other causes, historians say. And the repatriation effort came about as the United States was preparing for the solemn homecoming of the lone unknown soldier in November, 1921. "This is everyone else," said Ryan Hegg, the lead organizer of Homecoming '21, a project that has helped catalogue the 5,000 dead aboard the ship. Among the bodies, listed as "passengers" on board the Wheaton, was that of Elzie Turner, an Army cook from Seat Pleasant, Md. He was 28 and had been married a month when he shipped out of Hoboken aboard the Leviathan on July 8, 1918. He died of pneumonia on Oct. 17, 1918, and was buried in an American cemetery in Rimaucourt, France. The year after his death, his wife, Emily, a native of Ireland, posted a memorial notice in the Washington Evening Star. "He sleeps beside his comrades "In a grave across the foam; "But love and memory linger "In the hearts of all at home" An anniversary Mass was scheduled in St. Margaret's Catholic church in Seat Pleasant, the notice said. A next of kin response card asking for the return of the remains of Private James Argiroplos, who was killed near Hebuterne in France during World War I. (National Archives) The Graves Registration Service removes bodies near Grandpre, Ardennes, France, for reburial. Much of the grisly work was done by African American soldiers in labor battalions. The men are wearing waders, and one has a mask. (National Archives and Records Administration) Caskets of U.S. service members are assembled in Antwerp, Belgium, for shipment home. (U.S. Army Signal Corps) Turner was disinterred on March 17, 1921, after his family asked that he be sent home. His body arrived in Hoboken on May 18 and was delivered to the William H. Sardo funeral home on H Street in Washington on June 10. He was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery three days later. PFC James Geddes, 25, of Washington, D.C., died of pneumonia in Vittel, France, on Oct. 6, 1918. His widowed mother, Catherine, was at first in denial. "My son was so happy when we last heard from him, planning his first furlough ... that I cannot believe he is dead," she told the Washington Herald. His body was also brought back on the Wheaton on May 18 and shipped to funeral director Charles Zurhorst on Capitol Hill on May 27. The funeral was held at the Geddes home on North Carolina Avenue, and James was buried in Glenwood Cemetery on May 31, according to old news accounts. The response to the government's overtures was mixed. William Abrams, of Philadelphia, said he did not want the body of his son, Sgt. Albert Abrams, home for burial. "The field of honor is the place," he wrote on the card. Sgt. Abrams had died of pneumonia the day before the Nov. 11, 1918 Armistice went into effect, ending the 1914-1918 war, according to records at the National Archives. Pvt. Charles Arnold, of North Bergen, N.J. had also died of disease. His sister, Louise, writing on a separate document, said: "Please leave my brother's body in France where he went to fight for his country. May he rest in peace forever more is the fervent prayer of his sister." Some relatives initially said they wanted their loved ones home, but then changed their minds. The families of some soldiers, like Pvt. Birt Adams, of Oakland, Calif., who died of pneumonia on Oct. 6, 1918, were never located. The job of disinterring the bodies was grisly work. And in the harshly segregated Army of the time it was assigned to 6,000 African American soldiers in labor battalions, Budreau, the historian, wrote. The work was often done in miserable weather, with stench and mud, and the soldiers lived in primitive housing, Budreau wrote. "Although popular American opinion placed such great importance on the disposition of its dead, burial being a sanctified duty, no one but the black man was asked to do the job," she wrote. By 1920 and 1921 the bodies were decomposed and unrecognizable, although many were still in their uniforms, according to records in the Archives. Government officials worried that family members might seek to open the coffins for a last glimpse, Budreau wrote. "Americans at home (who) hoped to verify their loved ones' identity ... risked seeing (only) shocking remnants ... that hardly resembled the human form they expected," she wrote. When they first exhumed Pvt. Max Achenbach, 23, of Revere, Mass., who had died of wounds in a field hospital on Oct. 8, 1918, he still had a large splint on his shattered left leg and a drainage tube near his pelvis. He had been wrapped initially in burlap and buried in a wooden box. His sister, Emilie, preferred that his body stay in France. In many cases there was nothing to find. Pvt. James Argiroplos had immigrated from Sparta, Greece, to Keyser, about 140 miles west of Washington, in 1911. He operated a candy store with his brother at 88 Main Street and declared his intent to became a citizen in 1915, according to records. He appears to have been drafted after the U.S. entered the war in 1917. On May 25, 1918, before he went overseas, he made out his will "if perhaps I get kill in army" at Camp Lee, near Petersburg, Va. He named his brother as beneficiary. The next day he shipped out of Norfolk on board the Mongolia bound for the war with the rest of Company F of the 317th. By August 1918, the great German offensives of that year had died out, and British, French and American forces were beginning the counterattacks that would end the war three months later. On Aug. 14 and 15, while attached to a division from New Zealand, parts of the 317th attacked and captured the towns of Serre and Puisieux-au-Mont, 100 miles north of Paris, according to a summary of the actions of 80th Division, which included the 317th. Ten men were killed or died of wounds during the period, Aug. 8 to Aug. 18, the summary said. One of them was James Argiroplos. But when the Army went to look for his remains to send them home to his brother, there were none to be found. On a yellowed piece of paper in the National Archives is a statement from Cpl. Joseph Morris, of Company F, who was an eyewitness: "Pvt. Argiroplos was blown to pieces on Serre Ridge." All that was left, Morris said, was a piece of coat collar, found by New Zealander, bearing the insignia Co. F. Lt. Ridge Hannemann Alkonis, 33, is a weapons officer aboard the destroyer USS Benfold at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, according to his LinkedIn profile. (U.S. Navy) TOKYO A U.S. sailor assigned to Yokosuka Naval Base was in Japanese police custody on Sunday following a vehicle accident that took the life of an 85-year-old woman and injured two others. Lt. Ridge Hannemann Alkonis, 33, was arrested at 2:40 p.m. Saturday on suspicion of injuring people by driving a car, a police spokesman for Fujinomiya, a city about two hours southwest of the naval base, said Sunday. Alkonis who since April has served as a weapons officer aboard the destroyer USS Benfold, according to his LinkedIn profile allegedly drove his car into a restaurant parking lot in the citys Yamamiya district at about 1 p.m. Saturday, striking five empty vehicles and three pedestrians, the spokesman said. One of the pedestrians, an 85-year-old woman, died that afternoon at a nearby hospital, the spokesman said. Also taken to the hospital were a man, 54, who suffered serious injuries, and a woman, 53, who had minor injuries. Alkonis was not injured, the spokesman said. Its customary in Japan for some government officials to remain anonymous when speaking with the media. An investigation is ongoing, the spokesman said. The Navy is cooperating with Japanese police, who are taking the lead on the investigation, Naval Forces Japan spokeswoman Cmdr. Katie Cerezo said in an email Sunday. We are aware that a U.S. Navy Sailor stationed on board Fleet Activities Yokosuka was involved in a fatal vehicle accident in Fujinomiya City, she wrote. Cerezo declined to confirm Alkonis name or other details in a follow-up email, referring all questions to Japanese police. In October, Alkonis won first prize in an essay contest about mine warfare that was sponsored by the Mine Warfare Association and published in Proceedings, the U.S. Naval Institutes monthly magazine. robson.seth@stripes.com Twitter: @SethRobson1 kusumoto.hana@stripes.com Twitter: @HanaKusumoto The wreckage of a cable car after it collapsed near the summit of the Stresa-Mottarone line in the Piedmont region, northern Italy, Wednesday, May 26, 2021. (Luca Bruno/AP) ROME The three suspects in Italys cable car disaster that killed 14 people were allowed to leave prison Sunday after a judge indicated that for now blame fell on just one: a service technician who intentionally disabled the car's emergency brake because it kept locking spontaneously. Judge Donatella Banci Buonamici said there wasn't sufficient evidence suggesting the owner of the Mottarone cable car company, Luigi Nerini, or the maintenance chief, Enrico Perocchio, knew that the technician had deactivated the brake on several occasions even before the May 23 disaster. After evaluating prosecutors' request for continued detention of the three, Buonamici determined there was no flight risk, ordered the managers freed while allowing the technician, Gabriele Tadini, to leave under house arrest. The three men, who remain under investigation, left Verbania prison early Sunday, accompanied by their lawyers. Fourteen people were killed when the lead cable of the Mottarone funicular overlooking Lake Maggiore in northern Italy snapped and the emergency brake failed to prevent the cable car from reeling at high speed backward down the support line. The cable car pulled off the line entirely after passing the support pylon, crashed to the ground and then rolled down the mountain until it was stopped by a stand of trees. The lone survivor, 5-year-old Eitan Biran, remains hospitalized but conscious, with his aunt looking after him. Eitan's Israeli-born parents, his younger brother and his great-grandparents were killed in the disaster and their remains were sent back to Israel. It isn't known why the pulling cable snapped. The Vipiteno, Italy-based company that maintains the lift, Leitner SpA, has said no irregularities were detected" during the November 2020 magnetic testing of the lead cable, and that every other annual check hadn't turned up problems either. Tadini admitted during questioning that he had left a fork-shaped bracket on the cable car's emergency brake to disable it because it kept locking on its own while the car was in service, said his lawyer, Marcello Perillo. Speaking to reporters outside Verbania prison, Perillo said Tadini never would have left the bracket in place if he thought doing so might endanger passengers. He is not a criminal and would never have let people go up with the braking system blocked had he known that there was even a possibility that the cable would have broken, Perillo said. He cant even begin to get his head around the fact that the cable broke. Based on Tadini's testimony, prosecutors had hypothesized that the managers knew about the jerry-rigged brake and had an economic reason in using it to keep the funicular running. Prosecutor Olimpia Bossi said the owner would have had to have taken the whole lift out of service for the more extensive, radical" repairs that were necessary. The lift, which features four large tram cars bringing passengers up and down the mountain, only reopened on April 26 after a lengthy COVID-19 shutdown and was gearing up for the summer tourist season in a picturesque part of northern Italy. But lawyers for Nerini and Perocchio said the two denied knowing anything about Tadinis maneuver and said they had no reason to let a cable car without a brake system operate. The judge concurred, noting that neither they nor Leitner, the maintenance company, would have had an interest in doing so. Nerini's attorney, Pasquale Patano, said the owner had no interest in not repairing the cable car since he paid a flat fee of 150,000 euros ($183,000) a year for unlimited maintenance from Leitner to keep the funicular safe and operational. Perocchio similarly denied any knowledge of Tadinis maneuver, according to his lawyer Andrea Da Prato, who suggested his client had been arrested because the prosecutor felt pressure to produce quick results in the investigation into the tragedy. As he left the prison, Perocchio said he was desperately sad" for the victims and never would have authorized disabling the emergency brake. Ive been working in cable cars for 21 years and I know theres no reason in the world to do that, he told reporters. The judge's ruling noted that Tadini had called Perocchio twice to send in repair crews since the lift reopened because of the brake problem, but that the problem persisted after the crews left. Even though Tadini insisted that Perocchio and Nerini knew about his patchwork repair, the judge said he likely was trying to share the blame on the people who could afford to pay damages, and wasn't a credible enough witness to warrant their continued detention. Leitner, the maintenance company of which Perocchio is an employee, has said that using the fork-shaped brackets was expressly forbidden" when passengers were in the cabin. The brackets are meant to be used when the cabin part of a transport system known as an aerial tram is parked in the station for the night or to do repair work. Leitner has provided investigators with documentation of the lift's maintenance record and declared itself an injured party in the case, saying it plans to donate any awarded damages to the families of the victims. Lance Cpl. Carlos Rivera, a U.S. Marine Forces Europe and Africa administrative specialist, stands as part of the Color Guard for a memorial ceremony in Belleau Wood, France, on May 30, 2021. (Brytani Musick/U.S. Marine Corps) GRAFENWOEHR, Germany A group of about 100 Marines, some wearing military uniforms from World War I, came together Sunday at an American cemetery in France to pay tribute to fellow Marines who died 103 years ago in the Battle of Belleau Wood. Marines from the 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division Band and Marine Forces Europe and Africa were joined by members of the French and German military during a ceremony at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery to honor service members who fought in the 1918 battle, which was considered a turning point in World War I. During the Battle of Belleau Wood, Marines and soldiers fought against German forces after they breached the Western Front and came within 45 miles of Paris. The bloody battle lasted about three weeks and claimed nearly 10,000 American lives. Gunnery Sgt. Daniel Sallee, a U.S. Marine Forces Europe and Africa future plans and concepts chief, dressed in a World War I uniform, poses for photos in Belleau Wood, France, on May 29, 2021. (Brytani Musick/U.S. Marine Corps) On Sunday, Gunnery Sgt. Daniel Sallee, based out of Stuttgart, wore a World War I uniform and had his portrait painted by the unit historian, whose artwork of costumed Marines will be used later within the unit or offered as gifts. Getting to put on a uniform from that time [is] amazing, said Sallee, a future plans and concepts chief with Marine Forces Europe and Africa. It brought a surreal sense to me, and it continually makes me appreciate that much more, everything I think people dont appreciate. Sallee said putting on the historical uniform brings back a sense of realism of history long lost. Another Marine, who is part of the joint color guard, was excited to attend the ceremony for the first time. It makes me feel excited to be a part of this once in a lifetime chance for myself and my fellow Marines, Lance Cpl. Carlos Rivera, an administrative specialist with U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe and Africa said. Honestly, it gives me chills, and I feel honored to be [at Belleau Wood] today. Traditionally when this ceremony takes place, Marines drink from the Bulldog fountain to remember those that fought in this battle over a century ago. It is believed that Marines received the nickname Devil Dog from German forces during the battle. Johnson.immanuel@stripes.com Twitter: @Manny_Stripes An Afghan man lies at a hospital after a roadside bomb struck a minivan full of university lecturers and students in Kapisa province northern of Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, May 29, 2021. (Farid Tanha/AP) KABUL, Afghanistan A mortar shell hit a wedding ceremony in northern Afghanistan, killing at least seven people, mostly children, and wounding at least four others, a police spokesman said. Taliban insurgents attacked a government security checkpoint in the district of Tagab and one of their mortar shells hit a civilian house, Kapisa provincial police spokesman Shayeq Shoresh said Sunday. He said the attack happened the night before. But Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a tweet accused police of firing several mortar shells toward the civilian house, causing the casualties. Both the Taliban and government forces routinely blame each other for attacks. The assailants are rarely identified and the public is seldom informed of the results of investigations into the many attacks in the capital. The United Nations has repeatedly demanded both sides take more precautions to protect civilians. In the first three months of this year, the U.N. mission in Afghanistan said 1,783 civilians had been killed or wounded in Afghanistan, up 29% over the same period last year. Recently, Afghan national defense and security forces and the Taliban have increased operations against each other in most of the provinces of the country, where most often civilians are caught in the crossfire. Meanwhile, the Islamic State group in a statement Sunday claimed credit for a roadside bomb that struck a minivan full of university lecturers and students in Kapisa on Saturday, killing at least four and wounding 11 others. The militant group in its statement said the minivan was carrying "Shiite apostates." BAGHDAD - U.S. military officials in Iraq have grown increasingly alarmed over attacks by Iran-backed militias using drones to evade detection systems around military bases and diplomatic facilities. In place of rockets, militiamen have turned at times to small, fixed-wing drones that fly too low to be picked up by defensive systems, military officials and diplomats say. An official with the U.S.-led coalition described the evolving drone threat as the military mission's biggest concern in Iraq. In April, a drone strike targeted a CIA hangar inside the airport complex in the northern city of Irbil, according to officials familiar with the matter. The drone's flight was tracked to within 10 miles of the site, but its path was then lost as it moved into a civilian flight path, the coalition official said. The drone's remains were partially recovered, and preliminary analysis suggested it was made in Iran, a coalition official said. The attack deeply concerned White House and Pentagon officials because of the covert nature of the facility and the sophistication of the strike. Although no one was harmed in the strike, it prompted a long night of deliberations over how to respond, according to Western officials. Some U.S. officials advocated serious consideration of a military response, including the National Security Council's coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Brett McGurk, said two people familiar with the matter. The Biden administration ultimately decided against taking military action. A similar drone attack in May on the sprawling Ain al-Asad air base raised similar concerns among coalition commanders about how militias are adapting their tactics, according to officials and personnel on base. "The damage wasn't huge but the coalition were very upset. They told our commanders that it was a major escalation," said one Iraqi soldier stationed at Ain al-Asad, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. Ain al-Asad was previously targeted by Iran with ballistic missiles in January 2020 in response to the U.S. assassination of Iranian commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani earlier that month. Rocket attacks by Iran-backed groups have at times killed American servicemen and Iraqi security personnel and civilians, prompting retaliatory military action from the United States and pushing Washington and Tehran to the brink of outright conflict on Iraqi soil. Although tensions have cooled since President Joe Biden took office, officials worry that future attacks still risk sparking a new cycle of tit-for-tat violence as Iran-backed groups try to push a rump coalition force out of Iraq altogether. Iraqi pressure on U.S. and other coalition forces to withdraw surged last year amid outrage here over the Trump administration's decision to kill Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis using a drone strike. U.S. troop levels have fallen roughly by half since then, in part because Iraqi security forces are now taking the lead rolling up what remains of the Islamic State. But American numbers have also declined in response to increasing rocket attacks, which left some commanders describing their soldiers as sitting ducks. There are now about 3,000 coalition troops in Iraq, including 2,500 Americans. In the absence of effective defenses, the drone threat now raises the prospect of a sudden escalation of violence. Each fresh attack triggers a flurry of communication as U.S. officials seek to determine whether Americans have been killed or injured. "The death of an American is their red line," said one Western official, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. "The first question the Americans always ask is: what was the casualty's nationality?" The top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, said last week that efforts were underway to develop better defenses against the drones. While visiting northeastern Syria, McKenzie told reporters that military officials were looking for ways to cut command-and-control links between a drone and its operator, improve radar sensors to quickly identify the threat as it approached, and find effective ways to bring the aircraft down. "We're open to all kinds of things," he said, according to the Associated Press. "Still, I don't think we're where we want to be." Another official said that electronic jammers are being considered, as are other systems being developed by U.S. Special Forces in Syria. In April, the White House announced the formation of a joint working group between the United States and Israel "on the growing threat of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles [UAVs] and Precision Guided Missiles produced by Iran and provided to its proxies in the Middle East Region." Iraqi security personnel, speaking in interviews, described unease and frustration on military bases because of drone and rocket attacks, and emphasized that the strikes on U.S.-linked facilities pose a threat to Iraqis as well. "I feel so frustrated when I see these attacks," said the officer at Ain al-Asad. "We know where they come from, but we can't do anything about it, even as officers in the Iraqi army." The future of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq is the focus of ongoing discussions between U.S. and Iraqi officials. Although U.S. officials have said that the American-Iraqi relationship is in a new honeymoon period following Biden's inauguration, Iraqi military officials have voiced frustration that they feel like a junior partner in a relationship largely centered on reducing Iranian influence in the region. The first troop talks of Biden's presidency took place in April and although both sides called them a successful step toward reducing the coalition presence in Iraq, the resulting communique appeared to be more a restatement of current realities than a strategic shift. In a statement this month, a council of Iran-linked militia groups described the latest talks as "totally and completely unacceptable" and vowed to increase pressure on coalition forces. "The Iraqi resistance confirms its full readiness to perform its legitimate, national and legal duty to achieve this goal," the council said. Last year, U.S. officials hailed the killings of Soleimani and Muhandis as a way of weakening the threat that Iran-linked groups pose to American forces in Iraq. Instead, that strike made the threat more diffuse. Iran-linked groups have since rallied, security officials and analysts say, seeding their militia members among a mushrooming number of smaller front groups, which now regularly attack U.S.-linked targets. Iraq's militia network, known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), includes some groups that are backed by Iran and others that are not. They are an official part of Iraq's security forces, and their members command extensive influence throughout the country's Iraqi economy and political system. Human rights groups also say the militias are behind a rising tide of assassinations targeting their critics. In private, Iraqi government and security officials say that they fear the repercussions of any sustained effort to rein in Iran-linked groups that have been launching attacks on Western military targets or shooting activists in the street. In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi tried anyway, ordering the arrest of a senior PMF commander, Qasem Muhsen, who was linked to both. Within hours of the announcement, footage circulated on social media of militiamen insulting Kadhimi as they walked through Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone toward his house. "Hey Kadhimi, are you asleep, or are you awake?" said one. - - - Hudson reported from Washington. The Washington Post's Mustafa Salim in Baghdad contributed to this report. (The Center Square) Iowas tourism industry is touting a significant if not complete recovery from the low levels experienced during last summers pandemic precautions. In an email to The Center Square, the Iowa Economic Authoritys Travel Iowa Communications Manager Jessica ORiley referenced an estimate provided by AAA Travel, which predicts a 60% increase in Memorial Day Weekend travel between May 27 and May 31. Travelers to Iowa are up 63.3% for the time period of May 1-25, 2021 over the same time period in 2020, ORiley said. However, we havent caught up yet to pre-pandemic levels of 2019. We are down 11.0% for the same time period (2019 vs. 2021). Travel is definitely on the rebound. Quoting AAA information, ORiley said more than 37 million people are anticipated to travel 50 miles or more from home in Iowa this weekend. Over the next several months, acknowledging the pent-up demand and growing confidence to hit the road for travel, the Iowa Tourism Office is taking the opportunity to highlight the states tourism assets through a variety of initiatives, ORiley said. AAA Travel said another factor contributing to the expected increase in travel this holiday is the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) recently updated guidance that fully vaccinated people can travel domestically at low risk to themselves, while taking proper precautions. Its important to keep in mind that some local and state travel restrictions may still remain in place, however, according to a AAA Travel news release. As more people get the COVID-19 vaccine and consumer confidence grows, Americans are demonstrating a strong desire to travel this Memorial Day, Paula Twidale, senior vice president, AAA Travel, said in a statement, adding the increased weekend travel is a strong indicator for summer. The Travel Federation of Iowa estimates tourism generated $9 billion of spending in the state in 2018. Those tourist expenditures contributed $517.5 million in tax revenues to the state. TFI also estimates tourists spent $24.6 million per day in 2018, and the tourism supports more than 70,000 Iowa jobs with a combined payroll of $1.45 billion. Autumn Piper lights candles during a vigil honoring Marcus Wilson, one of two men who were recently killed in the Highland town neighborhood of Baltimore in April. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post) The mayor of Albany, N.Y., never expected to spend her days attending funerals and comforting the families of those killed and injured in a spate of alarming gun violence she finds hard to explain. "It shocks the conscience," said Democrat Kathy Sheehan. "The disregard we are seeing for human life. ... It's trauma on top of trauma for our city." Eight people have been fatally shot in New York's capital city this year, including six in May. Recently, Destiny Greene, 15, was killed in a quiet neighborhood a block from the governor's mansion after a group of men opened fire during what police later said had been a meetup over a Facebook Marketplace ad. Albany's violent crime spike isn't an outlier. Last weekend, at least 12 mass shootings occurred across nine states, killing 11 people and injuring at least 70, according to database compiled by the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit group that tracks such incidents. The carnage included a shooting outside a nightclub in Minneapolis, which killed two and injured eight. Another two were killed and a dozen injured when shots were fired at a house party in Fairfield Township, N.J., and three were killed in a shooting outside a bar in Youngstown, Ohio. And this weekend, two people were killed and more than 20 injured in the Miami area after men with assault rifles and handguns began "shooting indiscriminately into a crowd" at a concert early Sunday, police said. As the nation marks Memorial Day, the unofficial beginning of summer, many officials are concerned that this is a preview of what they could face in cities nationwide in coming months, when the onset of warm weather almost always marks a rise in violent crime. Some worry that the violence could be especially pronounced this season as Americans emerge back into society after a year of coronavirus-related shutdowns and restrictions. In Albany, Sheehan last week asked for help from state and federal officials to curb the violence. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo agreed to deploy the New York State Police to back up the city's beleaguered police force, which has struggled to keep up with what Sheehan described as a "startling" increase in illegal guns flowing into the community. Sheehan said she was particularly disturbed by the way incidents of random anger and conflict seem to be escalated by the increased presence of guns. "What we seem to be seeing is that solving disputes with guns is becoming normalized," she said. Bolstered by federal money from the American Rescue Plan Act, Albany has raced to invest in violence prevention efforts and to get community outreach programs shuttered during the pandemic up and running in time for summer. But Sheehan said she was concerned that it wouldn't be enough. "I'm really worried," she said of the approaching summer months. Scores of cities across the country have reported double-digit increases in shootings and homicides. In Columbus, Ohio, police have counted at least 80 homicides this year, more than double the same period last year. Bigger cities also continue to see increases. In Chicago, 195 people have been killed as of early May, the highest number in at least four years, according to police statistics. Nearly 1,300 people had been shot, according to a Chicago Tribune database that tracks such incidents. In Atlanta, the homicide rate is up 50% over this time last year, and Democratic Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said she and her police commanders have been struggling to come up with concise reasons as they brace for a potentially rough summer. In past years, Atlanta leaders say, they could link much of the violence to specific group and gang rivalries or the drug trade. But Bottoms said much of the recent violence has appeared far more random and is being driven predominantly by intense passions between individuals who usually "know each other." Bottoms said the "common denominator" for the crime wave is stress following the pandemic and last year's racial justice protests following the murder of George Floyd. But she said she is considering a range of possibilities for the violence, including long-lasting emotional and psychological issues found among so-called long-haul victims of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. "You are having people emerging with depression, anxiety, and they lost loved ones and have been out of work," Bottoms said. "This has created the most unfortunate convergence of factors, and I believe that is what we are seeing playing out on our streets." Last week, President Joe Biden proposed allocating $2.1 billion to fund Justice Department efforts to address the nation's "gun violence public health crisis." That's in addition to his proposal in March to spend $5 billion over eight years on community violence prevention efforts to try to prevent violent crime. But Bottoms and other local officials nationwide have pressed the White House to do even more including increasing funding for mental health, substance abuse and behavioral health programs. Some of the Atlanta region's most horrific recent crimes, Bottoms noted, have occurred during incidents of possible road rage where assailants appear to suddenly snap and shoot at another motorist. "I think part of what is going on is a frustration overall with society, and that seems to be spilling out on streets," Bottoms said. "And in Atlanta, that is proving to be very deadly." Adam Gelb, the president of the Council on Criminal Justice, said the nature of some of the latest homicides has been troublesome. "People getting in beefs, fighting over parking spaces, or engaged in road rage kinds of things," he said. "And they are armed." That has led to major strain on elected officials, Gelb said, with the public increasingly believing that crime is "spinning out of control" even though violent crime rates in most cities remains far below what they were in the late 1980s and early 1990s during the height of the crack cocaine epidemic. Still, cities across the country have pointed to alarming trends over the past year. In Wichita, Kan., the city reported 59 homicides in 2020 about one every six days the highest total since 1993. Police Chief Gordon Ramsay said the trend continued into 2021, fueled in part by an uptick in shootings and other violent crimes carried out by children as young as 13. "It's unlike anything I have ever seen," Ramsay said, adding that he has conferred with other police chiefs nationwide facing similar issues. Ramsay blamed continued fallout from the pandemic, which had shuttered many community programs for at-risk youth. But the chief also faulted state lawmakers who passed juvenile justice reforms in 2016 aimed at keeping kids out of jail but did not fully fund the alternate treatment programs to stop them from committing future offenses. He said juvenile crime had further strained a department where officers have struggled to keep up with increased shootings and murders. The Wichita Police Department has long had one of the highest clearance rates in the country for solving crimes and arresting those responsible, but that hasn't felt like much of an accomplishment lately. "We are at like 80 or 90% clearance rate. ... It's not like we are not apprehending people for these crimes," Ramsay said. "But they keep happening, which tells me it's not just about police or criminal justice. It's a problem that we as a country have to come together and solve." Some experts have detected some promising signs in recent crime data. In New York City, more than 500 people have been shot this year the highest number in a decade and up more than 50% over the same period in 2020. But Jeffrey Butts, director of the research and evaluation center at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said that percentage was better than the 158% increase in shootings reported last fall in the city, suggesting that the surge in violence, while still up, may be declining. Still, Butts said that the factors that drove last year's violence are unlikely to subside anytime soon, even as cities and states slowly loosen pandemic restrictions. Neighborhoods hard hit by job loss and other economic disparities are still likely to struggle, and the sense of alienation and anger that has been behind some of the violence is unlikely to dissipate anytime soon. "I worry about the generational effect," Butts said, pointing to research about the lasting impact the crack epidemic had on residents of neighborhoods most affected by that era of violence. "We have a generation of adolescents who have been living through this, and especially if they live in a neighborhood where there was a lot of gunfire, who knows the lasting effect," Butts said, adding that the trauma of the last year could be felt for "some time to come." The Washington Post's Timothy Bella contributed to this report. (Tribune News Service) With Memorial Day on our doorstep, more and more military families are able to find some closure in burying their loved ones throughout the country thanks to advancements in technology and science that are leading a record number of unknown soldiers being identified. I wouldnt say it allows for comfort or peace, but it allows a family to clear a hurdle and start the grieving process, said Chuck Weber, president of the Butler County Veterans Board. When a loved one is missing and not identified their family is missing a whole step in the grieving process. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, based in Washington, provides the fullest possible accounting for missing personnel from past conflicts to their families and the nation. The agency searches for missing personnel from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf Wars, and other recent conflicts. Despite the improved technology, more than 81,700 Americans remain missing from WWII through the most recent conflicts. Out of those, 75% of the losses are located in the Indo-Pacific, and over 41,000 are presumed lost at sea, according to the agency. For the fiscal year 2019, the agency identified 217 remains, a record. That was 14 more than 2018, 34 more than 2017 and 54 more than 2016, according to Army Sgt. 1st Class Sean Everette, a spokesman for the DPAA agency. He said 120 remains were identified in 2020, but that number was greatly impacted by COVID-19 when investigation and recovery teams were pulled out of the field. About 72,000 unidentified veterans are from World War II, followed by 7,667 from the Korean War, 1,589 from Vietnam, 126 from Cold War and six from recent wars. In Ohio, more than 3,600 military personnel are missing, mostly from WWII. Ohio has 3,176 troops missing from WWII, 420 from Korea and 75 from Vietnam, including three from the area: Richard Stephenson (Hamilton), David Woods (Franklin) and John Conger II ( Lebanon), according to the agency. In the last two years, at least two area military personnel have been returned to their families for burial. The remains of Navy Fireman 3rd Class Willard Irvin Lawson, 25, of Middletown, were identified in 2019 after they were buried in a mass grave. Lawsons niece, Linda Gordon, 72, of Milton, Ky., said she was thankful for him finally coming home. Gordon said the family never knew where Lawson was buried and was told the sailors were buried in mass graves in three places. Lawson was assigned to the battleship USS Oklahoma when it was attacked by Japanese aircraft on Dec. 7, 1941, as it was docked at Ford Island in Pearl Harbor. Lawson was one of 429 crewmen 415 sailors and 14 Marines killed in the attack. He was buried April 27, 2019, in the Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Madison, Ind., seven miles from where his niece lives, she said. From December 1941 to June 1944, Navy personnel recovered the remains of the deceased crew, which were subsequently interred in the Halawa and Nuuanu cemeteries. In September 1947, tasked with recovering and identifying fallen U.S. personnel in the Pacific Theater, members of the American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) disinterred the remains of U.S. casualties from the two cemeteries and transferred them to the Central Identification Laboratory at Schofield Barracks. The AGRS subsequently buried the unidentified remains in 46 plots at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP), known as the Punchbowl, in Honolulu. In October 1949, a military board classified those who could not be identified as non-recoverable, including Lawson. In April 2015, the Deputy Secretary of Defense issued a policy memorandum directing the disinterment of unknowns associated with the USS Oklahoma, according to the DPAA. On June 15, 2015, DPAA personnel began exhuming the remains for analysis. DPAA scientists used dental and anthropological analysis to identify Lawsons remains. Scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System assisted in using mitochondrial DNA analysis. When we are working on a loss, we work in the blind, which is to say we dont have any information about that person in order to avoid biasing our analyses, said Dr. Carrie Brown, who leads the DPAA USS Oklahoma project. But once a loss has been identified, we are able to access that information, including photographs of the service member. The remains of 200 previously unknown crewmen from the USS Oklahoma have now been returned to their families for proper burial and their families have those long-awaited answers. And last week, after nearly 80 years, U.S. Navy Radioman 3rd Class Thomas E. Griffith, of Dayton, was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. Griffith, 20, was killed during World War II when he was assigned to the USS Oklahoma. By April 2020, mitochondrial DNA analysis played a key role in the identification of Griffiths remains, the agency said. The mitochondria and mitochondrial DNA are passed from mother to child. Everette said Griffith family members contributed DNA family reference samples to the Navy to assist in the task of identification. Theyre all pretty amazing, he said of the work that leads to resolutions in these matters. Staff writer Thomas Gnau contributed to this report. (c)2021 the Journal-News (Hamilton, Ohio) Visit the Journal-News (Hamilton, Ohio) at www.journal-news.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Francisco Lopez was drafted at a teenager to go fight in the Vietnam war in 1967. He became a drug addict upon returning to the U.S. and was prosecuted for drug possession and consequently deported to Mexico. He remains hopeful that one day he can return to what was his home for most of his adult life in the U.S. In this photo, Lopez holds a photo of himself as a teenager in military attire in the Juarez Bunker, a support shelter for deported veterans. (Omar Ornelas, El Paso Times/TNS) JUAREZ, Mexico (Tribune News Service) Mike Evans, an honorably discharged U.S. Marine, was two weeks away from taking the oath to become a U.S. citizen when the FBI picked him up on a felony drug conspiracy charge. After pleading guilty and finishing a four-year sentence, immigration officers escorted him to the border in Eagle Pass, Texas, and ordered him to walk south. The then-31-year-old veteran was being deported to Mexico to begin what he describes as a life sentence. Mexico was his birthplace, but by then it was then a strange land, a country he left behind as a toddler. I didnt speak Spanish, Evans said. I didnt have any clothes. I didnt have any money. I didnt have any friends in Mexico. It was 2009 and Evans felt like he was being deployed to a war zone. He made his way to Juarez, where he said, There were more people dying every day than in Afghanistan. The city was teeming with armed military and federal police convoys amid a bloody turf war between rival drug cartels. More than a decade later, Evans is still in Juarez, now his home. Forgotten veterans gather in Juarez for Memorial Day This Memorial Day, Evans will join other veterans to honor not only fallen soldiers, but those, who like him, feel forgotten. Joining them will be a couple members of the Degar tribe, an indigenous group native to the highlands of Vietnam, that allied with U.S. troops during the war. The Degar, better known as Montagnards the name given to them by French colonizers, have since suffered persecution and genocide by the Vietnamese government. The U.S. held off on its promise to give refuge to its Degar allies until 1986, 13 years after the end of the war. The group will gather for a cookout on the Mexican side of the binational Chamizal Park. In past years, deported veterans have gathered at this same spot for military salutes. The park is less than half a mile from the country they risked their lives to protect and are now banned from reentering. The exact number of deported U.S. veterans is unknown. A 2019 report by the Government Accountability Office found that Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the federal agency in charge of deportations, does not keep complete data on U.S. military deportees. The GAO also found that ICE doesnt always follow its own policy of considering veterans service records before removing them. Between 2013 and 2018, 44,000 noncitizens enlisted in the military, according to the report. In that five-year span, the GAO found files for 92 veterans who were deported. Advocate organizations estimate the number is higher, at least in the hundreds. Francisco Lopez was drafted at a teenager to go fight in the Vietnam war in 1967. He became a drug addict upon returning to the U.S. and was prosecuted for drug possession and consequently deported to Mexico. He remains hopeful that one day he can return to what was his home for most of his adult life in the U.S. In this photo, Lopez shows his military uniform. (Omar Ornelas, El Paso Times/TNS) Francisco Lopez was drafted as a teenager to go fight in the Vietnam War in the U.S. Army in 1967. (Omar Ornelas, El Paso Times/TNS) Ivan Ocon, center, a deported veteran who served in the U.S. Army, shows fellow deported veteran, at right, Michael Evans, the emblem on shirts he made for the group of deported veterans. (Omar Ornelas, El Paso Times/TNS) From left, Michael Evans and fellow deported veteran Ivan Ocon talk about life in Mexico at the Juarez Bunker, a support shelter for deported veterans in Cuidad Juarez. (Omar Ornelas, El Paso Times/TNS) No easy way back home In recent years, deported veterans have become more vocal about their plight, catching the attention of artists and politicians. They were featured in the Netflix documentary Immigration Nation and are depicted in murals in cities across the U.S. The Las Cruces City Council in New Mexico designated March 15 as Honoring our Deported Veterans Day. But legislative attempts to allow exiled veterans back into the U.S. have thus far failed or stalled. For now, the surest way for a deported veteran to legally return is after they die and are repatriated for their military funeral. Others have managed to return thanks to official pardons or deft attorneys who reverse their deportations in court. Its kind of hypocritical that the United States will say, Thank you for your service, but at the same time be quick to kick us out, Evans said. I understand that what I did was wrong. I went to jail for that. That was enough punishment. Like Evans, most service members are deported because of a criminal record. The GAO reports that past deportees have had felony convictions related to drugs, sexual abuse, homicide, assault and theft. Others have been deported after drunken driving arrests. Those first years in Juarez were rough, Evans said. He rented a cinder-block apartment with a bedroom window that framed the Wells Fargo building in Downtown El Paso. The view seemed to mock him, a daily reminder of a life he could no longer have. His first job was dressing up as Santa Claus for the Mexican cellphone company Telcel. He later worked as a data processor for Xerox in Juarez, where he made about $12 a day. It was just so defeating, Evans said. Its like starting a game of chess and taking (your) queen off the board. Its really hard to win. Welcome to the Juarez Bunker One day, by chance, Evans met another deported veteran named Francisco Lopez. In 2017, Lopez converted the two-bedroom, two-bath home he shared with his wife into a shelter for deported soldiers. Now, Lopez calls his home the Juarez Bunker after a similarly named shelter in Tijuana. Lopez was drafted to fight in Vietnam in 1967 at age 23. He was a legal permanent resident originally from the Mexican state of Coahuila. At the time, he spoke no English. Like many soldiers of that era, Lopez experimented with marijuana and then cocaine. When he came home, he struggled with addiction and began selling to support his habit. He got caught, was sentenced to nine years in prison, and was deported in 2003 at age 60. Sometimes when I sleep, I wake up in the middle of the night sweating a lot and screaming like a nightmare, Lopez said. A doctor came from the United States and they checked us. I got 80% disability for PTSD. The bunker is now adorned with family photos and Lopezs paintings of landscapes and portraits his new habit. The 76-year-old rehabilitated in prison and now finds solace in art and activism. Newly deported soldiers come to his place and eaa home-cooked meal, do their laundry, or sleep in the spare bedroom or a cot in a small second-floor loft. Younger deportees like Evans see Lopez like a grandfather. They call him Panchito. Lopez has his own grandchildren in the U.S. some whom hes never met. Veterans at the Tijuana shelter helped him and other Juarez deportees apply online to receive a monthly check from the military. The checks are pensions for Vietnam era veterans or compensation for soldiers injured during their service. Evans is now 43 and doing much better. He learned how to DJ and made better money working five nights a week at a Juarez bar. He still does occasional gigs and also receives a monthly military check. Today, he likes to meet friends for coffee at Starbucks and play Conquian, a Mexican card game he first learned in prison. Most weekdays, he works out for two hours at a gym. Deported veterans die in Mexico Some deported veterans have died in Mexico. The Juarez and Tijuana shelters know of at least ten in the past two years. One died in a car accident. Another is believed to have been killed in drug cartel hit. Some died because of health conditions. Deported veterans living outside the U.S. struggle to get access to adequate medical care. They include Francisco Panky Rodarte, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam. Rodarte died in a Mexican hospital in late 2019. He needed heart surgery but couldnt afford it. His friends and family fundraised for him but couldnt come up with the money in time. Y-Duen Buondap, 63, a member of the Degar tribe of Vietnam, will join the deported veterans in Juarez on Monday. He was 12 when the Vietnam War started. He said his stepfather was killed fighting alongside American troops. After the U.S. withdrew, he said, his mother and brother were kidnapped by the Viet Cong. Buondap survived years of persecution before being granted asylum in the U.S. Hes now a U.S. citizen living in North Carolina with his wife and three kids. Buondap said hes traveling to Juarez because he feels a kinship with the veterans living there. They have been deported, like theyre forgotten, Buondap said. Its the same for me; they forgot us in the same way. We have to stand up together and speak up to let them forget us no more. Buondap will get to Juarez with help from All Relations United, a Las Cruces-based nonprofit that aids Native American and indigenous communities. Veteran activists with the Tijuana bunker recently began talks with the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Veterans Affairs to see what can be done for the deportees. The activists have partnered with the American Civil Liberties Union and other advocate organizations to draft a letter to President Joe Biden asking for help. Most deported veterans have family in the U.S. For them, family is the main motivation to return. Evans adoptive 80-year-old mother lives in Cincinnati. She has a pacemaker and has suffered at least one stroke. Evans said his American sister is his best friend and he has two nieces in the U.S. whom hes never met. Even if they (the U.S. government) said, We dont want you to live here, thats fine. Just let me visit. Let me be a part of my mothers life, my nieces life. Before my mother goes, or if she gets sick, let me hold her hand, Evans said. monica.ortiz@usatoday.com (c)2021 the El Paso Times (El Paso, Texas) Visit the El Paso Times (El Paso, Texas) at www.elpasotimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Bay of Plenty Steamers v Wellington Bunnings Warehouse NPC game will be playing at an earlier time than originally scheduled. With the aim of attracting a big crowd for the Steamers game and avoiding the clash with the All Blacks v South Africa game, the game will now take place in the sunshine of Rotorua which will no doubt be attractive to Steamers fans and whanau, says a Bay of Plenty Rugby spokesperson. The game was originally scheduled for 7.05pm, and will now kick off at 2.05pm on October 2 at Rotorua International Stadium. Rotorua Lakes Council are really pleased with the change. "This will be the first afternoon game we have had for a number of years and with the game also being later in the season in October, this is shaping as an excellent family event for our community" says Rotorua Lakes Council Sports & Events Manager Steve Watene. This day game versus one of the heavy weights of provincial rugby is going to be a highlight of the Bunnings NPC season, says Bay of Plenty Rugby Partnerships & Engagement Manager Neil Alton.We look forward to working with the Rotorua Community to make this event a huge success." Bay of Plenty Steamers 2021 Bunnings Warehouse NPC Draw: Bay of Plenty v Tasman, Sunday 8th August, 2.05pm, Tauranga Domain, Tauranga Southland v Bay of Plenty, Sunday 15th August, 2.05pm, Rugby Park, Invercargill Auckland v Bay of Plenty, Saturday 21st August, 7.05pm, Eden Park, Auckland Bay of Plenty v Northland, Sunday 29th August, 2.05pm, Tauranga Domain, Tauranga Bay of Plenty v Waikato, Saturday 4th September, 2.05pm, Tauranga Domain, Tauranga Canterbury v Bay of Plenty, Sunday 12th September, 2.05pm, Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch Hawkes Bay v Bay of Plenty, Sunday 19th September, 2.05pm, McLean Park, Napier Bay of Plenty v Taranaki, Sunday 26th September, 4.35pm, Tauranga Domain, Tauranga Bay of Plenty v Wellington, Saturday 2nd October, 2.05pm, Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Counties Manukau v Bay of Plenty, Sunday 10th October, 4.35pm, Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe Semi-Finals: Friday 15th October Saturday 16th October Bunnings Warehouse NPC Premiership Final: Saturday 23rd October For more information on the 2021 Farah Palmer Cup and Bunnings Warehouse NPC click here. A cyber attack on Waikato District Health Board is the latest in a string of events to test emergency planning protocols, Tairawhiti health bosses say. At least five Tairawhiti patients who would normally have been flown to Waikato Hospital were sent to other hospitals following the ransomware attack on the DHBs medical systems on May 18. Two were flown to Tauranga, two to Auckland and one to Palmerston North. Hauora Tairawhiti chief executive Jim Green said others had also been affected those who usually drove or flew to Waikato for scheduled treatment. Hauora Tairawhiti had severed links with Waikato DHB systems and applications to prevent any infections attacking its own patient systems, says Mr Green. A report before the health board on Tuesday said patients in Tairawhiti with heart attacks had to be flown to Tauranga. The need to quickly arrange alternative pathways was a test of emergency planning protocols, the report says. We are getting plenty of testing of this nature with recent events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and a pandemic. It follows a malware attack from the Zeppelin virus that resulted in the shutdown of most of Waikato DHBs key IT and phone systems, a move back to manual processes and surgeries being delayed. In an update to Hauora Tairawhitis district health board on Tuesday, Mr Green says the attack had been extremely disruptive to Waikatos network of hospitals, but had also impacted quite a lot on Tairawhitis use of its services. Primarily that has been around people who have heart attacks, Mr Green says. In the main, those people have been going to Bay of Plenty DHB and also to Wellington if there were capacity issues. Thats been the most major impact. Other impacts on Tairawhiti people had been around planned care and radiotherapy. We know Waikato DHB is now back up to around 80 percent of its normal planned care capacity . . . so that will be impacting Tairawhiti people. The third area of particular interest for us is around people requiring radiotherapy. The radiotherapy service at Waikato has been out for this whole period. For Tairawhiti patients requiring more urgent radiotherapy, that meant going to Tauranga or Wellington instead. A report that came before board members said a scheme of destinations was arranged between Waikato, other Te Manawa Taki (Midland) DHBs and those in Auckland and Wellington. People needing to be transferred were firstly discussed by the relevant team at Waikato, then referred to the pre-determined site. Mr Green says their colleagues in Waikato are working to minimise the impact on patients, including those Tairawhiti would normally send to Hamilton for treatment. Our clinical staff are liaising with their Waikato counterparts. Together they agree on the best pathway to care for affected patients. In some cases, this means the patient is transferred to another hospital. Thanks to other DHBs such as Bay of Plenty and Auckland, who have supported us to ensure patients get the specialist treatment and care they need. Hauora Tairawhiti followed Ministry of Health advice and stopped the use of applications hosted by Waikato DHB and disabled access for Waikatos remote users. This aligned with the steps taken by other DHBs. Hauora Tairawhiti staff are reminded of what to look out for when using email, which is on top of normal protocol where all emails sent to employees from external accounts come with a cyber security warning banner. In response to the incident at Waikato DHB, Hauora Tairawhiti confirmed its existing backup routines and processes had operated as expected and that data is secured appropriately, should there be a need for the recovery exercise. It has ensured its security products are up to date and is regularly checking systems and applications to detect any dormant or active malware presence. It also deployed security updates as soon as these became available and restricted inbound connections by default to only allow connections from trusted network management hosts. Waikato DHB is working with the Privacy Commissioner, National Cyber Security Centre and GCSB (Government Communications Security Bureau) to investigate the incident. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has directed to initiate the liquidation process of Devas Multimedia by allowing the petition filed by Antrix Corporation, a commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation. The Bengaluru bench of the NCLT has said Devas Multimedia was incorporated with a fraudulent motive to collude and connive with the then officials of Antrix Corporation to get bandwidth from it by entering into an agreement in 2005, which was subsequently cancelled by the government. The tribunal also confirmed the appointment of the provisional liquidator by it earlier on January 19 and directed him to take "expeditious steps to liquidate" the company to prevent it from perpetuating its fraudulent activities and abusing the process of law. "The incorporation of Devas itself was with fraudulent motive and unlawful object to collude and connive with then officials of Antrix and to misuse,abuse process of law, to bring money to India and divert it under dubious methods to foreign countries," the tribunal noted. It further observed that the Government of India has "sovereign powers" to frame and change its policies, which includes the termination of the agreement in question. "In the light of aforesaid facts and circumstances of the case, after duly considering the legal position on the issue and by exercising the power conferred on the tribunal... company petition is allowed by ordering to wind up Devas Multimedia Pvt Ltd," said a two-member NCLT bench, comprising members - R Rao Vittanala and Ashutosh Chandra - in its order passed on May 25. The tribunal has directed the liquidator to submit a report by July 7. "All persons associated with the affairs of Devas Multimedia, are hereby directed to extend full assistance and co-operation to the said Liquidator to discharge his statutory functions," the NCLT said while directing Antrix to advertise this winding-up order. The NCLT said Devas Multimedia management is continuing to resort to fraudulent activities. The tribunal also observed that Devas Multimedia has taken the arbitration out of the country contrary to the terms of the agreement. Moreover, while accepting the termination of the agreement in question before the ICC court, it changed its version and claimed huge damages. "Even after the filing of the instant petition, instead of proving to the satisfaction of tribunal (NCLT) that it is not liable to be wound up, Devas has started a proxy war by approaching NCLAT and High Court of Karnataka, through Devas Employees Mauritius Pvt Ltd, by raising un-tenable ground one after the another," it said. According to the NCLT, it was not in dispute that Devas is not carrying out any business operations, after the termination of the agreement in question. "Devas has failed to show any cogent reasons as to why it should not be wound up and to keep its name on the ROC Karnataka," it added. On January 19, it had admitted the petition filed by Antrix Corporation for winding up Devas Multimedia and has appointed a provisional liquidator for the company, directing to take control of its management, properties and actionable claims. Now, after almost four months, it has allowed the petition of Antrix. Devas Multimedia was incorporated on December 17, 2004. According to the winding petition filed by the commercial arm of ISRO before the NCLT, the then officials of Antrix Corporation, including its chairman, had executed a contract dated January 28, 2005. This was finally terminated on February 25, 2011, as it was obtained fraudulently in connivance of the then officials. The investigating agencies - CBI and Enforcement Directorate - have unearthed fraud in executing the agreement, Antrix had said. CBI had later filed charge sheets and ED had initiated PMLA proceedings. The MCA had also initiated an investigation into the affairs of Devas Multimedia, but a stay was granted by the Delhi High Court. Also Read: NCLAT stays NCLT order asking DHFL lenders to consider Kapil Wadhawan's offer A year before the scheduled move of the Essex Street Market into a new home in the Essex Crossing project, city officials are going public with a few details about the new facility. The Economic Development Corp. (EDC) yesterday announced it is accepting applications for two new restaurants and 11 smaller vendors to be part of the expanded public market. Were also getting our first look at renderings and floor plans. All of the existing (28) vendors will be moving across the street to 115 Delancey St., on the first two levels of a building that will also include a 14-screen movie theater and rental apartments. The EDC is looking for two restaurant operators for spaces that each measure about 1100 square feet. According to a press release, the city seeks, independent, locally-based restaurateurs or restaurant groups who are interested in using farm-to-table seasonal produce or other regional foods on their menus. They will have their own entrances (on Delancey and Broome streets), built into the new facade of the market. The existing vendors have already chosen their locations in the new facility. According to a floor plan, additional spaces are available ranging from 87 square feet to 534 square feet. More information and application materials are available here. The new market is supposed to open in June of next year and the current market will remain operational up until that time. The ground floor covers 30,000 square feet (about twice the size of the current facility). Theres also a 6,000 square foot mezzanine. There will be a demonstration kitchen for catered events and public classes. There will also be a late night zone for merchants who wish to stay open until 8 p.m. Right now, the whole facility shuts down at 7 p.m. In yesterdays press release, Vendor Association Chair Anne Saxelby of Saxelby Cheesemongers, said, I am thrilled about the move to a new space The market is a Lower East Side institution, and in a city where the retail landscape is becoming ever more homogenized, its so exciting to see the expansion and continuation of this unique and diverse community of small businesses. Its markets like Essex that make New York great! Lower East Side Partnership President Tim Laughlin added, We are excited to partner with NYCEDC to ensure the market continues to thrive and grow supporting existing vendors and welcoming new ones in a state-of-the-art facility; this unique opportunity allows the market to continue supporting a diverse collection of small and independent merchants for many years to come. As we reported in April, the Vendor Association, the LES Partnership and the EDC recently came to terms on an agreement for operating the new market. While the EDC will continue to manage the facility, the vendors and the Partnership will take on more responsibilities in marketing and running the market on a day-to-day basis. The new Essex Street Market is meant to complement a subterranean shopping pavilion known as the Market Line, a major feature of the Essex Crossing mixed-use development. The Market Line will begin directly below the Essex Street Market, eventually extending to the east in two buildings that will be constructed during phase 2 of the project. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Seminole, FL (33772) Today A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 78F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 78F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Thank you for Reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and Purchase a Subscription to continue reading. (Photo : Pixabay) Google's Arizona lawsuit accuses the tech giant of purposely making it difficult for users to check their privacy settings. The unredacted documents in Arizona's lawsuit against Google show that the company executives and engineers were aware that the search giant had made it difficult for smartphone users to keep their location information private. Google's Arizona Lawsuit Details According to Business Insider, the documents suggest that Google collected location data even after the smartphone users had turned off their location sharing, and even made the privacy settings difficult for users to find. Business Insider also reported that the documents show that Google pressured phone manufacturers into keeping privacy settings hidden, because the settings were very popular with the users. Also Read: Google Faces Class-Action Lawsuit on 'Pay Discrimination' Issue That Sees Gender Inequality and Bias March Brnovich, an attorney general from Arizona, filed a lawsuit against Google last year, alleging the company illegally tracked Android users' location without their consent, even if the users had disabled the location tracking features. The lawsuit suggested that Google kept location tracking running in the background for some features, and only stopped the practice when users disabled system-level tracking. The unredacted documents show one Google employee asked if there was no way to give a third party app your location and not Google, adding that it did not sound like something that Google would want revealed to the media. Jose Castaneda, Google's spokesperson, said in an email to The Verge that Brnovich and their competitors driving this lawsuit have gone out of their way to mischaracterize their services. They have always built privacy features into their products and provided robust controls for location data. They are now looking forward to set the record straight. Engineers Also Confused of Privacy Settings Last year, AZMirror reported that Google's privacy policy was created in a way to allow the applications that had location tracking turned off from using the location tracking information from another Google application that had location tracking on. The company also had a series of reports that tracked how the AP story was seen and shared on social media and noted that 100% of the coverage was negative. In 2018, Google officials testified before the House Judiciary Committee. The AG sought the notes and documents prepared for that hearing, but Google stated that those documents were protected by attorney-client privilege. Google added that it has requested that the court redact portions of the documents that were released in order to protect proprietary and confidential information from competitors like Oracle. Furthermore, Google contends that it has cooperated with the AG and provided tens of thousands of documents related to the AG's almost two-year investigation too. This is not the only fight against the behemoth tech company the AG's office is involved in. In 2019, Brnovich joined an antitrust investigation of Google with 48 other states, and now the U.S Department of Justice is allegedly drafting a federal antitrust lawsuit to go after the company. There are a total of 270 exhibits filed in the case, and so far 33 have been made public. Related Article: Lawsuit Accusing Google Of Collecting Data Of Users During Incognito Browsing To Continue This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Sophie Webster 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Pixabay/pixelcreatures) US soldiers leak US soliders that are stationed in Europe have accidentally exposed private information about the United States' nuclear weapons stockpile when they used flashcard apps to help them remember details about the information. US Soldiers Nuclear Leak According to a report from open-source intelligence outlet Bellingcat, the soldiers used study apps like Cram, Chegg, and Quizlet to create flashcards where they stored information about bases in Europe where the United States weapons were likely located, secret codes, passwords, and other details about security. Foeke Postma, a researcher with Bellingcat, wrote that it appears that the US soldiers forgot to set the settings for the apps to private. That means that their usernames and their photos were public-facing, and since some of the soldiers used the same photos as they had on their LinkedIn profiles, it would not have been difficult to connect them to the nuclear information. Also Read: iPhone 13 Leak Left Fans Disappointed as Upcoming Phone Only Has Minor Upgrades Why the US soldiers used unsecured study apps to remember the information was not clear. Postma contacted the officials with the US Department of Defense, NATO, and European Command several weeks before publishing his report, and the flashcards with the sensitive information have since been taken down, although it may still be visible on the archival Wayback Machine site, according to Motherboard. The study apps did not reply to requests for comment by The Verge. An email to the Department of Defense asking whether the soldiers involved could face disciplinary actions was not immediately returned. How Bellingcat Discovered the Secret Information The author of the piece, Foeke Postma, explained that the researchers were able to discover the flashcards belonging to the active soldiers by searching for certain terms known to be associated with nuclear bases. The result of this was the unearthing of several sets of flashcards revealing information about several bases around Europe, including in Germany, Turkey, and the Netherlands. One set of 70 cards with the title "Study" disclosed the number of live and non-live nuclear weapons at the Volkel Air Base in the Netherlands, which the Dutch government considers a secret. Other sets revealed how soldiers are supposed to react to various levels of alarm, where security cameras are located on site, and duress words that soldiers give over the phone to show that they had been taken hostage by attackers. So, how have people reacted to the leak? According to Bellingcat, the flashcards were discovered dating back as far as 2013, and as recent as last month. The site contacted NATO and the US military for comment before publishing their story, after which the flashcards that had been discovered were removed. The director of the East Asia Nonproliferation Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Jeffery Lewis, spoke to Bellingcat about the leaks, calling them a flagrant breach in security practices. Lewis added that the secrecy over nuclear weapons in Europe is not about protecting the weapons, but protecting political and military leaders from having to answer tough questions about whether NATO's nuclear-sharing arrangements still make sense today. This is yet one more warning that these weapons are not secure. Related Article: Dark Web Hackers Leak Gun Owners' Sensitive Data- IDs, Hashed Passwords, and More This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Sophie Webster 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : GettlyImages/ Kevin Frayer ) Apple sued by Bah Apple is being sued by a man because of repeated accusations that the man was behind numerous thefts at Apple Stores across the eastern seaboard of the United States; attempted thefts that were conducted by others who were impersonating the complainant. Apple Lawsuit Over False Accusation The lawsuit, which was filed on May 28 in the U.S District Court for the District of Massachusetts, is suing Apple and Security Industry Specialists, a contractor working for Apple on store security. The lawsuit claimed that the plaintiff, Ousmane Bah, was falsely accused of performing a number of Apple Store thefts, which then led to his arrest in New York in November 2018, accoring to Apple Insider. The lawsuit appeared to be a continuation of another legal action by Bah against Apple and SIS, which was launched in April 2019. It seems that the claims are the same as in that lawsuit, but specifically takes aim at the activities in the Massachusetts Apple Stores. Also Read: Apple Wins Lawsuit in France Over iOS 14 Privacy Concerns According to the lawsuit, Bah received a learner's permit for driving in the New York State in March 2018, which took the form of a printout that has details of his height, weight, date of birth, and eye color, but not his photograph. Bah lost his temporary permit within the following two months, but had received a permanent plastic version with his photograph. The missing temporary permit is alleged to have been used by someone else as identification for an Apple Store theft in Greenwich, Connecticut in April 2018. The man is said to have not resembled Bah, and is taller than him too, the Washington Post reported. Bah stated that Apple and SIS created a record for Bah as the thief in the video, and published the information to both SIS agents and Apple Store in the Northeast US. The Series of Robberies In May 2018, an SIS agent apprehended the imposter who attempted theft from a store in New Jersey. While the imposter was arrested by police, they were interrogated and the learner's permit provided as identification, which then led to SIS circulating a "Be on the lookout" notice for Bah as a known shoplifter with the wrong photograph to Apple Stores. A third robbery on May 31 had Apple identifying the thief as Bah from their records, and informed the Boston Police Department that Bah was behind it, despite it really being the imposter again. Apple intended to press charges against Bah for the thefts. Part of the issue is that Apple's alleged use of facial recognition, which it and SIS used to identify Bah as the perpetrator of the thefts less than 10 minutes after they took place. The record of the fake Bah is not reliable as the lawsuit insisted Apple and SIS knew its use of facial recognition was unreliable in this case, as noted by the BBC. In June 2018, Bah appeared in Boston Municipal Court and requested video evidence to prove that he was not behind the crimes, but Apple advised the video had been deleted. Related Article: Brazil Issues $2M Fine to Apple for Not Including Chargers, Tech Giant Faces Lawsuit in Quebec This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Sophie Webster 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) has awarded its largest environmental project for cleaning polluted soil at a total cost of more than KD1 billion ($3.31 billion) to various local and international companies, reported Arab Times, citing senior sources. The project, which is considered to be one of the largest in the world, will be implemented in five phases and the contracts are likely to be signed within the next two weeks, stated the report citing sources in Kuwait's Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT). The two major stages of the project are North Kuwait Drilling, Transport and Processing Project and the South Kuwait Exploration, Transport and Processing Project which will together treat 13 million cu m of oil contaminated soil, stated the report. This is related to soil damage, including lakes, moist and dry oil and oil-contaminated piles. The region covers 114 sq km of land contaminated with crude oil as a result of the destruction of about 700 oil wells in Kuwait. North Kuwait Drilling, Transport and Processing Project is divided into two sites with a total value of $381.58 million, said the Arab Times report. The first site (Zone One) contract worth $193.58 million was awarded to the alliance of Khaled Ali Al Kharafiand Brothers for Construction Contracting and Lamor Corporation, while the Zone Two work was awarded to Kuwaiti Company for Plant Construction and Contracting and Environmental Technology Management Company for a total amount of $188 million. On the South Kuwait Drilling, Transport and Processing project, CAPT sources said the Zone One contract has been awarded to the alliance of Khaled Ali Al Kharafi and Brothers for Construction Contracting and Lamor Corporation valued at $196.53 million, while Zone Two contract has been clinched by the Heavy Engineering Industries and Shipbuilding Company in alliance with Zaopin valued at $185.23 million. Members of the UNWTO Regional Commission for the Middle East have agreed to work on the creation of harmonized protocols to support the resumption of regional travel in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The 13 Members of the UNWTO Regional Commission for the Middle East met in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the day after the United Nations specialised agency for tourism opened its first regional office in the city. High on the agenda was adopting a coordinated approach to developing unified protocols for safe and responsible travel throughout the region. The UNWTO Middle East Member States have agreed to work together on core initiatives intended to harmonize travel protocols and reinvigorate regional travel through: Developing a common framework to reopen international borders; Creating approved Public Health Corridors between destinations to promote specific tourism experiences and relaunch hotspot tourism destinations; Implementing a common digital health solution to facilitate travellers experience through interoperability and blockchain as technologies to help develop common standards; and Working to implement the IATA-UNWTO destination tracker, a monitoring system to track health data, regulations and movements across borders and to protect the health and welfare of the regions 450 million inhabitants. Historic week for Middle East tourism UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, presented his report to the Regional Commission. The report outlined how UNWTO had worked with all Members and Affiliate Members across the region, most notably supporting them in their unique and shared response to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. This agreement opens a new chapter in regional tourism across the Middle East and sets a standard of collaboration for other regions, said Zurab Pololikashvili, UNWTO Secretary General. Nations around the world are struggling to overcome the pandemic that has such a devastating impact on the global tourism sector. The more countries seek to follow an independent path out of the crisis, the longer it will take to rebuild the millions of livelihoods affected. It is only through unity and collaboration across borders that we can move beyond these dark times and make the benefits of tourism available to the world once more. Ahmed bin Aqil Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also addressed the Regional Commission, held during an historic week for the Kingdom, UNWTO and tourism in the Middle East. He said: Saudi Arabia is proud to have played a role in this critical announcement, which will create a new path forward for the Middle East tourism sector, not only in recovering from the coronavirus pandemic but in building a new regional culture of collaboration and coordination for tourism across the Middle East. Against the backdrop of the landmark opening of the new UNWTO Regional Office in Riyadh nominations and elections to the statutory organs of UNWTO and their subsidiary bodies were also held, fulfilling UNWTOs commitment to protocol even in challenging times. Egypt was voted to serve as the Chair of the Regional Commission for the Middle East for 2021-23, following on from the United Arab Emirates whose two year-term will end at the upcoming UNWTO General Assembly in Marrakesh in October. Additionally, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia put forward its candidacy to host World Tourism Day when it rotates back to the Middle East region in 2023. Member States will be asked to ratify the candidacy at the General Assembly. World Bank collaboration At the same time, UNWTO continues to advance another key priority, promoting investment in tourism. In Riyadh, UNWTO announced a new landmark collaboration with the World Bank Group and the Saudi Ministry of Tourism. A new Memorandum of Understanding will see the three organizations collaborate on the activation of the Tourism Community Initiative and work towards the establishment of a global Multi-Donor Trust Fund exclusively devoted to tourism. Focus on education UNWTO and the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to scale up the UNWTO Tourism Online Academy, which counts on the support of IE University. The main objective will be the creation of 50 online open courses available in five languages, with leading academic institutions providing specific content to train and certify more than 30,000 professionals across the Middle East.. TradeArabia News Service If youve been missing the Braums on Country Club in Ada, you will be able to grab an ice cream at the brand new store for Memorial Day! The machines are lined up in stations about a dozen or so feet apart inside the Completefuls building on the north side of Lafayette. One does embroidery. Another does laser engraving on wood products. The metal sign-maker, too, is a sight to behold. It can get hot back there, and for good reason. All those machines require electricity, too much for the building to handle while also keeping it cool back there. It has only 1,200-amp service, which has led to a couple of blown transformers outside the building. Were not busy right now, and its almost completely full back there, founder and CEO Josh Goree said. If we get real busy, weve stacked stuff to the roof and its basically a maze in there to figure out where you need to go. When I first saw the inside of this (building), I thought this would last us for a while. We were going to put everything in this building, but we started growing so fast, that it just never happened. Completeful, a drop shipment fulfillment company that is actually spread out over three buildings in Lafayette, will consolidate operations into the old Walmart Supercenter, 1229 NW Evangeline Thruway, possibly in July. Goree and investors got Walmart to agree on a $3 million price tag for the 228,569-square-foot building that has been empty for two years and listed at $5.75 million. +4 Rapidly growing shipping company to acquire shuttered northside Walmart, employ 200 A drop shipping fulfillment service is under contract to buy the shuttered Walmart Supercenter building on the Evangeline Thruway and move its The deal's announcement two weeks ago was celebrated by economic development officials and elected officials on the citys majority Black north side for the anticipated jobs and a desperately needed economic spark it could bring, but its also big news for the company that has grown incredibly quickly while still flying a bit under the radar in Acadiana. The company has grown 200-300% each year. During Christmas seasons its not unusual for Goree and staffers to sleep in the buildings instead of their own homes. Sales during Christmas 2019, he noted, exploded to the point it created operational nightmares for the staff. Justin Martin, who met Goree when the two did track and field at Louisiana Tech, is a seller with a couple of online businesses, one that sells metal address signs and another that specializes in personalized wedding items. The wedding items store, housed on Etsy, has done $190,000 in the two years hes been with Completeful. Between all of his accounts, he said hes taken half a million orders in his two years with Completeful. Im somebody who had never heard of e-commerce before talking with Josh a couple of years ago, said Martin, a Ruston resident who did marketing for 10 years before switching. He started having success with this five or six years ago. I got to chatting with him and said Im willing to learn if you show me the ropes. I work from my laptop whenever I want where I want. I like to travel. Anywhere my laptop is, I can work my business. Thats one of the awesome things about Completeful and drop shipping. Drop shipping continues to grow in popularity among sellers nationwide as e-commerce industry continues to grow. A NerdWallet report indicated 33% of e-commerce stores use drop shipping as a fulfillment method, and number that is expected to grow as e-commerce is growing at about 17% each year. Inside info on doing business in Acadiana We'll keep you posted on the Acadiana economy. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Drop shipping has its pros and cons. For a business owner, drop shipping is an inexpensive way to get established. Theres no overhead or warehouse, and you work directly with the manufacturer to create a product and have it shipped it to the customer. A seller can focus more on product creation. The downside? Its become so popular, NerdWallet noted, that the field of sellers can be crowded, and competition can lead to lower pricing and ultimately smaller profits. Sellers are also at the mercy of the manufacturer but are the ones who have to answer to the customer. Tatiana Tichy, who started her Etsy business, Unique and Yours Gifts, in 2016 and now does about $100,000 in sales each month, said its something you have to continue improving. She left nursing to focus on the business full time, and now she has an assistant who handles customer service. Its definitely like a baby you need to nurture, Tichy said. Just being consistent is the biggest thing, consistently uploading products and just nurturing the store. I just think in-person shopping is becoming obsolete. Amazon is huge. People want to order something and have it come to them instead of going look for it. Completeful has about 1,000 sellers, Goree noted, with about 90% consisting of small operations of maybe one or a couple people. Its the remainder that are the mass distributors, including one major huge seller Goree referenced but did not identify. The hot items come in waves, including the barbecue sets right now with Fathers Day approaching, but wood decor is a consistently popular item, along with wedding items, welcome signs and other personalized items. Im blown away at how successful and how fast the business has grown, but Ive never doubted for a minute I would be successful at this business, Martin said. Ive known Josh for the last 12 years. Everything Ive seen him do hes been successful at. He just puts other people first. Hes always looking to help those around him, even before himself, which is very rare. Its just really something special to be part of a company growing this fast. The move into the Walmart building, meanwhile, will give the company more capacity and the ability to consolidate operations. Current plans are to utilize 150,000 square feet of the building and possibly least out the remaining space. Were just limited to space and power, Goree said. The growth has been each time we get into a facility that has more space and more power and more capacity, immediately we go to that capacity. If we fill that (Walmart building) up or when we fill that up, the next step would be to put satellite locations in like Nevada or St. Louis to save on shipping. It would save the seller a lot of money and allow them to make more money. The move will also mean more jobs. Completeful currently employs 100 and announced an immediate plans to hire another 100, but Goree noted its not unrealistic to believe that number could reach 500 0ne day. Employees will start out at $12 an hour. The jobs and the activity could be the start of something big on the north side, an economic investment that section of Lafayette has not seen in possibly decades. (It's) like I told someone the other day by getting them in there, its kind of like a mint tree, City Councilman A.B. Rubin said. You ever planted a mint tree? Once you plant it, it spreads. But putting that (company) right there, were hoping that it takes off like a mint tree where other business owners will want to do something. Thats our hopes and prayers. LSU faculty members are pushing to make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for the campus community ahead of the fall semester. But despite wide support among professors and student government associations, some observers say the proposal ventures into legally nebulous territory. Hundreds of LSU staff this past week rallied behind a Faculty Senate proposal that would see Louisianas flagship college join a growing number that have made similar requirements. Faculty leaders say the mandate would protect the campus and broader community's most vulnerable from coronavirus. They also say it would help students grappling with increased depression by curbing potential disruptions viral outbreaks could cause next fall. "We're hoping that students will be driven to get vaccinated," said Inessa Bazayev, an LSU music theory professor and member of the committee that brought the proposal forward. "That's the only way we can return to normal. The way things stand currently, we'll have to engage in a lot of cumbersome mitigation policies." The latest figures provided by LSU show that about 70% of faculty are fully vaccinated, compared to 26% of students. School leaders say the actual number of inoculated students is likely higher since the data is self-reported, vaccines are widely available off-campus and the spring semester ended earlier this month. Though officials see room to encourage students to get vaccinated, that figure is still higher than the number of college-aged Louisianans whove received them. The latest State Department of Health figures show that nearly 80% of 18- to 29-year-olds arent vaccinated and only about 16.6% are considered fully vaccinated. About 3% of people that age have had one dose of Pfizer or Modernas vaccine, which requires a booster and a two-week waiting period after the second shot. LSUs faculty senate last month voted 52-1 for the requirements, and the proposal push garnered nearly 90% support among the schools faculty this past week. Backers cited a growing number of colleges and universities across the country that made similar requirements when vaccines became widely available. LSU professors: Make vaccine shots mandatory, to get LSU back on course The past year has been extraordinarily challenging for everyone at LSU. Students had to give up much that makes college education stimulating. Data compiled by the Chronicle for Higher Education shows more than 400 colleges have enacted COVID vaccine requirements nationwide. In Louisiana, several private colleges, too, have mandated them before next fall, including Tulane, Dillard and Xavier universities in New Orleans. Despite the overwhelming support for a proposed mandate, observers and even those who crafted the resolution say there may be some legal hurdles, including some proposals moving through the state Legislature. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up One bill would ban public colleges and state agencies from requiring COVID vaccines to enter their facilities; it cleared the House and now heads to a Senate committee. A similar bill died in a House committee this past week. Another that cleared the House last month would ban vaccination status from being printed on state-issued IDs, with supporters of the measure raising privacy concerns. Interim LSU President Tom Galligan said he is considering the faculty senate proposal and will consult with the school's Board of Supervisors on the legal questions. The Student Government Association passed a similar resolution. Were going to look at the legal possibility instead of the legal impossibility, Galligan said in a recent interview. We do think the issues are significant on the legality of a mandate. LSU will keep mask, distancing requirements even after state relaxed those rules LSU will still require masks to be worn on campus and people to physically distance indoors for the foreseeable future, school leaders announc The emergency use authorization of available vaccines also makes it difficult for schools to mandate. And even inoculations for illnesses like measles and mumps have a broad range of exemptions if a person has religious, philosophical or medical reasons. In the meantime, Galligan, who will hand the baton to incoming President and Chancellor William F. Tate in July, said the school plans to launch aggressive marketing campaigns to encourage vaccines. We will strongly encourage people to do their research and get the vaccine, he said. I did my research and got that vaccine as quickly as I could get it. LSUs proposal lays out alternatives such as creating incentives for students if a mandate is not possible. Among those suggestions: free parking, rebates for on-campus housing and even cash. LSU ran into similar legal questions when student groups asked for mandatory COVID testing in a push to resume certain campus activities. Ahead of the spring semester, the school began requiring students to be tested every two weeks. Days after Gov. John Bel Edwards removed those requirements from K-12 schools, LSU officials said they would still require masking and physical distancing for the foreseeable future. The latest push to require vaccines would allow for a return to normal in classrooms and activities around campus, supports say. Everybody wants normalcy, and everybody wants a safe return to campus activities and classes, Bazayev said. "Imagine if everyone was vaccinated in a classroom as if it was 2019?" As Louisiana legislators debated the legalization of marijuana, East Baton Rouge's top prosecutor told them the evidence still isn't conclusive on whether it's a good idea, so the state should proceed with caution. District Attorney Hillar Moores office spent weeks compiling data and sifting through studies on Colorado and Washington, which became the first states to legalize marijuana in 2012. In a report sent to lawmakers, the office concluded the scope of research is too limited to back up broad positive or negative claims about legalization, so the state should proceed cautiously before going for full legalization. EBRDAs primary goal is to seek and follow a path that best ensures the health, safety and well-being of the citizens of its community while acting the State of Louisianas best interest," Moore said in the report. "Therefore, EBRDA is hesitant to support the current proposed bills to legalize, regulate, and tax the recreational use of marijuana in the absence of a better understanding of the risks. These risks include how legalization would influence traffic accidents and violent crime, tax revenue and overdoses. A bill to fully legalize marijuana was defeated on a 47-48 vote in the state House. However, supporters and even some opponents said the bill had advanced further than ever before, potentially a signal of shifting attitudes. +4 Marijuana legalization effort is done for now. Here's how it was different, and its future The effort to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Louisiana, which got further than ever before this year after an unexpected bipartisa Moore said legalization could produce more than $120 million per year in tax revenues for the state, he noted that societal, workplace and insurance costs could cost the state millions more. Moore also warned of negative affects on cognitive development and other health issues in youth who use marijuana. He advised lawmakers to focus on preventing marijuana use among youth during the legalization debate. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Another broad concern was public safety. The report said there is conflicting evidence on whether or not marijuana legalization has influenced a rise in traffic accidents and fatalities. Similarly, the report sought a thorough examination of violent crime rates in states where legalization has been rolled out particularly since Louisiana's crime rate is higher than the national average. Marijuana decriminalization bill moves one step from governor's desk after Senate panel approval A proposal to take away jail time for possession of small amounts of marijuana in Louisiana has passed its toughest hurdle yet, advancing out Moore also noted marijuana's connection to substance abuse disorders. He urged caution in light of the upward trend in overdose deaths in the state and parish that have skyrocketed in recent years largely attributed to opioids. The report included an extensive list of more than 60 stakeholders who Moore said should be consulted in any legalization decision, including the state health department, law enforcement associations and childhood education commissions, among others. Moore also listed a number of comments and concerns with proposed legislation, as well as lingering questions, such as how legalization will affect asset forfeiture or anti-smoking campaigns. The report did say Moore supports a bill "decriminalizing" marijuana. A bill is advancing through the legislature that would give those caught with less than a half-ounce of marijuana an amount seen as for personal use instead of dealing a summons instead of an arrest, and avoid jail time. +2 What is marijuana 'decriminalization' and how is it different from full legalization? The Louisiana House late Tuesday took a significant step toward loosening the states tough stance on marijuana possession, approving a bill t Moore also supports further research, more input from other voices, reflection of other state experiences and authorizing a subcommittee to study the impact of legalizing possession. "The process should not be rushed," Moore said. "There must be meticulous consideration of the effects of legalization in order to develop responsible legislation, and effective regulation." 17 die of Covid in HP, 370 new cases 12 Jun 2021 | 10:51 PM Shimla, Jun 12 (UNI) As many as 17 people died of Covid-19 in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday while 370 people also tested positive for the virus, the health official confirmed. see more.. State amends accident claim rules 12 Jun 2021 | 10:50 PM Shimla, Jun 12(UNI) To ensure in time payment of accident and vehicle claims to the victims the state government on Saturday amended the accident claim rules. see more.. Movement of anti-nationals with melting of snow is concern; stay alert along boundaries touching Kashmir valley: DIG Suleman 12 Jun 2021 | 10:27 PM Jammu, June 12 (UNI) Expressing concern over movement of anti-nationals with melting of snow, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Udhampur-Reasi Range, Suleman Choudhary on Saturday asked his subordinates to stay extra alert along the boundaries of the district touching the Kashmir valley. see more.. J&K LG visits family of Councilor shot dead by terrorists, sanctions Rs 40 lakhs relief 12 Jun 2021 | 10:02 PM Jammu, June 12 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha on Saturday visited the family of Municipal Councillor Rakesh Pandita, who was killed by terrorists in Tral, Pulwama on June 2, and expressed solidarity with the bereaved family members. see more.. In January 2020, Republicans in the Louisiana House divided into two camps in a bitterly contested election to choose the next speaker. A smaller group sided with all of the Houses Democrats to elect Rep. Clay Schexnayder, a Republican, while the larger group of Republicans voted without Democrats in favor of Rep. Sherman Mack, who lost. In the immediate aftermath, several Mack supporters groused that Schexnayder would not fully embrace the GOP agenda because he was too indebted to House Democrats and Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat. But in time, Republicans in the two camps repeatedly said they had mended their differences. The fight in recent days over Schexnayders response to Rep. Ray Garofalo, R-Chalmette, and his gaffe over slavery, however, has revived the fissure within the GOP during the final days of the legislative session. And the division is threatening tax reform proposals that virtually all Republicans support. GOP leaders of state Legislature have broken with tradition to join forces against John Bel Edwards For decades, governors played off political differences between the House and Senate by allying with the leader of one chamber or the other to Over the past two weeks, Schexnayder resolved a simmering public drama by finally ousting Garofalo as chairman of the House Education Committee, something Democrats had demanded. Louis Gurvich, chair of the state Republican Party, blasted the speakers move. Stephen Waguespack, who heads the powerful Louisiana Association of Business and Industry lobby, in turn lambasted Gurvich and commended Schexnayder. Meanwhile, the speaker negotiated with his allies in the Legislative Black Caucus, who were demanding Garofalos ouster, to win their support for the tax measures. That left some Republicans feeling left out, even though they favored the tax bills. This past week, those Republicans announced the creation of the invitation-only Louisiana Conservative Caucus, composed almost entirely of legislators who supported Mack over Schexnayder. Theyre trying through their actions to overturn an election that happened, said Rep. Joe Stagni, R-Kenner, who is not a member. Most of the body is happy with how the speaker has conducted his business on the House floor. Hes done a good job of representing everyones interest. The two warring Republican camps, though, say they are both singing from the same hymn book since a private Republican legislative delegation meeting Wednesday night, which gave members of the conservative caucus a chance to air their grievances with Schexnayder. +6 Two major issues remain unresolved as Louisiana Legislature wraps up special session Tuesday An unprecedented special session called by Republican legislators during the coronavirus crisis still must resolve two key issues before adjou Still, the truce between the two sides could blow up any day before the session ends on June 10. And that could imperil the tax measures sought by Schexnayder, which need a supermajority of votes to pass the Legislature. At the center of the infighting is Schexnayder, 52, a third-termer from Gonzales who didnt graduate from college and has no outside job, according to his latest personal financial disclosure report. Schexnayder, who avoids reporters, did not respond to an interview request for this article. Schexnayder was not a major legislative player during his first two terms, but had the guile to outmaneuver other ambitious lawmakers to be elected speaker. For context: Just about every legislator wants to be speaker, because the speaker decides who chairs each legislative committee, who sits on each committee and which bills are heard each day. But in exercising power, most speakers create enemies, and that sparks frequent rumors of overthrows, although its been 30 years since lawmakers staged a coup against either the speaker or the Senate president. Garofalo, an attorney, was among 23 Republicans who joined with 35 Democrats and two independents, for a total of 60, to elect Schexnayder as speaker on Jan. 13, 2020. Mack lost but was supported by 45 Republicans. A speaker needs at least 53 votes to take the gavel. Schexnayder rewarded Garofalo with the Education Committee chairmanship. But the alliance between the two ended after Garofalo insisted on presenting House Bill 546, which sought to address concerns of conservatives that left-wing educators are teaching critical race theory concepts centered on the notion that racism is systemic. The night before, Schexnayder advised Garofalo that having his committee hear HB546 would be racially divisive. Garofalo forged ahead. In explaining his bill, he made an offhand comment about the good of slavery but then immediately disavowed it. The damage was done, however. The exchange went viral, and in the days that followed, the Black Caucus called on Schexnayder to remove him as the Education Committee chairman, while Garofalo said he didnt think he had done anything wrong. The speaker sought to lower political temperatures by having Garofalo stand aside as chairman and keep his mouth shut during the remainder of the session. Garofalo refused and an angry Gurvich, the party chairman, wrote two pieces for The Hayride, a right-wing website, defending Garofalo and questioning why Schexnayder wasnt pushing Garofalos bill to ban critical race theory, as other states with Republican legislative majorities have done. Gurvich also reminded readers that Schexnayder owed his position to Democratic support. An election by such an unnatural coalition composed mostly of opposition legislators was sure to eventually bear bitter fruit, Gurvich wrote recently, lamenting that Garofalos bill was stalled. Gurvich also accused Schexnayder of caving to a cabal of left-wing Democrats extorting political favors. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Gurvichs comments infuriated Waguespack, whose group spent heavily in 2019 to elect business-minded Republicans. That paid off in 2020 when the Legislature, with Schexnayders backing, passed a measure known as tort reform that Waguespack and other supporters said will reduce Louisianas high car insurance rates. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, gets criticized for not bringing in the other sides input, and rightfully so, Waguespack said in an interview on WBRP-FM on May 24. Speaker Schexnayder goes out of his way to try to bring in all sides and gets criticized here for doing exactly what they criticize Pelosi for not doing. Waguespack also complained that Gurvich hasnt been out in front on the tort reform or tax reform issues. +3 Tax package advances another step but racial rift causes hold up on House floor A key piece of a complicated tax swap passed another legislative hurdle Tuesday, but the entire effort is stalled for now because of a raciall The only time they step in and talk about an issue is slavery? he said. Are you kidding me? Give me a break. The slavery issue is a stain and should be looked at as much. In an interview, Gurvich said neither he nor Garofalo was defending slavery far from it. And he added a dig at Schexnayder and Waguespack, saying their tax bills didnt impress him. Were debating a supposed revenue neutral tax bill and centralizing tax collections while the states around us are talking about eliminating income taxes, Gurvich said. Thats where we need to be. This is tepid tax reform. Schexnayder is sponsoring House Bill 199, which would achieve a longtime business goal of centralizing state sales tax collections. He is also supporting a Senate-led effort to lower state income tax rates in exchange for eliminating a popular tax break. Schexnayder was forced to negotiate with members of the Black Caucus after the first attempt to pass the tax swap won only 67 votes, three short of the two-thirds vote needed in the 105-member House. All 27 Black Caucus members withheld their support. He reached a deal with them the next day, May 20; the bill passed overwhelmingly and now needs final approval in both houses. +5 Controversial bill aimed to lower Louisiana auto insurance passes: See details on changes After much negotiation and toil, the Louisiana Legislature finally approved on Tuesday legislation that changes how Louisiana courts operate i Leaders of the Louisiana Conservative Caucus announced the creation of their group on May 25. Thirty-seven of the initial 40 members supported Mack for speaker. But Rep. Jack McFarland, the groups chairman, said its formation is not aiming to undermine Schexnayder or Rep. Blake Miguez, R-Erath, the Republican delegation leader, who was invited, belatedly, to be a member. We formed the group to unify and strengthen the Republican delegation and get behind our speaker, said McFarland, R-Jonesboro. But he also said many conservatives were feeling like they werent included in the conversation and noted the groups support is needed to pass the tax measures. McFarland is well-liked by Democrats and Republicans for his humor and willingness to work with everyone. But many members also believe that he sees the group as a platform to become the next speaker, something McFarland denies. Mack, R-Albany, dismissed suggestions that he hopes the group will resurrect his chances to become speaker, saying he is a member only because its leaders invited him to join. This is an effort for people who agree ideologically to have a sounding board where we can discuss ideas, said Rep. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport, who was the prime mover to create the group along with Rep. Larry Frieman, R-Abita Springs. McFarland and Seabaugh said the group is focusing on three fundamental issues: limiting abortions, extending gun rights and limiting taxes and government spending. If the group ever strays from [its core issues], wed lose a lot of members, said Rep. John Illg, R-Harahan. +5 Inside Louisiana's special session: Political tug-of-war over coronavirus orders at heart of agenda Rescuing Louisiana's unemployment fund and recovering from Hurricane Laura are the marquee issues for the monthlong legislative session hastil With Republicans united in their views on abortion and guns, McFarland said he wants more attention on what he believes is an imminent fiscal cliff, with the sudden loss of revenues that would leave a budget hole. But that appears to be at least four years away. Thats when a 0.45-cent temporary state sales tax expires and a federal tax cut also expires that, under current law, would have the effect of reducing state revenue. Despite their stated concerns about spending, McFarland and all other conservatives were part of the unanimous vote on May 27 to approve House Bill 1, the budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Rep. Ted James, who chairs the Black Caucus, said the creation of the conservative caucus, and Gurvichs criticism of Schexnayder, reflects some Republicans continuing unhappiness that the speaker doled out five committee chairmanships to Democrats and regularly consults with them. They want us to be like [polarized] Washington, James said. But there are enough Republican legislators who recognize the benefit of us working together. Capital bureau reporter Sam Karlin contributed to this report. Rupert Murdochs News Corp Australia is in advanced talks with a consortium backed by high-profile bookmaker Matthew Tripp to launch a new wagering outfit that would reshape both the local industry and the battle for Tabcorps betting division. Industry sources, who spoke anonymously because the discussions are confidential, said News Corp is also in talks with US media business Fox Corp, which is also controlled by the Murdoch family, to secure licensing rights to use the FOX Bet brand for the new business. Fancy a punt? Fresh from make a smart investment in US sports bookmaker FOX Bet, Rupert and Lachlan Murdochs team have turned their attention to Australias wagering market. Credit:SMH Fox Corp was previously interested in establishing the FOX Bet brand in Australia with the help of another wagering company. But The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald can reveal the brand is expected to be operated by the Murdochs local media arm, News Corp, marking its first major play in the local wagering industry. News Corp declined to comment. News Corp asked for expressions of interest among Australias established bookmakers last year to find a local partner to launch FOX Bet but sources said its preferred option is now to launch as a standalone outfit with equity partners tied to local online gambling pioneer Mr Tripp, the former boss of Sportsbet and founder of BetEasy. Neither deal had been formalised but the talks were advanced, the sources said. Traditional jewellery is generally associated with precious materials, such as gold and diamonds. But there are other forms of value to be explored, whether thats sentimental value or simply aesthetics, says contemporary jewellery designer Blanche Tilden. Its rare for a major gallery or museum to recognise the value of a students work. However the National Gallery of Australia showed exceptional insight when it bought works from the graduate exhibition of Tilden, who graduated in gold and silversmithing from the Canberra School of Art in 1995. Her star quickly rose: a couple of years later she had a solo show at Gallery Funaki, then in Crossley Street, Melbourne, sharing display cabinets with some of the worlds leading names in the field. Blanche Tilden wearing her Long Conveyor II necklace. Credit:Marcus Scholz The 25-year retrospective of Tildens work currently at the Geelong Gallery is curated by Jason Smith, the Geelong Gallerys director. The title of the exhibition, ripple effect, fits with the reflective materials, such as borosilicate glass, titanium and measured use of gold and silver, and the impact of Tildens collaborations with other creatives over the decades, including architect Erin Hinton, jewellery designer Phoebe Porter and industrial designer Mary Featherston. Featherston is photographed wearing a necklace made from spectacle lenses, collected by Featherstons mother. The 62-piece exhibition draws out themes in Tildens work: repetition, scale and value. Tilden is inspired by design periods from the Bauhaus movement (circa 1919 in Germany) to the Art Deco period of the 1930s. The Blurred Architecture 1 brooches, a collaboration with Hinton in 2014, resemble miniature modernist buildings. A scaled-up version, displayed immediately behind, complete with a tree and miniature figures, captures the blurring of disciplines between art, architecture, and design. Other pieces are more sombre: a piece made for the Jewish Museum in Melbourne, circa 2007, made from coldworked glass, sterling silver and nylon coated stainless steel cable, was conceived as a sash to be worn around the hip to celebrate Jewish festivals. But laid on the felt, it recalls the train tracks that took people to their death during the Second World War. Im pro-vaccination yet, like a lot of the Australian population, found myself hesitant to book in for my COVID-19 vaccination. I finally made an appointment but only after I sat myself down for a serious talk. Given how bad things are in other parts of the world, Im embarrassed to say the main reason behind my hesitancy was that COVID-19 simply hadnt been front of mind. Life had been ticking along, with barely a pandemic-related thought. Hasnt Melbourne shown us how quickly that can change? Even before this new lockdown, I had wanted to be on the front foot if when another outbreak happened. With only lukewarm encouragement from official sources, I knew I needed to be the one to harness this plan. Hundreds of people wait to receive their COVID-19 vaccination at Homebush on Saturday. Credit:Cole Bennetts I was surprised how much my anger at the incompetence of the rollout was contributing to my hesitancy. But after letting this emotion dissipate, I countered with the knowledge that getting the jab would protect vulnerable people by contributing to herd immunity. Its hard not to be influenced by the AstraZeneca v Pfizer debates around efficacy and side-effects. At age 51, Im only just one side of the somewhat arbitrary cut-off age for Pfizer as the preferred jab. This is the first time Ive felt old when it comes to government policy and, sadly, I suspect it wont be the last. I used statistics to rationalise away concerns about blood clots but, as a freelancer with no sick leave, its harder to set aside worry about a few days of the much more common flu-like side effects. Twenty-nine per cent of Aussies still say they are not likely to get the vaccine. We all have friends and family who express concerns about getting the jab. Its understandable that some are still hesitant, because the vaccines are relatively new, and theres an enormous number of complex issues to consider. Its up to scientists and doctors to communicate these issues clearly and honestly. Loading Thankfully, we have a lot of information about the safety and efficacy of all approved vaccines, including the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine which is the most widely available in Australia. The AZ vaccine is based on a very widely used and established technology. The largest rollout of AZ is in England, where excess deaths went from more than 100,000 before the vaccine to zero afterwards. After the first dose of AZ, there is a very small risk of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), which results in a rare combination of blood clotting and a a low platelet count less than a one in 100,000 chance and less than one in 500,000 chance of death. When TTS was first identified, most doctors did not know how to treat it. Today, doctors have identified appropriate treatments. As we can see from the results in England, the downside of TTS is insignificant compared to the upside of the vaccine. A newer technology called mRNA, which is the basis for the Pfizer vaccine, is not associated with TTS. Scientists have studied the mRNA vaccines for more than 30 years and their safety has been carefully analysed. According to a study in scientific journal Nature, mRNA vaccines have been considered a relatively safe vaccine format. The US has administered more than 150 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine with no major safety issues. European countries are legislating to ban flights of up to four hours where there are high-speed-train alternatives (Europe shifting in net-zero push, The Sunday Age, 23/5). Our major allies (Britain and the US) are pleading with Australia to support them in their emission reduction crusade. Major purchasers of our coal (including Japan) are racing to reduce their consumption. Europe plans to impose a carbon levy on our exports if our emission rules are not strengthened. Maybe Justice Mordecai Brombergs (Politicians have climate duty of care, The Age, 28/5) admonition that the government has a duty of care to its citizens will finally alert the PM to the rising tide. Peter Thomson, Brunswick Individuals play a part, but governments role is vital Yes, it is important that Australians as individuals play a part in reducing carbon emissions (Australians must curb overseas flights, drive more slowly to hit net zero by 2050, The Age online, 29/5). But governments also have a vital role to play. The federal government has recently committed $224 million to developing gas infrastructure in the Northern Territory Beetaloo Basin. Gas is an emissions-intensive fossil fuel and not a viable energy source in the transition to renewables, as some would have us believe. Committing to a gas-led recovery is not leading our country in the right direction to net zero emissions. Anne OHara, Wanniassa, ACT Industries have always had to face change Patrick Suckling is correct that coal industry workers have to face the reality that the coal industry is being phased out (False prophets fail coal communities, Comment, 29/5). For hundreds of years industries have had to face up to and adapt to change. Real leaders help the workers to accept and prepare for the change. Joel Fitzgibbon needs to get real. Peter Hogan, North Fitzroy THE FORUM Let down at the coal face We have three weapons to protect us from COVID 19: quarantine, vaccination and QR codes. We all know about the failures of quarantine and the vaccine rollout. I want to address the lacklustre use and resultant limited efficacy of QR codes. Particularly in Victoria. Yes, we now have improved contact tracing. But, it can only be completely successful when there is swift access to precise, readily available contact information. The sort that is provided by QR codes. We currently find ourselves in another lockdown because the spread of the virus is broad and has outrun the ability of the contact tracers to locate citizens who have been exposed at more than 170 sites, many of which were not actively enforcing QR-coded entry into their premises. Through complacency and slackness, businesses and customers have not only failed to protect themselves and the community, they have caused everyone to lock down while contact tracers and testing centres struggle to sort out the mess. We, as citizens cannot fix quarantine. Nor can we manage the vaccination rollout. But, as customers and business owners, we can adopt a No QR code no entry approach to protect ourselves and empower the contact tracing team. Robyn Kay, South Yarra Dodging the runners So I set off on my favourite walking path, carefully donning a mask for the protection of myself and others. Its not long before I am approached by a huffing and puffing jogger unmasked, of course who passes within half a metre, spraying me with possibly COVID-saturated droplets. A few minutes later, another one passes. Then another. What do I do? A) give up walking on that path? B) take my walk at midnight, when joggers arent around? or, C) carry an aerosol can of disinfectant to spray the joggers? y activities as a chorister have been severely constrained by COVID restrictions, which I accept as sensible. Why are joggers allowed to do as they please? Mike Puleston, Brunswick In a race with the virus The Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and now the Trade Minister keep telling us that the vaccination rollout is not a race. While obviously we are not in the race to get all our population vaccinated as soon as possible, we are in a race with the virus. If our safety is the PMs primary concern, then follow Professor Mary-Louise McLaws advice (Call for jab shake-up to put young workers first, The Sunday Age, 30/5) to prioritise vaccine distribution to Victoria and lets get on with it. Motivation was never so high. Alison Fraser, Ascot Vale I want that watch After reading another absolutely terrific article (Testing, very testing, Spectrum, The Age, 29/5) by Anson Cameron, a conclusion could be drawn that an awful lot of people (and worryingly, perhaps most) dont want to hear the truth. Add to that, that a lot of people (perhaps the majority) actually dont listen to what is being said (thinking only of what they are going to say in a minute), and its no wonder at all that Australia has the entrenched two-party political system, which most of us profess to not like, but, unsurprisingly, we have. Politicians evade telling the truth and do everything possible to avoid doing so, so that when an honest pollie comes along, we just dont know what to do. Truth telling ... what a great world it would be, if we all had a watch like Ansons. Jill Loorham, Carrum It doesnt add up Who came up with the strange way of counting that uses the term patient zero for the first person to be infected at the start of an outbreak? That person is obviously patient number one. When counting the number of items, occurrences etc, you start counting at one otherwise, if you counted, say, 10 apples, and started at zero, the 10th apple would be number nine. Starting at zero is appropriate for lineal measurements, such as the length of a piece of timber. If you wanted to measure off a certain length, you would hook the tape measure onto the starting point, which would be zero length. Metre number one would be reached at the end of the first metre, and so on. Laurie Martin, Croydon North Multipurpose housing? In Peter Hartchers article (PMs complacency is infectious, Comment, 29/5) a person involved in the [quarantine] decision-making process says the federal government refuses to carry the extra load of using taxpayers funds to expand or build new quarantine facilities. However, given increased probability of future pandemics, non-hotel quarantine will be necessary. Why could the cost of these camp-like facilities not be mitigated by allowing homeless people to live there when quarantine numbers are low? If these camps were built in spaces with access to public transport, such as near airports, then non-quarantine residents could live safely and still connect with their community, rather than being on the streets. Andrew Smith, Leongatha A media bunfight I have always supported the idea of a free media and have applauded their dogged investigation of issues. Like Anne Kruger (The medias lack of respect, Letters, 28/5) however, I too am appalled at the tone of those questioning Brett Sutton and James Merlino as they announced the latest lockdown. That media conference was a bunfight of shouty journalists, many trying desperately to outdo each other in forming the gotcha question they think might snare them a, award. It was a howling mob, baying for blood and someone, even better if it could be more than one, to crucify. Now its the contact tracers those lazy so-and-sos who are asleep on the job. Anna Giovannoni, Ormond No wonder there are delays Early in May, I phoned to make an appointment for a vaccination. I was given a time early the next day and was welcomed to the centre. The whole experience took about 15 minutes and I was free to go. The reason for the current whingeing about getting an appointment is that for some time people were: a) anti-vaxxers b) afraid of the possibility of a blood clot, or c) waiting for the safe injection in October. Now that we are facing a possible third wave, people are all trying to get an appointment at the same time and it is no wonder there are delays. I suffered no ill effects from the injection and if people are prepared to get in the queue and wait, we may yet reach herd immunity before it is too late. Michael Nolan, Capel Sound Look in the mirror There has been a lot of noise about six-hour queues for the jab, blaming the Andrews government, when only a little while ago ago you could stroll into the Exhibition Centre and get your jab in no time. Look in the mirror before bellyaching about the delay. Rex Condon, Ashwood In the brace position The Prime Minister maintains that hotel quarantine has a 99.99 per cent success rate. I am glad the aviation industry doesnt use the same measure. A failure rate of 0.01 per cent equates to six aircraft crashes a year on the Melbourne to Sydney route (based on 2019 flight statistics). On this basis hotel quarantine is like a plane crash in slow motion and in Victoria we are the luckless passengers in brace position. Tim Davis, Heidelberg The knock-on effect Murdoch Childrens Research Institute group leader Professor Fiona Russell admonishes the state government for ordering a state-wide lockdown (School closures come under fire, The Age, 28/5), particularly of all schools, because statistics show low COVID-19 infection levels in the children (does that include the newer identified Indian strain?) and high child emotional distress when blocked from attending school. Unusually, it seems, I prefer to include the welfare of adult teachers and other staff at schools who attend work from a range of localities and the families they go home to in various locations. And dont forget the childrens carers taking children to and from schools. The reality lesson for children, and perhaps Professor Russell, is that statistics and routines are not necessarily locked in stone and there are many other people to consider beyond ourselves. Bruce Watson, Clifton Springs He does have a point Before you have a go at federal Trade Minister Dan Tehan for telling us that the Melbourne Cup is a race, the Stawell Gift is a race and that the vaccination rollout isnt a race, remember, he does have a point the two events he so succinctly pointed out are professionally run events that occur on time and have definite, well-publicised outcomes. Peter Gribben, Drouin Shouldering the blame I went for a walk around my local area on the first day of the lockdown. I saw many people, including older people, totally ignoring the directive about mask wearing. Their arrogance and bloody-mindedness was astonishing. There has been the predictable outrage directed at the federal government, the state government and health authorities. Perhaps people should be pointing the finger at the community as well. Tim Douglas, Blairgowrie Adding to the stress The media, in an attempt to show us the governments COVID-19 telephone system is over-stressed, ring the government numbers. Yes, I know its only a couple of calls, but surely radio personalities could find another way to illustrate the situation rather than putting further stress on the system. Peter McGill, Lancefield AND ANOTHER THING QR compliance Any business that has clearly decided not to control and enforce QR scanning and any individual who refuses to sign in should be publicly shamed as well as being fined heavily. There is no excuse. Kevin Ward, Preston Credit: Life in lockdown First Saturday night of lockdown and NBN failed to deliver. But we had toilet paper . Bryan Fraser, St Kilda On Sunday morning, a number of traders in the seafood section of Queen Victoria Market were not wearing masks correctly. Why arent the responsible authorities enforcing compliance, especially at this time of lockdown? Leslie Kilmartin, Carlton Hotel quarantine Was King Harolds armour at the Battle of Hastings (1066) 99.99 per cent effective? John Rogers, Tarneit The Tokyo Olympics I cannot understand the foolishness of sending athletes and support staff to Japan in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Australians should be responsible global citizens and not impose upon an exhausted Japanese population. Janet Cohen, Caulfield North Police at one stage considered evacuating the area because of fears the resulting fire could envelop the whole plant. Three men were injured, one of them seriously, in a gas explosion at a giant petrochemical works in Altona last night. Police evacuated the Altona Petrochemical Co. Ltd. site in Maidstone Street, closed off surrounding streets and asked nearby residents to stay indoors and prepare for evacuation. But firemen were able to control the fire in about 30 minutes. Loading Superintendent Len Hubbard, of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, said an ethylene gas pipeline at the plant had ruptured at 8.15 pm and caught fire. Three plant workers who were trying to stop a gas leak were burnt in the explosion and were taken to the Royal Melbourne and Alfred hospitals. A company spokesman said last night that Albyn Archer, 60, of Altona, was in the Alfred Hospital in a critical condition with burns to 72 per cent of his body. Employers in country Victoria cannot get enough workers as the regions enjoy an unprecedented jobs boom that threatens to leave Melbourne in its wake. Job opportunities outside the metro area have hit an all-time high with more than 9800 positions vacant outside Melbourne in April, according to data from the federal governments National Skills Commission , more than twice the number reported in April 2020. Joe Perry in his Rutherglen Bakery. Credit:Joe Armao Melbourne remains the states undisputed employment powerhouse, with 49,300 jobs advertised in April but experts say country Victorias boom will continue to gather pace as the regions economic dependence on the state capital decreases. The state budget papers published earlier this month showed a growing city-country divide amid the pandemic with the regions streaking ahead of Melbourne in employment, property price growth and housing starts. Treasurer Tim Pallas has labelled the non-metro economic performance amazing. Former federal Labor MP Emma Husar is threatening legal action against the ALP for sexual harassment, arguing key people within the party leaked false claims she exposed herself to a parliamentary colleague in 2017 and forced her out of Parliament two years later. Ms Husar, who won the battleground western Sydney seat of Lindsay for Labor in 2016 with a swing of 4.1 per cent, says she has never recovered from the ALPs treatment of her and receives medical care for the ongoing impacts of trauma. Emma Husar in Sydney on Sunday. Credit:Edwina Pickles After months of revelations about sexual assault and harassment in Parliament House, Ms Husars intervention draws Labor into the ongoing anger over the treatment of women in politics. She is seeking an apology from Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese on behalf of the party, and is threatening further legal action if she does not get it. Mr Albanese declined to comment on the matter. Ms Husar says she was forced out of the ALP after a male former staffer told the party Ms Husar had repeatedly performed an underpants-less Sharon Stone manoeuvre in front of fellow MP Jason Clare and his young child in Mr Clares parliamentary office. The allegation was leaked to online news outlet Buzzfeed, which published the claims without seeking comment from Ms Husar. Normal, IL (61790) Today Scattered thunderstorms early, then becoming clear after midnight. Low 66F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then becoming clear after midnight. Low 66F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Last year, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews was asked about what seemed to be a leak from the Morrison government, designed to make it clear quarantine problems were his fault. He told reporters, My only quarrel, my only argument, my only fight is with the coronavirus. Victorians, he said, wouldnt want him to be spending time on political issues. At the time, it seemed unlikely that, within a year, the Prime Minister those words were aimed at would be borrowing the line. But in recent weeks, Scott Morrison has been insisting that the Labor Party wants to fight with him, but the only person Im fighting is the virus. Scott Morrison says he is only interested in fighting the virus. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Another famous sloganeer also comes to mind: Scott Morrisons hero and mentor, John Howard. The 2004 election tagline Who do you trust? was audacious, taking what seemed to political insiders one of the most legitimate criticisms of Howard that he was cunning and deceptive and turning it on its head. But deployed against the right opponent Mark Latham, who couldnt be trusted for completely different reasons it worked a treat. Morrisons new catchphrase is audacious for similar reasons: its hard to think of a Prime Minister more focused on beating his opponents. But Morrison has two hopes here: first, that most voters dont think much about his motivations, and second, that voters will see Anthony Albanese as a fighter rather than a leader, the same way they saw Latham as a risky firebrand. But the stand-off reflects a fundamental belief within the Morrison government that many Australians are frustrated with several lockdowns. The blame game is no help to a Victorian worker who will lose pay this week because political leaders cannot agree on sharing costs. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg are putting the onus on the states to take primary responsibility for any sudden lockdown. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg are making it obvious to all state and territory leaders that each jurisdiction must take primary responsibility for any sudden lockdown, including the cost of assistance to people who lose work. The Victorian lockdown is changing the national argument about who pays for statewide lockdowns and whether the country can afford too many more of them. Rather than stand side-by-side with Victorian acting Premier James Merlino and support the lockdown, the Prime Minister and Treasurer keep their distance. They do not want to be party to his decision. They did not criticise it last week, but supporting it with federal money is another matter. Some federal sources believe the Victorian community may turn on Merlino over time rather than join him in blaming Canberra, but the risk is greater for Morrison. While the Prime Minister is likely to win or lose the next election in NSW and Queensland, he cannot afford a backlash in Victoria. Only Morrison can explain why he said last week he would work hand in glove with the Victorian government but now turns down requests for financial assistance. Victorians have not been robbed of federal help over time. The $45 billion in payments to Victorians through the pandemic has been worth about $6760 for every person in the state. The people of NSW have received slightly less: about $6409 per capita, based on total federal spending of $52.3 billion. The per capita amounts are $5787 for Queensland, $5276 for Western Australia, $5342 for South Australia, $5222 for Tasmania, $4924 for the ACT and $4781 for the Northern Territory, based on federal government figures. Mr Merlino announced on Sunday about 90,000 Victorian businesses affected by this weeks lockdown will share in the Circuit Breaker Business Support package including grants of $2500 for eligible businesses including cafes, restaurants, event suppliers, accommodation providers and non-essential retailers. Additional grants of $3500 will be offered to licensed venues, and the state government has allocated $20 million for operators in the events industry. Loading Treasurer Tim Pallas said businesses could register their interest in the Business Costs Assistance Program to be notified when applications open this week. He hoped some of those payments would begin to flow by the end of the week. Mr Merlino added he was beyond disappointed the federal government had failed to support Victorian businesses and individual workers during this time with income support and Mr Pallas said the federal governments stance was totally, totally unsustainable. Theyre not a silent partner, they like making speeches. Ill tell you what theyre not: theyre not a tangible partner, they need to step up to the plate, he said. I am angry and Im disappointed. Im disappointed because all the language talks about a partnership. It delivers nothing in real terms for the people who need it most. They like to pride themselves on being the party of the forgotten people. Well, the people they seem to have forgotten is Victorians, and in particular Victorian workers. Prominent Melbourne restaurateur Chris Lucas, who founded restaurants Chin Chin, Kisume, Hawker Hall and Baby, slammed the Victorian government for what he called its hypocrisy and ineptitude to effectively manage coronavirus outbreaks despite being 18 months into the pandemic. He blasted Mr Pallas business support package as pathetic compensation and said the state government must instead focus on strengthening its systems to prevent lockdowns. The compensation is not the issue because a few thousand dollars will never ever come close to dealing with the cost and trauma that is being caused by these incessant lockdowns, Mr Lucas told The Age and Herald. My staff, over 1400 of them, have been traumatised in the last week and continue to be on a knifes edge mentally having now faced nearly 200 days of lockdown in Victoria. In my view, the issue is not about some pathetic compensation, but its about the ineptitude of a government that continues to fail its citizens. The government needs to learn its lessons, stop trying to shift the blame, be honest and more transparent with the Victorian public who are suffering incredibly as a result of the unnecessary lockdowns. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg: this is not the first state to lock down post JobKeeper. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Opposition Leader Michael OBrien accused Mr Pallas and Mr Merlino of playing politics instead of focusing on the welfare of Victorians. This is a government that has caused the fourth lockdown through poor QR codes and contact tracing that had holes in it, he said. For them to try and put the blame on everyone but themselves just shows this is all politics for Labor. Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra backed the Victorian governments calls for the Commonwealth to fund wage subsidies to support Victorian workers enduring their first lockdown without JobKeeper. [The state governments announcement] is better than nothing but its certainly not going to cover all the costs that a business has, and its certainly not going to replace the revenue, which is why we want to see the federal government come together with the state government to provide support for workers, Mr Guerra said. Its not the workers, its not the businesses fault that we find ourselves back in lockdown. Were at the end of the queue here, and we want to make sure that everybody gets through There are opportunities up north, and if [workers] leave Victoria, our ability to bounce back is going to be highly compromised. Federal Coalition MPs accused the Victorian government of trying to distract from its own ineptitude by fighting with Mr Morrison and Mr Frydenberg. I think that most Australians see straight through the petty sniping from the Victorian Acting Premier, said Western Australian Liberal Senator Ben Small, whose state had a lockdown without additional federal financial support. Nationals MP Anne Webster, whose electorate of Mallee is centred on the regional Victorian city of Mildura, said the lockdown had to stop in regional parts of the state. Once again [we are] affected by urban policy, as though we all live in Port Melbourne, she said. Why can NSW manage outbreaks without a statewide lockdown but Victoria cant? But there was caution from some business groups seeking federal help for members without encouraging state governments to lock down more than necessary. Hanoi: Vietnam has discovered a new coronavirus variant thats a hybrid of strains first found in India and the UK. The Vietnamese health minister Nguyen Thanh Long said on Saturday that scientists examined the genetic makeup of the virus that had infected some recent patients and found the new version of the virus. He said lab tests suggested it might spread more easily than other versions of the virus. Viruses often develop small genetic changes as they reproduce and new variants of the coronavirus have been seen almost since it was first detected in China in late 2019. The World Health Organisation has listed four global variants of concern the two first found in the UK and India, plus ones identified in South Africa and Brazil. Long says the new variant could be responsible for a recent surge in Vietnam, which has spread to 30 of the countrys 63 municipalities and provinces. Singapore: Australian writer Dr Yang Hengjun called for interrogations and video recordings taken of him while he was being tortured to be dismissed by a Beijing court, warning the testimony taken under duress would damage the legal standing of the Chinese government. In a rare account of a closed-door trial in Chinas opaque judicial system, Dr Yang said he pleaded with the judge ahead of his espionage trial to exclude interrogation records from the court proceedings. Imprisoned Australian writer Dr Yang Hengjun. Credit:Inset: Sanghee Liu, main picture: AP Its illegal. Torture. They had hidden camera records. I will ask the Chinese government to provide the truth, he said in a statement delivered to his supporters. The pro-democracy writer who finished his PhD at the University of Technology in Sydney, has been interrogated 300 times over his more than two years in jail. He has faced sleep deprivation, isolation and been threatened with execution in an attempt to break the 56-year-old and force a confession. Rio de Janeiro: Florencia Gonzalez Alzaga, a photographer from Buenos Aires, hatched her plan to fly to the United States for a coronavirus vaccine after the subject came up in her Zoom book club. Juan Pablo Bojaca, an Instagram influencer from Colombia who specialises in frugal travel, urged his 137,000 followers to give it a try, posting a step-by-step video guide that showed him clearing passport control in Miami. Jose Acevedo, a real estate agent in Paraguay, was stunned by how easy the whole thing was in Las Vegas. Jose Acevedo and his sister Elena, who traveled to the U.S. to get vaccinated, at their home in Asuncion, Paraguay, on May 25, 2021. Credit:Santi Carneri/The New York Times Frustrated with the lagging pace of vaccine campaigns at home and seeing a surplus of doses in the United States where tens of millions of Americans have opted not to get inoculated wealthy and middle-class Latin Americans with American tourist visas have been flocking to the United States in recent weeks to score a COVID-19 shot. Up for debate: Live legislation tracker Check out the latest developments on bills pending before state lawmakers in four key topics. A group calling for the removal of a statue of "Pitchfork" Ben Tillman, the governor and U.S. senator who led violent racist mobs to stop Blacks from voting, demonstrates Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, in Columbia, S.C., at the opening day of the Legislature. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit This is the temporary subscription pass for users returning from the Vision Data subscription process. Your subscription will be updated within 24 hours, after your information is verified. Please click the button below to get your pass. Click the image to the left and log in to get your exclusive reader perks. Ben Shapiro is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of The Ben Shapiro Show and editor-in-chief of DailyWire.com. He is syndicated through Creators. John L. Micek is editor-in-chief of The Pennsylvania Capital-Star in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Email him at jmicek@penncapital-star.com and follow him on Twitter at @ByJohnLMicek. Man Arrested After Reportedly Falling in Road By West Kentucky Star Staff MAYFIELD - A man was arrested Friday after he was reported to police.Mayfield Police officers responded to the 900 block of West Broadway after getting a call about a man who had reportedly fallen in the road. Officers spoke to 38-year-old Edward Weeks of Mayfield, and he was checked by EMS for injuries.Police say they had received several calls about Weeks causing disturbances around town, so he was arrested and taken to McCracken County Jail.Weeks faces charges of public intoxication (excluding alcohol) and disorderly conduct 2nd degree. Vials with Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine labels in an illustration picture taken on March 19, 2021. (Dado Ruvic/File Photo/Reuters) 117 Employees File Lawsuit Against Texas Hospital for Requiring COVID-19 Vaccine More than 100 employees at Houston Methodist Hospital filed a lawsuit against their employer for allegedly requiring all staff members to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in order to keep their jobs. Saying the COVID-19 vaccines are experimental and they dont want to be guinea pigs, the 117 employees argued in court that its unlawful for their employers to require them to take the shots. Methodist Hospital is forcing its employees to be human guinea pigs as a condition for continued employment, their lawsuit (pdf) states. They wrote that the hospitals COVID-19 vaccination mandate requires the employee to subject themselves to medical experimentation as a prerequisite to feeding their families. They took issue receiving experimental COVID-19 mRNA vaccines such as ones made by Pfizer and Moderna. For the first time in the history of the United States, an employer is forcing an employee to participate in an experimental vaccine trial as a condition for continued employment, the lawsuit states. The plaintiffs cited a letterincluded in the lawsuitfrom the CEO and president of Houston Methodist, Marc Boom, who allegedly directed employees to please see the HR policy that outlines the consequences of not being compliant by June 7, which include suspension and eventually termination. Meanwhile, at the top of the lawsuit, an alleged quote from David Bernard, a CEO of a Houston Methodist branch, was included. Bernard purportedly told an employee that 100 percent vaccination is more important than your individual freedom. Everyone [sic] of you is replaceable. If you dont like what your [sic] doing you can leave and we will replace your spot. A spokesperson for Houston Methodist disputed the quote in a statement to The Epoch Times, saying on May 30 that Bernard did NOT say that to this disgruntled employee, and he has respect for all his employeeswe are a values-based organization with respect as one of our core values. The spokesperson did not comment on the letter from Boom. The lawsuit also asserted that employers mandating COVID-19 vaccines is problematic because there is much the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not know about these products even as it authorizes them for emergency use, including their effectiveness against infection, death, and transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that is allegedly the cause of the COVID disease. The FDA approved an emergency use authorization for the vaccines made by Moderna and Pfizer in December 2020 and gave the emergency authorization for Johnson & Johnsons vaccine in early 2021. The lawsuit was filed by Jared Woodfill, a Houston-area attorney, who told ABC News that the Houston Methodist mandate violates the Nuremberg Code of 1947, written after the fall of the Nazi regime in Germany. To promote its business and increase profits at the expense of other health care providers and their employees health, defendants advertise to the public that they require all employees and employed physicians to get a COVID-19 vaccine. More clearly, defendants employees are being forced to serve as human guinea pigs to increase defendants profits, Woodfill said, adding that it is a severe and blatant violation of Texas law and the Nuremberg Codea set of research ethics principles relating to human experimentation. Houston Methodist, the attorney claimed, forced employees to get the shot to promote its business over its employees health. He noted that most of the plaintiffs in the suit arent health care providers. Boom issued a statement after the lawsuit was filed, saying that 99 percent of the hospitals nearly 30,000 employees have received a COVID-19 vaccine. We proudly stand by our employees and our mission to protect our patients. It is unfortunate that the few remaining employees who refuse to get vaccinated and put our patients first are responding in this way, Boom said, according to a spokesperson for the hospital system. It is legal for health care institutions to mandate vaccines, as we have done with the flu vaccine since 2009. A full legal response from Houston Methodist has yet to be filed. The Houston Methodist spokesperson also included a link to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on May 28 having posted updated guidelines that suggest employers can make employees be vaccinated. According to the agencys guidance issued on May 28, EEOC laws do not prevent an employer from requiring all employees physically entering the workplace to be vaccinated for COVID-19, so long as employers comply with the reasonable accommodation provisions of the ADA and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other EEO considerations. Other laws, not in EEOCs jurisdiction, may place additional restrictions on employers. The lawsuit was filed in a state court in Montgomery County, Texas, and alleges wrongful discharge as well as a violation of the at-will employment doctrines public policy exception. Wang Jingyu in an undisclosed location in an undated photo. (Courtesy of Wang Jingyu) 19-Year-Old Dissident Wanted by CCP Freed From Dubai A young Chinese dissident landed in Turkey on Thursday evening, after being held for nearly two months in the United Arab Emirates. Wang Jingyu, a 19-year-old man on the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) wanted list, told The Epoch Times in an interview on May 27, that he was dumped aboard a flight in the morning with nothing but a one-way ticket, a passport, and a phone. Several strangers brought him to a car, handcuffed and covering his face with black cloth from an isolated cell in Dubai in the morning, he told The Epoch Times on the phone. No one talked to him until he arrived at the airport in Dubai. Unable to provide notice to the Turkish airport before arrival, Wang was fined for breaking Turkeys COVID-19 international travel rules. However, he remained optimistic, telling The Epoch Times that he would be able to travel to New York soon. I am free now, he said in a tweet on May 27, Id like to express my gratitude to all of those supporting and expressing concern for me. I would be tortured in the Chinese Communist Partys black jail without your help. The CCP took aim at Wang, who is originally from Chongqing City in southern Chinas Sichuan Province after he disputed the authorities account of the bloody border clash with India in February. While transferring to a flight to New York on April 6, Wang was arrested by two plainclothes men who identified themselves as officers from Dubais criminal informational department. He was then held in custody with limited contact with the outside world. He had no idea why he was arrested, I didnt do anything that violated the law in this country, he said in an earlier May 20 interview with The Epoch Times. Dubai police refused to release him, although the local court granted him bail on April 19. Wang said Chinese embassy staff contacted him at least three times, attempting to persuade him to sign a document agreeing to be deported back to China. He said Dubai police also tried to get him to sign a document in Arabic on two occasions early in May, but he also refused, saying he couldnt understand its contents. Bail document for Wang Jingyu. Some personal details have been redacted. (Courtesy of Wang Jingyu) This is 100 percent linked to the Chinese Communist Party, he said in the May 20 interview, after being held for over a month. Chinese police charged Wang with defaming heroes and martyrs and circulated the notice on Chinese media after he made a comment on social media about the bloody clash on the disputed India-China border that occurred on June 15, 2020. India reported 20 deaths on its side, while eight months later, Beijing announced four fatalities. Why did you announce the death toll so late? What on earth are you are hiding? Wang wrote on Chinese social media Weibo two days after Beijings announcement on Feb. 21. Soon after, the Chinese police put him on a wanted list, and his personal information was spread on Weibo. The Chinese police raided his parents home and detained them in a bid to force him to record a confession videoa demand he refused. Wang has been in Istanbul since July 2019. Despite having a local phone number, he received text messages from strangers intimidating him. He also received threatening calls at his hotel. Fearing for his safety, he booked a flight to New York, but was arrested at Dubai International Airport, he said. The State Department acknowledged his case. We remain alarmed by human rights violations and abuses in China and call on [Chinese] authorities to respect the fundamental freedoms to which their citizens are entitled consistent with Chinas international obligations and commitments, the Department told the Associated Press. The publicity of his situation has helped him regain freedom, he told The Epoch Times on Thursday when he was at the airport in Turkey, and a night before, he was transferred to an empty cell with handcuffs and shackles. The detainment changes my view of the CCP, he said in the latest tweet on Saturday. I used to call it an evil party, he continued. It is not a party. The CCP is a global terrorist organization, with the apparatus of the state. Gu Xiaohu and Ling Yun contributed to this report. Correction: A previous version of this article gave an incorrect immigration status for Wang Jingyu. The Epoch Times regrets the error. Brooklyn hosts the oldest Memorial Day Parade in the U.S., the Kings County Memorial Day Parade has been running for 147 years. (Sarah Le/The Epoch Times) A Vietnam Memorial: Remembering Heroes and Villains From an Unpopular Conflict Commentary Memorial Day ceremonies tend to feature World War II, with good reason. The Allies triumph over the Axis powers gave people cause to celebrate. Presidents who served in World War II include Dwight Eisenhower, commander of Allied forces, and George H.W. Bush, a pilot with Torpedo Squadron 51 (VT-51), who was shot down by the Japanese on his 58th mission, then rescued by a U.S. submarine. Bush was the last U.S. president with actual combat experience in World War II, and few veterans of that conflict remain. The time has come to focus on a conflict less popularthe war in Vietnam. Many questioned whether the United States should have entered the conflict, and most Americans, fair to say, agreed that Washington badly mismanaged the war. Even so, many American soldiers fought heroically. Consider, for example, Charles Chuck Mawhinney. Paratroopers assigned to 173rd Airborne Brigade conduct sniper training during Exercise Rock Sokol at Pocek Range in Postonja, Slovenia, on May 10, 2018. (U.S. Army photo by Graigg Faggionato) The Marine Corps sniper, born in 1949, deployed to Vietnam after the Tet Offensive and operated near Da Nang. When a Viet Cong force was marching toward the American base, Mawhinney volunteered to cover a shallow spot on a river where the enemy was expected to cross. With his Remington M40 sniper rifle, Mawhinney took down 16 Viet Cong, all within 30 seconds, at night and in bad weather. This feat wasnt a matter of chance. Mawhinney, whose father was a Marine Corps sniper in World War II, told American Rifleman in 2012, I started shooting at a very young age, and he taught me to shoot like the Marines taught him, so there wasnt any big transition from hunting in Oregon to becoming a sniper. Mawhinney joined the Marines right out of high school, graduated from Scout Sniper School at Camp Pendleton in April 1968, and then, it was on to Vietnam. There, Mawhinney recorded 103 confirmed kills with another 216 probables. Few people knew until fellow Marine sniper Joseph Ward mentioned Mawhinney in Dear Mom: A Snipers Vietnam, published in 1991. Mawhinney has never received the recognition he deserves, and neither has Col. Fred Cherry, the African American U.S. Air Force pilot who spent seven years as a prisoner of war (POW) in North Vietnam. Born in Suffolk, Virginia, Cherry experienced racial prejudice and segregation firsthand but didnt let it hold him back from achievement. He graduated from Virginia Union University in 1951 and joined the U.S. Air Force. A skilled pilot, Cherry would soon be flying combat missions over Stalinist North Vietnam. In 1965, Cherry was flying an F-105 fighter-bomber over North Vietnam when he took anti-aircraft fire and his plane exploded. He bailed out, suffered major injuries, and fell captive to the enemy. The North Vietnamese thought they had a real find and threw Cherry into a cell with Porter Halyburton, a white pilot from North Carolina. The communists hoped to stoke racial friction that would break down Cherry and make him a propaganda tool. The captors plan backfired. Halyburton duly attended to Cherrys wounds and watched over his black countryman around the clock. Cherry credited the white southerner with saving his life, and Halyburton thought Cherry had done the same for him. The two became lifelong friends, but, in captivity, both faced a hard road. The communists threw Cherry into solitary confinement for 702 days and the pilot endured punishment and torture for 93 straight days. By the time of his release in 1973, Cherry had racked up 2,671 days in captivity. Vietnam War veteran Robert Rosebrock stands in front of the Veteran Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System campus to protest uses of the campus he says does not serve veterans, on June 7, 2020. (Hau Nguyen/The Epoch Times) The story of Cherry and Halyburton emerged in Leading With Honor: Leadership Lessons from the Hanoi Hilton (2014) by U.S. pilot Lee Ellis. He had been shot down in November 1967 on a mission to destroy the guns that protected the Quang Khe ferry that supplied the Ho Chi Minh Trail. In the Hoa Lo prison, which POWs dubbed the Hanoi Hilton, Ellis learned firsthand about North Vietnam and its systematic torture of American POWs. As the author notes, the North Vietnamese tortured more than 95 percent of American POWs, including eight tortured to death. But the torture wasnt all physical. The captors piped in propaganda and, Ellis explains, the afternoon broadcasts were especially disheartening because they featured Americans spouting words that could have been written for them in Moscow and Hanoi. New Left icon Tom Hayden was a regular speaker, later joined by his wife, film star Jane Fonda. Ellis charitably calls them anti-war activists but they were nothing of the kind. Many Americans were against the conflict, but Hayden and Fonda wanted the North Vietnamese to win and the country to be unified under communism. Cherry died in February 2016, during Black History Month, but President Barack Obama didnt rush to honor him. Mawhinney is still around, and his lack of official recognition should come as no surprise. Unlike World War II, Vietnam veterans were vilified beyond measure and didnt get a memorial until the 1980s. The more than 58,000 names on that wall include 40,934 Americans killed in action. The people in power today arent worthy of carrying their shoes. Lloyd Billingsley is the author of Yes I Con: United Fakes of America, Barack em Up: A Literary Investigation, Hollywood Party, and other books. His articles have appeared in many publications, including Frontpage Magazine, City Journal, The Wall Street Journal, and American Greatness. Billingsley serves as a policy fellow with the Independent Institute. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Former Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett speaks at a news conference to talk about overseeing a 2020 election ballot audit ordered by the Arizona Senate, with ballot images displayed nearby, at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 22, 2021. (Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo) Arizona Senate Considering Expansion of Maricopa County 2020 Election Audit The Arizona Senate is mulling an expansion of the 2020 election audit taking place in Maricopa County. Senators are considering hiring a California-based nonprofit to analyze ballot images to create a third set of numbers to compare with the tabulation from Dominion Voting Systems machines and the hand recount being done by Cyber Ninjas, a Florida-based firm in charge of the current audit. If the plan is finalized, the Senate would pay $5,000. The rest of the money would be obtained through a grant or through private funding, Ken Bennett, the former Republican secretary of state who is the Arizona Senates liaison for the audit, told The Epoch Times. The firm being considered is a nonprofit called Citizens Oversight. The firm was brought to the attention of the Senate by John Brakey, a Democrat who works for Audit USA and is working as Bennetts assistant during the audit. Citizens Oversight uses what founder Ray Lutz describes as an audit engine, or a set of computers to tabulate the results from each ballot for all contests before comparing the numbers it generates with the official records. The review produces a discrepancy report. Basically, we do a total retabulation of the election, Lutz told The Epoch Times. The hand recount is focusing on only two races: the presidential election and the U.S. Senate race. Citizens Oversight would be using its technology to audit all the races that were on the ballot. While Bennett said the ballot image analysis would be finished before the hand count is done, Lutz wasnt certain that would be the case. He said it would depend on a number of factors, including the condition of the ballot images. Maricopa County ballots cast in the 2020 general election are audited at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, on April 29, 2021. (Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic via AP/Pool) Lutz confirmed that his team sent the state Senate a cost estimate but declined to make that figure public. The nonprofit has analyzed ballot images in various counties before but doesnt appear to have been officially contracted to do so. In one recent case, Lutzs team analyzed ballot images from three counties in Florida. Lutz visited Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona, where the audit is taking place, to observe firsthand how the process was going. He found it slow and cast doubt on the timeline. Bennett and Brakey told reporters at the arena on May 27 that more than 800,000 ballots have been counted. They said the process will be completed by June 30. The current audit started on April 23 and resumed last week after a break. It involves recounting the nearly 2.1 million ballots cast in Maricopa County in last years election. Workers are also examining election machines, including 385 tabulators. The Arizona Senate is paying $150,000 for the audit. Private funding, including from pro-Trump groups, is covering the rest of the cost. The total cost hasnt been disclosed. Democrats have largely opposed the audit, including Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs. She recently warned Maricopa County against using any of the audited machines in upcoming elections, citing security concerns about losing the chain of custody over the equipment when it was handed over to the auditors. An aged care home in Melbournes northwest is in lockdown after a COVID-positive worker became the states first mystery case of the outbreak. The Altona woman worked at Arcare Maidstone on Wednesday and Thursday and may have been infectious at the time. She sought testing as soon as she fell ill on Friday and was among five new locally-acquired cases reported in Victoria on Sunday. The facility has been placed into lockdown and residents are self-isolating, with authorities unsure how she picked up the virus. The woman, a healthcare provider in contact with aged care residents, was vaccinated on May 12. Unlike the states hotel quarantine employees, there is no requirement for Victorian aged care workers to get vaccinated. Some 110 staff work at Arcare Maidstone. Victorias COVID-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar said health officials would work with residents families as they attempt to prevent the virus spreading. Im concerned at this point we dont have an original acquisition source, he told reporters. My understanding is at this particular site half the residents were vaccinated and around a third of the staff were vaccinated. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt confirmed 53 of the 76 residents had consented to the jab and scheduled vaccinations at the facility were being brought forward from next week to Monday. We are encouraging all the residents and families of those who have not provided consent to reconsider and bring themselves forward, Hunt told reporters. Around the country, we have seen 85 per cent of residents in residential aged care facilities and 100 per cent of Victorian residential facilities, vaccinated so far. In a letter to families on Sunday, Arcare said the Maidstone facility had enough protective equipment to maintain patient support. The providers said they were well prepared for the lockdown. Of the other COVID-19 cases diagnosed on Saturday from 45,301 tests, two are linked to Stratton Finance in Port Melbourne and one was a customer at a South Melbourne Telstra store listed as an exposure site. The fourth case was identified late Saturday night and contact tracers are still interviewing. There are 49 active cases in Victoria, with authorities uncovering 4,000 primary close contacts to date. About 70 per cent of those people have tested negative so far. Most infections are currently linked to Melbournes City of Whittlesea cluster, with cases testing positive for the B1617 strain first identified in India. Acting Premier James Merlino again declined to comment on the status of the lockdown ending on Thursday night as planned, saying no decision has been made and no threshold exists to trigger such an extension. We are still in early days, he said. This is something that is evaluated every hour of every day. Masks are mandatory and residents can only leave home to shop for essentials, provide or receive care, exercise, work or study or to get vaccinated. Wait times at state-run vaccination centres eased on Sunday after the technical issues crippled booking systems. Despite some waiting up to six hours, 17,702 vaccinations were dolled out on Saturday. Meanwhile, Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas announced a A$250 million support package to help impacted businesses through the lockdown, which Treasury estimates will cost A$700 million. Mr Pallas lashed the federal government for declining to contribute. This idea that we are working hand in glove, when they have never put their hand in their pocket, is nothing short of a disgrace, he said. By Angelo Risso and Callum Godde Belarusian journalist, Aliaksei Shota, editor of Hrodna.life website poses for a photo in Grodno, Belarus, on Feb. 22, 2021. (AP Photo) Belarusian Editor Detained Amid Crackdown on Journalists KYIV, UkraineThe chief editor of a popular Internet news site in one of Belarus largest cities was detained and his residence searched amid a crackdown on independent journalists and opponents of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. Police said Sunday they were investigating Hrodna.life editor Aliaksei Shota on suspicion of extremism. The publication focuses on Belarus fifth-largest city Grodno. City police said the website posted information products that were duly recognized as extremist, but did not give details. The website said he was held by police for several hours before being released, and that computer hard drives were taken by police from his home. Shota has collaborated with the countrys most popular internet portal Tut.by, which authorities closed this month after arresting 15 employees. Belarus crackdown escalated a week ago with the arrest of dissident journalist Raman Pratasevich and his girlfriend who were aboard a commercial flight that was diverted to the Minsk airport because of an alleged bomb threat. The flight was flying over Belarus en route from Athens, Greece, to Vilnius, Lithuania. In this handout photo released by European Radio for Belarus, Belarus journalist Raman Pratasevich poses for a photo in front of euroradio.fm sign in Minsk, Belarus, on Nov. 17, 2019. (Euroradio via AP) The move sparked wide denunciation in the West as an act of hijacking and demands for Pratasevichs release. The European Union banned flights from Belarus. Pratasevich is charged with organizing riots, a charge that carries a potential sentence of 15 years. The day after his arrest, authorities released a brief video in which Pratasevich said he was confessing, but observers said the statement appeared to be forced. The Belarusian human rights group Viasna said Sunday that Pratasevich had received a package from his sister but that an unspecified book had been taken from it. Large protests broke out last August after a presidential election that officials said overwhelmingly gave a sixth term in office to Lukashenko, who has consistently repressed opposition since coming to power in 1994. Police detained more than 30,000 people in the course of the protests, which persisted for months. Although protests died down during the winter, authorities have continued strong actions against opposition supporters and independent journalists. Belgium Recalls South Korean Ambassador After Chinese Wife Slaps Shop Clerk Belgiums ambassador to South Korea has been recalled after his China-born wife slapped a shop assistant in Seoul, causing an uproar across the country. On May 28, Belgiums foreign ministry said in a statement that Foreign Affairs Minister Sophie Wilmes had decided to end Ambassador to South Korea Peter Lescouhiers tenure this summer, a post he has held for three years. In early April, Lescouhiers wife, Xiang Xueqiu, slapped a clerk in a clothing store in Seoul after the employee wrongfully accused her of shoplifting. The incident was caught by a security camera, and the footage was widely circulated on social media, drawing strong criticism of Xiangs behavior. South Korean police launched an assault investigation against Xiang. Some people called on South Korean President Moon Jae-in to expel the Belgian ambassador, and many people even went to the Belgian Embassy in South Korea to protest. On April 22, Lescouhier said that his wife, Xiang, was receiving treatment in the hospital due to a sudden stroke after the incident, and that the police investigation had been postponed. He officially apologized on his wifes behalf. However, some South Koreans werent satisfied with the apology. Public outrage was triggered again when news broke on May 18 that Xiang had claimed diplomatic immunity to avoid criminal charges for the assault. On May 28, the Belgian Embassy in South Korea posted on Facebook confirming that Xiang had met with and apologized to the two shop assistants involved in the incident in a private meeting after being discharged from the hospital. It added that at the request of South Korean police, Xiangs diplomatic immunity had been revoked and that she would fully cooperate with the police investigation, health permitting. However, South Korean media reported that according to South Korean foreign affairs officials, the Belgian governments revoking of diplomatic immunity was only limited to the police questioning that had already taken place and didnt mean that Xiang would be subject to further judicial procedures, such as court trials. It has, however, become clear that the current situation does not allow him to continue carrying out his role in a serene manner, Belgiums foreign ministry said regarding its decision to recall Lescouhier. Belgiums Minister of Foreign Affairs Sophie Wilmes holds a news conference after a meeting of the National Security Council amid the COVID-19 outbreak in Brussels, Belgium, on July 23, 2020. (Dirk Waem/Pool via Reuters) This year marks the 120th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between Belgium and South Korea. Wilmes and the Belgian government expressed in the statement that they highly valued the long-term friendship based on firm political and economic ties between the two countries. It has been reported that Xiang was born in Beijing in 1958 and worked in the Chinese communist regimes foreign affairs office. She met Lescouhier in China. The news of the Belgium ambassadors recall has been a hot topic in China. A Chinese netizen commented: Even though the clerk made a mistake, [Xiang] shouldnt have gone behind the counter to slap her. Thats not dignified behavior befitting a diplomats wife. Its not the first time that Chinese have behaved wildly in other countries. Another said, Shes blown her own cover, while in another post, someone blamed the lack of refined behavior among many Chinese on the destruction of traditional Chinese customs and values under communist rule. Todays culture in mainland China under the Chinese Communist Party is nothing like the traditional Chinese civilization, they said. Other comments speculated on the mentality behind the wifes aggression. The wolf warrior mentality has been deeply implanted in the hearts of Chinese people, one person said. Another commented, The Chinese Dama is still a communist bandit in her bones even though she changed her nationality. People hold up placards in support of the Black Lives Matter movement in a file photo (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images) Black Lives Matter St. Paul Founder Says He Resigned After Learning the Ugly Truth A Black Lives Matter chapter founder in Minnesota has resigned, claiming that the organization isnt concerned about helping black communities or helping improve the education quality in Minneapolis, according to a video published last week. Rashard Turner, the founder of a Black Lives Matter chapter in neighboring St. Paul, said he started the branch in 2015 but became disillusioned roughly a year after becoming an insider within the left-wing organization, according to a video released by TakeChargea group that rejects various provisions promoted by Black Lives Matter, including critical race theory-linked claims that the United States is inherently racist. After a year on the inside, I learned they had little concern for rebuilding black families, and they cared even less about improving the quality of education for students in Minneapolis, Turner said in the video. That was made clear when they publicly denounced charter schools alongside the teachers union. I was an insider in Black Lives Matter. And I learned the ugly truth. The moratorium on charter schools does not support rebuilding the black family. But it does create barriers to a better education for black children. I resigned from Black Lives Matter after a year and a half. But I didnt quit working to improve black lives and access to a great education. Representatives for Black Lives Matter didnt respond to a request for comment by press time. Approximately a year after George Floyds death in Minneapolis, support for the group has plummeted in the United States, according to a recent poll from Morning Consult. Only 48 percent hold favorable views about the organization, down from 61 percent last May. A USA Today survey found that 36 percent of Americans now would describe Floyds death as a murder, down from 60 percent last summer. A poll in May conducted by the newspaper revealed that the Black Lives Matter call to defund the police has even less support, with only 18 percent of respondents supporting it. It comes amid recent controversies surrounding Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of the organization who resigned after a series of reports about her real estate portfolio and finances. Following the reports publication last month, Cullors asserted that she didnt misuse any donations to Black Lives Matter. In a statement last week, Cullorsa self-described trained Marxistsaid, With smart, experienced, and committed people supporting the organization during this transition, I know that BLMGNF is in good hands The foundations agenda remains the sameeradicate white supremacy and build life-affirming institutions. Cullors told The Associated Press that her departure was planned more than a year in advance and wasnt related to the reports about her finances and her multiple homes, claiming they were right-wing attacks meant to defame her character. A shipment of the "Virus Shut Out" products, which are marketed to protect against COVID-19 and contain the hazardous pesticide Chlorine Dioxide, was seized in Nogales, Ariz., on April 16, 2021. (Courtesy of Customs and Border Protection) Border Officers Seize 30,000 Made-in-China Necklaces Claiming to Provide Protection From COVID-19 U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers recently seized 30,000 fraudulent Chinese-made necklaces that claimed to protect wearers from COVID-19. The agents described the Virus Shut Out necklaces as similar to lanyards with a blue packet on them; the packets were filled with chlorine dioxide, which the packaging claims would create an anti-bacterial cloud that keeps the virus away when worn around the neck. However, prolonged exposure to chlorine dioxide can pose health and safety risks. Side effects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, include severe breathing difficulties and eye, nose, and throat irritation. Border officials discovered the necklaces in a tractor-trailer bound for Mexico at the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona, the CBP announced in a May 27 statement. The shipment contained three pallets of necklaces, which the CBP had seized for violating federal pesticide laws. CBPs Pharmaceuticals Centers for Excellence and Expertise said the necklaces carry a total value of $479,700, or roughly $16 each. The agency also seized items from the trailer with counterfeit trademarks, including T-shirts, footwear, and textiles, which they estimate to be worth approximately $24,000. While the discovery took place on April 16, the agency didnt make it public until May 27. A shipment of the Virus Shut Out products, which are marketed to protect against COVID-19 and contain the hazardous pesticide Chlorine Dioxide, was seized in Nogales, Ariz., on April 16, 2021. (Courtesy of Customs and Border Protection) The back of the product also contains 16 warnings. Wearers shouldnt put the necklaces in their underwear, should avoid direct skin contact with them, and shouldnt use them while sleeping, the packaging says. It noted that the effectiveness of this product is subject to conditions of usage, and cautioned individuals to be careful with your clothes as this product has the function of bleaching. The manufacturer of the product is Yiwu Haoyi Biotechnology Co. Ltd., from Yiwu City in Zhejiang, a coastal province and a major manufacturing hub in the country. The company doesnt appear to have a website in either Chinese or English. China has been a major source of fake goods coming into the U.S. market. Department of Homeland Security data has shown that the CBP made 27,599 seizures of counterfeit items in the 2019 fiscal year, of which 48 percent originated from China, followed by 35 percent from Hong Kong. Customs and Border Protection noted that this counterfeit mask from China, seized on April 7, 2021, infringes on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) trademark. (Customs and Border Protection) China has accounted for approximately 51 percent of counterfeit or substandard COVID-19 related products from October 2019 to Sept. 30 of last year. This includes over 12.7 million masks and more than 177,000 unapproved virus test kits. Over the past two months, the CBP also seized fake currencies totaling $685,000 from China, as well as over 171,000 fraudulent Chinese N95 masks being shipped to New York state. The CBP warns that phony products tend to be of inferior quality. Peeling labels, low-quality ink or printing errors on the packaging, and loosely packed items in the box can be signs that the product you purchased may not be legitimate, it stated. For apparel and handbags, consumers may tell a fake one from genuine by its poor stitching and improperly sized or designed logos, while counterfeit electronics often have a short battery life and regular overheating, the CBP said. The simple rule of thumb is to remember that if the price of a product seems too good to be true, it probably is. California Democrat Rep. Says She Sleeps With Gun Next to Bed After Death Threats A Democratic U.S. House member from California said she now sleeps with a gun next to her bed after receiving death threats following comments she made that were critical of the governments of El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala. Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.), who was born in Guatemala and came to the United States as a child, says people have staked out her house after she lambasted the three Central American countries governments for official corruption and not doing enough to help their citizens. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times last week, the California lawmaker said El Salvador President Nayib Bukele created a campaign to flood her district with calls and harass her staffers. Her social media pages may have also been targeted, with supporters of Bukele allegedly sending her hateful images, negative messages, and death threats, Torres said, adding that she now sleeps with a gun nearby. I never thought it would get to this point, but I have to protect myself in my home, Torres said, according to Fox Los Angeles. On March 31, she wrote a comment on Twitter that was critical of the governments of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemalacollectively known as the Northern Trianglestating their policies are forcing citizens to migrate. This is a great shame to the governments of #Guatemala#Honduras#ElSalvador your compatriots deserve governments that are truly committed to fighting corruption and drug trafficking! Torres wrote on March 31, according to a Spanish-to-English translation while linking to a story about smugglers who dropped a 3-year-old and 5-year-old child from the U.S.Mexico border wall. It drew a response from Bukele, who suggested Torres got her facts wrong. Look maam, did you read that the children are from ECUADOR and not from EL SALVADOR? In addition, this occurred on the border of Mexico with the United States. What does El Salvador have to do with this? You should use a portion of your financiers check to buy glasses, Bukele responded a day later, according to a translation. Torres panned Bukeles policies on that same day, likening him to narcissistic dictators, linking to an article about migrants from El Salvador having drowned in Mexico. Neither Torress office nor the El Salvador embassy in Washington responded to a request for comment by press time. The Biden administration has come under bipartisan fire in recent weeks for what critics have called a failure to handle the border crisis. According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, agents witnessed more than 178,000 attempted illegal crossings in April. A wave of unaccompanied children attempting to cross the border has prompted the administration to open new Border Patrol and Department of Health and Human Services facilities to house them. Two Sergeants Retiring from Sheriff's Departments By West Kentucky Star Staff MAYFIELD, MURRAY - Two area law enforcement officers are retiring this week.Graves County Sheriff Jon Hayden thanked Sgt. David Warner for his service to the citizens of Mayfield, Graves County and the Commonwealth of Kentucky over the past 22 years.Hayden said, "Those that know Sgt. Warner knows that he is a man of honor and integrity, and always brightens up our workdays with a little humor. His service to our community wasnt limited to his work with the Sheriffs Office as he also serves as the Chief of the Graves County Fire and Rescue Squad."Calloway County Sheriff Nicky Knight says Sgt. Charges Tidwell is retiring. A US Army veteran, Tidwell began serving the county as Deputy Jailer in 1996, was hired by the sheriff's office in 2003, and was promoted to Sergeant in 2008.Knight said, "A review of his career reveals many commendations from the public for going the extra mile to serve them in their time of need. Most notably, in 2011 Sergeant Tidwell responded to a residential fire on McElrath Road in northern Calloway County. He wasthe first responder on scene and could hear someone calling for help inside. Sergeant Tidwell broke a window, entered the burning house, and rescued the resident."Both sheriffs encouraged everyone to congratulate and thank these men for their service their communities.(A photo of Tidwell was not available) A Hikvision camera is presented at an electronic mall for selling in Beijing on May 24, 2019. (Fred Dufour/AFP via Getty Images) Chinese Company Hikvision Confirms Its Controlled by Chinas Military Industrial Complex The worlds largest video surveillance company Hikvision is currently listed as a threat to U.S. national security. The companys newly released annual report shows that a Chinese military industrial group is its controller. In the past two years, Hikvision has been blacklisted by Washington authorities because of its relationship with Chinese military and the security risk it brought to the United States. Hikvision previously denied its connection with the Chinese military and asked the White House to allow it to do business in the U.S. market. To protect the United States homeland and the American people, I hereby declare a national emergency with respect to this threat [from Hikvision and several other blacklisted Chinese military related companies], then-U.S. President Donald Trump announced in his executive order against Hikvision on Nov. 17, 2020. On April 24, Hikvision published its 2020 annual report (pdf), listing China Electronics Technology Group Ltd. (CETC) is its actual controller. CETC is one of the major Chinese military industrial groups, and is Chinas largest electronics defense contractor. Under the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime, all military industrial groups have to obey the orders of the regime. Threat Hikvision is believed to bring a security threat to the United States, collecting surveillance data from equipment that they supplied to the United States, and helping the Chinese military to develop weapons. Hikvision has been found to pose an unacceptable risk to U.S. national security or the security and safety of U.S. persons, the Federal Communication Commissions Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau said in a statement on March 12. The FCC pointed out that Hikvision collects details of Americans lives, such as work, school, and health care. Hikvision, whose full name is Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co. Ltd., was founded in 2001. The company supplies complete surveillance systems that use video cameras, radar, sensors and drones to collect data, and uses video and audio processing technologies, artificial intelligence, and big data to analyze the data collected. Hikvision has participated in the CCPs Orwellian style surveillance networkSkynet and its sub-project Dazzling Snow that only covers rural areas since the dictatorship first planned it in early 2000s. With the business expanding, Hikvisions equipment surveils not only Chinese people, but also those who live in free countries. In February, Thomson Reuters Foundation released an exclusive report showing that 28 of the 32 London borough councils used technologies that were supplied by Hikvision. The companys 2020 annual report stated, Hikvision has established 19 regional function centers overseas, with 66 branches under it providing services to 155 countries and regions. Hikvision headquarters in Hangzhou, in eastern Chinas Zhejiang province, on May 22, 2019. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Ties to CCPs Military Hikvision has close connections with the CCP and its military, not only in the companys management, but also in its business. Chen Zongnian, chairman of Hikvision and representative of the 52nd Institute of CETC, is also a CCP representative within Hikvision, according to the company. Qu Liyang, director of Hikvisions innovation division, is also a CCP representative in the company. And the company operates under the monitoring of a party committee. Hikvisions official website posted the CCPs activities in the company regularly. The main subject of these posts is the same, which is upholding and improving the CCPs leadership. Hikvisions controlling company CETC is part of the Chinese military industrial complex. China has 10 military industrial complexes, which cover nuclear weapons, aerospace, ships and vessels, tanks, armored vehicles, ammunition, and electronics. CETC is the only electronics military industrial complex. Its products equip all Chinese armed forces, including telecommunication systems, radar, software, hardware, command and control systems, and surveillance systems that cover the ocean, aerospace, cyberspace, and other areas, according to Chinese media outlet Military Aviation Research. Hikvision itself gave examples of how the company is involved in Chinese defense on its website. Hikvision cameras are on sale at an electronic mall in Beijing on May 24, 2019. (Fred Dufour/AFP via Getty Images) Li Yanxiang is a Hikvision engineer. He represented the company, working closely with several weapons experts from the General Armament Department of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), as well as combat units commanders, to develop weapons and then wrote an article that was published on Hikvisions official website on March 18, 2015. Li said that PLA soldiers shot missiles based on their experiences and those learned from others, which werent accurate and caused some missiles to miss the targets during the drills. Li then suggested developing a new system to improve the accuracy of missiles by using surveillance technology. [We should] use the surveillance cameras to capture the moment when the missile reaches the target or misses the target, and collect the wind speed as well as the temperature and air humidity. Then we can calculate whether the angle of incidence is correct and in which angle the missile has the strongest force of penetration/lethality, Li wrote. Li said the surveillance system also needs to collect data on the land where the soldiers shoot the missile and where the target is, the radius of the explosion, and whether a missile is dumped. The surveillance system should capture the details of the moment when the missile/rocket/cannonball hit the target, and record the explosion. Then with professional ballistic trajectory analysis software, we can have accurate data of the angle of incidence [and all the other data], Li said. He then talked briefly about the surveillance system that Hikvision would supply. We need to use high-speed cameras, which can capture at least 200 to 500 frames per second. With a lot of the footage, we need to build a local memory server and power supply. In the article, Li mentioned ground-to-air missiles, ground-to-ground missiles that shoot from fixed launchers, and ground-to-ground missiles that shoot from moving launchers. City on Fire: Over Half of LA County Blazes Caused by Homeless Los Angeles is set ablaze up to 24 times a day. The cause? Thousands of homeless encampments. This year, fires started in homeless encampments have accounted for 54 percent of the blazes battled by the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), according to officialsa sharp uptick compared to 2020. As the county grapples with more than 66,000 people living on its streets, critics are pointing to the growing number of fires caused by the homeless as another indication that officials are mishandling the crisis. And in parts of the city where the homeless are concentrated, residents and business owners say their concerns are not being heard. LAFD Capt. Erik Scott told The Epoch Times that potential hazards in encampments come from warming and cooking fires, particularly on cold nights. One of our concerns is fires in tents where people experiencing homelessness are sleepingwhere they could be injured or even dieand fires that start against a building and spread into the structure, Scott said. Flames from those fires can spread into the brush in wildland areas, or to nearby buildings in urban areas or inside vacant buildings. He said potential fire hazards increase significantly on windy days, when the flames can spread rapidly. Using open flame to cook in any enclosed spaces, especially tight quarters like tents, can easily catch the tent or belongings inside on fire, said Scott. In addition, toxic smoke gases can asphyxiate the tents occupants, knocking them out or killing them. LAFD Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas recently walked through the Skid Row area in downtown L.A. with representatives from nearby business districts to discuss their concerns about encampments. The LAFD now has our Downtown-based Fast Response Vehicle on duty six days per week to service the Skid Row area, Scott said. He described the vehicle as a quad-cab pickup truck equipped with a 300-gallon fire-suppression tank that can quickly extinguish fires while small. But not all fires caused by the homeless are small: In the wealthy enclave of Pacific Palisades, a homeless person was charged May 18 with committing arson attacks that ignited a 1,158-acre brush fire. The suspect allegedly ignited the blaze repeatedly, according to witnesses in an LAFD helicopter. The issue is citywide, Scott said. Multiple agencies and departments have separate roles regarding the homeless, based upon their agencys jurisdiction. The LAFD is now working closely with both city and county partners to address the encampment fires. After the Pacific Palisades suspect was arrested, L.A. Councilmember Mike Bonin responded on Twitter. Arson is a crime committed by a person, and not by their housing status, Bonin wrote. Suggesting the suspects housing status is a contributing factor to the crime is irresponsible, and implies other people experiencing homelessness are inherently more dangerous or more likely to commit arson than housed people. Burned items are found along the 91 Freeway near the area where a homeless man died after starting a fire, in Anaheim, Calif., on April 21, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) A man on an electric scooter drives past the site of a building that was torched by homeless individuals, in Venice Beach, Calif., on Jan. 27, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Venice Beach One L.A. neighborhood in particular experiences these fires too often: Venice Beach. The world-renowned tourist destinationwith an estimated 30,000 visitors per dayis now crippled with crime, drugs, fires, and homeless tents piled on top of each other. Many of the tents have propane tanks and camping stoves inside, used by the homeless for cooking or warmth. Needles, feces, and other discarded hazardous items are regularly found on the nearby sand. The deterioration of the neighborhood has impacted local businesses. People from around the world are canceling their hotel reservations in the area, according to Venice Chamber of Commerce President George Francisco, who said hes received firsthand accounts from local hotel owners. People see the news stories, and they just cancel, Francisco told The Epoch Times. Or when youre looking for hotel rooms and you see the coverage how could any of these places stay in business? Francisco said city officials havent offered any solutions to protect businesses and residents. He used to stay in touch with Bonin, he said, but the councilman hasnt responded to him in four yearsdespite multiple letters sent to officials sounding the alarm on the homelessness issue affecting businesses on the boardwalk. No one is trying to solve this problem [because it would] cripple the largest financial business in Venice, which is social services, Francisco said, pointing to Bonins policies that address homelessness by creating more emergency shelters, which then contract nonprofits to operate them. Bonin, who did not respond to The Epoch Times request for comment, championed the neighborhoods first bridge housing facility. Residents have told The Epoch Times previously that the facility doesnt work, and only serves to attract more transients and trash. The Wild Wild West Videos are shared daily on social media by a local neighborhood watchdog group that show the disorder on the Venice boardwalk. In early May, the group posted a video that showed an encampment erupting in flames. Another video, shared later in the month, shows two homeless people physically assaulting one another while a dog gets caught in the middle. Sadly, animal abuse and neglect are common in the boardwalk encampments, according to the caption. Another video, posted to Twitter on May 20, shows two individuals in a fistfight in front of the Venice Beach Bar. Who needs MMA [mixed martial arts] when we have the Venice Boardwalk? the posting states. The caption concludes by thanking Councilmember Bonin, whose district includes Venice. Luis Perez, the bars general manager, told The Epoch Times the incident was what locals call street justice. The fight started because one of the men, who lives in a nearby encampment, was allegedly abusing his girlfriend, he said. Perez said similar incidents take place weeklyand the bar is suffering because of them. Theyre definitely feeling a loss of business, because you know, tourists dont want to be here, he said. If they do come here, they pass right through, and go to Santa Monica or Marina Del Rey instead. The regulars who hang around the area have started to call it the Wild Wild West, he said, where theres no control. Perez said he has seen around 10 fires in encampments located on the boardwalk only two blocks from the bar. There was a womanI havent seen her in a long timeshe was definitely suffering from mental illness issues. I came into the bar one morning and the fire trucks were out, and apparently she had said she was playing with something, and she hit a fire off, he said. He said the situation gets worse when the weather gets colder and people try to keep warm within the encampments. Its very unsanitary, very violent, he said. We try to tell our councilman all of us, all the restaurant owners down here. Theres a group of us that are constantly sending videos and asking for help, and we have no police presence because the police department [has] been defunded. Before the pandemic, the boardwalk would see police presence every 10 to 15 minutes, Perez said. Now, a whole day will go by without seeing any officers patrolling the boardwalk. These are troubled times for us down here in the business district, he said. Its really sad, and were all struggling to try to keep up, keep people wanting to come back, and come in and feel safe. Perez said there had always been unhoused people in the area, ever since the bar opened in 2016. The difference between then and now, he said, is that he knew them all by name. They were transients who played music, created art on the boardwalk, and sold other goods. There were no tents allowed, per the city code. But during the pandemic, Bonin declared the boardwalk a sanctuary zoneand Perez said he saw homeless people being bussed in from other cities. All the people who actually were here for years went away, because I havent seen anyone who used to be around here, he said, adding that it wasnt long before he didnt recognize anyone. I do realize that as a situation we got to find a place to help these people out, but I personally just dont believe that a beautiful state park in a business district is the right place to allow for that to be a sanctuary area, he said. An LAFD paramedic responds to an emergency on the Venice Boardwalk, in Venice Beach, Calif., on Jan. 27, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) A homeless man sleeps on a bench in the Venice neighborhood of Los Angeles on Jan. 27, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Putting Out Fires The fires in Venice Beach have become such a threat that the LAFD has allocated one special fire vehicle to patrol the area four days a week. The vehicle is a unique, fully equipped paramedic unit with a 150-gallon water tank, according to Scott. Since it is a smaller size vehicle, that allows us to get around quicker than a traditional larger engine, he said. But for some residents, its too little, too late. In April, a womans home burned down, and the fire killed her dog. The suspect, accused of throwing something onto the roof, was a homeless person living in one of the encampments. On Ocean Front Walk, where visitors stroll the boardwalk, an empty space has been fenced off between two businesses. The lot was once the site of a commercial buildinguntil January, when homeless encampments next to it caught fire. The building burnt to the ground in the early hours of the morning. The destruction caused by homeless fires has resulted in millions of dollars in damages, according to the L.A. Times. Francisco suggested small business owners on Venice Beach forced to put up with the problems caused by the homeless should be taken into consideration. You have basically 70 percent of all visitors coming to Venice, going to Ocean Front Walk and the boardwalk, which is predominantly populated by shops but they are small, four to 12 person operationsand there is something that should be cherished about that, Francisco said. Theres never been city abetted, you know, small business aid in this council district. Theres plenty of operations that are given money to, quote unquote, help solve the homeless problem. There seems to be no lack of effort for that. According to the Venice Chamber of Commerce, Venice is the second largest tourist attraction in Southern California, behind only Disneyland, with 62 percent of visitors having an average income over $50,000. The businesses they visit, mainly T-Shirt and other pop-up shops, have been under constant siege due to COVID-19 restrictions and other financial challenges, Francisco saidand that was before the threat of homeless encampments and fires. Teetering on the Brink Klaus Moeller is a small business owner on the boardwalk. His Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream shop opened in 2018, but he arrived in Venice 11 years earlier. Loved the grungy feel of Venice, and of course the 14 million or so tourists that came each year, Moeller told The Epoch Times. It was such a fun place for us to spread happiness and loveplus employ 20 local kidspretty much all of them minorities. But after struggling through the pandemic and its restrictions, his business is now on the brink of closing. Though his landlords have reduced the rent to help the shop survive, Moeller said its losing money every month. The homeless encampments right outside the shop deterred customers even before the pandemic, he said. But when the stay-at-home orders began last year, Bonin allowed encampments to congregate on the boardwalk. In order to house maybe 200 people, of whom I think maybe 30 are actual Venice homeless, the #2 tourist attraction in SoCal has been ruined. How is that fair to local tax paying business operators and residents? Moeller asked in an email. We have fires, shootings, stabbings and robberies. It is insanity. A hotel on the boardwalk has been turned into a homeless shelter. That means less tourists can stay here and support the shops and restaurants. Moeller said the area has been overrun by two competing gangs that are selling drugs to transients. According to news reports, gang activity in the area has been relatively common in recent years, and one woman was murdered last December in a gang-related shooting near Moellers business. The amount of crime is so out of hand that it is literally not possible for the police to deal with, he said. Take care of the root of the problem, and stop inviting transients from all over the world to move here. Charity begins at home. Take care of the Venice residents. A nurse prepares the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, at the West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen in Wales, on April 7, 2021. (Jacob King/PA) COVID Vaccines Must Be Incredibly Safe Before Use on Children: UK Minister The UKs medicines regulator and scientific advisers still have to look very carefully at whether COVID jabs can be offered to children, the vaccines minister has said. Appearing on Sky News, Nadhim Zahawi was asked why the UK has not followed in the footsteps of the European Medicines Agency, which has recommended the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine be extended to children aged 12 to 15. Zahawi replied: Our own regulator has not yet approved giving vaccines to children. You have to make sure the vaccines are incredibly safe before you give them to children. Zahawi said the Pfizer jab has also been approved by regulators in the United States and Canada for use on 12 to 15-year-olds. He said the UKs own Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises UK health departments on immunisation, would have to look very carefully at the issue. Experts have said deciding whether to give children jabs is a question that requires balancing the wider benefits against the direct ones for youngsters. Zahawi explained that while some children can get infected or develop long COVID, on the whole you are vaccinating to protect their families and their communities and the country. He added: So the vaccines have to be incredibly safe before you administer them to children. He said the infrastructure is in place to jab children in the UK if required, but clinicians have to make that final decision. JCVI member Maggie Wearmouth told LBC that it had only recently received a written request from Health Secretary Matt Hancock to look at the issue of vaccinating children. She declined to give a specific date on when the JCVI was written to, adding: We have not formulated a response yet, put it that way. She said: We have had one or two conversations but we have not formulated a formal view. Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the JCVI, said on Saturday it is likely to set out a range of options for the Government on the potential immunisation of children. He said experts need to weigh up ethical issues when considering options such as immunising children on the basis of risk, for educational purposes or to protect others in the population. Harnden said vaccines do help with COVID-19 transmission but only to a certain extent, and therefore I dont think we will be able to vaccinate children to prevent huge amounts of transmission within the community. Professor Peter Openshaw, from Imperial College London and a member of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), which advises the Government, said the emergence of new coronavirus variants could influence the decision on whether to vaccinate children. Speaking to Times Radio in a personal capacity, he said there are debates about the possible risks of very, very rare complications associated with vaccination, which had to be balanced against the certainty that someone can get very severe complications by catching COVID. He added: It may well be that actually giving children vaccines will become a clearer option once we know more about the disease in children and whether the new variants are spreading further into the pediatric population and causing more significant disease. That could certainly change the risk-benefit ratio. Openshaw said the UK has placed an emphasis on public health benefits and therefore vaccinating those who may be transmitting disease, sometimes unknowingly, is a perfectly good justification for vaccination. He added: The new variants extending further down the age range and being of quite high prevalence even in children as young as four, it may be that actually children and school children are going to be a more important part of the transmission chain as the virus becomes more transmissible as new variants arise. The benefits might change and that might affect the decision about whether to vaccinate children in the future. By Tom Pilgrim Critical Race Theory Update: Et Tu, Williamson County? Commentary Williamson County? Never heard of it. Whats the big deal? Well, a lot. Williamson County, Tennessee, is what you might call Republican Heaven. Just south of Democrat-stronghold Nashville, much of it is a gorgeous suburb, home to the likes of country star Luke Bryan of American Idol fameon a 150-acre estateand Sen. Marsha Blackburn. Its county seat, Franklin, has a downtown straight out of an updated version of Norman Rockwell, the kind of place you can get both great barbecue and haute cuisine. That small city and county are growing like crazy, in large part because they are also supposed to have one of the best public school systems in the country. Supposed to. Moms for Liberty I had lunch the other day with two Williamson women who have just formed that countys branch of a new movement for parental rightsmostly focused on schoolscalled Moms for Liberty. Their chapter is growing even faster than Williamson County itself because they, and many others, are angry about what was going on in those very schools. You might even say furious. One of the women, local founder Robin Steenman, is a retired Air Force officer who piloted B-1 bombers over Afghanistan. The other, Lori Friedheim, a Filipina American UCBerkeley graduate in the sciences, is the chapters director of research. Friedheim and her husband, who had been living in a San Francisco suburb and were fed up with the deteriorating lifestylenot to mention the taxesdecided to move to Franklin because, after an extensive online search, they determined it to have the best schools of anywhere in all the low taxneedless to say redstates. She was in for a shock, as was Robin Steenman who also had children in the school system. While Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee and the heavily Republican Legislature trumpet their resistance to critical race theory in the states educational system, the reality on the ground is, as the French say, toute autre chosesomething else again. Life isnt always what you see on Hannity. Happening Everywhere Before going into the details of whats being taughtand has been for several yearsin those schools, I want to reiterate why I wrote Et Tu, Williamson County. If this type of propaganda can take over the elementary schools in a place with such an educated, well-to-do, largely conservative populace, its undoubtedly happening everywhere, or nearly everywhere, in the public schools and most of the private and parochial schools of this country. Many think our country is already changing rapidly in front of our eyes, but nowhere is it changing more rapidly, and in a Marxist direction, than in our schools. That will produce the end of the United States of America as we know it as surely and as quickly as anything. In fact, it already has. Its not a question of just stopping this. Its a question of rolling back what has already happened. Critical race theorythe concept that we are all permanently defined by our skin color, and not our characterhas been in schools for years in an only slightly covert manner. Injustice for Second Graders And, as Steenman explained to me, its getting worsethat is, more overtin Williamson County. In March 2020, their school board approved a curriculum called Wit and Wisdom, which consists of seemingly harmless things, published by an outfit named Great Minds, LLC. In this case, they really do think alike! Heres only a sampling of what Williamson second graders7- and 8-year-oldsare in for starting in August with Wit and Wisdom. As you look at this, remember that this is the curriculum and manner through which, for months, these children are also being taught reading, writing, arithmetic, science, history, civics, art, music, and so forth: Lesson 1: Point out the word injustice. Explain that unfair and injustice mean the same thing. Injustice is a stronger word. Explain how real people respond to injustice. Explore the word injustice. Reread how real people respond to injustice? Leave posted reference throughout the module. Echo read: What injustices did people face before the Civil Rights Act of 1964? Point to the word injustice. Remind the class of the meaning of this word injustice. Explain read people fighting injustice. Show students the images. What do you notice about the images? Share observations. Remind the meaning of injustice. Develop a non-verbal signal for injustice. OK, you get the picture. It goes on for another dozen or so similar bullet pointsand this is only Lesson 1but I cant resist one more because it makes clear the unremittingly depressing nature of this curriculum. 15. Lesson on prefixes: injustice, unequal, inequality, unfair. Couldnt they think of any positive prefixes for their lesson? How about supercalifragilisticexpialidocious? Oh, I forgot. Mary Poppins is upbeat and white. Definitely not in the curriculum and unacceptable for todays second graders. Eugene Bull Connor, not surprisingly, is. The images referred to above for comment by the second graders are almost entirely black-and-whites from the early civil rights period, showing black people being hosed by vicious whites with signs like We want white tenants in our white community and We wont [go to school with negroes]that last held by a proudly grinning white boy. One of the images contained the n-word scrawled on a wall, something, I was told, none of the children even knew until then, naturally color blind as they were. Who says you never learn anything in school? Creates Division But how do 7- and 8-year-olds react to all this continually downbeat, violent material, emphasizing racial division above all, for hours and days on end? There are reports of growing numbers of children in therapy, plus an increasing suicide rate abounds, though some of it is due to COVID-19 as well. But I heard a personal story that affected me particularly deeply. I was at a recent, surprisingly well-attended Moms for Liberty meeting in Franklin, at which an immigrant woman from Thailand, married to a Caucasian, spoke. She read aloud a lengthy, heartfelt letter she wrote to Williamson County School Superintendent Jason Golden about the severe educational and emotional disturbances her mixed-race 7-year old son suffered from attending one of their schools. To his parents consternation, the boy ended up despising his white half. I quote her, in part: The story of Dr. King and his I have a Dream speech is beautiful and uplifting. This is the world my child lived in until now. He was color blind. But this curriculum has changed that. It is far more harmful than helpful. It depresses him. It is dark and divisive. It paints a world with only white and black people. It paints a picture of poor black people being attacked by evil white people. Even more problematic, the teacher would not accept the non-racial, color blind answer from our son to a question she asked. So, the teacher asked again and again, looking for a different (acceptable) answer. Years ago, during Soviet times, I visited a Young Communist League Training School in Crimea. They used a similar method. The mother concluded: We expect 2nd graders to be learning basic educational concepts and not be force fed story after story of racial aggressions and evils committed in the past. This is not how we create a better world for our children. This curriculum only highlights race and creates further division among the new generation. We want our child to be colorblind and value people for who they are and not the color of their skin or for past evils or mistakes that other people made in history. Amen to that. Child Abuse What that mother wrote goes for all children, although those of mixed race clearly have a special problemand there is an increasing number of those. We can conclude that critical race theory and all its evil spawn in various curricula, such as those permeating the vaunted Williamson County schools, are little more than a form of child abuse, one so extreme that it promises to tear our country apart. Indeed, that is its not-so-hidden intention, given in its provenance in earlier schools of Marxism and critical theory. And its succeeding all too well. As I said, if its happening in Williamson, its probably happening everywhere. These Moms for Liberty are part of the solution, a big part since theyre motivated by that strong natural urge for mothers to protect their children. And theyve got a lot to protect them from these days. This is a movement to applaud and strengthen as they are the ones who could really make our educational system, and therefore our country, great again. They already have a number of chapters. Locally, perhaps the mother from Thailand and Golden should switch roles. Roger L. Simon is an award-winning novelist, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, co-founder of PJMedia, and now, editor-at-large for The Epoch Times. His most recent books are The GOAT (fiction) and I Know Best: How Moral Narcissism Is Destroying Our Republic, If It Hasnt Already (nonfiction). He can be found on Parler as @rogerlsimon Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Scott Peterson is escorted by two San Mateo County Sheriff deputies to a waiting van in Redwood City, Calif., on March 17, 2005. (Justin Sullivan via AP/Pool/File) DA Wont Seek New Death Sentence Against Scott Peterson SACRAMENTOA California district attorney said in a court filing Friday that she wont seek a new death sentence against Scott Peterson, convicted in 2005 of murdering his pregnant wife. The Stanislaus County district attorneys office said it would drop efforts to restore the penalty thrown out last year by the state Supreme Court. The DA said the decision was made in consultation with Laci Petersons family. The California justices ruled the death sentence couldnt stand because potential jurors were excluded after saying they disagreed with the death penalty. The family has no doubt Peterson killed his wife and unborn son Conner and deserves the death penalty but doesnt want to pursue that punishment because this process is simply too painful to endure once again, District Attorney Birgit Fladager said her filing in San Mateo Superior Court. Peterson, now 48, was convicted in the San Mateo court after his trial was moved from Stanislaus County due to the massive pre-trial publicity that followed the Christmas Eve 2002 disappearance of 27-year-old Laci, who was eight months pregnant. The gravesite of Laci and Conner Peterson is adorned with flowers and stuffed animals at Burwood Cemetery in Escalon, Calif., on March 17, 2005. (Al Golub/File/AP Photo) Investigators say Peterson took the bodies from their Modesto home and dumped them from his fishing boat into San Francisco Bay, where they surfaced months later. Peterson maintains his innocence and a judge is considering whether to grant a new trial because a juror failed to disclose that she had sought a restraining order in 2000 against her boyfriends ex-girlfriend. She said in seeking the order that she feared for her unborn child. The judge must decide if that amounted to juror misconduct, and if so, whether it was so prejudicial that a new trial is warranted. If no new trial is granted, he will be sentenced to life imprisonment. One of Petersons attorneys said the announcement is not a precursor to a plea deal and that his client will seek a new trial if a judge decides his first one was tainted by juror misconduct. Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo said she hopes to make a decision this year whether Peterson merits a new trial. Its not clear if prosecutors could again seek the death penalty if there is a new trial and he was again convicted, said defense attorney Pat Harris, who is handling the death sentence portion of the case. A different attorney, Andras Farkas, is representing Peterson on the issue of whether he gets a new trial. Farkas did not respond to an email requesting comment. Attorney Mark Geragos (L) and Scott Peterson talk during Petersons trial in Redwood City, Calif., on July 29, 2004. (Al Golub/Pool/Getty Images) Its not clear to me that theyre saying no matter what, were taking the death penalty off the table or theyre saying if we go back to trial were reserving the right to put the death penalty back up again, Harris said. It sounds like theyre kind of holding back that if the judge orders a new trial, they could put the death penalty back on the table. That could be cleared up at what was supposed to be procedural hearing on Tuesday, he said. The district attorneys office did not comment. Harris noted that prosecutors had earlier said the family supported again seeking the death penalty, and contended that their new motion is a gambit to avoid a new airing of the case. The truth of the matter is they have determined that the handwriting is on the wall and if we go back to trial were going to prove Scotts innocence, he said. He said he can prove that there was a nearby burglary the day Peterson disappeared, aiding the defenses contention that someone else killed her when she stumbled upon the crime. A passer-by holds up a special PM edition of the San Mateo County Times after the reading of the verdict that found Scott Peterson guilty of murder in Redwood City, Calif., on Nov. 12, 2004. (Dan Honda/Pool/Getty Images) If prosecutors were to proceed with a new penalty phase, they would essentially have to retry the entire case before a new juryso that new evidence would come out even if jurors could not acquit him and could only recommend a sentence of death or life in prison, he said. The truth will have come out. Bottom line is people will know what happened even if he doesnt receive a new trial on his guilt or innocence, Harris said. Scott Petersons family and supporters made a similar argument in a Facebook post, that Harris request last week for evidence in the hands of prosecutors triggered their decision. We are grateful that Stanislaus County is no longer seeking to put Scott to death, but its #Time4aNewTrial, the post said. By Don Thompson U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the U.S. economy in the East Room at the White House on May 10, 2021. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Democratic Lawmaker Calls on Biden to Create Jan. 6 Commission After GOP Blocks Bill Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), chairman of the House Government Operations subcommittee, has urged President Joe Biden to create an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol. The request comes one day after Senate Republicans blocked a Democrat-led measure that sought to create such a commission to examine the breach. Senators voted 5435 on the House-approved bill, falling short of the 60-vote threshold to overcome a filibuster. In light of the GOPs cowardly filibuster of a bipartisan January 6th Commission, I urge President Biden to form and appoint a Presidential Commission to fully investigate the insurrection at the United States Capitol, to identify the individuals and organizations who plotted or were involved in those violent acts, and to make recommendations to prevent such an attack from ever recurring, Connolly wrote in a statement on May 29. While six Republicans joined Democrats to vote to approve the bill, some Senate Republicans have suggested that the commission is merely a partisan effort to again investigate former President Donald Trump. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) had urged his caucus to vote against the commission. I do not believe the extraneous commission that Democratic leaders want would uncover crucial new facts or promote healing. Frankly, I do not believe it is even designed to, the Kentucky Republican said on the Senate floor. Thats why the speakers first draft began with a laughably rigged and partisan starting point and why the current language would still lock in significant unfairness under the hood. He and other senators have also said that a number of investigations of the Jan. 6 incident are already underway, including by several Senate committees. I will continue to support the real serious work of the criminal justice system and our own Senate committees, and urge my colleagues to oppose this extraneous layer when the time comes for the Senate to vote, McConnell said. Senate Democrats have argued that a commission is necessary to safeguard democracy, while accusing Republicans of sweeping the incident under the rug. We have to get it passed. Each member of the Senate is going to have to stand up and decide: Are you on the side of truth and accountability or are you on the side of Donald Trump and the big lie? Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said earlier in the week. The bill, known as HR 3233, is modeled after the investigation into the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and was approved by the House, with 35 Republicans crossing the aisle to support the measure. The proposed measure would create in the legislative branch an independent, 10-member commission to investigate relevant facts and circumstances relating to the attack on the Capitol, and evaluate the causes of and the lessons learned from this attack. Biden has previously signaled that he supports the creation of the panel, saying on May 27 that he cant imagine why the GOP would reject it. Jack Phillips contributed to this report. The cast of the television comedy "Friends" (From L-R:) Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, and David Schwimmer pose with their award at the 26th People's Choice Awards in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 9, 2000. (Lucy Nicholson/AFP via Getty Images) Friends No More: China Censors Lady Gaga, BTS, Justin Bieber From Reunion Episode Commentary In China, the reunion episode of Friends was all about grudges, writes the brilliant Paul Mozur in the New York Times. The problem wasnt Friends, but the friends of Friends. Three Chinese video platforms streamed the reunion episode of Friends on May 27. But the latest episode of the 1990s American sitcom, beloved by many Chinese who learned English watching it, was censored. Appearances by Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, and BTS, a K-pop group, had been cut. These superstars committed the crime of thinking, and saying, the wrong thing, and are now erased from Chinese telecom. What were their crimes? In 2016, Lady Gaga met the Dalai Lama, an exiled Tibetan leader renowned for his spirituality. Since then, her fandom has been gagged in China. In 2014, Justin Bieber posted a snap from Tokyos Yasukuni Shrine. It honors Japans war dead from World War II. China persists in using the memory of World War II, as it uses the Opium Wars of Britain, to propagandize against these now democratic and reformed countries. They arent what they used to be, yet the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will not let it go. Most amazing was the censorship of South Koreas BTS, which when remembering the difficulties of the Korean War, failed to acknowledge Chinas sacrifice, even though the CCP was one of the aggressors, along with North Korea, in that horrific violence against the South. Perhaps to avoid such expensive awkwardness, the star of Fast and Furious 9, or F9 for short, John Cena, kowtowed to Beijing this week by apologizing profusely and in Mandarin for referring to Taiwan as a country. Mr. Cena posted the video apology on Weibo, a Chinese social network similar to Twitter, that boasts 222 million active users. In China, F9 grossed $135 million last weekend. Eighty-three percent of its international revenues were in China. This weekends receipts were now at risk. Now I have to say one thing which is very, very, very important: I love and respect China and Chinese people, Cena gushed in the video. Im very sorry for my mistakes. Sorry. Sorry. Im really sorry. You have to understand that I love and respect China and Chinese people. I was embarrassed for him. Its not quite the American tough-guy image with which he wrestled fame from the jaws of defeat. His crime? Saying to a Taiwan broadcaster that Taiwan is the first country that can watch his new film. Cringe. He ought now to apologize to Taiwan, for apologizing about calling it a country. It is a country. Thousands of Weibo users rejected Cenas apology. One posted, Please say Taiwan is part of China in Chinese. Otherwise, we will not accept your apology. It was liked thousands of times. In that moment, Cena symbolized a humbled America. Captain America kowtowing to Beijing for crumbs, over issues like Tibet, Hong Kong, the Tiananmen Square Massacre, and Xinjiang (East Turkistan) that we ought to stand up for on principle. Imagine a world without Lady Gaga, BTS, and Justin Bieber. Imagine a world in which our professional wrestlers salute the Chinese Communist flag (which is different than the Chinese flag) before jumping in the ring. No more red-white-and-blue underpants. Imagine telling your kids and their friends they cant listen to what they want, see what they want, and read what they want. This is the world that the Chinese Communist Party is offering. This is the China Dream. Even if you dislike all these superstars, and never appreciated those flag pants, you should appreciate, or re-appreciate, the First Amendment that protects them all for those who do like them. Remember it from high school? Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. The First Amendment is illegal in China. Friends, Americans, get your mojo back before its illegal in America. Anders Corr has a bachelors/masters in political science from Yale University (2001) and a doctorate in government from Harvard University (2008). He is a principal at Corr Analytics Inc., publisher of the Journal of Political Risk, and has conducted extensive research in North America, Europe, and Asia. He authored The Concentration of Power (forthcoming in 2021) and No Trespassing, and edited Great Powers, Grand Strategies. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A woman wearing a protective face mask reading ''dictatorship'' protests against government restrictions, although the rally has been disallowed by a regional court, amid the CCP virus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Bremen, Germany, on Dec. 5, 2020. (Fabian Bimmer/Reuters) German Judge Declares Mask Mandates Illegal and Harmful to Children Commentary As reported in The Epoch Times, the Oklahoma legislature recently passed a bill banning mask mandates in schools. In Germany, mask mandates in schools have also been under the microscope, with an extraordinary judgment given in April highlighting the issue. On April 8, the Weimar District Court banned two schools in that district from enforcing mask mandates, social distancing requirements, and rapid COVID-19 testing on their students. The court also ordered the schools to no longer conduct distance learning. The decision followed legal action by the mother of two students, aged 8 and 14, respectively, at one of the schools, who argued that such measures were causing physical, psychological, and pedagogical harm to her children, as well as constituting an infringement of her children and parental rights under German and international law. The judge, Christian Dettmar, upheld this argument (pdf), noting that mask mandates and social distancing requirements for children werent only causing the harm mentioned above, but were in direct violation of Articles 2 and 6 of the German Constitution, which guarantee the rights to freedom of individual development, education, and parental assistance. Members of the police stand guard as people protest against the German government measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, as the lower house of parliament discusses amendments to the Infection Protection Act, in Berlin, on April 21, 2021. (Christian Mang/Reuters) Accordingly, the judge held that the anti-COVID measures deployed werent proportional to the threat posed. This was in accordance with proportionality principles enshrined in Articles 20 and 28 of the German Constitution. The court also referred to an October 2020 WHO Bulletin which featured a study by renowned medical science expert John Ioannidis, who found the death rate for coronavirus to be 0.23 percent, the equivalent of a moderate influenza epidemic. In examining expert medical; scientific, including biological; and psychological evidence, the judge found the use of masks and social distancing had no effect whatsoever on reducing infection, and cast serious doubt on the ability of asymptomatic personsparticularly childrento spread the virus. This was the first time evidence was presented to a German court regarding the scientific reasonableness and necessity of the prescribed anti-virus measures. Dettmar found that the anti-virus measures posed a danger to the mental, physical, or psychological well-being of the children to such an extent that significant harm could be foreseen with a high degree of certainty. He wrote: The children are not only endangered in their mental, physical, and spiritual well-being by the obligation to wear face masks during school hours and to keep their distance from each other and from other persons, but, in addition, they are already being harmed. At the same time, this violates numerous rights of the children and their parents under the law, the constitution, and international conventions. This applies in particular to the right to free development of the personality and to physical integrity from Article 2 of the (German Constitution) as well as to the right from Article 6 of the (Constitution) to upbringing and care by the parents (also with regard to measures for preventive health care and objects to be carried by children). The judge agreed with the experts assessment that masks werent useful for viral protection, that PCR tests couldnt detect a disease-causing infection with necessary certainty, and that asymptomatic transmission played no detectable role epidemiologically with respect to coronavirus. On the contrary, masks would have a negative impact on childrens health due to handling-related contamination. Testing in school classes would be unnecessary, harmful, and extremely problematic in terms of data protection. In conclusion, he stated, 100,000 elementary school students would have to put up with all the side effects of wearing masks for a week in order to prevent just one infection per week. To call this result merely disproportionate would be a wholly inadequate description. Rather, it shows that the state legislature regulating this area has fallen into a factual disconnect that has reached historic proportions. Following this sensational decision, Dettmar had his house, office, and car searched by police, and mobile phone confiscated. The Weimar Administrative Courta separate court with no jurisdiction over the District Courtissued a statement in response to the ruling, describing Dettmars decision as unlawfulwithout giving reasonsand reiterated the importance of the mask mandate. Do the actions of the police, court, and authorities suggest that the edifice of virus restrictions could be exposed as lacking proper epidemiological foundations? Rocco Loiacono is a senior lecturer at Curtin University Law School in Perth, Australia, and is a translator from Italian to English. His work on translation, linguistics, and law has been widely published in peer-reviewed journals. This article was compiled in collaboration with Eva Wiesmann. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) speaks as Secretary of State Antony Blinken testifies before the House Committee On Foreign Affairs on Capitol Hill in Washington, on March 10, 2021. (Ting Shen-Pool/Getty Images) House Lawmakers Introduce Bills to Address Origins of CCP Virus Pandemic A bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced two measures that seek to equip the United States with the ability to investigate the origins of the CCP virus and allow Americans to sue Beijing for suppressing information about the pandemic. The proposals follow calls for a new probe into the origins of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus amid widespread concerns that the pandemic may have been sparked by a laboratory accident. The first bill, known as the Made in America Emergency Preparedness Act, authorizes the creation of a 9/11-style commission that would assess the national emergency response to the pandemic by the federal government and private sector, and determine precautionary steps to be taken in the event of a future national emergency. One of the commissions purposes would be to investigate the origins of the virus. The commission will be required to report its findings to Congress and the White House. Some of the recommendations would include steps the federal government could take to become more self-sufficient in terms of sourcing medication and personal protective equipment from domestic sources in a national emergency. We simply cannot outsource our public safety and national security to foreign nations. We must reconstitute our health care and public safety supply chain back to the United States, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), a co-chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, said in a statement. Medical products, protective equipment, pharmaceuticals, emergency response equipment, and all other critical items and materials needed to respond to a national emergency must be produced domestically for domestic consumption, especially during a critical, time-sensitive crisis. The bill is co-sponsored by five Democrats and four additional Republicans. The second measure, known as the Never Again International Outbreak Prevention Act and introduced by Fitzpatrick and Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.), seeks to strip sovereign immunity, a legal rule that insulates countries from being sued in other countries courts, from foreign nations who have intentionally misled the international community about a health concern that could lead to a pandemic. As we have seen from COVID-19, the Chinese Communist Party has been intentionally and maliciously misleading the rest of the world about the scope and spread of the novel coronavirus. We must hold other nations accountable for their actions that threaten and harm the livelihoods of Americans and people across the world, Fitzpatrick said. Lamb said, Congress needs to act now to ensure that there are consequences for international players who behave like China did during the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak. Then Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden (R) speaks with U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Pa.) as he walks to board an airplane at Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin, Pa., on Aug. 31, 2020. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) The Chinese regime has been accused of engaging in a cover-up of the CCP viruss origins by silencing doctors, officials, and scientists who tried to warn others. Experts have previously told The Epoch Times that the Chinese regimes actions in downplaying the severity of the virus and its mismanagement could have violated its duty under the World Health Organizations (WHO) International Health Regulations to expeditiously share information on a broad category of diseases such as new influenza-like illnesses such as the coronavirus. The purpose of the International Health Regulations (pdf) is to prevent, protect against, control, and provide a public health response to the international spread of disease in ways that are commensurate with and restricted to public health risks, and which avoid unnecessary interference with international traffic and trade, according to its foreword. The revised 2005 version is an agreement between 196 countries requiring parties to notify the WHO of all events which may constitute a public health emergency of international concern within its territory. It also requires parties to continue to inform the WHO of timely, accurate, and sufficiently detailed public health information available to it on the notified event, including laboratory results, source and type of risk, number of cases and deaths, and conditions affecting the spread of the disease and the health measures employed. The lawmakers proposed bill would require foreign nations to put in place a system to report outbreaks of new diseases so the international community can get ahead of future pandemics. The bill seeks to create a global sentinel surveillance system to collect data, identify trends, identify outbreaks, and provide monitoring on disease. Countries would be required to report all new cases within three days. This legislation would also give the federal government the tools necessary to encourage foreign nations to comply with these goals and to punish bad actors, the lawmakers said. President Joe Biden said last week that the U.S. intelligence community (IC) believes there are two likely scenarios that may have caused the CCP virus outbreak in China. After I became president, in March, I had my National Security Advisor task the Intelligence Community to prepare a report on their most up-to-date analysis of the origins of COVID-19, including whether it emerged from human contact with an infected animal or from a laboratory accident, Biden said in a White House statement, adding that he wanted intelligence agents to redouble their efforts in finding the origin of the virus. As of today, the U.S. Intelligence Community has coalesced around two likely scenarios but has not reached a definitive conclusion on this question, the president stated. Here is their current position: while two elements in the IC leans toward the former scenario and one leans more toward the lattereach with low or moderate confidencethe majority of elements do not believe there is sufficient information to assess one to be more likely than the other. The president has directed the IC to produce a report in 90 days regarding the viruss origins. Jack Phillips contributed to this report. In Mexico, Cartels Are Hunting Down Police at Their Homes MEXICO CITYThe notoriously violent Jalisco cartel has responded to Mexicos hugs, not bullets policy with a policy of its own: The cartel kidnapped several members of an elite police force in the state of Guanajuato, tortured them to obtain names and addresses of fellow officers and is now hunting down and killing police at their homes, on their days off, in front of their families. It is a type of direct attack on officers seldom seen outside of the most gang-plagued nations of Central America and poses the most direct challenge yet to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors policy of avoiding violence and rejecting any war on the cartels. But the cartel has already declared war on the government, aiming to eradicate an elite state force known as the Tactical Group which the gang accuses of treating its members unfairly. If you want war, youll get a war. We have already shown that we know where you are. We are coming for all of you, reads a professionally printed banner signed by the cartel and hung on a building in Guanajuato in May. For each member of our firm (CJNG) that you arrest, we are going to kill two of your Tacticals, wherever they are, at their homes, in their patrol vehicles, the banner read, referring to the cartel by its Spanish initials. Officials in GuanajuatoMexicos most violent state, where Jalisco is fighting local gangs backed by the rival Sinaloa cartelrefused to comment on how many members of the elite group have been murdered so far. But state police publicly acknowledged the latest case, an officer who was kidnapped from his home on Thursday, killed and his body dumped on a highway. Guanajuato-based security analyst David Saucedo said there have been many cases. A lot of them (officers) have decided to desert. They took their families, abandoned their homes and they are fleeing and in hiding, Saucedo said. The CJNG is hunting the elite police force of Guanajuato. View of a bullet-riddled wall bearing the initials of the criminal group Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) at the entrance of the community of Aguililla, state of Michoacan, Mexico, on April 23, 2021. (Enrique Castro/AFP via Getty Images) Numbers of victims are hard to come by, but Poplab, a news cooperative in Guanajuato, said at least seven police officers have been killed on their days off so far this year. In January, gunmen went to the home of a female state police officer, killed her husband, dragged her away, tortured her and dumped her bullet-ridden body. Guanajuato has had the highest number of police killed of any Mexican state since at least 2018, according to Poplab. Between 2018 and May 12, a total of 262 police have been killed, or an average of about 75 officers each yearmore than are killed by gunfire or other assaults on average each year in the entire United States, which has 50 times Guanajuatos population. The problem in Guanajuato has gotten so bad that the state government published a special decree on May 17 to provide an unspecified amount of funding for protection mechanisms for police and prison officials. Unfortunately, organized crime groups have shown up at the homes of police officers, which poses a threat and a greater risk of loss of life, not just for them, but for members of their families, according to the decree. They have been forced to quickly leave their homes and move, so that organized crimes groups cannot find them, it reads. State officials refused to describe the protection measures, or comment on whether officers were to be paid to rent new homes, or if there were plans to construct special secure housing compounds for them and their families. This is an open war against the security forces of the state government, Saucedo noted. Lopez Obrador campaigned on trying to deescalate the drug conflict, describing a hugs, not bullets approach to tackle the root causes of crime. Since taking office in late 2018, he has avoided openly confronting cartels, and even released one capo to avoid bloodshed, saying he preferred a long-range policy of addressing social problems like youth unemployment that contribute to gang membership. But former U.S. Ambassador Christopher Landau said in April that Lopez Obrador views the fight against drug cartels as a distraction So he has basically adopted an agenda of a pretty laissez-faire attitude towards them, which is pretty troubling to our government, obviously. By Mark Stevenson North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner urges farmers to get smart to combat rural crime by beefing up security A police chief is urging farmers in North Wales to use low-powered smart sensors to combat farm thefts. North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin is backing a new scheme to encourage the farming community to tap into wireless technology. The LoRaWAN (Low Power Long Range Wide Area Access Network) is especially suited to rural areas where communications infrastructure often falls short. The Future Farms Cymru project is being masterminded by North Wales Polices pioneering Rural Crime Team in partnership with their counterparts in Dyfed Powys with whom they work closely. Mr Dunbobbin is jointly funding the initiative in conjunction with the Dyfed Powys PCC, Dafydd Llewelyn. The technology will be showcased at six demonstration farms in North Wales and information about the high-tech kit and its effectiveness will be available on a new website, www.futurefarms.cymru They are piggybacking the Welsh Governments Farming Connect network of 16 farms across Wales where the LoRaWAN gateway devices are being trialled. The gateways have a small antenna that can be attached on farm buildings on farms. These can connect to a myriad of sensors which collect data and relay it to dashboards on mobile phones and other devices, making analysis straight-forward. The aim of the Future Farms Cymru scheme is to encourage farmer to use the same technology to beef up security, with the sensors linked to an app which alerts farmers immediately if anything is stolen enabling them to call the police straightaway. The other aim of the website is to help tackle mental health issues and the high suicide rate in the farming community, with information and advice along with links to organisations that can provide support. Agreeing to provide funding for the scheme was one of Mr Dunbobbins first acts on taking office after winning the election. He said: One of the pledges I made in my manifesto was to prioritise tackling rural crime and provide a first-class police service for people who live in the countryside as well as the urban areas of North Wales. I am very pleased to support the Future Farms Cymru and the fantastic work done by the Rural Crime Team and I would like to thank Dafydd Llewelyn for working collaboratively with us on this. As somebody who has worked in the field of technology, this project makes perfect sense in helping the farming community to increase their security measures. LoRaWAN technology has been heavily invested in by the Welsh Government and it can be a solution to to many of our issues in the countryside is this. Up to now things have been more focused on slurry pit levels or water levels in the fields but it also has huge potential in terms of tackling rural crime. This is essentially about equipping farmers with high tech systems to protect themselves against the blight or rural crime. PC Dewi Evans, a founding member of the 10-strong North Wales Police Rural Crime Team, said they were grateful to the new Police and Crime Commissioner for his support. He said: The aim of the project is to encourage the uptake of technology on farms and other rural areas with a view of reducing crime or making it easier for the police to detect. Were talking about the traditional measure to begin with CCTV, padlocks even -because I realise every day almost that, unfortunately, when I attend farmyards the security is often below standard. Companies specialising in security will be invited to install their devices free of charge on some of these farms, then they will be able to showcase their products via our website in the form of recorded webinars. We will then list our partners on the website and refer victims of crime to the website. Rural crime is still a significant issue in North Wales and to receive the support of the new PCC as we go about our daily work is fantastic and his supporting of the project by funding 50 per cent of it with his counterpart in Dyfed Powys is incredibly good news. Caption North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin with PC Dewi Evans from the Rural Crime Team. Pic by Mandy Jones In the Case of the Dingo, We See Wishes Forming Beliefs Commentary It is easier to adhere to preconceived ideas than to follow wherever the evidence may lead. Intellectual honesty is more often praised than practised, and more people read to confirm what they already think to be the case than read to expand their mental horizons. Perhaps it would be a good idea if, instead of making new years resolutions, we reflected upon how many ideas or opinions we had abandoned in the previous twelve months in the light of evidence. I suspect that in most cases it would not be many, or even a single one. I do not exclude myself from this generalization. In his Autobiography, Charles Darwin said that he always noted down anything that made difficulties for his theory, for otherwise he was sure to forget it. I doubt that he was alone in this propensity; and many of us can smell in advance, so to speak, what might disturb our pre-conceptions, and therefore avoid reading or listening to it. This is not to say that we can do away altogether with preconceptions and prejudices. Such is impossible, and what is impossible cannot be desirable; even if it were possible, however, it would be foolish. What is possible, though, is to make ourselves aware of our preconceptions and be willing to test them against evidence and abandon them if necessary. By necessary, I mean intellectually necessary. We more readily believe what we want to believe than what we dont want to believe. The wish is often father to the thought. An interesting example of this influence of wishes on thoughts is the discussion in Australia, sometimes impassioned, over the status of the dingo, apex predator of the Australian ecosystem. Is the dingo a separate species, or is it merely a domestic dog that went feral a long time ago? You might think that was simply a scientific question, one for mammal taxonomists and geneticists to sort out. Either the dingo is a separate species or it is not. But in fact there is plenty of room for disagreement on this point, in part because the concept of a species is itself sometimes a little fuzzy. That the dingo is at the least a very close relation of the dog, Canis familiaris, is beyond dispute. It is also agreed that its ancestors arrived on the continent some thousands of years ago, from what is now Indonesia. The dingo can interbreed with domestic dogs (the ability to interbreed without producing sterile offspring such as a mule being one criterion of speciation), butaccording to recent researchrarely does so. Most dingoes are pure dingoes and after the first weeks of life cannot be domesticated. It is clearly different from a poodle. The dingo is, if course, a carnivore and on rare occasions is dangerous to man, especially to children. It kills sheep and cattle in substantial numbers, and livestock farmers regard it as a pest. There are up to 50,000 dingoes in the wild. Does it matter in practice whether or not they are a separate species? Thanks to human legislation as it is at present, it does. If the dingo is a separate species, it would be protected by laws that protect the native fauna of Australia. If it is not, in other words if it is merely Canis familiaris gone to the bad, it would not be protected and would be fair game for farmers who wanted to eliminate it as a pest. The longest continuous fence in the word is in Australia, protecting livestock-farming areas from the predation of dingoes. It is alleged by biologists that the presence of dingoes, or more dingoes, on one side of the fence than the other demonstrates that they have a protective effect on the diversity of fauna because, being the apex predator, they limit the numbers of imported carnivorous competitors such as the domestic cat and the fox, which are far more destructive to small animals. (Australia has an immense number of species of small marsupial and other mammals, some of which are in danger of extinction because of the erosion of their habitat.) The dingo question divides along the following lines: those who value livestock protection more than nature think of the dingo as a kind of blot on the landscape, and have no objection to their elimination, while those who value the natural world and biodiversity more wish to protect it. I am not a nature mystic: something is not good just because it is natural. I should welcome the total elimination of the large intestinal worm, Ascaris lumbricoides, for example. And yet, though I cannot count myself a lover of the wilderness, I do feel a sadness when many species become rare or extinct. The Tasmanian tiger, Thylacinus cynocephalus, the largest marsupial carnivore, was hunted to extinction because it, too, was accused of harming the livestock industry of the island; and it is heart-breaking to see the footage in Hobart zoo in 1936 of the last Tasmanian tiger alive. It had no concept of its own death of course, let alone that of the extinction of its species, but still I cannot help but feel the tragedy of it, and that the world is a slightly poorer place without such animals. Certainly, ever since its death, many people have devoted much of their spare time, and even their lives, to trying to find survivors in the wild, as others try to prove the existence of flying saucers or the Loch Ness monster. Though it is unlikely that I shall ever visit Tasmania again, I should rejoice if there were conclusive proof of the continued existence, rather than just alleged sightings, of the Tasmanian tiger. What is interesting, however, from the psychological point of view is that those who think that the dingo is a valuable part of Australias native fauna and want to preserve it tend to argue for its being a separate species, while those who think it is a pest argue for it being merely a dog gone wrong, as it were. Strictly speaking, the question of whether or not it is a separate species should have nothing to do with whether or not you like it and wish to preserve it. But a matter that is supposedly one of fact, and fact alone, is subordinated in many peoples mind to one of value. It ought to be possible to think that the dingo is a dog gone wrong and wish to preserve it, or alternatively that it is a separate species and wish (as I do with Ascaris lumbricoides) to eliminate it. But it is not usual to do so. The effect of our wishes exerts a powerful influence on our beliefs of what is actually the case. Probably this is an inevitable feature of human psychology. It is only by being aware of it that we can avoid its dangers. Theodore Dalrymple is a retired doctor. He is contributing editor of the City Journal of New York and the author of 30 books, including Life at the Bottom. His latest book is Embargo and Other Stories. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry meets with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi (not pictured) at Tahrir Palace in Cairo, Egypt, on May 30, 2021. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters) Israel, Egypt Meet in Effort to Solidify Gaza Truce JERUSALEMPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Egypts intelligence chief and sent Israels foreign minister to Cairo on Sunday, amid efforts to build on a ceasefire reached between Israel and Hamas a week ago that ended the worst violence in years. Egypt helped broker the truce that has held since May 21, a diplomatic success that thrust it into the spotlight, and is working with the United States and other regional partners to expand it into a more permanent ceasefire. Netanyahu said his meeting with Abbas Kamel in Jerusalem dealt with regional security issues and ways to prevent Hamas, the Islamist terrorist group that rules Gaza, from siphoning off civilian aid to strengthen its capabilities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures as he delivers a speech to supporters following the announcement of exit polls in Israels general election at his Likud party headquarters in Jerusalem, on March 24, 2021. (Ammar Awad/File Photo/Reuters) Palestinian officials put reconstruction costs at tens of millions of dollars from Israeli strikes in Gaza, where medical officials said 248 people were killed during 11 days of fighting. Israel is also repairing damage caused by Palestinian rockets and missiles, which killed 13 people in Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazis trip to Cairo was the first such visit in 13 years. Ashkenazi said he would discuss with Egyptian counterparts establishing a permanent ceasefire with Hamas, along with ways to help rebuild Gaza. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry meets with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi at Tahrir Palace in Cairo, Egypt, on May 30, 2021. (Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters) Egypt announced on Saturday that Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry would receive Ashkenazi, but did not give further details of the talks. Both Netanyahu and Ashkenazi said a key aim for Israel was to secure the return of two Israeli civilians and the remains of two soldiers held for years in Gaza. Hamas has refused to hand them over. By Ari Rabinovitch Police and rescue service members are seen near the crashed cable car after it collapsed in Stresa, near Lake Maggiore, Italy, on May 23, 2021. (Italian Police/Handout via Reuters) Italy Judge Releases 3 Held in Jail Over Cable Car Crash, One Under House Arrest MILANAn Italian judge ruled late on Saturday that three men detained over a cable car crash that killed 14 people in northern Italy could leave prison, with one of them being placed under house arrest. In the crash a week ago, the gondola on a cable way connecting the Lake Maggiore resort town of Stresa to a nearby mountain plunged to the ground, killing all aboard apart from a five-year-old Israeli boy who remains in hospital. Police arrested the three men on Wednesday after prosecutors in the city of Verbania opened an investigation into suspected involuntary manslaughter and negligence. Judge Donatella Banci Buonamici ruled on Saturday there were no grounds for keeping them in jail since they could not run away and there was no risk of evidence being tampered with. Prosecutors have alleged the three menthe owner of the cable-car company, an employee, and an engineer who dealt with maintenancewere aware of the lifts technical problems. The prosecutors said in a legal filing the three had deliberately placed fork-shaped clamps on the emergency brakes to avoid them being constantly activated. Rescuers work by the wreckage of a cable car after it collapsed near the summit of the Stresa-Mottarone line in the Piedmont region, northern Italy, on May 23, 2021. (Italian Vigili del Fuoco Firefighters via AP) Im aware of the mistake I made leaving the clamps on, Gabriele Tadini told prosecutors, according to the official transcript of his interview quoted by Sundays Corriere della Sera newspaper. Tadini was in charge of putting the lift in motion, which he did on May 23 just a few hours before the crash. Tadini has been placed under house arrest. His lawyer, Marcello Perillo, told Reuters he had not requested Tadinis release after his admission. There is no denying the issue of the clasps, for that he will have to face consequences, Perillo said, adding it was yet to be established to which extent the other two had been informed of Tadinis actions. There is no proof at present they were also responsible. They are people who should have known, but its not clear if they did. Verbania Chief Prosecutor Olimpia Bossi told reporters the judge had decided there was no sufficient proof Luigi Nerini, owner of the company operating the lift, and Enrico Perocchio, the engineer who was in charge of maintenance and safety, were aware of the situation. Rescuers work by the wreckage of a cable car after it collapsed near the summit of the Stresa-Mottarone line in the Piedmont region, northern Italy, on May 23, 2021. (Italian Vigili del Fuoco Firefighters via AP) In any case the investigation continues, we still dont know why the cable broke in the first place, Bossi said. Leaving Verbania prison on Saturday night, Perocchio told reporters that he had no idea that the brakes that should have prevented the gondola from crashing when the cable gave way had been blocked. Ive got 21 years of experience with lifts that use cables, I know thats something you dont ever, ever do, Perocchio said. Nerinis lawyer, Pasquale Pantano, told reporters on Saturday night the release was welcome news but the main thing was to find out who was responsible for the disaster. By Valentina Za, Stephen Jewkes and Angelo Amante People gather to protest killings in southern Kaduna and insecurities in Nigeria, at the U.S. embassy in Abuja, Nigeria on August 15, 2020. (Afolabi Sotunde/REUTERS) Kidnappers Free 14 Nigerian Students in Northwest Kaduna State KADUNA, NigeriaKidnappers have released the remaining 14 students who had been held captive after being abducted last month from a northern Nigerian university, a senior member of the teaching staff said on Saturday. Armed groups have repeatedly attacked schools and universities in northwest Nigeria in the last few months, abducting more than 700 students for ransom since December. The inability of security forces to crack down on kidnapping gangs has sparked protests against perceived government inaction. Gunmen had stormed Greenfield University in the northwestern state of Kaduna on April 20. The kidnappers killed one person during the raid and, in the days after the attack, executed five of those they took.. Fourteen of the abducted students of the university have been freed, Simeon Nwakacha, pro-chancellor of Greenfield University, told Reuters by phone on Saturday. He said the 14 were the remaining students being held. Kaduna states security commissioner, Samuel Aruwan, said in a statement 14 people taken from the university had been freed and had been found beside a road connecting Kaduna and the capital Abuja on Saturday at around 2 p.m. local time. It was not immediately clear if the hostages were released in exchange for a ransom payment. Kidnap for ransom has become common in the last few years in many parts of Nigeria. President Muhammadu Buhari urged state governments in February to review their policy of rewarding bandits with money and vehicles. Imperial Gem lavender in full bloom at Soul Food Farm in Vacaville, Calif., on May 25, 2021. (Ilene Eng/The Epoch Times) Lavender Festival Will Offer Lavender Chocolate-Chip Cookies and Lemonade VACAVILLE, Calif.A field of lavender sways as a fresh breeze passes. Busy bees hover between sticks of purple and white that protrude from a green bush, like pins on a pincushion. At Soul Food Farm in Vacaville, many varieties of lavender are blooming as the farms U-pick lavender festival begins. The owner, Alexis Koefoed, told NTD Television that she and a friend grow lavender together, naming their business Hierbas y Flores, which translates to herbs and flowers from Spanish. Imperial Gem lavender in full bloom at Soul Food Farm in Vacaville, Calif., on May 25, 2021. (Ilene Eng/The Epoch Times) We make a lot of lavender products here at Hierbas y Flores, and its very common for lavender farms to sort of branch out and make added-value products, Koefoed said. So here we make a lavender lip balm, a lavender sugar scrub, soap; we also make sachets so people can put lavender in their clothes drawers, and their clothes smell nice. The flowers come in shades of purple, blue, lavender, and white. The farmers grow many varieties for different uses. White lavender blooms at Soul Food Farm in Vacaville, Calif., on May 25, 2021. (Ilene Eng/The Epoch Times) They planted three rows of culinary varieties for food and desserts. The taller French varieties are used to make wreaths, crafts, and other decor. They started growing lavender roughly seven years ago and decided to open the farm up for a U-pick lavender festival three years ago. They will be able to come out here. Well show them how to pick lavender and give them a tie, and anything they can fit in this tie is what they pay for. But to come to the event is free, and parking is free, Koefoed said. Alexis Koefoed demonstrates how to cut lavender at Soul Food Farm in Vacaville, Calif., on May 25, 2021. (Ilene Eng/The Epoch Times) The festival runs for two weeks, from May 29 to June 13. Patrons of the event will be able to participate in two workshops: lavender wreath-making and wand-making. On June 12, there will be vendors, and lavender lemonade and lavender chocolate chip cookies will be for sale. Attendees are required to register for a time slot so that they can be spaced out. A maximum capacity of 40 people on the field will allow for social distancing and a relaxing experience. Lavender for essential oils grows at Soul Food Farm in Vacaville, Calif., on May 25, 2021. (Ilene Eng/The Epoch Times) Koefoed says she just wants people to get a chance to get out on a quiet farm to enjoy themselves. People are just happy to be out here. Its a beautiful place, and we dont rush anybody, so its a chance to get out, be at an event thats not overwhelming. Theres not thousands of people, and its kind of quiet, and you can still hear the birds in the trees. It just has a nice old-world feel to it. And I think people like that, she said. She explained that the best way to harvest lavender is to cut near the base of the plant so the stem remains long. A bouquet of Imperial Gem lavender at Soul Food Farm in Vacaville, Calif., on May 25, 2021. (Ilene Eng/The Epoch Times) Then when you get home you can just decide what you want to do with it, and you would have nice long stems to make a decision if its a floral arrangement or youre going to hang it upside down to dry and have dried lavender flower bouquets, she said. Lavender is known for having calming, stress-reducing effects that help with sleep. It can be made into essential oil, flower water, lotion, and tea, all of which the farm sells. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 27, 2021. (Octavio Jones/Reuters) Noem: Report of Private Jet Ride With Mike Lindell Is Fake News South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is disputing a report that claimed MyPillows CEO flew her to the Republican Governors Association (RGA) spring meeting this month. A report from Politico, citing anonymous sources, claimed that CEO Mike Lindell flew Noem to the meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. It also cited a single source in claiming Lindell was able to gain access to the meeting as a guest of the South Dakota governor. Noem reacted by saying that the story was false. Not true. No wonder the media has a lower approval rating than Congress. And the reporter REFUSED to correct his #FakeNews story, she wrote on Twitter. She subsequently wrote in another post, Hasnt the media learned not to report #FakeNews from anonymous sources? Lindell told The Epoch Times that he could not say whether Noem was ever on his plane but did say he was not a guest of Noems. I was not invited by her, I was invited by RGA and then they canceled it, he said. Lindell sent The Epoch Times screenshots of an agenda for the meeting, a schedule of events marked confidential, and a badge that gave him access to the confab. The Republican Governors Association did not respond to requests for comment. It has not publicly commented on the matter. Mike Lindell, CEO of MyPillow, speaks at the Let the Church ROAR National Prayer Rally on the National Mall in Washington on Dec. 12, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Noem and Lindell have made appearances together at events in the past, including at a pro-Trump rally in Michigan in September 2020. Lindell had promised in an appearance on Bannons War Room to confront Govs. Doug Ducey of Arizona and Brian Kemp of Georgia over election fraud accusations. He believes they have obstructed investigations into election fraud. Ducey chairs the association. Lindell attended previous RGA meetings, including the one in 2020. An audit of nearly 2.1 million ballots cast in the 2020 election, and hundreds of machines used to run the election, is taking place in Arizonas Maricopa County. Ducey has not taken action to block the audit. Voters in Georgia have gained access to images of ballots cast by mail in Fulton County. They were slated on Friday to go to the ballot storage warehouse to observe election workers take higher quality images but a judge canceled the trip to weigh and rule on motions to dismiss the lawsuit the voters brought. Lindell has claimed widespread fraud occurred in the election. He has released several documentaries about the matter. The businessman was sued by Dominion Voting Systems, a top U.S.-based machine and software manufacturer, in February. Dominion alleged that Lindell harmed its brand by making allegations about its equipment. MyPillow countersued Dominion in April, accusing it of defamation. Online Spiritual Class Benefits Nearly 2,000 During the Pandemic While the global pandemic has brought life-altering experiences, from home-schooling to working from home to home socializing, many people fall prey to uncertainty and anxiety. So a group of people offers free online classes, sharing their method of getting through this distressing time. They have already attracted nearly 2,000 people. The online Falun Gong class has been offered since the end of October 2020, said Lei Shizhong, one of the organizers from Canada. An opinion poll shows a 30 percent increase in the number of people in North American willing to learn meditation after the outbreak, he told The Epoch Times. We also received more inquiries of where they could learn Falun Gong. They began online exercise classes last September. The ancient spiritual discipline, Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, consists of five exercises and moral teachings based on the core tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Its popularity surged in China during the 1990s, reaching 70 million to 100 million adherents by the end of the decade, according to official Chinese estimates at the time. The file photo of Falun Gong practitioners doing the exercises in Guangzhou, China, before the persecution started in July 1999. (Minghui.org) Unsurprisingly, applications to online classes rose during the pandemic. Lei has added three more sessions each week to meet the increasing demands, and last week, the first class in French was held. Nearly 2,000 people have learned the meditation and four gentle moving exercises of Falun Dafa so far. Lisa Osanic, councilor of Kingston City of Ontario, Canada, said that the two-hour class helped her sleep well and that she would like to attend more courses to remember the hand gestures of the five exercises of Falun Gong. Silke, who runs a high-end eco-resort in British Columbia, Canada, said she was grateful to learn the practice for free as he has spent thousands of dollars learning meditations. She told Lei that she had prayed to God a few days earlier, asking for a method of practice. The next day, she stumbled upon a Facebook post of a Falun Dafa teaching course and registered without hesitation. Many people were initially drawn to Falun Gong because of its healing effects, Lei said. They hope to heal illnesses and keep fit, a similar condition to when the practice was first introduced in China in 1992. The easy-to-learn exercises are friendly to those with physical disadvantages, added Lei. Just watching this is relaxing, said attendee Janice Nash. Lei has received feedback about the positive effects on reducing pressure, alleviating pain, and better sleep quality, and many more feel finding the spiritual improvement methods theyve sought for life. One student, Rossmery Almonte, left this message after a class: I think I found what I was looking for! She said she felt the energy traveling through her whole body. Another student, Petra, asked if there are videos for the exercises so that she could incorporate them into her daily routine. Her experience was not unlike Rossmerys. [I felt] energy running through my body, she wrote in a comment. At times, I felt on fire. Letters From Officials Elected officials also sent greeting letters to mark World Falun Dafa Day this year. With so many of us feeling uncertain, isolated, and lonely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, thank you for providing Falun Dafa classes online to help our mental, moral, and physical wellbeing, said Councilor Osanic in a letter to the Canadian Falun Dafa Association on April 26. Greeting letter from Councilor Lisa Osanic of the City of Kingston, Ontario, Canada, on April 26. (Provided to The Epoch Times via the Canadian Falun Dafa Association) Mayor Colin Basran of Kelowna, British Columbia, stated in her proclamation, Since its first introduction to the public in China in May 1992, today Falun Dafa is practiced in over hundreds of countries worldwide by people of all ages and backgrounds. It is always taught free of charge by volunteers and can be practiced individually or in groups. Their contributions to our society have been particularly pronounced through this pandemic, particularly through the Falun Dafa Associations free online meditation sessions, contributing to the wellness of Canadians as we collectively endure hardship, Canadian MP Marie-France Lalonde stated in her letter. Phil M. Boyle, Member of the Senate of the State of New York, stated in his proclamation, Through their practice, people become healthier, happier, and more altruistic. Registered nurse Michael Lowman (L) receives the first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine injection in Orange County at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif., on Dec. 16, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Orange County Records 56 New Cases of COVID-19 SANTA ANAOrange County has reported 56 new COVID-19 infections, as hospitalization rates maintain some of the lowest numbers since the first couple of months of the pandemic. There were 21 new cases reported May 30, when hospitalizations stood at 63, and there were 15 intensive care unit patients. Orange County Executive Officer Frank Kim told City News Service that all of the countys COVID-19 metrics are down about a tenth of a point. Its a progression of what weve seen over the last several weeks. Its especially encouraging as more of the countys economy reopens in the least-restrictive yellow tier, Kim said. The numbers are generally looking amazing, Andrew Noymer, a University of CaliforniaIrvine professor of population health and disease prevention, told City News Service on May 27. Its cyclical, but the cycles are tending downward, Noymer said of hospitalizations and ICU numbers. Kim was concerned that the Cal OSHA proposed guidelines for after June 15, when the state shuts down its tiered system and lifts most restrictions, dont appear to change much. Cal OSHA posted draft workplace standards for COVID, and theres not much different from what we currently have, and Im worried about that, Kim said. I worry about confusion in the community. Most people have a sense that on June 15, most things will go back to normal, but for employers in the workplace, it doesnt look like much has changed. The draft proposal must be posted for five days while the public weighs in, and then the state agencys board will vote on it, Kim said. I may not be able to bring all of my employees back, so it will not look the way they think it will, Kim said. The county public health officer, Dr. Clayton Chau, who also is director of the Orange County Health Care Agency, said the county has administered more than 3 million doses of vaccines. At least 1.6 million people have received one dose and 1.3 million are fully vaccinated, he said. About 360,000 residents are awaiting a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, Chau said. Since residents 12 and older can now get a shot, there are 2.7 million residents eligible for a vaccine, he said. Chau said anyone who has recovered from COVID-19 is still recommended to get a shot because studies show that vaccinated people have six times more antibodies. The county is aiming to hold 30 mobile vaccination clinics as the mass vaccination sites are shut down, he said. Were reaching the point where people will get the vaccine if we make it more convenient, Chau said on May 25. Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Andrew Do and Vice Chairman Doug Chaffee hailed Chau on May 28 for being named physician of the year by the Orange County Medical Association. In a joint statement, the supervisors praised Chau for his integrity, excellence, compassion and exceptional leadership throughout his career in public health. During these unprecedented times, Dr. Chaus contribution to the residents of Orange County in fighting against the pandemic is especially commendable. Kim said, I dont know of any other doctor that worked as hard as he did during the pandemic. He worked every single day, day and night since last May, Kim said. He has shown an incredible commitment and resiliency to support the Covid response from the county from initially addressing the testing challenges and then transitioning around New Years to [mobile field hospitals] and vaccination efforts. I couldnt be more proud of him. Im so happy they recognized the tremendous work hes done for the community. Noymer praised the mobile clinics. Mobile clinics is a good idea, he said. Honestly, anything that works. People keep saying were 60 percent vaccinated, but the remaining 40 percent is going to be way harder. The problem is were also approaching the ceiling, so the people who have not gotten vaccinated yet really require more persuasion. Noymer also hailed the idea of a lottery as incentive to get inoculated. Its a good move to do a lottery, Noymer told CNS. It will increase participation, and it will mean the fall wave is going to be a mild wave as opposed to what we had in January. Noymer predicts the summer months will be totally manageable. Orange County last week officially entered the least-restrictive yellow tier of the reopening blueprint, which allows for greater attendance for many businesses such as movie theaters and gyms, while museums, zoos, and aquariums can open at full capacity. For the first time, bars and distilleries can open indoors. Theme parks such as Disneyland can expand attendance. The Discovery Cube of Orange County childrens museum reopened on May 28. Disneyland will begin allowing out-of-state customers in mid-June and will debut its new Avengers Campus attraction next week. Afghan security personnel arrive at the site of a bomb explosion in Shakar Dara district of Kabul, Afghanistan, on May 14, 2021. (Rahmat Gul/AP Photo) Roadside Bomb Kills 3 University Teachers in Afghanistan: Police KABULA roadside bomb hit a bus carrying university staff in northern Afghanistan on Saturday, killing three teachers and wounding 15 others, police said on Saturday. The incident took place in Charikar, the provincial capital of Parwan. The bus was carrying teachers from Al-Biruni university, said a spokesman for the provincial police, Salim Noori. Some of the wounded teachers were in critical condition, said Hamed Obaidi, a spokesman for the ministry of higher education. No group claimed responsibility for the incident. Roadside bombs, small magnetic bombs attached under vehicles and other attacks have targeted members of security forces, judges, government officials, civil society activists, and journalists in recent months in Afghanistan. Afghan school students are treated at a hospital after a bomb explosion near a school in west of Kabul, Afghanistan, on May 8, 2021. (Rahmat Gul/AP Photo) The government usually blames the Taliban for such attacks but the insurgent group denies involvement. Violence has sharply increased since Washington announced plans last month to pull out all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan by Sept. 11. Three weeks ago, a bomb attack outside a school in the capital Kabul killed 68 people, most of them students, and wounded 165 others. Nearly 1,800 Afghan civilians were killed or wounded in the first three months of 2021 during fighting between government forces and Taliban insurgents despite efforts to find peace, the United Nations said last month. By Kabul Bureau Former President Donald Trump addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference held in the Hyatt Regency in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 28, 2021. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Shame, Shame, Shame: Trump Laments Memorial Day Drivers Facing High Gas Prices Former President Donald Trump weighed in on gas prices as millions of Americans travel for Memorial Day weekend, saying that its a shame that theyre considerably higher than they were a year ago. Im sorry to say the gasoline prices that you will be confronted with are far higher than they were just a short number of months ago where we had gasoline under $2 a gallon, Trump said in a statement. Remember as youre watching the meter tick, and your dollars pile up, how great of a job Donald Trump did as President. An analysis from Reuters noted that motorists are now experiencing the highest gas prices in about seven years and cited data from the American Automobile Association (AAA), which found that prices for a gallon are about $3.04 a gallon on average. Ahead of Memorial Day, gas demand is expected to rise as more Americans take to the roads for trips that may have been delayed or avoided because of the pandemic, said Devin Gladden, an AAA spokesperson. The group said it is predicting that more than 34 million Americans will be driving to travel between May 27 and May 31or a 53 percent rise from last year when CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus-related lockdowns were in full swing. The former president warned that the Middle East and Russia will soon make a fortune on oil and gas. You will be saying how good it was to have me as your President. Wasnt it great to be energy independent, but we are energy independent no more, Trump said, referring to his administrations energy policies that have been rescinded by the Biden administration. Shame, shame, shame. Other than that, have a great Memorial Day Weekend! Meanwhile, GasBuddy said that about 6,000 gas stations nationwide were without gas still because of the Colonial Pipeline ransomware breach earlier this month, Reuters reported. This is still due to the Colonial outage recovery, plus high demand, making it hard for stations to get back on top of things, said GasBuddys Patrick De Haan. Welsh Ambulance Service inviting people to join its new People and Community Network The Welsh Ambulance Service is inviting the public to join its brand new network. Members of the Trusts People and Community Network can attend meetings, take surveys and share their own experience at the hands of the ambulance service in order to shape the way services are delivered. They can also take part in Mystery Shopper exercises to identify where improvements could be made, whether to its Emergency Medical Service, Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service or NHS 111 Wales. The network launches this week, and is open to patients, carers, community groups or anyone with an interest in how the Welsh Ambulance Service works. Leanne Hawker, the Trusts Head of Patient Experience and Community Involvement, said: Patients are at the heart of everything we do, so its important we hear first-hand from people with lived experience in order to deliver meaningful improvements. With the launch of this network comes an opportunity to engage with people we may not have engaged with before, and enlist as broad a spectrum of people as possible to allow us to deliver more person-centred care. In turn, we hope to build a network for all people from all backgrounds, truly representative of the communities we serve. Leanne added: The co-design of services with our communities is key to delivering the best ambulance service possible for people in Wales. For us, this is about innovating services for the needs of people, through the inclusion of people. Put simply, our message is this be part of the change you want to see. To join the People and Community Network, please complete this online form. Alternatively, you can email PECI.Team@wales.nhs.uk or call 01792 311773. Members of the network will receive regular communications from the Welsh Ambulance Service and be given the chance to participate in a Welcome Day. Follow @WelshAmbPECI on Twitter for more news and updates about the People and Community Network. Voters line up to cast their ballots in Fort Worth, Texas. in a file photo. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) Texas Senate Passes Major GOP-Backed Election Reform Bill The Texas state Senate passed a sweeping election overhaul bill on May 30 that has been criticized by high-profile Democrats over provisions that they say expands restrictions and penalties. The legislation was approved largely along party lines after an overnight debate stretched into the morning of May 30, according to local media. The House had a deadline of midnight on May 30 to approve the proposal. The measure would grant more power to poll watchers by giving them more access inside polling areas, while creating new penalties against election officials who restrict poll watchers movements. The proposal would also allow a judge to void the outcome of an election if the number of fraudulent votes could change the result. Officials who send mail-in ballots to people who didnt request them may also face criminal penalties, according to the bill. Previously, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, signaled that he supports such election measures. According to a tweet from the Texas District and County Attorneys Association, at least 16 new or enhanced crimes related to elections were included in the bill. State Sen. Bryan Hughes, a Republican, said that the measure would keep Texass elections fair and honest. We want elections to be secure and accessible, said Hughes, who authored the bill, according to the Dallas Morning News. During the Senate session, Hughes said his bill has common sense mandates against fraud, the Texas Tribune reported. The provisions of this bill apply equally across the board, Hughes said in response to allegations from Democrats that the bill would restrict minority voters. Over the weekend, President Joe Biden weighed in on the bill, alleging in a statement that it attacks the sacred right to vote. Its part of an assault on democracy that weve seen far too often this yearand often disproportionately targeting black and brown Americans, Biden said. The president wasnt the only high-profile Democrat to weigh in on the Texas bill. The Texas law is shameful and Republicans clearly, in Texas and throughout the country, want to make it harder to vote and easier to steal an election, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), a member of House Democrats leadership, told CBS News on May 30. Thats the only way I can interpret the voter suppression epidemic that we see working its way from one state, Georgia, to Arizona to Texas and all across the country. Marc Elias, a lawyer who has filed a number of election-related lawsuits on behalf of Democrats, signaled that he will file a lawsuit in the coming days. States to watch for NEW voting rights litigation (in order of likelihood) 1. Texas, he wrote on Twitter on May 30. Elias also filed a lawsuit to challenge an election integrity bill that was signed into law in Florida several weeks ago. In addition to Florida and Texas, a number of Republican-led states have pushed for or have passed laws meant to add new safeguards to elections, drawing considerable condemnation from Democrats, who have claimed Republicans are trying to rig voting in their favor. In mid-May, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, a Republican, signed a bill that updated the eligibility requirements to remain on the states early voting list in a bid to make elections more secure. President Joe Biden departs the White House via the North Portico, in Washington on May 28, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) US Under Biden Is Neither Feared Nor Respected Commentary China refuses to talk with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and it shows that Joe Bidens America is neither feared nor respected. Neither Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe nor Beijings Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Xu Qiliang, who is close to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) boss Xi Jinping, will take Austins call. It shows that the Chinese view themselves as the side with power. Reading in-between the lines of an article that appeared on the CCP propaganda site The Global Times, the response seems to suggest that Beijing believes it can obtain concessions from Washington by holding out. By desperately chasing Beijing, the Biden administration has chosen to posture against China from a position of weakness. The Global Times said: The US is now releasing inaccurate information through the press and is attempting to shift the blame to China for the fact that no high-level military talks have taken place so far. This is irresponsible. The source noted that as long as the US can abide by this principle, communication and talks are wide open at all levels between the Chinese and US militaries. The US always wants to get along with China from an advantageous position, setting preconditions for military-to-military relations, while China always stresses that mutual respect and mutual benefit in cooperation are the way to go in bilateral relations, the source said. Mutual respect and mutual benefit in cooperation to China means doing everything Chinas way and on Chinas terms. It doesnt mean getting the CCP to end its territorial claims to the South China Sea or belligerency toward Taiwan, Vietnam, or the Philippines. The Chinese clearly have the upper hand. North Koreas leadership similarly ignored a Biden administration request to talk. As Sun-Tzu said in The Art of War, By holding out advantages to him, he can cause the enemy to approach of his own accord; or, by inflicting damage, he can make it impossible for the enemy to draw near. American and Chinese naval forces have played a game of cat and mouse in recent months to Beijings irritation. China protested the recent passage of the American destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur through the Taiwan Strait. The Biden administration has continued the Trump administrations policy of sending U.S. warships through the disputed waterways despite Chinese protests, particularly in the disputed Taiwan Strait, Spratly, and Paracel islands. Dont think that China hasnt watched as President Joe Biden and his administration have conceded time after time following tough talk since January. First, the Biden administration promised that it would not end sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. Then Biden recklessly decided to pursue re-entering the Iran nuclear deal without any leverage over Tehran, not unlike his support for the failed SALT II nuclear arms control treaty with the Soviet Union 40 years ago. With regard to Russia, Biden started off his term agreeing to let Vladimir Putin continue his nuclear modernization program and pledge of a first-use option with his tactical nuclear weapons in the event of a war between Russia and NATO in the Baltics or Poland. Then he flip-flopped on whether or not he would uphold President Donald Trumps sanctions on the Nordstream 2 pipeline that further cements German dependence on Russia for natural gas. He did all of this despite having spent the entire 2020 campaign attacking former President Trump as Putins puppy. Had Trump done what Biden has done, the current president and his supporters would have accused the former president of being a traitor. Trump bombed Russian mercenaries in Syria that threatened U.S. interests. Now Russia appears to be in Syria to stay and is now basing its deadly Tu-22M3 Backfire bombers there, and theres scant word from the Biden administration about this development. The Soviet Union developed the Backfire during the Cold War with the aim of sinking U.S. aircraft carriers. Theyre a direct threat to the U.S. Sixth Fleet, not just to Syrian jihadists who are opposed to the Assad regime. A former senior U.S. diplomat who I spoke with, who worked with the Chinese, told me that this brinksmanship on Chinas part is all about getting Biden to cave. Theres no doubt that Beijing sees a chance to get Biden to concede in areas where Beijing seeks dominance in East Asia based on what its seen from his performance as president. I warned that Biden would pre-emptively surrender to the nations enemies in December. Four months of the Biden presidency have proven my instincts to have been correct. Thus far, Biden has: Caved to Russia on nuclear weapons and the NordStream 2 pipeline; Given Iran a blank check to foster terrorism and disrupt the peace in Yemen, Iraq, Israel, and Syria; And worked to get Iran back into the violated nuclear deal, ignoring the fact that the country that has consistently violated every agreement its ever signed. We saw that the Biden team isnt up to the job when the Chinese foreign minister and his wolf-warrior diplomats lectured Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his team about supposed American human-rights violations in Anchorage in March. Instead of rising to the challenge, Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan backed down and apologized. The United States must return to a posture of strength and increase its military support for Taiwan, Japan, India, and Australia. It should consider deploying intermediate-range nuclear missiles (IRBMs) to the Aleutians to threaten China. And it must increase the freedom of navigation patrols until the Chinese are forced to the point of irritation to talk. The same goes for dealing with Moscow and backing Ukraine, the Baltics, and NATOs Eastern European allies. Diplomacy without power leads to war and surrender. The world saw what happened when power-hungry dictators are appeased following the 1938 Munich Conference and peace in our time. Incompetence in confronting Hitler led to my family in the Vosges Mountains of Eastern France spending four years under Nazi occupation even though the French army had been regarded as the strongest in Europe on paper. Hitler would have been finished had the French retaliated against the Nazis for militarizing the Ruhr Valley in 1935 and pressed the attack into Germany in 1939. Appeasement causes more deaths every time. John Rossomando is a senior analyst for defense policy at the Center for Security Policy and served as senior analyst for counterterrorism at The Investigative Project on Terrorism for eight years. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Passengers wait for their flights inside the new West Gates at Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport on May 24, 2021. (Ashley Landis/AP Photo) US Reports Highest Travel Numbers Since Start of Pandemic The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported the highest number of people passing through travel security checkpoints on May 28 since the outbreak of the CCP virus. The TSA logged 1.96 million travelers on May 28 at the start of the Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial beginning of summer in the United States. Thats nearly six times the travel volume on the same day a year ago, when just over 327,000 passed through security checkpoints. Travel numbers have been on the rise since earlier this year as reported infections dropped following the winter surge and after tens of millions of Americans were vaccinated against the virus. The TSA routinely reported more than 2 million daily trips in 2019. The lowest travel numbers were logged on April 13, 2020, when only 87,534 passengers passed through TSA checkpoints. More than 40 percent of Americans have received a vaccine for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. The number of newly reported infections has mostly trended down since mid-January. Were very excited about the reemergence of travel, the chance for Americans to reunite with family and friends whom they havent seen for some time, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said May 28 on Good Morning America. Theres going to be a tremendous amount of people traveling this weekend. Patience is required, Mayorkas said in reference to the return of long lines at airports. A number of states and major corporations lifted long-standing mask mandates in May after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its guidelines to advise that fully vaccinated people dont have to wear masks indoors, outdoors, or in most other settings. The White House celebrated the travel numbers in a statement released on May 29. President [Joe] Bidens economic plan is working. Thanks to a robust vaccination program that has helped get the pandemic under control, Americans are continuing to resume levels of normalcy, the White House said in a statement. The AAA estimated earlier this month that more than 37 million Americans would travel 50 miles or more from their homes for the Memorial Day weekend. As more people get the COVID-19 vaccine and consumer confidence grows, Americans are demonstrating a strong desire to travel this Memorial Day, Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, said in a statement. This pent-up demand will result in a significant increase in Memorial Day travel, which is a strong indicator for summer. Memorial Day gas prices are at the highest level in seven years, according to The Associated Press. However, White House press secretary Jan Psaki said in a statement that Americans are paying less in real terms for gas than they have on average over the last 15 years. She said the Memorial Day gas prices this year arent much different from May 2018 and May 2019. Staff are seen preparing vaccine doses inside the Melbourne Exhibition Centre COVID-19 Vaccination Centre in Melbourne, Australia on May 28, 2021. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) Vaccine Rollout Not a Race: Dep. Australian PM Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack has echoed the sentiments of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, saying that it is not a race to get Australians vaccinated against COVID-19. McCormack, who is acting prime minister with Morrison on an official trip to New Zealand, also does not believe there is hesitancy in getting the COVID-19 jab with 120,000 people vaccinated on Saturday and a similar number the day before. It is not a race, it has to be systematic, McCormack told Sky News Sunday Agenda program. Then Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack announced $5.5 billion equity injection to Inland Link on Dec. 16, 2020. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images) It has to be rolled out in a way that Australians obviously need to know that they have to get the jab but we cant have everybody going and getting it at the same time. Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino is among a number of officials and politicians from Labor state governments pointing the finger at the federal government, saying a successful vaccine rollout and fit-for-purpose quarantine facilities may have changed Victorias fate. There was similar criticism from the deputy premier of the Labor state government in Queensland, Steven Miles, who suggested the cost of building such facilities would pale in comparison to the economic impact of the strict lockdown measures imposed by the states. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese condemned the governments defence of hotel quarantine. Scott Morrison speaks about the success rate. What he doesnt say is that with every failure, there are very serious consequencesfor health, for our economy and for people being able to go about their lives, he said. However, Morrison last year consistently publicly called on the states not to close internal borders and requested, but been denied, information on the medical basis for Queenslands lockdown and border closures. With the JobKeeper wage subsidy package now goneput in place by the federal government as a temporary measure to cushion the impact of state and territory lockdownsAlbanese said the government must introduce financial support for Victorians in lockdown. Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley on Saturday refused to speculate whether the lockdownwhich is forecast to cost the state $1 billionwould be extended but said authorities are getting close on the heels of the outbreak. As Victorians await the latest COVID-19 figures, McCormack said the federal government was working closely with the state to make sure it only lasts seven days. If the Victorians do the right thing and the contract tracking and tracing occurs as it needs to, hopefully by Thursday the restrictions will be lifted, he said. Its entirely up to the Victorian state government and their public health authorities. But we dont want to see closed borders. Five new COVID-19 cases were reported in the state on Saturday, taking the outbreaksparked by a hotel quarantine breach in South Australiato 35 cases. By Colin Brinsden and Nick Gibbs. Epoch Times reporter Caden Pearson contributed to the report. Victorian businesses forced to shut during the states fourth lockdown will be given a A$250 million lifeline, although there is no support for out-of-pocket workers, the state government announced on Sunday. The $250 million package includes $190 million in $2500 grants for businesses, $40.7 million in $3500 grants for liquor licence and food certificate holders and $20 million for event operators. The government expects 90,000 small to medium-sized businesses and sole traders to be eligible for the payments. Treasurer Tim Pallas said the quarter of a billion dollar package was bigger and broader than that provided during the states snap lockdown in Februarya strategy first adopted in communist China. Its the single biggest package on a pro-rata basis that this state or any state has provided, he told reporters on Sunday. Treasury estimates Victorias seven-day lockdown will punch a $700 million hole in the economy, but Pallas would not be drawn on possibly extending the package if it drags out past Thursday. It is hurting businesses. It is hurting the workforce, he said. We understand that we have an obligation to assist and support them. That is exactly what we are doing. Industry groups welcomed the package after publicly lobbying the state government for immediate support. Compared with the cost to business from the lockdown the relatively small amount of support offered will be quickly swallowed up if the lockdown continues beyond a week, Australian Industry Group Group Victorian head Tim Piper said. Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra added to calls for the federal government to agree to a JobKeeper-like wage subsidy after the state government announced the lockdown. When Australians needed support in 2020, both state and federal governments were there. Now is not the time for the feds to abandon Victorians, he said. Acting Premier James Merlino and Pallas both lashed the federal government for its refusal to offer support payments for the seven-day period. The Commonwealths view is that if these are short-term circuit breakers, then the states should pay for them, Pallas said. Well, we are paying. We are paying very substantially, and I dont think working people should be paying. But Victorian Opposition Leader Michael OBrien criticised the tactic, accusing the state government of lobbing verbal hand grenades to deflect responsibility for the lockdown. Attacking the federal government doesnt get Victoria reopened. It doesnt get Victorians back to work. It doesnt keep the virus under control, he told reporters. By Callum Godde Virginia Teacher Placed on Leave After Saying He Wont Call Students by Their Preferred Pronouns An elementary school teacher in Loudoun County, Virginia, was placed on administrative leave after objecting to his school districts proposed policy about pronouns, according to a report. Byron Tanner Cross, who teaches physical education at Leesburg Elementary School in Loudoun County Public Schools, was placed on leave after he spoke against a proposed rule that would require teachers and staff to address students by their preferred gender-identity pronouns, according to the Loudoun Times-Mirror. The policy, according to the districts website, says that LCPS staff shall allow gender-expansive or transgender students to use their chosen name and gender pronouns, regardless of the name and gender recorded in the students permanent educational record. Cross addressed LCPS school board on May 25 during a public meeting in which the proposal was discussed, saying he will not affirm that a biological boy can be a girl, and vice versa, because that would violate his Christian beliefs. Its not my intention to hurt anyone, but there are certain truths that we must face when ready, Cross told the board members. We condemn school policies [that] would damage children, defile the holy image of God. I love all of my students, but I will never lie to them regardless of the consequences, he continued. I am a teacher, but I serve God first and I will not affirm that a biological boy can be a girl and vice versa because its against my religion. Its lying to a child, its abuse to a child, and its sinning against our God. In a May 27 email sent to parents, Leesburg Elementary Principal Shawn Lacy said Cross is on leave beginning this morning, but didnt specify who made the decision or why. I wanted you to know this because it may affect your students school routine. Because this involves a personnel matter, I can offer no further information, the email read, reported Loudoun Times-Mirror. Loudoun County, which is home to some of the nations top-achieving public schools, gained national attention over the past months as the ground zero in a fight between parents and school districts seeking to promote woke progressivism such as critical race theory (CRT)an ideology rooted in Marxist class struggle but with an emphasis on race, with the goal of dismantling all social institutions it deems inherently racist. The school district made headlines in March when a Facebook group of current and former LCPS teachers created a blacklist of parents and teachers who expressed concern about elements of CRT being incorporated into classrooms. According to the Daily Wire, which first reported on the matter, the group members were encouraged to infiltrate the anti-CRT groups, to use hackers to silence their communications, and to expose these people publicly. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern meets Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Queenstown, New Zealand on May 30, 2021. (James Allan/Getty Images) Virus Rules and China to Dominate Australia-New Zealand Leaders Talks New Zealand (NZ) Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she wants to keep writing the COVID-19 rulebook with Australia during talks with fellow leader Scott Morrison. The Australian and New Zealand leaders say theyll write new pages in the COVID-19 rulebook when they meet for formal talks on Monday. Morrison and Ardern are in Queenstown for the annual Australia-New Zealand Leaders Forum. Morrison is making a whistlestop trip: hes in Aotearoa (the Maori name for New Zealand) for just under 24 hours, and the actual talks will go for less than three hours. The pair will start their day by laying a wreath at the Arrowtown War Memorial, before settling into their policy agenda. Both have dropped hints about what will be discussed. China is a major talking point. New Zealand has signalled it will join Australia in a World Trade Organisation dispute with Beijing after the communist regime levied tariffs against Australia on barley. We rely on the rules-based trading system to provide a secure and predictable global trading environment for everyone so we will act to uphold it, NZ Trade Minister Damien OConnor said. The move is a sign that the two trans-Tasman allies, both of which have strongin Australias case, mutually beneficialtrade with China, are unified. This comes after Beijing has for over a year waged a campaign of economic coercion against Australia in response to Foreign Minister Marise Payne calling for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19, which originated in Wuhan, China. Morrison said the Australia-New Zealand partnership will be even more vital in the years ahead as we both confront an increasingly challenging geostrategic environment. These talks will be an important opportunity for us to continue our efforts to support an open, inclusive, and resilient Indo-Pacific, he added. Morrison has referenced a possible biosecurity deal being announced on Monday. Both leaders are expected to discuss their rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in the Pacific after committing 7.5 million doses to the developing region. Addressing business leaders on Sunday night, Ardern said she was most eager to talk about the next phase of COVID-19 planning. The path that New Zealand and Australia carved (during COVID-19) was unique, and it continues to be unique, Ardern said. That however means there is no rulebook for us. Were both looking forward to the next day of talks, that next stage of writing the rulebook. As we both grapple with the challenge of how we safely re-open ourselves up to the world, whilst holding on to all the gains weve made, those are conversations that I would love to be able to have togetherto write that rule book together, she said. By Ben McKay. Epoch Times reporter Caden Pearson contributed to this report. House Homeland Security Committee member Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) speaks during a hearing in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Sept. 17, 2020. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) We Are Going to Expose You: Crenshaw, Cotton Create Military Whistleblower Site to Combat Woke Ideology Two Republican lawmakers have begun a campaign that calls on whistleblowers in the military to come forward with their experiences in training programs that promote critical race theory or diversity, equity, and inclusion. We wont let our military fall to woke ideology, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), a former Navy SEAL, wrote in a tweet on May 28, linking to a website where informants can submit their accounts. With written permission, we will anonymously publish egregious complaints on social media and tell the country whats happening in our military. For too long, progressive Pentagon staffers have been calling the shots for our warfighters, he said. The web page was posted in conjunction with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a former Army captain. They hope that service members will anonymously publish egregious complaints on social media in order to tell the country whats happening in our military, Crenshaw said. Spineless military commanders have let it happen. Now we are going to expose you. Earlier this month, the U.S. Space Force confirmed it relieved Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier of his duties after he alleged that Marxism and critical race theorywhich draws inspiration heavily from Marxist critical theoryare both being spread in the military via training courses that are required by Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other high-level officials. Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting, Space Operations Command commander, relieved Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier of command of the 11th Space Warning Squadron, Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, May 14, due to loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead, the Space Force said in mid-May, adding that Lohmeiers remarks in a podcast and in his self-published book constituted prohibited partisan political activity. The Space Forces statement didnt provide an example. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) speaks during a hearing to examine United States Special Operations Command and United States Cyber Command, in Washington on March 25, 2021. (Andrew Harnik-Pool/Getty Images) Lohmeier last week met with Cotton, who wrote on Twitter after their meeting, I was concerned by what I heard and will be pressing senior military leaders for answers. Critical race theory denounces U.S. and Western culture as a systematic form of oppression that negatively affects minority groups. Critics of the ideologywhich is sometimes referred to as being wokehave said its proponents apply the Marxist tactic of class struggle to divide people along lines of race, gender, and ethnicity to label them oppressors and oppressed. At the state level, legislatures and governors have taken action against critical race theory as well as The New York Times 1619 Project, by barring them from being taught or promoted in schools and in government institutions. The governors of Tennessee, Idaho, Arkansas, and Oklahoma have already signed bans of critical race theory in public schools. In Texas, Arizona, and Iowa, similar measures have been proposed, according to an analysis. Woman Is Shocked After Giving Birth to a Boy Weighing 12lb 9oz and Measuring 2 Feet Tall A mother in England was left astonished after giving birth to a baby boy measuring two feet tall and weighing a whopping 12 pounds 9 ounces (5.7 kg). He was so big that he didnt even fit on the weighing scales. Amy, 27, and her husband Zac Smit, 28, from the Buckinghamshire village of Cheddington, were shocked when they first laid eyes on their son Zagrys, also known as Zeik. Baby Zagrys Smit, also known as Zeik. (SWNS) The mother of two, who underwent a C-section because of Zeiks size, said: He was so big that it took two people to lift him out. There were all these really small ladies around me, and I heard one of them saying, I need some help, hes enormous.' When the midwives lifted Ziek above the screen for Amy and Zac to see, Amy was in absolute disbelief looking at him. We knew he was going to be a tall baby because all the scans showed he was quite long, and both Zac and I are around the six-foot mark, Amy said. But we had no idea he would be that big. Ziek, who was born on March 25, didnt even fit the scales when they wanted to weigh him. His mom says that they had to create a makeshift plank just to balance him as he was so long and wide. Amy said she had bought clothes that would fit a 3-month-old baby as they expected him to be tall, but after Zeik was born, she had to ask her husband to go buy clothes for a 6-month-old baby as none of the previous clothes fit Zeik. Amy and Zacs first daughter, Lola, who was born in September 2018, was also a big baby and weighed 9 pounds 2 ounces (4.14 kg). However, the mother was struck by how different her appetite was in both pregnancies. Zeik with his parents Amy and Zac. (SWNS) While expecting Zeik, Amy lost her appetite and just went off food. I never fancied any meals, I couldnt eat meat or anything, Amy said. During my first pregnancy with Lola, I was snacking all day long, I couldnt stop eating. Now, however, she cant help but imagine how much bigger Ziek would have been if she had of eaten a lot more. Ziek, who is now 2 months old, weighs 14 pounds 12 ounces (6.7 kg) and is a happy, smiley baby, according to his mother. Zeik is now 2 months old. (SWNS) His older sister is besotted with him and always wants to be with him and give him cuddles, calling him my baby. Amy says her husband jokes around, saying that Zeik is going to be a rugby player. Hes South African so hes really into his rugby, and with Zeiks size, hes already calling him our little rugby player, Amy said. Lola with her baby brother, Zeik. (SWNS) Despite Zeiks huge size, though, he hasnt won the title of United Kingdoms biggest baby, which is currently held by George Joseph King who was born in February 2013 at Gloucester Royal Infirmary weighing a staggering 15 pounds 7 ounces (7 kg). Epoch Times Staff contributed to this report Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter WINDSOR LOCKS The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Saturday confirmed the identities of three people recently slain in Windsor Locks. Lauren Leslie, Delores Wisdom and David Wisdom, found dead Friday, all died of gunshot wounds, Chief Medical Examiner James Gill said in an email. Leslie and Delores Wisdom died as a result of homicides, while David Wisdom died of suicide, he said. Windsor Locks police responded to a Lownds Drive residence after witnesses reported hearing yelling and screaming shortly before 1 a.m. Friday, followed by a popping sound, Lt. Paul Cherniack said Friday. Cherniack said arriving officers found three adults one man, two women showing no signs of life. They were pronounced dead at the scene by medics. Police have not yet identified the victims in the case. Fox 61 reported Saturday that Leslie, Delores Wisdom and David Wisdom were the deceased parties. Cherniack did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday. On Friday, Cherniack said officers followed a blood trail to another room and found another victim, a woman, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. She was rushed to the hospital, taken into surgery, then later listed in critical, but stable condition. He said a fifth person, a man, was found unharmed. That individual is not a suspect, Cherniack stressed. Cherniack said investigators found evidence at the scene that corroborates their belief that the person responsible for this incident which he called a domestic-related murder-suicide was one of the individuals found dead. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com; reporting from Tara ONeill is included in this story Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-29 13:27:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on May 30, 2021 shows an empty classroom of a school after it was closed by government to curb COVID-19 spread in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. Afghanistan closed schools in 16 out of the country's 34 provinces from Saturday in the latest measure to further contain the spread of COVID-19, Afghan Public Health Ministry confirmed. (Photo by Sayed Mominzadah/Xinhua) KABUL, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan closed schools in 16 out of the country's 34 provinces from Saturday in the latest measure to further contain the spread of COVID-19, Afghan Public Health Ministry confirmed. The measure, which will be reviewed in two weeks upon health assessment, applies to all universities and schools, both public and private in Ghazni, Helmand, Kandahar, Logar, Nangarhar, Paktia, Parwan, Wardak, Panjshir, Balkh, Laghman, Badakhshan, Kapisa, Kunduz, Nimroz provinces, as well as Kabul province where the national capital Kabul city is located, the ministry said in a statement. The country has recently seen a spike in COVID-19 cases. On Friday, the number of COVID-19 national tally soared to 70,107 after 977 new cases were recorded, the highest number of daily cases since the disease outbreak in February last year. Meanwhile, 157 people recovered, taking the overall number of recoveries to 57,119 while 18 deaths were reported, raising the death toll to 2,899 during the cited period, according to ministry's figures. On Thursday, the ministry ordered the wedding halls to shut down operation by early June. The statement urged Afghan citizens to wear face masks in crowded places, practice physical distancing and keep personnel hygiene. Enditem NEW BRITAIN Officials at Central Connecticut State University said a reported noose at the end of a crane on campus was a standard loop hanging from the crane and asked the cable be lowered. University administration received a complaint Saturday about a possible noose found hanging from a construction site on campus. University President Zulma Toro said campus police and chief operations officer Sal Cintorino went to the site to investigate and found that it was not a noose but a steel cable loop hanging from a crane. A construction crew working on campus hung an American Flag from the cranes cable to recognize Memorial Day, she said. Even though cranes often use steel cable loops, Toro said the image, especially in light of the recent issue at the Amazon construction site in Windsor, was extremely concerning. Quite frankly, I think it is reckless and tone-deaf behavior, she said. A total of eight nooses were found at the Amazon facility, with the latest one being on Wednesday, May 27. More than 100 employees have been interviewed in connection with the nooses found at the facility since late last month. An investigation involving local, state and federal authorities continues and a $100,000 reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest. CCSU administration was in contact with the construction company. Toro said they demanded the cable be lowered on Saturday night. On this weeks episode of Segue, Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles weekly radio program exploring the lives and work of the people on campus and beyond, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean Kevin Leonard, PhD, interviews Masonya Bennett, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. This episode of Segue airs at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 30. Listeners can tune into WSIE 88.7 FM The Sound or siue.edu/wsie. Bennett is from Morven, N.C., a rural town about 50 miles southeast of Charlotte. She attended the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Charlotte, where she earned a bachelors in Africana and international studies in 2007, and a masters in Latin American studies in 2010. She later earned a second masters in African diaspora studies and a doctorate in global and sociocultural studies from Florida International University in 2019. How did you become interested in cultural anthropology, specifically Black and Latin American studies? inquires Leonard. Growing up in the south with parents who both grew up during the height of the civil rights movement was a major influence, explains Bennett. I also took a Middle Eastern studies course and became interested in international studies, which later evolved into an interest in Latin American studies. While at UNC Charlotte, Bennett spent a semester in the Dominican Republic as part of the study abroad requirements for her major. I noticed many racial and ethnic issues between Haitians and Dominicans, and became interested in the processes of racialization on the island, adds Bennett. After teaching for a year in Honduras, she was inspired to return to UNC Charlotte to earn her masters. During this time, she returned to the Dominican Republic to conduct research. Were there important individuals who encouraged and supported you to pursue a career in cultural anthropology? asks Leonard. At UNC Charlotte, I was grateful to have a strong support system during my undergrad and masters programs, answers Bennett. It wasnt until my PhD program that I realized anthropology was for me. I started focusing on sociology, but I realized that the methods of cultural anthropology were in line with what I wanted to do. My advisors and family were extremely supportive of me going into this field. How have your personal experiences affected your career? asks Leonard. Traveling as a Black woman and having a cultural historical background as a Black southerner has heavily influenced my career, says Bennett. Ive been passionate about Black issues and history since I was a child. Educating other people on these experiences and cultures of African descendants is my passion in life. Prior to joining academia, Bennett worked with migrant populations in Charlotte, where she worked as an intern ESL program coordinator and instructor. There was a build up of my background as a Black woman from the South, my travels to the Caribbean, and what Ive learned about race to come together to inform my dissertation, which focused on Black immigrant experiences in the South, adds Bennett. My work is a culmination of all my experiences. What are the questions that have guided your research? inquires Leonard. What is the significance of Blackness? shares Bennett. What does it mean to be Black and how does this shift depending upon your country and region? Where do Black people and African descendants find belonging? What do these spaces of belonging look like, how are they constructed, and how do they reflect their identity? Lastly, what are some of the ways we resist global white supremacy? How do you go about answering these questions? asks Leonard. Im a fan of hanging out and immersing myself in these different cultures and places, explains Bennett. I enjoy having conversations with different folks and eating. Food is also a large part of my research. I find many tangible ways in which cultures are connected, even through the exchange of items, such as fashion and hair care. Immersion is extremely important in anthropology. Study abroad experiences completely changed my life and trajectory. Stepping out of your comfort zone by learning different cultures and languages while listening to others is key in this field. Tune in at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 30, to WSIE 88.7 The Sound to hear the entire conversation. The Alma College Community Engagement (ACE) Scholarship Program rewards students for their active volunteer service and involvement in their schools and local communities. This photo provided by Bryan Fenster shows his brother Danny Fenster in September of 2019 in Krakow, Poland. Fenster, an American journalist working for a news magazine in Myanmar has been detained by the authorities there. Frontier Myanmar says Danny Fenster, its managing editor, was detained at Yangon's airport as he was preparing to board a flight to Malaysia. (Photo courtesy Byron Fenster via AP) A man who allegedly bragged about where he was and what he was doing on Jan. 6 inside the U.S. Capitol building is facing federal charges that stem from his own livestream on social media. Anthony Michael Puma, 47, of Brownstown Township, made sure he captured his trip to Washington, D.C. on his GoPro camera and posted it on Facebook. But, its actually law enforcement who is most interested in seeing the things he said and what he did, along with comments he made pertaining to the insurrection. - Advertisement - According to a criminal complaint, several of his written posts were singled out including ones that foreshadowed war at the Capitol and spoke of storming the building and potentially having to kill. After reviewing his extensive camera work and Facebook posts made before, during and after the Capitol breach, Puma was charged with the following: Knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority Knowingly engaged in disorderly or disruptive conduct in or within such proximity to, any restricted building or grounds Obstruction of justice/congress Violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds He was released on bond Thursday and must report to court in Washington D.C. As the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate met to certify the votes of the Electoral College from the Nov. 3, 2020 election, a mob of protesters carrying signs in support of former President Donald Trump forced their way into the building. And while it did create chaos for hours damaging the building inside and out and resulting in numerous injuries and death the process eventually was completed. As the Federal Bureau of Investigation went in search of anyone who played a part in the breach and violence, thousands of names were reported. In Pumas case, it took only two days for his name to surface. It was one of his Facebook friends who tipped off the FBI and pointed them in Pumas direction, according to the complaint. On Jan. 8, 2020, the FBI National Threat Operations Center received her online tip that Puma was not only involved, but live streamed what he did and posted pictures and various comments about it. The tipster said that Puma entered the building during the breach. A federal search warrant for his Facebook account was issued and law enforcement received the records provided by Facebook. In part, law enforcement retrieved the following posts: On Dec. 31, 2020 Puma posted, On the 6th when we are all there in the capital and he is givin his second term the people will see. Then you never know we might have to start killin some commie bastards. #stopthesteal. On Jan, 5, he posted a picture on his Facebook account of himself standing in front of a statue and said, Tomorrow is the big day. Rig for Red. War is coming. That same day, he also posted, We are here. What time do we storm the House of Representatives? Shortly after that post, he posted again, this time saying, Hopefully we are storming the House of Representatives tomorrow at 100pm. On Jan. 6, Puma wrote, I was there. They were flash banging us. Tear gassing us. Pepper spraying us. We were outside. Dont believe the NEWS. I have hours of video on my go pro. In one portion of the video, Puma is heard encouraging others in front of him to move forward and clear the way for others trying to scale the wall of the Capitol. He is also heard telling someone that he just scaled the wall and the GoPro records footage as Puma enters the Capitol through a window. On Jan. 11, Puma posted to his Facebook account about the experience, writing, When I got up and over the wall I walked right into the front door and walked around in the capital bldg. Cops everywhere everyone peaceful. FBI agents showed up at Pumas house on Jan. 14 for an interview with him. According to the complaint, Puma said he and friends traveled to the rally to hear Trump speak to his supporters, and then they followed the crowd to the Capitol not noticing any violence or anything of concern. He told agents that he got word that the Capital had been breached. When he reached the east side of the building he said he just walked inside the mezzanine. He told police there were no police or barricades blocking entry and he simply walked right into the atrium. He said he did not see any violence or looting inside at that time, which was about 1:45 p.m. It wasnt until the end of the day that Puma said he saw police pushing the crowd away from the building and he saw a few people fighting with officers using chairs and pieces of railing. He said he had no idea who those people were. Puma is the second Downriver resident to be turned in by a friend for allegedly entering the Capitol illegally that day. Sign up for our daily morning newsletter Click here and then look to the right side for the sign up to the morning newsletter for The News Herald, and you can get the top headlines de The FBI recovered deleted photos of Anthony Williams of Southgate. Williams was charged in March with obstruction of official proceedings, entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct. U.S. District Judge Kimberly Altman released Williams on March 26 on an unsecured bond of $10,000. He was required to surrender his passport and prohibited from possessing a firearm or other weapons while his case is pending. +4 Children with special needs hooked after catching fish in Brownstown at derby A group of children got a chance to cast their cares away recently with a special invitation to participate in a fishing derby. Back the Blue rally set to send a message with walk down Hall Road in Woodhaven With seven active and retired members of law enforcement within her family, Shannon Fuller knows the courage it takes to put on a uniform an Listen to article We are at it again! Over the past several days, federal lawmakers have been travelling round the country to sample opinion as to how best to review the amended 1999 Constitution that was hastily bequeathed by the military in 1999. Of course the exercise, like similar ones, is a money-guzzler. While we pray that the exercise does not turn out to be another jamboree, it is important to point that we could have achieved something close to a peoples constitution at less cost and devoid of any razzle-dazzle. How? First, let us remind ourselves of one bitter truth! In more ways than one, the death of General Sani Abacha denied Nigerians the opportunity to consign the hot air of restructuring to the trashcan of Nigerias political history. Reference here is to the stillborn 1995 constitution, a product of the 1994/1995 National Constitutional Conference which contained some of the most revolutionary proclamations capable of restructuring the country. In a manner of speaking, the draft report of Confab 94 would have given Nigerians something very close to a peoples constitution. For very obvious reasons, it was expedient for General Abdulsalami Abubakar who succeeded General Abacha to shred any document that had the tag of his predecessor on it. Without any doubt, General Abacha who was nudged into snatching power by the same people who turned round to become his implacable adversaries was a divisive leader. When, therefore, General Abacha died after holding the country together for five impossible years, survival instincts compelled his stop-gap successor to disown him. Disowning General Abacha was a convenient way of healing wounds and, more importantly, of wooing the south west back into the fold. Expectedly, the (late) Justice Niki Tobi Committee that was set up to explore the way forward slammed the 1995 draft constitution before hastily throwing it out. The committees reason was that Nigerians raised compelling reservations over the document, being the product of a disputed legitimacy and which suffered a crisis of identity in the public consciousness. In its place, the Niki Tobi Committee recommended that the 1979 Constitution be amended and foisted on Nigerians. The committee claimed that the 1979 constitution had been tried and tested and, therefore, provides a better point of departure in the quest for constitutionalism in Nigeria. Criticism trailed the 1999 constitution even before it was promulgated. Lets return to the 1995 draft document. It is interesting to note that Nigerias official six geo-political zones, a product of the 95 draft document, remains the most enduring legacy of General Abacha. In any case, the zones were meant to be the building blocks for the fundamental changes envisaged by the 1995 draft constitution which made provision for six principal offices of five-year single-term duration to rotate among the zones. The document made provision for the offices of president, vice president, senate president, house speaker as well as the position of prime minister and deputy prime minister. It is safe to suggest today that, had death not abridged Abachas dream in 1998 or, better still, had political exigency not prevailed on General Abubakar to throw away the baby with the bathwater after General Abachas death, chances are that, by 2021, Nigeria would have experimented with the Abacha formula for twenty-three of the thirty-year transition period which was projected to promote national cohesion and integration, after which merit and competence would replace rotation in determining who gets what. In strict adherence to the principle of rotation envisaged by the Abacha document, at no point in time would any of the six geo-political zones have cause to complain of marginalization since there was always going to be one juicy office to be vied for by each of the zones every five years. What this means is that, by 2018, the fifth of the six zones would have produced a president for the country! It also means that by 2023, each of the six geopolitical zones would have produced a president, a vice president, prime minister, deputy prime minister, president of the Senate and speaker of the House of Representatives for a single term of five-year duration. This unique provision eliminates the incumbency factor and its attendant abuses. Since the draft envisaged its replication at state levels, the president and other principal officers as well as state governors and stand disqualified from standing election for the same office during their five-year single term incumbency! General Abachas death robbed Nigeria of the benefits of these well-thought out provisions that would have restructured Nigeria from a country of contending ethnic nationalities into a modern nation state in thirty years! More than two decades after throwing away the baby with the bath water, Nigerians are still playing the ostrich instead of sobering up and overgrowing the prejudices of the Abacha era! Many of those who concede today that Abacha was not entirely evil allude to the uniqueness of the draft report of the National Constitutional Conference which he convoked. Take time to scrutinize the draft report of Confab 94 and you will readily admit there would not have been Boko Haram, no IPOB and, most certainly, no Niger Delta insurgency if the nation was regulated by the provisions of the document. As a matter of fact, the Abacha document was so comprehensive to have anticipated the untenable and wrong-headed secessionist agitation and the hollow talk of marginalization that comes with it. Now, can and, should Nigerians continue to play the ostrich and allow lawlessness to dominate the political scene? Can we afford to allow virtual bandits to dictate how the country is run? Are we to allow a rambunctious few to continue to stampede us and dominate national discourse? Of course, the talk of dissolving Nigeria is hot air that lacks substance. Yes, there is need to restructure and this should not be mistaken for a breakup as some are so lazy to believe. We need to restructure in a way every section of the country will, at all times, be appropriately represented in governance. The Abacha draft took care of these and more. The document suggested a five-year single-term for elective posts. To restructure in a way lawmaking will be pro-active, effective, inexpensive, the Abacha draft made provision for part-time lawmaking! Nigeria should restructure in a way that treasury looters will not be shielded from prosecution. It may interest Nigerians and their elected representatives that there is no proclamation for the much-abused immunity clause for any public office holder in the confab draft report! Not even the president, his deputy and governors and their deputies as is the case now or, for principal officers of the National Assembly as is being proposed by larceny-inclined lawmakers. In the midst of the current euphoria, Nigerians can only hope and pray that the 9th National Assembly, with the benefit of being led by straight-thinking and decent Nigerians, will get it right and set the nation on the path of true greatness. Its all about Nigeria and tinkering with the Abacha Document is a good starting point. Magaji < magaji778[email protected] > is based in Abuja Listen to article At least 200 students of an Islamiyya school located at Tegina in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State have been abducted. One person was shot dead while another lays critically injured after gunmen carried out the kidnap operation at about 4:30pm on Sunday. A resident of the area Zayyad Mohammed confirmed the incident to Channels Television via telephone. According to him, the Salihu Tanko Islamiyya school where the incident took place, was built by a retired Immigration Officer. Details of the attack are still sketchy, but according to sources, the Islamiyya school is not the usual Sangaya boarding Islamic school, but a conventional one where parents send their children on a daily basis for the purpose of acquiring Islamic education. As at the time of filing this report, the police were yet to make any comments regarding the development. Channels Television Angela Spino-Bogota of the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities shares her story in the Oakland Community Health Network video, which debuts today. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-29 22:18:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Nov. 12, 2020 shows the night view of the Lujiazui area of Pudong, east China's Shanghai. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang) "For the last several decades, the most remarkable facet of China's urbanization has been its unmatched speed," said an Indian researcher. NEW DELHI, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Rapid urbanization and integrated city planning are catalysts for China's miracle growth, an Indian expert has said. "For the last several decades, the most remarkable facet of China's urbanization has been its unmatched speed," said Ramanath Jha, a research fellow focusing on urbanization at India's think tank Observer Research Foundation, in an article recently released by the foundation. "The country's demographic transition from an overwhelmingly rural population to a predominantly urban citizenry got pushed with unparalleled rapidity," the expert said. Noting the phenomenon can be better understood through a comparison between the United States, China and India, he said that the United States took two centuries to reach 80 percent urbanization from a base of 20 percent, while "India will most likely take two-and-a-half centuries and China a single century." Rapid economic growth coupled with urbanization at speed was also backed by an aggressive urban planning strategy in China, the Indian expert pointed out. A national plan, tightly regulated by the Ministry of Land and Resources, province by province, fixes an overall land use plan, he said. Once the geographic and demographic dimensions of urbanization are determined, urban planning policies kick in, the expert said. In the process of urbanization, Chinese cities have also managed to address "big city problem" and avoid unemployment and poverty by creating conditions for growth in income and employment, he added. A 33-year-old woman is facing charges for allegedly trying to bite a police officer and other assaultive behavior as well as animal cruelty for allegedly leaving a dog in a car for approximately 90 minutes in Troy, police said. The incident unfolded at around 1:30 p.m. on May 19 when police responded to the Somerset Collections south parking lot on West Big Beaver Road in Troy, on a report that a dog was inside a car and appeared to be in distress. Police said the dog was in a cage in the back seat of a 2011 Chevrolet Camaro, and was panting heavily. Officers determined it had been locked inside the car for about one and a half hours, police said. Eventually, a woman approached the car and claimed to be the owner, and police determined she had misdemeanor warrants for her arrest from Detroit for assault and from Livingston County for aggravated assault. The dog was rescued and the woman was arrested, police said. - Advertisement - While the woman was in the officers patrol car, she reportedly began banging her head against the vehicles interior and then, at the Troy lock-up facility, continued to thrash about, kicking and screaming at officers, police said in a report. At one point, she tried to bite an officer and was then secured in a restraint chair, police said. The woman was charged with assault and battery of a police officer, hinder and obstruction of a police officer and cruelty to animals, police said. ALSO SEE: +2 State police: Deaths from vehicle crashes up 10 percent in 2020 The number of people killed in vehicle crashes in Michigan jumped 10 percent in 2020 compared to the year prior, with 1,083 lives lost the m +4 Possible plea deal being ironed out for alleged sex trafficker A plea deal appears to be in the works for one of three people charged in an alleged metro Detroit sex trafficking ring. +3 Judge: Case continues to trial for teen accused of murdering his mother A case against a Farmington Hills teen accused of murdering his mother nearly four years ago will not be remanded back to a lower court for an White Lake Township police are attempting to identify a suspect in a recent incident at Walmart, located at 9190 Highland Rd., and are asking Under 450 new coronavirus cases were reported in Michigan on Saturday, just ahead of Memorial Day on Monday, according to the state's website. There were 445 new cases and 49 new deaths quoted in Michigan, bringing the state to 887,719 cases and 19,163 deaths total since the pandemic began in March 2020. At least 48 of the 49 new confirmed deaths on Thursday were identified during a vital records review, which are conducted regularly by the state. - Advertisement - These counts exclude probable cases and deaths linked to COVID-19 and include only confirmed cases and deaths. The state put a notice on its website on Saturday that said cases would not be posted after this until Tuesday, June 1, in light of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday. This means there will be no new report on Monday as usual for Sunday and Monday. Health officials have also been tracking results of statewide testing. So far, 13,726,289 diagnostic tests have been conducted. As of Friday, a total of 818,165 Michiganders have recovered from COVID-19 (30 days out from onset of illness), a total which is updated by the state every Saturday. According to the state of Michigan, at least 46.2 percent of the state's population had been fully vaccinated as of Saturday, or 3,973,514 residents. And, at least 53.3 percent of the population had received their first dose, or 4,581,048 residents. Macomb County had 345,060 residents vaccinated, Oakland had 594,317, Wayne had 465,661 and the city of Detroit had 147,780. There were also 8,275,685 vaccine doses administered, in total, in the state as of Saturday. Pfizer vaccines make up 4,586,599 of that total, Moderna vaccines account for 3,407,854 and Johnson and Johnson vaccines are about 281,232. In Oakland County, 1,248,803 vaccine doses have been administered, in Macomb County, 713,440 and in Wayne County, 981,175. The city of Detroit also had 330,699 doses administered. The state's coronavirus vaccine section on its webpage explains the coronavirus vaccine and displays a dashboard to give an overview on vaccine distribution in Michigan. According to Johns Hopkins University, worldwide on Saturday, the number of global cases reached over 169 million with deaths at over 3.52 million. In the United States, over 33.2 million cases have been reported with over 594,000 deaths tied to the disease. John Hopkins recently updated its map to include vaccinations, currently at over 1.84 billion people vaccinated globally. In the Metro Detroit area on Saturday, Wayne County had the most new cases with 60, as well as 8 new deaths, bringing the county to 100,987 cases and 2,516 deaths total. Wayne County is now the second county in the Detroit area to top 100,000 cases, after Oakland County, which had 101,505 total cases and 2,225 total deaths on Saturday. Oakland County was also the second county with the most new cases on Saturday with 50 new cases and 6 new deaths. The city of Detroit was next with 48 new cases and 7 new deaths, totaling 50,885 cases and 2,213 deaths. Finally, Macomb County was last with 26 new cases and 7 new deaths, making 91,479 cases and 2,298 deaths. In mid-Michigan, 1 new case and no new deaths were cited in Isabella County, totaling 5,368 cases and 91 deaths. Gratiot County had 2 new cases and no new deaths, putting it at 3,212 total cases and 91 total deaths. Clare County quoted no new cases or deaths on Saturday, keeping it at 2,035 cases and 80 deaths in total. Kent County also had a total of 68,010 cases and 775 deaths on Saturday, after 39 new cases and no new deaths were reported. Finally, the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) had 5 new cases and no new deaths on Saturday, making 26,036 cases and 147 deaths total. +3 Back To School: Interest in Michigans tuition-free community college program exceeds expectations Aaron Alexander had every intention of earning his bachelors degree in engineering after graduating from Utica High School. He started off at +2 Ceremony planned in Milford to remember those who died during pandemic On Saturday a special ceremony will be held in Milford to remember the lives of all who have died of all causes during the coronavirus pandemic. Michigan coronavirus numbers continue to fall Daily Michigan coronavirus cases continue to remain below the 1,000 level suggesting that more vaccinations are stemming the tide of the deadl WASHINGTON (AP) With a showdown vote looming, Senate Republicans are misrepresenting the timeline of a proposed independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection. The House easily approved the bill last week with 35 Republicans signing on. But the measure faces an uncertain fate in the evenly divided Senate. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell is opposed and former President Donald Trump is demanding the effort be quashed. On Sunday, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, suggested that a roadblock to gaining GOP support is the commission's timing, echoing concerns from Republican leaders last week that the panel's final report could extend into the 2022 midterm election year. - Advertisement - That's not the case. COLLINS, citing issues that could lead her to oppose the panel: "I see no reason why the report cannot be completed by the end of this year. The commissioners have to be appointed within 10 days. There's plenty of time to complete the work. And I'm optimistic that we can get past these issues based on recent conversations I've had with" Democrats. interview Sunday on ABC's "This Week." SEN. JOHN CORNYN, R-Texas, suggesting that Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will drag the commission's work well into the middle of 2022: "Well, part of the concern is that's the plan. That's Pelosi's plan ... That would be the Democrats' dream." interview with CNN on May 19. THE FACTS: Those claims of a delayed report are untrue. The bill calls for the report to be complete by the end of this year. According to the legislation, the "final report" from the bipartisan commission, whose members would be evenly divided among Democrats and Republicans, must be submitted to the president and Congress "not later than December 31, 2021." There is a subsequent 60-day period for the commission to finish administrative tasks, such as to distribute the report and provide testimony to congressional committees, which would come in the early part of 2022. But the panel's investigation, including all findings, conclusions and recommendations, would need to be fully complete this year. So there has not been a roadblock to Senate Republican support for the panel based on the report's timing as Collins and others describe it. Collins said she wants an independent commission and is talking with House leaders about her issues with the bill, including how staffing is handled. She wants assurances that the panel's staff, along with commission members, will be bipartisan. The legislation calls for the chairperson, who would be appointed by Democrats, to hire staff "in consultation with the vice chairperson," who would be chosen by Republicans. Collins said Sunday that staff should be either jointly appointed by both parties or staffed in equal numbers by both sides. If approved, the bipartisan commission is expected to look at Trump's role in stoking the Jan. 6 riot, including his persistent false claims in the months beforehand that the November election was "stolen." Fact check: Biden overstates how many Americans immunized WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden on Monday vastly overstated the number of Americans who've been vaccinated against COVID-19. And when ad Fact check: Yes, Trump lost election despite what he says WASHINGTON (AP) Seeking to shame Republicans who are disloyal to him, former President Donald Trump distorted the Constitution's meaning in Fact check: Biden skews record on migrants; GOP on virus WASHINGTON (AP) Taking a swipe at his predecessor, President Joe Biden gave a distorted account of the historical forces driving migrants to BANGKOK (AP) The mother of a journalist detained in Myanmar says she and the family "just want him here" in Michigan. "It was a total visceral reaction, gut, visceral, numbing, nauseating, tearful, helpless feeling," Rose Fenster said, describing how she felt when learning about the detention of her son, Danny Fenster. The 37-year-old managing editor of Frontier Myanmar was detained at Yangon International Airport on Monday as he was preparing to board a flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, en route to the Detroit area to see his family. - Advertisement - "It's important we get this resolved as quickly as possible. We're on Day 5, so time is crucial. We want him out of there," Bryan Fenster, Danny's older brother, said during an interview Friday at their parents' home in Huntington Woods, Michigan. Earlier in the day, the U.S. State Department said it was deeply concerned about the detention of Danny Fenster and another American citizen who also has been working as a journalist in Myanmar. The State Department is pressing that country's military government for their immediate release. It said in a statement that it will keep seeking the release of Fenster and Nathan Maung "until they are allowed to return home safely to their families." Frontier Myanmar is a news and business magazine that is published in English and Burmese and also online. Human rights organizations and groups promoting freedom of expression have been calling for the release of both men, as well as all other journalists being held by Myanmar's military government. Michigan Rep. Andy Levin said he has been in close contact with the State Department and the Fenster family, whom he represents in Congress. "This is about freeing an American citizen who has been unjustly detained," Levin said. "And we're all rowing in the same direction here." Bryan Fenster said his brother has been taken to Insein Prison in Yangon, which over decades has housed thousands of political prisoners, including many from the current movement protesting military rule. "We've been hearing terrible things about the conditions there," Bryan Fenster said, Maung and Myanmar national Hanthar Nyein, co-founders of the Myanmar news website Kamayut Media, were arrested on March 9, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, citing accounts in Myanmar media. The group said it had reports that Maung, the website's editor-in-chief, and Hanthar, a news producer, had been physically mistreated by guards in their first few weeks at Insein Prison. The State Department statement said consular officers from the U.S. Embassy in Yangon had paid a virtual visit to Maung on Monday but so far have not been granted access to Fenster. It said it urged the authorities "to grant consular access, as required by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, without delay, and to ensure proper treatment of both Nathan and Daniel while they remain detained." Two other foreign journalists have been arrested by the military junta that took power in February after ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Freelancers Robert Bociaga of Poland and Yuki Kitazumi of Japan have since been deported. "The ongoing persecution, intimidation, harassment and violence faced by journalists in Myanmar constitutes a clear attempt by the military authorities to suppress peaceful dissent and obscure violations committed by security forces in the wake of the 1 February coup," the human rights group Amnesty International said in a statement. "The nationwide crackdown has resulted in widespread denial of the rights to freedom of expression and access to information." It said that according to Myanmar's Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, 88 journalists have been arrested since the army's takeover, with more than half still in detention, and 33 in hiding. According to the Assistance Association, which has kept a detailed tally of arrests and deaths since the military takeover, more than 4,300 people are in detention, including 104 who have already been sentenced. Reporters Without Borders and PEN International are among other groups calling for the release of the journalists. "As a mom, I just want him here," Rose Fenster said. "And just, I love him, love him, love him." ___ Householder reported from Huntington Woods, Michigan. American journalist working for Myanmar magazine detained BANGKOK (AP) An American journalist working for a news magazine in Myanmar was detained Monday by the authorities there, his employers said. Hazel Park to honor fallen soldiers with ceremony, bike parade Hazel Park plans to honor fallen men and women of the armed forces with events on Memorial Day. WASHINGTON (AP) Senate Republicans blocked creation of a bipartisan panel to investigate the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, displaying continuing party loyalty to former President Donald Trump and firm determination to shift the political focus away from the violent insurrection by his GOP supporters. The Senate vote on Friday was 54-35 six short of the 60 needed to take up a House-passed bill that would have formed an independent 10-member commission evenly split between the two parties. It came a day after emotional appeals for the commission from police who fought the mob, the family of an officer who died and lawmakers in both parties who fled Capitol chambers in the worst attack on the building in two centuries. The Republicans were mostly but not totally united: Six voted with Democrats to move forward. Eleven senators nine Republicans and two Democrats missed the vote, an unusually high number of absentees for one of the highest-profile votes of the year. At least one of the missing Republicans would have voted in favor of considering the commission, according to his office. - Advertisement - The GOP opposition means that questions about who should bear responsibility for the attack could continue to be filtered through a partisan lens in congressional committees rather than addressed by an outside, independent panel modeled after the commission that investigated the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. "The investigations will happen with or without Republicans," declared Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of the Republicans who voted to move forward. "To ensure the investigations are fair, impartial and focused on the facts, Republicans need to be involved." The vote was in part a GOP attempt to placate Trump, or avoid his reprisals, as he has kept a firm hold on the party since his defeat by Democrat Joe Biden. The former president told his supporters to "fight like hell" to overturn his defeat before the siege and continues to falsely say he won the election claims shouted by his supporters as they stormed the building. Trump called the commission legislation a "Democrat trap." Friday's vote the first successful use of a Senate filibuster in the Biden presidency was emblematic of the profound mistrust between the two parties since the siege, especially among Republicans, with some in the party downplaying the violence and defending the rioters. The vote also is likely to galvanize Democratic pressure to do away with the filibuster, a time-honored procedure typically used to kill major legislation. It requires 60 votes to move ahead, rather than a simple majority in the 100-member Senate. With the Senate evenly split 50-50, Democrats needed support from 10 Republicans to move to the commission bill. Speaking to his Republican colleagues, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said after the vote they were "trying to sweep the horrors of that day under the rug" out of "fear or fealty" to Trump. He left open the possibility of another vote in the future on establishing a bipartisan commission, declaring, "The events of Jan. 6 will be investigated." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi echoed that commitment, saying Democrats "will find the truth." Though the bill to form the commission passed the House earlier this month with the support of almost three dozen Republicans, most GOP senators said they believed the bipartisan panel would eventually be used against them politically. While initially saying he was open to the idea, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell turned firmly against it in recent days, arguing that the panel's investigation would be partisan despite the even split among party members. McConnell, who once said Trump was responsible for provoking the mob attack on the Capitol, said dismissively of Democrats, "They'd like to continue to litigate the former president, into the future." Still, six in McConnell's caucus defied him, arguing that an independent look was needed, and Pennsylvania's Pat Toomey would have brought the total to seven but for a family commitment, his office said. In addition to Cassidy, the Republicans who voted to move forward were Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Rob Portman of Ohio and Mitt Romney of Utah. Murkowski said Thursday evening that she needed to know more about what happened before and on the day of the attack, and why. "Truth is hard stuff, but we've got a responsibility to it," she said. "We just can't pretend that nothing bad happened, or that people just got too excitable. Something bad happened. And it's important to lay that out." Some Republican colleagues strongly disagree, defending the rioters who supported Trump and his false insistence that the election was stolen from him. A House Republican said this month that one video of the insurrection looked like "a normal tourist visit." In reality, the attack was the worst on the Capitol in 200 years. The protesters interrupted the certification of Biden's win over Trump, constructed a mock gallows in front of the Capitol and called for the hanging of Vice President Mike Pence, who was overseeing the proceedings inside. Lawmakers hid on the floor of the House balcony as the rioters tried to break in, and senators evacuated their chamber mere minutes before it was ransacked. Four of the protesters died that day, including a woman who was shot and killed by police as she tried to break into the House chamber. Dozens of police officers were injured, and two took their own lives in the days afterward. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick collapsed and died after engaging with the rioters, and video showed two men spraying Sicknick and another officer with a chemical. The Washington medical examiner said he suffered a stroke and died from natural causes. Senate Democrats angrily questioned how the Republicans could vote against an independent investigation. "An insurrection without consequences without even a proper investigation is a dress rehearsal for another insurrection," said Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in Congress. "When the Capitol police, who protect us with their lives, ask for this commission, we are ingrates to refuse." The Republicans' political arguments over the violent siege which is still raw for many in the Capitol, almost five months later have frustrated not only the Democrats and some of their Republican colleagues but also those who fought off the rioters. Sicknick's mother, girlfriend and two police officers who battled the rioters alongside him went office to office and asked Republicans to support the commission. Michael Fanone, a Metropolitan Police Department officer who responded to the attack, joined Sicknick's family on Capitol Hill Thursday. In between meetings with Republican senators, he said a commission is "necessary for us to heal as a nation from the trauma that we all experienced that day." Fanone has described being dragged down the Capitol steps by rioters who shocked him with a stun gun and beat him. Sicknick's mother, Gladys Sicknick, suggested those who opposed the panel visit her son's grave. In interview on CNN after the vote, she asked of the Republicans: "What kind of country do they want?" ___ Associated Press writers Alan Fram, Colleen Long and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report. +3 Performance arts students stay the course as Broadway plans to reopen Broadways recent announcement that it will reopen this fall was music to the ears of thousands of arts workers who make their living in New Y +3 Back To School: Interest in Michigans tuition-free community college program exceeds expectations Aaron Alexander had every intention of earning his bachelors degree in engineering after graduating from Utica High School. He started off at State Reps. Padma Kuppa (D-Troy) and Samantha Steckloff (D-Farmington Hills) introduced House Bills 4895 and 4896 to protect Michigans food supply and economy by supporting the wellbeing of Michigans essential pollinating insects. HB 4895 would prohibit the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on public land and require the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) to produce a report on the costs and benefits of the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, according to a release from Kuppa and Steckloff. Chemically related to nicotine, neonicotinoids are a new class of insecticides that are toxic and often fatal to bees, monarch butterflies, and other beneficial insects and pollinators. In 2018, the European Union banned three main neonicotinoids for all outdoor uses, the release said. - Advertisement - HB 4896 would exempt milkweed plants from the definition of noxious plants for the purpose of controlling and eradicating such weeds. Milkweed plants are a key food source for bees and are the only food source for monarch caterpillars. However, milkweed plants are rapidly disappearing due to loss of habitat and widespread usage of weed killers. By protecting our states pollinating insects, we are protecting Michigans food supply and economy, Kuppa said. Phasing out the use of pesticides that are known to be harmful to essential pollinators and collecting more data on their usage will allow us to be better able to make decisions that promote the health and wellbeing of our state. Especially amidst concerning reports of declining populations of beneficial insects and pollinators, it is essential that we take steps to protect them, and thus, protect our state, Steckloff added. Both bills were referred to the House Committee on Agriculture for further consideration. +3 Performance arts students stay the course as Broadway plans to reopen Broadways recent announcement that it will reopen this fall was music to the ears of thousands of arts workers who make their living in New Y +2 Michigan car crash victims could lose care under new rules LANSING, Mich. (AP) Courtnie Bush, 16, was never supposed to wake up again, much less smile, stand and walk after she was in a car crash in A 35-year-old Sterling Heights man was arrested after he passed out around midnight on Thursday, May 20 in the Taco Bell drive-thru at 41167 Dequindre Road in Troy while intoxicated, Troy police said. Police tried to wake the man, who was blocking and holding up the line with his 2019 Dodge Caravan, but were initially unsuccessful. They then performed a sternum rub, which woke the man; although, he appeared to be confused. - Advertisement - The man admitted to police his license was suspended by the Michigan Secretary of State's office, which was then confirmed. Officers also noticed the smell of alcohol coming from inside the man's vehicle and from him as he spoke, which prompted them to ask the man to perform several sobriety evaluations, including a breath test. Police noted the man performed poorly on the evaluations and had a blood-alcohol level of .183 percent, whereas the legal limit in Michigan is .08 percent. The man was then arrested and taken to the the Troy Police lock-up facility, where he agreed to submit a Chemical Blood test. The test was drawn by medical personnel and the man was charged with driving with a suspended license and operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. 3 out-of-towners arrested at Troy hotel Three out-of-state people are facing charges following their arrests recently at the Hawthorne Suites on Livernois Road in Troy. Cops: Woman leaves dog locked in car, tries to bite officer A 33-year-old woman is facing charges for allegedly trying to bite a police officer and other assaultive behavior as well as animal cruelty fo Troy pair lose $144K to scammer claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House A Troy couple lost approximately $144,000 recently after falling victim to a scammer falsely claiming they had won a huge payout from Publishe Troy police said they arrested a 21-year old Sterling Heights man on Sunday, May 16 for smoking marijuana while driving his green 2000 Toyota Camry southbound on Milverton Drive, south of East Maple Road. Police had initiated a traffic stop for driving erratically when they smelled marijuana coming from inside the man's car. When they asked him about it, the man initially denied smoking any marijuana but later produced a marijuana cigarette and told the officer he smoked "a little". - Advertisement - The officer asked him to go through several sobriety evaluations, including a breath test; but, despite performing on the evaluations, the man's blood-alcohol level was zero. The man was arrested and taken to the Troy Police lock-up facility, where he performed a medical blood test, which was drawn by medical personnel. He was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of narcotics, pending his lab results. Troy pair lose $144K to scammer claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House A Troy couple lost approximately $144,000 recently after falling victim to a scammer falsely claiming they had won a huge payout from Publishe Cops: Woman leaves dog locked in car, tries to bite officer A 33-year-old woman is facing charges for allegedly trying to bite a police officer and other assaultive behavior as well as animal cruelty fo +3 Dearborn man charged with crushing, killing parakeet over $30 refund at Allen Park pet store The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office has charged a man in connection with the killing of a pet parakeet after a video surfaced showing the bird being crushed and slammed to the ground. Ferndale police to work with Common Ground to help those in crisis Ferndale police are ready to start working with Common Ground, Oakland Countys leading crisis service agency. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-29 22:23:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TUNIS, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Kais Saied met on Saturday with visiting President of the Libyan Presidency Council Mohamed Menfi to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation. Saied and Menfi affirmed the congruence of views between the two countries on bilateral, regional and international issues of common interest during a joint press conference held at Carthage Presidential Palace in the capital Tunis. The Tunisian and Libyan people are "one people and one family with a shared future," Saied noted. For his part, Menfi said the relations between the two countries are historical and lasting, adding he discussed with Saied over many common issues between the two countries. "Our consultations were characterized by a spirit of brotherhood and friendship ... We discussed all issues of common interest, reviewed views on several local and international issues and discussed bilateral cooperation in several areas, including economic and social fields," he said. Enditem COVID deaths top 1,000, cases pass 150,000 BANGKOK: Health authorities reported 24 new COVID-19 fatalities on Sunday (May 30) and another 4,528 cases, passing two grim milestones with the accumulated death toll now at 1,012 and the number of cases since the start of the pandemic at 154,307. COVID-19Coronavirushealthdeath By Bangkok Post Sunday 30 May 2021, 03:25PM A shopper looks at pet fish at a shop in the Chatuchak weekend market. One of the most famous markets in the country is quiet due to the coronavirus outbreak in Bangkok. Photo: Nutthawat Wicheanbut / Bangkok Post The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) said 2,626 of the new infections were among the general population and 1,902 in prisons, reports the Bangkok Post. Fourteen fatalities were reported in Bangkok, three in Nonthaburi and two in Chon Buri. A single death was recorded in each of Chiang Mai, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Suphan Buri and Nakhon Sri Thammarat. CCSA assistant spokeswoman Apisamai Srirangson said coronavirus transmissions among family members led to most of the 11 deaths. Bangkok and Phetchaburi detected 754 new infections each. Samut Prakan came third with 264 cases, followed by 139 in Nonthaburi and 90 in Chon Buri. The CCSA also logged 27 imported cases, including 24 Thais returning from Cambodia. The remaining three were Thais flying in from Switzerland, the Philippines and the Netherlands. Major outbreak closes CP chicken plant in Saraburi A chicken processing plant belonging to CP Foods in Kaeng Khoi district of Saraburi province has been closed after 245 of its workers were found to have COVID-19, the Bangkok Post also reported. The factory has about 5,800 workers and 3,400 had been tested, Saraburi Governor Manrat Ratanasukhon said in a letter to the Interior Ministry on Saturday. Results were available for 765 of the 3,400 workers tested, and 245 almost a third were positive. The infected were immediately sent to Kaeng Khoi Hospital for treatment. A 160-bed field hospital was also set up at the Chetkhot-Pong Kon Sao scout camp in Kaeng Khoi district, with 49 COVID patients admitted there so far. The factorys owner, Charoen Pokpand Foods Plc, was building a separate field hospital on its premises, Mr Manrat said. It was designed to accommodate up to 400 patients. The factory was closed for disinfection from May 30-June 3. Active case-finding had continued to cover all workers at the factory, with the remaining test results expected on Sunday. The provincial health office had told workers family members and others who had been in close contact with them to take COVID-19 tests at Saraburi Hospital on Sunday from 9am-noon. Workers awaiting test results who were considered high-risk had been quarantined for 14 days at a facility provided by the district health office. Those deemed low-risk were asked to self-isolate for 14 days. The chicken factory closure comes after Sri Trang Gloves (Thailand) Plc and Cal-Comp Electronics (Thailand) Plc closed some of their production sites this month to stem the spread of coronavirus among employees. Govt takes legal action over Sinopharm supply claim BANGKOK: The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DES) is pursuing legal action against architect Duangrit Bunnag and Accap Assets Co, a real estate company, for allegedly fabricating documents about the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine and spreading fake news about it. It says the claims discredit the government. COVID-19Coronavirusviolencecrimecorruptionpolitics By Bangkok Post Sunday 30 May 2021, 10:04AM What Mr Duangrit had said in the Clubhouse session was recorded and will be used as evidence against him, Mr Chaiwut said. Image: Clubhouse Accap Assets Co claimed in a document circulated online that it was capable of supplying 20 million doses of the Sinopharm vaccine but had been barred from approaching Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and other government figures, reports the Bangkok Post. The government said it rejected the claims. However, Mr Duangrit had on Thursday night continued spreading false information about the issue during an audio conference on the Clubhouse app, DES Minister Chaiwut Thanakhamanusorn said yesterday (May 29). Mr Duangrit had claimed someone asked for B5 million baht as tea money in exchange for securing an appointment to discuss a Sinopharm supply deal with the prime minister, said Mr Chaiwut yesterday. What Mr Duangrit had said in the Clubhouse session was recorded and will be used as evidence against him, Mr Chaiwut said. The minister said the DES anti-fake news centre had checked with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and was told the real-estate company had never applied for permission from the FDA to import the vaccine. Nor was it an official representative of Sinopharm in Thailand. Dr Nithi Mahanonda, Chulabhorn Royal Academy secretary-general, also earlier labelled Accap Assets Co unreliable after it failed to present a formal dossier on the vaccine, which is a requirement of the FDA submission process. The DES is cooperating with the Technology Crime Suppression Division and the Public Health Ministry to compile evidence in support of charges that will be filed against Accap Assets Co, Mr Duangrit and all ther parties found involved in spreading the fake information, Mr Chaiwut said. International tourist children arriving in Phuket after July 1 do not need to be vaccinated PHUKET: Children arriving in Phuket with their family as international tourists after July 1 do not need to be vaccinated for COVID-19, according to a notice posted by the Official COVID-19 Information Center Phuket, yesterday (May 29). COVID-19Coronavirustourismhealth By The Phuket News Sunday 30 May 2021, 11:12AM Image: Phuket Info Centre official Facebook page The notice was posted on the Phuket Info Centre official Facebook page, operated by the Phuket office of the Ministry of Interior, yesterday evening. The notice was posted with the text, Phuket Sandbox guidelines for fully vaccinated foreign tourists beginning July 1 are as follows. Adults (Aged 18 and over) Travelling from medium/low risk countries, need to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days (and not over one year) before departure date, the notice continued. Children (Aged 12-17) Need to have Rapid Antigen Test at the airport, the notice added. Children (Below 12) Do not need the Test if they travel with their parents/family, the notice marked. The notice also confirmed that the RT-PCR test result proving the passenger is not infected with COVID-19 must be issued within 72 hours before the flight time. Thi was mandatory. All tourists must show their itinerary or visiting plan and also install the "Thailand Plus" application and share their location during the whole duration of their stay. After being permitted to enter Phuket, tourists will be free to roam the island for five days before having to undertake another RT-PCR test on Day 5. After the Day 5 test, tourists will be allowed off-island. Day 6 and 7 could go on a day trip outside Phuket such as Phi Phi [Island] and Yao Noi [island] and Phang Nga Bay, the notice said. If a tourist stays shorter than seven days they may fly out of Thailand only from Phuket, but if they stay longer than seven days, they may opt to fly from Bangkok, the notice added. Every facility booked and used by the tourists, including hotels, restaurants, tour/sport recreation facilities and transportation. must be accredited by the Tourism Authority of Thailand SHA (Safety and Health Administration) scheme, the notice confirmed. Of note, the notice shared by the Phuket Info Centre was initially issued by the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). The notice was marked as "Latest update on 15 May 2021, Edited on 19 May 202. "Final International Arriving Protocol at Phuket to be finalised by Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), the notice concluded. Southern Pines, NC (28387) Today Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to cloudy skies after midnight. Low near 65F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to cloudy skies after midnight. Low near 65F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. One in five Canadian consumers expect a return to normalcy by Canada Day Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 73F. Winds light and variable. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 73F. Winds light and variable. Tomorrow Mostly sunny skies. High 92F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. HARTFORD The Genl George Rogers Clark Chapter Sons of the American Revolution will celebrate Flag Day on Saturday, June 12, at 11 a.m. at the Lewis and Clark Museum, 1 Lewis and Clark Trail, Hartford. The GGRC Chapter will display all 50 state flags and present a program highlighting the history and background of 28 historic flags from our nations history. Tara Kojsza had a couple questions for the customers who stopped by her ice cream stand for a mid-week afternoon pick-me-up. Everyone good? she asked. Everyone happy? That caring attitude that goes with each scoop not only made her business popular but also made Kojsza a beloved figure in the local community. For the last 13 years, she has owned Jessees Place Ice Cream, 426 Bartel St., Scranton, where shes known for traditional ice cream and her popular cheeseburger plus specialty sweets, such as her signature Strawberry Crunch treat. Kojsza has always had a mind for business she has bachelors and masters degrees in marketing management from Wilkes University and comes from what she described as a strong sales background, having worked for Pepsi, Sanofi and J.P. Mascaro & Sons. She also saw the example her grandparents set as owners of Sterling General Store. I grew up in a small business, she said. They had a restaurant, bar and general store, so I literally sell the same hoagies that they did 35 years ago. Even with that strong business background, though, Kojsza didnt set out to run an ice cream shop. The idea came from her late brother, Ryan, who suggested they buy Jessees Place all those years ago. They partnered for the first year before Kojsza took over on her own, putting in a lot of grassroots work to drive up business and make it succeed. You cant tell me no. You cant tell me I cant do it, she said. Ill never quit. Jessees Place had been around for years and had multiple owners, but Kojsza believes shes had it the longest. It closes for the winter, but when its in season, Kojsza heads there from her full-time job as a supervisor at UPS in Taylor. Watching her business thrive has been exciting, she said. Ill never forget it, the first time walking through the mall, someone had my shirt on. Someone had a Jessees Place T-shirt on, she said, adding that shes even seen pictures of people wearing the shirts in front of places like the White House. The ice cream shop has also offered something of a safe haven for Kojsza and her family, too, after they suffered a pair of losses. In 2000, her 21-year-old sister, Valerie Kojsza, died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Her brother, Ryan Kojsza, then died in a 2018 car crash when he was 40. Their mother, Lori Zepponi, still gets choked up when talking about her kids, and she speaks proudly of their accomplishments as well as those of her surviving daughter. Kojsza puts so much happiness and light in the world, Zepponi said. Weve had a lot of tragedy in our house, she said. Shes the reason I get up in the morning. Zepponi recalled how she struggled to get out of bed for years after Valeries death, and Kojsza saw the ice cream stand as something to give her mother a new purpose in life. Kojsza brought her mother to the stand to help out, and while Zepponi no longer works there every day, she became the heart and soul of the ice cream stand immediately, Kojsza said. Everybody still asks about her. The sadness that comes with bearing a child and losing a sibling is horrible, Kojsza added. I know that it helps her. I know that it helped me to see that she was OK. Kojsza hopes to make her brother and sister proud, and part of that comes from caring for their familys next generation: her brothers children. I dont know how I wake up every morning, she said. Theres a lot of heartache. But Im there for my niece and nephew, and I remind them how much their father loved them. ... This is what you do; you work hard. People are there for us, and were there for people. Aydan, 10, and Giuliana, 8, have already started helping their aunt at the ice cream stand, and Kojsza joked that they make better ice cream cones than some workers whove been there a long time. She sets an example of hard work for them, and reminds them that people are there for us, and were there for people. Theyre the best. They come down here, (and) they start stocking stuff. ... They eat me out of house and home, she said with a laugh. Theyre the coolest kids in the neighborhood. Zepponi said she has never seen someone who could make lemonade out of lemons like her daughter. When her children bought the business, they ended up getting more of a shell than a full business, Zepponi said, and Tara has crawled every inch of the way to make these giant steps. Taras the one who has kept us standing up, she added. Kojsza joked that she doesnt know what she wants to be when she grows up, but running the ice cream stand is the longest thing that Ive ever done in my life besides sales. And it brings her joy. Theres nothing greater than watching the expression of handing someone an ice cream, whether theyre 6 or theyre 60, she said. Theres a lot of gratitude in it. Kojsza seems to have a natural knack for remembering the faces who show up at Jessees Place, too. People enjoy that they can come here and talk to us, Kojsza said. Were very customer-based. We know our customers. If we dont know them, we get to know them. ... People come back because of that. And that love extends beyond the confines of ice cream cones. Kojsza has hosted fundraisers at the stand, most recently a pop-up vendor shop with basket raffles last weekend to support a local young woman with cancer. She also sponsors two Little League teams. Anything for the kids, Im a sucker, Kojsza said. The kids keep me in business. I have to support the community they support me.Theres just no other way. Zepponi said her daughter empathizes and sympathizes with others, and people return the favor. They all came back and support Tara because of the person she is and what she does, she said. And ... she reaches far, and her heart goes out to those people. In addition to serving ice cream and items like Italian hoagies, cheesesteaks and her grandmothers Sausage and Peppers, Kojsza also has to handle the business side of things, from hiring and training staff to ordering supplies and handling marketing. And then she has her other ventures, too, including a taco stand she takes to Montage Mountain for events such as the Peach Music Festival and Camp Bisco. She recently added another business, the soy candle company Klean Kandles. Customers can pick up her small-batch, clean-burning candles at the ice cream stand, and she is working to set up a website, too. Kojsza also partnered with another local businessperson to work events such as weddings, showers and bar mitzvahs. She sets up candy and ice cream buffets as well as nacho bars, cotton candy machines, hot dog stations and more. Others tend to tell her she needs a break, but Kojsza believes shes better off working at this pace. People constantly will be like, You are the hardest-working business woman that we know, Kojsza said. Im just nonstop. I go right from work right to my business. Building Jessees Place into the community hub it is today took a lot of hard work and included some scary times, but Kojsza has enjoyed watching it succeed. Theres a lot of times where I was like, oh, gosh what did I get myself into? she said. But I have bills to pay, and you know what? I have to make it work. I didnt know any other way. Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania Melanie A. Kohler has been appointed chief technology officer. Kohler will succeed Aaron B. Balch, who will retire on June 30. In her new role, Kohler will identify, support and oversee the information technology infrastructure for the organization and its business technology incubators, Ben Franklin TechVentures and the Bloomsburg Regional Technology Center. She will explore innovative IT approaches and improvements for BFTP/NEP and its incubator companies, lead the IT staff, manage technology vendor relationships, and serve on BFTP/NEPs leadership team, reporting to President and CEO Angelo J. Valletta. City of Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti was selected as one of 19 leaders from across the country to join the NewDEAL (Developing Exceptional American Leaders), a selective national network of state and local elected officials. Cognetti joins the group at a time when state and local leaders are on the frontlines of responding to the pandemic and as they take on a critical role in implementing the American Rescue Plan recently signed by President Joe Biden. The new law will send hundreds of billions of dollars to state and local governments. Members of the nearly 200-person network are working to enact pro-growth progressive solutions in a diverse array of communities. Foley Law Firm All four attorneys at the firm have again been recognized as 2021 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers for their expertise in personal injury and medical malpractice. The Super Lawyers selection process takes into account peer recognition, professional achievement in legal practice, and other cogent factors before awarding a top rating. Thomas J. Foley Jr. founded the firm and was first selected as a Super Lawyer in 2004. He has earned the distinction every year since. Kevin P. Foley is the current president of the Northeastern PA Trial Lawyers Association and secured a $10 million settlement on behalf of the victims of a motor vehicle accident last year. Michael J. Foley is a certified civil trial advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Thomas J. Foley III is a member of the Monroe and Lackawanna County bar associations, as well as the Pennsylvania Bar Association. He is also a member of leading trial lawyers organizations, including the American Association for Justice and the Pennsylvania Association for Justice. With locations in Scranton and Stroudsburg, the law firm serves personal injury clients throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. The firm handles a wide range of wrongful death and personal injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents, workers compensation claims and medical negligence. Hunters Sharing the Harvest Longtime volunteer Randy Ferguson was chosen to succeed John Plowman as executive director on March 1. Ferguson has served the organization in multiple capacities for more than 20 years, most recently as Mercer and Crawford County area coordinator. Plowman will be retiring after 30 years with the venison donation organization he co-founded in 1991. Ferguson joins the organization in his new official post after serving the last eight years as director of marketing and communications for Ernst Conservation Seeds of Meadville. He has a 27-year career in communications, conservation, marketing, manufacturing, media relations, health care and agriculture. Reporting to the board of directors, Ferguson will be tasked with further growing the organizations capacity to aid the food insecure in Pennsylvania. Lackawanna College College President Dr. Jill Murray has been named as an editorial board member for the new journal for esports, Annals of Esports Research. AER is the first North American esports journal and is an international, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to expanding the scientific basis and qualitative and quantitative knowledge of esports by publishing quality articles concerning the field. The journal publishes innovative original research, opinion and educational information related to esports. AER is a gold-standard open access journal published through Harrisburg University. It is a no-fee journal and all published articles will be freely accessible. Marshall, Parker & Weber LLC The local elder law and estate planning firm announces that Jeffrey A. Marshall, certified elder law attorney Matthew J. Parker and certified elder law attorney Tammy A. Weber were named to the 2021 Super Lawyers list by the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers organization. Marshall has been named to the Super Lawyers list each year since the list was founded in 2004. This is the 13th year that Parker has been named to the list and the third year for Weber. The Super Lawyers designation, conferred upon the most respected legal practitioners in the state, is based upon peer recognition and professional achievement. No more than 5% of the lawyers in each state are selected by the research team to receive this honor. Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a multiphase selection process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with independent research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. Since Super Lawyers is intended to be used as an aid in selecting a lawyer, it limits the lawyer ratings to those who can be hired and retained by the public that is, lawyers in private practice and legal aid attorneys. The firm is a nationally recognized expert in estate and elder law planning, with three offices located in Williamsport, Jersey Shore and Plains. McDonald and MacGregor PC Lackawanna County lawyer Michael J. McDonald, a founding partner in the Scranton law firm, will become vice president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association at the conclusion of the associations May 21 House of Delegates meeting. McDonald will serve as the associations 2022-23 president-elect and 2023-24 president. From May 2016 through May 2019, McDonald served as PBA secretary. McDonald is currently co-chair of the PBAs Bar Leadership Institute, which recruits and develops future leaders of the association. He is past co-vice chair of PBAs Strategic Planning Committee, as well as a current member and past co-chair of the PBA Membership Development Committee. Wayne Bank Vincent G. OBell has been promoted to senior vice president and chief lending officer. OBell joined the bank in 2016 and has served as senior vice president and commercial lending officer for the Lackawanna County market since that time, as well as a team leader within the commercial lending division. He holds an associate degree in banking from Lackawanna Junior College and a graduate degree in banking and finance from the Stonier School of Banking. In 2019, OBell was recognized by the Pennsylvania Bankers Association for his 40 years of service, having held various senior roles in the banking industry for four decades. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-29 23:00:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People work at a plant of Anshan Zizhu Sci & Tech Profile Steel Co., Ltd. in Anshan, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 15, 2020. (Xinhua) SHANGHAI, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese steelmakers are intensifying efforts to shift towards ultra-low-emission production as the country pushes for greener economic growth. As of the end of February, around 620 million tonnes of crude steel capacities of 229 companies have completed or are in the process of ultra-low-emission upgrading, according to He Wenbo, executive director of the China Iron and Steel Industry Association (CISA). For the steel industry to fully realize ultra-low emissions, an investment of about 260 billion yuan (about 40.7 billion U.S. dollars) will be required, which would increase operating costs by more than 50 billion yuan each year, He said. By vigorously promoting industrial structure adjustment, energy structure optimization, ultra-low emission and low-carbon transformation, China's steel industry in recent years has seen remarkable progress in green development. According to CISA data, major iron and steel enterprises had reduced their comprehensive energy consumption per tonne of steel by 58 percent from 2015 to 2020. Making the steel and other energy-consuming industries greener is an important part of China's broader efforts to cut pollution and tackle climate change. China previously announced that it would strive to peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. China Baowu Steel Group Corporation Limited (China Baowu), the world's largest steel conglomerate, in January announced its aim to have carbon dioxide emissions peak before 2023, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent before 2035, and achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. China's crude steel output came in at 1.07 billion tonnes in 2020, official data showed. From the beginning, the mystery of who killed West Scranton native Mary Lou Cooke Manns seemed unsolvable. Two railroad workers found the body of the petite, dark-haired 32-year-old in Coxton Rail Yard in Duryea on the morning of April 8, 1991. The coroner quickly determined the cause of death as strangulation and experts said she wasnt killed there. Officials found no forensic evidence on her body or clothing not even her own hairs on her clothing leading investigators to believe someone who knew how to cover up the crime left her there. Further, whoever dumped the body had to be familiar with the rail yard, since Manns body escaped notice for several days. Police also could not place Manns whereabouts for several days before her body was found. Her sister, Renee Banick, last saw her seated on a curb at Birney and Railroad avenues in Moosic around 9:45 p.m. on April 5, 1991. An employee at Macks Cafe in Old Forge later that night helped police create a composite sketch of the man Manns was reportedly talking at the cafe to that night. Police never found the man in the sketch and the trail went cold. But police hoped Manns past would hold clues about her killing. Manns, a divorcee and graduate of West Scranton High School, served as a key witness in several local criminal cases. One involved her boyfriend, Nick Anzelmi of Old Forge, the son of a retired state police captain. Before Manns death, Moosic police charged Anzelmi with assault, accusing him of hitting her with a glass plate, breaking her pinkie finger. Earlier, according to an April 29, 1991, Scranton Times story, he was accused of pushing her out of a moving vehicle. Manns refused to testify against Anzelmi in the vehicle incident, the story said. She had left her boyfriend and was living with her sister in Moosic when she was killed. In a Citizens Voice story on April 2, 1995, Banick described her sister as having a difficult life and said she was a drug taster for a convicted kingpin. Banick also alluded to domestic violence with a boyfriend, possibly Anzelmi, and that Manns survived a brutal rape by an unnamed man. We were real close, Banick said about her sister. She confided in me, except the rape she didnt. The drug kingpin was Basem Ahmad, also known as Michael Baldassari. In October 1990, Manns reportedly testified at his federal trial on drug trafficking charges. He was ultimately sentenced to serve 22 years in prison and was held at a federal facility in Lewistown at the time of Manns death. As for the rape, the man was never named in news stories. But reportedly, a day or so before her murder, the suspect offered her $5,000 to withdraw the charges. She refused, the April 2, 1995, story reported. In the days after Manns killing, police turned their attention to Anzelmi, searching his home and van, according to the Scranton Times story. On April 29, 1991, police arrested him and eight others on drug charges. Police said at the time that all nine men would be questioned about Manns and her death. Investigators later said the bust was meant to put pressure on one of the suspects ... and his friends, the April 2, 1995, story reported. The plan failed; nothing came of the raid. No one served any appreciable time, according to the story. Over the years, The Citizens Voice rehashed Manns case, usually as part of a story about cold cases in the region. But there were never any breaks in the case. Manns childhood friend, Denise Pica-Branco, said the case remains on her mind. Pica-Branco left the area in 1982, but came back to visit family. On one visit in the spring of 1991, she got to introduce Manns to her young daughter. Not too long after, she received news that Manns had been killed. While Manns was mixed up with bad men, she was a good person and she didnt deserve this, Pica-Branco said. I always think of her. 1911: On Nov. 20, 1911, an underground cave-in in the VonStorch mine caused a 40-foot-deep sinkhole that swallowed the double-block house of P.J. Buckley and his family and Warren Stevens and his wife at 1523-25 Ross Ave. in Scranton. Everyone inside escaped minutes before the house collapsed. Neighboring homes were damaged by a subsequent fire that spread from broken gas pipes. This photo was included as evidence in a 1922 Supreme Court case, Pennsylvania Coal Co. v. H.J. Mahon and Margaret Craig Mahon, which examined the dangers to surface properties caused by underground mining. 2021: Although the cave-in was soon backfilled and the entire area shored up by mine flushing programs in the 1950s and 60s, the home was never rebuilt. Today the area is dominated by the flood-control levee along the Lackawanna River. Research courtesy of Lackawanna Historical Society Super students Next year Dunmore native Maeve King will serve as a Fulbright English teaching assistant (ETA) in Uruguay. King, a 2020 West Chester University graduate, triple majored in Spanish, German and political science with an international relations concentration. She minored in Latin American and Latino studies. The support of inspiring faculty is one reason King became a triple major and applied to the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship program. Dr. Linda Stevenson and Dr. Joseph Moser consistently helped me seek out opportunities to grow as a student and an individual in my community, provided guidance throughout all of my questions and concerns, and went out of their way on multiple occasions to help me succeed, she said. I would not be where I am today without them. ETAs are awarded by the United States Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board and are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, their record of service and leadership potential in their respective fields, according to the university. King will be placed full time in an elementary, junior high or high school, assisting local English teachers. As an ETA, she is also required to conduct a service project in her host community. Because of COVID-19, Kings Fulbright will be from March to November 2022, a full academic year in Uruguay. Until then, King will remain as a housing program manager for the nonprofit organization ACLAMO (Latin American Community Action of Montgomery County). She also deferred her admission into Syracuse Universitys Master of International Relations program. Kings ideal career is to work in foreign service with the State Department. At WCU, King completed numerous internships and received numerous awards and honors, including the Mary-Ann Reiss Foreign Studies Award, the John Shea International Relations Award and the Braidotti-Lombardi Award for Excellence in Spanish. She also co-authored an article with Stevenson, Decolonizing Praxis: Migrant Community Educator and ESL Teacher as Allies in Local Struggles for Equity and Justice, published in the academic journal Transcontinental Human Trajectories in December. King chose Spanish as her major not only because it came naturally to her during high school, but also because of her supportive teachers at Dunmore High School who always pushed me to learn more and had a huge impact on my love for the language and culture. High notes Through a partnership between Allied Services Integrated Health System and the American Heart Association, a potential lifesaving donation was made to Holy Cross High School. Representatives from both organizations presented the school in Dunmore with a CPR in schools training kit specifically designed to help schools meet the required cardiopulmonary resuscitation curriculum that was signed into law in June 2019. The kit contains everything that staff needs to teach the hands-only method of CPR in one class period, as well as AED use and choking relief, said Amy Skiba, senior director of development at the American Heart Association. The training kit includes 10 mini-Annie inflatable manikins, watch-while-training DVDs and a facilitator guide, as well as 10 AED trainers and more. Because of our partnership with the American Heart Association, we are able to make an investment in saving lives, through educating the community and providing the tools needed for direct teaching and practice of this lifesaving technique, said Jim Brogna, vice president of Allied Services. We want all students and educators to have the opportunity to learn CPR and recognize the signs of a stroke, thereby putting more qualified lifesavers in our communities. After Pennsylvanias biggest pension plan botched a crucial financial calculation, the FBI launched an investigation, the funds board began its own probe, and 100,000 public school employees suddenly faced paying more into the retirement system. Now The Philadelphia Inquirer and Spotlight PA have obtained new internal fund documents that shed light on that consequential mistake. The material traces the error to data corruption in just one month April 2015 over the near-decade-long period reviewed for the calculation. The error was small. It falsely boosted the $64 billion PSERS funds performance by only about a third of a percentage point over a financial quarter. Even so, it was just enough to wrongly lift the funds financial returns over a key state-mandated hurdle used to gauge performance. The documents reveal that a fund consultant, Aon, blamed the mistake on its clerical staff for inputting bad data. The material also shows that even though the fund hired a consultant, the ACA Compliance Group, to check the calculations, the consultant made only limited checks, and skipped over the month with the critical errors. Experts say the fund pursued a flawed path from the beginning. They said the plan executives erred months before the bungled calculation by rejecting a warning that it avoid unaudited numbers those not verified by independent analysts. That choice to use new, untested numbers had the effect of making results look better than they really were. Then, these critics said, PSERS hamstrung the ACA review by limiting its scope. As Robert Lavenberg, a CPA and lawyer who formerly headed the accounting giant BDOs pension audits, said: If PSERS wanted to do a thorough review, you would do a clean sweep and check all months, not just some. The headaches for PSERS the Public School Employees Retirement System began this spring when its board admitted endorsing a bad number for its investment profits. The mistake was significant because under a state pension reform, known as risk-sharing, working teachers and other school employees hired since 2011 must pay more to finance the pension system for 265,000 retirees if returns fail to meet benchmarks. The board had declared triumphantly last year that its investment strategies had paid off. It claimed to have put the fund over the benchmark hurdle, sparing teachers and other staff from an increase. This April, it reversed course and abandoned the old performance figure. It officially adopted a new, lower one, and announced that the workers would indeed pay more. The increase kicks in July 1. The board had little choice but to fix the number. A top tax lawyer warned the board that failure to do so would be catastrophic and force half a million current and retired school workers to pay future income taxes on pensions immediately. Soon after the boards reversal, The Inquirer reported that the FBI was investigating the calculation, along with the funds spending on Harrisburg real estate. In subpoenas, federal prosecutors have demanded every scrap of work paper, from drafts to final versions, from the pension fund and from consultants Aon and ACA dealing with the mistaken number. PSERS has been conducting its own in-house probe. Records show that some involved with the review wonder whether the first figure was no mistake at all, but a deliberate attempt to inflate the funds performance. And in the documents obtained by The Inquirer and Spotlight PA, state Treasury Department officials Treasurer Stacy Garrity is a pension board member asked: Who determined or wrote the scope of work for the ACA project and how was it decided? ACA says it was not to blame and merely followed what it was asked to do. ACA was hired to validate the calculation methodology over a defined period by testing on a sample basis, not to validate or calculate the performance return, it said in a brief statement. ACA performed the services it was engaged to provide our calculation was based on the data provided to us, which we now understand contained an error. Indeed, in the documents, consultant Aon, a global firm with a $763,000 PSERS contract, says it was at fault for the bad numbers for April 2015. It blames the problem only on inadvertent clerical mistakes at a data-entry level. In apologetic letters to the pension system, Aon was contrite even as it played down the mistake. On behalf of Aon, please know that we much appreciate PSERS patience as we have endeavored to unravel what very much appears to have been clerical data-entry mistakes, however unfortunate, Steve Voss, head of Aons Chicago-based North American Investments, wrote on April 16. In the letter, the firm does not name the employee or employees who made the mistake. It declined to discuss the calculation, as has PSERS. Among the firms accounting tasks for the pension system, perhaps its most crucial was to compile that performance figure. To do that, Aon was required to review nine years of fund profits, from mid-2011 to mid-2020. The fund had to clear a hurdle of a 6.36% average annual return to spare teachers and school employees a new levy and the funds leadership embarrassment. To be sure, the bar seemed relatively low. After all, the S&P 500 index of big U.S. stocks paid over 10% a year during those years. But the test loomed amid mounting criticism that the plan had for many years posted lackluster returns at best and, at worst, was a dupe of price-gouging, poor-performing hedge funds, and private equity billionaires. Moreover, even before the calculation, PSERS board member Joe Torsella, then the state treasurer, had been questioning the funds executive director, Glen Grell, about why Aon and Grell had gone back years to reenter and improve the performance of some fund investments, using unaudited numbers. Grell replied that the changes were routine. In sum, while the pension fund had easily cleared two earlier shared risk exams, in 2014 and 2017, the test for 2020 was a nail-biter. PSERS managers were nervous. In a memo. Morgan Lewis, one of at least three law firms hired by PSERS after the scandal broke, said Aon was told about the funds anxiety about whether it would fall short, or as the Philadelphia law firm put it, Aon was made aware of this sensitivity. Lavenberg questioned why Aon had been so alerted, saying that might have telegraphed the leaders desired outcome to the consultant. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge, he said. The board was also anxious enough that it hired ACA, based in New York, for $60,000 to check up on Aons work. The board majority in December 2020 said it had cleared the key hurdle albeit barely. It voted to state officially that annual investments had grown by 6.38%. Torsella and two others on the 15-member board abstained from the vote, expressing doubts about the number. But the funds management insisted the new result was solid. In fact, fund leaders in a PowerPoint presentation to the board and in a statement to the media said Aon and ACA had both endorsed the figure. ACA confirmed the nine-year market value return as 6.38%, which is higher than the 6.36% risk-share threshold, the board was told. But had ACA, in fact, verified the number? In an April 16 private memo to the board, ACA explained its method was a sampling, not a verification. In the same memo, ACA explained why it had failed to catch the error. It said it sampled the math in only 40 of the 108 months over the review period from 2011 to 2020. April 2015 was not one of the months in ACAs sample selection and therefore ACA did not detect missing cash flows in the AON calculations for that month, the firm wrote. As it happens, Torsella has long raised doubts about how the fund was measuring performance for the year 2015 doing so months before the December vote. Torsella first asked about the 2015 figures in a letter last August to Grell, noting skeptically that the fund staff was using unaudited figures and boosting performance for the year five years after the fact. Grells reply was that the fund had new and better data for the performance of some investments in private companies. Experts say the valuation of such private investments is inherently subjective, unlike the explicit values placed on firms sold on stock markets. John McLaughlin, an auditor who runs his own firm in Newtown Square after stints with Aramark and BDO, said the funds managers seemed in too much of a rush to approve the new numbers. The board needs to push back [against management] if you need more time to get the right answer, McLaughlin said in an interview. Dont blame the accountant. Blame the management. None of the documents obtained by The Inquirer and Spotlight PA explore or even mention the role of PSERS management in the reevaluation of the 2015 figures. But according to experts who reviewed the documents, ACA in the end corrected PSERS data to the numbers its auditors had approved. Said Lavenberg: Why you would ever use an estimate, if you had an audited number for that same period, makes no sense whatever. WHILE YOURE HERE, if you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Pennsylvania sent 360,000 of its sons to fight in the Civil War. Samantha Telesk stumbled across three of them deep in the weeds of Wyoming County. I have family down the road and I drove this way back in March and I noticed it was completely overgrown, the Meshoppen native said of what remains of Old Mowry Cemetery off Rattlesnake Hill Road. Stained headstones sink in brambles of burdock, chickweed and poison ivy, the chiseled names and dates buried in grime or erased by relentless decay. Abandoned to the siege of time, even cemeteries die. It just seemed wrong to me, so I asked the borough for permission to clean it up, Samantha said Thursday morning as she climbed the steep hill on steps she fashioned from flat rocks. Without what they (veterans) did, we wouldnt be here. We need to remember that. Across America this Memorial Day weekend, the graves of the nations war dead and departed veterans are adorned with flags and other markers of sacrifice, service and honor. In dutifully maintained graveyards, grand ceremonies will celebrate the patriotism of devoted citizens who answered the call to arms. But in long-forgotten private plots shrouded in veils of vegetation and neglect, some who served rest in silent obscurity. Its been widely reported that dozens of Civil War soldiers are buried in Old Mowry Cemetery, but I could confirm just three by consulting the National Archives and Northeast Pennsylvania Civil War experts. Contemporary records are sometimes sketchy, but Hal Myers, president of the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Association of Scranton, is my go-to guy for all things Civil War. Hal confirmed that three G.A.R. veterans are buried at Mowry. They are: Pvt. George W. Allen, Company A, 107th New York Infantry. Allen was 35 when he enlisted in Elmira, New York. He fought in several pivotal battles and campaigns, including Chancellorsville, Gettysburg and in Shermans March to Atlanta, according to Hal. Pvt. Goodrich Talada, Company I of the 50th Pennsylvania Infantry. He enlisted at 18 in Towanda. Not much else is known about his war record. Pvt. William T. Ives, Company B, 52nd Pennsylvania Infantry. He enlisted at 18 in Nicholson. His war record is also sparse, Hal said. All survived the war. Talada was 32 when he died in 1875. Ives was 34 when he died in 1881. Allen was 55 when he died in 1882. It bears noting that the official state record of Allens burial describes Mowry as an old abandoned cemetery. Thats not surprising. Like many abandoned cemeteries, Mowry began as a family plot. Descendants move away. Life goes on. Time goes to work. The current owners of the property have deep local roots. I tracked them down to an address in western New York and left phone messages. No one called back. There are an estimated 56 graves in Mowry Cemetery, but its possible many more are buried there. The best documentation available for 27 of them is provided by Dale Keklock, a semi-retired amateur historian from Archbald. Dale and his son Brent run Historical-Data.com, a genealogy/history website with a database of cemeteries large and small. Dale travels the country photographing cemeteries and adding them to the database documenting over 65,000 gravestones, wills, obituaries and photos related to 551 cemeteries. He documented Mowry a few years ago and was glad to hear Samantha volunteered to clean it up when I reached him on Thursday. Theres a lot of history in cemeteries, a lot of good history, Dale said. I think its great that she wants to clean it up. Tell her to keep an eye out for snakes. An engaged mother of two young children, Samantha is determined to restore as many Mowry graves as she can. She recruited friend Angela Wilson and her son Matt, a sixth-grader at Elk Lake Elementary School, to help clean the stones and clear the grounds. It was Matt who discovered the G.A.R. veterans markers. Why does a 25-year-old stay-at-home mom care about the overdue upkeep of a dead graveyard lost deep in the weeds of Wyoming County? Samantha recalled once seeing a crumbling headstone for an infant. The image stuck with her. It just broke my heart, and ever since then, Ive been volunteering to clean up cemeteries, she said. Samantha started a GoFundMe account called Save the Cemetery with a goal of $2,000 to build stairs at Mowry and install a bench memorializing those whose names have been lost to time and decay. Everybody deserves to be remembered, especially veterans, Samantha said. These stones were chiseled by hand. Theyre art. This place is a part of local history our history and it shouldnt be allowed to just crumble away. To volunteer, email Samantha at: samanthatelesk@gmail.com. CHRIS KELLY, the Times-Tribune columnist, wishes you and yours a happy, safe Memorial Day. Read his award-winning blog at timestribuneblogs.com/kelly. As American Rescue Plan funding begins to be distributed to Pennsylvania and its counties, our federal, state and local representatives are responsible for ensuring that those critical resources benefit a broad range of constituents in appropriate priority and proportion. To fulfill that obligation, they need to carefully consider multiple needs including small businesses and their workforce. Lately, many political speeches, business reports and media stories have shed pertinent light on the plight of Pennsylvania-based small businesses throughout the pandemic. All too often, however, they limit their consideration to restaurants, salons, gyms, retail shops and other main street businesses and completely overlook small manufacturers. Manufacturers are a critical component of our small business landscape. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, 82% of the commonwealths manufacturers, or 11,050 firms, have fewer than 50 employees and 90% or 12,121 firms --have fewer than 100 workers. Those 11,050 small manufacturing enterprises provide 140,078 full-time jobs while the 12,121 firms with fewer than 100 employees provide 223,990 jobs to Pennsylvanians. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, Pennsylvanias small manufacturers account for 48.1% of total manufacturing employment across the commonwealth and 34.2% of the states total exports. Pennsylvanias small manufacturers have been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Penn States Institute of State & Regional Affairs, 43% of Pennsylvanias manufacturing firms remained classified as nonessential throughout the pandemic. That put 38% of Pennsylvanias total manufacturing workforce on the sidelines. Consequently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that 33.6% of Pennsylvanias prepandemic manufacturing workforce filed for unemployment benefits between mid-March 2020 and mid-April 2021. By comparison, only 26% of Pennsylvanias retail establishments and 8.1% of its accommodation and food service businesses were classified as nonessential throughout the crisis. According to a study by ANR Market Research Consultants, of Richmond, Virginia, more than 60% of the small manufacturing firms that remained operational in Pennsylvania due to either an essential business classification or successful waiver request experienced a significant decrease in revenue. Similarly, 64% of Pennsylvania-based manufacturers surveyed by the Census Bureau in January 2021 suffered from constrained cash flow and cash reserves of two months or less. Nearly one-third of manufacturers that participated in the survey believed it would take longer than six months for their businesses to rebound. Given the importance of small manufacturing firms to our overall economy and employment base, and in light of the immense negative impacts the pandemic inflicted upon their businesses, state, county and city officials should ensure that an appropriate level of American Rescue Plan resources are directed to organizations that can accelerate manufacturer recovery and rebound. As industry leaders, we recommend that the statewide Pennsylvania industrial resource center network be entrusted with those resources and the related responsibilities. Each of our companies and hundreds more like us throughout Pennsylvania utilized the services of industrial resource centers throughout the pandemic and found them to be an effective ally for our COVID-19 recovery efforts. As the states flagship manufacturing assistance program, the centers are best-positioned to leverage their existing manufacturer relationships, local partnerships, statewide reach and national network through the U.S. Department of Commerce to utilize American Rescue Plan dollars for maximum job creation and business-recovery impact. Prioritizing the needs of multiple groups in the current environment will prove challenging to our elected officials. Fortunately, the data, economics and common sense behind making an investment in accelerating small manufacturer recovery, coupled with the readiness of a proven program like the industrial resource centers to deploy that investment, makes that particular decision an easy one to make. In many countries around the world, COVID-19 vaccination rates are in the single digits largely because they cant acquire enough vaccine. Larger, wealthier countries have contracts for most of the vaccines produced to date, and have begun only recently to approve distribution of their surpluses to other countries. Developed countries, including the United States and many in the European Union, paid billions of dollars to accelerate development of some of the amazing vaccines that are available, and it makes sense that they have ensured distribution at home, first. The disturbing thing is that, while much of the world clamors for the vaccines, as many as 25% of Americans say that they wont take it, relying instead on their vaccinated fellow Americans to protect them from infection. That has prompted many state and municipal governments to create incentives for people to drop their resistance, since defeating the worst pandemic of modern times through vaccination doesnt seem to be enough of an incentive. Ohio will award five $1 million prizes to randomly selected vaccinated residents, and four scholarships to state universities. West Virginia awards $100 savings bonds. Memphis raffles off cars. New York City awards seven-day Metro Cards. Maine gives away hunting and fishing licenses. Ohio officials say that the incentive marginally has increased vaccination rates. But many social researchers believe that such incentives will backfire because the vaccine-resistant will take incentives as proof of their misinformed belief that the vaccines are too dangerous to stand on their own. The incentives clearly are well-intended. But they point to a sad lack of a sense of civic duty among a large swath of the population. For the long term, public officials should invest more heavily in correcting that. The heavens gained another angel as our familys matriarch left this world for heaven. Joan Kaub, 87, of Scranton, passed away peacefully Friday evening, May 7, 2021, at the Allied Services Hospice Center surrounded by her loving family. Born in Scranton, she was the daughter of the late John and Anna Devers Matiskella. Joan was a graduate of St. Marys High School. She was employed by Bell Telephone and later through the Diocese of Scranton as a librarian at Bishop Klonowski and Bishop Hannan high schools for almost 33 years. During this time, she impacted the lives of thousands of students who would come to visit her knowing that she would always assist them with any academic need that involved the library that she was so proud of. Joan was first and foremost a dedicated mother who took much pride in her ever-growing family. She was a fiercely strong Mama Bear who provided endless love and support to her children and then grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She spent her life giving and expected nothing in return. Her time here with us is truly an example of a mothers unconditional love. She also had a passion for music and theater. From small high school productions to Broadway, she enthusiastically attended every performance possible. She had a large collection of musical media and could often be heard singing along to Broadway lyrics while going about her daily tasks. Joans most favorite holiday was Christmas without a doubt, and preparations started as early as possible in her home. She had displays of up to seven beautifully decorated themed trees each year with an abundance of seasonal trimmings. You could always hear more of the music she loved playing in the background. Among her numerous involvements with school activities, she participated in a quilting club with friends and presented her handmade quilts to family for special occasions. She also served as chairperson for many charitable functions for the school and community including penny socials, raffles, church picnics and food sales. She thoroughly enjoyed her bi-weekly card club, using that time to foster close friendships that lasted for many years. Joan is survived by four daughters, Joan Bartley, Mary Lynn Hopkins and Pattie Shields all of Scranton; and Laurie Blake, Avoca; two sons, Joseph (Maureen), Scranton; and Michael (Kathy), Scranton; a son-in-law, Matthew Madorsky, Newark; 22 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren; a brother, Daniel Matiskella (Betty), New Jersey; and many nieces and nephews. Joan was preceded in death by her youngest son, Thomas Kaub; a brother, Paul Matiskella; and sisters, Jean Fawcett and Susan Kendal. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Peters Cathedral, 315 Wyoming Ave., Scranton by the Rev. Patrick Albert. Interment, Cathedral Cemetery, Oram Street, Scranton. Friends may call Tuesday, June 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Nicholas Chomko Funeral Home, 1132 Prospect Ave., South Scranton. In lieu of flowers, a tribute gift in Joans honor may be made to the Alzheimers Association at alz.org. Rachel Gannon, affectionately known as Rara, 93 years young and a longtime Scranton resident, passed away Wednesday morning at Allied Skilled Nursing Center after an illness. Born on Jan. 20, 1928 and raised in Dunmore, Rara was the daughter of the late James and Catherine (Flynn) Gannon. A graduate of Dunmore High School, she then selflessly took care of her father upon the passing of her mother. Before her retirement, she worked for more than 25 years as a clerk for the Workmens Insurance Fund for the state of Pennsylvania. After her retirement, she then volunteered at Saint Marys Villa as a nurses aide, always saying it was her favorite job. An avid traveler and proud of her heritage, she had visited Ireland countless times. Rara loved to dine out with her fellow Manhattan Club members and with her girlfriends, Berna Laffey, Dolores Pisarcik, Mary Lou Dwyer, and her dear friend, the late Anne Kearney. Shell always be remembered as an amazing cook who enjoyed welcoming family to her dinner table. Above all else was Raras devotion to her faith. She was a faithful member of St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church in Dunmore. She was also a member of the Scranton Choral Society. She adored her family, especially her nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews, who long considered her their second mother. Her memory will remain with them forever and shell be dearly missed. She is survived by many nieces and nephews, including Eloise Carroll Bartosh of Johnstown, Joan Carroll of Scranton, Christine Carroll Zwick and husband, Joseph of Scranton, David J. Carroll and husband, Jay of Scranton, Kathy Gannon Salvin and husband, Henry of Dunmore, and Chuck Gedman of Scranton; and many great-nieces, great-nephews, great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. The last of five siblings, she was also preceded in death by brothers, Eugene Gene, James and John Gannon and Angela Carroll; and a dear niece, Catherine Kay Carroll Gedman. Her family would like to thank the entire staff of Allied Services, especially 3 North of Skilled Nursing and Kathy Osborne, director of social services, for the tremendous care, compassion and help over the past several years. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Tuesday at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church, 322 Chestnut St., Dunmore, to be celebrated by the Rev. John A. Doris, pastor. Burial will be private following the Mass. Family and friends may pay their respects on Tuesday at the church from 9 a.m. until Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the donors favorite charity. Arrangements are under the care of the Kevin K. Kearney Funeral Home Inc., 125 N. Main Ave., Scranton. Please visit the funeral homes website for directions or to leave a condolence. London, KY (40741) Today Thunderstorms, some strong this evening, then skies turning partly cloudy after midnight. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Thunderstorms, some strong this evening, then skies turning partly cloudy after midnight. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-29 23:00:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo provided by Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area shows an unmanned delivery vehicle displayed in Beijing on May 25, 2021. (Xinhua) BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The safety test mileage of Beijing's self-driving vehicles has exceeded 3 million km to date, equivalent to going about 75 times around the equator. Currently, the city has 226 routes for testing self-driving vehicles, totaling approximately 752.4 km, said Beijing Innovation Center for Mobility Intelligent (BICMI) Co., Ltd. Beijing has issued temporary car plates to 99 vehicles from 15 companies including domestic internet giant Baidu and Chinese ride-hailing platform DiDi Chuxing. Among these companies, Chinese autonomous vehicle startup Pony.ai, and Baidu have received permits to test their driverless cars with passengers aboard. In the terms of the number of companies applying for self-driving road tests, total unmanned vehicles and the mileage of such road tests, Beijing ranks first in the country, the BICMI said. MARISSA BERGEL, Wheeler softball, senior: Bergel hit a two-out, two-run single in the seventh inning to lift Wheeler past Holy Cross, 9-7, in the Class S state tournament. The hit was part of a five-run rally in the inning. JOEY GUARNIERI, Westerly track & field, senior: Guarnieri placed first in two sprints at the Southern Division championships. He won the 100 (11.19) and the 200 (22.73). JOSH MOONEY, Stonington track & field, sophomore: Mooney placed first in the 110 hurdles at the Class M state meet in 14.65. He also finished second in the 300 hurdles (39.87) and second in the javelin (160-0). MARGARET WEEDEN, Chariho track & field, junior: Weeden finished first in the high jump at the Southern Division championships. Weeden cleared 5-1 and also placed sixth in the triple jump at 31-5. Vote View Results Britain's boards are set for a bruising round of investor revolts in June as the 'shareholder spring' picks up pace. Investors at Morrisons have been advised to vote against executive pay packets after chief executive Dave Potts saw his earnings jump despite profits more than halving. Informa, the world's largest events company, is facing a massive revolt over 'target-free' bonuses for bosses, and there are also calls to vote down Google's pay report. Unrest: Two shareholder advisory firms have advised investors at Morrisons to vote down the pay report at the company's AGM on June 11 Last month Rio Tinto suffered a 62 per cent vote against excessive pay for its outgoing bosses after the destruction of Aboriginal caves in Australia, while more than a quarter voted against a 33m bonus for the boss of Cineworld. There have also been rebellions at Intertek, Savills, Playtech, Pearson, BAE Systems and Glencore. Shareholders have gained new confidence following the pandemic, because firms were forced to seek help from the Government in the form of taxpayer support to survive, and enforce redundancies and pay cuts. Two shareholder advisory firms have advised investors at Morrisons to vote down the pay report at the company's AGM on June 11. In its annual report, the grocer revealed Potts received the maximum 1.7m bonus, despite profits falling to 165m from 435m the year before. The board upgraded Potts's payout by stripping out pandemic costs when calculating his rewards pushing his bonus up to 200 per cent of salary. Glass Lewis, a shareholder advisory, said the adjustments were 'not supportable', while ISS said it had 'serious concerns', adding they were 'not considered fully in line with UK best practice'. Yesterday Morrisons chairman Andy Higginson said bosses 'earnt their bonus', adding: 'They did the right thing in working to keep the food supply chain open rather than worrying about their bonus.' Another company facing a revolt is Informa, which has been criticised for its 'target-free' bonus scheme. It replaced its long-term bonus with a generous and less onerous scheme despite more than 40 per cent of investors voting against the plan in December. ISS and Glass Lewis have recommended a vote against the changes at the AGM. Company insiders hit back saying the new plan reduces the chief executive's total package 'drastically'. Cresaptown, MD (21502) Today A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Barre, VT (05641) Today Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 52F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 52F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 07:09:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close U.S. President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C., the United States, April 28, 2021. (Melina Mara/Pool via Xinhua) The proposal, which included Biden's plan to increase investment in infrastructure, education, health care and beyond, would push federal spending to the highest sustained levels in decades. It sparked praise and criticism among lawmakers, whose views are largely divided along party lines. WASHINGTON, May 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden's 6-trillion-U.S.-dollar budget proposal for fiscal year 2022 has drawn mixed reviews from lawmakers and budget watchers, setting the stage for potentially heated debate in Congress. The proposal, which included Biden's plan to increase investment in infrastructure, education, health care and beyond, would push federal spending to the highest sustained levels in decades. The budget unveiled Friday calls for total spending to run above 6 trillion dollars throughout the next decade, and rise to 8.2 trillion dollars by fiscal year 2031. Deficits, meanwhile, would stay above 1.3 trillion dollars in the next 10 years. "The budget invests directly in the American people and will strengthen our nation's economy and improve our long-run fiscal health," Biden said in his message to Congress. Biden argued that the budget plan reforms America's "broken tax code" to reward work instead of wealth, while also fully paying for the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan over 15 years, referring to the revised 1.7-trillion-dollar infrastructure plan and the 1.8-trillion-dollar spending proposal focusing on childcare and education. "It will help us build a recovery that is broad-based, inclusive, sustained, and strong," the president said. The White House's budget proposal sparked praise and criticism among lawmakers, whose views are largely divided along party lines. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks during her weekly press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the United States, on May 13, 2021. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua) "President Biden's budget is an unequivocal declaration of the value that Democrats place on America's workers and middle class families, who are the foundation of our nation's strength and the key to Build Back Better," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement, noting that the Biden budget makes "historic" investments in the American workforce and economy. "Congressional Democrats look forward to working with the Biden-Harris Administration to enact this visionary budget, which will pave the path to opportunity and prosperity for our nation," said the Democratic leader. Richard Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said committee Democrats will consider the administration's proposals carefully. Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said the committee will soon be holding a hearing on the president's budget "as a first step." Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, meanwhile, lashed out at the budget plan, arguing that "Americans are already hurting from far-left economics that ignore reality." "So far the Biden Administration has recommended we spend 7 trillion additional dollars this year," the Republican leader said on Twitter. "That would be more than we spent during World War II." "Democrats need to get their runaway spending habits under control," McConnell said. Republican lawmakers have previously lashed out at Biden's multi-trillion-dollar spending proposals, calling them "liberal daydream," and arguing that the tax hikes would lower wages, kill jobs and shrink the U.S. economy. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (C) speaks at a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Dec. 15, 2020. (Tom Brenner/Pool via Xinhua) The budget proposal for fiscal year 2022 was released as recent negotiations over Biden's infrastructure plan failed to yield a deal. The White House last week lowered the overall price tag of Biden's 2.3-trillion-dollar infrastructure plan to 1.7 trillion dollars, but Senate Republicans then proposed a 928-billion-dollar counteroffer, just over half of Biden's revised figure. Outside Capitol Hill, the newly unveiled budget plan also prompted heated discussion. "Having followed Presidents' budgets for >40 years, I think it's fair to say that while I might modify some things in the new Biden budget, it would, if enacted, do more to reduce poverty and inequality than any other budget in modern US history," Bob Greenstein, founder of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said on Twitter. "We are pleased that President Biden has put forward important details of his budget plan, that his economic assumptions are reasonable, and that he is proposing to offset new costs over time while modestly reducing long-term deficits," said the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a watchdog group. The group, however, argued that the budget adds "too much" to already record-level debt over the next decade and "does far too little" to address rising structural deficits over the long term. According to the group's estimation, U.S. debt would rise from 100 percent of GDP at the end of fiscal year 2020 and a record 110 percent at the end of 2021 to 117 percent by the end of fiscal year 2031. In nominal dollars, debt would grow by 17 trillion dollars, to over 39 trillion by the end of fiscal year 2031. The Peter G. Peterson Foundation, also a fiscal watchdog group, said in a statement that the administration proposes increasing revenues to cover the cost of their longer-term initiatives; "however, those costs would not be fully offset during the traditional 10-year window, rather over a 15-year period." "The underlying structural imbalance between revenues and spending that existed before the pandemic budget would remain, leaving an unsustainable fiscal outlook," the foundation said. The Times News has teamed up with area clergy to share Words of Comfort daily in our print edition and online at TimesNews.Net. Any member of the clergy whod like to get involved can contact Carmen Musick at cmusick@timesnews.net. This file photo, from May, shows Sullivan County Mayor Richard Venable with Kingsport Mayor Pat Shull and Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby as they and others waited for a meeting of the First Tennessee Development District. The three later joined other area mayors in voting to establish a working relationship between the FTDD and a new regional economic development hub. In August 1999, two pharmacists from Stratton VA Medical Center drove to FBI headquarters in downtown Albany to deliver a three-hour presentation on problems they described as having turned the hospital's research programs into a house of horrors. Their allegations included corruption in the cancer research program, such as patients being given experimental drugs outside medical protocol, and they said the violations had been happening for at least four years. This week, a federal grand jury in Albany handed up a 48-count indictment against a former Stratton VA researcher. At least one patient died and dozens of others were endangered, according to the charges. Though the charges cap a yearlong investigation, some VA insiders said they are left wondering why something wasn't done sooner. "We could've prevented this type of thing from happening," said Anthony Mariano, Stratton's former pharmacy director. Mariano said he and Jeffrey Fudin, another pharmacist, went to the FBI four years ago out of desperation after their pleas for help were unanswered by U.S. Rep. Michael J. McNulty, D-Green Island, and by Department of Veterans Affairs investigators. As early as 1995, they had warned that patients with cancer and other illnesses had been placed at risk -- or had died -- because of the way experimental drugs were being used. Patients also were enrolled in drug studies without signing consent forms indicating they had been informed about the risk, they said. Instead of investigating the allegations, hospital administrators allegedly retaliated against the men and ended the pharmacy's role in monitoring research drugs, according to allegations contained in court records. McNulty on Saturday defended his office's handling of the matter, saying he brought many of the claims made by Fudin and Mariano to VA administrators in Washington, D.C., and to the VA's Office of Inspector General. Still, Mariano criticized McNulty, contending the inspector general's office worked at the direction of the VA and may not have examined the allegations objectively. "It seems they were enlisted to discredit us rather than to get to the truth," Mariano said. McNulty said it now may be necessary to have an independent review of the entire case. "I'm not an investigator," he said. "My role is to support whistleblowers, to support openness and that's exactly what our office has done. ... If Mr. Mariano has suggestions for structural changes we'll look at that, too." The alleged corruption at Stratton came to light about two years ago when a Texas drug company that was funding cancer studies there questioned whether some patients were qualified to be enrolled in the experiments. A subsequent Food and Drug Administration investigation uncovering widespread fraud and forgery that may have led to as many as five patients deaths, according to the FDA's report. At that time the VA's inspector general opened the investigation that led to the charges being filed this week against former cancer researcher Paul H. Kornak of Clifton Park. The charges include making false statements, falsifying documents, mail fraud, wire fraud, involuntary manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. At least one patient died as a result of Kornak's falsification of medical records, and many more were endangered, according to the indictment. But questions about the program's troubled history and the breadth of the federal probe remain unanswered. Authorities have refused to say if others are under investigation, or to say exactly what motivated Kornak's actions. A House Veterans Affairs subcommittee staffer, who asked not to be identified, this week said the federal investigation should include an audit of the hundreds of thousands of dollars that flowed into Stratton for drug studies funded by drug companies. "It is a cash cow," the Congressional staffer said, referring to the estimated $400 million budget for (all) Veterans Affairs research programs. "We do this to make money. Where did the money go?" VA officials and prosecutors declined at a news conference this week to say whether they will analyze how the money was spent. The indictment also details Kornak's checkered past -- including a history of fraud -- and raises questions about how he was given the key job of recruiting veterans for drug studies. Kornak called himself "doctor," but he apparently never finished medical school -- he was dismissed from St. George's University School of Medicine in Grenada in 1984 for falsifying transcripts. He's accused of lying on a federal employment application about his undergraduate performance at the College of Saint Rose in Albany. He also stated he had never been convicted of a crime, even though in 1992 he had been convicted of federal mail fraud in Pennsylvania for falsifying information on a medical license application, according to the indictment. "He was hired as a research assistant, therefore the checks that were conducted at that particular time were not the same as if he had been hired today," said Bruce T. Sackman, special agent in charge of the VA's regional Office of Inspector General. While much of the focus of the investigation centers on Kornak, VA insiders said the probe falls short of exposing years of alleged abuse in the cancer program. "The FBI wanted to investigate but the Inspector General persuaded them not to because they were already investigating," Mariano said. "Well, the Inspector General works for the VA. They never wanted to investigate it because they were covering it up." Mary-Ellen Piche, the hospital's director, U.S. Attorney Glenn T. Suddaby and officials for the VA's Office of Inspector General this week declined comment on the pharmacist's claims. They also declined to say whether the investigation will stretch beyond Kornak and his former supervisor, Dr. James A. Holland. The pharmacists' claims about retaliation were supported in May when Dr. Thomas Ferro, a former cardiologist at Stratton VA, told the Times Union that hospital administrators tried to discredit the pair. Ferro claimed administrators manipulated an internal investigation he undertook in 1995 to examine Fudin's warnings about the cancer program. Ferro said he was encouraged to "thwart the truth." Ferro now works for a VA hospital in Richmond, Va. He said he has not been contacted by investigators about his admissions. Kornak's attorney, E. Stewart Jones of Troy, this week said that Kornak should not have been charged because he was part of a "team" and followed orders. Donald T. Kinsella, a lawyer representing several widows of former cancer patients who have filed lawsuits against the VA, said Jones' comments "confirm the theory of our lawsuit." "The Veterans Administration allowed this to occur and failed to supervise these rogue employees properly," Kinsella said. Meanwhile, Holland has been not charged and is currently working for a cancer program at a hospital in southern Georgia. He was hired as chief oncologist at Stratton VA in 1999, but he and Kornak were fired 10 months ago as the criminal investigation intensified. Suddaby on Thursday declined to say whether Holland is a target in the investigation. But in June, as authorities considered whether to represent the researchers in a civil lawsuit filed by the widow of a former cancer patient, federal prosecutors wrote a letter confirming their investigations of Holland and Kornak. "The United States attorney for the Northern District of New York may have to recuse itself from this matter due to the pending criminal proceedings that may be brought against the defendants," Assistant U.S. Attorney James C. Woods wrote in a letter to U.S. Magistrate Judge Randolph F. Treece. Dr. William Hrushesky, an oncologist who ran Stratton's cancer program before Holland, is currently working for a VA hospital in Dorn, S.C., and has not responded to requests for comment. Hrushesky allegedly recommended hiring Kornak, who started at Stratton in February 1999. In all, Kornak is accused of undermining at least four major research studies involving dozens of veterans and hundreds of thousands of dollars. The indictment alleges the hospital earned thousands of dollars for each patient enrolled in the programs, many of them trial studies in which drug companies were testing new drugs on cancer patients in order to obtain approval for them from the Food and Drug Administration. Prosecutors have not said what Kornak's motive was in carrying out his alleged scheme. Piche said the money pays for research programs, including the drugs, the procedures and staff salaries. "There's no personal gain for an individual," she said. "It didn't mean more money for him (Kornak)." On Thursday morning, Piche issued a statement to all staffers at Stratton, warning them to expect intensive media coverage but not to speak to reporters. "To those special individuals who have come forward with information that led to this indictment, I admire your courage. I can only imagine that this was one of the most difficult things that you have ever had to do," Piche's memorandum said. "We must prepare for some difficult days ahead." TIMELINE OF EVENTS 1992: Paul H. Kornak is convicted of mail fraud in a federal court in Pennsylvania for lying on a medical license application. 1995: Stratton pharmacist Jeffrey Fudin warns hospital officials of alleged corruption in Stratton's cancer program that he contends resulted in "needless premature patient suffering and/or death." 1995: Fudin's claims are examined by an internal committee that determines his allegations are unfounded. Fudin's co-worker, pharmacy director Anthony Mariano, writes a letter in support of Fudin. 1996: Fudin outlines his allegations in a memorandum to the VA's inspector general. 1995-2000: Fudin and Mariano contend they have been subjected to systematic retaliation for whistleblowing. Both eventually lose their jobs. Fudin's job is reinstated by a federal court, but Mariano loses a legal battle to be rehired. 1999: Kornak is hired by the Albany Research Institute, a nonprofit arm at Stratton, as a research assistant and then is promoted to study director of VA Cooperative Services. Mariano's office is moved to an empty psychiatric ward on Stratton's top floor. He stays there for four months until a congressional staffer orders hospital officials to return him to the pharmacy. 2000: Kornak gets a government job at Stratton as a program specialist and works as a coordinator of human research studies. Authorities say Kornak lied on his federal job application about his criminal history and credentials, including forging his college transcripts. 2001: Air Force veteran James J. DiGeorgio of Brunswick dies on June 11 at Stratton, a couple of weeks after enrolling in a human research drug program for his gastric cancer. 2001: In December, Ilex Oncology, a Texas company, questions discrepancies in patient documentation in a study funded by the company at Stratton. 2002: Following a 50-day review of Stratton, FDA investigators report serious record-keeping flaws in Stratton's cancer research program. The FDA report said medical records appeared to have been altered to conceal serious ailments of patients used in drug studies. December 2002: Kornak and Holland are suspended and later terminated. The VA's Office of Inspector General opens a criminal investigation. April 2003: Legislation is introduced in Congress creating an independent oversight office to keep tabs on medical research programs at Veterans Affairs hospitals nationwide. May 2003: Dr. Thomas Ferro, a former pulmonary physician at Stratton who was appointed to lead the 1995 internal investigation of Fudin's allegations, tells the Times Union in May that he took part in a coverup designed to "thwart the truth." He admits witnessing retaliation against Fudin and Mariano. July 2003: Federal prosecutors file court documents indicating that Holland and Kornak may both face criminal charges. Oct. 29, 2003: A grand jury handed up a 48-count indictment Wednesday charging Kornak with falsifying documents, mail fraud and wire fraud, and with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges in connection with DiGeorgio's death. Sources: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; federal court records; U.S. attorney's office. ALBANY Stratton Veterans Affairs Medical Center Hospital administrators manipulated an internal investigation into a research program in which whistle-blowers warned that cancer patients were unduly suffering and possibly dying prematurely while being used as unwitting guinea pigs, according to former hospital officials. Hospital workers and former staffers familiar with the 1995 investigation contend the allegations were never appropriately addressed or corrected, and that serious problems in the cancer program persisted until last year, when two researchers were suspended as federal authorities launched a criminal investigation of patient deaths. Critics contend the handling of the investigation underscores a long-standing systemic problem in the nation's Veterans Affairs' hospital system, where internal investigations are routinely manipulated to shield lucrative research programs and to protect administrators who face intense pressure to control spending. "Rather than start getting to the truth, they started a coverup," said Dr. Thomas Ferro, a former pulmonary physician at Stratton who was appointed to head the internal investigation eight years ago. "I mean, it was the investigation from hell. I stopped a few months after the fact and I thought: `What was the purpose of this whole thing?' The purpose of this whole thing was to thwart the truth." The new allegations by Ferro, which are supported by current and former hospital officials, come as federal agents are intensively scrutinizing the hospital's cancer program. The new probe has included interviews of hospital workers and relatives of deceased patients. Federal authorities are examining whether a hospital oncologist, Dr. James A. Holland, and his clinical research assistant, Paul H. Kornak, altered the medical backgrounds of patients in order to enroll them in drug study programs. Some patients may have died or suffered as a result of the alleged forgeries, and federal authorities said they are weighing manslaughter charges. But VA insiders contend the criminal investigation is the fallout from years of efforts by hospital administrators to ignore accusations of medical violations, including some that predate Holland and Kornak and that may have led to patient deaths in the cancer program. They contend the problems began with the alleged mishandling of the 1995 internal investigation, which raises questions about whether two pharmacists, Jeffrey Fudin and Anthony Mariano, were punished for warning officials about the way drugs were prescribed to cancer patients. Fudin and Mariano eventually were fired by VA administrators. "They started going after Fudin and Mariano and making life impossible for them, and not just to make them shut up," Ferro said. "They had to discredit these two guys to make them look like kooks." In 1999, Mariano was ordered to work at a desk on a vacant wing in the hospital's psychiatric ward. His isolation on the hospital's top floor ended after four months when a U.S. House of Representatives Veterans Affairs subcommittee staffer learned about his plight and ordered hospital officials to "cut the crap," the staffer said. Fudin's job was later reinstated by a federal whistle-blower court; Mariano's federal lawsuit seeking reinstatement is pending. Both were selected as grand marshals of Monday's Memorial Day parade in Albany by parade organizers who say the pair are being honored because they stood up for veterans. Ferro, now an attending physician at McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond, Va., spoke for the first time last week about his role in the 1995 investigation of the whistle-blowers. He said he signed off on changes in his final report at the request of top hospital officials in Albany -- elimination of information that outlined possible violations of medical protocols -- because he thought it might help advance his career. Ferro said he believes hospital officials preyed on his desire to move up the ladder when they picked him to investigate Fudin's allegations against Dr. William Hrushesky, who was then Stratton's chief cancer researcher. Hrushesky now works at a VA hospital in South Carolina. Ferro said his friendship with Hrushesky also led hospital administrators to choose him to head the investigation. Hrushesky, who once held clinical privileges at Albany Medical Center Hospital, was regarded as a brilliant researcher. He received high accolades in his field for his studies on the effectiveness of certain chemotherapy regimes that depend on when they are administered in relation to a person's biological clock. Still, some of Hrushesky's colleagues considered him a maverick who disregarded medical protocol and strayed across the fuzzy lines that separate research from accepted patient-care standards. Most of the allegations centered on the way he prescribed powerful cancer drugs. Hrushesky worked for Albany Med when he was recruited to take over of the cancer research program at Stratton VA. Physicians familiar with the move said VA administrators were anxious to have Hrushesky's research dollars and support from drug companies credited to Stratton. Fudin, a clinical pharmacist at Stratton VA who specializes in pain management, spotted what he believed were some serious problems with Hrushesky's work and wrote a memorandum to VA officials questioning the oncologist's use of Taxol, an FDA-approved cancer drug. Hospital insiders said Fudin's allegations were so serious the VA was required to investigate. That's when former Stratton VA Director Fred L. Malphurs, now head of a VA hospital in Gainesville, Fla., enlisted Ferro. Ferro contends his investigation was undermined from the start. He claims Malphurs encouraged him to clear Hrushesky before the investigation began, and that two hospital staffers appointed by Malphurs to assist him in the investigation lacked appropriate medical training. "They had no background at all in clinical practice or clinical research," Ferro said. "I was bewildered why I got these two people to help me. They really weren't qualified." Ferro said he complained to Malphurs that he needed people on the investigative board with deeper medical backgrounds. "Fred said, `I appreciate the input but that's the way it'll be.' I remember thinking I was stuck with myself," said Ferro, also currently a professor of internal medicine at the Medical College of Virginia. "They certainly weren't going to give me the resources to find anything, if they wanted to find anything. ... There was this manipulating of the investigations." Ferro said he found evidence of minor patient-care violations and other problems in Hrushesky's program. A handful of patients were being given unusual though not unlawful dosages of chemotherapy drugs and there was no paperwork showing they had been informed of the risks and consented to the treatments. Ferro said his investigation was not as deep as it could have been because he stopped it when he found some apparent violations and wrote a report that was forwarded to hospital administrators. Ferro said he received a call from Dale Morgan, who is now retired but at the time was the chief assistant to Dr. Larry Flesh, the hospital's chief of staff. Flesh is now deputy director of the VA hospital network in upstate New York, which includes Albany. Morgan, who declined comment, allegedly showed Ferro a version of his report reflecting deletion of certain critical portions. Ferro said he initially refused to sign off on the changes. "Dale said, `Tom, it's not me, it's Larry, this is what Larry wants me to do,' " Ferro recalled. "I wanted to know it was the boss who wanted me to do this. I was trying to get Larry to promote me. I wanted Fred (Malphurs) to promote me, so that's when I did it." Other hospital officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, supported Ferro's version of events. They contend the changes were made before the report was forwarded to the Office of the Inspector General for Veterans Affairs, and as result there was no follow-up investigation. Later, when Fudin and Mariano reported their concerns to the FBI in Albany, agents there declined to investigate the allegations and referred the case to the VA's Office of Inspector General, according to FBI documents obtained by the Times Union. Malphurs and Flesh did not respond to written requests for comment. Ferro said he never kept a copy of his original report because hospital officials told him all records related to the investigation would have to be turned in at the end. "I was given instructions to wipe off the hard drive of my computer and hand in the only hard copy," Ferro said. Hrushesky left Stratton VA in 2000 to become head of clinical research at a VA hospital in Dorn, S.C, where he still works. He has declined requests for comment. "It is unfortunate that veterans were the victims in this terrible tragedy," Mariano said, speaking about the case for the first time. "I have always prayed that justice would prevail and that I would be vindicated. I empathize with Dr. Ferro in the courage it took for him to speak out." Mariano said sweeping changes are needed because similar alleged cover-ups are taking place at other VA hospitals. "Congress needs to move internal VA investigations ... to an outside agency, not under VA control so that this type of tragedy will not happen again," he said. GREENWICH In the days and weeks after George Floyds death, rallies against police mistreatment of people of color took place nearly everywhere. In communities large and small, people of all ages and races stood together on street corners to raise up his name. But as the summer months turned to fall, those protests dwindled especially in mostly white, rural and suburban areas. But not in Greenwich. The reason? Ann Townsend. The 79-year-old white woman, along with a dozen of other activists, spends every Saturday at the villages Mowry Park for a silent, one-hour vigil for Floyd and other Black men, women and children who have died at the hands of police. And not only did they show up with their Black Lives Matter, "I Can't Breath" and Say their Name signs, Townsend and the other mostly older demonstrators bent their elderly knees at the end of the hour for 9 minutes and 26 seconds to memorialize Floyd's last, agonizing moments of life. When George Floyd died, I had a hard time, Townsend said. I didnt watch the video, just quick cuts. I couldn't. But right way, I absolutely knew something had to be done. Townsend recruited her husband, Dave, and some friends Bill Brown, MaryNell Morgan, Ann Whalen to organize a vigil. Young people came too. With that, they took over the park's busy corner in the heart of the village. We had a mixed reaction, Townsend said. A lot of positive horn honking. But there were a few people with Back the Blue signs across the street who heckled us. They quit once the cold weather came. Townsend and her allies did not. But a year after the weekly vigils began, she said she is taking a rest. She ended the vigils on Tuesday with a memorial service marking the anniversary of Floyd's murder. While strains of Lift Every Voice and Sing as well as We Shall Overcome moved through the air, all eyes focused on a colorful painting of Floyd by artist Marcus Anderson. Commissioned by Townsend, the painting became the altar where flowers were laid. Brown said the vigils and the service were all Townsend's doing. Everything we did was at Annies suggestion, Brown said. She was the driving force behind everything. All the credit goes to her. Including the silence. Protesters did not chitchat or shout back at those who heaped abusive language on them. Rather, Brown said, they remained silent to meditate on Greenwichs abolitionist history taking in the homes across the street from the park, some of which served as way stations on the Underground Railroad. And thinking of the park itself, named for the Mowrys who were abolitionists. We have a sacred history, said Brown who is white, but married into a large Black family. That is what we were contemplating. ... We were thinking about our lives and the terrible institutions of slavery and the terrible institution of racism. This is not Townsends first time fighting for racial justice. In 2015, she sought to ban sales of the Confederate flag at the Washington County Fair. I saw on Facebook where they were selling Confederate flags at the fair, Townsend said. It struck my heart. I could not let it go. Within 20 minutes, I had poster board and made a sign, Slavery, lets vilify it, not glorify it. She then went to the fair, stood near a flag vendor and held up her sign. She remembers one woman complaining that the flag had nothing to do with slavery. A fair official and a police officer approached her and told her she had to leave. She did, moving outside the fair fence to hold up her sign near the entrance. The fair board of directors resisted her appeal, but she attracted a growing chorus of allies. A year later, the fair asked vendors not to sell or display the flag. I felt they didnt know what they were up against, Townsend said. It sounds a little egotistical. The fair gets funds from the state and there are many African Americans in the legislature. If they didnt back down, that was going to be my next move. But they came to it on their own. ... I remember thinking, we have the wind at our backs. Then we had (Donald) Trump. Townsend laid low. Then Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin on May 25, 2020. Townsend organized the first vigil on the day of his funeral. I felt so strongly about it, Townsend said. I was compelled. This stuff makes me cry. Im not a good spokesperson. I get too choked up. Townsend also said she knew they couldn't stop. Her persistence and willingness to embrace everyone into the fold inspired others. One piece that is really beautiful about Annie is she is super-consistent, said Rio Riera Arbogast, who grew up in Greenwich and was one of the young people who joined in the vigils. She always held space for others to come through. ... She is so dedicated and convicted. Annabel Gregg, a junior at Hunter College who was also a regular at the vigils, said Townsends ideas were carefully and thoughtfully planned. Her compassion and dedication to keeping the movement alive in our small town have been so crucial to keeping the issues regarding systemic racism and police brutality on people's minds, said Gregg who is a graduate of Greenwich Central School. I am so grateful for all she has done for the community. Townsend is humbled and wants to share credit with those who showed up week after week, especially in the cold and snow, and those who made up the signs they held every Saturday. And while the vigils are over for now, she said that she will continue to fight for racial justice. "One of the things that really gets me is the cover-up, how our society is refusing to acknowledge the pain and struggle of African Americans," Townsend said. "What they have borne in their lives over generations, thats heroic and valiant to me. ROTTERDAM U.S. Army combat medic William H. Hart Sr. loved children and dressed up as Snappy the Clown to entertain sick tots at local hospitals. EJ Knapick, a World War II U.S. Navy veteran who served as a petty officer aboard the U.S.S. Miami in Pacific, was instrumental in launching the local AMVETS chapter, where he served as commander and as legislative chair for three decades. And Louis R. Lupi, Sr., a veteran World War II sharpshooter, was a skilled linguist who enjoyed hot fudge sundaes. Once home, he became a well-known community figure, having joined Rotterdam AMVETS Post 35 and served as 2019 Grand Marshall of the Rotterdam Veteran Parade. When you saw Lou, he always put a smile on your face, said state Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, D-Rotterdam. The three Rotterdam veterans, all recently departed, were among the inaugural names emblazoned on a new veterans memorial unveiled at the Via Port Rotterdam on Sunday as part of Memorial Day observations. Santabarbara worked with the mall to select the location and designed the monument, a varnished wooden structure slightly reminiscent of a layered cake Each branch of the military is represented on the monument, and more names will be added over time. The now-ebbing coronavirus pandemic delayed rollout, according to the lawmaker. Its difficult to pay tribute the way we wanted to, Santabarbara said. But its never too late. Dignitaries and local veterans gathered for the unveiling on Sunday, which had all the trappings of a traditional Memorial Day ceremony, replete with Taps, Boy Scouts, patriotic bunting, solemn speeches and soaring song. Officials hope the site will draw quiet reflection from visitors and mall-walkers alike. Hart completed two tours of duty in Germany, and one in San Francisco, and was stationed in Vietnam from 1967-68, service for which he was awarded a Bronze Star. He died in November 2018 from complications of Agent Orange, the chemical agent used in the battlefields of Vietnam, according to his widow, Kathleen Hart, who said she was thrilled with the monument. It makes it a daily remembrance for people and gives them an opportunity to get to know the sacrifices theyve made for the country, Hart said. AMVETS Post 35 Commander Fred Clark recalled Knapicks work to charter the local chapter. It was a dramatic moment, Clark said. Santabarbara added: We started with a few team members, but it was him driving it. This is what happens when veterans return home to their communities, said Santabarbara, himself a U.S. Army reservist. Jacqueline Oliveira, exalted ruler of Elks Lodge No. 2157, said while welcome, the somber ceremony should not be constructed as a celebration. After all, these men and others gave their lives for their country. "But we do appreciate that," Oliveira said. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 08:19:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS -- The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Saturday accused the European Union (EU) of being a "partner in the unjust war against Syria," as the EU decided to renew sanctions on Syria, according to the state news agency SANA. "Once again, the European Union proves its complete distance from reality, its full partnership in the unjust war on Syria, and its responsibility for the bloodshed of Syrians and destruction of their achievements," the ministry said. (Syria-EU-Renew sanctions) - - - - ABUJA -- Nigerian police on Saturday confirmed the release of 14 university students and staff kidnapped last month by gunmen in the country's northwestern state of Kaduna. About 20 people including students and two staff of the privately-owned Greenfield University in Kaduna were kidnapped by unknown gunmen in the Chikun local government area of the state on April 20. (Nigeria) - - - - BAGHDAD -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held meetings with Iraqi leaders on Saturday during his official visit to Baghdad to strengthen bilateral ties in various fields. Iraqi President Barham Salih met with Qureshi, and the two sides discussed bilateral relations and stressed the importance of cooperation in combating terrorism and extremism to stabilize the region and the world, said a statement by the media office of the presidency. (Iraq-Pakistan) - - - - CHARIKAR, Afghanistan -- At least four people were killed and 11 others wounded after a roadside bomb hit a university bus in Afghanistan's eastern Parwan province on Saturday, a spokesman of the Interior Ministry said. "The explosion occurred in Police District 7 of provincial capital Charikar city roughly at 4:15 p.m. local time. The bodies and the wounded were transported by provincial police and the rescue team to hospitals in the city," Tariq Arian told Xinhua. (Afghanistan-Bomb Explosion-University Bus, 1st LD Writethru) Enditem Irresponsibility with information is rotting our republic from the inside out. My persistence on this issue began with, like so many frustrating things, Texas, where the legislature is trying to limit the ways that race in America can be taught to students. Among other things, the legislation prohibits students from being taught about Americas inherent racism. That is interesting, considering racial slavery is acknowledged in the Constitution itself, however implicit, and Jim Crow laws were very explicit about white supremacy until only 50 years ago. Objectively, people of color are overrepresented in prison, underrepresented in corporate management, continue to experience wealth and wealth disparity with white people, disparity with school discipline and are more likely to be killed in interactions with police. This is a reality in the United States and irrefutable. Pretending this is all about personal responsibility is delusional. What that means is that you have to believe, given the facts above, that people of color are less capable and more criminal than white people, or one has to accept that America has been racist since its inception. Yet, it would seem that Texas and other states believe that not talking about our national white supremacy is a solution to the social unrest and distrust that is born from it. That is like getting a plastic surgeon to fix a stab wound and ignoring the internal hemorrhaging. Democracy demands the exploration of our problems honestly, as well as celebrating our virtues. James Cimino Schenectady ALBANY Continuing a trend in recent years of the state expanding the number of people allowed to carry epinephrine injectors, both houses of the state Legislature overwhelmingly passed a bill last week to give forest rangers, park rangers and park police officers the ability to carry the lifesaving drug. The injectors, also known as epi pens, are carried by people with serious food allergies or a history of anaphylaxis, a state of allergic shock that can be deadly. Under state law, only certain officials are allowed to carry the prescription epi pens and use them as needed, and in recent years the governor has signed new laws allowing more and more officials to carry them, including fire fighters, bus drivers and police. Anaphylaxis results in approximately 1,500 deaths annually in the United States, and epinephrine can reverse symptoms only if applied quickly after the reaction begins. If someone goes into anaphylaxis while hiking in the Adirondacks due to a bee sting or exercise allergy, for instance and they don't have their own epi pen with them, it could save lives for park officials to be able to quickly administer epinephrine. "Some allergist say there's a 20 minute window, that you've got 20 minutes at the very most to get injection started. And if you get outside of that 20 minutes, the patient is in grave danger," said Jon Terry, founder of the Allergy Advocacy Association. His organization supports the bill. "In terms of the attacks, you know, the sooner the better. In fact, in cases that I'm aware of, within just a matter of a minute a person can lose consciousness and stop breathing, any number of things," Terry said. "So, in that situation, that's a bad deal. I'm in the middle of nowhere, and you get stung by a bee and you don't have an epinephrine auto injector, you don't know your risk, that's a very dangerous scenario." Epi pens have been the subject of controversy in recent years over price hikes from the pharmaceutical companies that produce them. Insurance companies have been accused of only covering the more expensive name-brand versions of the drug, while not allowing people to purchase identical generic brands. The bill was written by Sen. James Tedisco, a Schenectady Republican, and it passed overwhelmingly in both the Senate and Assembly, where it's carried by Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, a Rotterdam Democrat. Tedisco said it's an example of bipartisan lawmaking that isn't always the norm in Albany, and he credited his colleague Sen. Robert Jackson, a Manhattan Democrat, with advocating for the legislation and getting Democratic leadership to take up the bill despite it being written by a Republican. "Our forest rangers, our park rangers, our EnCon police who are in the vicinity of all these places, this is their job. To be there, to protect the wildlife to protect the wild areas, protect the people in those areas, make sure they're doing the right things. Because if they can't carry these, you're talking 45 minutes an hour, 25, 30, 45 minutes away for deputy sheriff or a law enforcement," Tedisco said. The bill hasn't yet been sent to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, but it will need his signature before becoming law. He has signed very similar laws in the past, and it costs the state no money and doesn't require parks officials to carry epi pens, simply allows them to do so. Asked if he expects Cuomo to sign the bill, Tedisco a frequent and vocal critic for months of the governor said, "well..." and paused for several seconds. "I haven't been exactly nice to the governor lately," Tedisco said, but then added that he thinks it's an uncontroversial bill that would save people's lives, so he expects the governor will want to sign. Farmington, WV (26555) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable. [May 30, 2021] China's sci-tech development to focus more on self-reliance BEIJING, May 30, 2021 /CNW/ -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for accelerated efforts in building China into a leader in science and technology and achieving sci-tech self-reliance and self-strengthening at higher levels. Xi made the remarks while addressing a meeting conflating the general assemblies of the members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the national congress of the China Association for Science and Technology. "Sci-tech self-reliance and self-strengthening should always be considered a strategic support for national development," he said. Xi extended congratulations to the meeting, and greetings to professionals serving at various sci-tech posts. "I wish to extend warm congratulations to the convening of the meeting, and convey cordial greetings to the dedicated science and technology professionals who are working hard in various positions.May 30 marks the fifth National Science and Technology Workers' Day, and I'd like to send my greetings to all of you," said Xi. He praised the progress made in sci-tech innovation, basic research, original innovation, strategic sci-tech and high-end industries, as well as the significant role of science and technology in containing the COVID-19 epidemic. "Practice has proved that there is a great potential for independent innovation in China, and the sci-tech professionals in our country can accomplish a lot. With the spirit of advancing with the times, the courage of making continuous improvement through reforms, and indomitable determination and perseverance, the sci-tech professionals in our country must grasp the global trends, take the initiative, confront problems head-on, and overcome difficulties. The scientific and technological development must target the global sci-tech frontiers, serve the main economic battlefields, strive to fulfill the significant needs of the country and benefit people's life and health. Shouldering the important tasks entrusted by the times, you should strive to achieve sci-tech self-reliance and self-improvement at a higher level," Xi said. Xi urged China's sci-tech professionals to assume the responsibilities of the times and strive for sci-tech self-reliance and self-strengthening at higher levels. "Let's unite together, take bold steps of innovation and work tirelessly to make more contributions to building China into a sci-tech power, and realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation," he said. Link: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=P0905Iip5JA View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chinas-sci-tech-development-to-focus-more-on-self-reliance-301302086.html SOURCE CCTV+ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 30, 2021] Group-IB launches regional HQ in Dubai. City becomes home to its MEA Threat Intelligence & Research Center DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Group-IB, a global threat hunting and adversary-centric cyber intelligence company specializing in investigating and preventing hi-tech cybercrimes, has officially announced the opening of its Middle East & Africa Threat Intelligence & Research Center in Dubai. The grand opening, held at the Habtoor Palace Dubai, was attended by representatives of the local financial organizations, government institutions, and the guest of honor, Mr. Craig Jones, INTERPOL Cybercrime director. Group-IB's leadership views the opening of its MEA Threat Intelligence & Research Center as a critical milestone toward achieving the strategic goal of building the first ever decentralized global cybersecurity company with fully operational R&D centers in the key financial hubs. Group-IB's office would not only operate just as a sales hub but also as a full-scale regional HQ, offering all core technological competencies and bringing with it the top skills that are found across its global HQ in Singapore and other offices. The new Center, located at the Dubai Internet City, will accommodate 18 employees from key Group-IB units: hi-tech crime investigations, Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR) lab, Threat Intelligence, security assessment, Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-GIB), Threat and Fraud Hunting teams, Digital Risk Protection department, and other major divisions. "The threat of cybercrime is global, with regions being impacted differently," noted Mr. Craig Jones, Director of Cybercrime, INTERPOL. "By understanding first-hand how the threats are evolving and what impact and harm they are causing in the region, I know that together we can mitigate those far-reaching threats and reduce harm more effectively. Encompassing a wide range of expertise, experience and skills, this HQ will play a pivotal role for Group IB's research into the regioal threat landscape and on-the-ground support for their customers and partners. INTERPOL's Global Cybercrime Programme looks forward to further strengthening our partnership with Group-IB and increasing operational activities against cybercrime in the region in collaboration with this office." Dubai is one of the regional strongholds for the coordination of cross-border efforts against cybercrime and research into threat actors and their techniques. The brand-new Threat Intelligence & Research Center enables local community to leverage Group-IB's in-depth knowledge of criminal schemes and close collaboration with international law enforcement and cyber police forces worldwide. The company's battle-tested experts carried out more than 1,200 successful investigations over 18 years around the world enriching the Group-IB's technology ecosystem with first-hand understanding of intrusion tactics used in the most sophisticated cyberattacks. Knowledge transfer and hiring of local talents are other key elements of Group-IB's strategy. The company plans to have more than 50 team members in the UAE within the next 18 months. "Zero tolerance to cybercriminals has brought us to the forefront of the global fight against online crime," remarked Ilya Sachkov, Group-IB CEO and founder, commenting on the office opening. "Dubai is a perfect place to carry on this mission together with local institutions and international law enforcement. As part of our contribution to building a vibrant cybersecurity ecosystem in the UAE, we plan to develop world-class research, monitoring, incident detection and response capabilities here in Dubai and adapt them to the needs of the market," he added. In his keynote speech, Group-IB CTO Dmitry Volkov highlighted underlying regional cyber trends such as ransomware attacks and sale of access to corporate networks. According to Group-IB's data, at least 12 victims suffered publicly known ransomware attacks in the Middle East in 2020, with most of them having taken place in the UAE. To that end, Group-IB brings to the region a product and service portfolio that includes a first-ever all in one solution Threat Hunting Framework for the protection of both IT and OT segments. Another innovation that becomes more accessible to local customers is Group-IB's Threat Intelligence & Attribution (TI&A), a system designed to create and customize a cyber threat map for a specific company. Every analyst who uses TI&A now gets access to the largest collection of dark web data, an advanced hacker group profiling model, and a fully automated graph analysis tool that helps correlate data and attribute threats to specific criminal groups in seconds. Ashraf Koheil, an industry heavyweight, is the most recent addition to the Group-IB team in the UAE. Mr. Koheil brings over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience in IT&ICT security. He will lead Group-IB's regional business development team. "The UAE is one of the most progressive and demanding markets striving for continuous improvement in all aspects including government, services, banking with cybersecurity at the forefront," comments Mr. Koheil. "This makes Group-IB a perfect fit as our mission is all about eliminating all facets of cybercrime, be it financially motivated, nation state activity, or social engineering scams. We expect a lot of our growth to come from the true partner friendly ecosystem that we've been creating in the region. We are also planning joint research & development with key government institutions in the financial sector and law enforcement to bring more localized solutions and develop local expertise." [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 09:04:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GUANGZHOU, May 30 (Xinhua) -- South China's Guangdong Province registered 13 new locally transmitted asymptomatic COVID-19 cases on Saturday, the provincial health commission said on Sunday. Twelve of the asymptomatic carriers were reported in the provincial capital city of Guangzhou, and one in the city of Foshan. The province also reported one imported confirmed COVID-19 case during the period, which was found in Guangzhou. The patient entered the city from Cameroon. On the same day, five new imported asymptomatic cases from Bangladesh, Cameroon and Cambodia were also reported in the province. By the end of Saturday, Guangdong had reported a total of 2,432 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 1,030 imported ones, according to the commission. Enditem Today's classrooms are digital classrooms first, whether face-to-face or extended through e-learning platforms being fed by information and content repositories. While the need to deliver education online was accelerated with the global pandemic, it is not expected to slow down anytime soon. From nursery school to post-graduate and continuing education organizations, technology and connectivity are moving at an increasing pace as innovation is proving to dramatically impact learning outcomes. This widespread adoption of technology, such as real-time collaboration, high-speed connectivity, and mobility solutions, has completely changed how teachers teach and students learn. Many educational institutes now look at technology as an opportunity to build immersive new teaching methods and connect with students more efficiently and across multiple channels. "Online learning emerged as a safe and viable option for education continuity as the COVID-19 pandemic turned personal and professional worlds upside down but has since paved the way for a pedagogical shift in the way teachers teach and how students learn," said Ted Franz, Global Business Development from Kandy (News - Alert) , a cloud-based, real-time communications platform, now part of AVCtechnologies. "In this mode of learning, teachers and instructors now function as guides, while students become active collaborators rather than mere passive learners. At the college level, technology is already starting to play a major role in a student's educational experience. A survey showed that 90 percent of graduate students and 89 percent of undergraduate students found the quality of their education online to be either the same or better than in-person education. The same study found 67 percent of students already use their mobile devices to help complete all or some of their course-related activities, with another 12 percent saying they would have if they had the chance. Universities themselves are also taking note of the rise of technology in education and are making the necessary moves to keep up with the changing times. Colleges are investing in powerful communications platforms to support research and advanced programs in science and technology, with high-performance broadband networks and cloud adoption giving students the digital tools necessary to succeed in their classes, no matter where they are. "Colleges and universities around the world have been completely transforming their public spaces, libraries, classrooms, and labs into hyperconnected and increasingly immersive learning and collaboration environments," said Franz. "Additionally, initiatives focused on securing campuses from terrorism and other violent acts and ensuring student and faculty safety have driven the adoption of Internet-based security and surveillance networks, as well as mobile applications that keep the community connected and alerted in times of distress. In some cases, where IT infrastructure investment in colleges and universities has been lagging, important initiatives have been launched to overcome the digital divide. Primary and secondary schools are also starting to embrace the role technology can play in education, with 93 percent of teachers at the level using digital tools to help with instruction, and 56 percent believing data and digital tools help make them a better teacher. Primary and secondary schools are investing not only in equipment for computer labs and connected classrooms but in applications enabling students and teachers to collaborate in real-time, to connect classrooms in different locations and even countries and cultures, to support distance learning, and to reflect the environment the children are being prepared to succeed in. "Learning to transform teaching methods by using technology is a significant way to bring better learning experiences to students at this level," said Franz. "It saves time and effort for the teachers, while also benefiting the students' education, as student tasks and instructions can be tailored based on individual needs." The potential of technology to drive transformation and evolution in the education sector has always been apparent. Videos are among the most effective content elements on the internet today, and when it comes to online learning and development, video is the more preferred medium compared to text documents. More advanced visual technologies may also find their way into the e-Learning industry. These technologies include virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), which provide users with an immersion experience that aims to shut out their actual physical environment. "The benefits that technology and distance learning can have on education are endless, with tools and solutions that offer real-time access to data only continuing to improve the role of technology in education," said Franz. "Solutions, such as those offered by Kandy, leverage communications APIs, and SDKs to make communication and connecting students and teachers for advancements in learning better and easier. These same tools can also be used by software developers to embed real-time communications into their desktop, web, and mobile applications." Learn more at kandy.io With facts and figures favoring online education, it can be safe to say that it is here to stay. The combination of the growing interest in e-learning and how it is essentially a necessity nowadays due to the pandemic speaks volumes about its inevitable continuous growth, and as more providers, facilitators, organizations, and students realize the benefits of e-learning, it is not difficult to imagine an exciting future for the global online education industry. "The impact that technology has had on today's schools has been quite significant, as schools are now giving teachers, students, and administrators creative and efficient solutions that are improving results and operations," said Franz. "And as the world continues to become more and more digital with every passing day, by fully embracing and integrating technology in the classroom, we are setting our students up for a successful life outside of school." Edited by Luke Bellos This morning we continue to consider the Sunday news scene from a variety of angles up, including but not limited panty industry news, pop culture, community issues and top headlines. Check-it . . . Kansas City Tribute Protected How to Observe Memorial Day During the Pandemic On Memorial Day in 2019, visitors browsed the solemn exhibits of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Honolulu surrounded by 2,390 six-by-eight-inch U.S. flags, each tagged with the name and duty assignment of a person who died in the attack that prompted the United States' entry into World War II. Old Glory Tribute Emerges In JoCo Lions Club honors service members with American flags on Metcalf Avenue KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Overland Park Host Lions Club is doing their part to honor service members who died this Memorial Day Weekend by putting up American Flags along Metcalf Avenue and downtown Overland Park. Show-Me COVID Freebies Free at-home COVID-19 tests now available to Missouri residents At-home tests that check for the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are now available for free to Missouri residents, the state health department announced Friday. Individuals who choose this option will order the free testing kit online, and the kit will be delivered to the home in two days. Suburban Swim Scaled Back Roeland Park Aquatic Center reopens for the summer on limited schedule, faces city-wide lifeguard shortage ROELAND PARK, Kan. - Community pools in the Kansas City area are opening back up for the summer this Memorial Day Weekend, but many are doing so in limited capacities. One of them is Roeland Park Aquatic Center who reopened its newly renovated facility on Saturday on an abbreviated schedule. Kansas Resurrection Plan would return Kansas Statehouse prayer room to 1st spot TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Republican legislators have hatched a plan for returning the Kansas Statehouse's meditation room to its original spot after Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly moved it to create more space for her staff. Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, outlined the proposal this week during a meeting of top lawmakers. Inclusive Hotness Debuts 'From Sexy For A Few, To Sexy For All': Reinventing Victoria's Secret The decision by L Brands , the owner of Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works, to split the businesses into two standalone, publicly-traded companies has come at a good time. While Bath & Body Works has gone from strength to strength during the pandemic Victoria's Secret's declining popularity meant that it had to reassess its whole raison d'etre. Prez Biden Messes With Texas Biden asks Americans to choose country over party as restrictive Texas voting bill advances President Joe Biden called a restrictive Texas voting bill edging closer toward passage "wrong and un-American" Saturday as he pressed Congress to pass federal voting rights legislation that has very little chance of passing in the evenly divided Senate. Veep Confronts Mean Tweets Vice President Kamala Harris under fire for 'disrespectful' tweet Vice President Kamala Harris came under fire Saturday for tweeting about Memorial Day, but without mentioning the significance of the weekend. "Enjoy the long weekend," Harris wrote, above a candid photo of herself smiling. Social media users condemned Harris' lack of tact reminding the vice president of the sacrifices the "long weekend" is meant to honor. MAGA Vs. Mexicans Again Twitter Erupts After Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Breaks Out 'Mexican Accent' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.) broke out what she called her "really bad Mexican accent" during a speech on Thursday night in Dalton, Georgia, and many on social media agreed: It was really bad. Greene, who has promoted QAnon conspiracy theories, claimed President Joe Biden and other Democrats were "in business of helping the cartels" in Mexico. Artsy Revival For Po-Po Structure New Home For Artists Opens In Former Police Building On Kansas City's East Side Rising rents and property ownership changes have led to a shortage of affordable studios for Kansas City artists. In recent years, artists have been squeezed out of the Crossroads, Midtown and the River Market. But a new frontier may be opening up on Kansas City's east side - beginning with a space called Agnes Arts, which is scheduled to open this summer. Royals Return To Losing Ways The expected occurs and the Royals lose 6-5 Don't let the score fool you, the Royals should have been blown out in this game. The Twins had runners on base all day but managed to find ways to fail to score runs much like the Royals did during their losing streak a couple of weeks ago. Still Cold On Sunday Cloudy afternoon, possible showers for Sunday RIGHT NOW KATIE WONDER A LOT OF FOLKS WONDERING IF THE BALLOON GLOW IS GOING TO BE DRY TONIGHT. David Byrne - Take me to the river - Sessions at West 54th Street is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. Housing talking points garnered overwhelming endorsement over this week and it's clear that housing largess from the feds is one of the few things on which most metro leaders can agree. The pandemic will soon give way to the worst American housing crisis since the great depression and federal intervention might be the only solution to keep people indoors. Here's the local angle and a news roundup . . . Missouri Democrats support Biden's housing plan - The Beacon A donation to The Beacon goes beyond the newsroom. We amplify community voices, share resources and investigate systems, not just symptoms. The Beacon in your inbox. In-depth reporting delivered every Tuesday and Thursday morning. During a May 26 visit to Kansas City, Missouri, the U.S. Biden budget would pour billions into affordable housing, CDFIs The funding requests break sharply with the Trump administration's calls to eliminate key housing funds and backing for community development financial institutions. The White House also wants to substantially increase the budgets of the Treasury Department and the Small Business Administration. Biden administration could double Canadian lumber tariffs even as wood and construction costs soar The U.S. Commerce Department has proposed doubling the tariff on Canadian lumber from 9% to 18%-a prospect that dismays homebuilders. Will President Biden's $6 Trillion Budget Help Home Buyers Become Homeowners? As Americans grapple with swift-rising rents and home prices and a severe shortage of affordably priced real estate, housing has emerged as one of the priorities of President Joe Biden 's administration. In his first proposed budget of $6 trillion, the president would provide the U.S. Fight looms over down payment aid to close racial wealth gap Democrats are in a "rush to put families in homes they can't afford," said Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, the top Republican on the banking and housing committee. Other critics say it would worsen the affordable housing problem by driving up demand for homes at a time when supply is already at historic lows. The White House Offers More Money, Less Detail on Its Idea for 'YIMBY Grants' The Biden administration is still spotlighting the ways state and local regulations are inflating the cost of housing. It's also giving less and less detail on how exactly it intends to incentivize those jurisdictions to cut that red tape. White House says rising home prices are a concern WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration is monitoring rising U.S. home prices, which it is concerned are increasingly making housing unaffordable, a White House spokeswoman said on Tuesday. "The increase in housing prices we've seen does raise concerns for us about housing affordability and access to the housing market," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters. Developing . . . Here's an important facet of the current Kansas City 'DEFUND THE POLICE' debate that's making the rounds amongst insiders. To be fair, the outlet that published this report is a right-wing publication run by young Republicans but their research seems solid . . . Or at least worth a peek. Check their headline . . . The Heartlander: Kansas City Council members who voted to defund police may be subject to fines and removal according to state law Money line and a deep dive into Missouri law . . . A state statute that was passed in 1943 states that any officer or servant of the mayor or common council who obstructs or hinders the operation of the police board or the execution of duties prescribed to them, are liable to a $1,000 fine for each offense and would be forever disqualified from holding office in the city. Perspective from a right-wing advocacy group that's ramping up criticism of the move . . . It is clear that the eight council members, the mayor, and the city manager illegally interfered with the Police Commissioners sole legal right to disburse police funds that were appropriated to them, said Liberty Alliance USA Executive Director Chris Vas. Developing . . . featured STATE POLICE And now, some words of wisdom from NJ State Police Col. Patrick J. Callahan Guest Oped School Board member talks about tensions with the teachers union Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 09:37:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ABUJA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Arsonists set ablaze a police station and two courts in Nigeria's southeastern state of Imo on Saturday, local police said. The unknown attackers who were on the rampage in different locations of the Njaba local government area of the state also went ahead to vandalize a community health center, said Bala Elkana, Imo's police spokesman. Elkana said in a statement that the "hoodlums" in their numbers stormed and damaged a building that was constructed by the community for the police. They also proceeded to the magistrate's court and high court premises in the town and set the buildings ablaze, he said. An investigation has been launched into the incident to identify the attackers, he added. There have been in recent months a series of gunmen attacks on police stations and prisons in the southern part of Nigeria. Enditem Canton, GA (30114) Today A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 10:35:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NOUAKCHOTT, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Mauritania received Saturday a second COVID-19 vaccine donation from China, as the country is looking to vaccinate more of its citizens against the virus. With the new donation, China will help Mauritania "ensure the continuity of the anti-COVID-19 vaccination campaign across the country," Mauritanian Health Minister Sidi Ould Zahaf said. Zahaf also took the opportunity to once again urge people to get vaccinated to allow for the relaunch of the country's economy. Chinese Ambassador to Mauritania Li Baijun said China and Mauritania enjoy a traditional friendship and have been engaged in fruitful cooperation in various fields, in particular anti-epidemic cooperation since the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak. Li added that the arrival of this vaccine donation confirms the important consensus of the leaders of the two countries on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. Mauritania has reported 19,463 COVID-19 cases, 463 deaths and 18,431 recoveries. China's first vaccine donation arrived on March 24. Enitem Where do you get tested about for returning to UK? Where do you get tested about for returning to UK? Hi, I am at a total loss for the testing situation if I were to travel to Portugal with my young family at start of July. Where do you you get a test from when in Portugal a few days before your return to the UK? Do you just stroll into any typical chemist you see in typical holiday resorts or do you have to go to some sort of official testing centre? Really keen for a summer break in the sun and don't want to make a mess of the testing situation to return to the UK. I asked jet 2 but they said they were waiting for further government advice. Really appreciate any help. Thanks Getting proof of address in Ukraine as a tourist Getting proof of address in Ukraine as a tourist Hi all, I've came to Kiev in May and planned to stay here until July, before my trip to Georgia. Right before booking the flight, I've discovered that my UK passport is about to expire . So I've applied for a renewal at the local UK TLS center. A week later, they've asked to give them a proof of adress in Kiev. That's when the problem started. I discovered that a tourist can't get a proof of adress unless he/she has a Ukranian ID card. I also can't get a utility bill as a proof of address as I'm not owner of the apartment. Is there any way a tourist can get a proof of address? I've heard something about . Can potentially give me the paper confirming my address? Edited: 30 May 2021, 13:00 Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it. I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends. More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it. The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity. About me: I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS. Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line). Age: 42 Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed. I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it). Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 12:16:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Yu Shuaishuai, Maria Spiliopoulou ATHENS, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) indeed always sticks with the Chinese people for a better, more prosperous and harmonious future for everybody, former Greek Foreign Affairs Minister George Katrougalos told Xinhua in a recent interview. The novel coronavirus has exacerbated inequalities throughout the world, with the exception of China, said Katrougalos, a constitutional law professor who is now the Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs from the main opposition SYRIZA Party. "China not only managed to overcome the challenges of the pandemic, but has also met the goal of eliminating (absolute) poverty ... This is almost a miracle," Katrougalos told Xinhua, adding that this is a major victory in the war against inequalities and poverty worldwide. Other countries, especially developing ones, can learn from the paradigm, he said. "I think that the biggest achievement of the Communist party is that it has combined the goal for the national rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the reversal of the decline, with the necessity to build a more advanced social system. And it achieved this goal by, let's say, adapting Marxism-Leninism in China with Chinese characteristics and also using all this ancient philosophy of your country going back 5,000 years," he said. This is a valid massage for all progressive parties throughout the world that they should try not just to imitate different doctrines, even doctrines like Marxism, but to adapt them to national environments and the challenges of globalization, he stressed. During his many visits to China as a politician and an academic, Katrougalos was impressed by the continuous progress in China's economy and science as well as the overwhelming acceptance of the CPC's policies by the Chinese people. For him, this is evidence that the CPC's policies are those needed for the prosperous and harmonious development of the Chinese society. He has also been impressed by Chinese President Xi Jinping's vision on building a community with a shared future for mankind and his insights into harmonious development, which he sees "is a real humanitarian message that all of us should follow," as "we cannot have individual prosperity without referring also to the common goal." SYRIZA and Katrougalos have maintained friendly exchanges with the CPC. It is important to continue bilateral exchanges, which are very useful for promoting in the West, especially in Europe, a better understanding of Chinese policies and the CPC's principles, said Katrougalos. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, Katrougalos sent his warm wishes to the party and the Chinese people. "I am sure that this impressive progress of the Chinese people will continue and my wish would be that the next 100 years of the Communist party to be even more brilliant and good for the prosperity of your people," he said. Enditem Register for a FREE account to keep reading! Register now for a FREE account to keep reading. No cost and no credit card required! Access up to 5 articles per month when you register, or get unlimited access to all of our content online starting at $1.99 now! Already registered? Click the log in link below Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 13:35:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SYDNEY, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Australian scientist on a World Health Organization (WHO) expert team sent to China on a COVID-19 origin-tracing mission defended the team's findings as some reports speculated about the "lab leak" theory and after U.S. President Joe Biden ordered intelligence agencies to carry out extra investigations into the source of the pandemic. In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Friday, University of Sydney Professor Dominic Dwyer, who along with scientists from other countries spent four weeks in Wuhan of China for the WHO mission, said there was no evidence to back up the lab escape theory. "The U.S. intelligence forces were asked to show if they had any information that might be helpful. They haven't done that as yet," Dwyer said. "The fact that President Biden says he's getting conflicting reports from his intelligence agencies, to me, suggests there is no clear evidence, otherwise it would be obvious what was going on," he said. "I think we just need to see the evidence. If we've got it, let's act on it....But show us the money," the ABC report cited Dwyer. He said authorities in Wuhan had been "pretty open" with the team during its investigation. "The evidence we got and the questions we asked and the answers we got are really what I would expect if I was doing the same investigation in Australia or New Zealand or somewhere similar," he said. Dwyer said in the interview that it could take "many, many years" to discover the origins of diseases and that it would only be achieved through cooperation. "You have to develop cooperation; you have to work with people in an open and transparent manner to get things done," he said. "The more people fight about it, or people use politics to score points or whatever it might be, the less likely you are to get the cooperation to work together to sort it out," he warned. "So I would plead that the diplomacy improves so that we can get on and do the science," he added. Enditem For full access, please log in, register your subscription or subscribe. Try for 99 a month for two months, cancel or pause anytime. KINGSTON Emily McLellan is excited about starting freshman year at the University of New Hampshire in the fall, but shes been worried that her aging 1996 Toyota Corolla might not be able to handle the regular commute. LAST SUMMER, after months of protests and riots in response to the murder of George Floyd, the phrase mostly peaceful, often used by the media and Democrats to describe the protests, achieved parody status thanks to a CNN clip. IT IS a requirement in the state of New Hampshire to have our automobiles inspected annually by a state-certified inspection station for safety. You imagine what might happen if the brakes are faulty and fail? Someone could be killed. (@FahadShabbir) DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 30th May, 2021) The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) has announced the allocation of an additional 19 million meals to the Gaza Strip, as part of the 100 Million Meals campaign. In collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), low-income families and individuals will receive food vouchers, equivalent to 19 million meals, to empower them to purchase a variety of nutritious and locally produced food. The distribution comes in support to vulnerable groups including those impacted by the recent violence that displaced thousands in Palestine, including 77,000 who took refuge in UN schools and headquarters and an additional 40,000 who fled to friends and family homes in the Gaza Strip. WFPs e-vouchers enable beneficiaries to shop from a network of contracted supermarkets in the amounts that sustain their households, providing them with a chance at a dignified life. They inject much-needed cash into Gaza`s ailing economy supporting the resilience of small businesses in the face of shocks. The 100 Million Meals campaign, launched earlier in Ramadan to provide food aid for disadvantaged individuals and families across 30 countries, had already allocated 9 million meals to be distributed in Palestine. Food aid has so far reached beneficiaries in the West Bank. Sara Al Nuaimi, Director of MBRGI, said, "Through the 19 million meals, which will be added to the previously allocated 9 million meals to the West Bank, we aim to reach 207,385 people in Gaza with urgent food support over one month." Al Nuaimi added, "about 70 percent of families in the Gaza Strip are facing food insecurity, according to WFP figures. The additional food support, provided through the 100 Million Meals campaign, is a message of solidarity from the UAE to those most affected by this difficult reality. " "We value the additional AED10 million contribution from MBRGI as it comes at a time when food needs have increased significantly in Palestine due to the recent upsurge in conflict," said Mageed Yahia, Director of WFP office in the UAE and Representative to the GCC. "This funding will enable WFP to continue providing much-needed support to food-insecure families who have been displaced and staying at hosting families and many others whose homes and livelihoods have been affected, without which they have nothing to feed their children," he added. High poverty and unemployment rates in Palestine hinder families and individuals from accessing food made available in markets. Of the total five-million-person population, two million people 1.4 million in Gaza and 600,000 in the West Bank - are estimated to be severely food insecure. To carry out the 100 Million Meals campaign, the MBRGI is collaborating with the WFP, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, the Food Banking Regional Network, and local charity organisations and authorities in the 30 beneficiary countries. With the help of 12 food banks and nine humanitarian institutions, MBRGI ensures food parcels, carrying basic food items, are delivered to the doorstep of vulnerable communities in 30 countries. Beneficiary countries include Palestine, Lebanon, Sudan, Yemen, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Tunisia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Angola, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Burundi, Benin, Brazil, Kosovo, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan. DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 30th May, 2021) dnata, a leading global air and travel services provider, and Singapore Airlines have expanded their long-standing partnership in the UAE, through the selection of dnata Representation Services, part of the dnata Travel Group, to provide a comprehensive range of sales, marketing and contact centre services to Singapore's flag carrier as its general sales agent (GSA) in the Northern Regions. The expanded partnership will see the team at dnata Representation Services act as the essential link between Singapore Airlines and local trade, supporting its commercial operations beyond Dubai, to extend across Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Qaiwain. dnata Representation Services' vast network, broad marketing, sales and operational expertise, and extensive experience in airline representation will help the carrier enhance its market presence in the UAE amidst a highly competitive business environment. dnata also provides reliable and safe ramp and cargo handling services to Singapore Airlines at Dubai International Airport (DXB). Rashid Al Awadhi, Vice President, dnata Travel Group - Regional, said, "We are proud to be the representation services partner of choice for Singapore Airlines in the UAE. The expansion of our partnership is a testament to our excellent cooperation and outstanding results in Dubai over the past four decades. Our experienced team will work hard to ensure that Singapore Airlines achieves its business objectives and delivers on its growth plans in the country." Ryan Yeoh, General Manager Gulf and middle East, Singapore Airlines, commented, "Singapore Airlines is proud to expand its partnership with dnata, building on a strong foundation of over 40 years of collaboration. Having resumed flights from Dubai to Singapore in January, we rely on dnata's knowledge and professionalism to ensure the best experience for our mutual customers, based on our shared commitment to service excellence." Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 13:43:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Wang Jinye, Wang Minghao, Li Laifang and Lyu Qiuping TIANJIN, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Under the scorching sun, a dockside crane in Tianjin Port lifted a container out of a vessel before the container was locked onto a tow truck and carried away. The entire process was going on in a manless operation zone at the port in north China's Tianjin Municipality, which aims to become a smart, green hub connecting the world via the Belt and Road Initiative. With 25 autonomous driving trucks and the driverless dockside and terminal cranes put into operation last year, the berth realized full automation in container handling after being upgraded from a traditional one, the first of its kind in the world. During his visit to Tianjin Port in early 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for efforts to develop it into a world-class smart and green port, which can better serve the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region as well as the joint building of the Belt and Road. Currently, the port has trade ties with more than 800 ports in over 200 countries and regions. Despite the pandemic-induced impacts, Tianjin Port handled 18.35 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in 2020, up 6.1 percent from the previous year, ranking among the top ten in the world. The freight turnover increased 2.4 percent year on year to over 435 million tonnes. SMART MODEL Liu Qi, a crane operator, no longer has to stay in the high-lift crane operating booth working 12 hours per shift. Thanks to the smart technology supported by China's Beidou Navigation Satellite System, he can now sit in the air-conditioned office and steer the joystick to remotely control the crane. "Gone are the days when I could barely move after leaning down for long hours to watch over the containers," said the 46-year-old Liu, as he focused on the six monitor screens in front of him. The screens enable him to have no blind spots in observation, which is much safer than before. Li Dan, 35, is among the first women hired for remote crane control. Li used to sort cargo at the port before she was trained for six months on cranes and operated them in the operation control room. Her salary then tripled to some 6,000 yuan (about 940 U.S. dollars) a month. "I was afraid of climbing up the 50-meter-tall crane at the beginning. It used to wobble in windy and stormy weathers," she said, adding that she had to hold herself from going to a toilet while in a crane booth. "No wonder we had no female crane drivers before." Now, each of the operators can control six terminal container cranes simultaneously. Partly because of the improved handling efficiency, 90 percent of the incoming vessels can directly dock at the 192 berths of the port upon arrival, without any waiting time, said Chu Bin, chairman of the board of the Tianjin Port (Group) Co., Ltd. (TPG). A newly-built smart port zone with three berths, located close by the manless operation zone of the port, will soon be put into use. With 12 driverless dockside cranes of different colors and 76 autonomous driving trucks equipped, the 5G-empowered berths have a designed handling capacity of 2.5 million TEUs every year. Chu said that the new port zone will save energy by 20 percent and cut operating costs by 25 percent. "The rainbow-colored port zone will become a new beautiful scenery." OLD PORT, NEW AMBITION The sea transportation of Tianjin Port dates back more than 1,000 years to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), when grains were shipped via the port to the northern border army. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the war-torn port was rebuilt and reopened in 1952. Back then, workers had to shoulder cargoes to load them on and off the vessels. Cheng Jingang, a former port loader, said that carrying brown sugar packs was the toughest work in winter. "The imported sugar was stiff in freezing weather, and countless trips carrying them often left our shoulders swollen," the 71-year-old retiree recalled. Cheng is delighted to see that his son, Cheng Weidong, did not have to go through similar misery while working. The junior Cheng, 42, is a tow truck driver at the port. Instead of simply driving, he also participates in the research and development to convert fuel trucks into electric ones as part of the port's green drive. "I have learned the CAD software for design and drafting, and the 3D printing also helps a lot," said the younger Cheng. To help cut carbon emissions, trains have replaced trucks to deliver large volumes of cargo to the port, including 100 percent coal and coke. As a result, the number of trucks that come and go has reduced from 50,000 to 30,000 per day, which helps cut carbon emissions equivalent to those of 4 million cars, said Chu, the chairman. Thanks to the measures, pollutant emissions were cut by more than 3,000 tonnes last year. The port is also promoting clean energy, with rooftop solar panels and wind windmills to be installed. "By making use of wind and solar energy, we will strive to realize zero carbon emission in our port," said Chu. GLOBAL HUB Liu Yu, deputy publicity manager of the TPG, said the port could only harbor a 10,000-tonne vessel in the 1950s, and now, handling a 300,000-tonne ship is a piece of cake. Located at the coastal area of Bohai, China's continental sea, Tianjin Port has a shorter distance from the country's inland ports, such as Alataw Pass in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Manzhouli and Erenhot in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region -- all important border ports along the Belt and Road. Therefore, sea-railway combined transportation has become a preferred choice that serves the Belt and Road. Wu Da, deputy manager of Tianjin China-Railway United International Container Co., Ltd., said China-Europe freight trains now operate twice a week from and to Tianjin Port, with more than 10,000 containers delivered a year. "The sea-railway transportation of Tianjin Port has ensured the import and export of cargo between China and multiple cities in East, Central and West Asia, and Europe during the pandemic, contributing to the foreign trade and supply chain stability," he said. The total TEU number delivered by trains through the port surged from about 100,000 in 2015 to 805,000 last year. To meet the rising demand, Wu's company has planned to extend the railway line directly to the port and expand the cargo terminal. The number of container ship routes connecting Tianjin Port and the countries along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road has increased from over 30 in 2019 to about 50 now, and more than 60 percent of the port's total cargo turnover comes from ports of these countries. The port is also a pivotal shipping outlet in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area. Since 2014, when China initiated a key strategy to coordinate the development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, Tianjin Port and neighboring ports in Hebei Province have cooperated to make themselves a world-class port cluster. Leaving Tianjin Port, a vessel carrying timber imported from Germany, wheat from Russia and paper pulp from the United States headed to the Caofeidian Port in the coastal city of Tangshan, Hebei Province. Wu Zhiming, general manager of a timber trade company based in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, said his company used to hire trucks to deliver timber to Tangshan after the Germany-made spruce timber was shipped to Tianjin. "The branch sea route within the Bohai Sea has saved us 20 percent of logistic costs, with more reliable arrival time," said Wu, adding that they will have more cargo shipped via the route. Tianjin Port serves the megacities of Beijing and Tianjin, as well as the emerging Xiong'an New Area in Hebei. "The port not only serves the foreign trade and production, but also helps with consumption to cater to people's pursuit of better lives," said Chu, TPG chairman of the board. Cheng Zeming, the son of truck driver Cheng Weidong, is fascinated with the new autonomous driving container cranes at Tianjin Port. The 11-year-old said when he grows up, he would like to work in the port just like his father and grandfather. "With cutting-edge 5G and AI technologies, I can't imagine what the port will be like when my son starts to work," said Cheng Weidong. Enditem (Xinhua correspondents Liu Yuanxu, Li Kun, Zhang Yuqi, Wang Hui contributed to the story.) (@ChaudhryMAli88) At least 10 people in the city of Cali were killed in a day of anti-government protests, authorities said Saturday, as Colombia enters its second month of demonstrations that have met violent repression Bogota, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th May, 2021 ) :At least 10 people in the city of Cali were killed in a day of anti-government protests, authorities said Saturday, as Colombia enters its second month of demonstrations that have met violent repression. President Ivan Duque announced Friday he was deploying military troops to Cali while the nation marked a full month of Colombia-wide rallies that have morphed into a broad anti-establishment mobilization. "Ten people" are dead, "this is the toll we have this morning" in events linked to Friday's demonstrations, Cali's security secretary Carlos Rojas told Caracol radio. Police said eight of the 10 were shot dead. He spoke after reports of violent street clashes. In one case, a representative from the Cali prosecutor's office said an off-duty investigator had shot at a crowd, killing a civilian, before being lynched by protesters. Video footage showed a man lying in a pool of blood and another nearby wielding a gun; that man was then attacked by a group of people. - 'Almost an urban war' - "In the south of the city we had a real scene of confrontation and almost an urban war where many people not only lost their lives, but we also had a significant number of injuries," said Rojas. After chairing a security meeting in the city, Duque announced Friday "the maximum deployment of military assistance to the national police" would begin immediately. The official nationwide toll up to Friday in the month of violence was 49 dead, with many more wounded or missing. Human Rights Watch, which has been reporting a higher toll, says it has counted 63 deaths to date. It called the situation in Cali, a city of 2.2 million, "very serious." Jose Miguel Vivanco, the rights group's executive director for the Americas, urged Duque to take "urgent measures to de-escalate, including a specific order prohibiting agents of the state from using firearms." - Poverty, disease, resentment - Government mediation attempts have been largely futile, unable to contain the fury of increasingly politicized youth battered by the pandemic, angry over the country's deep inequalities, and feeling their voices have not been heard. Economists say more than 42 percent of the country's 50 million people live in poverty, with the pandemic plunging many of the most vulnerable into penury. A third of Colombians aged 14 to 28 are jobless and not in school, according to Hernando Gomez Buendia, author of the book "Between Independence and the Pandemic," and that has led to growing resentment and defiance. Analysts link the government's militarized history to its response to the protests. For more than 50 years, Colombia's war against leftist FARC guerrillas eclipsed all other government priorities, with the state emerging from the conflict militarily strong but weak on social redress. In 2019, the year after Duque took power, students took to the streets demanding free and more accessible public education, better jobs and a supportive government. On April 28, fury at a proposed tax increase on the middle classes led people onto the streets again. Though the proposal was quickly withdrawn, it had triggered a broad anti-government mobilization by people who felt they were left to fend for themselves in the health crisis, and who were further angered by the heavy-handed response of the security forces. Mostly peaceful protests by day have often turned into riots at night and running battles with the armed forces. Protesters have kept barricades burning countrywide and blocked dozens of key roads, causing shortages of many products. Meanwhile, Colombia continues to battle record levels of coronavirus infections. There have been more than 3.3 million confirmed cases, and over 87,200 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University tally. That has left many Colombian hospitals near collapse. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th May, 2021) A gendarmerie operation is underway in the town of Lardin-Saint-Lazare in the southwest of France after a man who shot at the police escaped, the prefect of the Dordogne region is warning locals to stay indoors. "#Urgent A gendarmerie operation underway at Lardin Saint Lazare. Local residents are asked to stay at home," the prefect tweeted on Sunday morning. The police were called to resolve a family dispute on Saturday night when a woman's ex-partner came to her home with a gun and attacked her new partner. The woman's ex-partner, who is a former military, then shot at the police, damaging two vehicles before running away. According to past records, the man is known for domestic violence and was prohibited from approaching the woman's home. The man was located in a forest on Sunday morning. Two helicopters are flying over the village and 150 soldiers have been deployed to the scene. Vietnam has discovered a new Covid-19 variant which spreads quickly by air and is a combination of the Indian and British strains, health officials confirmed Saturday Hanoi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 29th May, 2021 ) :Vietnam has discovered a new Covid-19 variant which spreads quickly by air and is a combination of the Indian and British strains, health officials confirmed Saturday. The country is struggling to deal with fresh outbreaks across more than half of its territory, including industrial zones and big cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. More than 6,800 cases including 47 deaths have been reported in Vietnam, with the lion's share occurring since April. "We have discovered a new hybrid variant from the Indian and the UK strains," Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long told a national meeting on the pandemic Saturday, according to state media. "The characteristic of this strain is that it spreads quickly in the air. The concentration of virus in the throat fluid increases rapidly and spreads very strongly to the surrounding environment." He did not specify the number of cases recorded with this new variant but said Vietnam will soon announce the discovery in the world's map of genetic strains. Vietnam's Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology said in a statement Saturday that its scientists had detected gene mutations in four out of 32 patient samples through gene sequencing. There were seven known coronavirus variants in Vietnam before Long's announcement, according to the Ministry of Health. The communist country has previously received widespread applause for its aggressive pandemic response, with mass quarantines and strict contact tracing helping keep infection rates relatively low. The new round of infections has made the public and government fearful and authorities have quickly moved to place strict limits on movement and business activity. Cafes, restaurants, hair salons and massage parlours as well as tourism and religious spots have been ordered to close in various areas of the country. Vietnam -- a country of 97 million people -- has vaccinated a little over a million citizens. It is now ramping up its jab rollout and hopes to achieve herd immunity by the end of the year, according to the health minister. Authorities have called on people and businesses to donate money to help procure vaccines, while embassies and international organisations have been contacted for assistance, state media reported. The country presently has close to two million doses of AstraZeneca's vaccine remaining, but said it is buying more than 30 million doses of the Pfizer shot. It is also in talks with Russia to produce Sputnik V, according to state media, and is working on a home-grown vaccine. In nearby Thailand, the government on Saturday took exception to media reports in Britain that labelled a new strain causing concern there as the "Thai variant". The strain was first detected in Thailand in a 33-year-old Egyptian traveller, UK health authorities said, but 109 cases have since been found in Britain. "Principally speaking, it should not be called the Thai variant because the infected person is from overseas," said Opas Kankawinpong, head of Thailand's disease control department. Valdosta, GA (31601) Today Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 71F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely this evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. Low 71F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. In words following Sundays Angelus, Pope Francis said he will receive the leaders of Lebanon's Christian communities in the Vatican, on 1 July to discuss the deep crisis that the country has been going through for several months. He also recalled three lay women beatified on Saturday in Spain. In greetings following the recitation of the Marian Prayer on Sunday, Pope Francis remembered Lebanon and its people. The Pope told the faithful in St Peters Square that on 1 July he will be meeting, in the Vatican, with the principal leaders of the Christian Communities present in Lebanon, "for a day of reflection on the worrying situation in the country and to pray together for the gift of peace and stability." I entrust this intention to the intercession of the Mother of God, so venerated at the Shrine of Harissa, and from this moment I ask you to accompany the preparation of this event with prayer in solidarity, invoking for that beloved country a more serene future," he said. Earlier this week, the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) appealed to the European Union to support the people of Lebanon who are facing a political and economic crisis. COMECE's appeal to the EU came after the Lebanese Church voiced its fears in a letter sent to EU Bishops. Three courageous lay women In other greetings, Pope Francis recalled the Beatification on Saturday in Astorga, Spain, of Maria Pilar Gullon Yturriaga, Octavia Iglesias Blanco and Olga Perez-Monteserin Nunez. These three courageous lay women, he said, dedicated themselves to caring for the wounded in war without abandoning them in their moment of peril, took risks and were killed in hatred of their faith. We praise the Lord for their evangelical witness. Let us applaud the new Blesseds. Ireland is among the countries taking part in the EU initiative "Iter Europaeum" this Sunday 31 May with Saint Isidores Church in Rome under the spotlight. Vatican News staff reporter The ITER EUROPAEUM initiative, marking the 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between the European Union and the Holy See continues to bring new energy and ideas to many of Rome's churches. The project, that aims to show and enhance the deep links between the European Union and its 27 Member States, and the Holy See was launched on 9 May, coinciding with Europe Day, and is scheduled to continue until 27 June. During this period, each Sunday, liturgical celebrations, concerts and guided tours take place in churches or basilicas that are connected to one of the EU member states. On Sunday, 31 May, EU Ambassadors will visit the Irish National Church, of St Isidore, near Romes Via Veneto. Speaking to Vatican Radios Mario Galgano, the Irish Ambassador to the Holy See, Derek Hannon highlighted the bonds the EU and the Holy See have in common: From your point of view, how are diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the EU and how does your country collaborate with these relations? What common challenges are faced? Relations between the Holy See and the EU are excellent as Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said after her recent meeting with Pope Francis. The EU sees the Holy See as a promoter of justice in the world and a defender of human rights. My sense is that the Holy See views the EU as a zone of stability and as a stabilising force in an increasingly fractured international landscap Ireland has been a fully-committed member of the Union since we joined in 1973 and we are fully engaged across the spectrum of the Unions activities. Within the EU Ireland echoes the views of the Holy See on many issues including for example Migration which is so close to the concerns of Pope Francis and also on Nuclear Disarmament. We both agree that even the possession of nuclear weapons is unacceptable and have signed and ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. How does the Irish community live in Rome? The Irish have had a strong presence in Rome and in the Vatican going back a long, long time. Like many older communities, the Irish community in Rome is fully integrated into the life of the city. Rome remains a favourite place of pilgrimage for many Irish people and they arrive here in large numbers throughout the year, though obviously not in the past year. How will you celebrate the Iter Europaeum in Rome? On Sunday, EU Ambassadors will visit the Irish National Church, San Isidoro a Capo le Case, on Via degli Artisti near the Via Veneto and I will of course join them. St Isidores was established as a Spanish church in the early 17th century but ran into financial difficulties and was taken over by the Irish Franciscan Luke Wadding who transformed into a thriving centre for the training of priests to minister in Ireland. We will be welcomed by the Guardian Fr Hugh McKenna and given a guided tour of this beautiful church which has been in Irish hands almost continuously for the past 400 years. The Iter Europaeum is a great way of reminding us of the deep and abiding historic connections between EU member States, the Holy See and the wider Eternal City. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 14:21:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Over the last five years, about 90 percent of graduates from China's higher vocational schools were able to secure a job within half a year of their graduation, according to a recent report. The employment rate of vocational school graduates remained at a stable level in the past five years, and the average monthly pay they receive half a year after graduation has increased 7.37 percent between 2018 and 2019, China Education Daily reported earlier this week, quoting the report compiled by the National Institute of Education Sciences. Over 93 percent of the graduates said they are satisfied with the education they received, the report said. According to the report, most of the graduates were hired by the private sector and individual businesses, and their primary employers are in the education, construction, health and social work sectors. The report said vocational education also helped in regional development. It said close to 60 percent of graduates from higher vocational schools chose to work in the same locality as their alma mater, and 66 percent worked for small and medium-sized enterprises, providing talent for the development of the local economy. Entrusted by the vocational education and adult education department of the Ministry of Education, the report focused on topics including the education system, school operation, teaching and student development, providing information related to the quality and condition of vocational education since 2016. Enditem Vietnam's largest mobile network operators signed an agreement to trial 5G network sharing The agreement focuses on two important issues data roaming testing and the pilot of MORAN multi-network radio access network sharing. The co-operation will also enable the operators to increase efficiency of infrastructure investment. By the end of May, mobile network operators have begun piloting the commercialisation of 5G services in six cities and provinces namely Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Binh Phuoc, and Thua Thien-Hue, offering a 10 fold increase in speed compared to 4G. Earlier on June 10, 2020, Viettel, VNPT, MobiFone, and Gtel signed an agreement on sharing infrastructure of 1,200 base transceiver stations (BTS). The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. From mammoth cash prizes to free perks, states and businesses in America are finding all kinds of ways to encourage residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19. More with VOA Correspondent Mariama Diallo. A second volcano erupted Saturday near the eastern DR Congo city of Goma, a week after Mount Nyiragongo roared back into life, causing devastation and sparking an exodus. "Today the Murara volcano near an uninhabited area of Virunga erupted," government spokesman Patrick Muyaya said, referring to a wildlife reserve that is home to a quarter of the world's population of critically endangered mountain gorillas. The eastern DR Congo city of Goma was eerily deserted after nearly 400,000 of its inhabitants fled following warnings that nearby Mount Nyiragongo volcano may erupt again. The authorities geared up for a major humanitarian effort, centered on Sake, around 25 kilometers west of the city, where tens of thousands of people are gathered. Located on the shore of Lake Kivu in the shadow of Africa's most active volcano, the city has lived in fear since Nyiragongo roared back into life last weekend. The strato-volcano spewed rivers of lava that claimed nearly three dozen lives and destroyed the homes of some 20,000 people before the eruption stopped. Scientists have since recorded hundreds of aftershocks. They warn of a potentially catastrophic scenario -- a "limnic eruption" that could smother the area with suffocating carbon dioxide. A report on an emergency meeting early Friday said 80,000 households -- around 400,000 inhabitants -- had emptied on Thursday following a "preventative" evacuation order. Most people have headed for Sake or the Rwandan border in the northeast, while others have fled by boat across Lake Kivu. Late Friday, Rwandan President Paul Kagame said those fleeing needed "urgent, global support". Aid efforts are being organized to provide drinking water, food and other supplies, and workers are helping to reunite children who became separated from their families. Nearly 10,000 people are taking refuge in Bukavu on the southern bank of Lake Kivu, according to Governor Theo Ngwabidje, many of them in host families. Quieter night Several days of aftershocks, some of them equivalent to small earthquakes, yielded to a quieter night Thursday, and tremors eased both in numbers and intensity, an AFP journalist said. But late Friday afternoon black smoke could be seen rising from the crater on the horizon, causing worry. General Constant Ndima, the military governor of North Kivu province, ordered the evacuation of districts that potentially applies to nearly 400,000 out of Goma's 600,000 residents, according to an estimate by the UN humanitarian agency OCHA. The wider Goma area has a population of around two million. The authorities arranged transport towards Sake, but the roads became choked with cars, trucks, buses and people seeking safety on foot. Many spent the night in the open or slept in schools or churches. Evacuee Eugene Kubugoo said the water was giving children diarrhea, adding: "We don't have anything to eat or any place to sleep." Tens of thousands had fled Goma last Saturday night but many returned when the eruption ended the following day. 'Limnic' risk Friday's report, issued after experts carried out a risk assessment at the volcano's summit, said "seismicity and ground deformation continues to indicate the presence of magma under the Goma area, with an extension under Lake Kivu." People should remain vigilant and listen to news bulletins, as the situation "may change quickly", it warned. Volcanologists say the worst-case scenario is of an eruption under the lake. This could release hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) that are currently dissolved in the water's depths. The gas would rise to the surface of the lake, forming an invisible cloud that would linger at ground level and displace oxygen, asphyxiating life. In 1986, one of these so-called limnic eruptions killed more than 1,700 people and thousands of cattle at Lake Nyos in western Cameroon. Empty city On Friday, almost all the shops and banks in central Goma were closed, and just a handful of people and some motorcycle taxis were on the usually bustling streets. In the poorer districts in the north of the city, a handful of stores were open and there were more people, including children who gamboled near a water truck. "I will stay in the city. I know that I'm in imminent danger, but I don't have a choice," said Aline Uramahoro, who has a beer store. "I will leave when the volcano starts spitting." Nearly 3,500 meters high, Nyiragongo straddles the East African Rift tectonic divide. Its last major eruption, in 2002, claimed around 100 lives and the deadliest eruption on record killed more than 600 people in 1977. Herman Paluku, who gave his age as 94, said he had seen them all -- and insisted he wouldn't budge this time. "There is a small hill near here which means that the lava does not reach us. And that's what protects us a bit," he said in Swahili, his hands sweeping the air. "I can never leave here, in this situation. I can't." Photo: Getty Images Miles Teller and his wife, Keleigh Sperry Teller, are clarifying the circumstances that led to Teller getting punched in the face at a restaurant in Hawaii this week. Some quick context: Teller and his wife are vacationing in Hawaii alongside his Divergent co-star Shailene Woodley and her fiance, Aaron Rodgers. TMZ reported on Friday that Teller had been assaulted on Wednesday at a restaurant in Maui, and that the assailant was a wedding planner who claimed Miles owed him $60,000 for services he performed for Miless wedding in Maui back in 2019. Sperry Teller, however, released a statement on her Instagram Story disputing TMZs report that the altercation occurred over an unpaid bill. The story reported about Miles being punched in the face by @TMZ over money is completely false, Sperry Teller wrote. Miles was jumped by 2 men we have never met after they trapped him in a bathroom. It seems these same men have done this to many people and we appreciate your support Maui. This is now a criminal investigation. Woodley then reposted Sperry Tellers message to her Instagram Story. I got jumped by two guys in a bathroom. Never met them before in my life but ya cool wrestling segue bud Miles Teller (@Miles_Teller) May 29, 2021 Teller himself also addressed the situation on Twitter. In response to a tweet from Pat McAfee mocking the incident and comparing it to WWE, Teller wrote, I got jumped by two guys in a bathroom. Never met them before in my life but ya cool wrestling segue bud. McAfee apologized in a later tweet. Per People, a spokesperson from the Maui Police Department confirmed that the incident is currently under investigation. Three Italian regions move from moderate-risk yellow zones to lowest-risk white zones. The Italian regions of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Molise and Sardinia will become 'white zones' - the lowest-risk category under Italy's colour-coded system of coronavirus restrictions - from Monday 31 May. To be classified as a white zone, a region must have registered fewer than 50 covid-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants for three consecutive weeks. The rest of Italy will remain in the moderate-risk 'yellow zone' however from 7 June the regions of Abruzzo, Liguria, Umbria and Veneto are expected to turn 'white', if the current downward trend continues, reports Italian newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore. At present there are no Italian regions or autonomous provinces in the highest-risk 'red' or medium-risk 'orange' zones, where more restrictive rules apply. If the improving covid-19 trend is confirmed, the following regions could become white zones from 14 June: Emilia Romagna, Lazio (Rome), Lombardia (Milan), Piemonte, Puglia and the province of Trento. So what are Italy's 'white zone' rules? The only restrictions that apply in white zones relate to social distancing and the wearing of masks indoors and in crowded outdoor places. White zones are exempt from the nightly curfew (23.00-05.00) currently in place in the rest of Italy. (In yellow zones the curfew will be pushed back to midnight from 7 June before being scrapped entirely on 21 June.) In white zones people can dine indoors at restaurants. In bars a limited number can drink at the counter, maintaining an interpersonal distance of one metre. Gyms and indoor swimming pools can reopen. One of the more unusual white zone rules relates to discos which are permitted to open but without any dancing. Italy's national health institute (ISS) announced on Friday that the national 'R' reproduction number has fallen to 0.72 from 0.78 last week, according to the latest covid-19 data. The incidence rate in Italy has dropped to 47 coronavirus cases for every 100,000 inhabitants, compared to 66 last week. The improving situation has led to speculation that white zone rules could apply to all of Italy by 21 June. For official information relating to the covid-19 situation in Italy - in English - see the health ministry website. Image: Riomaggiore, Liguria. Photo credit: Kirk Fisher / Shutterstock.com. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 14:34:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close URUMQI, May 30 (Xinhua) -- As of Thursday, Alataw Pass, a major rail port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, had registered 2,388 China-Europe freight train trips crossing the inland port this year, up 46.9 percent year on year, said the local customs. China-Europe freight trains returning via the port, carrying more than 1 million tonnes of goods, made around 1,065 trips during the period, an increase of 67.3 percent compared to the same period of the prior year. Currently, 22 routes run via the port connecting 13 countries including Germany, Poland, Belgium and Russia. Vehicles and auto parts, household appliances and daily commodities are among the main items exported through the port, while imports include cars and auto parts, cotton yarn and wood. Enditem Washington, IN (47501) Today Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 71F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 71F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 15:08:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- China sent the cargo craft Tianzhou-2 into space on Saturday, and it successfully docked with the space station core module Tianhe early on Sunday to deliver supplies, equipment and propellant. -- The Tianzhou-2 cargo freighter is composed of cargo and propulsion compartments. Supplies are loaded inside the pressurized cargo section, and propellant in the propulsion section. -- Chinese engineers equipped the spacecraft with high-precision acceleration measurement instruments, microwave radar and other equipment to ensure the accuracy of rendezvous and docking. by Xinhua writers Li Mi, Wang Chenxi and Yuan Quan WENCHANG, Hainan, May 30 (Xinhua) -- China sent the cargo craft Tianzhou-2 into space on Saturday, and it successfully docked with the space station core module Tianhe early on Sunday to deliver supplies, equipment and propellant. The Long March-7 Y3 rocket, carrying Tianzhou-2, blasted off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the coast of the southern island province of Hainan at 8:55 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Saturday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). After 604 seconds, Tianzhou-2 separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. At 9:17 p.m. on Saturday, the solar panels of Tianzhou-2 unfolded and began working properly. At 5:01 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Sunday, Tianzhou-2 and Tianhe completed computer-orchestrated rendezvous and docking. The whole process took approximately eight hours. Combined with Tianhe, Tianzhou-2 will replenish Tianhe's propellant and help test equipment for space application projects. The Long March-7 Y3 rocket, carrying the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, May 29, 2021. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu) China launched its space station core module Tianhe on April 29. The country plans to complete the verification of key technologies and the in-orbit construction of the space station through multiple launches within two years. Saturday's launch was the first time that the space station cargo transportation system, composed of the Tianzhou spacecraft and Long March-7 rockets, was put into use. HEAVY, RICH SUPPLIES Measuring 10.6 meters in length and with a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters, the Tianzhou-2 cargo ship has a maximum takeoff weight of 13.5 tonnes and carries 6.8 tonnes of goods and materials. More than 160 large and small packages, including supplies for astronauts and space-science equipment, and two tonnes of propellant for Tianhe have been loaded into the cargo freighter, according to the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). Lei Jianyu, a designer of Tianzhou-2 at the CAST, said that only two types of cargo spaceships currently in service globally have a maximum carrying capacity of more than 5 tonnes. "China's Tianzhou is one of them, and is at the world-leading level." The Tianzhou-2 cargo freighter is composed of cargo and propulsion compartments. Supplies are loaded inside the pressurized cargo section, and propellant in the propulsion section. The propellant used for the Tianzhou-2's flight and the propellant for refueling the Tianhe core module can be flexibly distributed according to demand. As the ancient Chinese said, to carry out an important task, supplies like rations and forage should go ahead of troops and horses. During the construction of the space station, cargo spaceships will always be launched ahead of crewed missions. "We will transport support materials, necessary spare parts and equipment first, and then our crew," said CMSA Director Hao Chun. Yang Hong, chief designer of the space station at the CAST, said that the launch missions of China's space station are closely coupled. Within 48 hours after Tianhe entered orbit, the core module underwent a status evaluation, and Tianzhou-2 then began its launch countdown preparations. Following Tianzhou-2's docking with Tianhe, the Shenzhou-12 crewed spaceship will enter its countdown preparations for launch. Three astronauts aboard Shenzhou-12, who will stay in orbit for three months, will unpack the goods stowed inside Tianzhou-2 to obtain their living and working materials. The Long March-7 Y3 rocket, carrying the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft, blasts off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in south China's Hainan Province, May 29, 2021. (Xinhua/Ju Zhenhua) In addition to supplies for three astronauts, the gear delivered by Tianzhou-2 includes two spacesuits for extra-vehicular activities, each weighing more than 100 kg. Tianzhou-2 also sends spare parts for a life support system. The system, which is necessary for astronauts to stay on the moon or explore deeper space, is installed in the Tianhe core module. It is the first such installation in a Chinese spacecraft. Tianzhou-2 also delivers space food, dubbed "space deliveries" by Chinese engineers, including many traditional Chinese dishes. From staple foods to non-staples, from meat to vegetables, the menu design is of high quality and appetizing for astronauts. Famous stir-fried Chinese dishes like fish-flavored shredded pork and Gong Bao (Kung Bao) chicken are both on the menu. SMART CARGO MANAGEMENT Engineers have designed a special structure in the 18-cubic-meter cargo craft, dividing the interior into cargo compartments with honeycomb-like panels. Each compartment can hold several packages of different sizes, so that the packages can be efficiently placed in the compartments like building blocks. To improve the efficiency of loading, the research team has made 26 types of packages of different sizes, including some in trapezoidal and wedge shapes to adapt to the cylinder cabin structure of the craft. In addition, they have developed safety locks, similar to those of aircraft seats, to hold the packages in position while in space. The craft is also equipped with an information-management system. Each package has a label pasted onto it with a radio-frequency identification function, allowing the goods to be identified within a certain range. Yang Sheng, a designer of Tianzhou-2 at the CAST, said that China's space station has applied the country's advanced logistics-management technologies, enabling astronauts to obtain the cargo location and information by scanning QR codes. With intelligent positioning, the astronauts can find and access the packages quickly. FAST, FLEXIBLE DOCKING The cargo craft will operate in orbit for one year. Its power supply capacity is not less than 2,700 watts. It can also carry out multiple in-orbit refueling missions. "China plans to build the space station into a state-level space lab supporting long astronaut stays and large-scale scientific, technological and application experiments," said Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China's manned space program. Tianzhou-2 docked with the rear docking port of Tianhe. It will replenish the core module propellant and wait the arrival of Shenzhou-12. The crewed spacecraft will dock with Tianhe's node at the front end. After three astronauts return to Earth aboard Shenzhou-12, Tianzhou-2 will fly to the front of the core module and turn to dock with the node. It will then test the node's in-orbit refueling capability. In April 2017, Tianzhou-1, China's first cargo spacecraft, successfully conducted automated docking with the orbiting Tiangong-2 space lab, and then carried out the first in-orbit refueling. Another two dockings and two further refuelings were later completed. Compared to Tianzhou-1, Tianzhou-2 can maintain the attitude and orbit of the entire Tianhe-Tianzhou-2 combination, according to Dang Rong, deputy chief designer of Tianzhou-2 at the CAST. "It's like the brain is inside Tianhe and all the engines and propellant are in the cargo freighter, which can extend the space station's service life by minimizing its power and energy consumption," said Dang. The rendezvous and docking technology is crucial for the construction of the space station. Through launch and orbit adjustments, Tianzhou-2 entered its orbit basically consistent with Tianhe, and established communication with the core module. The cargo ship then adjusted the relative attitude and distance between itself and the core module, inched closer to a distance of zero, and completed docking. The combination of the Tianzhou-2 cargo spacecraft and the Long March-7 Y3 carrier rocket waits to be transferred to the launching area of the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on May 16, 2021. (Photo by Guo Wenbin/Xinhua) Chinese engineers equipped the spacecraft with high-precision acceleration measurement instruments, microwave radar and other equipment to ensure the accuracy of rendezvous and docking. They also implanted information of rendezvous and docking into the craft's software, which enables it to finish the rendezvous and docking procedure smarter than its predecessor Tianzhou-1, said the CAST. Tianzhou-1 mainly depends on ground instructions to finish the rendezvous and docking procedure. In Tianzhou-2, the movement sequence has been programmed in an autonomous rendezvous and docking system in advance, saving the time for inputting the instructions and transmitting them from the ground to the space. With the system, Tianzhou-2 can use position information of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System to realize long-range autonomous navigation computation for craft guidance and control. Tianzhou-2 will also test transposition docking. Captured and guided by the mechanical arm of Tianhe, Tianzhou-2 will rotate and dock with the side docking port of Tianhe's node. The maneuver will prepare Tianhe to dock with the Wentian and Mengtian lab modules next year. Tianhe's nodes can dock with up to three spacecraft at a time for short stays, or two for long stays, said Bai Linhou, deputy chief designer of the space station at the CAST. Tianzhou-2, storing waste and human excrement, will eventually depart from orbit and burn up on reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. According to the CMSA, the Tianzhou-3 cargo craft and the Shenzhou-13 manned spaceship will also be launched later this year to dock with Tianhe, and another three astronauts will then begin their six-month stay in orbit. After the five launch missions this year, China plans to have six more missions, including the launch of the Wentian and Mengtian lab modules, two cargo spacecraft and two crewed spaceships, for 2022 to complete the construction of the space station. (Quan Xiaoshu, Li Guoli, Li Yun and Zhang Mimi also contributed to the story. Video reporter: Li Shuting, Yin Jiajie, Guo Liangchuan, Wang Junfeng. Video editor: Liu Yuting, Luo Hui.) The Princess of Wales in Sydney during her 1996 visit. Credit:Getty If she were still alive today, Diana, Princess of Wales, would be preparing to mark her 60th birthday on July 1. Even 24 years after her death, Diana remains one of the most talked and written about people in the world. Indeed, an entire industry worth hundreds of millions of dollars has ballooned around her legacy. Type the words Princess Diana into a Google news search and the evidence is clear. Visiting the world of Friends again felt like burrowing under the doona, a small comfort that is easily achieved. Yes, it was kind of awkward. The show cut between interviews with the creators David Crane and Marta Kaufmann, round-the-couch chats with cast members, an on-set quiz with the stars about details from the show, and free-flowing reminiscences between the cast as they wandered around the old set. It really did feel like visiting a beloved old home, knowing you could never move back in, and never have those times back. Friends: The Reunion ... James Corden with Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc. Credit:Warner Bros The stars themselves had either aged or showed the confronting signs of their extreme efforts not to age. But once again, thats Hollywood. There was no mention of the darker stuff thats transpired since the show ended the divorces and the drug addictions. As Crane said, Friends is about that time in your life when your friends were your family. Nobody wants to see what happens after, when grown-up problems and the compromises of mid-life steal onto the empty stage. Watching the show I was struck anew by the completeness of the world it created. It was mostly shot between three sets (Monicas apartment, Chandler and Joeys apartment, the Central Perk cafe) which were obviously built on a soundstage in Los Angeles, thousands of kilometres from the New York the show sought to portray. There were rarely any street scenes. Loading Unlike its fellow 90s-to-noughties nostalgia piece Sex and the City, Friends was a show pretending to be set in New York, rather than a show where the city became an extra character, directing storylines. Perhaps thats what gave Friends its universality and its innate friendliness it was a place where nothing too bad ever happened, and where no one ever tried to make you think, but they did make you laugh consistently. The physical comedy of the show was of the best American tradition, feel-good laughs with no edge to them. One of the funniest scenes of the old show excerpted was of Ross, Chandler and Rachel trying to get a large couch up a poky stairwell, with Ross shouting increasingly frantic instructions. Anyone who has ever moved out of home has experienced some version of this scene. Watching with 2021 eyes, the lack of cast diversity is as glaring as it is in Sex and the City, which, viewed with 2021 eyes, is about over-privileged white women obsessed with men, who speak about sex constantly but are horrified when one of their number (Miranda) breastfeeds openly. Loading The Friends reunion attempts to redress its anglo-centricity obliquely, by airing interviews with fans from Zambia and India, who earnestly talk about how Friends helped them through bereavement and loneliness. Even Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai appears to talk about how she watches it happily with her bestie. This is truly the American dream, and I mean that sincerely the Taliban tried to kill her for attending school; now she snuggles in her PJs with a girlfriend, watching one of Americas most popular exports. Yes, its all a little Oprah-esque and sappy, but its believable. Light, comic television can soothe like little else, when the time is right. What are we to make of this noughties nostalgia? Sex and the City will be back soon, in a dramatised form, and given the abject egregiousness of the second Sex and the City movie, we can have no great hopes for it. Yet still, many of us will watch it. Loading Heartbreak High is being remade in Australia. In the US, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is getting rebooted. The Office and ER have filmed reunion episodes. Alongside the nostalgia is a flowering of television as an art form, powered by disruptive streaming services. The new generation of television is gloriously diverse in race, gender and sexuality, and sometimes more political in its themes. Much of the best of it still comes from the US. It is the only country that could pull off a scene in which Lady Gaga covers Smelly Cat, the ridiculous original song that Phoebe sings as she busks in the subway, accompanied by Lisa Kudrow (who played Phoebe), and jazzed up by the arrival of a gospel choir which appears on set. For no apparent reason except: because its possible. Long may it prosper. Twitter: @JacquelineMaley Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Camilla Franks, the high-profile fashion designer dubbed Australias kaftan queen, doesnt really do regrets. Still, reflecting on her three-year health struggle, which began with a breast cancer diagnosis in 2018 and this month required the removal of her ovaries, Franks, 45, wishes she had frozen her eggs years earlier. Camilla Franks: Had I known I had the [BRCA2] gene all those years ago, I could have had [a preventative] double mastectomy, I could have frozen eggs. Credit:Kate Geraghty I went to the meetings, and then didnt do it [egg freezing] because I was busy with work, she says. If I had my time again, I would have prioritised that [it was a] big mistake, I really regret it now. Launched in 2004, Franks brand, Camilla, has become one of Australias most successful fashion exports through its bold, printed resort pieces that are also loved by celebrity fans including Beyonce and Oprah Winfrey. But amid her commercial acclaim and fame, Franks always yearned for a child. In January 2018, Franks gave birth to her daughter, Luna, now three, who she shares with her fiance, Welsh musician JP Jones. But in April that year, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and found to carry a harmful variant of the breast cancer gene BRCA2, putting her at high risk of developing ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, and other diseases. And while egg-freezing carries no guarantees, Franks says it could have at least raised her odds of having more children. Daughter Luna, now three, was born a few months before Franks cancer diagnosis, in 2018. Credit:Kate Geraghty Advertisement Had I known I had the [BRCA2] gene all those years ago, I could have had [a preventative] double mastectomy, I could have frozen eggs, I could have done those things to make my life a little less challenging, she says. After a double mastectomy in late 2018, Franks was determined to try for a second baby. But after five unsuccessful rounds of IVF, in late 2020 she had her fallopian tubes removed and, three weeks ago, her ovaries, effectively forcing her body into early menopause. I kept putting off this lifesaving surgery in the hope I could pull off another little miracle, she told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. My doctors said, You fought to live, and we cant afford to lose you. I wanted to carry another baby and have a tribe but I have to accept I will have the one biological child, and I am so blessed to have her. Camilla Franks and her fiance, JP Jones. Credit:Getty Franks and Jones are now investigating adoption or surrogacy, either in Australia or the UK both countries only allow altruistic surrogacy, meaning the surrogate cannot be paid. Advertisement Seeing supermodel and humanitarian activist Naomi Campbell, 50, having her first child, reportedly via a surrogate though Campbell is yet to speak publicly on the matter, has inspired Franks in recent weeks. Loading More women need to talk about [surrogacy] because its becoming more common, she says. It needs to be more accessible for women in this country. As she and Jones explore the options for expanding their family, Franks remains committed to spreading cancer awareness beyond her customer base, which is what led her to sign on to appear on the reality series, Celebrity Apprentice, which is currently on Nine, owner of this masthead. Fashion week: five events to watch Monday: The late Carla Zampatti will be honoured with a space at Carriageworks to bear her name. Tuesday: Sydney-based Bassike is one of the brands holding a consumer show this year, a new initiative to throw the once industry-only event open to the public somewhat. Wednesday: Several brands including Beare Park, Rumer and Auteur make their fashion week debut in 2021. Thursday: On the anniversary of the Mabo native title decision, an Indigenous fashion showcase, presented by David Jones, will have an all First Nations line-up of models, too. Friday: The week will close with a consumer-facing group show to mark 25 years of Australian Fashion Week. The show will feature Cue, Camilla and Marc and more. Fashion week runs from May 31-June 4. australianfashionweek.com After all, the shows filming last October couldnt have come at a worse time. Franks was midway through IVF, solo mum-ing while Jones was in the UK (after returning for the Australian summer, he is back there, awaiting Franks and Luna to join him in June). The day before shooting began, she had a cluster of eggs harvested, only to find out a few days later they hadnt survived. After going through breast cancer and [seeing] people you love die ... youll do anything it takes ... to drive change to make sure no one has to go through this hideous journey, says Franks, whose prizemoney on the show is supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Advertisement The council is now rolling out an advertising campaign on digital platforms in Victoria to promote the national alcohol guidelines, which were introduced in December and recommend that healthy men and women drink no more than 10 standard drinks per week. The campaign, named Spread, shows how alcohol can trigger cells to mutate when it spreads through the body. Its well-timed: there is growing buzz around cutting down on booze or going sober, with non-alcoholic drinks surging in popularity. Recent research from the Alcohol and Drug Foundation showed that one in five Australians wanted to reduce their alcohol consumption. And Victoria has just entered its fourth lockdown a time when some people reach more for the liquor cabinet. Surveys have found that many Australians have had more alcohol than usual during the pandemic. Given the past year, theres never been a more important time to have a campaign like this, Harper says. Harper believes that its time that alcohol gets spotlighted for its cancer risk, and he hopes this is the first small step towards developing an awareness-raising campaign as successful as Quit and SunSmart. The ad was originally made in 2010 but did not go far due to lack of funding, which Harper says was disappointing. It has been edited to include new messaging about the guidelines. Were hoping to see government bodies invest in campaigns like this which we know are really effective in promoting peoples health, Harper says. Professor Kate Conigrave, a University of Sydney addiction medicine specialist, helped develop the new alcohol guidelines. She supports the call for a widespread public health campaign and believes there should also be warning labels on alcohol products. Conigrave says she is often having to inform patients of the threat of cancer posed by alcohol. She explains that alcohol increases the risk of getting cancer from quite low levels of drinking, and steadily rises the more you drink. While sticking to the new guidelines doesnt remove all risk, Conigrave says it does mean you have a less than one-in-100 chance of dying from an alcohol-related cause across your lifetime. There are, of course, many health issues associated with alcohol consumption, but Conigrave says that cancer risk is a powerful motivator, and people are more likely to follow the guidelines with that in mind. We all know about cancer, we all worry about it, its one that resonates with people, she says. Professor Michael Boyer, an oncologist and chief clinical officer at Chris OBrien Lifehouse in Sydneys Camperdown, says while we talk about alcohol in relation to road safety, there has been very little discourse to do with cancer. It concerns me because its very hard to make informed lifestyle decisions if you dont know what the information is, Boyer says. Loading Tech entrepreneur Pauline Pangan, from St Kilda in Melbourne, has been scaling back her alcohol intake for six years to support her wellbeing. Both her grandparents died of cancer, so she has been conscious of reducing her own risk. Her busy lifestyle used to involve daily drinking, be it with clients on weeknights or out on the weekend. Today, Pangan, 38, has a maximum of five glasses a week and a full month off drinking every three months. This latest lockdown is booze-free. Thats not to say its not a challenge: I love wine. It calms my nerves after an intense day or week. But by drinking less, Pangan says she feels fitter, mentally sharper and more energetic, plus, it saves her money. Professor McLaws said all Australian supplies of Pfizer that are not needed for priority groups should be sent to Melbourne. She argued that health authorities had got their focus wrong it was now younger people who needed to be prioritised for the vaccine. People in their 20s and 30s should be given the vaccine first, she said, because they were most likely to catch and spread the disease as previous outbreaks had illustrated. The elderly will be protected with AstraZeneca; by all means continue to do their AstraZeneca, but donate every single Pfizer dose down in Melbourne, Professor McLaws said. Victoria Police scuffle with anti-vaccine protestors in Victoria Street, North Melbourne. Credit:Chris Hopkins Professor Nancy Baxter, the head of the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, said if vaccination was to be expanded to younger groups it should target essential workers such as delivery drivers, who are unable to work from home during Victorias lockdown. The clinical epidemiologist said coronavirus would continue to circulate in places like distribution centres, abattoirs and grocery stores that could not shut down, and she suggested outreach vaccination teams may be deployed to essential workplaces. If we think their work is essential enough that they need to keep on going to work, no matter how bad things get, they deserve to be vaccinated, she said. However, senior federal government sources said it was unlikely such a major change to the rollout of the Pfizer vaccine would be recommended nor was a shift to allow people in their 40s to receive the AstraZeneca jab likely though the rollout was under constant review. The Victorian government received 71,000 Pfizer doses from the federal government on Friday and had held back significant inventory, which had allowed it to open up the jab to people aged 40-49 last week. Professor James McCaw of the University of Melbourne said the next few days would be crucial in containing the states outbreak and determining whether lockdown would be extended beyond one week. What we will need to see is the cases that arise in people who have been in quarantine at least two or three days before showing symptoms, that would mean they havent passed it on to someone else, he said. We might know that in the next week. That would let the government consider lifting the lockdown. You would still have some cases around, they would be just known and managed. However, Professor McCaw cautioned it may be necessary to have a two-week lockdown to be completely confident. Loading Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley said it remained a day-by-day proposition whether Victorias seven-day lockdown would end as planned. It is too early to make that announcement. Today is the second day of seven days, he said on Saturday. COVID-19 logistics chief Jeroen Weimar said contact tracers had identified about 3000 primary close contacts of confirmed cases, almost double Fridays number. Of those 3000, 62 per cent had returned negative tests by Saturday, with the remainder awaiting results. He said an online booking portal for vaccine appointments was still weeks away, despite the Health Department testing its online booking system on Saturday. Amid debate about the rollout, the co-chair of Australias vaccine expert group Allen Cheng confirmed on Saturday that the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation was considering whether to double the number of Australians receiving the Pfizer vaccine. This would be done by giving more people a first dose of the vaccine and delaying the second dose until supplies of the vaccine improved. A single dose of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca still gives moderate protection not as good of course as two doses but still reasonable protection, explained University of Queensland infectious diseases physician Associate Professor Paul Griffin. Depending on the study its at least 60 per cent. Professor Griffin said this compared to about 80 or 90 per cent after the second dose, which both offer almost complete protection from serious disease and death. Professor Cheng said delaying the second shot of Pfizer meant a trade-off between having more people partially protected or fewer people fully protected, though he said it could be complicated. Its under discussion, he said. My general feeling is that it would probably be a bit confusing because we would have to cancel everyones second doses. I dont think that in the situation we are in at the moment that theres a lot of bang for that buck. Loading The Pfizer vaccine is the preferred vaccine for all adult Australians aged under 50, due to a higher risk of a rare clotting disorder in younger people following an AstraZeneca vaccine, but supplies are constrained with about 350,000 doses currently arriving each week. Last week, Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australia was expected to receive about 600,000 doses per week from Pfizer from July 1, and that would ramp up to two million doses per week from October 1. Police and protesters clashed in Melbourne on Saturday, as about 150 people rallied against lockdown and coronavirus vaccinations. Fourteen people were arrested, two officers and a protester were injured and 55 were issued with penalty notices for breaching CHO directions. The COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped the rich and famous from coming to Australia by private jet at least 113 private international flights have landed since April last year, mostly from the United States. Passengers on private jets include celebrities and other wealthy individuals, business executives on corporate trips and sporting teams such as the charter plane for contestants, families and staff in the World Surf League in March. Andrew Forrest and a private jet in Sydney in January. Credit: The figures from aviation data and analytics firm Cirium showed the US was the origin of 94 of the private flights, which landed all over Australia between April 1 last year and May 26, 2021. Sydney Airport was the destination for 13 private jet arrivals, making it the busiest of all the capital cities. While the arrivals of celebrities such as Ed Sheeran, Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman have been well publicised, the figures suggest arrivals by private jet are more common than previously reported. Victorias business groups have backed Treasurer Tim Pallas call for the federal government to stump up wage subsidies for employees impacted by the states seven-day lockdown. Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra and Ai Group Victorian head Tim Piper have demanded the Commonwealth to work with the state government to support workers who are enduring their first lockdown without JobKeeper. Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra. Credit:Penny Stephens [The state governments announcement] doesnt cover wages - itll cover in some cases some of the rent and in some cases itll cover some of the perishables, Mr Guerra said. Its better than nothing but its certainly not going to cover all the costs that a business has, and its certainly not going to replace the revenue, which is why we want to see the federal government come together with the state government to provide support for workers. Its not the workers, its not the businesses fault that we find ourselves back in lockdown. Were at the end of the queue here, and we want to make sure that everybody gets through There are opportunities up north, and if [workers] leave Victoria, our ability to bounce back is going to be highly compromised. Mr Pallas and acting Premier James Merlino savaged the Commonwealth on Sunday morning for refusing to provide wage subsidies to workers - especially casual employees - who face at least a week of uncertainty because of the Victorian governments decision to plunge the state into a lockdown. Mr Piper urged the state government to reflect on its decision to impose higher taxes for some businesses in this years budget in the wake of the latest coronavirus outbreak and the impact of the lockdown. Michelle ONeil, president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, welcomed the support for business and urged the Morrison government to revive its JobKeeper scheme which she said should be expanded to support all affected workers. Workers in Victoria, more than half a million of them in casual and insecure work, are facing a week of not knowing whether theyve got a job and whether theyve got an income, Ms ONeil said. We welcome the fact that the Victorian Government has put in place a grant program for businesses that are doing it tough, but that does not replace a wage subsidy. The federal government needs to step up. Ms ONeil, who wanted to see the JobSeeker payment should also be bolstered to support those forced out of work, said the government should never have ended JobKeeper before the population was widely vaccinated and quarantine leaks occurred. Its all about tradition for some. For others, the scope of sporting opportunities. And then theres the perception of academic superiority. Whatever the motivation of parents and their sons, all-boys schools survive and mostly thrive, despite being viewed by many as the cultural dinosaurs of the education system. To experts such as Helen Proctor, who studies education through a historical prism, its surprising the all-boys model is still with us. Ross Featherston, headmaster atBrighton Grammar, says he encourages his charges to have an authentic dialogue around respectful relationships. In the 1950s or even in the 1970s, if you had asked any education expert whether these schools would still exist with parents wanting to send their kids in the 2010s or 2020s they would have said No. Theyll die a natural death, Professor Proctor says. But they have managed to survive. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Just hours after being born this month a baby boy became a statistic; another Aboriginal child taken into state care. His mother, 23-year-old Mila*, says her son was removed by child protection services just after he was born at Perths largest public hospital. The family argue it never should have happened. Aboriginal families say the system is hard to navigate and not culturally appropriate. Credit:Michael Clayton-Jones It is understood the state government worried Mila was unfit to look after the new baby, given her older child was already in care. Despite resolving the health and safety issues that resulted in her first child being removed, Mila did not regularly engage with the case worker the government had assigned her during her second pregnancy, resulting in Mila being regarded as non-compliant. Mila said she could have been a fit mother; the department just didnt know it. Advocates argue Milas case exposes a pernicious pressure point in the system the way the states Department of Communities, which is responsible for both child protection and housing, engages with Aboriginal people. Advertisement While the department is frustrated by individuals who refuse to engage, Aboriginal clients and advocates say many of the departments policies are not culturally appropriate. Without workable systems, Aboriginal families are being reprimanded more regularly than non-Indigenous families which can leave them homeless, separated from their children, or both. Where public housing and child protection policies intersect is a key example, according to people that work in this space. Links between housing and child removal The vacancy rate in Perths private rental market is at its lowest in 40 years, rental prices are rising and, as a result, the line for public housing is growing. There were 16,660 applications on the public housing waitlist at the end of April. The state government says these people face an average wait time of 100 weeks, or almost two years, for a property. After a COVID-19-related moratorium on evictions prevented much of the usual turnover in properties in 2020, housing advocates say the state government has become tougher on evictions to free up homes and decrease the number of people on the highly scrutinised waitlist. Jennifer Kaeshagen founded the First Nations Homelessness Project to keep Aboriginal children in Perth out of state care by preventing evictions. The concept is simple and effective - its project team work with tenants to clean and repair properties ahead of inspection. Advertisement It has worked with 344 households containing about 1000 children, since 2017, preventing all but 11 of those cases from eviction. Indisputably, public housing evictions lead to children being removed from their families, she said. Children are removed from abusive or neglectful parents, but they may also be removed if parents cant provide an adequate home. Ms Kaeshagen said the department had been exerting more pressure on families and was less willing to negotiate alternative supported outcomes since the moratorium on evictions was lifted at the end of March. Recently in dialogue with a housing official while advocating for a family who were facing eviction I was told, even after one of the family members attempted suicide after receiving the termination notice, with the waitlist as high as it is now, there will be no other outcome here but eviction, she said. The family was ultimately evicted. First Nations Homelessness Project at an eviction prevention busy bee. Founder Jennifer Kaeshagen (far left) and team leader Mona Yarran (fourth from left). Credit:FNHP Advertisement Long-time legal advocate Betsy Buchanan said Aboriginal families were highly vulnerable to losing their children due to public housing issues. She said she believed an eviction generation of Aboriginal children was emerging. A lawyer by training, Ms Buchanan is credited with setting up the first community legal centre in Western Australia in the 1970s and has since worked as an advocate, primarily to prevent Aboriginal people from being evicted from their homes. Its a vicious cycle. You can lose your kids because of an issue with your house and then getting your kids back without a house is close to impossible, Ms Buchanan said. In Milas case, the department informed her of their intention to take her son into care at the same time as she was faced with eviction from her public housing unit for a $3000 debt for damage to the property caused by her violent ex-partner and three strikes for behavioural complaints. The housing stress contributed to her inability to attend to child protections requests, she said. [My case worker] put stress on me, calling me up and telling me to do this and that when I was pregnant but I didnt get to do it because I was about to give birth, I couldnt get in there and I was stressed about losing my house, she said. While Mila had suspicions the actions by the housing and child protection units of the department were linked, it is understood her housing situation was not a motivator for child protections decision. Advertisement After WAtoday asked questions about the housing matters, the department said it had reassessed the situation and was no longer pursuing an eviction. Department of Communities deputy director general Rachael Green said the department offered support to help people access and retain housing. Where a tenant is at risk of eviction, department housing officers will increase their contact with the client and link them with relevant support services to help address the issues impacting their tenancy, Ms Green said. Loading In most cases, where engagement occurs, clients can remedy their termination notice. Calls for more appropriate approaches In April, the University of Western Australia released research on Aboriginal homelessness in WA. It found Aboriginal people waited an average 308 days for housing after receiving a priority listing. Advertisement Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 15:12:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MEHTERLAM, Afghanistan, May 30 (Xinhua) -- At least nine militants were killed as security forces stormed Taliban hideout in Alishing district of Afghanistan's eastern Laghman province on Sunday, the provincial government said in a statement released here. The security forces attacked a Taliban hideout in Najil village of the restive Alishing district in the wee hours of Sunday, killing nine insurgents including a local commander, the statement added. No security forces and civilians have been harmed during the raid, according to the statement. Parts of Laghman province with Mehtarlam city as its capital 90 km east of Kabul has been the scene of fighting over the past month, and the Taliban fighters who have overrun Dawlat Shah district, the provincial center of Laghman, have been fighting to capture Mehtarlam but the attempts have been foiled. Taliban militants are yet to make comments. Enditem The Vice Chancellors remuneration, which nears the $1 million mark, edged above seven figures in 2020 due to annual leave accruals. Despite being part of a senior executive pay freeze, she was the highest paid VC in the state, according to each public universitys 2020 annual report. Murdoch University is the smallest public university with 17,335 full-time students, while Curtin University is the biggest with 59,222 students, yet its interim vice chancellor went from a maximum of $990,000 to $580,000 during COVID-19. How WA universities pay packets compare to other WA chiefs Murdoch: VC $1 million, revenue $392 million ECU: VC $900,000, revenue $480 million Curtin: interim VC $570,000, revenue $903 million UWA: interim VC* $700,000, revenue $993 million Woodside CEO $2.74 million, revenue $3.6 billion Fortescue Metals Group CEO $1.85 million, revenue $16.5 billion Wesfarmers CEO $1.39 million, revenue $30.8 billion WA Premier $355,681, state revenue $34.1 billion Australian Prime Minister remuneration $549,250, national revenue $472.4 billion *UWAs new vice chancellor began in July 2020 and was not factored in the annual report. Murdoch had the worst debt of WAs four public universities, with a $6.3 million operating deficit in part due to $16 million spent on redundancies and severances, down from $24.3 million profit last year. It had already set about cutting $30 million in operational costs and a further $25 million in jobs. Consequently, academics and teaching staff have had to weather cuts to lectures and their jobs being put at stake, while those whose careers were pinned to either the humanities or science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) found themselves demoted from academic researchers to teaching-only roles. For many, who wish to remain anonymous due to the fear instilled over whistleblowing, the spending was outrageous. What arrogance, what conceit! said one frustrated academic. They said staff were still struggling to overcome the loss of more than 100 colleagues, with classes severely understaffed and no solutions in sight for covering the load in the second semester. They said while students worked to overcome reduced academic support, and while even minor requests for funding for the core business of teaching and research were dismissed, Chancellor Gary Smith and VC Leinonen were appearing to parade their new logo. Others described it as meaningless, wasteful and really bizarre, with morale being so low that most people, including students, preferred to stay away from campus. Loading Circling the drain is about it, they said. The National Tertiary Education Union of WA said staff had concerns that power at the university was being increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few highly-paid executives and it would be irreversible. Its highly unusual and highly discourteous to the incoming VC for the outgoing VC to embark on the number of structural changes that have already happened, and continue to be rolled out, on the eve of her departure, said Catherine Moore, secretary for NTEU WA. Changing roles to higher levels (PVC to DVC) seems unnecessary during a time when the university is crying COVID-poor. And yet they have found $1.8 million for re-branding. Murdoch University new logo. According to staff calculations the cost of the VC, two new DVCs and a new logo is the equivalent of a large university department, complete with professors, senior lecturers, academic staff and laboratory equipment. The new logo was labelled an embarrassment since its coined future focus was at odds with the cancellation of the subjects in chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, biology, engineering, marine science, theatre, drama, religious and Indigenous studies. To what future are we looking? An inquiry should be held as the students of today are being sold short in the provision of their education, and the nation is being robbed of its future, they said. It is no longer good enough for state and federal government ministers to claim that universities are autonomous bodies. Universities are funded by public money, public money that is being wasted on vanity projects while neglecting the important activities of a university. Action needs to be taken now. Professor Leinonen has continually denied WAtodays repeated request for an interview, but in a press release about the logo, she claimed the university, staff and students have thrived. We are now well positioned to build on this momentum, and we are developing a portfolio of academies that will attract more and new students to prepare them for new jobs for the future, she said. Loading Chancellor Smith too backed the spend on the logo, saying: It represents opening doors to an education for more people, teaching beyond the classroom walls and lighting the fire of curiosity in our students. He has continually voiced his support for Professor Leinonen, her agenda and the universitys senior executive team that drove it. It has been by no means an easy year, but their actions continue to position the university to remain watchful for new opportunities that will emerge as we carefully plan for the threat of COVID-19 to subside, he said in the annual report. The top reason given for vaccine hesitancy was concern about side effects, amid the discovery that rare blood clots had been linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine, and lack of knowledge about the vaccine. A significant percentage also said that with no international travel there was no rush. On May 19, Mr Morrison told 2GBs Ray Hadley he was not overly troubled by the survey findings, saying theres plenty of time to have the chat with the others who are a bit hesitant. And Mr Hunt sparked confusion when he said that while the government encouraged everyone over 50 to be vaccinated as early as possible, they could also wait for Pfizer or Moderna vaccines later in the year. There has been an incredible lot of very unhelpful and irresponsible messaging from the government on this issue, said Dr Stephen Duckett, the director of the health program at the Grattan Institute. The federal government has spent $40 million on a vaccine advertising campaign on television, radio and newspapers, which Mr Hunt said was focused on people aged over 50. But Dr Duckett believes the government needs to run a more nuanced campaign focused on addressing the concerns of different sections of the population, such as young women and migrant groups, and emphasising how low the risk is of developing side effects. Loading Its the governments fault for not actually bringing the population along in the way they should have and also partly the medias fault that they over-hype some of the clot risks, he said. Mr Hunts spokesperson disputed there had been hesitancy: As increased supply has become available and new age groups have been eligible for vaccinations we have seen a significant increase in uptake from people, contrary to those claiming there has been hesitancy. The spokesperson said the advertising would continue to ramp up. Work on the next campaign is under way and will take a different approach as it addresses a different and younger demographic. The vaccine rollout has also been bedevilled by supply shortages. In December a deal to buy more than 50 million doses of University of Queenslands vaccine was abandoned after several trial participants returned false positive HIV test results. Loading It was clearly a huge blow to our plans when the Queensland vaccine fell down; that was a huge component of our vaccine rollout plan, said La Trobe University epidemiologist Associate Professor Hassan Vally. And in March the European Commission blocked the shipment of 250,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Australia. It was at a critical time for us, just as we were getting going, Dr Vally said. Dr Vally also said the decision to preference Pfizer for people under 50, which had been intended to reassure people the government was acting with an abundance of caution, had had the opposite effect, creating doubt about the AstraZeneca vaccine. The over 50s are wondering why are they getting a vaccine thats different to the under 50s and questioning whether theyre being put at risk to a greater degree. There have also been distribution problems with some GPs struggling to access sufficient vaccines. The big challenge with all of this is the fact that the federal government is usually not the level of government that rolls out vaccines, Dr Vally said. Were not taking advantage of the way things usually work with the states leading the delivery of the vaccine and thats created a lot of problems. Professor Mike Toole, an epidemiologist from the Burnet Institute, blames the slow rollout on uncertain supply, vaccine hesitancy and just plain complacency. People think: There are no cases, why should I bother?, Professor Toole said. But as soon as theres an outbreak, like in Melbourne, that changes. Loading There is nothing like a crisis to focus the mind. On Wednesday the federal government released 130,000 extra vaccines. Mr Hunt said 29 aged care facilities which at the time had not received a single vaccine, months after the governments target would be prioritised. Victoria announced people aged 40-49 would be eligible for the Pfizer vaccine. On Friday despite an overwhelmed booking service the state broke its record for the second day in a row for the most vaccine doses administered in a day. With a small but steady stream of convicted terrorists due for release in the coming years, Senator Cash said that being able to monitor convicted terrorists activities online and via ankle bracelets was critical to guarding against future terrorist incidents. The orders will allow police to monitor convicted terrorists who have served their time and been released from jail for up to three years, significantly more than the six months allowed for under the current system of continuing detention orders. Beefing up federal police powers to monitor convicted terrorists for longer is at top of Michaelia Cashs priority list, with the new Attorney-General hoping to introduce new extended supervision orders by the end of 2021. Extended supervision orders ... allows the court to actually impose conditions on high-risk terrorist offenders after their release from custody, Senator Cash said. They complement what we can already do, which is the presumption against parole and continuing detention orders, so keeping them behind bars. Loading Our priority as a government, when the world is hit with a global pandemic that closes down the economy or parts of the economy, has to be on ensuring businesses are kept in business. People are kept in jobs but also ensuring the health of Australians, that has to be our fundamental priority, but at the same time, it does not mean that you take your eye off the ball when it comes to keeping Australians safe from the evolving terrorist threat. Senator Cash said that since 2014, 133 people have been charged as a result of 61 counter-terrorism operations around Australia. There have been nine attacks, 21 major counter-terrorism disruption operations and around 120 Australians and former Australians have travelled to Syria or Iraq and are believed to have died; about 45 people have returned to Australia after travelling to Syria or Iraq. Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution. Louisville, KY (40203) Today Sunny to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Tonight Thunderstorms early, then mainly cloudy after midnight. Low near 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Louisville, KY (40203) Today Sunny to partly cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low around 70F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 90%. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 16:16:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday in his monthly radio programme said the production of liquid medical oxygen, a key component in the treatment of COVID-19 patients, in the country has gone up by 10 times. "In the normal course, here we were producing 900 metric tonnes of liquid medical oxygen in a day. Now the production has gone over 10 times to 9,500 metric tonnes a day," said the Prime Minister. As the country is battling a second wave of COVID-19, many deaths in the hospitals have taken place due to a shortage of oxygen while hospitals have sent SOS demanding oxygen. People across the country used to seek help for oxygen cylinders on social media. To meet the growing demands emergency medical aid and oxygen, besides oxygen concentrators and plants arrived from foreign countries and regions. The government started special oxygen express trains in response to states' demand for urgent supply. Enditem Bill Burt and George Bremer discuss the NFL schedule and Tom Brady's return to New England; Elton Hayes and Kevin Brockway reflect on Coach K's retirement; and Clay Horning breaks down the worst defensive play in baseball in recent memory. FAIRFIELD The Fairfield Housing Authority has declared a housing crisis and are among several groups calling for money to address it as part of the Governors Allocation Plan. We have a supply shortage, said Carol Martin, the authoritys executive director. We had a supply shortage before the pandemic hit. The authority partnered with the Fairfield Housing Cooperation and Operation Hope, a non-profit organization focused on eliminating hunger and homelessness, to hold a press conference Thursday afternoon to request the governor and state legislature reconsider and allocate one percent of the states share of the American Rescue Act Plan to the housing crisis. Carla Miklos, Operation Hopes executive director, said these organizations were able to help thousands of homeless people during the pandemic because of funding from the CARES Act and the direction of Gov. Ned Lamont. Without the funding from the new allocation plan, she said, many services will not be able to continue and many people experiencing homelessness will not be able to be helped. The strives that we made under the CARES Act funding and under the direction of Gov. Lamont helped us serve thousands of homeless people by getting them off the street and into secure housing, but there is always a need, Miklos said. She said the need has only intensified. The effects of the pandemic have sort of exacerbated the effects [with] the downturn in the economy and the health crisis that the pandemic brought, Miklos continued. Making our housing costs rise and making it more out of reach for people with limited means or with challenges. Miklos says that without the funding being restored, Operation Hope and the fellow organizations lose many important services, such as the 211 Coordinated Access Network, emergency shelter coverage during cold weather and other health crises, as well as the case management component that goes along with housing to make sure that people with significant barriers are able to stabilize once they get housing. We lose the money that supports our entire system, she said. However, the groups say their reallocation proposal will solve the current issue. Connecticut received $2.8 billion from the American Rescue Act Plan. The economic stimulus bill will be used to speed up Connecticuts recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing recession. Martin believes that the omission of the housing crisis was simply an unintentional oversight. While the allocation plan invests into shelters and nursing facilities, it has left out other needs. Certainly from where I sit its a big oversight, but Ive been doing it for 20 years, said Martin. Let me just say this, I know the governor and I know many of his staff and they are big proponents of permanent supportive housing and housing our most vulnerable. Martin said the state has invested into short-term and existing institutional settings. Its a good thing, but maybe because of the good work and success that the Coordinated Access Network has had down here with the CARES act money, folks may have had a false sense of Hey we got the problem solved, she said. The reality is that it isnt solved, it was a temporary solution. Martin believes that collectively, the government may have been a victim to their own success, however, it would be a tremendous oversight if there wasnt a line item in the allocation plan for the housing crisis especially, for long-term investment. The investment absolutely needs to go into nursing facilities, absolutely needs to go into shelters, but it also needs to go into creating permanent housing units that are affordable with services, said Martin. What happens three years from now when the moneys spent and everybody that doesnt have a place to live still doesnt or are still getting evicted? Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 16:42:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping's call for building a community with shared future for mankind reflects both ancient beliefs of the Greek and Chinese peoples, former Greek Foreign Affairs Minister George Katrougalos has told Xinhua. He said multilateralism is the only way for all countries to achieve common development. #CPC100Years #GLOBALink WESTPORT Being at home during the COVID-19 lockdown gave Brian McGunagle time to think about Westports LGBTQ+ community. McGunagle, who is gay, has lived in Westport since 2016 and still had a lot of questions about where he and his family fit in town. As a resident with husband and a 2-year-old son, weve wondered What does the community look like here? McGunagle said. It isnt a terribly visible one. That realization led him to start talking to people in Westport about how to give LGBTQ people particularly those who are young a bigger presence and voice in town. So McGunagle founded Westport Pride, an organization that aims to create a more welcoming environment for the towns LGBTQ+ residents. Next week, Westport Pride is launching the towns inaugural Pride Month celebration, starting on May 31, when the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge will be strung with rainbow lights. The program will include a virtual panel discussion on LGBTQ issues June 2, a Pride Day celebration June 4 at Staples High School, a Pride Rally on the Jesup Green on June 5 and other events. Were really excited to not only partner with groups in the community, but really feature them, McGunagle said. June is traditionally celebrated as LGBTQ+ Pride Month nationwide, to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan seen by many as a turning point in the LGBTQ movement. McGunagle said he and others have noticed that Westport did little to nothing to acknowledge it. Theres been absolutely no pride recognition at all in schools, said Westport resident Marjorie Almansi, who is part of Westport Prides advisory board and chair of its education committee. We need to step up our game. Almansi, a mother of three who works at a nonprofit and considers herself an LGBTQ ally, said shes heard from students who struggle with being different in Westport. Its really rough to be gay in this town, Almansi said. Westporters like to think were in this super open community but thats not how it feels when nobody looks or feels like you. The new Pride Month events are an opportunity for Westport to live up to its reputation as an accepting community, McGunagle said. Its to create a space for our youth or those question who they are to feel safe, he said. So far, he said, the response has been positive. First Selection Jim Marpe is scheduled to issue a proclamation the day of the rally declaring June Pride Month in Westport. It was the right time to do all of this, Almansi said. The entire community was willing to embrace what we were willing to do. For more information on Westport Pride and a list of Pride Month events, visit https://linktr.ee/Westportpride. Vietnam says it has discovered a new coronavirus variant thats a hybrid of strains first found in India and the U.K. The Vietnamese health minister made the announcement Saturday. He said scientists examined the genetic makeup of the virus that had infected some recent patients, and found the new version of the virus. He said lab tests suggested it might spread more easily than other versions of the virus. The minister says the new variant could be responsible for a recent surge in Vietnam. In the last few weeks, the country has confirmed around 3,500 new cases and 12 deaths, increasing the countrys total death toll to 47. Idaho Gov. Brad Little has issued an executive order repealing a 24-hour-old mask-mandate prohibition put in place while he was out of the state by the lieutenant governor. Little described Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachins actions as a tyrannical abuse of power and what he labeled as an irresponsible, self-serving political stunt. The Republican governor on Friday rescinded Republican McGeachin's executive action taken Thursday. McGeachin is a member of the far-right who has worked to undermine Littles handling of the coronavirus pandemic. She announced last week her run for governor. Her executive order is widely seen as a political maneuver in her effort to take Littles job. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. President Joe Biden is asking U.S. intelligence agencies to redouble their efforts to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. After months of minimizing the possibility that the coronavirus emerged from a lab accident, the administration is responding to both U.S. and world pressure for China to be more open about the outbreak. Biden said Wednesday there is insufficient evidence to conclude whether it emerged from human contact with an infected animal or from a laboratory accident. Biden directed U.S. national laboratories to assist with the investigation and called on China to cooperate. He held out the possibility that a firm conclusion may never be known, given the Chinese governments refusal to fully cooperate with international investigations. It's a terrific gesture of faith in the future of theatre that the influential producer Sonia Friedman returns to action with a season called Re:Emerge featuring three plays by promising writers. It kicks off with Walden, starring Gemma Arterton, and written by New York-based Amy Berryman, a debut play set in the tricky territory of the near future. On Rae Smith's gloriously detailed set we are in a homely cabin in the woods, surrounded by carefully cultivated vegetables and a verdant wilderness, rather like the one in which the philosopher Henry Thoreau must have lived when he wrote his masterwork about living the good and natural life on Walden Pond in the 1850s. But the news headlines are dominated by a tsunami which has displaced millions and wiped out Sri Lanka, and the fact that a group of astronauts are returning from a year on the moon, in which, for the first time, someone grew something in the ground. That woman turns out to be Cassie short for Cassiopeia who is the twin sister of Stella, both daughters of a famous astronaut, both groomed for success in space. But Stella has given up dreams of astral plains and is now the inhabitant of this homestead and the fiancee of Bryan, an Earth Activist, committed to saving this planet rather than spending trillions to build new worlds in space. When Cassie arrives to see Stella, the battle lines are drawn, though they are complicated by the fact that it is Stella who has before she was turned down by NASA, designed a habitat for living on Mars that is called Walden. Gemma Arterton (Stella), Lydia Wilson (Cassie) Johan Persson Walden is a play full of interesting ideas, and for the first half of its 1 hr and 45-minute running time it compels with the strength and complexity of both its plot and its thoughts. The idea of two twin sisters, circling each other and their memories of their father, like the moons around a planet, is fascinating. So is the antithesis of Bryan's idealistic belief that the Earth can and must be saved with the twins' obsession with space. Bryan argues its colonisation is wrong. Both women see it as a duty to develop the possibilities of worlds elsewhere. In the end, however, it gets bogged down with the weight of its own arguments. In wanting to be fair, to present all sides, it never quite distinguishes the wood from the trees. It is also encumbered by a lot of family and romantic baggage which begin to take over from the larger themes at stake. It's never less than interesting, but it doesn't quite deliver on its promise, with too many strands thwarting its determination to reach a neat conclusion. Nevertheless, Ian Rickson's production is nigh on immaculate, every detail from the soundscape (designed by Emma Laxton) to the lighting (by Azusa Ono) straining towards perfection. The intensity of the mood is gripping; it makes you want to listen and argue. Arterton is terrific as Stella, jutting her chin and holding her body tense in an attempt to disguise the immense hurt that her twin has excelled in exactly the area that she longed to conquer. She's matched by Lydia Wilson as Cassie. Rather wonderfully, they actually look enough like to be sisters, and they share the same restricted body language which in Cassie's case is combined with a brittle watchfulness, a terror of revealing her emotion. Holding the ring between them, and introducing the most powerful note of humanity, is Fehinti Balogun, delivering a performance of such warmth and kindness that he wins the arguments just by his presence. Authorities say that 14 university students and staff abducted from a university in northwestern Nigeria last month have been released by their captors Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 16:48:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KHOST, Afghanistan, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The National Authority for Water Management has constructed a water reservoir in Afghanistan's eastern Khost province, said a statement of the entity released on Sunday. Aimed a collecting snow and rain waters, the Chakdam Jabikhor reservoir has been built at a cost of 5.2 million afghanis (about 66,286 U.S. dollars), and would also irrigate 200 hectares of land, the statement added. Hundreds of families would also benefit from the reservoir, the statement further said. The National Authority for Water Management would do its best to control and manage the waters of the country, according to the statement. Enditem Willmar, MN (56201) Today Clear skies. Low around 60F. NNW winds shifting to ESE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Clear skies. Low around 60F. NNW winds shifting to ESE at 10 to 15 mph. This aerial photo shows 1305 North 5th Street, the site of an African burial ground, in Richmond , Va., on Saturday, May 1, 2021. CALGARY - A drive to increase Albertas forest harvest as lumber prices hover at record heights is allowing members of a northern First Nation to become resource owners as well as timber-gathering contractors, says the leader of the Bigstone Cree Nation. Darcy Elliott, shipping supervisor at Spray Lake Sawmills, inspects lumber at the facility in Cochrane, Alta., Thursday, May 20, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh CALGARY - A drive to increase Albertas forest harvest as lumber prices hover at record heights is allowing members of a northern First Nation to become resource owners as well as timber-gathering contractors, says the leader of the Bigstone Cree Nation. The Nations logging company, Bigstone Forestry Inc., was formed with the help of Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. many years ago to help supply its pulp mill near Athabasca with logs from its forest management area. In early May, the First Nation won its own slice of Alberta forest. It now has the right to harvest 21,000 cubic metres of coniferous wood per year from previously unallocated Crown land in a remote region about 300 kilometres north of Edmonton. "First Nations have been accused of always asking for handouts. We don't play that kind of game. We try to do what's best, said Chief Silas Yellowknee in an interview. An unexpected boom in demand for forest products thanks to robust housing and home renovation markets is fattening the treasury of the Alberta government. In the recently ended 2020-21 fiscal year, the province reaped timber dues which are adjusted monthly based on current prices of about $350 million, more than triple the $99 million earned in the previous year and seven times the $51 million from 2015-16. Meanwhile, the levy paid by the industry for forest improvement activities jumped to $160 million thanks to the high prices, versus $19 million in 2019-20 and a paltry $2.7 million in 2015-16. The contribution to Albertas coffers is dwarfed by that of oil, gas and coal, but it helps fill the gap when those non-renewable resources fall short, as they did in the last fiscal year, dropping to about $2 billion in revenue from $5.9 billion in the previous year. When oil prices go up, Alberta produces more oil, but that's not the case with forest products because most of Alberta's sustainable annual harvest has already been allocated. At Spray Lake Sawmills in Cochrane, just northwest of Calgary, the company is harvesting the maximum allowed under its provincial permits, said Ed Kulcsar, vice-president of woodlands. He remembers the global recession that forced Spray Lakes to drop from two shifts to one from 2010 to 2013, and the shock of the early COVID-19 lockdowns a year ago that temporarily erased the market for forest products and caused the company to shut down for a month. "We're thankful for the good prices today but we're always mindful that the lumber market is very cyclical and it can go down at any time," he said. "Some people say the big cure for high lumber prices is high lumber prices." Grande Prairie is a small northwestern Alberta city that serves as a hub for oil and gas, agriculture and forestry, with an oriented strand board (OSB) panel mill, a paper mill and two sawmills. "In balancing the ebbs and flows of different economies, seeing the growth in forestry has really been a positive light and discussion point in our community," said Mayor Jackie Clayton, noting forestry employs about 2,300 people, supports over 160 related businesses and accounts for $900 million in local exports annually. Norbord Inc., owner of the OSB mill, was a second recipient of provincial forest harvest rights earlier this month, winning 51,000 cubic metres per year of unallocated wood from an area about 70 kilometres northwest of Grande Prairie. In a deal partly driven by high building product prices, Norbord became a division of West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. in February in return for $4 billion in shares, leaving West Fraser as the largest forestry company in Alberta with 15 facilities in 13 communities and about 2,500 direct employees. A spokeswoman for West Fraser said the new provincial wood supply "will support capital investments previously made at the Grande Prairie OSB mill," with no immediate plans for expanding production. Alberta Forestry Minister Devin Dreeshen said he asked his department early in his current mandate to re-examine the province's forest riches "as a true environmentalist" to come up with ways to most efficiently use its bounty. "They crunched the numbers and said about a 33 per cent increase from the annual allowable cut is something we could sustainably harvest and make sure we do preventive measures such as forest fire protection and pest management," he said in an interview. He's now looking for ways to increase the annual harvest by as much as another 20 per cent, after increasing it by 13 per cent in the last year or so with moves including the allocations to Bigstone Cree and Norbord. The provinces efforts have been criticized by the Alberta Wilderness Association as potentially harmful to the forest, and by the grand chief of the Treaty 8 First Nations for a lack of Indigenous consultation. But Chief Yellowknee says he's confident his part of the forest will thrive now that his nation is a resource owner. "This way, it being ours, it will be looked after the proper way. That's how we're looking at it." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2021. Companies in this story: (TSX:WFG) ROME (AP) The three suspects in Italys cable car disaster that killed 14 people were allowed to leave prison Sunday after a judge indicated that for now blame fell on just one: a service technician who intentionally disabled the car's emergency brake because it kept locking spontaneously. The wreckage of a cable car after it collapsed near the summit of the Stresa-Mottarone line in the Piedmont region, northern Italy, Wednesday, May 26, 2021. Police have made three arrests in the cable car disaster that killed 14 people after an investigation showed a clamp, placed on the brake as a patchwork repair effort, prevented the brake from engaging after the lead cable snapped. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) ROME (AP) The three suspects in Italys cable car disaster that killed 14 people were allowed to leave prison Sunday after a judge indicated that for now blame fell on just one: a service technician who intentionally disabled the car's emergency brake because it kept locking spontaneously. Judge Donatella Banci Buonamici said there wasn't sufficient evidence suggesting the owner of the Mottarone cable car company, Luigi Nerini, or the maintenance chief, Enrico Perocchio, knew that the technician had deactivated the brake on several occasions even before the May 23 disaster. After evaluating prosecutors' request for continued detention of the three, Buonamici determined there was no flight risk, ordered the managers freed while allowing the technician, Gabriele Tadini, to leave under house arrest. The three men, who remain under investigation, left Verbania prison early Sunday, accompanied by their lawyers. Fourteen people were killed when the lead cable of the Mottarone funicular overlooking Lake Maggiore in northern Italy snapped and the emergency brake failed to prevent the cable car from reeling at high speed backward down the support line. The cable car pulled off the line entirely after passing the support pylon, crashed to the ground and then rolled down the mountain until it was stopped by a stand of trees. The lone survivor, 5-year-old Eitan Biran, remains hospitalized but conscious, with his aunt looking after him. Eitan's Israeli-born parents, his younger brother and his great-grandparents were killed in the disaster and their remains were sent back to Israel. A rescuer takes a picture of a clamp that was placed on an emergency brake, as search for evidence continues in the wreckage of a cable car after it collapsed near the summit of the Stresa-Mottarone line in the Piedmont region, northern Italy, Wednesday, May 26, 2021. Police have made three arrests in the cable car disaster that killed 14 people after an investigation showed a clamp, placed on the brake as a patchwork repair effort, prevented the brake from engaging after the lead cable snapped. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) It isn't known why the pulling cable snapped. The Vipiteno, Italy-based company that maintains the lift, Leitner SpA, has said no irregularities were detected" during the November 2020 magnetic testing of the lead cable, and that every other annual check hadn't turned up problems either. Tadini admitted during questioning that he had left a fork-shaped bracket on the cable car's emergency brake to disable it because it kept locking on its own while the car was in service, said his lawyer, Marcello Perillo. Speaking to reporters outside Verbania prison, Perillo said Tadini never would have left the bracket in place if he thought doing so might endanger passengers. He is not a criminal and would never have let people go up with the braking system blocked had he known that there was even a possibility that the cable would have broken, Perillo said. He cant even begin to get his head around the fact that the cable broke. Based on Tadini's testimony, prosecutors had hypothesized that the managers knew about the jerry-rigged brake and had an economic reason in using it to keep the funicular running. Prosecutor Olimpia Bossi said the owner would have had to have taken the whole lift out of service for the more extensive, radical" repairs that were necessary. The lift, which features four large tram cars bringing passengers up and down the mountain, only reopened on April 26 after a lengthy COVID-19 shutdown and was gearing up for the summer tourist season in a picturesque part of northern Italy. But lawyers for Nerini and Perocchio said the two denied knowing anything about Tadinis maneuver and said they had no reason to let a cable car without a brake system operate. The judge concurred, noting that neither they nor Leitner, the maintenance company, would have had an interest in doing so. Nerini's attorney, Pasquale Patano, said the owner had no interest in not repairing the cable car since he paid a flat fee of 150,000 euros ($183,000) a year for unlimited maintenance from Leitner to keep the funicular safe and operational. Perocchio similarly denied any knowledge of Tadinis maneuver, according to his lawyer Andrea Da Prato, who suggested his client had been arrested because the prosecutor felt pressure to produce quick results in the investigation into the tragedy. As he left the prison, Perocchio said he was desperately sad" for the victims and never would have authorized disabling the emergency brake. Ive been working in cable cars for 21 years and I know theres no reason in the world to do that, he told reporters. The judge's ruling noted that Tadini had called Perocchio twice to send in repair crews since the lift reopened because of the brake problem, but that the problem persisted after the crews left. Even though Tadini insisted that Perocchio and Nerini knew about his patchwork repair, the judge said he likely was trying to share the blame on the people who could afford to pay damages, and wasn't a credible enough witness to warrant their continued detention. Leitner, the maintenance company of which Perocchio is an employee, has said that using the fork-shaped brackets was expressly forbidden" when passengers were in the cabin. The brackets are meant to be used when the cabin part of a transport system known as an aerial tram is parked in the station for the night or to do repair work. Leitner has provided investigators with documentation of the lift's maintenance record and declared itself an injured party in the case, saying it plans to donate any awarded damages to the families of the victims. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) A special congressional election is checking the political pulse of politics across the Albuquerque metro area and a few outlying rural communities in one of the few House campaigns since President Joe Biden took office. FILE - In this March 20, 2021, file photo, Republican state Sen. Mark Moores debates legislation in the final hours of a 60-day legislative session in Santa Fe, N.M. A special congressional election is underway for an Albuquerque-based seat dominated by Democrats since 2009. Early voting by absentee ballot begins Tuesday, May 4 as major party candidates participate in their first public debate.(AP Photo/Morgan Lee, File) SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) A special congressional election is checking the political pulse of politics across the Albuquerque metro area and a few outlying rural communities in one of the few House campaigns since President Joe Biden took office. Four names are on the ballot in Tuesday's election to succeed Deb Haaland in Congress after her confirmation as secretary of the U.S. Interior Department. After weeks of early voting, polling locations are closed on Sunday and Monday before reopening on Election Day with allowances for same-day registration. New Mexico's 1st Congressional District has heavily favored Democratic candidates in recent years, shunning President Donald Trump with a gap of 23 percentage points in 2020 and reelecting Haaland with a margin of 16 percentage points as voter participation reached an all-time high. Those margins bode well for Democratic nominee and second-term state Rep. Melanie Stansbury, as she confronts Republican state Sen. Mark Moores. Republicans hope to erode the 219-211 Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of midterm elections in 2022. Stansbury, a consultant on land use and water policy, has embraced Bidens core agenda for post-pandemic economic recovery, free universal preschool and infrastructure spending that modernizes energy and transportation sectors to address global warming. In recent debates, she has endorsed a $15 national minimum wage, reforms to address police misconduct and systemic racism, and a more humanitarian approach to immigration. Moores has emphasized the need for aggressive drug interdiction and immigration enforcement along the U.S. border with Mexico and uninterrupted oil leasing on federal land as a crucial source of employment in New Mexico. His campaign has seized on concerns about public safety and crime as a core issue, backing more federal dollars for police body cameras that are required in New Mexico and voicing support for police officers. A hardline approach to crime by Trump in 2020 fell flat with Albuquerque-area voters after he sent federal agents to bolster local law enforcement efforts. Still, crime remains an issue for the city. Two additional candidates are vying for untethered voters in a state with strong currents of libertarian politics. Independent contender Aubrey Dunn Jr., a former Republican elected to statewide office as land commissioner who didn't seek reelection in 2018, has cast himself as a staunch defender of gun rights and an experienced steward of public lands. Libertarian nominee Chris Manning, who lives far outside the 1st District in Farmington, is campaigning on an unorthodox plan to reduce health care costs by eliminating employer-based coverage and insurance requirements. The potential for low turnout in the vacancy election adds an element of uncertainty and a sense of rare opportunity among Republicans, who account for 31% of registered voters across the 1st Congressional District. The voting district encompasses Albuquerque, rural Torrance County and other outlying areas that include the Indigenous community of Sandia Pueblo. Registered Democrats dominated early voting, casting roughly twice as ballots as registered Republicans as of Friday. Political science professor Lonna Atkeson, of the University of New Mexico, notes that both major-party candidates have delved into attack ads and negative campaigning a sign that neither campaign is confident. Nobodys felt confident enough that they can just ride it out in a positive way. So theyre both feeling a little stressed, Atkeson said. I mean, we never saw Deb Haaland do a negative ad. The Democratic National Committee brought Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, to New Mexico on Thursday to campaign on Stansburys behalf. At a rally with labor unions and other supporters, Emhoff acknowledged the thin margin Democrats have in Congress and said electing Stansbury would help to ensure the party's legislative initiatives make it to the president's desk. Moores has repeatedly sought to link Stansbury to the so-called BREATHE Act proposal from the Movement for Black Lives that would divest taxpayer spending from traditional policing agencies and invest in alternative approaches to public safety. And he says Stansbury voted in 2019 for a bill that benefitted her consulting client. Stansbury said she has stood by law enforcement in coordinating spending on police infrastructure and initiatives at the state Legislature. She has bashed Moores for opposing some pandemic relief measures while accepting $1.8 million in federal aid at his medical testing business. Moores frequently invokes Latino family ties that date back to the region's Spanish colonial era, in a state where Hispanic pride is an enduring staple of politics. Atkeson sees that as an overt push by Moores to win over socially conservative Latinos who might otherwise vote Democrat. The 1st Congressional District has been controlled by Democrats since 2009. The seat has consistently been a stepping stone to higher office for Republican and Democratic politicians, including now-deceased Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan Jr., former U.S. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. ATHENS, Greece (AP) Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Sunday began his trip to Greece with an unofficial visit to the northeastern province of Thrace, where most of Greeces Muslim minority resides. Two youths hold a wreath which is to be laid by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu at a muslim cemetery at Komotini town, in northeastern Greece, Sunday, May 30, 2021. Greece's prime minister said Friday his country is seeking improved ties with neighbor and longtime foe Turkey, but that the onus is on Turkey to refrain from what he called "provocations, illegal actions and aggressive rhetoric." (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) ATHENS, Greece (AP) Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Sunday began his trip to Greece with an unofficial visit to the northeastern province of Thrace, where most of Greeces Muslim minority resides. The official part of Cavusoglus trip will take place Monday morning, when he will meet with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He and Dendias will also have an informal dinner later Sunday. Cavusoglu arrived by official plane at the Greek city of Alexandroupolis on Sunday and proceeded to the city of Komotini, where a large part of the Muslim minority resides. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, center, arrives at a restaurant at village Thamna, near Komotini, in northeastern Greece, Sunday, May 30, 2021. Greece's prime minister said Friday his country is seeking improved ties with neighbor and longtime foe Turkey, but that the onus is on Turkey to refrain from what he called "provocations, illegal actions and aggressive rhetoric." (AP Photo/Giannis Papanikos) In #Greece to meet members of Turkish Minority in #WesternThrace and discuss our bilateral relations, Cavusoglu tweeted. His mention of a Turkish minority is diplomatically sensitive, because Greece recognizes the minority as a religious one, while Turkey refers to it as an ethnic Turkish minority. Greece has tried to promote the ethnic diversity of the minority, highlighting its Roma and Pomak components, in an effort to contain Turkish influence and possible secessionist sentiment. Cavusoglu met with the two Turkish-approved muftis, of the cities of Komotini and Xanthi, whom Greece doesn't recognize, having appointed its own. He also visited the grave of Dr. Sadik Ahmet, who was elected in the Greek parliament in 1989 as the head of the openly pro-Turkish Party of Friendship. Equality and Peace. It was Ahmets election that prompted Greece to change its electoral law to introduce a national vote threshold of 3% for parties to gain parliamentary seats. Cavusoglu also visited Komotinis Bayar Minority Gymnasium and Lyceum, a junior and senior high school named after a former Turkish president. He told media after the school visit that when he meets with Greek officials, he will "bring up the subject of the rights of the Turkish minority in western Thrace. Despite Cavusoglus statements about the minority, both countries expect the visit to be relatively low-key and avoid the tensions generated in Dendias visit to Ankara in April.) The two ministers traded barbs and listed their respective countrys grievances against the other in a rare public exchange of accusations. Greek officials view the visit as preparing a meeting between Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in mid-June, on the sidelines of a NATO summit. The hope is that this summer will be less tense between the two allied but antagonistic neighbors than the previous one, when clashes over delimitation of maritime zones and search for oil and natural gas dominated. Greek and Turkish deputy foreign ministers also held talks this past week on lower-level cooperation issues, such as tourism, the environment and improved transport links between the two countries. Ayse Wieting contributed to this report from Istanbul. OTTAWA - A senator from Prince Edward Island is pushing for a change to the government's sweeping budget bill that she says would entrench an unfair situation on the island that the Trudeau Liberals have long promised to address. Sen. Diane Griffin attends a news conference in Ottawa, Tuesday December 11, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA - A senator from Prince Edward Island is pushing for a change to the government's sweeping budget bill that she says would entrench an unfair situation on the island that the Trudeau Liberals have long promised to address. Deep in the Liberals' sweeping budget bill are provisions that would set two zones on P.E.I. for calculating and accessing employment insurance benefits. There are similar provisions for areas of Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Yukon in the bill currently in the House of Commons. The government says it needs to put the zones into law to make sure seasonal workers can continue to more easily qualify for EI benefits during a two-year consultation on the future of the decades-old social safety net. The concern from Sen. Diane Griffin is that the boundaries would become impossible to change if embedded in an act approved by Parliament. "They're trying to say, 'Oh, well, you know, things can be changed by regulation,'" she said in an interview, describing the response she has received from government officials. "It will be entrenched in legislation for two years, and there's no way regulation is going to supersede the statute." Griffin is pushing the four Liberal MPs from the province to remove the reference to P.E.I. while the bill is in the House of Commons, but plans to push for it herself if the clause remains once the legislation lands in the Senate. EI zones make benefits more generous and easier to access in parts of the country where it is harder to get work. Rules are based on residency, not where jobs are, meaning two people laid off from the same company at the same time could have different benefit entitlements because they live on opposite sides of a boundary. The non-partisan EI commission regularly reviews the boundaries and was supposed to make recommendations last fall on possible changes, but got delayed by the pandemic. Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough hinted at a Senate committee Wednesday night that delay may soon be over. Any cabinet-approved changes to the boundaries would likely take two years to implement. A review of the different EI zones produced by federal officials in September 2019, and obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act, suggested that there was very little difference in labour market conditions across P.E.I. The previous Conservative government split the island into two zones in 2014, with the boundary line drawn in a way that benefited the lone Conservative riding in the province at the time on the western edge of the island. The Liberals promised to reverse the decision, but have yet to do so. "We're one island, we're one province, and we're one zone," Charlottetown Mayor Philip Brown told a Senate committee during a recent appearance to talk about the budget bill. Brown added that he was asking the province's parliamentarians to change the C-30, and pushed against the idea that this was a local issue: "It is a national issue because EI is a national program, and maybe the other economic regions are not speaking up." The problem from the government's perspective is the law itself, the Employment Insurance Act. The act limits to three years the time a pilot project can run under the EI program. Such a pilot has ran since 2019 in places like P.E.I. to help seasonal workers access benefits during the "black hole" period between when EI benefits max out and a seasonal job starts. The provisions expire in October 2022 before the end of consultations on the future of the EI system, which the government says requires it to tuck the zones into federal law so the extra help doesn't just stop. Echoing what Griffin described, officials say the government could still redraw boundary lines or remove zones despite the legal change, even while the wider consultations are underway. "The most important fundamental opportunity here is as we move into our consultations to modernize the EI system, really digging in on the boundary and zone issue," Qualtrough told senators this week. She said that will include "what, if any, changes we could and should be making to the boundary and zone issue, seeing if it's the way to go in the future, and what, if any, changes we could and should be making to the system." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2021. The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern): The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern): 6 p.m. The number of COVID-19 cases in Alberta hospitals continues to fall, as does the number of active cases. The province's website says there are 446 people in hospital with COVID-19, a drop from 478 on Saturday. There are 8,073 active COVID-19 cases in Alberta, down from 14,533 a week ago. There are 391 new cases today and five added deaths. 4:10 p.m. Saskatchewan is reporting the fewest people in hospital with COVID-19 since Nov. 28, reporting 109 virus patients receiving care. The news comes on the same day Saskatchewan takes the first step on its reopening roadmap. Officials announced last week that starting today, the province would be relaxing restrictions on outdoor sports. Other changes include allowing private gatherings of up to 10 people, permitting public indoor gatherings with a maximum of 30 people and raising limits on public outdoor gatherings to 150 people. Saskatchewan is reporting 171 new COVID-19 cases and one additional death. 2 p.m. Manitoba is reporting 292 new COVID-19 cases and seven new deaths. All of the new deaths were men who ranged in age from their 40s to their 70s. Manitoba's current five-day test-positivity rate is 12.3 per cent provincially and 13.6 per cent in Winnipeg. There are 74 people in Manitoba who are in intensive care who either have active COVID-19 or are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care. 1:22 p.m. Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting seven new cases of COVID-19 today. Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rosann Seviour says four of the cases are in the western health zone, two are in the eastern zone and one has been identified in the central zone. Seviour says with an emerging cluster of cases the western region is being placed under "Alert Level 4". People are advised to stay home as much as possible except to get essentials like groceries and medications. She says the province now has 104 active cases of novel coronavirus with three people in hospital. 12:20 p.m. Nova Scotia is reporting 20 new cases of COVID-19 today and one new virus-related death. Health officials say a woman in her 80s has died in the Halifax area bringing the total number of deaths since the pandemic began to 85. There are 14 new cases of novel coronavirus in the Halifax area, five in the province's eastern zone and one in the western zone. Nova Scotia has 505 known active cases of the infection, with 42 people in hospital including 17 in intensive care. 11:26 a.m. New Brunswick is reporting nine new cases of COVID-19 today. Health officials have identified five cases in the Moncton area, two cases in the Fredericton region and one case each in the Saint John and Miramichi regions. The province has 143 known active cases of novel coronavirus and a total of seven people are in hospital. Six people are hospitalized in New Brunswick including two patients in intensive care, while the remaining patient is in an intensive care unit in a hospital outside of the province. 11:23 a.m. The Quebec government is reporting 315 new cases of COVID-19 as well as two additional deaths due to COVID-19. Hospitalizations declined by nine to 364, while the number of people in intensive care dropped by one to 90. The province gave another 95,305 more vaccine doses over the previous 24 hours, and has currently administered just over 5.5 million shots. 10:30 a.m. Ontario is reporting 1,033 new cases of COVID-19 today and 18 more deaths linked to the virus. Health Minister Christine Elliott says there are 237 new cases in Toronto, 214 in Peel Region, and 80 in York Region. Today's data is based on 26,565 completed tests. The Ministry of Health says 749 people are in hospital due to COVID-19, with 614 in intensive care and 417 on a ventilator. The province says 10 per cent of hospitals did not submit data and anticipates the number of hospitalized patients may rise when reporting compliance increases. The province says 144,833 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine were administered since Saturday's report for a total of more than 8.9 million doses. 9:45 a.m. Ontario will soon be replacing it's chief medical officer of health. The province issued a release this morning sayin Dr. Kieran Moore will succeed Dr. David Williams by the end of June. Moore is currently the chief medical officer of health for Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Public Health The province says Williams is planning to retire as of June 25. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2021. The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern): The latest news on COVID-19 developments in Canada (all times Eastern): 6:35 p.m. Alberta is reporting that the number of patients with COVID-19 in the province's hospitals has fallen to 478. There were 517 virus patients in hospitals the day before, and the number has been trending down. The government has said if there are fewer than 500 people in hospital two weeks from now, at the same time the latest vaccinations take full effect, it will lift an array of health restrictions on June 10. Alberta is also reporting 406 additional COVID-19 cases and eight new deaths linked to the virus. 3:50 p.m. Saskatchewan is reporting 179 new COVID-19 cases and one additional virus-related death. The province's daily pandemic update says the person who died was in their 50s and was from the Regina zone. The update says Saskatchewan has now passed 700,000 vaccines administered. As of today, second-dose vaccinations are open to residents 70 or older, or anyone who received their first shot before March 15. 2 p.m. Manitoba is reporting three new deaths of residents with COVID-19. The province's daily pandemic update says two of those who died were men in their 20s from the Winnipeg health region, while the third was a man in his 70s from the Prairie Mountain health region. The update says 357 new cases of the virus have been identified over the past 24 hours. On Friday, health officials in Manitoba announced one of the biggest one-day jumps in COVID-19 numbers since the pandemic began, with 497 new cases. 12:50 p.m. Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting nine new confirmed cases of COVID-19 today. Health officials have identified six cases in the province's western health region, two in the eastern region and one in the central health region. There are four people in hospital due to the virus, and the province is reporting 100 known active cases. Officials say they are still trying to identify the source of infection in the central region where there is a cluster of 60 confirmed COVID-19 cases. 12:15 p.m. New Brunswick is reporting 10 new cases of COVID-19 today. Five infections have been identified in the Moncton region, four in the Fredericton area and one in the Bathurst region. The province has 143 known active cases with seven people hospitalized, including six in New Brunswick and one out of province. Two patients are currently in intensive care. Health officials are also reporting that just over 60 per cent of New Brunswickers aged 12 and older have received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. 12:10 p.m. Nova Scotia is reporting four new deaths related to COVID-19 and 33 new cases of the virus today. Officials say two men in their 80s and a woman in her 70s have died in the Halifax area, along with a man in his 80s in the western zone. The province says the single day death total is the highest since six deaths were reported on May 3rd of last year. There are 566 known active cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia and 43 people in hospital, including 18 in intensive care. 11:55 a.m. The scramble may be easing for some Ontario residents who were trying to book their second dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine this weekend. The province says it has received permission from Health Canada to extend the expiry date for some doses of the shot. A spokeswoman for Health Minister Christine Elliott says the authorization to change the expiry from six to seven months came after a review of ``stability data.'' Alexandra Hilkene says this means vaccine doses with an original expiry of May 31 can now be used until July 1. Pharmacies and physicians offices had been rushing to administer thousands of shots this weekend ahead of the expiry to avoid waste. 11:30 a.m. Quebec is reporting 410 new cases of COVID-19 today and seven more deaths related to the virus, including one in the last 24 hours. Health officials say hospitalizations dropped by 12 for a total of 373. The number of patients in intensive care held steady at 91. The province says it administered 95,505 doses of vaccine on Friday, for a total of 5,405,885 since the start of the immunization campaign. The province says about 59.1 per cent of Quebecers have received at least one dose. 10:45 a.m. Ontario is reporting 1,057 new cases of COVID-19 today and 15 more deaths linked to the virus. Health Minister Christine Elliott says there are 228 new cases in Toronto and 178 in Peel Region. The Ministry of Health says 934 people are in hospital with COVID-19. Of those, 626 are in intensive care and 438 are on a ventilator. The province says 148,972 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine were administered since Friday's report for a total of over 8.8 million doses. 8:45 a.m. Ontario's COVID-19 science table says the province can re-open schools safely on a regional basis while still mitigating risks of transmission of the virus. The new advice comes in response to a request from Premier Doug Ford for input on whether or not the province should reopen schools as virus cases trend downward. The group says some regions could reopen based on advice from their local medical officers of health and continued adherence to public health measures. They say the closure is harming some students' physical and mental health and reopening would allow schools to re-establish contact with teachers and friends. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2021. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 17:46:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Shortly after Hong Kong's legislature passed a bill amending the electoral laws last week, Washington issued interfering remarks to malign Hong Kong's efforts to put an end to violence and political chaos and get the global financial hub back on track. The groundless accusation is the latest U.S. flagrant smearing against the local legislation on improving the electoral system in Hong Kong, and has again exposed Washington's hegemonic thinking and its ulterior motives to sow trouble in Hong Kong. It must be stressed that China is a country with the rule of law. The comprehensive completion of this local legislation is an important measure to follow through on the relevant decision of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the spirit of the amendments made by the NPC Standing Committee. It must also be stressed that Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China, and issues related to Hong Kong, including the reform of the local electoral system, are purely China's internal affairs. Therefore, U.S. politicians' finger-pointing over Hong Kong's efforts to fine-tune its election system is a gross interference in China's domestic affairs and a serious violation of the principles of the international law and the basic norms of international relations. For some time, some anti-China forces and radical separatist forces have taken advantage of loopholes in Hong Kong's electoral system to create social unrest and even seek to seize the right to govern Hong Kong. The new bill will plug the loopholes in the previous electoral system, reaffirm the new order of "patriots administering Hong Kong," and enable the democratic system of Hong Kong to move forward steadily along the sound and orderly track. It will also provide more solid guarantee to achieving good governance in Hong Kong, and better uphold national sovereignty, security and development interests and Hong Kong's prosperity and stability in the long run. For a long time, some U.S. politicians and U.S. media have blatantly launched a smear campaign against China by deliberately distorting facts about issues related to Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Though professing to care about democracy and freedoms in Hong Kong, their real intention is to exploit these issues to obstruct China's development. No wonder they have never spoken up for the victims of wanton vandalism committed by rioters in the unrest, never shown regard for the shared aspiration of Hong Kong people for stability and development, and never truly cared about the well-being of ordinary citizens of Hong Kong. Instead, they are always in a frenzy to fan the flames and sow discord in Hong Kong, leaving one the impression that their motto is "worse is better" when it comes to Hong Kong's stability and prosperity. No one cares more about the future of Hong Kong, which is part of China, than the central government of China. That is why the National Security Law for Hong Kong and the new electoral system were introduced in the first place. The good news for the world is that China will unswervingly adhere to the "one China, two systems" policy and vigorously endeavor to ensure Hong Kong's stability and prosperity. The bad news for those anti-China forces who wish Hong Kong and China at large ill is that their sinister desire is doomed to failure. Enditem JASPER, Alta. - Parks Canada says two people have died in an avalanche on an Alberta mountain popular with climbers. JASPER, Alta. - Parks Canada says two people have died in an avalanche on an Alberta mountain popular with climbers. Steve Young, a communications officer with Jasper National Park, says the slab avalanche occurred Sunday morning on Mount Andromeda in the Columbia Icefield near Jasper, Alta. There were no other reported injuries. Young had no information about what brought the two victims to the area, but says the mountain is known as a popular climbing destination. Young did not have any information about the identities or home towns of those who died. STARS Air Ambulance had dispatched three helicopters to the area. Spokeswoman Deborah Tetley says the choppers later "stood down" because they were "not medically required." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2021 TORONTO - Flags on federal buildings will be lowered for the 215 children whose bodies were found at a former British Columbia residential school, the prime minister said Sunday as communities across Canada began mounting their own tributes to the students. TORONTO - Flags on federal buildings will be lowered for the 215 children whose bodies were found at a former British Columbia residential school, the prime minister said Sunday as communities across Canada began mounting their own tributes to the students. Justin Trudeau said on social media his request includes the Peace Tower flag. It comes as some called for a national day of mourning. "To honour the 215 children whose lives were taken at the former Kamloops residential school and all Indigenous children who never made it home, the survivors, and their families, I have asked that the Peace Tower flag and flags on all federal buildings be flown at half-mast," Trudeau said in a statement. The children's remains were located using ground-penetrating radar last weekend at the site in Kamloops, B.C., in the province's Interior. Trudeau's flag call came as plans were being made to identify and return home the remains. The effort could involve the B.C. Coroners Service, the Royal B.C. Museum and forensics experts, Indigenous leaders have said. Earlier this week, Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation in British Columbia said the discovery of the children, some as young as three years old, is an "unthinkable loss that was spoken about but never documented" at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. She said more bodies might be found because there were more areas to search on the grounds. The Kamloops residential school operated between 1890 and 1969. The federal government took over the facility from the Catholic Church and ran it as a day school until it closed in 1978. The National Truth and Reconciliation Commission has records of at least 51 children dying at the school between 1915 and 1963. The Chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, R. Stacey LaForme, wrote Trudeau on Saturday to ask the government to lower the flags and declare a national day of mourning. There is a lot more to be done but first and foremost, we need to do this to show love and respect to the 215 children, all of the children, and their families," LaForme said in a statement. "This should be a moment that the country never forgets." Sol Mamakwa, an Indigenous NDP legislator who represents the Ontario riding of Kiiwetinoong, called on the province and Canadian government to work with all First Nations to look for remains at other defunct residential schools. "It is a great open secret that our children lie on the properties of the former schools an open secret that Canadians can no longer look away from," Mamakwa said in a statement. "In keeping with the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions Missing Children Projects, every school site must be searched for the graves of our ancestors." Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq said the legacy of Canadas residential schools is "one of deep intergenerational trauma, rooted in attempted cultural genocide and assimilation." Savikataaq said it is not simply a dark chapter in Canadian history, but continues to be a painful reality for all First Nations, Inuit and Metis. "In order to move forward, all Canadians must face these horrors, learn the truth, demand justice and work toward meaningful reconciliation on our terms," he said in a statement. Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister on Sunday called the discovery of the mass grave "horrifying." Flags at that province's legislature and Memorial Park would be lowered to honour the lives lost, he said. "We must all remain committed to righting this historic wrong and to ensure that it is never allowed to happen again," he said. Mayors of communities across Ontario, including Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga and Brampton, also ordered flags lowered. Toronto Mayor John Tory said city flags would stay lowered for nine days 215 hours to represent each life. "This is a heartbreaking reminder of the terrible and shameful legacy of residential schools and the thousands of innocent children who died," Tory said in a statement. "We know this discovery will also be difficult for survivors of the residential school system and a reminder of the trauma they endured." Mayor Bonnie Crombie of Mississauga, Ont., said she had also requested city flags be lowered: "I echo the calls for a national day of mourning," she said in a statement. In British Columbia, the province's teachers federation said it would organize "orange shirt walk-ins" to honour the 215 children. "We are also asking school districts to lower all flags to half-mast," the union said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2021. As COVID-19 vaccine supplies ramp up across the country, most provinces and territories have begun planning to give second doses in the coming weeks. A dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine being prepared at the COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the University of Toronto campus in Mississauga, Ont., on Thursday, May 6, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin As COVID-19 vaccine supplies ramp up across the country, most provinces and territories have begun planning to give second doses in the coming weeks. More than 23 million people across Canada have now had at least one dose of a vaccine. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says by the summer, Canada will have enough vaccines so that every eligible resident will have gotten their first dose, and by September, it will have enough doses for everyone to be fully vaccinated. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization has recommended that Canada turn toward the ultimate goal of fully immunizing the population, now that supplies of COVID-19 shots are increasing. The advisory panel said those at highest risk of dying or becoming severely ill should be prioritized for second shots, either after or alongside first doses for anyone else who is eligible for a vaccine. Since the novel coronavirus is still circulating in Canada, NACI is still recommending that the second dose be received up to four months after the first dose, in order to maximize the number of people who get at least one shot. Here's a list of the inoculation plans throughout Canada: Newfoundland and Labrador All people in the province aged 12 and older can now book an appointment for a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. So far 2.19 per cent (11,446) of the population has been fully vaccinated. Nova Scotia Appointments for an initial COVID-19 vaccine shot are now open to people 12 years of age and older. Currently, the Pfizer vaccine is the only one approved for use in children aged 12 and up. The Moderna vaccine is only available for those 18 and older. Under the province's accelerated vaccine plan, someone who received their first dose of vaccine on March 22 and is due for a second dose on July 5 will now be able to reschedule their second appointment for as early as the week of June 20. The province has stopped the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine as a first dose. The Health Department says the decision was based on "an abundance of caution'' due to an observed increase in the rare blood-clotting condition linked to this vaccine. The department also says it will reschedule anyone who was to receive AstraZeneca to instead be inoculated with Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna "in a timely manner." Prince Edward Island In Prince Edward Island, residents as young as 16 can book a COVID-19 vaccine. People 16 years and older who have certain underlying medical conditions, pregnant woman and eligible members of their household can also get a vaccine. So far 8.11 per cent (12,868) of the population has been fully vaccinated. New Brunswick Residents in New Brunswick aged 12 to 17 are now eligible to book an appointment for a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Officials also say residents 55 and older who received an Astra-Zenaca vaccine for the first dose at least eight weeks ago can now get a second dose of the vaccine with informed consent. So far 5.08 per cent (39,633) of the population has been fully vaccinated. Quebec In Quebec, all residents 12 and older can book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment. The province's health minister says Quebecers 12 to 17 years old will be fully vaccinated by the time they return to school in September. Quebec also says it will shorten the delay between first and second doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine to eight weeks from 16 weeks. The province says more than 5.8 million doses of vaccine have now been administered, with more than 58.1 per cent of the population having received at least one dose. Ontario All adults in Ontario can now book COVID-19 vaccine appointments. People turning 18 in 2021 can book Pfizer-BioNTech shots. Youth aged 12 and older can also book appointments across Ontario. They can book through the provincial online portal, call centre and through pharmacies offering the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the only shot authorized by Health Canada for use in youth aged 12 and older. Ontarians, meanwhile, are getting the option to shorten the interval between COVID-19 vaccine doses. Most people are being scheduled for doses four months apart, but officials say the new interval could be as short as 28 days. The plan will start with seniors aged 80 and older this week and the province will later offer second shots based on when people received their first. People will keep their original appointments if they dont re-book. The province aims to see all eligible Ontarians fully vaccinated by the end of September. Ontario is also resuming use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine but only as a second dose. Those who received the first dose of AstraZeneca between March 10 and March 19 during a pilot project at pharmacies and some doctor's offices in several Ontario communities will be first in line to receive their second dose. Ontario says more than 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have now been administered across the province. So far 4.68 per cent (687,894) of the population has been fully vaccinated Manitoba Manitoba is using the Pfizer vaccine for everyone aged 12 and up, and the Moderna vaccines for people aged 18 and up. These are available through a few channels including so-called supersites in larger communities. The province is also allowing anyone 40 and over to get an Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine through pharmacies and medical clinics, subject to availability. People 30-39 can get a shot if they have certain underlying health conditions such as chronic liver failure or severe obesity. The province has opened up second-dose appointments to all Indigenous people aged 12 and up, to people with certain medical conditions such as severe heart failure and Down syndrome, and anyone who received their first dose on or before March 29. Provincial health officials say they now expect 70 per cent of Manitobans aged 12 and older to get a dose by the end of June. So far 7.75 per cent (106,678) of the population has been fully vaccinated. Saskatchewan Saskatchewan says it reached the step two threshold of its reopening roadmap released last week, with over 70 per cent of residents age 30 and older having received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. That means restrictions will begin to be relaxed June 20, which includes easing capacity limits on retail, personal care services, restaurants and bars, although they must still maintain physical distancing among occupants or have barriers in place. The rules also raise caps on private indoor gatherings to 15, while capacity limits jump to 150 for both public indoor gatherings and all outdoor assemblies, whether public or private. Premier Scott Moe says once 70 per cent of the entire adult population is vaccinated, Saskatchewan can move to the third step of its plan and remove almost all of the remaining public health orders. Saskatchewan residents aged 12 and older are now eligible to book their first COVID-19 vaccine appointment. A school immunization program for those aged 12 to 18 will be introduced in June, but eligible residents of that age can also be immunized at clinics offering the Pfizer vaccine. Anyone 85 and older or anyone who received their first vaccine dose before February 15 can now book their second dose. Anyone diagnosed with cancer and solid organ transplant recipients will be receiving a letter of eligibility in the mail which will allow them priority access to a second dose. There are drive-thru and walk-in vaccination clinics in communities across the province. The province says 6.60 per cent (77,767) of the population has now been fully vaccinated. Alberta Every Albertan aged 12 and older is now eligible for a vaccine. As of May 27, 60.3 per cent of Albertans over the age of 12 had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The milestone means the province's second stage of easing restrictions can begin on June 10. It is subject to hospitalizations being below 500 and trending downwards. Some of the restrictions that would be lifted include allowing outdoor gatherings including weddings and funerals with up to 20 people. Restaurants would be allowed to seat tables with up to six people, indoors or outdoors. Retail capacity would also increase, and gyms could open for solo or drop-in activities with three metres of distancing. Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the province's chief medical officer of health, has said people who are immunocompromised can book a second dose three or four weeks after their first shot. All other Albertans are eligible to get their second dose three to four months after the first. For the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, the province lowered the minimum age to 30. They are, however, reserving the remaining supply for second doses when people are eligible. More than 250 pharmacies are offering immunizations. So far 8.82 per cent (388,200) of the population has been fully vaccinated. British Columbia British Columbia is setting an end-of-summer target for everyone in the province to receive their second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has also announced a decrease in the time between the first and second dose of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, cutting the interval to eight weeks from 16 weeks. But the interval for people who received the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine as a first dose and are waiting for their second AstraZeneca shot may take longer. Henry said the province is waiting for results from international data on AstraZeneca, including the effectiveness of mixing vaccine shots and ongoing concerns about rare blood clots. Henry said the rollout of second doses will be similar to the first dose, with those at the greatest risk at the top of the list. Seniors, Indigenous people and those who are clinically extremely vulnerable were to start getting their invitations to book a second shot by the end of May. The province will try to ensure that everyone gets the same vaccine they were first administered, but a shortage of the Moderna vaccine may mean people will have to substitute it for a Pfizer shot. Henry said the National Advisory Committee on Immunization has reviewed the evidence on using different vaccines and has updated the guidance, confirming that while it is preferable to have the same product, it's not always possible. Pfizer and Moderna are the same type of vaccines. Families can get vaccinated together in B.C. as the government allows youth between the ages of 12 and 17 to get their COVID-19 shot. The shots will be administered at community clinics instead of in schools based on feedback from families, with 310,000 children in B.C. eligible to get the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which has been approved for that age group. As of Friday, about 3.1 million doses of Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines had been administered in B.C., which means about 63 per cent of those eligible have got their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. So far 3.14 per cent (160,885) of the population has been fully vaccinated. Nunavut Chief public health officer Dr. Michael Patterson says Nunavut has placed an order for doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine with the federal government to vaccinate people ages 12 to 17 in the territory. The Moderna vaccine is currently the only one available in Nunavut. Nunavut has opened vaccinations to anyone 18 and older. It is also offering shots to rotational workers coming from Southern Canada. In the territory, 36.44 per cent (14,113) of the population has now been fully vaccinated. --- Northwest Territories The Northwest Territories is now offering vaccinations against COVID-19 to young people between 12 and 17. The territory, which has only been using the Moderna vaccine, recently exchanged some of that for doses of the Pfizer product, which Health Canada has now approved for anyone as young as 12. So far 51.74 per cent (23,344) of the territory's population has been fully vaccinated. Yukon The territory is now vaccinating children aged 12 to 17. The government says clinics in most communities will be held in schools, while those in Whitehorse can get their shot at the Coast High Country Inn Convention Centre. The children will be getting the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The territory says because of limited supply and stricter handling requirements, the vaccine will only be available for a short time. It says second doses for those 12 to 17 will start on June 23 and medical travel will be supported for youth who aren't able to make the clinic date in their community. The Moderna vaccine is available to adults 18 years of age and older. The government says 59.34 per cent (24,763) of the population has now been fully vaccinated. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 31, 2021. BEAUSEJOUR Andrea Swain, co-owner of Pennyweight Market, a combination bulk food outlet, ice cream parlour and good, old-fashioned general store situated in Beausejour, laughingly opines that one of the challenges of launching a new venture in a small community such as theirs is that everybody in town knows your business. BEAUSEJOUR Andrea Swain, co-owner of Pennyweight Market, a combination bulk food outlet, ice cream parlour and good, old-fashioned general store situated in Beausejour, laughingly opines that one of the challenges of launching a new venture in a small community such as theirs is that "everybody in town knows your business." Among the benefits? Thats easy, she says: everybody in town knows your business. Not long after they acquired the space four summers ago, rumours abounded as to what it was going to be when it reopened, Swain continues, seated next to her associates Kimberley Friesen and Laurie McLean, inside their cute-as-a-button shop at 802 Park Ave. The previous owner had been around for more than 20 years, and ice cream and milk shakes were two of her main drawing cards, so there was some concern OK, a lot on the part of the high school students down the street that the three of them were going to turn it into a (here she lowers her voice to a whisper) health-food store. Friesen, who, like Swain, grew up in Beausejour, located 45 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, was at a neighbourhood pool party in July 2017, a few weeks before Pennyweights grand opening. She recalls being peppered with questions, including one from a 10-year-old girl splashing about in the shallow end who was under the impression the former locales beloved "candy island" was about to become a thing of the past. The second Friesen told the youngster not to worry, that the colourful array of gummies, licorice and chocolates wasnt going anywhere, she came bounding out of the pool to give her a big, albeit wet, hug. "Im from here so I get that not everybody embraces change," Friesen says. "At the same time, they all have your back and hope youre successful at whatever it is youre attempting to accomplish. Andrea, Laurie and I are committed to growing the town so that it flourishes, and that goes for everybody who calls Beausejour home, pretty much." Pennyweight Market stocks and features dozens of made-in-Manitoba products. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) Five years ago this month, Swain and McLean, the latter having moved to Beausejour from Winnipeg a couple years earlier, were at Friesens place, enjoying a glass of wine in the backyard on a warm, Friday evening. The conversation turned to work at some point; more so, how none of them was overly satisfied with that aspect of their life. They cant say for sure who broached the subject first, but agree each felt theyd be better off managing a place of their own. Next thing they knew, Swain was on her phone, Googling "businesses for sale in Beausejour." Pennyweight Market co-owner Laurie McLean holds up a tray of kid-sized chocolate chip and vanilla ice cream sandwiches. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) "Hey, look, Scoop-A-Lots available," she announced seconds later, referring to a Bulk Barn-style enterprise she and Friesen were already familiar with, having shopped there dozens of times. "That settles it!" Friesen said, raising her glass. "The three of us are buying Scoop-A-Lot!" To which McLean semi-jokingly shot back, "Uh, I dont really know you two that well, and its not like we have a ton of money. So no, maybe were not buying Scoop-A-Lot." The colourful colourful selection of gummies, licorice and chocolates at the store's "candy island" is a hit with its young customers. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) Details, details. For the rest of that summer and continuing into the fall, the three women, each a mother of two, spent at least one evening a week holed up in Friesens basement, piecing together a business plan. It wasnt until they had gone over every single detail with a fine-tooth comb What sort of operation would it be, exactly? How much would they require in terms of financing? What would they even call the joint? that they approached Scoop-A-Lots owner, to let her know they were interested. (In answer to their third query, the tag Pennyweight Market was McLeans idea, pennyweight being a semi-common unit of mass in the Middle Ages. "Laurie knows weird things, thats all there is to it," Friesen says, teasing her pal.) "Practically from that first night in Kims backyard, we were 100 per cent confident this was what we wanted to do," Swain says, offering a visitor a Pennycap (dont mind if we do!), their rendition of an iced cappuccino, prepared with cold brew coffee and vanilla soft-serve ice cream. "Still, the day we found out that a community futures loan we applied for had been approved, meaning there was basically no turning back now, I pretty much had a heart attack." Just when you think youve seen all the goodies, you turn to the right and theres even more on display. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) The trio took possession of the stand-alone, 2,500-square-foot space on Canada Day 2017 and spent the next five weeks in full-on, renovation mode. The attractive-looking, wooden display units? Those are repurposed pieces they stripped and stained themselves. The vintage curios, a charming collection of yesteryear scales, washboards and manual typewriters that dot the premises? Most are gifts from a local they affectionately refer to as the "scrap man." As for the interior walls being painted jet black, well, thats chalk paint, their notion being that children waiting for their parents to finish shopping could dress things up with their artwork. Not that there was a whole heck of a lot to buy Aug. 8, 2017, Pennyweight Markets first official day in operation. "Lentils and cream of wheat, lots and lots of cream of wheat," Friesen says, explaining because they didnt want to be burdened by debt, they were extremely cautious "All right, cheap," McLean allows early on, opting instead to take a wait-and-see approach. All the birds are singing because Pennyweight Market turns four on Canada Day. The concept was born five years ago. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) "We had ice cream, coffee and candy, which drew a crowd initially," Swain interjects, "but as for bulk, it was a lot of us gauging interest by asking people what they were interested in before we spent a bunch of money on stuff (hello, flax seeds) that might sit around forever." Almost four years later, in addition to a dizzying assortment of spices, legumes, flour and dry pasta, Pennyweight Market (pennyweightmarket.ca) also stocks dozens of made-in-Manitoba products, including Happy Dance hummus, Cooks Creek kimchi, East India Co. sauces and Amanda Lynn gluten-free perogies. The thinking behind that was pretty straightforward, Friesen says: "Why cant Beausejour have nice things, too?" A peanut butter and vanilla ice cream cake is one of the tasty finds you'll see at the market. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) "The three of us would go to events like Third & Bird or Scattered Seeds and see all these super-creative people turning out all this super-creative stuff, so we started reaching out to various makers, letting them know if they wanted to sell their goods here, wed be more than happy to make room for them," she goes on, mentioning Hot Cups, a Winnipeg-based tea and beverage company, and Archies frozen pizza, produced in Starbuck, as recent adds that have already proven to be big hits. "Or people who shop here will spot something trendy on Instagram and mention it to us, asking if weve heard of it, too," McLean pipes in. "Then, the next time they drop by, theyre so pleased to see we now carry it because that means they no longer have to drive to the city to get it." About that; because its only 30 minutes, give or take, from the north Perimeter Highway to Beausejour, Pennyweight Market welcomes its fair share of Winnipeggers, including "a ton" during the summer months headed to a cottage or campsite in the Whiteshell area, one of the reasons they recently expanded their weekend hours. Of course there are the more pedestrian but essential items, such as baking soda. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) All three openly admit running a business during the past 15 months you know, COVID-19 has been daunting, to say the least. Never mind constantly counting heads to ensure only the prescribed number of people are poking through the aisles at any one time, they have also devoted an inordinate amount of energy determining how an environmentally-conscious enterprise such as theirs would operate under myriad restrictions. "Pre-pandemic, almost everybody who came here would bring their own containers, which is the whole point of buying bulk food in the first place, right?" Swain says, mentioning it isnt uncommon for people shopping for cake or pie ingredients to return a couple hours later with a warm slice, saying, "Here, try this." "We still dont allow people to scoop themselves, but what they can do is drop off their jars ahead of time, which we happily fill for them. I cant tell you how many of our customers are pumped were not forcing them to use plastic (bags). I mean, in this day and age, thats a very big deal for lots of people, just like it is for the three of us." Pennyweight Market welcomes its fair share of Winnipeggers, including a ton during the summer months headed to a cottage or campsite in the Whiteshell area. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) Lastly, we wouldnt ordinarily end things with word of a 113-year-old empirical law but in 2021, there you have it. The Yerkes-Dodson Law from 1908 details how thin a line exists between being excited and being panicked; that the telltale signs dry mouth, sweaty palms, increased heartbeat are almost identical. McLean isnt a schooled neuropsychologist, far from it, but that hasnt stopped her from apprising her business partners of that fact, whenever they worry about this, that or another thing. "The first couple years were a bit of a struggle but what I always said was its the exact same feeling in your body whether youre stressed or excited, so they shouldnt worry if we hadnt sold a thing all day. Rather, they should be excited, knowing things were bound to change any minute," she says. "I have to admit, Id never heard of such a thing before Laurie came along," Swain says, grinning from ear to ear. "But it has been comforting to know I have a new definition for whatever might be ailing me as a small business owner: constant excitement." david.sanderson@freepress.mb.ca In November 1948, Rev. Fergus John OGrady wrote Indigenous parents a letter in his role as principal of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. In November 1948, Rev. Fergus John OGrady wrote Indigenous parents a letter in his role as principal of the Kamloops Indian Residential School. "It will be your privilege this year to have your children spend Christmas at home with you. The holidays will extend from December 18th to January 3rd." He then said two rules must be followed: "the transportation to the home and back to the school must be paid by the parents" and "the parents must bring the children back to the school strictly on time." If that wasnt demeaning enough, Rev. OGrady then concluded with a threat: "I ask you to observe the above regulations in order that this privilege of going home for Christmas may be continued." OGrady made "educating" Indians his career. After six years at Kamloops and expanding its programming to high school, he was made principal of Williams Lake Indian Residential School. In 1956, he was announced in the national Catholic newspaper The Indian Missionary Record as the first Bishop of Prince George due to being "an outstanding worker in the field of Indian education." OGrady would then lead local missionization projects involving dozens of Indigenous communities. In 1986, the year he retired, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of British Columbia. A 2017 newsletter from the Diocese of Prince George celebrated him, calling him "a man of extraordinary vision incapable of talking down to anyone." Well, anyone besides Indian parents. "Priests who served with Bishop OGrady," the newsletter claims, "describe his vision as a path to the right solution." Well, it turns out that OGrady was not just a leader in Indian education but deaths as well. This past Thursday, May 27, news broke that the remains of 215 Indian students some as young as 3 were buried on the grounds of Kamloops residential school. In a statement, Tkemlups te Secwepemc Kukpi7 (chief) Rosanne Casimir said that ground penetrating radar was used to find the children after community members and researchers started searching "in the early 2000s." "To our knowledge," Casimir states, "these are undocumented deaths" and "affects communities across British Columbia and beyond." A search of the Kamloops school grounds continues. I wonder what the Catholic church thinks of Bishop OGrady now. I wonder what UBC thinks. I wonder what you think. I know what Indigenous peoples think: we know about lost children. Virtually every single Indigenous community has stories of lost brothers, sisters, aunties, and uncles. At Truth and Reconciliation Commission events, empty chairs would be held to symbolize them, undocumented and lost but remembered through names and by family. In the final report by the TRC, the commissioners document 3,201 deaths in residential schools but state that this is a conservative number due to lost, destroyed, and inaccessible documents held by the churches, schools, and government departments. In the final report by the TRC, the commissioners document 3,201 deaths in residential schools but state that this is a "conservative number" due to lost, destroyed, and inaccessible documents held by the churches, schools, and government departments. That number cannot be anything but a fraction. From 1906-09, Dr. Peter Bryce, the chief medical officer for Indian Affairs, studied the situation of Indian children in residential schools and found disease, crowded and unsanitary conditions, and poor construction led to rampant sickness and a rate of 8,000 deaths per 100,000 students. This doesnt account for students who died later or while trying to escape, or the many murders that happened with tragic regularity. A more accurate number is probably more than 15,000 mostly buried in unmarked and unrecorded graves on or near residential schools. The TRC tried to uncover and pinpoint unmarked burial sites, even though this was outside of its mandate. On page 46 in volume 4 of the final report, it states commissioners asked the federal government to undertake an investigation but were refused. The commission did, however, do research on the issue. On Sunday, they released a report by Dr. Scott Hamilton from Lakehead University. In the report are archival maps and Google earth images of indentations in the ground where cemeteries potentially lie (in fields "overgrown with grass, weeds, or woody vegetation" according to the report) or covered by buildings and roads. The neglect and coverup of Indian student cemeteries happened in Canada with frightening regularity (one example Ive written about previously is in Brandon now covered by a trailer park). There are more. Much more. The Hamilton report states that many unmarked graves "lie abandoned and largely forgotten" recommending that "the federal government initiate multi-lateral engagement to identify strategies and procedures for the ongoing documentation, maintenance, commemoration, and protection of Indian Residential School Cemeteries." The problem, of course, is that governments have had countless opportunities to do this if they listened to doctors, researchers, and Indigenous peoples but they refused to do so. Maybe they will listen now. I saw CNN covered the Kamloops story this week. Cemeteries of Indian students have been lost due to neglect, poor-record keeping, and racism. The lives within them simply didnt matter to churches and governments. The perpetrators were too busy finding "a path to the right solution." With thanks to University of Ottawa historian Daniel Ruck for contributions to this column. niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca A year after a rally that saw thousands march through Winnipegs downtown in tandem with massive protests around the world against police brutality, Justice4BlackLives organizers are planning another. A year after a rally that saw thousands march through Winnipegs downtown in tandem with massive protests around the world against police brutality, Justice4BlackLives organizers are planning another. The rally will feature speakers from the local Black community and will be held on the grounds of the Manitoba legislature next Saturday, the activist group said in a social media post. It will mark the one-year anniversary of last years rally, which drew roughly 15,000 people out into the streets of Winnipeg; the crowd gathered on the legislative grounds and marched to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. That rally came 11 days after George Floyd, a Black man, was murdered by Derek Chauvin, a white police officer, in Minneapolis. Chauvin was convicted of two counts of murder and one count of manslaughter last month. The slaying sparked a summer of racial reckoning around the world, with major protests sweeping North America, and efforts to reform or abolish policing gaining steam in various communities. In social media posts, the Justice4BlackLives organizers said anyone with COVID-19 symptoms should not attend and told attendees to wear masks and practise social distancing. They also said disposable masks will be on hand. The current public health order forbids outdoor gatherings with people from other households. Manitoba is currently battling a harsh third wave of the pandemic, with cases spiking and hospitals buckling. The organizers said they would not grant interviews they included justifications for holding the rally in the midst of the pandemic in the social media posts. "No concrete change has come in terms of justice for the families of those whose loved ones were murdered at the hands of the police or defunding the police to refund the community," the organizers wrote, noting last years rally also occurred during the pandemic. "There is never a safer time to advocate for justice from an abolitionist stance. Black and Indigenous people continue to be slaughtered." When asked how the no gathering rule will be enforced at the rally, a provincial spokesman said nothing official is on the books but the public health order is clear. staff Dad was a bit too young for the second world war and a tad too old to be drafted for Korea. His brothers did Cold War service in the 1950s, and Uncle Syl and Cousin Larry serve honorably, but without firing a shot in anger. My war was Vietnam, and luck of the draw and vagaries of the draft kept me in civilian clothes throughout. Consequently, war, for me, is something I read about in the newspapers, see in video clips on TV and reenacted on a Hollywood set. Its the stuff of history, of other peoples stories, of other families sacrifice. And Im not entirely sure how to deal with that. For most of my life my countrys been at war or on the brink of war. I came into the world a year before the Korean War came to an uneasy end and grew up in the shadow of the Russian A-bomb. Vietnam was the backdrop to my coming to adulthood, Lebanon, Grenada, Panama, the Balkans and Desert Storm punctuated my childrens childhood and for the last two decades American forces have bloodied than sands of the middle east and mountains of Afghanistan. Friends have served, fought and died honorable men and women, all of them, but for that, I have been untouched. For that I am grateful, and, perhaps, a little bit guilty. The Burmese community of Utica marched from Oneida Square to Hotel Utica and back in solidarity with the millions in Myanmar living under a cloud of darkness. The southeast Asian nation suffered a military coup in February as its army overthrew its democratically elected government. Over 800 civilians have been killed since, including numerous children. Congresswoman Claudia Tenney joined the group following the march at Kopernik Park, and expressed her support for the thousands of Burmese refugees in Utica. "They've been such a great community because they stand for peace and democracy," Tenney told NewsChannel 2. "And they've just been through perpetual turmoil." Tenney and Texas Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro introduced a bipartisan resolution last month calling on the UN to impose an arms embargo against Myanmar. The Biden administration imposed new sanctions on Burmese military leaders last week, and previously sanctioned companies supporting the military regime, actions which earned rare praise from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has long supported the Burmese cause. But Tenney called on the President to do more. We'd like to see President Biden work with us on this resolution and pass it into law," Tenney said. "And then work with his team at the UN Security Council to end the military coup and restore the democratic principles that people are seeking." Weather Alert ...HEAT INDEX READINGS FROM 100 TO 105 EXPECTED TODAY... Air temperatures this afternoon are expected to reach the lower to mid 90s once again at most locations. This, combined with very steamy humidity levels, could push heat index values up into the 100 to 105 range at many locations. In addition, the high heat indices could last for several hours during the day. Those with outdoor plans should take along plenty of water or non alcoholic beverages to keep hydrated. Take frequent breaks from activities and try to seek shade when possible. Also, make sure outdoor pets have plenty of fresh water. NEVER LEAVE KIDS OR PETS UNATTENDED IN VEHICLES. LOOK BEFORE YOU LOCK!! TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Wabash valley high school and college students are celebrating the end of what's been a challenging year. Some seniors have already walked across the stage for in-person graduations while others will soon. More than 400 seniors got their bachelor's degrees from Rose-Hulman Institute of technology today. Rose's 143rd commencement was held outside at Cook stadium. Graduates came from 32-states and 9-foreign countries. One of those graduates told us he will enter the US army as a commissioned officer. "I think the institute prepares you to be a well-rounded individual, whether it be taking on a lot of different tasks, or trying to work well with others and trying to make that professional networking, as well, in the community," says graduate JJ Faught. President Robert Coons commended the graduates for earning their degrees during the pandemic. He said it's hard enough graduating from Rose-Hulman "as is." Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 18:18:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has sent a high-profile security delegation to Israel and Palestine to solidify the Cairo-brokered cease-fire recently reached between Israel and Hamas that controls the Gaza Strip, official MENA news agency reported Sunday. The Egyptian delegation will discuss ways to reach a comprehensive truce in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, MENA said. Sisi stressed the importance of "taking all necessary measures to ensure prevention of re-escalation between Israel and Palestine," it added. The delegation will also discuss reconstruction of Gaza, for which Egypt has allocated 500 million U.S. dollars. Egypt sponsored an Israel-Hamas truce implemented on May 21 after 11 days of fighting between the two sides, which left at least 248 Palestinians and 12 Israelis dead. Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi is expected to arrive in Cairo on Sunday for talks with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On Wednesday, Sisi met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cairo, where the Egyptian president stressed the need for "direct negotiations" between Israelis and Palestinians to end their decades-long conflict. Egypt, which supports the creation of an independent Palestinian state on the basis of the two-state solution, has had a U.S.-sponsored peace treaty with Israel since 1979. Enditem WEST TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The owners of Bobby Ques food truck say they think someone set fire to their business. Firefighters got the call about 2:30 Thursday morning. They found the truck on fire. It was parked close to a home. The Otter creek fire department says the fire is under investigation. A public information officer tells news 10 the sheriff's office is involved in the case and it does not appear the fire started "naturally." He did add, "arson" is hard to prove. No one was hurt. No other properties were damaged by the fire. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Bobby Ques rebuild. https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-bobbyques?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=sms&utm_source=customer CALHOUN CITY, Miss. (WTVA) - Calhoun City Chamber of Commerce is bringing energy to the city with its 50th annual Square Fest. Last year's event was canceled, this year's event, there was one goal in mind. "Honestly this year is just to regenerate some sense of normalcy," chamber of commerce president Laura Edwards said. The festival features roughly 30 vendors from all over Mississippi. Some food vendors and a few arts and crafts vendors and jumpers for the kids. And what's a festival without good music too. The organizer said the event is smaller but still worth the visit. "It's a little smaller this year," Edwards said. "A lot of people are still scared to come out but the vendors we have are some real quality stuff. Some of those quality vendors caught the eye of a local visiting the event. "I just noticed everybody was out here," Shavonte Miller said. "So I started seeing the different flowers they were selling. So me and my kids wanted to come back and get on the jumpers of course." The flower vendors caught Shavonte Miller's eyes but she said the event means so much to the community. "We really need stuff like this," Miller said. "To bring us back because it's been a long year with Covid so this was actually great." Like Shavonte, the organizer said there's only one way to describe the community event. "It's a beautiful gathering of community and friends," Edward said. MACON, Miss. (WTVA) - Ruck running is a very advanced form of fitness walking. On Saturday, it had a much bigger purpose. Melvin Gatewood and his comrades started at Noxubee County High School and made their way onto highway 45. They represent the group Operations Continued Service. They carried out a ruck run with one mission. "The worst thing to do is be forgotten," Melvin Gatewood said. "So that's one thing our organization is trying to do. Were trying to remember fallen military personals through rucks." They walked for four miles until they arrived at the gravesite of sergeant Travis Cooper. To them, he's not just a fallen soldier. Hes someone they served with who gave his life for his country. "Walk away with knowing freedom is not free," Gatewood said. "Someone lost a father, someone lost a brother, a son and I feel that these individuals are American heroes." These military veterans were not alone, they stood with sergeant Coopers family. "I appreciate it with the utmost respect," Sergeant Cooper's aunt said. "For someone to give the ultimate sacrifice, just as my nephew Travis and so many others have done." Cooper joined the Army National Guard in 2000. Five years later, he lost his life while serving in Iraq. He was just 24, but that sacrifice motivated one of his cousins to serve just like he did. "She and sergeant Cooper grew up together," Sergeant Cooper's aunt said. "After he lost his life, she decided to carry on his legacy by enlisting in the United States Army. So, that's what she did to carry on his memory." On Saturday, members of Operations Continued Service also honored another fallen soldier in Aliceville, Alabama. CANTON, Miss. (AP) A Mississippi Highway Patrol trooper killed while conducting a traffic stop on Highway 16 was identified Saturday by his employer. Col. Randy Ginn, director of the MHP, said in a statement that the agency mourns the loss of Trooper John Harris, who was killed Friday in an accident in Madison County. Gov. Tate Reeves said in a statement on Twitter that Harris' death is a reminder of how fragile life is. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. If you have a subscription, please Log In . Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. If you believe you've gotten this message in error, please Log In. Morgantown, WV (26505) Today A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Kingwood, WV (26537) Today Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. Charleston, WV (25311) Today A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds light and variable. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 19:01:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The Global Young Leaders Dialogue or #GYLD members visit Dongguan city, the second leg of their Guangdong tour, where they experience the convergence between traditions and modernity. #GLOBALink Produced by Xinhua Global Service Clarksburg, WV (26301) Today Mainly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mainly clear. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable. Pepper, a 3-year-old domestic shorthair cat, plays with some catnip that animal care supervisor Ceceilia Brown gave her on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the Cheyenne Animal Shelter. A bill requiring a defendant facing animal cruelty charges to pay reasonable costs for the animals impoundment was signed into law Tuesday by Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, providing a source of revenue for the animals care should the owner retain ownership. Otherwise, the bill also ensures due process before an owner forfeits the affected animal. Rhianna Gelhart/For the Wyoming Tribune Eagle Editors note: Judy Knight is collection manager at the Laramie Plains Museum. The old photo is from a collection of nearly 7,000 photographic negatives that the Laramie Boomerang has given the LPM. Knight notes that fisherman is gender-specific, and the use of the word fisher to describe those who fish is likely to catch on soon. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 19:55:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- During his visit to Tianjin Port in early 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for efforts to develop it into a world-class smart and green port, which can better serve the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region as well as the joint building of the Belt and Road. -- Despite the pandemic-induced impacts, Tianjin Port handled 18.35 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in 2020, up 6.1 percent from the previous year, ranking among the top 10 in the world. -- Located at the coastal area of Bohai, China's continental sea, Tianjin Port has a shorter distance from the country's inland ports, such as Alataw Pass in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Manzhouli and Erenhot in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region -- all important border ports along the Belt and Road. Therefore, sea-railway combined transportation has become a preferred choice that serves the Belt and Road. by Xinhua writers Wang Jinye, Wang Minghao, Li Laifang and Lyu Qiuping TIANJIN, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Under the scorching sun, a dockside crane in Tianjin Port lifted a container out of a vessel before the container was locked onto a tow truck and carried away. The entire process was going on in a manless operation zone at the port in north China's Tianjin Municipality, which aims to become a smart, green hub connecting the world via the Belt and Road Initiative. With 25 autonomous driving trucks and the driverless dockside and terminal cranes put into operation last year, the berth realized full automation in container handling after being upgraded from a traditional one, the first of its kind in the world. Photo taken on Jan. 17, 2021 shows an autonomous driving container truck in a manless operation zone at Tianjin Port of north China's Tianjin Municipality. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) During his visit to Tianjin Port in early 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for efforts to develop it into a world-class smart and green port, which can better serve the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region as well as the joint building of the Belt and Road. Currently, the port has trade ties with more than 800 ports in over 200 countries and regions. Despite the pandemic-induced impacts, Tianjin Port handled 18.35 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) in 2020, up 6.1 percent from the previous year, ranking among the top 10 in the world. The freight turnover increased 2.4 percent year on year to over 435 million tonnes. SMART MODEL Liu Qi, a crane operator, no longer has to stay in the high-lift crane operating booth working 12 hours per shift. Thanks to the smart technology supported by China's Beidou Navigation Satellite System, he can now sit in the air-conditioned office and steer the joystick to remotely control the crane. "Gone are the days when I could barely move after leaning down for long hours to watch over the containers," said the 46-year-old Liu, as he focused on the six monitor screens in front of him. The screens enable him to have no blind spots in observation, which is much safer than before. Li Dan, 35, is among the first women hired for remote crane control. Li used to sort cargo at the port before she was trained for six months on cranes and operated them in the operation control room. Her salary then tripled to some 6,000 yuan (about 940 U.S. dollars) a month. "I was afraid of climbing up the 50-meter-tall crane at the beginning. It used to wobble in windy and stormy weathers," she said, adding that she had to hold herself from going to a toilet while in a crane booth. "No wonder we had no female crane drivers before." Now, each of the operators can control six terminal container cranes simultaneously. Partly because of the improved handling efficiency, 90 percent of the incoming vessels can directly dock at the 192 berths of the port upon arrival, without any waiting time, said Chu Bin, chairman of the board of the Tianjin Port (Group) Co., Ltd. (TPG). A newly-built smart port zone with three berths, located close by the manless operation zone of the port, will soon be put into use. With 12 driverless dockside cranes of different colors and 76 autonomous driving trucks equipped, the 5G-empowered berths have a designed handling capacity of 2.5 million TEUs every year. Chu said that the new port zone will save energy by 20 percent and cut operating costs by 25 percent. "The rainbow-colored port zone will become a new beautiful scenery." Photo taken on Jan. 17, 2021 shows a smart container terminal at Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin Municipality. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) OLD PORT, NEW AMBITION The sea transportation of Tianjin Port dates back more than 1,000 years to the Tang Dynasty (618-907), when grains were shipped via the port to the northern border army. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the war-torn port was rebuilt and reopened in 1952. Back then, workers had to shoulder cargoes to load them on and off the vessels. Cheng Jingang, a former port loader, said that carrying brown sugar packs was the toughest work in winter. "The imported sugar was stiff in freezing weather, and countless trips carrying them often left our shoulders swollen," the 71-year-old retiree recalled. Cheng is delighted to see that his son, Cheng Weidong, did not have to go through similar misery while working. The junior Cheng, 42, is a tow truck driver at the port. Instead of simply driving, he also participates in the research and development to convert fuel trucks into electric ones as part of the port's green drive. "I have learned the CAD software for design and drafting, and the 3D printing also helps a lot," said the younger Cheng. To help cut carbon emissions, trains have replaced trucks to deliver large volumes of cargo to the port, including 100 percent of coal and coke. As a result, the number of trucks that come and go has reduced from 50,000 to 30,000 per day, which helps cut carbon emissions equivalent to those of 4 million cars, said Chu, the chairman. Thanks to the measures, pollutant emissions were cut by more than 3,000 tonnes last year. The port is also promoting clean energy, with rooftop solar panels and wind windmills to be installed. "By making use of wind and solar energy, we will strive to realize zero carbon emission in our port," said Chu. GLOBAL HUB Liu Yu, deputy publicity manager of the TPG, said the port could only harbor a 10,000-tonne vessel in the 1950s, and now, handling a 300,000-tonne ship is a piece of cake. Located at the coastal area of Bohai, China's continental sea, Tianjin Port has a shorter distance from the country's inland ports, such as Alataw Pass in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Manzhouli and Erenhot in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region -- all important border ports along the Belt and Road. Therefore, sea-railway combined transportation has become a preferred choice that serves the Belt and Road. Aerial photo taken on Jan. 11, 2021 shows a view of the Pacific international container terminal at Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin Municipality. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) Wu Da, deputy manager of Tianjin China-Railway United International Container Co., Ltd., said China-Europe freight trains now operate twice a week from and to Tianjin Port, with more than 10,000 containers delivered a year. "The sea-railway transportation of Tianjin Port has ensured the import and export of cargo between China and multiple cities in East, Central and West Asia, and Europe during the pandemic, contributing to the foreign trade and supply chain stability," he said. The total TEU number delivered by trains through the port surged from about 100,000 in 2015 to 805,000 last year. To meet the rising demand, Wu's company has planned to extend the railway line directly to the port and expand the cargo terminal. The number of container ship routes connecting Tianjin Port and the countries along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road has increased from over 30 in 2019 to about 50 now, and more than 60 percent of the port's total cargo turnover comes from ports of these countries. The port is also a pivotal shipping outlet in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area. Since 2014, when China initiated a key strategy to coordinate the development of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, Tianjin Port and neighboring ports in Hebei Province have cooperated to make themselves a world-class port cluster. Aerial photo shows a container vessel sailing into Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Feb. 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) Leaving Tianjin Port, a vessel carrying timber imported from Germany, wheat from Russia and paper pulp from the United States headed to the Caofeidian Port in the coastal city of Tangshan, Hebei Province. Wu Zhiming, general manager of a timber trade company based in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, said his company used to hire trucks to deliver timber to Tangshan after the Germany-made spruce timber was shipped to Tianjin. "The branch sea route within the Bohai Sea has saved us 20 percent of logistic costs, with more reliable arrival time," said Wu, adding that they will have more cargo shipped via the route. Tianjin Port serves the megacities of Beijing and Tianjin, as well as the emerging Xiong'an New Area in Hebei. "The port not only serves the foreign trade and production, but also helps with consumption to cater to people's pursuit of better lives," said Chu, TPG chairman of the board. Cheng Zeming, the son of truck driver Cheng Weidong, is fascinated with the new autonomous driving container cranes at Tianjin Port. The 11-year-old said when he grows up, he would like to work in the port just like his father and grandfather. "With cutting-edge 5G and AI technologies, I can't imagine what the port will be like when my son starts to work," said Cheng Weidong. (Xinhua correspondents Liu Yuanxu, Li Kun, Zhang Yuqi, Wang Hui contributed to the story.) Joan Hepner hands Mitsi the cat over to her owner Norman Shamion in Casper on Wednesday, May 20. The cat, a 2-year-old orange-and-white tabby, disappeared in the middle of a trip from Florida to Casper when she wiggled out of her harness in a Days Inn parking lot. Almost three weeks after Mitsi went missing, she was found. After spending nearly three decades behind bars for a crime he says he didn't commit, Eric Riddick woke up in Philadelphia on Saturday a free man -- with a new purpose and an ally to help him get it done. Riddick, who served over 29 years of a life sentence, was released from prison on Friday after his attorney argued that evidence was not shared with the defense at the time of the initial trial. Now, he plans to help young people who are incarcerated make a better future for themselves. And he'll do so thanks to the mentorship of popular hip-hop artist Meek Mill. About 20 years into his sentence, Riddick found a surprising ally in Mill. The two Philadelphia natives met while they were both incarcerated in 2013. Mill, whose full name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, was sentenced to two to four years in prison at the time following a pair of arrests that violated his probation. He fought his own decadelong legal battle, sparking the #FreeMeek movement and the genesis for a new career in exonerating the falsely accused. PHOTO: This June 1, 2019, file photo shows Meek Mill performing at HOT 97 Summer Jam 2019 in East Rutherford, N.J. (Scott Roth/Invision/AP, FILE) Mill and Riddick reunited late Friday night on a Zoom call with ABC News. The Grammy Award-winning rapper, who is also a co-chair of The Reform Alliance, a bipartisan criminal justice coalition, vowed to turn his efforts to mentoring at-risk Black male youth, now with the help of Riddick. "I want to build a youth center where we house and help rebuild young Black men," Mill told ABC News. "Our youth jails, our youth programs, they are not effective. And they don't know how to actually cater to our younger brothers and sisters coming up in our environments." Before being released from prison, Riddick said he was working to create the Rehabilitative Outreach Program and Power, which would allow older incarcerated men serving life sentences to connect with younger inmates for mentorships and personal intervention. "We used to be the virus of violence. So, what do you do when a virus becomes the anecdote?" Riddick asked. "You use it. We can be the anecdote." Story continues 'Free at last!' Instead of facing a new trial, Riddick pleaded no contest Friday to a lesser charge of third-degree murder and time served after the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office negotiated a settlement. "Free at last! Thank God almighty, my son is free at last," Christine Riddick, the mother of Eric, told reporters as she walked out of court arm-in-arm with her son. MORE: North Carolina man wrongly convicted of rape released from prison after 44 years While Riddick was incarcerated, Christine Riddick rallied for the release of her son for decades. Dana Riddick, Eric's wife of eight years, who met and eventually married the 51-year-old Black man while he was incarcerated, would soon join his family's fight. She hugged her husband Friday for the first time as a free man. "Doing the rallies, making the phone calls, being here, being there, and just supporting each other morally and mentally ... whatever fight was needed, we did it," Dana Riddick told ABC News. PHOTO: Eric Riddick, center, accompanied by his mother Christine Riddick, left, and wife Dana Baker-Riddick walks from a courthouse in Philadelphia on May 28, 2021, after spending nearly three decades in prison for a murder he says he did not commit. (Matt Rourke/AP) Riddick described the surreal moment getting his freedom back in a sit-down interview with ABC News' Zachary Kiesch that aired Saturday on "Good Morning America." "Just that embrace, knowing that I was free after everything and the end result of years and years and years and years and years of struggle [was amazing]," Riddick told ABC News. "For all these years to go by and not being able to rectify my unlawful conviction, my freedom was not in season at that time," Riddick continued. "How do I make sense of things right now? I say, justice is in season. So [Friday] was a testimony to that." Journey to redemption 3 decades in the making In the summer of 1992, Riddick was 22 years old when he was convicted of first-degree murder in the November 1991 shooting death of his friend, William Catlett. The conviction was largely based on the testimony of Shawn Stevenson, an eyewitness who told police four different accounts of what he saw, but eventually named Riddick as the shooter in his last statement, according to previous appeals cited by The Associated Press. The eyewitness also said Riddick was on a balcony shooting down at Catlett, however, forensic evidence showed the shots were fired in an upward direction, according to an appeal filed by Riddick. Stevenson later recanted his testimony in a 1999 affidavit, claiming he was coerced by Philadelphia police to name Riddick. Riddick, who was fighting for his release with few resources before he met Mill, did not receive the affidavit until 2003. MORE: Rapper Meek Mill scores legal win as Philadelphia district attorney calls for a new judge and new trial Despite the evidence, the window to seek justice expired when he filed an appeal due to Pennsylvania's Post Conviction Relief Act. At the time, the statute required a one-year deadline for sentencing appeals, unless new evidence was obtained. The petition to present the new evidence would then have to be filed within 60 days. By the time he found out the witness had recanted his testimony in the affidavit, it was four years later. "To me, the most significant thing about the Eric Riddick case is that there is scientific evidence that refutes completely the testimony that put him in jail," said David Oh, Philadelphia councilman at large, who has long supported a petition to pardon Riddick. "Having scientific evidence that he's not guilty, but that evidence could not be reviewed by a judge under the Pennsylvania Post Conviction Relief Act ... it's absolutely unfair. I think it's completely unconstitutional. It's inhumane," Oh said. During the trial, Riddick's alibi witnesses were not called to testify and the prosecutor withheld exculpatory ballistic evidence, according to Emeka Igwe, Riddick's lead attorney. "There were a lot of things that were done wrong in this case that we were able to uncover. For example, there was a rifle that was clearly exculpatory to my client. And under a Supreme Court case called Brady v. Maryland, the prosecution has a duty to disclose all exculpatory evidence. In this particular case, it wasn't done," Igwe told ABC News. PHOTO: Eric Riddick exits the courthouse in Philadelphia on Friday, May 28, 2021, after spending nearly three decades in prison for a murder he says he did not commit. (Matt Rourke/AP) After Mill was released from prison, he offered to help Riddick, increasing the notoriety around his case and connecting him with new legal support, including Marc Howard, the director of the Prisons and Justice Initiative and professor of government and law at Georgetown University. Howard's law students helped to investigate Riddick's case and discover new evidence that would hold up to the Post Conviction Relief Act. "Eric Riddick's story always resonated with me because he was truly victimized by a broken criminal justice system for 30 years. I have an incredible amount of respect for the strength and poise that Eric demonstrated while dealing with this nightmare and I'm thankful for everyone that played a role in helping him get released," Mill told ABC News in a statement. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. MORE: In Meek Mill's fight for criminal justice reform, the rapper lends his voice to others Igwe said Riddick's case is reflective of the systemic issues within the criminal justice system that often prioritize convictions over justice. Patricia Cummings, supervisor of the Conviction Integrity Unit at the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, said in court on Friday that Riddick did not get a fair trial due to evidence that was not fully disclosed. PHOTO: Eric Riddick, center, embraces his mother Christine Riddick, left, and wife Dana Baker-Riddick as they listen during a news conference in Philadelphia, Friday, May 28, 2021. (Matt Rourke/AP) Oh and Riddick's legal team told ABC News they will continue to petition for Gov. Tom Wolf to sign an official pardon. Now surrounded by his friends and family, Riddick said he feels more hopeful than ever that he will soon be able to clear his name. "They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, this is testimony that it takes a village to raise justice," Riddick said. ABC News' Abigail Cruz and Micah Washington contributed to this report. Eric Riddick, released after serving 29 years for crime he says he didn't commit, turns focus to helping others originally appeared on abcnews.go.com While Idaho Gov. Brad Little (R) was out of state at a conference, Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin (R) issued an executive order Thursday banning mask mandates in school and public buildings, AP reports. Why it matters: Little never issued a statewide mask mandate, but there have been some in counties, cities and schools. McGeachin announced last week she was running for governor, challenging Little who has only served one term, and her order could appeal to far-right voters in the state. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free. Little's office told AP that McGeachin did not tell the governor about the order in advance. Throughout the pandemic, Gov. Little has been committed to protecting the health and safety of the people of Idaho and has emphasized the importance of Idahoans choosing to protect our neighbors and loved ones and keeping our economy and schools open, Little spokesperson Marissa Morrison said Background: In March, McGeachin participated in an anti-mask protest, the Washington Post reported, and she suggested last year that the pandemic may or may not be occurring." According to AP, Idaho has recorded more than 190,000 cases of the coronavirus since the start of the pandemic and roughly 2,000 deaths. What she's saying: Ive been listening to people all across the state with the concern about, especially, why are little kids being forced to wear masks in school, McGeachin told AP. My oath to the Constitution is to protect those rights and freedoms of the individual, and Ive never supported any type of a mandate on the individual, especially when it comes to health care choices. McGeachin said she had contracted the virus in 2019 and now has a "natural immunity," per AP. Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that Idaho Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin issued an executive order banning mask mandates, not face masks. More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 20:10:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (R) meets with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi in Cairo, Egypt, on May 30, 2021. Sameh Shoukry met on Sunday with his visiting Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi to discuss solidifying the recent truce in the Gaza Strip and ways to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. (Str/Xinhua) CAIRO, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met on Sunday with his visiting Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi over solidifying the recent Egypt-brokered cease-fire between Israel and Hamas that controls the Gaza Strip, the Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement. The meeting is "part of Egypt's relentless and continued efforts to revive the peace track and to build on the cease-fire in the Gaza strip," said the ministry statement, without providing any further details. The talks are also expected to address the necessary measures to facilitate the reconstruction of Gaza, for which Egypt has allocated 500 million U.S. dollars. Ashkenazi's visit to Egypt comes 10 days after the cease-fire that ended the 11-day-long Israel-Hamas fighting, which left at least 248 Palestinians and 12 Israelis dead. It is the first trip by an Israeli foreign minister to Egypt since 2008. On the other hand, Shoukry's visit to Israel in 2016 was the first of its kind by an Egyptian foreign minister since 2007. It is worth noting that Egypt sent a high-profile security delegation to Israel and Palestine on the same day for the same purposes. Sent by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and led by Intelligence Minister Abbas Kamel, the Egyptian delegation will discuss ways to reach a comprehensive truce in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Egypt's official MENA news agency reported. Sisi stressed the importance of "taking all necessary measures to ensure prevention of re-escalation between Israel and Palestine." On Wednesday, Sisi met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Cairo, where the Egyptian president stressed the need for "direct negotiations" between Israelis and Palestinians to end their decades-long conflict. Egypt, which supports the creation of an independent Palestinian state on the basis of the two-state solution, has had a U.S.-sponsored peace treaty with Israel since 1979. Enditem A person receives a COVID-19 vaccination at a temporary site setup in the is the Coney Island-Stillwell Ave subway station in Brooklyn on May 12, 2021. (James Estrin/The New York Times) RIO DE JANEIRO Florencia Gonzalez Alzaga, a photographer from Buenos Aires, hatched her plan to fly to the United States for a coronavirus vaccine after the subject came up in her Zoom book club. Juan Pablo Bojaca, an Instagram influencer from Colombia who specializes in frugal travel, urged his 137,000 followers to give it a try, posting a step-by-step video guide that showed him clearing passport control in Miami. Jose Acevedo, a real estate agent in Paraguay, was stunned by how easy the whole thing was in Las Vegas. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Frustrated with the lagging pace of vaccine campaigns at home and seeing a surplus of doses in the United States where tens of millions of Americans have opted not to get inoculated wealthy and middle-class Latin Americans with American tourist visas have been flocking to the United States in recent weeks to score a COVID-19 shot. Its like a dream, said Gonzalez, who got her shot in Miami in April. The access has proved a bonanza for the privileged in countries where the virus continues to take a brutal toll even if many, including those who are benefiting, struggle with the fact that vaccine tourism exacerbates the inequality that has worsened the pandemics toll. Sean Simons, a spokesman for the ONE Campaign, which works to eradicate disease and poverty, said vaccine travel could have serious unintended consequences, and urged nations with vaccine surpluses to funnel them instead through a World Health Organization vaccine distribution system known as COVAX. Millionaires and billionaires traveling across continents or oceans to get a vaccine, usually twice, means greater exposure, higher likelihood of variants spreading and access only for the most elite, he said. The Biden administration said this month that it would give 80 million vaccine doses by the end of June to countries that are scrambling to vaccinate their people. Still, as success stories of Latin Americans getting their jabs are shared on social media posts and by word-of-mouth, and local officials in New York and Alaska actively encourage vaccination tourism, the cost of airfare on several routes has skyrocketed as thousands make plans to head north. Story continues Travel agencies in the region have begun selling vaccination packages, including multicountry itineraries for Brazilians, who must spend two weeks in a third country before being allowed to enter the United States. Jose Carlos Brunetti, the vice president of Maral Turismo, a travel agency in Paraguays capital, Asuncion, said these trips had been a godsend for his industry after a dismal year. The frenzy to travel to the United States to try to get vaccinated began in March, he said. Now were seeing exponential growth in the number of passengers and flights. Broadly, foreigners who enter on a tourist visa are allowed to seek medical care in the United States. While the State Department conducts security background checks on foreigners applying for visas, officials said it did not screen for people who are visiting explicitly to get a vaccine, and there appears to be no federal government guidance for foreigners coming to the United States for that purpose. Once in the country, officials said, it is up to states, local communities and individual health care providers to decide whether to give the vaccine without proof of American residency. Prominent politicians in Latin America have been among those who have flown to the United States for a shot. Cesar Acuna promised as a presidential candidate in Peru earlier this year that he intended to be the last in his country to get a shot. But after losing at the polls, he said there was no point in keeping that promise. Remember Im 68 years old; Im a vulnerable person, he said in a radio interview. Mauricio Macri, the former president of Argentina, vowed in February that he would not be vaccinated until the last Argentine in a high-risk group and all essential workers have. Despite having imposed a series of strict quarantine measures since last year, Argentina is facing a widespread epidemic that experts believe is being fueled in part by a highly contagious variant first detected in Brazil. Despite his vow on waiting to get vaccinated, Marci wrote in a post on Facebook this month that he had received the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccination in Miami after realizing that vaccines are being applied everywhere, from beaches to malls and even at pharmacies. Among 12 Latin Americans who traveled to the United States for vaccines and were interviewed for this article, several expressed feeling conflicted. Some who declined to speak on the record said they felt guilty about getting vaccines while compatriots who are more vulnerable to the disease remain exposed. Gonzalez, the Argentine photographer, said her plan had been conceived after members of her online book club began talking more about their fears related to the pandemic than about the books they were reading. We started talking about it and figured: Why shouldnt we go to Miami and get vaccinated? she said. From one week to the next, we bought the tickets. Gonzalez said she had been able to easily book a vaccine appointment the day after arriving in Miami on April 1. The Johnson & Johnson shot she received at a Salvation Army center there was the end of an agonizing period of isolation that reminded her of her cancer treatment seven years ago. She was surprised by how few questions the people at the vaccination site asked. They wanted to vaccinate people, she said. They were excited to be vaccinating. The early wave of Argentine vaccine travelers who returned home with American vaccine certificates drove a sharp rise in the cost of airfare, said Santiago Torre Walsh, who runs a popular travel blog called Sir Chandler. Travelers were initially reluctant to acknowledge the purpose of their trip, he said. Now, thats changed, he said. People seem more willing to talk about it openly, and that, in turn, motivates other people to do it as well. Thats what Bojaca, the Colombian Instagram influencer, did. The video of his vaccination journey, posted on Instagram, includes a surreptitiously recorded scene in which an American passport control officer asked whom he was visiting. He and a travel companion said they were visiting friends. The guy didnt even ask what we came here to do, Bojaca marveled in a subsequent scene in the video. I had practiced like 80 times how to say vaccines in English. While the stream of vaccine travelers from countries such as Colombia, Peru, Argentina and Mexico has been growing for months, Brazilians have faced a unique challenge. The United States currently bars most people who have spent time in Brazil from boarding flights to American cities, unless they have spent two weeks in a country that is not subject to coronavirus travel restrictions. Returning U.S. citizens and permanent residents are still allowed to enter the United States. Andrea Schver, owner of Venice Turismo, a travel agency based in Sao Paulo, said the ban had not been insurmountable for wealthy customers, who are increasingly willing to spend several thousand dollars to secure a shot. In April, she sold packages that included a two-week layover in places such as Cancun or a Caribbean island. Just in the first 18 days of May, she arranged trips for more than 40 passengers, she said. Clients include a television personality who will start recording a new show soon and other wealthy Brazilians who are used to taking extravagant vacations each year, she said. These are families who travel all year long, and theyve been grounded for the past year with money to spare, she said, noting that almost all clients had purchased business-class tickets. These arent people who are going to look for bargains. Acevedo, the real estate agent in Paraguay, said he had come to see his vaccine trip as a worthwhile investment and possibly a lifesaving step, because being overweight puts him at higher risk. I cant stop working, producing, and my work entails contact with many people, he said. He reasoned that by securing an American vaccine, he is easing the burden on the Paraguayan government. Part of this is not taking up a dose from people who need them more, he said. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. 2021 The New York Times Company BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images Joe Biden and grandson Hunter Joe Biden is remembering his late son Beau Biden on the sixth anniversary of his death. On Sunday morning, Biden, 78, and his wife Dr. Jill Biden visited St. Joseph's church in Wilmington, Delaware. The church, where they regularly attend services, also marks the burial site of his son Beau, the state's former attorney general who died of brain cancer in 2015 at age 46. For the memorial mass, the Bidens were also joined by their daughter Ashley as well as Beau's son Hunter, who also sat by his grandfather's side at Veterans Memorial Park for their annual Memorial Day service later on Sunday. "As many of you know this is a hard day for us. Six years ago today, Hunter lost his dad and I lost my son," Biden said. "If he were here, he would be here as well paying his respects to all those who gave so much for our country." The president continued, "A lot of time passes, but you all know as well as I do that the moment that we celebrate it is the toughest day of the year. We're honored but it's a tough day. Brings back everything. So I can't thank you enough for your continued service to the country." Biden concluded, "Your sons, your daughters, they live in your hearts and in their children as well. Thank you for allowing us to grieve together today." Patrick Semansky/AP/Shutterstock President Joe Biden RELATED: Tearful Joe Biden Says He Still Has Trouble Visiting Cemeteries Without 'Thinking of My Son Beau' Patrick Semansky/AP/Shutterstock President Joe Biden Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday. Patrick Semansky/AP/Shutterstock President Joe Biden and grandson Hunter Biden BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Image President Joe Biden BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images President Joe Biden Story continues On Friday, in a speech addressing service members and their families ahead of Memorial Day, the president reflected on his son's decision to temporarily give up his attorney general seat in 2008 to join his Delaware National Guard unit in Iraq. "He gave up the seat and had the courage to appoint a fellow who had been a Republican attorney general as attorney general while he while he went. The proudest thing he ever did," Biden said. "He spent a year in Iraq. And it was it was one of the great honors of his life to do it. Won the Bronze Star, the Conspicuous Service Medal, and other awards like many of you have but he never, ever talked about it." "I shouldn't be talking so much about my son, but I'm not going to apologize for it," he continued. "He's like a lot of you. You do your duty. You don't expect anything for it except be a little have get a little respect. It deserves so much more. You deserve so much more." RELATED: Joe Biden's History of Love and Loss and How His Late Son's Death Changed His Political Future Brian Baer/Sacramento Bee/Tribune News Service via Getty Beau Biden (left) and Joe Biden in 2008 Both Biden and his wife have often reflected on their grief after Beau's death. Before he was inaugurated as the 46th commander-in-chief in January, Biden told supporters in Delaware: "I only have one regret: He's not here." And after arriving in the White House, the president immediately put up a photo of Beau behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. Beau was Delaware's attorney general from 2007 until 2015 and was deployed with the Army National Guard for a year in Iraq, from 2008 until 2009. He received a Bronze Star Medal during his tour and delegated his day-to-day duties as attorney general while serving in the Middle East. Beau and Biden's younger son, Hunter Biden, survived the 1972 car crash that killed the president's first wife, Neilia Hunter Biden, and their infant daughter, Naomi. The Nashville hat store hatWRKS has faced protests after selling NOT VACCINATED badges in the shape of a Star of David (WZTV) A hat store in Nashville, Tennessee has apologized after selling NOT VACCINATED badges in the shape of a yellow Star of David. In NO WAY did I intend to trivialize the Star of David or disrespect what happened to millions of people, the store, hatWRKS, wrote in an Instagram post. I sincerely apologize for any insensitivity. The shop had faced a furious backlash on social media and a crowd of real-life protesters after a previous post, which cheerfully advertised the Holocaust-themed badges. Patches are here!! hatWRKS wrote on its Instagram above a photo of a smiling woman wearing one of the yellow badges. They turned out great. $5ea. In Nazi Germany, Jews were legally required to wear patches in the shape of the six-pointed star so they could more easily be singled out for persecution. Many saw hatWRKS post as anti-Semitic. Using the yellow star, or any Holocaust imagery for anything is a disservice to the memory of the 6 million Jews who were systematically murdered during the Holocaust, Rabbi Laurie Rice told WSMV. As the outrage grew, hatWRKS initially went on the defensive. People are so outraged by my post? But are you outraged with the tyranny the world is experiencing? the shop wrote on Instagram. If you dont understand what is happening, that is on you, not me. Before long, demonstrators had gathered outside the store. One of them, Nashville resident Ron Rivlin, blamed hatWRKS owner Gigi Gaskins for the offensive products. We're here to protest hate and ignorance with regard to what she's doing in selling yellow stars that are a symbol of the greatest atrocity the world has ever seen, which is the loss of 6 million human beings, Mr Rivlin told CNN on Saturday. The apparel company Stetson also announced that it was cutting ties with the shop. As a result of the offensive content and opinions shared by HatWRKS in Nashville, Stetson and our distribution partners will cease the sale of all Stetson products, the retailer tweeted. Story continues This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Later that day, hatWRKS posted its apology, which said the badges had been misunderstood. My intent was not to exploit or make a profit, the store explained. My hope was to share my genuine concern & fear, and to do all that I can to make sure that nothing like that ever happens again. The Star of David imagery may also be a reference to recent comments by Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has repeatedly compared the treatment of unmasked or unvaccinated Americans to the Holocaust. You know, we can look back at a time in history where people were told to wear a gold star, Ms Greene said earlier this month while discussing mask mandates on a conservative podcast, and they were definitely treated like second-class citizens, so much so that they were put on trains and taken to gas chambers in Nazi Germany, and this is exactly the type of abuse that Nancy Pelosi is talking about. Later that week, the congresswoman doubled down on the comparison. Vaccinated employees get a vaccination logo just like the Nazis [sic] forced Jewish people to wear a gold star, she tweeted. The comments have drawn widespread condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans. Read More Disgusting, ignorant, offensive: Marjorie Taylor Greene condemned for new comparison of Covid vaccinations to Holocaust House GOP leaders condemn Greene over Holocaust comments They make me sick: Jewish CNN anchor slams Marjorie Taylor Greene Holocaust comments as furore grows Marjorie is wrong: GOP leader Kevin McCarthy condemns Marjorie Taylor Greenes appalling Holocaust comments Marjorie Taylor Greene defends comparing mask mandate to Holocaust as Republican colleagues turn on her About the Protecting and Promoting Local Journalism Initiative This story is part of the Protecting and Promoting Local Journalism Initiative, a project supported by the Yakima Valley Community Foundation with financial, training and technological assistance from Microsoft Corp. In Yakima County, the initiative is a collaboration between the Yakima Herald-Republic, El Sol de Yakima and Radio KDNA, whose journalists maintain independent editorial control of the project. To make a charitable contribution to the Yakima Valley Community Foundation's Community Journalism Fund, visit the foundation's website and click the Give Today button and select Community Journalism Fund. Please disable your ad blocker, and refresh the page to view this content. 7 day print subscribers enjoy unlimited access to yakimaherald.com Enter the LAST NAME and the 7 DIGIT phone number on your print subscription account to connect your print subscription to your yakimaherald.com account. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 20:31:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Sunday condemned the criminal intimidation against a judge, saying the intimidator must be strictly punished. After handing down sentences on Jimmy Lai and nine other defendants who were convicted of organizing and inciting others to participate in an illegal assembly, Amanda Jane Woodcock, the judge in charge, received phone calls that threatened to harm her and her family. The intimidation against a judge is appalling and outrageous in Hong Kong, a place known for the rule of law, a spokesperson of the office said, stressing that it blatantly jeopardized the law and order, and harmed the public interests. The office firmly supports the judiciary in assuming their responsibilities according to the law and supports the police in taking resolute actions to safeguard the rule of law, the spokesperson said. After the national security law in the HKSAR took effect last year, many extremists and radicals who committed crimes during the social unrest have received the punishment they deserved, which helped restore peace and order in Hong Kong, demonstrated the rule of law, and responded to people's demand, the spokesperson said. Judges and other people working in the judiciary should be respected for their unbiased and selfless work, and their safety should be under good protection, the spokesperson said. Intimidation will not lead to fear but only stimulate the strong will of safeguarding the rule of law and the judiciary independence, the spokesperson said. The rule of law is one of the core values of Hong Kong as well as the cornerstone of its prosperity and stability, and judges should exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference, the spokesperson said. The spokesperson also called for concerted efforts from various sectors in Hong Kong to support the government in assuming their responsibilities and to safeguard the spirit of the rule of law. Enditem Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. One parents experience Home schooling parent Amy Sharony founded the school in 2016 with Suzanne Rezelman so that Sharonys daughter would be able to take classes with other students. Under the hybrid model, students attend classes together in-person twice a week and work independently three days a week. Lessons are led by teachers on in-person days who also assist students in self-directed work at home. Sharonys daughter, who graduated from high school last year, ended up opting out and sticking with traditional home schooling, but Sharony continued the hybrid model with her son and other families. There are now 12 students in junior high and 10 in high school, she said. In the coming year, junior high enrollment will reach 18 students. Last summer, Sharony said she received hundreds of emails from parents across the country asking about home schooling. They described watching their kids work 12 to 14 hours on virtual lessons. Some were frustrated at being in charge of online education without having power over content and instruction. Most parents just wanted their kids to go somewhere every day, and Sharony had to break it to them thats just not what the Academy is about. New Delhi: An eight-member ministerial panel under Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma will examine the need for exempting GST or cutting rate on Covid essentials like vaccines, drugs, hand sanitisers, masks, PPE kits and oxygen related equipment. The GST Council in its meeting on May 28 had decided to set up a Group of Ministers (GoM), which will submit its report by June 8. "As a follow up of the decision of the GST Council at its 43rd meeting, a Group of Ministers (GoM) has been constituted to examine the issue of GST concession/exemption to COVID relief material," the Finance Ministry said. As per its terms of reference (ToR), the GoM would examine whether a GST rate cut or exemption would be required for medical grade oxygen, pulse oximeters, hand sanitisers, oxygen therapy equipment like concentrators, ventilators, PPE kits, N-95 and surgical masks and temperature checking equipment. Besides, the panel would also look into Covid vaccines, drugs and medicines for Covid treatment and testing kits for Covid detection. The other members of the GoM are Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitinbhai Patel, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Goa Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, Finance Ministers of Kerala (K N Balagopal), Odisha (Niranjan Pujari), Telangana (T Harish Rao) and UP (Suresh Kr Khanna). The GST Council on Friday left taxes on COVID-19 vaccines and medical supplies unchanged after the BJP and Opposition-ruled states sparred over whether the tax cut benefits will reach the common man. Congress and other Opposition ruled states have been demanding a reduction in taxes but the central government felt the move may not result in tangible gains for people. Currently, 5 per cent GST is levied on domestically manufactured vaccines, while it is 12 per cent for COVID drugs and oxygen concentrators. Live TV #mute New Delhi: A number of petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court seeking to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor, Shaktikant Das, Chief Executive of Indian Banks Association (IBA) and others for allegedly flouting the SC`s earlier order, by turning and declaring the account of the petitioners as Non Performing Assets (NPA) in connection with the moratorium matter. The petitioners - M/s Azeez Trading Company, Umrazz Trading Corporation, Ajay Hotel and Restaurant, Latur, Maharashtra -- have filed their plea through lawyer Vishal Tiwari and Advocate On Record (AOR) Abhigya.The respondents, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor, Shaktikant Das, Chief Executive of Indian Banks Association (IBA) were duty-bound to promulgate and ensure the compliance of the order of this court throughout the country but they deliberately didn`t, the petition said. The Supreme Court`s order, dated September 3, 2020, was operational on all lending institutions/banks throughout the country and was passed in favour of all borrowers accounts to grant relief from financial stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tiwari said in the petition. The September 3 order was passed in the presence of the respondents represented by their counsel and all were very well aware of the Stay order, the petition said. It further claimed that the contemptuous act of the respondents had not only disobeyed the court`s order but also caused severe irreparable damage and loss to the petitioners. "The petitioners have lost their image and has been defamed as the possession notice was published in the new papers of his locality which made the dignity of the petitioner lower," it added. The contemptuous act of all the respondents has shaken the confidence of the public and has degraded the trust of the borrowers. In this Covid-19 pandemic where all borrowers are passing through the worst scenario and financial stress, the respondents` alleged act is very disgraceful and contemptuous. The petitioners thereby sought the issuance of notice to the alleged contemnors for willfully violating the order/directions of the Apex Court passed in a writ petition. "Punish the contemnors for having committed contempt of this Court," the petition said. Further, in the petition, Tiwari said that the stay order was passed in the pandemic COVID-19 for the benefit of stressed borrowers so that they shall not suffer in present financial crisis during the pandemic."There is already a slump in the work of the petitioner. The stay order was operating as a lifesaving drug but the contemptuous act of the respondent has brought a major setback to the petitioner and his survival has become critical," the petition said. Several petitions have already been filed in the same case before the Supreme Court. Dhaka: Bangladesh government on Sunday (May 30) decided to extend the ongoing ban on public travel through land ports to India till June 14 in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Amid the rise in COVID-19 cases in the neighbourhood, Bangladeshs land border has been closed with India since April 26. While May 31 was planned to be the last day of the ban, it has been extended yet again, news agency ANI reported. This comes after a decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the country`s foreign secretary on Saturday. The government has also decided to stop travel through two more land ports to stop the spread of the virus. The newly-closed land ports with India are Darshana of Chuadanga and Sona masjid of Chapainawabganj. Darshana port will be closed for one week, while Sona Masjid for two weeks. However, cargo movement will continue as usual. Although land ports have been shut with India, stranded Bangladeshis can return home from four other land ports namely Benapole, Agartala, Hili and Burimari. Meanwhile, export-import of goods will be allowed.This decision has been taken as Bangladesh is experiencing a rise in COVID-19 related deaths. The health authorities in the country say the infection rate is showing a notable upward trend in districts that share borders with or are close to India, Dhaka Tribune reported. Bangladesh has registered 34 more COVID-19 deaths, taking the country's toll to 12,583. The total number of infections now stands at 798,830. Live TV Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 20:45:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on May 26, 2021 shows archeologists cleaning up ivory relics found in the No.7 sacrificial pit at Sanxingdui Ruins site in Guanghan, southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Liu Mengqi) CHENGDU, May 30 (Xinhua) -- As more than 1,000 significant relics have been unearthed from new sacrificial pits at the legendary Sanxingdui Ruins site in southwest China, overseas research institutes, museums and international organizations have congratulated China on its new chapter of archaeological discoveries via video messages. The uncovered cultural relics are large in scale and magnificent in nature, a testament to the diversity and similarity of ancient global civilizations. The discoveries will also help promote cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries, according to the officials and representatives. Revered as one of the greatest archeological finds of the 20th century, the Sanxingdui Ruins entered a new era of excavation work starting from the second half of last year, which mainly involves its No. 3 to No. 8 sacrificial pits. Riveting relics including bronzewares, ivories, jade, gold foils and stone tools were uncovered during recent archaeological digs. Notably, a unique bronze figure with a square altar-shaped bronzeware held up in its hands and an extremely rare bronze ware 115 cm in height were among the most head-turning discoveries. The ruins located in southwest China's Sichuan Province, together with the Jinsha Ruins in the provincial capital of Chengdu, are applying for UNESCO World Cultural Heritage status, the provincial government said Friday. Ernesto Ottone, assistant director general for culture at UNESCO, regards the new discoveries of the site as a milestone in archaeology and human beings' understanding of Chinese civilization. "At a time when many excavations have been forced to a halt due to COVID-19, this discovery is particularly inspiring," Ottone said in a congratulatory video on the site's new progress. Ottone also spoke highly of the site as it provides crucial opportunities for cultural exchanges, research and dialogue, which dovetails with the values proposed by the UNESCO mission. Webber Ndoro, director-general of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), congratulated the Chinese archaeologists and China for their long-term dedication to excavating and preserving the ruins. The ICCROM is also ready to collaborate with China to ensure the high-level conservation and dissemination of the archaeological discoveries from the Sanxingdui Ruins, said Ndoro via video. Marcos Antonio Santos Ramirez, curator of the museum of the Chichen Itza site in Mexico, and Anna Vasiliki Karapanagiotou, director of the National Archaeological Museum of Greece, also sent their congratulations to China via video messages. The Sanxingdui Ruins were discovered by a farmer when digging a ditch in the 1920s. Covering 12 square km, the ruins are in the city of Guanghan in Sichuan Province, about 60 km from Chengdu, the provincial capital, and are believed to be the remnants of the Shu Kingdom, dating back at least 4,800 years and lasting over 2,000 years. Luo Qiang, vice governor of Sichuan, said the construction of the Sanxingdui National Heritage Park and a new museum is being accelerated to make Sanxingdui a world-famous tourist destination. In 1986, 1,720 unique relics were unearthed in the No. 1 and No. 2 pits, arousing global interest. In October 2019, archaeologists discovered six new sacrificial pits while investigating the area where the No. 1 and No. 2 pits are located. New Delhi: The central government, in a notice addressed to the states and union territories, on Saturday (May 29, 2021) stated that the COVID-19 vaccination packages being offered by private hospitals in collaboration with various hotels are against the guidelines issued for the National Covid Vaccination Programme. The Centre have also directed the states and union territories to initiate legal or administrative action against institutions involved in such practices. In a letter, the Additional Secretary to Health ministry Manohar Agnani said, it has come to the notice of the Union health ministry that some private hospitals are giving package for Covid vaccination in collaboration with some hotels, which is against the guidelines issued for the National Covid Vaccination Program. Apart from government Covid vaccination centre and private Covid vaccination centre, workplace, near home Covid vaccination centre for elderly and differently-abled persons to be organised at group housing societies, there are no other avenues to carry out vaccination under the national Covid Vaccination Program so vaccination carried out in star hotels is contrary to the guidelines and must be stopped immediately, Agnani was quoted as saying in the letter. "Necessary legal and administrative actions should be initiated against such institutions. Therefore, you are also requested to monitor and ensure that the National Covid Vaccination drive is carried out as per the prescribed guidelines," he added. Meanwhile, India on Saturday recorded over 1,73,790 new infections, 3,617 coronavirus-related fatalities in the last 24 hours, which took the overall caseload to 2.77 crores. (With Agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday (May 30, 2021) informed that the Central Government will provide over 12 crore doses for the national COVID-19 vaccination programme in the month of June. "6.09 crore (6,09,60,000) doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be supplied to the States and UTs for vaccination of priority group of Health Care Workers (HCWs), Front-Line Workers (FLWs) and people aged 45 years + and above as free supply from Government of India," the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated. They further said, "In addition, more than 5.86 crore (5,86,10,000) doses will be available for direct procurement by the state/UTs and private hospitals. Therefore, in June, close to 12 crore (11,95,70,000) doses will be available for the national COVID vaccination programme." They said that the delivery schedule for this allocation will be shared in advance and that the states have been requested to direct the concerned officials to ensure rational and judicious utilization of allocated doses and minimize the vaccine wastage. This is to be noted that in May, a total number of 7,94,05,200 doses were available for the national COVID-19 vaccination programme. India has so far administered 21.20 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses through 30,07,831 sessions, as per the data available on Sunday morning (7 AM). Meanwhile, the country recorded 1.65 lakh new COVID-19 cases and 3,460 deaths in the last 24 hours. There were 1,65,553 fresh infections that took India's total caseload to 2,78,94,800. There are now 21,14,508 active cases across the country. India has so far witnessed over 2.54 crore recoveries besides 3.25 lakh coronavirus-related fatalities. ALSO READ | COVID-19 vaccination helpline number! Heres how to book a slot with a call Live TV Chennai: Following allegations of Tamil Nadus western belt being ignored by the ruling DMK, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin who is touring the region is facing the wrath of angry netizens and political opponents on Twitter. The Western belt which is locally known as the Kongu Belt is an AIADMK stronghold and largely voted against the ruling DMK. Coimbatore, the second largest city in Tamil Nadu and an industrial hub is situated in the Kongu belt region. However, this region is said to have been allocated far less vaccines than Chennai. Coimbatore is also now the city with maximum COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu. Leaders form the opposition parties BJP and AIADMK have been pointing out the high number of deaths and spike in cases in Coimbatore, when compared to Chennai, which is now seeing a daily decline in COVID-19 numbers. In a clip of a Tamil TV debate, a DMK spokesperson was seen telling a BJP spokesperson that if people of Coimbatore are struggling and crying in pain, they must do so before Modi. If they are crying in pain, then WhatsApp it to Modi. Notably, Coimbatore South is an important Assembly Constituency that elected BJP Womens wing President Vanathi Srinivasan. The hashtag #GoBackStalin has been trending with over 1.5lakh tweets and is perhaps the first time that a Tamil Nadu Chief minister is facing this trend when touring a district of his home state. DMK sympathizers also countered the trend by using hashtags #Welcome_TNCM_Stalin, #WelcomeStalin and also by sharing videos of the Chief Minister wearing a PPE Suit, during a hospital inspection in Coimbatore on Sunday. In October 2020, as Leader of Opposition Stalin had paid homage to freedom fighter and spiritual leader Muthuramaliga Thevars memorial in Ramanathapuram. Back then too, #GoBackStalin trended on Twitter. Many from the AIADMK and BJP had lashed out at the DMK saying that they had nothing to do with Thevars ideals of Nationalism and Spiritualism. In the past, top BJP leaders visiting Tamil Nadu were the ones to be at the receiving end of such hashtags trended by the DMK and its allies. Such #GoBack hashtags had come up when Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah had visited the southern state on different occasions. On a certain occasion, the DMK cadre had also released black colored hydrogen balloons, as a mark of protest, at a time when the Prime Ministers chopper was to fly by the area. Currently, Tamil Nadu is reporting nearly 31,000 COVID-19 cases everyday, whereas the daily recoveries are around 30,000. The southern state is recording the maximum COVID-19 cases in India. Daily deaths being reported are over 450 for the past few days and over 23,000 persons have lost their lives to the pandemic. Active cases in the state are over 3.10 lakh. While the cases in capital city Chennai has come down from nearly 7,000 to 2,500, it is the second largest district Coimbatore that is seeing a spike. Coimbatore, the Western district is now witnessing over 4,700 daily cases. Live TV Amaravati: With the onset of COVID-19 last year, the fragile health care system and health infrastructure was exposed all over the country given the magnitude of patients' vis a vis hospitals and the healthcare system. Now every state is having a hard look in this aspect. Many states are going for course correction. In Andhra Pradesh, to provide advanced Medi-Care and better healthcare services, CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will be laying the foundation stone for the establishment of 14 new medical colleges across the state here on Monday. Ramping up medical infrastructure in the state, the government also proposed to add five new medical colleges to the existing 11 which were already announced. The construction work has already started in two medical colleges at Paderu (Visakhapatnam district) and Pulivendula (Kadapa district). With the establishment of new colleges, the number of medical seats is going to increase significantly, and more seats will be available for poor students by filling 70 per cent in convenor quota and 30 per cent in payment quota. The 16 new medical colleges are being established at Paderu, Vizianagaram, Anakapalli, Rajahmundry, Palakollu, Amalapuram, Eluru, Machilipatnam, Bapatla, Markapuram, Piduguralla, Madanapalli, Pulivendula, Penukonda, Adoni and Nandyal. The state government has issued orders for the construction of multi-speciality hospitals in tribal areas at Seethampeta, Parvathipuram, Rampachodavaram, Buttayigudem and Dornala, where an extent of 885 acres of land was procured for medical colleges and multi-speciality hospitals. With regard to medical education, Vizianagaram, Anakapalli, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Machilipatnam medical colleges will be having 150 seats each while the remaining colleges will have 100 admissions each taking the total number of seats to 2000 approximately. Also, works are under progress for Paderu, Piduguralla, Pulivendula medical colleges. Construction and tenders are being evaluated for Vizianagaram, Anakapalli, Amalapuram, Rajahmundry, Eluru, Palakollu, Bapatla, Markapuram, Madanapalli, Penukonda, Nandyal and Adoni. All these medical colleges and teaching hospitals will be offering emergency, casualty and diagnostic services, with advanced Intensive Care Units ( ICUs ), and 10 states of art Modular Operation Theatres. The focus of the government is to develop a model welfare state with access to innovative and advanced technology. Besides, "Nadu Nedu'' initiative is one such programme taken up by the State government to prioritise the modernisation of the health sector, which aims to revamp the existing health infrastructure and put in place a robust decentralized tertiary public healthcare infrastructure and facilities to provide accessible and affordable tertiary healthcare to the people of Andhra Pradesh. Under this initiative, all the existing health facilities will be upgraded as per IPHS Standards for Sub-centers, PHCs, CHCs, AHs and NMC norms for Teaching Hospitals. Live TV New Delhi: The Delhi government will start the process of unlock from Monday (May 31), while the lockdown has been extended till 5 am on June 7. Two activities including construction work and factories in Delhi will start functioning from Monday. As other activities, apart from essential services and other services exempted before, remain under the purview of lockdown restrictions, people involved in those activities will still require an e-pass to move within the city. Health and other essential services will continue to function without the requirement of e-pass. Who requires an e-pass to travel in the national capital now? 1. An e-pass will be required for people involved in the activities that are not included in Unlock 2021. 2. The pass will also be required for crossing the border to get into the city. People travelling from Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad and other NCR regions to Delhi require e-pass. 3. Employees working in private companies will also need to have an e-pass in order to get past the movement restrictions placed across the city. Check steps on how to apply for e-paas 1. To apply for an e-pass to travel during the lockdown, visit the Delhi government's official website at https://delhi.gov.in/. 2. On the home page, you will see a message -- "Click Here to Apply for ePass." 3. Click on the link. It will redirect you to a new page where you will be asked to select the language you want to continue. Select as per your convenience. 4. In the next step, you will see a question - "What do you need help with?" to which, you will have to select "e-Pass to travel during Curfew." 5. Read the instructions carefully before applying for the e-pass. 6. Enter the required details including contact number, name of the applicant, and so on. Upload the identification proof. 7. Once the application is approved, you will receive an SMS. 8. Download the e-pass and take printout. Earlier, the Delhi government had exempted the Delhi High Court lawyers from requiring an e-pass to move around the city. Self-employed people also dont require an e-pass to travel. Live TV New Delhi: The Haryana government on Saturday (May 29, 2021) announced financial aid and other assistance for children who have lost their parents to COVID-19. The Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar made the announcement and shared the details of the 'Mukhyamantri Bal Sewa Yojana'. The Chief Minister revealed that this package will be given to rehabilitate and assist children below the age of 18 years, who have lost both of their parents, a surviving parent, legal guardian or adoptive parents due to coronavirus. Manohar Lal Khattar said that the state government will provide such children with a monthly stipend of Rs 2,500 per child as financial aid to the families taking care of these orphaned children, adding that, this financial assistance would be given till the child turn 18-years-old. Further, an amount of Rs 12,000 annually would also be deposited in the bank accounts of such children as other expenses till they reach 18 years of age and are pursuing education, he said. The Haryana Chief Minister also added that the government will provide financial assistance of Rs 1,500 per orphaned child per month to the child care institution for the upbringing of such children living there. As per the reports over 59 childcare institutions are functional in the state currently. The announcement also disclosed that in the case of adolescent girls orphaned due to COVID-19, free residential education will be provided in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas to ensure their care and proper protection. "An amount of Rs 51,000 will be credited in accounts of all these girls under Mukhya Mantri Vivah Shagun Yojana and at the time of their marriage this amount along with the interest would be given to them," announced Khattar. The CM also announced that a tablet will be given to such students studying in VIII to XII standard and those enrolled in vocational courses. (With Agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (May 30, 2021) addressed the 77th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' and said that India is fighting COVID-19 with all its strength. PM Modi called coronavirus the biggest pandemic in the last hundred years and said, "Nation is fighting COVID-19 with all its strength." During his monthly radio programme address, the Prime Minister also spoke on the oxygen demand in the country and said that in normal times, the daily production of liquid medical oxygen was 900 MT, while it has now risen over 10 times to nearly 9,500 MT. PM Modi added that India's front-line workers have played a remarkable role in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister also spoke on the recent cyclones in the country and said that his thoughts are with those affected. PM Modi stated that more lives were saved compared to the past. He added that the Centre, State governments and local administration have come together to face this calamity and appreciated those involved in cyclone relief efforts. "My dear countrymen, however big the challenge be, Indias victory-resolve, her Vijay-Sankalp has always been equal in magnitude. Her collective strength and our spirit of service has always rescued the country from the midst of every storm," the Prime Minister expressed. He also spoke on the BJP Government completing seven years in the Centre and said that over these years, the country has followed the mantra of 'Sabka-Saath, Sabka-Vikas, Sabka-Vishwas'. "All of us have worked every moment with dedication in the service of the country," he said. "Whatever we have accomplished in these 7 years, it has been of the country, of the countrymen. Together, we have experienced many moments of national pride in these years," PM Modi added. Live TV New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation in the 77th edition of his monthly radio programme, Mann Ki Baat, at 11 am on Sunday (May 30, 2021). The address came on the same day when Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre completed seven years in office. While addressing the nation, PM Narendra Modi touched upon the central government's seventh anniversary and said the nation has followed the mantra of "sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas" in this period. Today, we're having 'Mann Ki Baat' & also marks the completion of 7 years of the govt. Over these years, the country has followed mantra of 'Sabka-Saath, Sabka-Vikas, Sabka-Vishwas'. All of us have worked every moment with dedication in the service of the country, said PM Modi in the 77th edition of Mann Ki Baat. There have been many moments of national pride in this period...Apart from many successes, there were some stern tests as well, he said, referring to the pandemic. The nation fought its first wave with courage, and this too will be defeated, PM asserted. Additionally, while speaking on the completion of seven years of Modi government, BJP President, JP Nadda said that the path of self-reliant India was made under the guidance of the Prime Minister. Under Prime Minister's leadership, we'll celebrate this day as 'Seva Diwas'. BJP workers will serve in 1 lakh villages. PM had called upon govt orgs & others to help needy during COVID. BJP has extended help to many under 'Seva Hi Sangathan', said BJP President. Prime Minister also spoke about the various natural disasters that the country has faced in the past years and highlighted that more lives were saved compared to the past because of combined efforts put forward by the Centre and states. Coronavirus has been the biggest pandemic in 100 years, India faced many natural disasters in the form of Cyclone Tauktae and Cyclone Yaas during this pandemic...In these times of disasters, the people of Cyclone-affected states showed courage & fought with patience & discipline. I want to humbly acknowledge their efforts to those who actively participated in the relief and rescue operations. I salute them all, said PM Modi. PM Modi also spoke with a liquid oxygen tanker driver, a woman railway driver and an air force officer involved in the transportation of oxygen and related equipment to drive home the point on how these people are working overtime to ensure oxygen reaches those in need. In normal times daily production of liquid medical oxygen was 900 MT, which has now risen over 10 times to nearly 9,500 MT, the prime minister noted. He said despite the pandemic, the farmers ensured record production of crops and the government also made record procurement. (With Agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday (May 30) celebrated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's completion of seven years of his government and said during this period, the country made unprecedented achievements in fields of security, public welfare and reforms. In a series of tweets in Hindi, Shah gave credit to PM Modi for improving the living standards of the poor, farmers and deprived sections by bringing them into the mainstream with his determined, holistic and welfare policies and making India a powerful nation with his strong leadership. "The Modi government has presented a unique example of unparalleled coordination of development, security, public welfare and landmark reforms," Shah said. The Home Minister also said that for the last seven years the people of the country have consistently expressed their unwavering faith in Modi's service and dedication, for which he bows to the countrymen. "I am confident that under the visionary leadership of Modi ji, we will overcome every challenge and continue India's developmental journey uninterrupted," he said. BJP workers is observing the anniversary as "Seva Diwas". In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the BJP has decided not to celebrate the seventh anniversary of its government at the Centre, but instead organise relief works across the country. Live TV New Delhi: The Kerala government extended lockdown till June 9 in order to keep COVID-19 in check. Announcing the extension of the lockdown, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared withdrawal of "triple lockdown" in Malappuram district, where the number of cases was on the rise. However, the general lockdown will continue in the district along with other districts in the state. Check the new relaxations announced by the Kerala government: 1. All industrial establishments (including coir, cashew, etc) can function with minimum employees not exceeding 50 per cent of total strength. 2. Shops and units supplying raw materials (including packaging) to industrial establishments may be open till 5 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. 3. Banks will remain open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with extended timings till 5 pm. Kerala | Restrictions in the form of lockdown have been extended further from 12:00 am of May 31 to 11:59 pm of June 9, in all districts. pic.twitter.com/ifcqAn7Jww ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2021 4. Newly appointed staff advised by Kerala Public Service Commission can travel to the office for joining duty showing memo of appointment as proof. 6. Shops selling education books, textiles for weddings, jewellery and footwear will be open till 5 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 7. KSRTC can operate minimum buses in industrial areas as per requirement. 8. Toddy sale will be allowed in parcels, following COVID-19 protocols. The state has been under lockdown since May 8 following the sharp rise in coronavirus cases. Kerala recorded 23,513 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday (May 29). The test positivity rate of 16.59 per cent was also logged in. Meanwhile, 198 people succumbed to the deadly infection taking the death toll in the state to 8,455. (With inputs from agencies) Live TV Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 21:19:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Yu Shuaishuai, Maria Spiliopoulou ATHENS, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) indeed always sticks with the Chinese people for a better, more prosperous and harmonious future for everybody, former Greek Foreign Affairs Minister George Katrougalos told Xinhua in a recent interview. The novel coronavirus has exacerbated inequalities throughout the world, with the exception of China, said Katrougalos, a constitutional law professor who is now the Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs from the main opposition SYRIZA Party. "China not only managed to overcome the challenges of the pandemic, but has also met the goal of eliminating (absolute) poverty ... This is almost a miracle," Katrougalos told Xinhua, adding that this is a major victory in the war against inequalities and poverty worldwide. Other countries, especially developing ones, can learn from the paradigm, he said. "I think that the biggest achievement of the Communist party is that it has combined the goal for the national rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the reversal of the decline, with the necessity to build a more advanced social system. And it achieved this goal by, let's say, adapting Marxism-Leninism in China with Chinese characteristics and also using all this ancient philosophy of your country going back 5,000 years," he said. This is a valid massage for all progressive parties throughout the world that they should try not just to imitate different doctrines, even doctrines like Marxism, but to adapt them to national environments and the challenges of globalization, he stressed. During his many visits to China as a politician and an academic, Katrougalos was impressed by the continuous progress in China's economy and science as well as the overwhelming acceptance of the CPC's policies by the Chinese people. For him, this is evidence that the CPC's policies are those needed for the prosperous and harmonious development of the Chinese society. He has also been impressed by Chinese President Xi Jinping's vision on building a community with a shared future for mankind and his insights into harmonious development, which he sees "is a real humanitarian message that all of us should follow," as "we cannot have individual prosperity without referring also to the common goal." SYRIZA and Katrougalos have maintained friendly exchanges with the CPC. It is important to continue bilateral exchanges, which are very useful for promoting in the West, especially in Europe, a better understanding of Chinese policies and the CPC's principles, said Katrougalos. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, Katrougalos sent his warm wishes to the party and the Chinese people. "I am sure that this impressive progress of the Chinese people will continue and my wish would be that the next 100 years of the Communist party to be even more brilliant and good for the prosperity of your people," he said. (Video reporters: Yu Shuaishuai, Maria Spiliopoulou, Angelos Tsatsis; video editor: Zheng Xin) New Delhi: The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne on the mysterious disappearance of the diamantaire from the Carribean nation, claimed that the latter may have taken his girlfriend to Dominica on a romantic trip when he got caught. "Mehul Choksi made a mistake and the information we are getting is that Choksi travelled with his girlfriend but he was caught in Dominica and now he can be deported back to India," Gaston Browne was reported to have told the local media. However, Choksi the alleged mastermind of the Rs 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case, alleged through his lawyers that he was abducted on May 23 of this year. He claims that people with 'links to India' abducted him in collaboration with Antiguan officials. He was then beaten up, tortured and taken to Dominica in a vessel where he was arrested, claim Mehul Choksi's lawyers. Recently, picture of 62-year-old Choksi, surfaced in Dominica showing him with a red, swollen eye and bruises on his hands. Choksi and his nephew Nirav Modi are wanted for allegedly siphoning Rs 13,500 crore of public money from the state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) using letters of undertaking. Both are facing a CBI and ED probe. Fugitive businessman Mehul Choksi was apprehended and arrested by the Dominican Police on May 26. Hyderabad: Telangana has taken stern action against private hospitals for violating COVID treatment norms and so far 10 hospitals have been barred from treating patients infected with coronavirus. The Office of Director of Public Health and Family Welfare of Telangana on Saturday (May 29) revoked permissions for treating COVID Patients after receiving complaints against these private hospitals regarding lack of proper attention to the patients by the management and excess and irrelevant charging in addition to the set norms. As of May 29, (Saturday) 10 Hospitals, (5 hospitals on May 28 and 5 hospitals on May 29) were barred from treating COVID patients after completing the treatment and discharge of patients under their care. Earlier till May 26, at least 88 complaints have been received against 64 hospitals. But as of May 29, a total of 115 complaints have been received against 79 hospitals. All the 79 hospitals have been issued show cause notices. As many as 2,982 new COVID-19 cases were registered in the last 24 hours, taking the active caseload to 36,917 in Telangana, informed the state health department on Saturday. The state recorded 21 COVID-related new deaths and 3,837 fresh recoveries. According to the State Health Department at 5.30 pm May 29, the total count of COVID-19 positive cases in the state currently stands at 5,74,026 including 5,33,862 discharges and 3,247 deaths. Live TV New Delhi: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will hold a state cabinet meet with his ministers on Sunday (May 30, 2021) to decide on the extension of state-wide COVID-induced lockdown to curb the spread of infection in the state. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is likely to take a call on the matters related to lockdown extension today in a state cabinet meeting in the afternoon. As per the release from the Chief Ministers Office, "Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has decided to hold a State Cabinet meeting on May 30 at 2 pm at Pragathi Bhavan." "The Cabinet will discuss agriculture, crops in the State, the ongoing paddy procurement process, availability of seeds and fertilisers, curbing the supply of spurious seeds, COVID-19, lockdown and other subjects," the release said. Earlier, the Chief Minister had imposed a 10-day lockdown in the state from May 12, 2021, in view of rising coronavirus infections, which was later extended on May 18, 2021. Additionally, the state government has been taking strict actions against the lockdown guideline violators. Hyderabad City police commissioner Anjani Kumar mentioned that they are also seizing over 6,000 vehicles. Kumar said, "Every day, we are registering more than 9000 cases and are seizing over 6,000 vehicles of the people violating lockdown restrictions. These violators only comprise 1 percent of the total population of Hyderabad." Meanwhile, on Saturday, Telangana reported 3,527 new COVID-19 cases, taking the active caseload to 37,793, as per the state health department. Telangana also recorded 19 COVID-related deaths and 3,982 recoveries in the 24-hours. Live TV New Delhi: Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Saturday (May 29) announced a scheme for the welfare of the children who lost their parents due to COVID-19. Launching the 'Mukhyamantri Balya Seva Parikalpana' (Chief Ministers Children Service Scheme), Deb said that the state government will provide financial assistance of Rs 3,500 per month to orphan children staying with relatives instead of government shelters, up to the age of 18 years, as per PTI report. While those living at government shelters, the administration will bear the cost of their living, the Tripura CM said. The pandemic which came as a disaster for many children, the scheme was planned with the intention to support them, Deb told the media. "After completion of Matriculation (class-10 board exam), the government would provide these children with either a laptop or a tablet to access the internet for their educational purpose," he added. For girls who have lost their parents, the state will furnish a financial assistance of Rs 50,000 for expenses of their marriage, the CM announced. Deb, who also holds the health and family welfare portfolios, stated that the state government has already announced a package of Rs 579 crore to provide financial assistance and wages to people during the pandemic period. On Saturday, Tripura recorded 49,885 COVID-19 cases and 504 fatalities. The recovery rate stands at 86.56 per cent, while the fatality rate is at 1.01 per cent, as per state health bulletin. Meanwhile, The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Saturday declared that PM-CARES fund will be utilized for a specially designed scheme to create a corpus of Rs 10 lakh each for children when they reach 18 years of age. (With inputs from agencies) Live TV New Delhi: The mucormycosis infection, commonly known as black fungus, has now been detected in children. This is first such case reported in the country, two children from Karnataka have been found infected with mucormycosis. A 11-year-old girl from Ballari district and 14-year-old boy from Chitradurga district have been infected with the fungal disease, both children of farm labourers, are set to lose one eye to the infection. "Two children are undergoing treatment for black fungus infection at Government Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospitals. They are suffering from Acute Juvenile Diabetes (AJD)," a senior health official told PTI. They had contracted COVID-19 but were not aware of it, a health official said adding they were admitted to the hospital after they developed complications. Around 1,250 cases of black fungus have been reported in the state. As many as 1,193 are currently under treatment and 18 are cured while 39 succumbed to the infection, according to the state health department. Meanwhile, Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar told reporters that the state has so far received around 10,000 vials of amphotericin-B drug used for the treatment of the fungal infection. Black Fungus has emerged as a post COVID-19 complication, especially among the diabetes patients with high sugar levels. Live TV New Delhi: A bomb detection and disposal squad was dispatched to the Maharashtra Legislature Secretariat on Sunday afternoon after a reportedly receiving a threat call. A person called up the Disaster Management Control Room and claimed that a bomb was placed inside the premises, as per news agency ANI. Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad doing checking at Maharashtra Legislature Secretariat after a call at control room saying bomb placed in. Prima facie, it seems to be a hoax call. Further inquiry is being conducted: Mumbai Police pic.twitter.com/ztv7sr0nID ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2021 Confirming the development Mumbai Police said, "Prime facie, it seems to be a hoax call. Further inquiry is being conducted." Meanwhile, security has been beefed up at Mantralaya building in the state capital, officials stated. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad is conducting a sweep of the Secretariat after a bomb threat call. (This is a developing story, more details are awaited) New Delhi: Late actor Irrfan Khan's elder son Babil Khan is often seen sharing happy memories along with his father and family on his Instagram handle. Recently, Babil shared two throwback pictures from his childhood days, featuring him and his father. In the pictures, we can see Irrfan along with his family, celebrating Holi at filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia's residence. Babil shared the throwback pictures on his Instagram and wrote, I remember the best Holi celebrations of my life at Jaansi's house. In one of the pictures, we can see Irrfan's wife Sutapa Sikdar carrying little Babil in her arms and it also features Jaansi Dhulia, who is the daughter of Tigmanshu Dhulia. Irrfan left for his heavenly abode on April 29, 2020. The Piku actor, who was diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour in 2018, is survived by his wife and two sons. Last month, on the occasion of Irrfan Khans first death anniversary, Babil penned a heartwarming post over the sad demise of his father and expressed his grief on his Instagram handle. On the work front, Babil will be making his acting debut with Qala, where he will be seen alongside Bulbbul actress Tripti Dimri. Directed by Anvitaa Dutt, the movie will be backed by Anushka Sharma's production house. New Delhi: Bollywood actor Bobby Deol and wife Tanya Deol are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary today, i.e, on May 30, 2021. Bobby took to his Instagram handle and shared some beautiful and unseen pictures of the lovely couple. He wished his beloved wife on their special day and wrote, My heart, my soul. you mean the world to me. love you forever and ever. happy 25th anniversary (sic)." Their love story was no less than a fairytale as the actor saw his ladylove for the first time at an Italian restaurant at Hotel President in Mumbai. Since then, he started liking her. After few days, he managed to get her number and later asked her out on a date. She agreed for the same and later the couple fell in love with each other. They got married in 1996 and are now proud parents to two sons - Aryaman Deol and Dharam Deol. Bobby and Tania are an extremely private couple and has kept his family life away from the media glare. On the work front, Bobby was last seen in MX Players original Aashram in 2020. He will be soon seen in Apne 2. He will once again share the screen with his father Dharmendra and brother Sunny Deol in Apne sequel. The film will also star Sunny's son Karan Deol. He will also be seen in Abbas Mustan's 'Penthouse' co-starring Arjun Rampal, Sharman Joshi, Cyrus Broacha, Mouni Roy, Tisca Chopra in pivotal roles. New Delhi: In a recent development, actress Kangana Ranaut's bodyguard, Kumar Hegde, has been arrested by Mumbai police over alleged rape and cheating charges. Kumar Hegde, accused of raping a beautician on the pretext of marriage, was nabbed by the police in the Heggadahalli village in Mandya district of Karnataka according to statement given by a DN Nagar police station official to PTI. "A team under sub inspector Virendra Bhosle held Hegde a day before he was supposed to get married to another girl. A 30-year-old woman, who works as a beautician, had last week filed a complaint of rape against him. The woman said they knew each other for eight years and he had, in June last year, proposed marriage, which she accepted," he told the agency. However, their relationship went awry soon after, as on April 27 this year, he borrowed a huge sum of Rs 50,000 attributing it to his mother's death and went radio-silent after evading to his hometown with the cash. An official told PTI that he had stopped all communication with the woman after he reached his native place. "After the woman found out he was planning to marry another girl in a matter of days, she approached police and Hegde was charged with rape, unnatural sex and cheating, and arrested," the official informed the agency. Interestingly, Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has not released any official statement on Kumar Hegdes arrest and rape charges as yet. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: Director Anurag Kashyap inadvertently made his first appearance after his angioplasty in his daughter Aaliyah Kashyap's Instagram story on Saturday (May 29). The star kid Aaliyah, who is quite popular on social media, had taken to her Instagram to share a hilarious video of her father with her laughing in the background. The 'AK vs AK' director had donned a completely different look than his usual appearance as he had gone bald and had a unibrow as seen in the video. Check out the hilarious post: According to reports, Kashyap had recently gone through an angioplasty after suffering from chest pain earlier and is currently recovering at home. Anurag and her daughter Aaliyah share a very close bond and in her previous YouTube videos, she had revealed that she is quite open with her parents and they're more like 'friends' than her parents. On the work front, Anurag Kashyap has teamed up with Taapsee Pannu in 'Dobaaraa'. The actor-director jodi previously worked together in 'Manmarziyaan'. Dobaaraa shooting was wrapped up earlier this year. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 21:47:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Students visit the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) during an "open day" activity held by the SPP in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2021. An "open day" activity on children's welfare was held by the SPP on Sunday. Two newly revised laws directly linked to children's welfare are slated to take effect on June 1, the International Children's Day, to provide Chinese minors with better protection both at school and home, online and offline. (Xinhua/Yin Gang) New Delhi: State Bank of India (SBI) has recently issued a new notification for its customers explaining the new rules for cash withdrawal. The state-owned bank has now increased the cash withdrawal limit from non-home branches to support their customers in these dire times amid the pandemic. According to the new rules, SBI customers can now withdraw up to Rs 25,000 in a day. In a notification on Twitter, the PSB tweeted, To support our customers in this pandemic, SBI has increased the non-home cash withdrawal limits through cheque and withdrawal form. With the new rule in place, customers can now visit any bank branch (except the home branch) to withdraw up to Rs 25,000 from their savings account in a day. However, the limit for withdrawing cash through check has been set to up to 1 lakh rupees. At the same time, the limit for withdrawing cash has been increased to Rs 50 thousand to the third party, ie, to whom the check has been issued. According to the notification of the State Bank of India, the new rules have been implemented with immediate effect. It is important to note that the rules will remain in force till 30 September 2021. Live TV #mute New Delhi: Large digital companies like Google and Facebook have begun updating their websites to reflect the appointment of the grievance officers under the new social media rules that came into effect recently. According to government sources, large social media companies like Google, Facebook and WhatsApp have shared details with the IT Ministry as per the requirement of the new digital rules, but Twitter is still not following the norms. The new rules require significant social media intermediaries - those with other 50 lakh users - to appoint a grievance officer, nodal officer and a chief compliance officer. These personnel are required to be resident in India. Industry sources said Facebook and WhatsApp have already shared their compliance report with the Ministry of Electronics and IT, and that the details of the new grievance officers appointed are being updated to replace the existing information on these platforms. Google's 'Contact Us' page shows details of Joe Grier as a contact person with an address from Mountain View, US. The page also contains details on the grievance redressal mechanism for YouTube. As per the rules, all intermediaries have to prominently publish on their website, app or both, the name of the grievance officer and his/her contact details as well as the mechanism by which a user or a victim may make a complaint. The grievance officer will have to acknowledge the complaint within 24 hours and dispose of such complaint within a period of 15 days from the date of its receipt; and receive and acknowledge any order, notice or direction issued by the authorities. The government sources on Friday had said that Twitter is not following the norms. Twitter has not sent details of the chief compliance officer to the IT Ministry, and shared details of a lawyer working in a law firm as a nodal contact person and grievance officer, they added. This when the IT rules clearly require these designated officers of the significant social media platforms to be employees of the company and resident in India, they pointed out. While Twitter did not respond to email queries on the issue, its website mentions Dharmendra Chatur as the 'Resident Grievance Officer for India (Interim)'. Google, Facebook and WhatsApp also did not respond to detailed email queries on the appointment of the personnel as required by the new IT rules. The sources had earlier said that besides Google, Facebook and WhatsApp, other significant social media intermediaries like Koo, Sharechat, Telegram and LinkedIn too have shared details with the ministry as per the requirement of the IT norms. Under the new rules, social media companies will have to take down flagged content within 36 hours, and remove within 24 hours content that is flagged for nudity, pornography etc. The Centre has said the new rules are designed to prevent abuse and misuse of platforms, and offer users a robust forum for grievance redressal. Non-compliance with the rules would result in these platforms losing the intermediary status that provides them immunity from liabilities over any third-party data hosted by them. In other words, they could be liable for criminal action in case of complaints. After the new norms came into effect on May 26, the IT Ministry had turned up the heat on significant social media companies, asking them to immediately report compliance and provide details of the three key officials appointed. The new IT rules also require significant social media intermediaries - providing services primarily in the nature of messaging - to enable identification of the "first originator" of the information that undermines the sovereignty of India, the security of the state, or public order. The large platforms have to also publish periodic compliance reports every month mentioning the details of complaints received and action taken thereon, and the number of specific communication links or parts of information that the intermediary has removed or disabled access to in pursuance of any proactive monitoring conducted by using automated tools or other reasons. New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh on Sunday eased lockdown restrictions in the state allowing certain activities from June 1, though night and weekend curfews will continue to be in effect. The state eased restrictions on weekdays across 55 districts which reported less than 600 COVID-19 cases. Though 20 districts, including Lucknow and Gautam Buddha Nagar, will remain under the existing curfew as they continue to report high number of coronavirus infections. "Curfew will continue in districts which have more than 600 active COVID cases for one more week. When active cases will come under 600 the curfew will end automatically. We've eased restrictions in 55 districts from 7 am to 7 pm," UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said at a press conference in Lucknow, ANI reported. Curfew will continue in districts which have more than 600 active COVID cases for one more week. When active cases will come under 600 the curfew will end automatically. We've eased restrictions in 55 districts from 7 am to 7 pm: UP CM Yogi Adityanath, in Lucknow pic.twitter.com/386AjJns56 ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 30, 2021 In districts that report less than 600 COVID-19 cases, the curfew has been lifted for weekdays. Notably, if cases rise higher than 600 then restrictions on weekdays will be back in place. Meanwhile, shops and markets outside containment zones will be allowed to open from June 1 onwards from 7 am to 7 pm for five days (Monday to Friday). Though, the weekend restrictions or "corona curfew" will remain in place on Saturday and Sunday, and night curfew will remain in place from 7 pm to 7 am. Live TV Dhaka: A human trafficking network spearheaded by Dhaka`s Tiktok Hridoy, 26, is active across the Middle East, India and Bangladesh. The gang has contact with some hotel chains in India, where girls are trafficked, Md Shahidullah, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Tejgaon Division, disclosed this at a media briefing here on Saturday (May 29). Shahidullah told IANS: "Hridoy has a gang comprising some people from the southeastern districts of Bangladesh and some others from Indian states." Recently, Hridoy was in the news after a video of his alleged involvement in the gang-rape and brutal torture of a Bangladeshi girl in India`s Bengaluru went viral on social media. Assam police had shared clips from the video that was circulating on social media to trace the accused, following which the Bengaluru city police arrested four men and two women in connection with the case. The Bangladesh police later identified Hridoy from Dhaka`s Maghbazar as one of the perpetrators of the crime. The rape victim`s father later filed a case with the Hatirjheel police station under the Human Trafficking and Pornography Act on Thursday (May 27) night. The victim`s mother said they were unaware that their daughter had been trafficked to another country. She appealed to the police, "Bring back my daughter right away. I can`t imagine her being so far away, in another country." The victim, who had studied up to grade three, had married a man from Chandpur seven years ago. The couple with their three-year-old daughter used to live in Moghbazar. Her husband is a migrant worker who went to Kuwait three years back, and the woman used to regularly visit her parents. "A little over a year ago, she met her husband`s friend Hridoy in Moghbazar and told me that he would help her find work abroad with her husband. I tried to stop her, but she went anyway," the victim`s father said. He alleged that his daughter might have been coerced into going to India. He could not keep in touch with her as he fell ill following the outbreak of COVID-19. All five Bangladeshis arrested in connection with the incident in India went there illegally, and none of them had passports or visas. They used to traffic school and college girls by conning them with TikTok-related promises, Shahidullah said, adding: "India will investigate the case in its own way and we will probe the matter in our own way. However, since the perpetrators are Bangladeshis, efforts are being made to bring them back to the country through coordination between the two countries. Efforts to bring the survivor back are also being made." Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 21:52:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TAIPEI, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan on Sunday reported 266 new local COVID-19 infections, 89 backlogged local cases and 11 new deaths, the local disease monitoring agency said. It is the 15th consecutive day that the number of new local infections on the island has exceeded 200. Of the new local cases, 123 were male, 143 were female, and the onset of symptoms occurred between May 14 and 29. Among the 89 backlogged cases, 42 were male and 47 were female, the agency said. The 11 fatalities included nine men and two women, who passed away between May 24 and Saturday. Since mid-May, Taiwan has seen a spike in local infections amid strained medical resources. Given the severity of local transmissions, Taiwan has extended its level-3 alert for COVID-19 to June 14. The total number of confirmed cases on the island since the epidemic began has risen to 8,160, including 6,974 local cases. A total of 110 deaths have been reported, the agency said. Enditem South Africa: SA acts against rising COVID-19 infections In an effort to counter the increase in the number of COVID-19 infections, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the country will be placed on Adjusted Alert Level 2 with effect from tomorrow. Addressing the nation on the developments in the countrys response to the pandemic, the President said the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 has recommended that the country urgently implement further restrictions. It bases this recommendation on the sustained increase in new cases in the last 14 days; increased hospital admissions in almost all provinces and an increase in the proportion of COVID tests that are positive. Further restrictions are necessary to ensure that health facilities are not overwhelmed and that lives that could be saved are not lost, Ramaphosa said on Sunday. The Presidents address follows meetings in recent days of the National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC), the Presidents Coordinating Council (PCC) and Cabinet. Delaying the spread of the virus is especially important now to allow as many people as possible to be vaccinated before the third wave reaches its peak, the President said. With the tighter restrictions, the hours of curfew will start at 11pm and end at 4am. Non-essential establishments like restaurants, bars and fitness centres will need to close by 10pm. This is to allow their employees and patrons to travel home before the start of the curfew, Ramaphosa said. All gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 100 people indoors and 250 people outdoors. Where the venue is too small to accommodate these numbers with appropriate social distancing, then no more than 50% of the capacity of the venue may be used. This includes religious services, political events and social gatherings, as well as restaurants, bars, taverns and similar places, the President said. Funerals remain restricted to no more than 100 people, and, as before, night vigils, after-funeral gatherings and after-tears gatherings are not allowed. Several important measures remain in place. It remains mandatory for every person to wear a face mask that covers their nose and mouth at all times when in public spaces. It is a criminal offence not to do so. The owners and managers of public buildings, centres, shops, restaurants, taxis and buses all have a responsibility to ensure that people on their premises or in their vehicles wear masks, and that the appropriate social distancing measures are in place, the President said. Those who test positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate at home for a period of 10 days from when they first develop symptoms. If you have been in contact with a person who has COVID-19, you must also self-quarantine for a period of 10 days following your exposure, even if you do not show any symptoms. Identifying and isolating all contacts of a positive case is our best mechanism to prevent the virus from spreading further, and so it is very important that we all obey the rules for isolation and quarantine, the President said. Citizens urged to continue to observe health protocols The President reiterated that citizens should observe all the health protocols by wearing a mask, observe social distancing and ensure proper ventilation. While the country is headed towards a third wave of infections, we do not yet know how severe this wave will be or for how long it will last. According to the scientists that advise government, the severity of this third wave will largely be determined by the amount of contact each of us has with other people, the President said. He advised South Africans to cut down their contacts during this time, wherever it is possible. That may mean postponing social engagements, avoiding public spaces and not travelling unless absolutely necessary. Gatherings are the greatest sources of transmission, whether its weddings, funerals, social parties, religious services, political meetings or simply gatherings of family and friends, the President said. The President urged citizens to avoid indoor spaces, as Coronavirus is spread through the air when a person speaks, coughs or sneezes. If you need to meet someone, including a member of your family, it is safer to do so outside in a well-ventilated space. Those who are at particular risk, including the elderly and those with comorbidities, should exercise caution and should limit their contacts as much as possible. If each of us makes this effort now, we will help to flatten the curve of infections. We will reduce the pressure on our hospitals, and, in doing so, we will save many lives, the President said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-05-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 23:48:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JAKARTA -- The COVID-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 6,115 in the past 24 hours to 1,816,041, with the death toll adding by 142 to 50,404, the Health Ministry said on Sunday. According to the ministry, 4,024 more recovered patients were discharged from hospitals, bringing the total number of recoveries from the coronavirus epidemic to 1,663,998. (Indonesia-COVID-19) - - - - LONDON -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson married his fiancee Carrie Symonds in a low-key ceremony in London Saturday, a Downing Street spokesman said Sunday. The pair exchanged vows in Westminster Cathedral on Saturday in front of a small group of close friends and family members. (Britain-Boris Johnson-Marry) - - - - WASHINGTON -- Two people were killed and at least 20 more wounded after three gunmen opened fire into a crowd at a billiards club in the southeastern U.S. state of Florida early on Sunday, the authorities said. Director of Miami-Dade Police Department Alfredo Ramirez III said police are looking for the assailants. (US-Florida-Shooting) - - - - MOSCOW -- Russia confirmed 9,694 new COVID-19 infections over the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 5,063,442, the official monitoring and response center said Sunday. The national COVID-19 death toll rose by 355 to 121,162 in the past day, while the number of the country's recoveries grew by 7,386 to 4,677,870. (Russia-COVID-19) Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 01:17:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHENGDU, May 30 (Xinhua) -- As more than 1,000 significant relics have been unearthed from new sacrificial pits at the legendary Sanxingdui Ruins site in southwest China, overseas research institutes, museums and international organizations have congratulated China on its new chapter of archaeological discoveries via video messages. The uncovered cultural relics are large in scale and magnificent in nature, a testament to the diversity and similarity of ancient global civilizations. The discoveries will also help promote cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries, according to the officials and representatives. Revered as one of the greatest archeological finds of the 20th century, the Sanxingdui Ruins entered a new era of excavation work starting from the second half of last year, which mainly involves its No. 3 to No. 8 sacrificial pits. Riveting relics including bronzewares, ivories, jade, gold foils and stone tools were uncovered during recent archaeological digs. Notably, a unique bronze figure with a square altar-shaped bronzeware held up in its hands and an extremely rare bronze ware 115 cm in height were among the most head-turning discoveries. The ruins located in southwest China's Sichuan Province, together with the Jinsha Ruins in the provincial capital of Chengdu, are applying for UNESCO World Cultural Heritage status, the provincial government said Friday. Ernesto Ottone, assistant director general for culture at UNESCO, regards the new discoveries of the site as a milestone in archaeology and human beings' understanding of Chinese civilization. "At a time when many excavations have been forced to a halt due to COVID-19, this discovery is particularly inspiring," Ottone said in a congratulatory video on the site's new progress. Ottone also spoke highly of the site as it provides crucial opportunities for cultural exchanges, research and dialogue, which dovetails with the values proposed by the UNESCO mission. Webber Ndoro, director-general of the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM), congratulated the Chinese archaeologists and China for their long-term dedication to excavating and preserving the ruins. The ICCROM is also ready to collaborate with China to ensure the high-level conservation and dissemination of the archaeological discoveries from the Sanxingdui Ruins, said Ndoro via video. Marcos Antonio Santos Ramirez, curator of the museum of the Chichen Itza site in Mexico, and Anna Vasiliki Karapanagiotou, director of the National Archaeological Museum of Greece, also sent their congratulations to China via video messages. The unearthed relics show the special similarities between Chinese and Mayan cultures that transcend time and space, said Ramirez, adding that the similar features, including the symbolism of ceremonies, the use of jade and sacred trees, are worth further exploration and discussion. Introducing Mycenaean civilization, which is contemporaneous with the Sanxingdui civilization, Karapanagiotou said there are plenty of similarities between Chinese and Greek civilizations, and she expects further cooperation between the two countries to better connect their peoples through cultural heritage and archaeology. The Sanxingdui Ruins were discovered by a farmer when digging a ditch in the 1920s. Covering 12 square km, the ruins are in the city of Guanghan in Sichuan Province, about 60 km from Chengdu, the provincial capital, and are believed to be the remnants of the Shu Kingdom, dating back at least 4,800 years and lasting over 2,000 years. Luo Qiang, vice governor of Sichuan, said the construction of the Sanxingdui National Heritage Park and a new museum is being accelerated to make Sanxingdui a world-famous tourist destination. In 1986, 1,720 unique relics were unearthed in the No. 1 and No. 2 pits, arousing global interest. In October 2019, archaeologists discovered six new sacrificial pits while investigating the area where the No. 1 and No. 2 pits are located. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 01:23:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SHANGHAI, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) has established relations in various forms with more than 600 political parties and organizations in over 160 countries and regions, according to a seminar held in Shanghai. The seminar was co-held by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies and the Shanghai Federation of Social Science Associations on Saturday. Nearly 30 guest speakers from universities and research institutions in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Guangdong delivered speeches to the seminar, which drew more than 150 experts and scholars. The seminar stressed that more than 330 political parties and organizations in nearly 140 countries had expressed their support to the CPC and to China's fight against COVID-19 since last year. Over 240 political parties and international organizations of political parties in more than 110 countries stood with the CPC to oppose the politicization of public health issues, according to the seminar. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 01:42:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LONDON, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Another 3,398 people in Britain have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,480,945, according to official figures released Sunday. The country also reported another six coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 127,781. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test. More than 39.2 million people, about three-quarters of adults in Britain, have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures. Earlier Sunday, the chief of a British health association said "very, very few" coronavirus patients in hospital in England have received two coronavirus jabs, showing the vaccines provide "very high" levels of protection. Patients tended now to be younger, which means there was a lower need for critical care, said Chris Hopson, chief of National Health Service (NHS) Providers, the membership organization for hospital, mental health, community and ambulance services that treat patients and service users in the NHS. However, some British experts have warned that the India-related coronavirus variant could "pick up speed and become a big problem" in Britain if the country further eases its lockdown. Britain's fight against coronavirus could turn bad "very, very quickly" unless the government acts cautiously on easing lockdown further, professor Tim Gowers from the University of Cambridge told The Guardian newspaper. The India-related COVID variant cases have doubled in a week in England to almost 7,000, prompting concerns that the government's lockdown roadmap will be derailed. Experts have warned that coronavirus may continue to evolve for years to come, and eventually it is likely current vaccines will fail to protect against transmission, infection, or even against disease caused by newer variants. The British government's roadmap is expected to see all legal limits on social contact to be removed on June 21. It is understood that a final decision on the planed easing of lockdown will not be made until June 14. To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Russia, the United States as well as the European Union have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 01:47:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced on Sunday the dismantlement of a "terrorist" group in West Azerbaijan province. "The fighters of Hamzeh Seyyed al-Shohada base of the IRGC ground forces clashed last night with a team of miscreants and counter-revolutionaries who were trying to enter our country from the Piranshahr border," the IRGC said in a statement. Two militants were killed and their weapons and ammunition were confiscated, the statement added, without disclosing further details. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 02:08:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ACCRA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) remains committed to a peaceful transition to democratic rule in Mali, Chairman of the sub-regional bloc Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said Sunday. Opening one day's extraordinary session of the heads of state of ECOWAS member states in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, Akufo-Addo, who is the president of Ghana, said the developments in Mali have "grave consequences for the peace and stability of our region." "We must critically examine the dynamics of the current situation and make informed decisions. I am, thus, using this opportunity to reiterate, on behalf of ECOWAS, our continued commitment to the peaceful transition in Mali, with the basic goal of restoring democratic governance," said Akufo-Addo. Akufo-Addo also said the recent happenings in Mali had raised anxiety levels in the region and shaken the hope of a peaceful and successful transition with the ultimate goal of "returning the country to democratic governance, and hopefully, the political stability of the country." He said the political impasse started after the reappointment of the prime minister and the announcement of a new government that excluded two key military appointees. "Unfortunately, this dissolution of the transitional government occurred just a few days after the visit of the mediator, Goodluck Jonathan, who was not informed by the transitional authorities of this development," said the chairman, who stressed that the sub-regional bloc would continue to work for the stability of Mali and the sub-region. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 02:13:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry (R) meets with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi in Cairo, Egypt, on May 30, 2021. Sameh Shoukry met on Sunday with his visiting Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi to discuss solidifying the recent truce in the Gaza Strip and ways to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. (Str/Xinhua) CAIRO, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met on Sunday with his visiting Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi to discuss solidifying the recent truce in the Gaza Strip and ways to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. The two ministers agreed to continue consultations between the two countries and the Palestinian Authority "to explore ways out of the current stalemate in the peace track," the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The talks also addressed the necessary measures to facilitate the reconstruction of Gaza Strip following the recent Israeli bombings that caused massive damages to the Gaza infrastructure. Egypt has allocated 500 million U.S. dollars for the reconstruction. Ashkenazi's visit to Egypt came 10 days after the Egypt-brokered ceasefire that ended the 11-day Israel-Hamas fighting, which left at least 248 Palestinians and 12 Israelis dead. It is the first trip by an Israeli foreign minister to Egypt since 2008. On the other hand, Shoukry's visit to Israel in 2016 was the first of its kind by an Egyptian foreign minister since 2007. During the meeting, Shoukry called for taking further measures during the current truce to reinforce calm and provide the necessary conditions for "creating an atmosphere conducive to reviving the desired political path." The Egyptian top diplomat also reiterated Egypt's fixed position in support of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital based on the 1967 borders. He also referred to the two-state solution as "the only way to achieve just and lasting peace, as well as the desired regional security and stability," emphasizing the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. Ashkenazi's trip to Cairo coincided with Egypt's sending of a high-profile security delegation to Israel and Palestine to discuss related issues and the Israeli-Palestinian truce. The security delegation will discuss ways to reach a comprehensive truce in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, according to Egypt's official MENA news agency. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 02:24:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Kenya said Sunday it had extended night curfew by 60 days while maintaining the ban on political gatherings amid risks posed by new coronavirus strains. The extension on night curfew that commences from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. and the prohibition on large gatherings are part of public health measures aimed at curbing the spread of the virus. The Ministry of Health in early May warned that the country might experience the fourth wave of COVID-19 infections that could be more lethal given the presence of new variants. Despite a drop in positivity rate countrywide in the last two weeks, there have been surges in western Kenyan counties linked to the new variants. Mutahi Kagwe, cabinet secretary for Health, said Sunday that variants originating from India, Britain, and South Africa had been detected in 39 samples from Kenyans who had no travel history. He said the variants were circulating at the community level and could escalate the spread of coronavirus and culminate in the fourth wave expected in July. The government is banking on enhanced public health measures and vaccination to suppress COVID-19, avert a public health crisis and hasten a return to normalcy, Kagwe said, adding that Kenya has ramped up the acquisition of additional vaccine doses to ensure that 60 percent of the country's population is vaccinated by June 2022. Kenya on Friday kicked off the second round of vaccination exercise targeting health care workers, teachers, security personnel and citizens aged 58 years and above. Willis Akhwale, chairperson of the COVID-19 vaccine task force, said that individuals who are eligible for the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine will receive a notification 48 hours in advance. The country on Sunday received 72,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from South Sudan amid intensified efforts to administer booster shots to citizens who received the first dose. The government has maintained that individuals who received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine will receive the booster shot despite the supply crunch. Kenya's confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 170,647 Sunday after 162 people from a sample size of 3,452 tested positive for the virus, with 3,157 deaths. Total recoveries from the disease stood at 116,776, including 84,832 from home-based care while 31,944 were from health facilities. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 02:30:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran reported on Sunday 8,876 new COVID-19 cases, taking the country's total infections to 2,902,094. The pandemic has so far claimed 79,939 lives in Iran, up by 198 in the past 24 hours, the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education said in a written briefing published on its official website. A total of 2,441,528 people have recovered from the disease or been discharged from hospitals across the country, while 4,219 remained in intensive care units, the ministry said. The ministry added that 19,814,489 tests have so far been carried out across the country. By Sunday, 3,494,145 people have received coronavirus vaccines in the country, while 515,908 taking two doses. Earlier in the day, Minoo Mohraz, chief supervisor for clinical trials of Iran's COV-Iran Barekat vaccine against COVID-19, said at a press conference that the vaccine has shown to be safe in the human trials, and it is "more immunizing than we expected." As reported by official IRNA News Agency, Mohraz asked the Iranian health ministry to issue an emergency permit for the public use of the COV-Iran Barekat vaccine. A million doses of the COV-Iran Barekat vaccine have already been produced, and are waiting for the permit from Iran's health authorities, Mohraz added. Iran reported its first cases of the disease in February 2020. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 03:55:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A ship travels on the Suez Canal in Ismailia, Egypt, on May 30, 2021. Egypt's Suez Canal Authority (SCA) announced on Sunday the captain of Ever Given was fully responsible for the grounding of the huge cargo vessel that blocked the canal for six days in March. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) ISMAILIA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Egypt's Suez Canal Authority (SCA) announced on Sunday the captain of Ever Given was fully responsible for the grounding of the huge cargo vessel that blocked the canal for six days in March. "It is due to the captain's repeated orders in a very short time," Captain al-Sayed Shuaisha, head of the SCA's investigation team, told reporters at the SCA's headquarters in the Suez-Canal city of Ismailia. In April, the Egyptian authorities seized Ever Given, one of the largest container ships in the world. The 400-meter-long, 200,000-ton giant vessel ran aground across the canal on March 23 and halted the canal's traffic for six days. "The data from the ship's black box proves that it is not the error of the SCA's mentors," Shuaisha said, adding that the data showed three other ships crossed shortly before the Ever Given. On May 25, Egypt offered to cut its compensation claim down from 916 million U.S. dollars to 550 million dollars against the impounded vessel after the SCA obtained the estimated financial value of the goods on the ship. On Saturday, an Egyptian economic court postponed the trial on the ship to allow for further negotiations on the compensation value. Linking the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, the Suez Canal lost between 12 to 15 million U.S. dollars in daily revenues during the blockage, according to statistics of the canal authority. Enditem SpaceCast Weekly is a NASA Television broadcast from the Johnson Space Center in Houston featuring stories about NASA's work in human spaceflight. They include the International Space Station and its crews and scientific research activities, and the development of Orion and the Space Launch System, the next generation American spacecraft being built to take humans farther into space than they've ever gone before. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 05:30:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ABUJA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian police on Sunday said a group of gunmen killed one resident and abducted some students following an attack in the country's north-central state of Niger. Adamu Usman, police chief in Niger state, told Xinhua on phone the school children were abducted after the unidentified gunmen attacked the Salihu Tanko Islamiya School in Tegina, a town in the Rafi local government area of the state. A large number of the gunmen on motorcycles stormed the town on Sunday afternoon, shooting indiscriminately and killing one resident of the town in the process, said Usman. He, however, declined to give the exact number of students kidnapped during the attack. Local media reported over 200 students of the school were kidnapped by the gunmen. The school is an unconventional one where parents send their children on a daily basis for the purpose of acquiring Islamic education, according to the local broadcaster Channels Television. Niger police spokesman Wasiu Abiodun told Xinhua on phone the security agency is yet to ascertain how many children were abducted from the school. An investigation has been launched to that effect. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-31 06:24:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ACCRA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended Mali from the sub-regional bloc until the restoration of democratic rule in that country, an official said late Sunday. Addressing the media on behalf of the heads of state after their one-day extraordinary summit in Ghana, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, chair of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, said Mali had been tasked to keep to the transitional timetable and restore the country to democratic rule by next February. "The heads of state decided to go according to the treaty of democracy and good governance, to suspend Mali from ECOWAS with immediate effect," said Botchway. At the same time, she said the leadership of the sub-regional bloc would work with Mali to ensure that the transition remains on track toward the end goal of returning Mali to democratic rule by February 2022. Botchway, who is also Ghana's foreign minister, added that another decision of the heads of state was that "within the next few days Mali should appoint a civilian prime minister to guide the transitional process." "The leaders are also asking the international community to continue to engage Mali to ensure that they do not derail the transitional process. The coup in Mali is something ECOWAS frowns upon because it has repercussions for the rest of West Africa," Botchway added. The one-day extraordinary ECOWAS summit was summoned by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, chairman of the sub-regional bloc, to deliberate and make a decision on the impasse within the Malian transitional government. In attendance were the presidents of Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Togo, The Gambia, and Niger. Senegal and Benin were represented by their respective foreign ministers. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the leader of the ECOWAS mediation team to Mali, was also in attendance, to brief the heads of state on the outcome of his fact-finding mission to the Sahelian country. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-29 23:53:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RABAT, May 29 (Xinhua) -- A total of 8,521,177 people have received first doses of COVID-19 vaccine in Morocco by Saturday, the Ministry of Health said in a statement. Meanwhile, the number of people vaccinated with two doses has reached 5,242,075, according to the ministry statement. The North African country launched a nationwide vaccination campaign on Jan. 28 after the arrival of the first shipment of China's Sinopharm vaccines. Morocco's total COVID-19 cases rose to 518,868 during the last 24 hours after 410 new ones were registered, and the number of recoveries increased by 297 to 506,740, the statement said. The death toll from the coronavirus in Morocco rose to 9,138 with three fatalities added during the last 24 hours, while 221 people remained in intensive care units, it added. The COVID-19 fatality rate in Morocco stands at 1.8 percent while the recovery rate is 97.7 percent. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 00:25:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ACCRA, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Despite multiple challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ghanaians' craze for the Chinese language continues, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana Chu Beijuan told Xinhua Saturday. Speaking to Xinhua in an interview during a Chinese proficiency competition named "Chinese Bridge", Chu said the Ghanaian college students' active participation in the competition is a testament to the trend. "Ten students out of dozens stood out in the final competition, including some non-Chinese majors, and their language proficiency and understanding of Chinese culture have amazed all judges," Chu said. Michael Oduro, who was the champion of the competition, said his language-learning journey was not easy as a college student, and it has become even more difficult during the pandemic. "At the beginning, I found the Chinese characters were so hard to learn, so at a point of time, I wanted to drop the Chinese. But through the motivation and encouragement from my teachers, I had a chance to move on," he said. "Because of the pandemic, my school made a policy that only allows us to have classes online, and this makes teaching and learning more difficult for some of us, but we were able to go through it," Oduro added. Chu said that during the pandemic, the institute not only gave lectures to university students online but also rolled out a series of online courses for the public to cater to their increasing needs for learning the language. "We are excited to see the Chinese language is gaining more popularity here," Chu said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 09:32:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Egypt and China share common features across the history of humanity despite long distances, especially an appreciation of the past and expectations for the future, said Mohamed Elkhosht, president of Egypt's Cairo University. "Greatness of nations emerge from their civilization, art, science and social progress. Both Egypt and China have a long history and nurtured great civilizations," Elkhosht told Xinhua in a recent interview. "Both countries had encountered hardships, moments of rise and fall, but their spirits remained and are valuable to learn from," said Elkhosht, also a professor of philosophy of religion and contemporary philosophy. Since late 2018, the first Egyptian-Chinese archeological mission has been working seasonally at the Karnak Temple Complex of Egypt's monument-rich city of Luxor, inspiring many Egyptian and Chinese experts to strengthen related cooperation. As of now, Egypt and China have been cooperating closely in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic through exchanging medical aid and expertise and offering mutual support and solidarity. At the political level, the form of a central government has appeared early in both countries' history. After entering modern times, the two countries have fully stimulated the people's sense of national identity and united the people against oppression and civil strife. "We all stress the individuals' duties toward the country," he said. Speaking of the responsibility to develop one's country, he specifically mentioned that China has uninterruptedly adhered to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which is rarely seen in other countries. Based on that path, China has built a giant economic model, leading the country into a new era, he said. "Thanks to the Communist Party of China, we can see a great country at the economic, political, social and cultural levels today," he said, adding that China has fostered its rise by promoting international ties with developed and other developing countries. The solid relationship between Egypt and China started during the founding of the people's republic of China in 1949, and was further strengthened during the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 based on the mutual visions of fighting against international imperialism, Elkhosht added. The two countries elevated their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014 amid their consensus on several international and regional issues. At the scientific level, Cairo University and Shanghai Academy for Social Sciences in 2018 signed a comprehensive research deal on expanding the benefits of using research to serve the development of both countries, he said. As a member of the sciences and innovation policies committee in Shanghai University on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Elkhosht said he believes the initiative will change the world trade map. He said that Egypt will benefit from the BRI's trade and other fields. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 21:31:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A participant (L) of the Seeds for the Future program receives a certificate in Harare, Zimbabwe, May 28, 2021. A group of 30 students from Zimbabwe's universities on Friday completed a week-long virtual learning workshop with Huawei Zimbabwe as part of the Chinese telecom giant's Seeds for the Future program. The program is envisioned as Huawei embraces Corporate Social Responsibility in its global mission which aims to nurture young ICT professionals in host countries. (Xinhua/Tafara Mugwara) by Tafara Mugwara HARARE, May 30 (Xinhua) -- A group of 30 students from Zimbabwe's universities on Friday completed a week-long virtual learning workshop with Huawei Zimbabwe as part of the Chinese telecom giant's Seeds for the Future program. The Seeds for the Future program is envisioned as Huawei embraces Corporate Social Responsibility in its global mission which aims to nurture young ICT professionals in host countries. In addition, the program seeks to cultivate digitally resilient young people who have the skills needed to be competitive in the 21st century. The hands-on intensive learning experience took the participating students on an exciting journey that equipped them with valuable knowledge on cutting edge technologies such as 5G, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing among others from top industry experts and professionals from Huawei. The participating students were also able to experience Huawei products and services through virtual tours, presentations and exchanges with Huawei executives. The students had the opportunity to take part in virtual visits to historic sites in China. Beneficiaries of the event described the program as an eye-opener that has given them a new ICT perspective and broadened their career paths. One of the outstanding students, Ronaldo Chiureki, a Civil Engineering student at the University of Zimbabwe, promised to use what he learned to contribute to the development of the ICT sector in Zimbabwe, stressing that the program had been a life changer. "We did Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, 5G, cybersecurity, and a course on leadership," he said. "The one on leadership was my favorite because it helped me discover that you need purpose, you need something that keeps you going, and also it doesn't work saying that I have a dream, you have to make that a reality, something like I have a plan, I have a goal, and I actually changed my attitude from something like I have a dream to something like I have a goal." Another outstanding student, Takudzwa Tarutira, a telecommunications student at TelOne Center for Learning, said China provides a learning template to Zimbabwe's ICT players. "If we can continue engaging with the giants like Huawei, we can be able to tap their knowledge, they can be able to give us the knowledge that they have and the experience such that we as Zimbabweans can be able to adopt the technologies that China is using for the betterment of our ICT industry," he said. Best female student Mitchelle Rivha, a University of Zimbabwe Computer Science student, challenged women to penetrate the ICT and engineering sectors which are heavily male-dominated. "More ladies should get into the engineering sector, they should come to the sciences and experience it because they too can do it," she said. "If anyone else can do it, then they (girls) too have the power and the capacity to do it. I believe they can also achieve as much as the boys can achieve." Jeremiah Chakaamba, one of the best performers and a University of Zimbabwe student, said Zimbabwe has so much to benefit from adopting advanced technologies. "Taking 5G for example, if it comes to Zimbabwe right now, we are talking about driverless cars, we are talking about telemedicine, a doctor might be in India but doing an operation here in Harare, those are the possibilities that are offered by 5G, and I am very glad to be part of this program," he said. Eighty undergraduate students from different universities have benefited from the Seeds for the Future program since it was launched in Zimbabwe in 2015. Huawei Zimbabwe has been operating in the southern African country since 1999 and has played a significant role in upgrading Zimbabwe's ICT infrastructure. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 23:50:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOGADISHU, May 30 (Xinhua) - The Somali National Army (SNA) said Sunday its forces have killed about 100 al-Shabab militants in recent operations in the Middle Shabelle region of southern Somalia. Somali army chief Odowaa Yusuf Rage said the operations, which were carried out in the region to flush out al-Shabab terrorists from the area, have seen insurgents suffer heavy losses and several commanders killed. Odowaa told state-owned Radio Mogadishu that several areas including al-Shabab bases have been liberated from the militants. The army chief said the military operations, which are still underway in the Middle Shabelle region, will be intensified until the insurgents who have conducted terror attacks to kill and maim innocent residents will have been wiped out from the region. The al-Qaida allied terror group has lost many areas previously under its control, but the militant group is still capable of staging attacks in Somalia. The latest operations come as government forces have intensified operations against al-Shabab in the central and southern regions. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-29 23:26:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHARIKAR, Afghanistan, May 29 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and 11 others wounded after a roadside bomb hit a university bus in Afghanistan's eastern Parwan province on Saturday, a spokesman of the Interior Ministry said. "The explosion occurred in Police District 7 of provincial capital Charikar city roughly at 4:15 p.m. local time. The bodies and the wounded were transported by provincial police and the rescue team to hospitals in the city," Tariq Arian told Xinhua. All the affected people were aboard the bus carrying lecturers and students of Alberuni University, he said, adding that the bus was damaged by the force of the blast. More details would be made public later as an investigation is underway to find more facts about the incident, Arian noted. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Chairman of the High Council for the National Reconciliation of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah strongly condemned the bomb attack in the province. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 15:41:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SUVA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Fiji confirmed 23 new positive COVID-19 cases on Sunday night, bringing the total tally to 401 in the Pacific island nation. The Fijian health ministry also reported additional 18 cases on Saturday. Of the 41 new cases, 16 were from the Fiji Navy cluster, 12 from the Waila cluster, nine from the Narere cluster and two others from Nadi, Fiji's third largest city. Fiji has reported 331 new infections since the second outbreak of COVID-19 started in April this year, with more than 60,000 tests being conducted. The country now has 233 active cases with two in critical condition. A total of 164 people have recovered and four deaths have been recorded since the first confirmed case was reported in March last year. The Permanent Secretary for the Health Ministry James Fong said the country was never COVID-free and it could only contain the virus. No country is safe until every country is safe and for Fiji, nowhere is safe until everywhere is safe, he said, adding that more quarantine and isolation facilities are being built. He also urged all Fijians to accept these facilities in or near local communities as they are all safe. The Suva-Lami-Nausori containment zone still maintains a curfew from 6:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. every day while the rest of the Viti Levu, Fiji's main island where Suva is located, started on Sunday a curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. every day. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 19:52:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KATHMANDU, May 30 (Xinhua) -- New coronavirus infections have been declining in Nepal in recent days, however, the country is still facing many challenges as the daily infections remain high. NEW INFECTIONS DOWN The Himalayan country reported 8,000-9,000 cases on most days in May before a decline was shown in the last few days since the second wave of infections started in early April. The tally has fallen since Wednesday below 7,000 cases per day, with 4,311 infections recorded on Saturday. Nepali health officials and experts, however, are cautious about the downward trend. "The stabilization in cases or slight decline does not mean that the situation has come under control fully," Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli told the foreign press on Thursday. Nepal's health facilities had been pushed to their limit when the coronavirus sickened more than 8,000 people each day for many days and left many dead, and hospitals had to turn away patients due to a lack of medical oxygen and beds. The authorities have enforced a lockdown in most districts of the country which in no doubt has helped stabilize new infections. Likewise, an increasing supply of oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators, other medical equipment and hospital beds through joint efforts of the government, private sector, non governmental organizations and foreign governments has also contributed to the eased situation, according to officials. "Our assessment is that the case loads are still in the peak and it will remain so for some time before declining," said Krishna Prasad Paudel, director of the epidemiology and disease control division under the Health Ministry. "It is necessary for Nepal to continue the existing measures of lockdown and social distancing along with testing and isolating the infected people to bring down the cases for a longer term," he told Xinhua. According to Nepali Home Ministry, the prohibitory measures have been enforced in 75 of 77 districts in the country. MORE TESTING, TRACING NEEDED Even though a sign of slowing has been seen mostly due to the prohibitory measures, less focus on contacts tracing, low testing and lack of vaccine could lead to another wave, cautioned officials and experts. "The government data show a decreasing trend of COVID-19 but I don't believe the prevalence of COVID-19 infections has come down. Because of under-testing, the cases appear to have gone down," said Binjwala Shrestha, an assistant professor with Tribhuvan University. "Over half of the samples are tested in Bagmati Province where capital Kathmandu lies, so the cases reported don't reflect the reality," she told Xinhua. On Saturday, the samples were tested in 77 labs across the country, of which 42 are based in Bagmati Province, according to the health ministry. "Without controlling the cases at a community level by increasing testing and isolation of the infected, substantial increase in health facilities may not be enough," said Shrestha. According to Krishna Prasad Paudel, the central government is facing the challenge of mobilizing local governments for contact tracing, testing and isolating the infected. "The local governments are supposed to undertake these tasks but some of them have been actively working toward prevention, while others have remained passive," he said. CASES SPREADING OUTSIDE KATHMANDU In the early days of the second wave of COVID-19, some cities bordering India, including Nepalgunj and Butwal, were badly affected along with the Kathmandu Valley. Now, the cases have spread to other parts of the country. In Barpark, a tiny remote village in the Gorkha district, over 200 people have shown COVID-19-like symptoms as of Thursday, according to Bishnu Prasad Bhatta, chairman of the Barpark Sulikot Rural Municipality. "At least 60 cases were confirmed through antigen tests," he said. "Just a week ago, we had almost all the patients coming from the Kathmandu Valley. Now, half of the patients are from outside the valley," said Santa Kumar Das, coordinator of the COVID-19 Management Committee at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu. There are not enough health facilities in the rural areas. By the 2018-19 fiscal year, Nepal had a total of 1,921 hospitals, of which 1,336 were based in Bagmati Province, according to the Department of Health Services. "As people are struggling to get hospital beds and oxygen in the Kathmandu Valley where health facilities are largely concentrated, the question is how we could cope with the Kathmandu-like situation of coronavirus outside the valley, Paudel said. Also, there is another challenge of not having enough human resources to operate health facilities. "Like other health facilities, human resources of the medical sector are also concentrated in the Kathmandu Valley, which will be a challenge to cope with a potential surge in cases outside the capital city," said Paudel. For Paudel, another worry is that it will be "very difficult" to manage oxygen in the Karnali and Sudoorpaschim provinces in mid and far-western Nepal, where there are not many oxygen plants and the places are geographically remote. VACCINE GAP Nepal was among the few countries to start a vaccination drive early, and since January it has provided the first dose of vaccine to 2.11 million people, while another 654,851 have got both jabs, with people inoculated twice accounting for 2 percent of the total population of some 30 million, according to the Ministry of Health and Population. The ministry currently has just 90,000 jabs of Covishield vaccine, while the country has failed to secure more doses from India as the southern neighbor is battling a devastating second wave of COVID-19 at home. "There is now a real risk that over 1.3 million people aged over 65 may not get second jabs of Covishield vaccine anytime soon," said Jhalak Sharma Gautam, chief of the National Immunization Programme under the Health Ministry. The health ministry said days ago that the gap between first and second doses of the Covishiled vaccine had increased to 12-16 weeks from 8-12 weeks after failing to get the India-made vaccine. According to Premier Oli, his government has been holding discussions with all countries which produce COVID-19 vaccines about supply to Nepal. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 20:13:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Turkish and Russian auto industry representatives have agreed to boost trade despite the COVID-19 pandemic. During the online forum "the Russia Automotive Digital Sectoral Trade Delegation," which ended on Friday, representatives of 26 Turkish and 45 Russian automotive firms held around 200 meetings on how to overcome the shocks of the pandemic, said Turkey's Uludag Automotive Industry Exporters' Association. "Russia is one of our most important foreign trade partners in the automotive industry," said Baran Celik, head of the association, adding that Turkey's automotive sector has targeted 30 billion U.S. dollars in exports this year. Celik noted that Turkey's exports to Russia increased to 1.1 billion dollars in 2013, "but in 2020, this figure dropped to 468 million dollars." The pandemic has caused "unprecedented losses" in the sector, especially in the first half of 2020, and the sector is facing new challenges this year, such as chip and raw material shortages, and rising commodity prices, he said. Still, Celik believes that "trade between Turkey and Russia will increase" in the coming years. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 21:05:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Luke Nolan works in the bar "Funky Monkey", in Brussels, Belgium, May 28, 2021. For bar manager Luke Nolan, the decision by the Belgian government to allow the hospitality sector to reopen outdoor terraces from May 8 arrived not a moment too soon. Before that, Luke and his colleagues survived months of harsh management of the bar due to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing takeaway meals in the evenings. "It's been a major relief for everybody and excellent for us to be back to work and excellent for our mental health. For people, it's great as they can switch off their laptops after work and come out to the pub or go to a restaurant", said Luke in an interview. Though global pandemic caused huge impact to the hospitality sector in Belgium, hope has been witnessed as the ease of restrictions were carried out step by step. "Since things reopened, it's been hectic but a good hectic. We're super excited for the summer ahead and we stay positive all the way through", Luke concluded. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) Source: Xinhua| 2021-05-30 19:39:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and at least 20 others wounded in a mass shooting early Sunday outside a club in Hialeah city in the U.S. state of Florida, said Miami-Dade police director Alfredo Ramirez III. "I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence, where over 20 victims were shot and 2 have sadly died," Ramirez said in a tweet. He said several attackers "shot indiscriminately into a crowd." According to CNN, three people got off a white Nissan Pathfinder with assault weapons and handguns and started firing into the crowd that was gathered for a concert at the venue. Enditem South Boston, VA (24592) Today Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 62F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. John Vincler in The Paris Review: I will remember 2020 not as a year of looking but as a year of listening. For months as the pandemic overtook New York, ambulance sirens sounded at all hours in strange choruses. When the sound of the sirens would break occasionally or fade into the distance after dawn, it was replaced not by eerie silence but by birdsong: the shrieks of the blue jays, the playful cheeps of the sparrows in the bushes, the eeks, chirps, and oddly varied sounds of the grackles everywhere. I wondered then, Were these sounds always here, and it was we who were made quiet? I rarely left my neighborhood of Ditmas Park, in Brooklyn, except to take my partner, Kate, pregnant with our second child, to appointments at the Manhattan hospital complex that was itself a hive of sirens that grew louder each time we approached. In my memory the sirens and birdsong were followed by police helicopters seemingly always overhead, as the city erupted in Black Lives Matter protests and the violent police response that only ensured they should continue. The helicopters loomed in the skies above as I ran circles over the same patch of weeds in the small plot of our shared backyard, playing a game my four-year-old daughter, Leo, calls dinosaur chase (she is the dinosaur, I am her lunch). Half the year was marked by interrupted sleepfirst the constant fireworks at all hours of the night and then, by the end of the summer, the squawking and cooing of the baby, unaware of the distinction between day and night. As I write this, collecting a year, it is spring again. The neighborhood seems to be returning to some approximation of the old sounds from before. That is, if we can recall the way it used to sound. Even the old sounds are heard differently now. With my daughter in her mud boots, bird book and binoculars in hand, as the baby sleeps at home on Kate, we begin each day our circuit. Leo collects sticks, rocks, and seed pods, stomps in puddles, and pauses to track blue jays in a tree, following their noisy stutter. More here. William Dalrymple in The Guardian: In the hot summer of 1840, the young orientalist Henry Rawlinson arrived in Karachi and began anxiously searching for his mentor, the pioneering archaeologist of Afghanistan, Charles Masson. The rumours he had heard profoundly alarmed him. Rawlinson was a rising star: he had recently made his name by helping decipher ancient Persian cuneiform script; but he looked up to Masson as a far greater scholar. For more than a decade, Masson had wandered, alone and on foot, exploring Afghanistan, collecting coins and inscriptions, studying ruins and making sketches. The bilingual Hellenistic coins Masson had sent to Calcutta, minted by men with names such as Pantaleon, King of North India and Demetrius Dharmamita, had been like miniature Rosetta stones. They had provided the key for scholars to understand the profoundly hybrid, Greco-Buddhist ancient history of the region. The coins of Heliochles of Balkh were typical: they showed a Roman profile on one side large nose, imperial arrogance in the eyes but on the reverse Heliochles chose as his symbol a humped Indian Brahmini bull. More here. Expresamos nuestras sentidas condolencias a los familiares de las victimas del #Vraem en Peru y al pueblo peruano. Compartimos el mensaje del Alto Representante de la #UnionEuropea ???? @JosepBorrellF ???? pic.twitter.com/cemYwdaPJH US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) is being criticized for comparing mask mandates to Nazis forcing Jews to wear yellow stars A hat shop in the US state of Tennessee was hit with backlash on Saturday, one day after promoting a yellow star patch like those worn by Jews in Nazi-era Germany, labeled "not vaccinated." It was the latest skirmish in the culture war surrounding Covid vaccination in the United States, which has suffered the highest death toll of any country in the pandemic. Iconic American hatmaker Stetson said Saturday it would no longer do business with the Nashville shop HatWRKS, which was excoriated on social media and targeted by protesters. On Friday, HatWRKS shared on its Instagram account a now-deleted photo announcing the arrival of the $5 patches. It showed a woman, reportedly the business owner, wearing a yellow Star of David with the message "not vaccinated" on her black T-shirt. "Your Nazi star badges are perhaps the most offensive, anti-Semitic thing I've ever seen," one user posted on the business's Facebook page, summing up the social media outcry in response to the post, while others used the hashtag #HATEWORKS. Local media showed a few dozen protesters outside the shop on Saturday, including some who held up a banner declaring "No Nazis in Nashville!" And Stetson, known for its Western hats, said on Saturday that "as a result of the offensive content and opinions shared, Stetson and our distribution partners will cease the sale of all Stetson products to HatWRKS in Nashville." The business, which regularly posted content on social media expressing views against coronavirus restrictions and Democratic President Joe Biden, replaced its controversial post with another one addressing its critics. "people are so outraged by my post? but are you outraged with the tyranny the world is experiencing?" it said. "if you don't understand what is happening, that is on you, not me." The HatWRKS controversy came the same week that Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene repeatedly equated Covid mask mandates with Nazis forcing Jews to wear yellow stars. Story continues "Vaccinated employees get a vaccination logo just like the Nazi's forced Jewish people to wear a gold star," the freshman Republican from Georgia tweeted about a business making its employees who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus wear a vaccination logo on their name badge. She was sharply criticized by leaders of both political parties. Biden on Friday deplored recent anti-Semitic attacks in the United States, saying in a statement: "We cannot allow the toxic combination of hatred, dangerous lies, and conspiracy theories to put our fellow Americans at risk." acb/dw Aussie department store Harvey Norman has been slammed on social media for a response on its official Twitter account to a purported former employee who claimed working for the company made them suicidal. The backlash began on Friday when an anonymous account run by a person who claimed they once worked for the chain Tweeted at the company, accusing it of blocking people for talking about wage strikes taking place against the company. "Working for your god forsaken company drove me to suicide in 6 months," they wrote. "To the 50 people paid $200k a year to manage one account go f*** yourselves." The strange exchange drew heavy criticism online. Source: Twitter In response, the @HarveyNormanAU account Tweeted two emojis a face palm and a waving hand. The day before the response, the same Harvey Norman Twitter handle had posted: Twitter is no longer a customer service channel and is unmanned. Questions have been raised about whether or not the company is behind the Twitter account, or if it has been hacked. Yahoo News Australia has contacted Harvey Norman for comment. Other Twitter users were quick to hit out at the company and encouraged each other not to shop at the chain. I made the decision to never step into one of their stores last year, one man said. This is the most revolting, irresponsible response to a tweet containing sensitive health information Ive seen from a corporate entity, a woman wrote, saying she will never spend another cent there. Congrats Harvey Norman, you have lost me, my friends and family as customers, another man said. Harvey Norman has been the subject of scrutiny in recent months after it was revealed it would not return $14.5 million in JobKeeper funds. Source: Getty Employees protest outside stores Harvey Norman has been the subject of scrutiny in recent months after its billionaire founder Gerry Harvey revealed it would not return $14.5 million in taxpayer-paid JobKeeper funds despite company profits increasing by 116 per cent during the pandemic. Story continues Mr Harvey one of the country's richest men has also strongly opposed wage rises. On Friday frustrated employees armed with signs protested in front of stores in Queensland, NSW and Tasmania, demanding wage increases. The Australian Council of Trade Unions said in a press release that 2.2 million workers are in need of a pay rise and are calling for a 3.5 per cent increase. On Friday frustrated employees armed with signs protested in front of stores in Queensland, NSW and Tasmania. Source: AAP Harvey Norman saw the global pandemic as an opportunity, doubled its profits, benefited from a delay in the last increase in wages and then refused to pay back JobKeeper, ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said. Its now time for Harvey Norman to step up and support a 69 cent an hour pay rise. Prime Minister Morrison must also stop supporting big business calls for real wage cuts what the economy needs now is people with money to spend. For many workers, a 3.5 per cent increase would make a significant difference after nearly a decade of low wage growth. Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. From left to right: Yair Lapid, Naftali Bennett and PM Benjamin Netanyahu Israeli nationalist hardliner Naftali Bennett said Sunday he would join a potential coalition government that could end the rule of the country's longest-serving leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Lawmakers opposed to right-wing Netanyahu have been in intense talks ahead of a Wednesday deadline, as a ceasefire held following the latest deadly military conflict with Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu, 71, who faces trial on fraud, bribery and breach of trust charges, which he denies, has clung to power throughout a period of political turmoil that has seen four inconclusive elections in under two years. A March vote saw Netanyahu's Likud party gain the most seats but he again failed to form a government. Opposition leader and former TV anchor Yair Lapid now has until Wednesday evening to build a rival coalition. Lapid, 57, is seeking a diverse alliance the Israeli media has dubbed a bloc for "change", which would include Bennett as well as Arab-Israeli lawmakers. In his determination to bring down the hawkish prime minister, Lapid has offered to share power and let Bennett, 49, serve the first term in a rotating premiership. Bennett, after meeting members of his religious-nationalist Yamina party, said Sunday: "I will do everything to form a national unity government with my friend Yair Lapid." Lapid and Bennett's parties started talks on Sunday night to formalise the deal, they said in a statement. Religious-nationalist Yamina won seven seats in March 23 elections, but one member has refused to join an anti-Netanyahu coalition. Netanyahu, who has been in office for 12 consecutive years after an earlier three-year term, in his own televised address minutes later lashed out at the plan, calling it "a danger for the security of Israel". - 'Desperate position' - He had earlier Sunday tried to cling to power by offering his own, last-ditch power-sharing agreement to several former allies including Bennett. Story continues He warned Israel would otherwise be ruled by a dangerous "left-wing" alliance. Lapid has until Wednesday 11:59 pm local time (2059 GMT) to build a coalition of at least 61 deputies, a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. A Lapid government would also include the centrist Blue and White party of Netanyahu's rival Benny Gantz and the hawkish New Hope party of his former ally Gideon Saar. Avigdor Lieberman's pro-settlement Yisrael Beitenu party as well as historically powerful Labour and the dovish Meretz party would also join. The shaky arrangement would need the backing of some Arab-Israeli lawmakers of Palestinian descent in order to pass a confirmation vote in parliament. The intense talks follow weeks of escalating tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, including a deadly 11-day exchange of rocket fire from Gaza and devastating Israeli airstrikes. The war with Hamas that ended with a May 21 truce, as well as violence in the occupied West Bank and in mixed Jewish-Arab towns in Israel, initially appeared to leave Netanyahu more likely to hold onto power. But political scientist Gayil Talshir at Hebrew University told AFP on Sunday that Israel was now "closer than ever" to a coalition of change, adding: "Netanyahu is in a desperate position". Netanyahu's Likud party won 30 seats in the March elections but failed to form a governing coalition after his far-right partners refused to sit with Arab factions or receive their support. Lapid, whose party won 17 seats, was then given four weeks to form a government. Netanyahu had previously pushed for yet another election -- Israel's fifth in a little more than two years. - More elections? - On Sunday Netanyahu offered his own proposal of a rotation agreement with Bennett and Saar. But Saar on Twitter said he remained committed to "replacing the Netanyahu regime". Netanyahu in a video then called on Saar and Bennett to "come now, immediately" to meet him and join a three-way rotation government, warning they were "in crucial moment for the security, character and future of the state of Israel". Lapid's "change" coalition also still faced several obstacles. Some right-wing lawmakers object to a partnership with politicians from Israel's Arab minority, around a fifth of the population. The recent Gaza conflict sparked inter-communal clashes between Jewish and Arab Israelis in mixed cities. Arab politicians have also been divided about joining a government headed by Bennett, who supports expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians hope to create a state. Even with support from an Arab party, a new coalition in Israel is unlikely to reverse years of Israeli settlement construction or bring peace any time soon with Hamas in Gaza. If the anti-Netanyahu camp does not manage to form a government on time, a majority of 61 lawmakers could vote to ask the president to name a new premier. Another scenario would see the country return, yet again, to the polls. bur-ah/par A man almost swallowed a nail which was submerged in Kraft Heinz-brand gravy he had recently purchased from Woolworths. The man explained on the Woolworths Facebook page he had already reported the incident to Kraft Heinz, but decided to reach out the the supermarket giant due to the "seriousness" of the incident. "Yesterday I decided to try the new Bare Bones gravy with black garlic, to accompany my Woolies pepper steak, pre-packed roasted vegetables and Parmesan roasted potatoes," he said on Facebook. "Mid-way through the meal, I experienced a horrendous situation, in which I almost swallowed a nail that was concealed within the gravy." A Woolworths customer found a nail in his Bare Bones gravy. Source: AAP/Facebook The man also shared photos of the nail and his meal, saying he held on to the nail in case Woolworths or Kraft Heinz needed it for the investigation. In a statement to Yahoo News Australia, a Woolworths spokesperson said the company was aware of the customer's report and is engaged with the supplier to review the complaint. "We encourage the customer to return the product to their local store for a full refund," the spokesperson said. A statement from Kraft Heinz to Yahoo News Australia said the company takes complaints like this one "very seriously" and an investigation will be launched. We are sorry about the experience the consumer has had here," the statement said. "This product passes through multiple filters and an x-ray machine capable of detecting metal, so the likelihood of a nail being present as a result of the manufacturing process is extremely remote. "We have noted that other pre-packaged products were consumed as part of the meal." Kraft Heinz said the company will conduct an investigation. Source: Facebook The statement also said Kraft Heinz would be asking the customer to return the product and the nail so the appropriate tests could ben undertaken. Story continues "The review process should be able to identify what has occurred in this situation, Kraft Heinz said. Despite finding a nail in his food, the Woolworths customer did indicate he would be happy to purchase the Bare Bones gravy again. "The gravy actually tasted really good and Id probably purchase it again without added nails, however!" he wrote. Investigation finds nail was not from gravy Kraft Heinz followed through with the investigation and found the nail the man found in his food was not from the gravy. In a statement to Yahoo News Australia, Kraft Heinz revealed the metal item found in the gravy was not a nail, but a rivet from the metal tongs he used to serve the meal. So, the metal item was not from the Bare Bones gravy as the customer initially thought. "Kraft Heinz wishes to thank the customer for his cooperation in this matter and has provided him with a new packet of Bare Bones gravy, as he indicated that he had very much enjoyed this product," the statement from. Kraft Heinz said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Software engineer Casey Whitelaw would love to drive an electric car but doesn't have anywhere to charge it. Like so many people, he can't make the cutting-edge technology work for him just yet. "Electric vehicles are absolutely the way to go but the reality is widespread uptake is about 10 years away," Mr Whitelaw told AAP. But being a former Google engineer, he's managed to build a whole business around the idea that most people will have to keep driving their greenhouse-gas emitting petrol cars for some time. He's designed an online platform called Go Neutral, where motorists can directly offset one year's worth of carbon emissions from the average car. "People are looking for more things they can do to make a difference but they often feel stuck," Mr Whitelaw said. "There are 20 million cars in Australia; we think it would be great if we could make one million of those cars carbon neutral." Go Neutral customers pay $90 to offset 3.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is about what the average car produces each year. The company then buys carbon credits generated by environmental projects around Australia. Customers are rewarded with a bright orange car bumper sticker that is designed to be highly visible to other drivers. "Absolutely it's virtue signalling - but I don't think that's a bad thing," Mr Whitelaw said. While the idea of carbon abatement isn't new, the market has not been very accessible for individual consumers and Mr Whitelaw hopes his company will be the first to change that. Go Neutral only has about 900 customers so far but has already caught the eye of carbon farming firm Green Collar, which announced the acquisition of Go Neutral earlier in May. Green Collar CEO James Schultz told AAP the sale means Go Neutral's carbon credits will be directly linked to his company's environmental projects, so customers can see exactly where their money is going. Story continues Green Collar's projects cover about 15 million Ha, and generate roughly five million tonnes of carbon abatement each year, mostly through land regeneration and improving soil carbon and livestock management. Mr Schultz believes the Go Neutral model will be the first in the world to offer carbon abatement for individual vehicles on a large scale. "It has the ability to get to the scale of the solution we need ... There is no shortage of people who are really keen to take action," he said. Green Collar has been working on carbon abatement measures with landholders for the past 10 years, using tested accounting methods to calculate how much carbon dioxide its projects absorb. "We can put a tape measure around a tree and know how much carbon it's taking up," Mr Schultz said. While Mr Whitelaw says government action will make the most difference on climate change, he believes there's a growing appetite for individuals to take responsibility for their own carbon emissions. "It's all about connecting normal people with meaningful climate action," he said. Crime-and-courts alert JUVENILE JUSTICE NY's youth prisons had far more suspected COVID-19 cases than previously known Editor's note: This story was co-published with The Imprint, an independent, nonprofit daily news publication covering child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health and educational issues. Visit imprintnews.org to learn more. Last month, with the nation emerging from its darkest stretch of the pandemic, New York state touted how COVID-19 infections in its 11 detention centers for sentenced youth were kept low and remain low. For the first time, the Office of Children and Family Services posted data backing up its assertion, reporting only 32 coronavirus cases among more than 500 youth residents and 258 staff. The low numbers contrasted sharply with infection rates and hospitalizations that skyrocketed this winter across rural and suburban regions where the lockups are located. Yet previously unreleased and more detailed state data obtained by The Imprint reveals the low number of positive cases may not fully capture COVID-19s reach among these detained youth: During the first 11 months of the pandemic, youth were quarantined 454 times for suspected COVID-19, while only 94 tests were administered. The rate of testing in the states general population was roughly 12 times higher than that of the juvenile justice system, which was well below the standard of care designed to prevent spread of infection, said Meghan Peterson, director of the University of North Carolina School of Medicines COVID Prison Project, who reviewed New Yorks data. Among the 94 tests conducted, more than 20% were positive far higher than the World Health Organizations 5% threshold for too high, and the roughly 1% positivity rate in some other states juvenile justice systems. During the same period, according to state data, more than 600 employees went on leave for suspected infections with eight hospitalized and two reported to have died. Tim Donaher, the chief public defender of Monroe County, whose young clients are held in the Industry Residential Center near Rochester, said the scant testing was unconscionable and undoubtedly contributed to the trauma those children suffered by being incarcerated. Meanwhile, even with mask mandates and public lockdowns in retreat, the risks of infection in detention centers remains high, where most staff and those locked up have not been vaccinated. As of mid-May, fewer than 14% of the detained young people ages 12 to 20, and 33% of staff, reported being fully vaccinated, according to the states Office of Children and Family Services. Despite the low number of vaccinations and high number of youth and staff with symptoms or known exposure, state officials stuck to their testing practices throughout the deadly pandemic testing only a fraction of the incarcerated young adults who spend their days and nights in crowded dormitories and day rooms with rotating shifts of approximately 1,200 frontline staff. In April, The Imprint reported that the state conducted just 26 COVID-19 tests in nine juvenile detention facilities in the first six months of the pandemic. And unlike other large states, it had failed to publicly share infection rates in youth lockups. Three weeks after the story was published, New York officials began posting limited virus information on a state website for the first time. The practice of incarcerating children is fundamentally rooted in the treatment of Black and brown youth as disposable. The staggering lack of COVID testing provided to New Yorks incarcerated youth, who are predominantly children of color, is further evidence of that fact, Brooklyn state Sen. Jabari Brisport said in a statement. Our children are not disposable and we cannot abide by a system that treats them as such. Leading experts on COVID-19 and corrections who reviewed the Office of Children and Family Services data for The Imprint agreed: The state almost certainly missed many infections, likely endangering staff and their home communities. Backed by robust research findings, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Public Health Association and New York Citys Health and Hospitals Corporation which manages health care in adult correctional facilities all recommend aggressive testing for COVID-19 in correctional settings, beyond symptomatic cases. Kids arent as likely to die, but they are a priority in terms of preventing them from spreading the disease, said Dr. Josiah Rich, an infectious disease and corrections expert at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, who contributed to a landmark study last year on mitigating COVID-19 in detention centers. The problem with outbreaks in youth facilities is you will get staff who are sick, and some of them might die. Rich added that given the lack of testing, New York probably screwed up here, and the suspected case numbers underscore the urgency of vaccinating all staff and eligible young people. But in a statement, a spokesperson for Children and Family Services the agency overseeing the facilities touted its performance during the pandemic and stressed that the well-being of youth and staff is a top priority. We at OCFS are extremely proud that our strict adherence to health and safety measures resulted in low rates of infection among staff and youth in our juvenile justice system, said Monica Mahaffey. She added that protections included isolation of youth newly entering the facilities, strict mask protocols, screening and limiting visitors. The numbers speak for themselves and we stand by our successful record, Mahaffey said. In response to queries about its testing and quarantine policies, her office provided more than two dozen internal documents. None described when or how testing should occur. Kevin Rivoli, The Citizen The Harriet Tubman Residential Center in Sennett reopened in 2018 after it had been closed for several years. Just one document covered testing of youth a December letter sent to parents that focused on protocols for returning home. OCFS does not test youth before they transition to the community. There are important reasons for this, the letter states. The agency explained that it declines to test so as not to create any false sense of security for youth or families. Rich at Brown University described that argument as ridiculous, and typical of some corrections systems nationwide that could have identified infections, but by not testing you have your head in the sand and dont know whats going on. He said he hoped corrections officials learn from this coronavirus disaster for the next outbreak: We have correctional administrators that dont know much about public health. And we have public health administrators that dont know much about corrections, Rich said. We really needed to get them together on the same page, working together. The 11 detention facilities run by the Office of Children and Family Services are located outside New York City from the Rochester area to the Hudson River, with one minimum-security facility on Long Island. One site in rural Delaware County was closed to new intakes last year, and at least two more are slated for closure due to the long-term decline of the incarcerated youth population statewide. Nine of the remaining state lockups are higher-security, reserved for young people convicted of more serious offenses, including robbery and homicide. The barbed wire-encased compounds for youth are the most restrictive in the state, though they provide enrichment services and a focus on rehabilitation not typically seen in adult prisons. Each facility houses as few as five residents or as many as 60, most in their mid- to late-teenage years. Most youth sentenced to the state-run detention centers come from Long Island, or upstate cities like Buffalo and Rochester. Sticker shock: The cost of New Yorks youth prisons nears $1 million per detainee A once-shocking 2008 price tag has grown four-fold to almost $900,000 a year for some of those detained, making New Yorks youth lockups the most costly in the nation. In interviews, three parents of young people who had been incarcerated in two of the states detention facilities over the past year told The Imprint they never received information about their children being quarantined or tested, or about any suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases in their facilities. Each requested anonymity out of fear of retribution from the justice system. To obtain information, a reporter had to file Freedom of Information requests to Children and Family Services. The first request, submitted before the state posted limited COVID-19 data on its website in late April, took four months to be fulfilled; the second request took three months. This lack of transparency on COVID-19 data in youth detention centers earned New York an F grade in a study released in March by legal scholars at University of Texas at Austin. Dozens of other states, including large ones like California and Texas, have posted these COVID-19 infections on public websites since last summer, and some have conducted universal on-site testing. Although New York did not specify the number of individual children placed in quarantine, the more than 450 quarantine instances suggest as many as 8 in 10 youth housed in 11 detention facilities could have had COVID-19, or were exposed to it. The data ultimately released to The Imprint provided some information that is not included in the states recently published public portal. For example, at the medium-security Industry Residential Center near Rochester, state officials reported placing children in quarantine 143 times due to suspected COVID-19 symptoms or known exposure to the virus. Yet, only three tests were given to youth from March of 2020 through this January. OCFS also reported 26 "confirmed" staff cases in Industry, yet 99 staff took leave for "suspected" cases, but were not tested by their employer, the state agency. Similarly, at Brookwood Secure Center in Columbia County, OCFS reported youth in quarantine 56 times due to suspected symptoms or known exposure to the coronavirus. At that facility as well, only three tests were conducted over 11 months. Meanwhile, a county government news release in late March attributed a rise in the infection rate in the upstate rural region, in part, to infections coming from Brookwood. The announcement was removed from Columbia Countys website shortly after a reporter inquired about it. OCFS has done a deeply irresponsible job during the pandemic, thats clear in the data, said Katie Schaffer, director of organizing and advocacy at the nonprofit Center for Community Alternatives. Thats been clear anecdotally from families with young people who are incarcerated. Families weren't getting the kind of updates they needed to not feel incredibly anxious. A spokesperson for the Public Employee Federation, which represents more than 50,000 state employees, including frontline detention staff, expressed similar criticisms. An agency responsible for the well-being of some of New York's most vulnerable citizens has not done enough to protect them or the staff who work there, said the unions communications director, Rob Merrill. This fresh data clearly shows a higher level of virus exposure, which, had it been provided to the union sooner, would have greatly enabled us to properly assess risk and implement better control measures. Before Memorial Day weekend, U.S. Rep. John Katko reintroduced two bills that were inspired by central New York veterans. Katko, R-Camillus, is renewing an effort to pass the Lawrence J. Hackett Jr. Vietnam Veterans Agent Orange Fairness Act. This legislation was first introduced by Katko's predecessor, former U.S. Rep. Dan Maffei, in 2014. The bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a task force to determine how to provide financial support and health care coverage to veterans exposed to Agent Orange. It would also seek to create an outreach campaign to raise awareness about the risks of Agent Orange exposure, which has been linked to various forms of cancer and other diseases. Hackett was from central New York and served with the Army during the Vietnam War. He was exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam. He died of cancer in 2006. Katko reintroduced the bill with a Democratic cosponsor, U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb. Lamb is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. We also don't yet know why clownfish living in giant carpet anemones presented higher levels of thyroid hormones than those that didn't. That, according to Laudet, might have something to do with adapting to the harsher environment presented by that species of anemone, which is more toxic than the magnificent sea anemone and with shorter tentacles, providing less shelter. Laudet thinks it's possible that different thyroid hormone levels could also impact other factors in the life of clownfish, such as immunity, metabolism and appetite. "The problem is that we have a very poor understanding of the environment of the clownfish within their sea anemone. They probably are sensitive to things that for us are invisible," Laudet said. "My dream would be to be able to sense like a clownfish to better appreciate the difference between the two sea anemone species. I am convinced that for them it is huge!" Laudet added. Pauline Salis, the study's first author and a postdoctoral researcher at the Observatoire Oceanologique de Banyuls-sur-Mer, Sorbonne Universite Paris and the French National Centre for Scientific Research, spoke to CNN about how complementary approaches among the researchers benefited the study, which took four years to complete. A lot happens before first responders arrive to any scene. Dispatchers work hand-in-hand with our first responders to ensure they have up-to-date information before arrival. They communicate with our EMS providers, fire department personnel and police officers using our emergency communications system. They provide them with patient information as well as safety information, allowing them to be prepared to take over on arrival. Cayuga County 911 employee Patty Campbell says "Our job may have clerical duties ... but theres a lot more, including liability. "Many people think we just sit around answering phone calls all day, part of which is correct. We do have chairs to sit in and we do answer phone calls. What most people dont know is that we answer the administrative and non-emergency phone calls for every law enforcement agency in the county. We also answer all of the phone calls from the public requesting a fire department and ambulance in the county. When you have a question about a pistol permit, it comes to us first. Or maybe you have a question about your landlord changing the locks and whether its legal for them to do so. Yep, its us again. What if you need to conduct a controlled burn on your property and you need to know if theres a burn ban? You guessed it, us again. Suzuki Motorcycle India is planning to boost its exports to developed markets such as Japan and New Zealand, in order to cash in on the demand of Indian models. While the company's exports saw a dip last year, it is hoping to increase its export shipments as most of the international markets where it exports have recovered from the Covid-19 crisis. Currently, the company is focusing on markets such as Latin America, Japan and South East Asia. It is also looking to increase exports to neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh. "If you look at all the world, the demand for Indian models is increasing drastically. So, we have to catch up with such kind of demand as soon as possible," Suzuki Motorcycle India's Company Head Satoshi Uchida was quoted as saying by PTI. (Also read | Suzuki Motorcycle India starts deliveries of new-gen Hayabusa) During the 2020-21 fiscal year, Suzuki Motorcycle's exports were down 33.09% at 70,369 units when compared to 1,05,164 units in 2019-20. However, the company said that its order books exceeded what it could actually supply and the situation continues even now. Situation improved for the company in March and April this year. In May, due to oxygen-led disruptions in the supply chain "everybody will make less. So, this month may be an aberration, but next month onwards, a similar improvement is expected," Suzuki Motorcycle India's Vice-President - Sales, Marketing and After Sales, Devashish Handa, was quoted as saying by PTI. (Also read | Suzuki Motorcycle's 'project' to ramp up production gets delayed by 18 months) This year, the company hopes to cross the one lakh unit exports mark again with its increasing exports to some newer and developed markets. The company's main markets continue to be Bangladesh in South Asia, Colombia and Mexico in Latin America. About exporting to Africa, Uchida told PTI, "We need a little bit more time. We are focusing on big premium products... Africa is still a commuting market." Tamil Nadu, one of the hardest-hit states by the Covid-19 second wave, has announced that industries including the automobile plants can keep operating in accordance with the Covid-19 safety measures. This comes after significant companies such as Hyundai and Renault-Nissan were forced to shut down operations as workers feared getting infected. The state which is seeing more than 30,000 cases per day has extended its near-total lockdown on Friday. The death rates are also seeing a rise. With the announcement to carry on operations, the state government has also directed all the vehicle manufacturers to initiate plans to vaccinate all the employees within a month. Many companies have also initiated drive-in vaccination centres, said a report by Reuters. According to the report, the labour unions said that many workers, in and around Chennai, have lost their lives due to Covid-19. Automakers such as Ford Motor Co and Hyundai Motor Co situated near Chennai shut down their production after employees protested over unsafe working conditions. Renault-Nissan too shut their manufacturing plants after workers threatened to boycott work saying that social distancing rules were not being followed. Eicher Motors-owned Royal Enfield shut its three units as well due to safety concerns, said the report. The labour unions at Hyundai, Ford and Renault-Nissan are in talks with the companies as workers are scared to go back to work after the orders. "We're scared about working. The company is citing government orders and asking us to report for work. The government needs to think about the welfare of workers," a senior union leader at Hyundai said. The automakers are also trying to reach a middle ground with the leaders. Health and safety of our societies, partners and employees is our topmost priority," said Biju Balendran, managing director at Renault-Nissan India. The state government has also given a green signal to units with export orders located near Chennai to start operations. Construction and mining equipment maker Caterpillar Inc and Taiwan electronics manufacturer Foxconn have been directed to operate with 50% capacity. (with inputs from agencies) The festival is proposed to be anchored by both an art competition and a speaker series. The ArtWins Arizona competition is proposed to award more than $300,000 in prizes and grants including $50,000 grand prizes. Depending on funder interest, prize values could be even higher. The festival will provide a regional and national platform for local artists, creatives and thinkers, as well as attract global participation. Since 2019, a diverse group of nonprofit art, science and culture stakeholders, led by Chris Verrill, Executive Director of Theatrikos Theatre Company, met to identify a signature event that energizes Flagstaffs creative and collaborative spirit. Initially conceived as a festival showcasing Flagstaffs performing and visual arts community, it was adopted in 2020 by Flagstaff Arts Council to expand the event defining Flagstaff as one of the Southwests most creative cities. Then, in 2020, ArtWins Arizona approached FAC and the citys Beautification and Public Art Commission for Flagstaff to be its chosen home for an international art competition based on ArtPrize Grand Rapids. FACs board of directors and the festival committee have been evaluating whether a major art competition is the best format for the future festival. Brand Dubai, the creative arm of Dubai Media Office, in collaboration with Dubai Holding, has unveiled a 200-m-long 3D artwork as part of the Jumeira brand identity campaign. Launched under the umbrella of the Jumeira Project, an initiative introduced in 2018 to raise the areas profile as a social and cultural destination, the public artwork is part of Brand Dubais efforts to infuse a new creative energy into the prominent neighbourhood. Displayed on a 236 X 12 metre hoarding, the artwork created by 3D international artist Juandres Vera features an image of a painting brush creating long strokes of sea waves ridden by surfers. The immersive artwork, inspired by surfers on Jumeira beach, allows viewers to be part of a 3D illusion of them creating the waves with a brush. The project is among several of Dubai Holdings ongoing initiatives aimed at empowering the emirates creative community as part of its mandate to operate For the Good of Tomorrow. Since the inauguration of its Dubai Walls initiative in 2016, Dubai Holding has rolled out various public art projects across its destinations, attractions and communities, allowing the public to explore the works of unique world-class artists. Managing Director Khalid Al Malik said: "Our partnership with Brand Dubai will enable us to further drive public engagement with art and creativity across the city to help enhance peoples happiness and quality of life. This new initiative forms part of a series of Dubai Holdings art activations that have enriched Dubais public spaces and its overall urban ambience." "We truly believe in the positive, powerful impact of creative expression on society. In line with our mission to operate For the Good of Tomorrow, we are proud to continue playing a role in promoting appreciation for art and artists and enhancing the experience for the community in all our destinations," Al Malik added. Expressing delight at the Dubai Holding partnership, Nehal Badri, Director of Brand Dubai, said it offers an exciting new public art experience in the city that will help enhance Dubais urban environment and highlight the citys thriving creative culture. "The Jumeira brand identity campaign was launched with the aim of raising the neighbouroods profile as a social and cultural hub that provides diverse creative and aesthetic experiences for the community," noted Badri. Dubai Holdings art and creativity initiative, Dubai Walls, has seen several activations since 2016 including: Souk Seven, Sculpture Park in Jaddaf Waterfront as well as various art and street art festivals hosted across Dubai Holding destinations including JBR, City Walk, La Mer, Al Seef and d3. "Through the campaign, we have been committed to enhancing Dubais position as an incubator for creativity through several projects that highlight Jumeiras unique character as a bridge between the citys past and present," she added.-TradeArabia News Service For those of us of a certain age, is any hope of optimism a fools errand? After all, as Lilly Tomlin said, No matter how cynical you get, its impossible to keep up. I dont know about you, but Ive spent the last few years trying to keep up. Shes right. You cant. So, are we each confined to a tunnel of self-limiting beliefs? The pessimist sees only darkness; the optimist sees the light at the end; the realist sees the train; and the engineer sees three idiots on the track. How does one nurture optimism, any way? According to Highlights, we are thinking about the future and new ways we can support children who find the good in hard times, who learn from and move on from mistakes, and who believe that they can make a difference in the world. Find the good in hard times? Learn from and move on from mistakes? Make a difference? Hold the phone! (How quaint that sounds. Everyone is holding a phone already.) Air tankers and helicopters dropped fire retardant and water on homes, brush and dry grass and a shelter was set up at an elementary school in the town of Wickenburg, about an hour's drive from Bagdad. Bagdad resident Jerry Hoddy, whose duplex was engulfed by the fire, told azfamily.com that he learned of the blaze thanks to a neighbor who banged on his door while he was napping. Hoddy said he grabbed his phone, a briefcase with important documents and three fishing poles. Despite the loss of his home, Hoddy was thankful he and others escaped without injury. My involvement with sports all through high school and college has prepared me mentally for most disasters that life can throw at you. Well all get through this as a community, Hoddy said. Aerial video streamed Friday by azfamily.com showed multiple gutted or flattened homes, some with charred vehicles parked on driveways, amid apparently undamaged homes. At one home, a motorboat in the backyard was the only large object that appeared to survive the fire. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Pope Francis encourages political leaders to work actively for the common good, to provide the means and resources needed to enable everyone to lead a dignified life and, when circumstances allow, to assist them in resuming their normal daily activities. It is concerning to see the virulence of the virus in India, and it is even more concerning to hear how those who have received vaccinations are still falling ill. Providing vaccines and stopping the pandemic is not only a humanitarian issue, but it is also the only way to prevent a new rise in the USA of cases and a continuing cycle of deaths. To be sure, if weve learned anything from this pandemic, its that were all interconnected. The virus knows no borders, and we must be bold, yet humble to eradicate it. As we come together with our families in the U.S. in the next few months, its my hope that our sisters and brothers overseas those who remain in isolation will not be forgotten. Too many families are searching for medical services, too many are searching for hospital beds, and too many are searching for the oxygen to keep their family members alive. My family has felt the consequences of the pandemic, and I know many other families have suffered around the world. Lets ensure no one else has to suffer the same fate. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi urged state officials on Saturday to localise the components of the water desalination technology in a bid to achieve further progress in this field. El-Sisi stressed maximising the amount of water coming from desalination and treatment water stations, a statement by the presidential spokesman, Bassam Rady, read. He urged the integration of the water desalination strategy with the states general policy for the wise management of water. The president ordered officials to continue conducting further studies and experiments in this field to reach the best outcome. The presidents directives come within the general framework of building the national capacity of the state in all fields, the statement noted. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli, Minister of Planning Hala El-Saeed, Minister of Housing Assem El-Gazzar, Presidential Adviser for Urban Planning Amir Sayed Ahmed and Chairman of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority Ihab El-Far. The meeting reviewed the states strategic plan in terms of seawater desalination plants, Rady said. During the meeting, the president reviewed the operational desalination plants and those under construction or set to be built. El-Sisi also reviewed the plan to distribute the suggested plants nationwide together with the cost and capacity of these projects,including projects to desalinate Red Sea water using new and renewable energy. El-Gazzar last month revealed that 14 seawater desalination plants are being built in Egypt, with a total capacity of 476,000 m3 of water per day, at a cost of EGP 9.71 billion. The 14 plants, expected to be completed by June 2022, are being constructed in the governorates of Marsa Matrouh, the Red Sea, North Sinai, South Sinai, Port Said, Daqahliya, Suez and Alexandria, El-Gazzar's statement read. When built, the plants will bring Egypts tally to 90 desalination stations with a total capacity of 1,307,69 million m3 per day due to the operation of 76 existing seawater desalination plants, with a total capacity of 831,690 m3 per day, the minister said. The plan works to provide alternative sources of drinking water through desalination in coastal governorates and reuse treated water, he added. Egypts annual share of water is 560 m3 per person, placing the populousous country well below the international threshold for water scarcity. Prime Minister Madbouly affirmed last month that the state has carried out development projects as part of its efforts to ensure every drop of water is preserved, including the construction of more seawater desalination plants. The states move towards building more desalination plants comes amid a water shortage threat Egypt faces due to Ethiopias plan to unilaterally continue its massive dam filling in July. The Ethiopian step comes despite the absence of a binding deal that secures the interests and water rights of Egypt and Sudan, a matter that has been frequently rejected by the two downstream countries. The membership has simply aged and we knew that we were probably going to have to get someone else to do itIm 67 and Im probably one of the youngest, Saunders said. When other organizations did not follow through with their commitment, conversations with the staff and volunteers of the Young Marines began. With a membership of 38 boys and girls, the Billings unit was recently recognized as one of the best within the national non-profit. Despite the outbreak of COVID-19, the unit still tallied over 2,000 hours in community service. Saunders led the Young Marines through the process of how to set each flag in its copper sleeve within each headstones concrete foundation. Then, as a courtesy, stepping away from the headstone and rendering a salute. This cemetery will show you the breadth of the service in all of the wars, Saunders said to the Young Marines before the days work began, Maybe read a name or two as you go by. Saunders has plenty of names to remember for the holiday: his colleagues in the DAV, the World War I veterans who his organization helped to honor, along with his father and father-in-law who both saw combat in World War II before they turned 20. CROW AGENCY Gary Whiteman, a resident of Crow Agency since the 1970s, pulled dinner out of the Little Bighorn River for himself and his grandson last Thursday. The same river that delivered the giant catfish has also delivered the 59-year-old's drinking water since he was his grandsons age. Just upstream from where Whiteman and 8-year-old Nacoma Jefferson were hooking catfish, a facility was taking in river water to be treated and distributed to about 1,300 people living in and around Crow Agency. Two facilities treat the water flowing from the Little Bighorn River, one managed by tribal authorities and the other by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The plants are the only ones of their kind throughout the entire Apsaalooke Nation. Although he has lived through multiple boil orders (at least two were ordered by tribal officials just in 2020) and complete shutdowns of water flow from the plants, Whiteman said hes still happy with the tap water in his home, where hes lived for the past 20 years. Im lucky, especially when I talk to people who have a well or cistern, he said. Climbing was closed last year due to the pandemic. Married and a father of three, Muir has six grandchildren. The last one a boy was born while he was still in the mountains during his current expedition. Tsang made only two stops between the base camp, located at 5,300 meters (17,390 feet), to the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) summit to change, and covered the near vertical distance in 25 hours and 50 minutes. She was lucky because there were barely any climbers on the way to the highest camp at South Col. After that, on her way to the summit, she met only climbers making their descent, which did not slow her speed climb. There are only a few days of good weather left on the mountain this year, when hundreds of climbers line up to the summit, many having to wait for a long time in the traffic jam on the highest trail. I just feel kind of relief and happy because I am not looking for breaking a record," she said. I feel relieved because I can prove my work to my friends, to my students." She made a previous attempt on May 11, but bad weather forced her to turn back from a point very close to the summit. She then returned last Sunday. The Dakota Zoo in Bismarck is constructing a facility that will include a penguin enclosure -- but not the cold, snow-filled type you might expect. Zoo Director Terry Lincoln said officials hope to open the exhibit by the end of summer. "We havent identified an opening time yet but I can say were making steady progress," he said. "My hope is well be able to open this facility up before school starts." The facility will be along the wilderness trail and will house eight male African penguins. Lincoln said a penguin exhibit has been highly requested over the years and that visitors and staff are excited to finally meet the birds coming from other animal facilities. The exhibit will include an outdoor and indoor pool with naturalistic rockwork. Contrary to popular belief, Lincoln said, the penguins will be outside in the summer and kept inside the heated facility during the colder months. "They are from Africa, so they enjoy warmer weather," he said. "We don't have to make snowstorms for them; these aren't the type of penguins that like that." Gov. Doug Burgum has directed all government agencies to fly the U.S. and North Dakota flags at half-staff until noon on Monday in observance of Memorial Day. Burgum encourages North Dakotans to also lower flags at their homes and businesses. His directive is in accordance with a proclamation issued by President Joe Biden. North Dakotans are encouraged to observe the presidents proclamation, which designates the hour beginning at 11 a.m. local time Monday as a time when Americans might unite in prayer and reflection, and to observe the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time. On Memorial Day, we pause to honor and reflect on those courageous members of the Armed Forces who gave their lives for our country, Burgum said in a statement. We are eternally grateful to those who stood in harms way to protect our nation and defend the values we hold dear so that the rest of us might be free. Burgum will be among those delivering remarks during the Memorial Day ceremony at noon Monday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan. This years theme is Korean War Never Forgotten." Aldar Properties has announced that Noya Luma, the third phase of its key residential development Noya on Yas Island featuring a total of 189 standalone villas, got sold out within four hours. This comes following the rapid sell-out of the first and second phases of the community, demonstrating the persistent demand for high-quality homes on Yas Island, said the Abu Dhabi developer. In total, Noya, Noya Viva and Noya Luma have generated more than AED2.5 billion in the past six months, it stated. Adding to the first two phases, Noya Luma brings 189 standalone villas to the Noya masterplan. Located in an investment zone, Noya Luma is open to all nationalities with buyers at the development representing a total of 24 countries. UAE nationals purchased the highest number of units (50%), followed by buyers from Lebanon, Jordan, Canada and Syria. Additionally, 73% of buyers purchased their first Aldar property, while 53% were under the age of 40 and 31% of total purchases were made by women. Commenting on the robust sales, Chief Commercial Officer Rashed Al Omaira said: "The entire Noya development has proven to be incredibly popular amongst investors and homeowners, with Noya Lumas success solidifying the community as one of the most desirable new residential addresses in Abu Dhabi." "To satisfy the needs of our customers, we made the decision to only offer standalone villas at Noya Luma following the significant interest registered in villas at the first two phases and this has proven to be a very successful approach," he stated. "Similar to other recent launches, we saw growing interest from overseas buyers at Noya Luma and we expect this trend to continue as more and more expats realise the benefits of Abu Dhabis recently implemented real estate, residency and investment reforms," he added. According to him, in total, AED560 million in sales was generated at Noya Luma. Prices for three-bedroom villas starts from AED2.41 million, while four- and five-bedroom villas starts at AED2.77 million and AED3.27 million respectively. The average plot sizes at Noya Luma were larger than their phase two counterparts, allowing for increased indoor and outdoor space, he added. Aldar said Noya Luma is the latest addition to its residential portfolio on Yas Island, which includes Noya, Noya Viva, Yas Acres, Waters Edge, Lea, Ansam and Mayan. Construction at Noya Luma will begin in November, with the handovers likely in February 2024, it added.-TradeArabia News Service "You have great options on the table," the governor said. "What do we do about the Skyway? What do we do about the Kensington? What do we do about the Scajaquada? Those are the decisions you have to make, and the caution is this: The worst thing you can do is to let the perfect be the enemy of the good." Money for all three? The decision could come down to how far along they are in completing federally required studies. In other words, how shovel-ready are they? That's often a deciding factor in which projects get to advance when federal dollars become available. "When you talk about which one should go first, it's really which one's ready," state Sen. Sean Ryan said. However, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has talked about the importance of projects that are both "shovel-ready and shovel-worthy." The latter refers to the $20 billion the Biden administration wants to set aside to remove highways that destroyed mostly Black neighborhoods in the mid-20th century. That may mean projects, such as the Kensington Expressway will be strongly considered for its destruction of Humboldt Parkway and its impact on the East Side, even if they're behind in the review process. If they show up in the class, even if theyre only there for five minutes, they get marked as present, said Jim Healy, a history teacher at the Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. We have kids smart enough that they know they can check in, answer a question or two in the chat, and then take off. Buffalo school administrators acknowledge that absenteeism has surged this school year. Many families are dealing with financial challenges brought on by the pandemic, they point out. Some students are homeless. Others have entered the foster care system. An unknown number have lost family members to Covid-19 or have been sick themselves. There are no excuses, but what we know is that a significant number of our children and families were in survival mode, said Tonja Williams, associate superintendent for student support services. And its not just in Buffalo. Miami, Philadelphia, New York City theyre all experiencing some of the same things we have had challenges with, in terms of tracking students who have been experiencing traumas during this pandemic. Republicans are using the tactic to a greater degree this year, too. John C. Garcia, vying for the GOP sheriff nomination, has submitted petitions for two parties Back the Blue and Guardian. Democrat Kimberly L. Miller-Beaty, meanwhile, has established the Justice and Peace Party after she earlier lost a bid for the permanent Working Families line. In Amherst, four of Chairman Brian D. Rusk's Republicans have filed for the United for Amherst line. He says many in the GOP no longer covet the Conservative nod. "The Conservatives in Amherst have been taken over by liberal, union Democrats," he said. "The Conservative Party in Amherst has lost its compass." A new party is surfacing in Hamburg town races, too. Stefan I. Mychajliw Jr., the county comptroller who is running for supervisor, is joining other GOP types on the Support Police line. He says the effort is to attract those not interested in "defunding the police." "They can vote for radical progressives or true conservatives," he said, adding elimination of former alternatives like Independence makes the new lines "critical." "The more lines you have, the better your chances," he said. Lauren Griffin was eating lunch at her desk at work when her mother called. Griffin's twin brother was dead at the age of 30. U.S. Army Maj. Andrew Byers, a member of the Green Berets and a special forces commander in Afghanistan, had been gunned down on Nov. 3, 2016, while securing shelter to safely provide medical aid to other injured members of his team and partnering Afghan forces. +6 Special Forces captain from Clarence killed in Afghanistan Andrew D. Byers was born to serve and to lead. While attending Clarence High School, he told his friends of his dream to one day attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. When he was accepted, his classmates were impressed. But he was always impressive whether it was as a member of the high school swimming team which Byers, a Clarence native, was one of two Green Berets killed in action during that battle, which resulted in a third of its fighting force being decimated by casualties. After Byers' death, many reached out to help, wanting to do something for him and his family. But his sister wanted the focus to be on more than just one person. "It's bigger than that," she recalled thinking. Nearly five years later, that bigger project has become a reality. The Town of Clarence is dedicating a new Veterans Memorial on Monday, not just in memory of Byers, but in honor of the more than 450 Clarence residents who served, and the 55 Clarence residents who were killed in action from the War of 1812 through Afghanistan. At that time, the Peace Center was involved in drawing awareness to anti-Muslim sentiment. In 2016, as Donald Trump became a contender in the presidential campaign, protests were planned against him. Ross organized workshops on nonviolent direct action to teach people how to protest peacefully and how to de-escalate tensions. After Trump's election, numerous marches and protests took place in Buffalo, and Ross always made sure to be there to lend her organization's support for peaceful protest. She's been excited to see the power of protest, but knows it's not enough. "It's vital and is vitally important, and I will just say necessary but not sufficient. There are so many things that are needed for change. So big rallies in the street are one of them, but also working behind the scenes, also electing people who will actually not ignore the wishes of their constituents all of those things, they're all important pieces," Ross said. EmEl was born in Buffalo, but her early childhood was spent in Kansas City where her parents were part of a tight-knit Baptist community. She returned to Buffalo and went to various schools before going to Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts where she had an experience that taught her the importance of standing up for your beliefs. A pair of military vets navigate the hilly, meandering paths in a historic cemetery in Boston, searching out soldiers' graves and planting American flags in front of them. About 10 miles away, scores of other vets and volunteers do the same, placing more than 37,000 small flags on the downtown Boston Common a sea of red, white and blue meant to symbolize all the Massachusetts soldiers killed in battle since the Revolutionary War. It's an annual tradition that returns in full this year after being significantly scaled back in 2020 because of the pandemic. In Boston and elsewhere, this holiday weekend will feel something closer to Memorial Days of old, as COVID-19 restrictions are fully lifted in many places. "This Memorial Day almost has a different, better feeling to it," said Craig DeOld, a 50-year-old retired captain in the Army Reserve, as he took a breather from his flag duties at the Fairview Cemetery earlier this week. "We're breathing a sigh of relief that we've overcome another struggle, but we're also now able to return to what this holiday is all about remembering our fallen comrades." During the course of a lifetime, certain world events stand out. Even if they do not affect you directly, these occurrences become etched into ones psyche. Afterward, you can recall exactly where you were and what you were doing at the time of the event. Michael Silverman My View (copy) Michael Silverman, of Amherst, has vivid memories of dramatic world events. At the beginning of June 1953, my family had recently acquired its first television. Eager to find out what I could watch, my 7-year-old self arose early in the morning before school, and turned it on. A young woman in royal clothing was being feted. It was the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Amazingly, she still rules. On May 5, 1961, during second period class, the principal interrupted over the public address speaker. We listened mesmerized as a broadcast came on describing the blast off of the Mercury rocket, which was to deliver the first American, Alan Shepard, into space. Despite losing the race to be first to the Soviet Union by three weeks, it was still a thrilling moment. On Friday, Nov. 22, 1963, I was a high school senior at Brookline High outside Boston. Around 12:45 we were startled when the principal came on the loud speaker and told us that there was an early dismissal. All students were ushered out the main entrance by town policemen who informed us that President John F. Kennedy had been shot. In 2020, rainbow smelt became a dominant food source for walleye again, according to the survey results. Age 4 walleye length (condition) and weight were both slightly less than average. A high abundance of walleye and more competition for food can lead to a slower growth rate and that is what biologists are seeing. Lake Erie yellow perch is doing well right now, too. At least in New York waters. Ages 3 to 6 perch produce the best fishing and we had strong classes in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2019. However, 2017 and 2018 are relatively poor classes. Average adult abundance is a good sign for this year, Wilkins said, but we have had poor recruitment in two of the last six years. Fish biologist James Markham, also with the Lake Erie unit, noted there have been above average catch rates in 12 of the last 13 years. He said anglers averaged 17 perch per boat trip last year. The 11-inch average for these fish is the highest in Lake Erie, Markham said. These are dominated by a strong 2016 year class (age 5). Catches of the 2019 year class (age 2) is expected to increase in the fall fishery this year (with 8- to 9-inch fish). FILE PHOTO: People walk past one of the entrances of Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court where Australian writer Yang Hengjun is expected to face trial on espionage charges, in Beijing By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australian blogger Yang Hengjun, facing trial in Beijing on espionage charges that he denies, asked the judge to exclude evidence obtained in interrogations where he says he was tortured, according to a message conveyed to family and friends. In his first comments since Thursday's court hearing, which was closed to family and Australian consular officials because China says it involved state secrets, Yang also expressed concern that geopolitical tensions may influence the outcome of his trial. "If a wrong decision is made because of political pressure or bad international relations, under the pretext of national security, that's bad," he said in the message, which was seen by Reuters and verified by a source with knowledge of the matter. Diplomatic ties between Australia and China have deteriorated sharply since Yang was detained in January 2019, with China imposing trade sanctions on some imports from Australia and reacting angrily to its call for an international inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus. Australia says it has received no explanation for the charges against Yang, and foreign minister Marise Payne on Friday labeled Yang's case "arbitrary detention" after consular officials visited him in detention. "I hope Australia can keep communicating with China on good terms to help bring about my release as soon as possible," Yang said in the message. Yang said he addressed the court directly for three to five minutes during the six-hour hearing. "I was tired and confused, and didn't have the spirit to speak enough," he said, adding he was satisfied with the defence presented by his lawyers. Human rights lawyers Mo Shaoping and Shang Baojun were appointed by his family but have been forbidden from speaking to anyone about the details of the national security case. Yang said he had told the judge: "I hope that Chinese rule of law wins." Story continues Yang said he met the judge on Monday, ahead of the hearing, and made a plea to exclude his interrogation records. "It's illegal. Torture. They had hidden camera records," he said. Yang was held in residential surveillance at a designated location, a form of informal detention without legal representation, for six months in 2019, and Australia has repeatedly complained about the conditions under which he was held. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment, although its spokesman Zhao Lijian has previously rejected allegations of torture. "All of Yang Hengjun's lawful rights have been fully guaranteed, and there is no so-called torture or abuse," he told reporters in December. Yang said in the message he had "served China when I was young, even secretly, and I helped people". Reuters previously reported Yang had told supporters he worked for Chinese security agencies before migrating to Australia in 1999. He later became a high-profile blogger who wrote about Chinese democracy. Yang said in the message released on Sunday he doesn't know which espionage agency he is alleged to have worked for. "I didn't work for Australia or the U.S. I'm only writing for people," he said. He said he was worried about the outcome of the case, and noted a verdict could be delayed by up to two years. "I've already been held in a place worse than prison for over two years now," he said. China's foreign ministry said on Thursday that "judicial authorities handled the case in strict accordance with the law, (and) fully protected Yang Hengjun's litigation rights". Potential penalties in espionage cases range from three years to the death penalty. (Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Kim Coghill) Prince Philip (Getty Images) Kings College London has been forced to apologise after an email bulletin featuring a picture of Prince Philip upset staff. Following the Duke of Edinburghs death, employees were sent an email which showed a picture of Philip opening universitys Maughan Library with the Queen in 2002. The duke had been a governor of the university since 1955. However despite the seemingly innocuous content, staff reacted with fury because of the dukes historical racism. Associate director Joleen Clarke issued an apology after receiving a number of complaints. She told staff: The picture was included as a historical reference point following his death. The inclusion of the picture was not intended to commemorate him. Through feedback and subsequent conversations, we have come to realise the harm that this caused members of our community, because of his history of racist and sexist comments. We are sorry to have caused this harm. The original email was sent following the dukes death, aged 99, last month with the caption: As the nation marks the death of HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, we thought you might like to see this photo of the duke at the official opening of the Maughan Library in 2002, which some colleagues will remember. But complaints were made by the universitys Anti-Racism Community of Practice, according to the Mail on Sunday. Before his death, Prince Philip had drawn criticism for making racially insensitive comments. In 1986, while on a visit to China, he told British students: If you stay here much longer you'll all be slitty-eyed. In the same year, he commented: If it has four legs and is not a chair, has wings and is not an airplane, or swims and is not a submarine, the Cantonese will eat it. Two years later, he asked a student in Papua New Guinea: You managed not to get eaten then? The duke also had a reputation for his outdated views on women. He once asked a Kenyan woman, in 1984, when she gave him a gift: You are a woman, aren't you? Story continues On other occasions, he commented I don't think a prostitute is more moral than a wife, but they are doing the same thing. He also asked a woman who worked at a nightclub: Is it a strip club? Kings College London commented: As we previously highlighted in an official university statement, Prince Philip had a long and valued association with Kings. We valued immensely, and remain very proud, of his friendship and support for Kings. Read More Queens cousin will accompany her at the Trooping the Colour Prince Harry told of Philips death by US cops in the middle of night William and Kate take Philips Land Rover to drive-in cinema date Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai has announced Malaysian-owned largest halal quick serving restaurant chain, Marrybrown, as its cafe operator for the event. Marrybrown will represent one of the best Malaysian brands at the Malaysia Pavilion and feature Malaysian signature delicacies in its menu as well as fast food favourites that have proven to tantalise international taste buds, a statement said. The offerings include all-time favourite Malaysian fried chicken, variety of burgers, delicious Arabian wraps and the Malaysian classic Nasi Lemak (fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf) among other rice dishes such as Nasi Kari Ayam (Curry Chicken Rice), and Malaysias famous drink Teh Tarik. Malaysia Pavilion is incredibly happy to have Marrybrown as our cafe operator to represent our Malaysian identity. Marrybrown is a shining example of a Malaysian business which pioneered fast food chain franchising in Malaysia and went on to successfully spread its wings globally, said Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre (MGTC). Malaysias overall participation at Expo 2020 is led by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Malaysia while MGTC is the implementing agency. With its vision to bring Malaysian favourite dishes to the world, Marrybrown has flown the Malaysian flag high by going global as a brand. Marrybrown fittingly represent the Malaysian spirit and the best brands of Malaysia at Expo, added Bahar. Marrybrown currently has more than 500 restaurants in Malaysia and across 16 countries serving millions of customers in Sweden, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, India, Maldives, Africa and the Middle East. Back home it has won several accolades as well as regional awards such as Asia's Best Brand Award. In the Middle East, Marrybrown received The Most Successful Malaysia Franchise in the Middle East recognition and The Family Friendly Fastfood Restaurant Of The Year. Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai is designed as a Rainforest Canopy and themed Energising Sustainability. It is located between the Sustainability District and Mobility District at the 438-hectare expo site. The Pavilion will house segments for permanent display and showcases, a business centre, an amphitheatre and retail and cafe areas. Visitors will end their tour at the cafe area. They can expect to be tempted by the aromatic smell of fried chicken and other Marrybrown dishes inviting them to stop by for a bite or takeaways, said Bahar. In line with Malaysias sustainability commitment and its No Plastic Pledge for Expo 2020, environmentally conscious customers can be assured that utensils and packaging used in the cafe are only from sustainable materials and non-plastics, the statement added.TradeArabia News Service Map Nigerian officials say gunmen have kidnapped many students from an Islamic school in Nigeria - the latest in a series of such attacks on schools. Authorities in Niger state confirmed to the BBC that gunmen had seized an unknown number of students from the school in the town of Tegina on Sunday. A teacher told the BBC that 150 students were missing, while other reports put the figure at about 200. Abductions carried out for ransom are increasingly common in northern states. In February nearly 300 girls were taken by armed men from a boarding school in Jangebe, Zamfara state. Most were later freed. In the latest incident, witnesses quoted by This Day news website said gunmen riding on motorcycles stormed the town and opened fire indiscriminately. As people fled the attackers went to the Islamic school and seized the children. The school is attended by boys and girls, aged six to 18. Authorities said two people were shot during the attack and one had since died. A number of people travelling in a car were also reportedly kidnapped. BBC Nigeria correspondent Mayeni Jones says kidnapping for ransom has become more common across Nigeria in recent months. The attack in Tegina comes a day after 14 people kidnapped from a university in the neighbouring state of Kaduna were released. Students kidnapped from a private university in Kaduna in April were freed on Saturday Tegina is also not far from the town of Kagara, where 27 students were abducted in February. There have been at least six kidnappings of students in north-west and central Nigeria since December, our correspondent says, and more than 800 students and staff have been abducted. The 2014 kidnap of 276 schoolgirls in the north-eastern town of Chibok by Islamist militants Boko Haram brought global attention to the scourge of raids on schools in Nigeria, but more recent attacks are suspected to be the work of criminal gangs. You may also be interested in: BEIJING (AP) A three-man crew of astronauts will blast off in June for a three-month mission on Chinas new space station, according to a space official who was the country's first astronaut in orbit. The plans for the stations first crew were confirmed to state television by Yang Liwei, the manned space programs deputy chief designer, as an automated spacecraft was launched with fuel and supplies for the Tianhe station. The Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is the third and largest space station launched by Chinas increasingly ambitious space program. Its core module was launched into orbit April 29. The Shenzhou 12 capsule carrying the crew will be launched from the Jiuquan base in Chinas northwest next month, Yang said in comments broadcast Saturday by China Central Television. They will practice spacewalks and conduct repairs and maintenance as well as scientific operations. Yang, who orbited Earth in 2003, gave no details of the astronauts identities or a flight date and said the crew will come from the programs two earliest groups of astronauts. Asked whether women would be in the crew, Yang said, on Shenzhou 12 we dont have them, but missions after that all will have them. The Tianzhou-2 spacecraft that docked with Tianhe on Sunday carried 6.8 tons of cargo including space suits, food and equipment for the astronauts and fuel for the station, according to the space program. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and the crew. Beijing doesnt participate in the International Space Station, largely due to U.S. objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese programs secrecy and its military connections. China has sent 11 astronauts, including two women, into space beginning with Yangs flight in October 2003. The first female astronaut was Liu Yang in 2012. All of China's astronauts to date have been pilots from the ruling Communist Party's military wing, the People's Liberation Army. Story continues Astronauts on the Tianhe will practice making spacewalks with two people outside the hull at one time, according to Yang. Chinas first spacewalk was made in 2008 by Zhai Zhigang outside the Shenzhou 7 capsule. Also this month, the Chinese space program landed a probe, the Tianwen-1, on Mars carrying a rover, the Zhurong. The Associated Press Im on my feet 12 hours a day, seven days a week right now just trying to keep up, Paulet said. These things are hot again. Theres a limited supply of things so right now Im pulling out all the stops dragging these things from basements and estate sales but in two years am I going to get them reasonably priced? I dont know but Im going to ride that wave. Paulet has only lived in Madison for about five years. He grew up in Westchester County, New York, where his dad worked at IBM. Paulet studied engineering and was part of an ROTC program at Texas A&M and then spent eight years hunting submarines. After his government job ended, he took a sales job with Head sporting goods in Houston, held sales positions with a few other companies and then went into banking, which is what brought him to Madison doing floor plans for car dealerships. First purchase It was March 2020 when Paulet purchased his first console so he could install his own stereo equipment into it. He paid $20 for the piece but when he got it home after a trip to Appleton, he discovered it worked pretty well. So he cleaned it up and sold it for $100. He bought a second console for $250 but quickly found a third console that he thought would be his forever piece. So he sold the second console for $950 to a guy from Dubuque, Iowa, and made a $700 profit. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) Faculty members of the University of the Philippines College of Law want President Rodrigo Duterte to retract his statements on the West Philippine Sea issue, particularly the latest belittling the countrys arbitral victory against China. In a statement published on Sunday, they denounced Duterte's remark in his May 6 national address that the Philippines arbitral win against China was just "a mere piece of paper that can be thrown away in a trash bin." "President Duterte's statements trivialize the Arbitral Award, contradict the country's own legal position, and effectively waive rights already won. The Arbitral Award is a victory and pride of the Filipino people; it does not belong to the waste can," the UP College of Law professors said. They also objected to Duterte's repeated claims that China is in "possession" of the West Philippine Sea, saying his statements encourage further disregard of the rule of law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. "To say that China is in possession of the WPS is a falsehood. China has neither a legal nor physical hold of the WPS," the faculty members said. They also decried an alleged "verbal" fishing deal agreed upon by Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2019, which they said was disadvantageous to Filipino fishermen, as it allowed China to fish in Philippine waters. "President Duterte's statements are disheartening to Filipino fishermen who look to him to safeguard the Philippines' sovereign rights in waters which, by virtue of international law, are for our exclusive benefit," the group lamented. Last May 16, a number of San Beda University graduates also wanted Duterte to retract his remarks on the West Philippine Sea issue and urged him to take a clear stand against China's incursion in the disputed waters. Duterte is an alumnus of the San Beda College of Law. China has repeatedly refused to recognize the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling, which recognized the Philippines' sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea and invalidated its "nine-dash line" maritime claims. With its refusal, Beijing continues to encroach on some islands and island features in the area. This year alone, Manila has filed a number of diplomatic protests against the continuing presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea. The latest protest was lodged last May 29. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) - Barangay Namruangan in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur was placed under a restrictive extreme enhanced community quarantine starting May 29 until June 11. According to a resolution approved by Cabugao Mayor Edgardo Cobangbang, Jr., the barangay posted 31 positive cases and those mostly affected are barangay officials. All residents of the barangay are not allowed to leave their homes. The resolution also stated that the local government shall provide the essential needs of those covered by the ECQ. Meanwhile, the rest of the municipality of Cabugao will remain under modified ECQ until June 8. As of May 29, the municipality has 61 active COVID-19 cases. Dumaguete City (CNN Philippines, May 30) Dumaguete City Vice Mayor Allan Gel Cordova died on Sunday morning after he suffered a heart attack while participating in a charity bike run event. The 53-year-old Cordova was among the bikers who joined a charity bike ride, sponsored by the 302nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, from Tanjay City to Dumaguete City. A fellow biker said the vice mayor suddenly collapsed and fell down his bike when they arrived in Dumaguete City. He was declared dead on arrival after being brought to the nearest provincial hospital. He was a recent COVID-19 survivor, having reported back to his office only last May 27. Cordova was a valedictorian from the Philippine Military Academy. He entered the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, where he graduated with an economics degree in 1989. He finished his law studies at Silliman University in 2003 and became a practicing lawyer and educator. CNN Philippines Dumaguete correspondent Roy Bustillo contributed to this report. (CNN) -- Hundreds of men in Ethiopia's restive region of Tigray were released on Thursday evening, eyewitnesses and aid workers said, following a CNN report into their detention that prompted international outcry. Speaking to CNN on condition of anonymity, out of fear for their safety, the sources said that the soldiers had released all but a "handful" of the men, who were detained on Monday by Ethiopian and Eritrean forces operating in the region. A CNN report published Thursday found that hundreds of men had been rounded up in Shire, a town in Tigray, on Monday this week. Witnesses described, on condition of anonymity, how Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers had beaten and harassed the men. They also said the soldiers broke into at least two shelters for people displaced by the conflict, including an abandoned school, before shouting: "We'll see if America will save you now!" One aid worker told CNN that the soldiers had accused the detainees of being members of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the rebel group leading the resistance against Ethiopian government forces and their allies. "The soldiers kept telling us they did this because these men were TPLF, but the raid was indiscriminate. How did you know who was TPLF and who wasn't?" the aid worker said. A released detainee described physical abuse by Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers while in their custody. "They take us out one by one and torture us," the man said. "This is the third time I've been beaten by soldiers like this. People here start running and are scared every time they see someone wearing military uniform. The world has to hear our cries and do something -- we are living in terror" Witnesses and aid workers credit media reports and the ensuing international outcry for the men's release. "The fact that CNN reported on this, the UN and then Senator [Coons] spoke out about this, it clearly made them know that they are being watched," he said, referring to US Senator Chris Coons, who traveled to Ethiopia in March as a personal emissary of President Joe Biden. CNN shared its report with Coons on Thursday. The Senator then raised the issue during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Ethiopia, calling for "accountability" for the mass detention. A US State Department spokesperson on Friday welcomed the news of the detainees' release, but said "they should never have been detained in the first place." "We remind the government of Ethiopia of its obligations related to protection of civilians, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law," the spokesperson said. "In addition, Eritrean forces must leave Tigray and all those responsible for human rights violations, abuses, and atrocities must be held to account." The spokesperson added that "the atrocities being committed are absolutely unacceptable." "They shock the conscience and must end." Babar Baloch, a spokesperson for UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, told reporters in Geneva on Friday that authorities had indicated more detaineeBs would be released in coming days, saying the refugee agency was "deeply alarmed" by reports of the detentions. The UN said it was unable to verify this claim independently. "As the mandated agency lead for protection of internally displaced persons, UNHCR was immediately in contact with the Ethiopian authorities, and we continue to raise urgent concern for the safety of those removed from the camp with the authorities," Baloch said. Baloch called on all parties to the conflict to ensure displaced civilians in shelter remain protected there. How it unfolded Four military vehicles first encircled the Adi Wenfito and Tsehay camps for displaced people, witnesses said, before soldiers began rounding up young men, forcing them onto buses and taking them to a location believed to be on the outskirts of Shire. The soldiers broke into an abandoned school housing the refugees. It was there that witnesses said they shouted, "We'll see if America will save you now!" "They forced open the door, the men didn't even get a chance to put their shoes on. The soldiers had their guns locked, [ready to shoot]," one witness said. One woman said two of her sons -- aged 19 and 24 -- were dragged from their home at around 9:30 p.m. that night. "They didn't say why they were taking them, they just rounded them up, beat them and took them away," she told CNN, adding that she was too afraid of what would be done to her sons to ask any questions. Several of the men who were rounded up were released late afternoon on Tuesday, after they identified themselves as aid workers. They told CNN hundreds of young men continue to be detained at the Guna distribution center, an aid and foodstuff storage facility which has now been converted into a military camp. One man described hours of beatings by Eritrean and Ethiopian soldiers. "Many of us are young but there are people there who are much older who won't be able to withstand the beatings much longer," he said. Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Ghebremeskel denied the reports and dismissed previous CNN reporting, saying: "For how long will you continue to believe at face value any and all 'witness statements' ... We have heard so many planted or false stories." President Biden said in a statement late Wednesday that he is "deeply concerned by the escalating violence" in Ethiopia and condemned "large-scale human rights abuses taking place in Tigray." Robert Godec, Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, said Thursday that if the conflict does not "reverse course," Ethiopia and Eritrea should anticipate "further action" from the US. "It cannot be business as usual in the face of the violence and atrocities in Tigray," Godec said during a Senate Foreign Relations committee hearing. The conflict in Tigray has now raged for over 200 days pitting the TPLF against the Ethiopian National Defense Force, Eritrean soldiers and Amhara ethnic militia. From the start of the conflict last year civilians have been targeted by Ethiopian government forces and allied Eritrean and militia forces. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Hundreds of detained Tigrayans released following CNN report" Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 29) The Department of Health said there have been gradual and sustained increases in COVID-19 infections all over Visayas and Mindanao as the national daily case count continues to rise anew. "In Visayas, all regions showed gradual increase in cases," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Saturday. "In Mindanao, all regions showed sustained growth in cases, with Regions 10, 11, and Caraga showing faster increase this week compared to the previous week." The nationwide daily case tally breached 8,000 again on Friday - the highest in nearly four weeks. Saturday's record was also high at over 7,000 new infections. The OCTA research team has also warned that health facilities in Davao and Zamboanga are starting to get overwhelmed. Both health officials and researchers noted that the increases come despite a downward trend observed in Metro Manila and its neighboring areas. "For NCR and Plus Areas, the numbers continue to go down but the rate of decline is slower in recent weeks," Vergeire pointed out, referring to Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal. OCTA researcher Ranjit Rye also said Metro Manila now comprises 50% of the country's total number of cases, down from the previous 70%. However, there is still room for improvement. As a precaution, Rye suggested keeping the current general community quarantine status in NCR Plus with heightened restrictions, while tightening domestic travel measures. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) -- Senator Francis Tolentino on Sunday urged the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force to cascade down to other priority groups the limited vaccine supply to hasten the governments vaccine rollout. Under a waterfalls policy, Tolentino said the IATF could reallocate the reserved doses for those under the A2 and A3 categories who refused to get their anti-coronavirus shots. Kapag ayaw ng A3, bigay sa A4. Kapag ayaw ng A4, bigay sa A5. Kapag ayaw ng A5, bigay sa B1. Palagay ko, ubos lahat yan, the senator said in a radio interview. [Translation: If those in A3 cluster refuse, then give it to A4. If those in A4 cluster refuse, then give it to A5. If those in A5 refuse, then give it to B1. In no time, I think all the vaccines would be used up.] Those under A2 and A3 categories are senior citizens and people with comorbidities, respectively. Meanwhile, frontline personnel in essential sectors, including uniformed personnel, are under the A4 category. Tolentino believes the number of people who wants to get vaccinated outweighs the number of those who are still hesitant about getting vaccinated. He cited the case of personnel from the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine Coast Guard, who have yet to receive their vaccine shots despite being in the frontlines. According to Tolentino, the military has reported over 7,000 COVID-19 cases among its personnel as of March 21, while the PNP said a total of 23,869 policemen have contracted the virus as of May 30. Tolentino added that there is a need to strengthen the information dissemination campaign to encourage more people to get inoculated against the coronavirus. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. said over four million Filipinos have so far received their shots. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) Thousands more Sputnik V vaccines arrived in the country Sunday night, the third batch of the Russian-made vaccines to be welcomed locally. Fifty thousand doses of the vaccines arrived past 10:30 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport via a Qatar Airways flight, according to the National Task Force on COVID-19. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. led the delegation in welcoming the fresh batch of supplies from Russia. Photos shared by Philippine Ambassador to Russia King Sorreta on Facebook showed the vaccines being prepared for loading onboard the aircraft. "The Embassy Team inspected this batch, including its special packing under the supervision of the DoH Team by video conference. We hope to send larger batches soon," he said. Earlier, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the vaccines may go to select areas that are populous and have increasing COVID-19 cases. The first two batches of Sputnik V vaccines arrived in the country early this month. The Philippines received 15,000 doses for each shipment that reached the country last May 1 and 12. The total 30,000 doses were distributed in five Metro Manila cities - Makati, Muntinlupa, Manila, Taguig, and Paranaque. The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has signed an export financing agreement with the National Bank of Iraq, a subsidiary of the Capital Bank Group, to provide credit facilities worth $10 million to Iraqi importers who seek to import Saudi products and services. The step will help strengthen trade relations between the two nations, SFD said in a statement. The agreement was signed in Amman, Jordan, in the presence of Saudi Fund for Development CEO Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, and Basem Khalil Al-Salem, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Capital Bank, along with senior officials from both sides. Under the agreement, SFD will provide a $10 million revolving line facility to the National Bank of Iraq to finance 100% of Saudi exports to Iraq with a repayment period of up to 36 months, depending on the type of imports and the nature of the trade transactions. SFD CEO Sultan Abdulrahman Al-Marshad, said: This agreement reflects the strong ties between the Kingdom and Iraq, and our mutual desire to increase cooperation across several sectors. It is part of an ongoing $1.5 billion that the Saudi government allocated to support reconstruction and development projects in Iraq. Supporting stability in countries seeking to achieve sustainable economic and social development is one of the main priorities of the SFD, and through this agreement, we seek to achieve prosperity for both nations. The agreement with the National Bank of Iraq is consistent with the Kingdom's aim to diversify its national economy and increase its non-oil exports, will open new markets for Saudi producers, and it will stimulate the Iraqi commercial and financial sector. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Capital Bank Basem Khalil Al-Salem welcomed the new trade relations. Al-Salem, said: The role of SFD in supporting and financing development projects in Iraq reflects the historical relationship between our two nations and Saudi Arabias ongoing commitment to Arab economic integration throughout the region. This line of financing will expand trade between Iraq and Saudi Arabia by providing credit facilities for Iraqi investors to import Saudi products and services at competitive prices. It will also increase transport links between our two nations and stimulate the financial and commercial sectors. The agreement is the first in an ongoing program of economic regeneration between SFD and the National Bank of Iraq.--TradeArabia News Service Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) The executive director of the PDP-Laban Party said party president Sen. Manny Pacquiao will request a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, the party's chairman, to "set the agenda for the legitimate national council meeting" before the filing of certificates of candidacy for the coming elections. The request follows Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque's statement that Duterte had directed party vice chairman Alfonso Cusi "to organize, convene and preside over the council meeting." "This move, which is part of the democratic exercise, aims to consult party members and have fruitful and productive exchanges on issues affecting PDP-Laban," said Roque. Party spokesperson Ron Munsayac said in a statement Sunday that only Duterte and Pacquiao can call for a national council or an assembly. "If this purported council meeting is sanctioned by our Chairman, how come we have not received any formal communication from the Chairman/President Duterte, only an announcement from his Spokesperson who isn't even a partymate," he said. On May 28, Munsayac told CNN Philippines there was no rift between members of the party and described the clashing orders from top leaders as a "very simple misunderstanding." Pacquiao had earlier advised members to ignore Cusi's call for a national assembly that was supposed to happen on May 31. In a memorandum circular dated May 25, Pacquiao "strongly advised" members to disregard the letter sent by Cusi which he said violated the party constitution. He emphasized that only Duterte could call for a national council. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) -- The country recorded 7,058 new COVID-19 infections on Sunday, the Department of Healths latest bulletin showed. Of the 1,223,627 total cases in the country, 53,757 or 4.4% are active cases. The DOH said 93.2% are experiencing mild symptoms, 2.3% are asymptomatic, 1.4% are critical, 1.8% are in severe condition, and 1.28% are experiencing moderate symptoms. Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 20,860 after 139 more patients succumbed to the virus. The number of COVID-19 survivors jumped to 1,149,010 with 6,852 new recoveries. All laboratories were operational on May 28, while four laboratories were not able to submit their data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System. Based on the data in the last 14 days, the DOH added that the four non-reporting laboratories contribute, on average, 1.9% samples tested and 1.6% of positive individuals. The DOH also said 13 duplicates were removed from the nationwide tally, of which eight are recoveries and one death. It added that 80 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as deaths after final validation. The daily positivity rate, or rate of individuals who tested positive, was at 13.2% based on 44,928 tests done as of May 28. The World Health Organization recommends a percentage of 5%, as high rates may mean high transmission and more undetected cases. The DOH said earlier that COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila and four nearby provinces under NCR Plus continue to decline, but slower than the previous weeks. Meanwhile, the number of infections continues to rise in all regions in the Visayas. Likewise, all regions in Mindanao are also seeing an increase in cases, with faster increase of infections in Regions 10, 11, and Caraga. On the other hand, the Department of Foreign Affairs has received no new reports on COVID-19 cases among overseas Filipinos. To date, the total number of confirmed cases among Filipinos abroad is at 19,720. The death toll is at 1,179 and the total number of recoveries is at 12,004. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) The Philippine government continues its move to suspend delinquent foreign recruitment agencies in Saudi Arabia to protect Filipinos seeking employment in the kingdom. Labor Attache Fidel Macauyag said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is "purging" errant recruiters as it targets to scale down the number of agencies to "100 or even less" from the more than 600 at present. "In a month, 39 errant Saudi recruitment agencies and 18 companies were suspended by the POLO in Riyadh while over 40 employers were already blacklisted," Macauyag said in a statement Sunday. "This is part of our campaign to cleanse the recruitment agencies... We do not need many recruitment agencies, we just need a few good ones, which can be our partners," he added. According to Macauyag, filtering foreign recruiters will "lessen welfare cases among our OFWs." Aside from creating a team of male welfare officers and support staff for distressed Filipinos, POLO Riyadh is also implementing the onsite verification of companies. Late last week, the Department of Labor and Employment imposed a temporary OFW deployment ban to Saudi Arabia amid issues on coronavirus protocol expenses. READ: DOLE resumes OFW deployment to Saudi Arabia The suspension was lifted a day after the Saudi Arabia government ensured that employers and agencies agreed to shoulder the cost of "institutional quarantine and other COVID-19 protocols" upon arrival in the kingdom. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) The Quezon City Police District has cleared a city councilor of alleged health protocol violations after determining that he made "proper coordination" with concerned agencies for the community pantry he organized in Barangay Old Balara earlier last week. A report submitted by Batasan Police Station 6 stated that Quezon City Councilor Franz Pumaren coordinated with the QCPD, Batasan Police Station 6, and the office of Old Balara chairman Allan Franza to ensure the implementation of COVID-19 health protocols in the event. Over 90 people, including 11 policemen and 50 staff members from the office of Pumaren, were deployed during the food distribution activity on Tuesday. The charity event attracted over 6,000 residents of the barangay. Despite the large number of people, the QCPD stressed that the "wearing of face masks, face shield and social distancing, were strictly implemented." "Considering the number of persons in the area, it would seem like there was a violation of social distancing if pictures or videos were taken, the report said. However, if there were violators, they were immediately accosted and informed of their violation. The community pantry wrapped up "orderly and peacefully" on Tuesday night. The QCPD added that there were no health incidents or problems reported. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Wednesday ordered Pumaren to explain about the accusations. The move "is consistent with the city governments policy of going after violators of established health and safety protocols as well as to hold them accountable for their actions, regardless of status or position," the city government said. Attendees of the activity will be tested for COVID-19, the mayor earlier said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday expressed hopes for a better Philippine National Police under the leadership of its recently installed chief Guillermo Eleazar. In a radio show, Robredo commended Eleazar's move to allow the Department of Justice access to police records on President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody drug war. "Malaking bagay ito kasi di ba kung naalala mo, 'yung mga past leaderships sa PNP, hindi niya ito...parang hinarang niya ito [This is a big deal, because if you can remember, during the past leaderships in the PNP, access to these records was denied," Robredo said. Earlier this week, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra announced that the PNP chief agreed to share records of 61 drug war-related cases, involving hundreds of cops nationwide, where the PNP had established "clear" administrative or criminal liability on the part of its officers. While the DOJ considers this a "significant" development, human rights groups have questioned the move, as the 61 cases are out of thousands of drug-related deaths police have investigated. This "insultingly petty number" raises suspicions that they had been "sanitized and cherry-picked," the National Union of People's Lawyers had said. For Robredo, however, such a shift still warrants commendation. "Pag pinakita ng leadership na desidido siya na linisin 'yung hanay, napakalaking bagay [If the leadership shows it is decided in cleaning police ranks, that's a big deal]," she said, citing Eleazar's vow of reforming the police. Robredo added she believes the new police chief is so far "making all the right steps." In 2019, Robredo was appointed to co-lead the administration's controversial drug war after accepting the dare to help fix the country's drug problem. However, she was booted out by the President 19 days later, with then-presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo accusing Robredo of only using the opportunity "to attack the methods undertaken by this administration." READ: TIMELINE: VP Robredo's short stint as anti-drug body co-chair Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 30) -- Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday urged the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force to hasten review of requests for tighter quarantine protocols in certain local government units. According to Robredo, a number of LGUs have informed her office of the IATF's slow response to their appeals for an elevated quarantine status amid a rise in infections. "Dapat 'yung ganito mas immediate," Robredo said during her weekly radio show. "Pag nag-request 'yung lokal na mag-shift 'yung quarantine level, dapat 'di matagal 'yung usapan." [Translation: When it comes to matters like these, it should be immediate. When a local government requests for a shift in quarantine level, discussions shouldn't take long.] This is because each day of delay could worsen viral transmission in the area, Robredo said. "Lalong tumatagal, 'yung lokal 'yung nahihirapan mag-contain. Syempre 'yung magde-decide kasi IATF, 'di ba? Mabuti sana kung 'yung lokal sila na lang mag-declare," she added. [Translation: Further delay makes it harder for the local government to contain COVID-19 spread. Of course, it's the IATF that decides, right? It's not as though the local officials can make the declaration.] The vice president said she understands concerned authorities have a lot on their plate but stressed time is of the essence when it comes to such decisions. The same goes for addressing medical frontliners' needs, such as an augmented workforce and the immediate release of compensation and benefits, she said. The national government is expected to announce on Monday the quarantine classifications nationwide for June. (CNN) -- London's Metropolitan Police seized 5 million ($7 million) in cash -- the largest amount ever taken by the capital's police force -- after police noticed a man struggling to carry bags stashed full of money. Authorities said that on June 5, Ruslan Shamsutdinov was spotted exiting an address in Fulham, southwest London, and was "noticeably struggling" to carry heavy bags, which he put in a nearby parked car. Police officers stopped him, and found a "considerable amount of cash" in the bags, according to a police statement. A search of the apartment revealed a money-laundering scheme and cash worth more than 5 million, police said. Some 39,000 euros ($47,000) and more than 8,000 ($11,346) was also found at Shamsutdinov's home address, police said. "As part of a long running operation against gun crime and large scale Class A drugs supply across London, over five million pounds in criminal cash was seized from an address in Fulham. This is the largest ever single cash seizure by the Met and I believe one of the largest ever nationally," Detective Superintendent Jason Prins, from the Specialist Crime Command said in a statement. "Organised crime is motivated by money and is one of the biggest causes of violence on our streets. Tackling this violence is our main priority. This seizure, and the conviction of these men for laundering that money, will have a major impact on the ability of a number of crime groups to carry on with their activities," he added. The discovery came following a protracted operation focused on firearms offenses and large-scale drug supply across London, police said. Three men -- Ruslan Shamsutdinov, Sergejs Auzins and Serwan Ahmadi -- were sentenced on Friday at Harrow Crown Court after pleading guilty last year to conspiracy to conceal/disguise/convert/transfer/remove criminal property. Shamsutdinov, 36, received three years and nine months' imprisonment, Auzins, 46 was sentenced to three years and four months' imprisonment, and Ahmadi, 35 to one year and eight months' imprisonment, suspended for two years imprisonment and ordered to do 150 hours of unpaid work. Auzins was identified as a large-scale money launderer during the investigation, police said. This story was first published on CNN.com "London police seize $7M after spotting man struggling to carry bags stuffed with cash". The company has been owned by the Raimondo family for more than 35 years, but Behlen is hoping the community will come celebrate its 85-year storied history on June 17 at its headquarters, 4025 E. 23rd St. in Columbus. It fittingly comes after an unusual year that saw Behlen adapt to a COVID-era by taking all the necessary protocols, continuing to work hard and persevering. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} We did everything we could to prepare for the worst and the opposite happened, Raimondo said. Things are strong. The June festivities will feature an outdoor presentation at 1 p.m., followed by plant tours until 4 p.m. Raimondo acknowledged the company has loosened some of its COVID restrictions that were put in place throughout the last year due to the pandemic and said event details like if masks will be required will be finalized as June 17 gets closer. This is a very, very exciting opportunity to recognize a major milestone. Not a lot of companies make it to 85 years, Raimondo said. We have a positive outlook and believe the future is even more exciting. Below is a list of Memorial Day events scheduled in the county. Because this list mostly includes those organizations that responded to a request from the county veterans department, it may not be a complete list of all events. Sunday, May 30 Boiling Springs: Boiling Springs VFW Post 8851 will host its annual parade, ceremony and picnic, with the parade starting at 1 p.m. The ceremony will be held at the flag pole adjacent to the clock tower, with Edyie Robb as this years guest speaker. There will be a free picnic in the parking lot of Boiling Springs Tavern following the ceremony. Mount Holly Springs: A ceremony will start at 1 p.m. at the Mount Holly Springs Cemetery. The guest speaker will be Army Lt. Col. Paul A. Tomcik. This event is being organized by VFW Post 7343. Monday, May 31 Camp Hill: American Legion Post 43 will hold a Memorial Day service at 9:30 a.m. at the Camp Hill Cemetery behind the fire hall, 2145 Walnut St., Camp Hill. In the event of inclement weather, the service will be held at the Camp Hill Borough Building, 2145 Walnut St. There will not be a parade this year. The guest speaker will be Lt. Col. Matthew P. Smith of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. RTHK: Israeli nationalist Bennett joins anti-Netanyahu camp Israeli nationalist hardliner Naftali Bennett on Sunday said he would join a potential coalition government that could end the rule of the country's longest-serving leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Lawmakers opposed to right-wing Netanyahu have been in intense talks ahead of a Wednesday deadline, as a ceasefire held following the latest deadly military conflict with Islamist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu, 71, who faces trial on fraud, bribery and breach of trust charges which he denies, has clung to power throughout a period of political turmoil that has seen four inconclusive elections in under two years. After a March vote in which Netanyahu's Likud party gained the most seats but again failed to form a government, opposition leader and former TV anchor Yair Lapid is in the final days of a bid to build a rival coalition. Lapid, 57, is seeking a diverse alliance the Israeli media has dubbed a bloc for "change", which would include Bennett as well as Arab-Israeli lawmakers. In his determination to bring down the hawkish prime minister, Lapid has offered to share power and let Bennett, 49, serve the first term in a rotating premiership. Bennett, after meeting members of his religious-nationalist Yamina party, said on Sunday: "I will do everything to form a national unity government with my friend Yair Lapid." Religious-nationalist Yamina won seven seats in March 23 elections, but one member has refused to join an anti-Netanyahu coalition. Netanyahu, who has been in office for 12 consecutive years after an earlier three-year term, in his own televised address minutes later lashed out at the plan, calling it "a danger for the security of Israel". He had earlier on Sunday tried to cling to power by offering his own, last-ditch power-sharing agreement to several former allies including Bennett. He warned Israel would otherwise be ruled by a dangerous "left-wing" alliance. Lapid has until Wednesday 11:59 pm local time (2059 GMT) to build a coalition of at least 61 deputies, a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. A Lapid government would also include the centrist Blue and White party of Benny Gantz and the hawkish New Hope party of Netanyahu's former ally Gideon Saar. Avigdor Lieberman's pro-settlement Yisrael Beitenu party as well as historically powerful Labour and the dovish Meretz party would also join. The shaky arrangement would need the backing of some Arab-Israeli lawmakers of Palestinian descent in order to pass a confirmation vote in parliament. The intense talks follow weeks of escalating tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, including a deadly 11-day exchange of rocket fire from Gaza and devastating Israeli airstrikes. The war with Hamas that ended with a May 21 truce, as well as violence in the occupied West Bank and in mixed Jewish-Arab towns in Israel, initially appeared to leave Netanyahu more likely to hold onto power. But political scientist Gayil Talshir at Hebrew University said on Sunday that Israel was now "closer than ever" to a coalition of change, adding: "Netanyahu is in a desperate position". Netanyahu's Likud party won 30 seats in the March elections but failed to form a governing coalition after his far-right partners refused to sit with Arab factions or receive their support. Lapid, whose party won 17 seats, was then given four weeks to form a government. Netanyahu had previously pushed for yet another election - Israel's fifth in a little more than two years. On Sunday Netanyahu offered his own proposal of a rotation agreement with Bennett and Saar. But Saar on Twitter said he remained committed to "replacing the Netanyahu regime". Netanyahu in a video then called on Saar and Bennett to "come now, immediately" to meet him and join a three-way rotation government, warning they were "in crucial moment for the security, character and future of the state of Israel". Lapid's "change" coalition also still faced several obstacles. Some right-wing lawmakers object to a partnership with politicians from Israel's Arab minority, around a fifth of the population. The recent Gaza conflict sparked inter-communal clashes between Jewish and Arab Israelis in mixed cities. Arab politicians have also been divided about joining a government headed by Bennett, who supports expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians hope to create a state. Even with support from an Arab party, a new coalition in Israel is unlikely to reverse years of Israeli settlement construction or bring peace any time soon with Hamas in Gaza. If the anti-Netanyahu camp does not manage to form a government on time, a majority of 61 lawmakers could vote to ask the president to name a new premier. Another scenario would see the country return, yet again, to the polls. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2021-05-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Saudia Cargo kicked off its twice a week passenger Passenger as freighter flights to Denmarks capital Copenhagen on May 22, widening its route network in Scandinavia for pharmaceuticals and perishables. Saudia Airlines B777-300 passenger planes with 140-tonne payload capacity per flight are being utilised as preighters on the route scheduled for Wednesday and Saturday. We have seen a growing demand for air cargo in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. And we believe that Copenhagen, as a central location in the Scandinavian region, is an ideal route to capture business from all these countries, said Saudia Cargo Chief Cargo Officer Teddy Zebitz, himself a Danish national. For Denmark and Sweden, were focusing on pharmaceuticals while in Norway, were looking at transporting perishables like Salmon which the country is very well known for. Delighted with the launch of the flights on the new route, Zebitz added: Saudia Cargo is here to reconnect the world. Our freighters stand ready to timely and efficiently transport supplies to Copenhagen and between Scandinavia. Saudia Cargos wide network across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, China and India in particular, will get the job done, help businesses rebound and save lives in this pandemic. The new flights are seen to boost Scandinavias import and export business amid continuing global recovery efforts in the post-pandemic era. Saudi Arabia and Europe have robust bilateral trade relations boosted by regular cargo and passenger flights between them. Elsewhere in the Middle East, Europe is also highly valued for its pharmaceutical products, medicines, cars and trucks, tech products, machineries and equipment, food, among many other things. Commenting on Saudia Cargos new flights to Denmarks capital, Saudia Cargo Director Kenneth Fuhrmann, said: We hope these new flights will yield to better business between the destinations and create more opportunities. Air cargo facilitates one-third of the global trade and we, at Saudia Cargo, take our role in transporting goods across the world very seriously. We will do the job safely and efficiently. Copenhagen Airport quickly welcomed the news saying this is the first commercial flight from Saudia Cargo to the route and expressed hope that passenger flights will soon follow once restrictions are lifted. This is in fact the first commercial flight that Saudia Cargo is operating to and from Copenhagen and Denmark. With two weekly departures, we will not only be able to give the Danish market a good and quick connection to Saudi Arabia, but also to several international connections from Riyadh and Jeddah, said Johan Toreheim, Managing Director at Euro Cargo Aviation, the company's GSSA in Scandinavia.TradeArabia News Service Video shows protesters at Toronto vaccine site The city of Toronto and the University Health Network held a pop-up vaccination event on May 23 at City Hall, where 2,500 doses of vaccine were administered, along with free ice cream, to those 12 years of age and older, according to the University Health Network. Canada became the first country to approve the Pfizer vaccine for 12- to 15-year-olds on May 5, a decision that was criticized by anti-vaccine advocates. In videos online, protesters can be seen at Nathan Phillips Square outside City Hall speaking out against vaccinating children at the clinic. "This is our children and we will not back down," one woman could be heard yelling in the video at police. Posts online shared the video to falsely claim it showed children being vaccinated against their parents' wishes. "A pop up vaccine clinic in Canada that is offering kids free ice cream in exchange for a vaccine, no parental permission required. Police are guarding the front to stop parents from intervening," one tweet said. Another post claimed that the video showed parents being barred from a school campus where children were being vaccinated without parental consent. Gillian Howard, a spokesperson for the University Health Network, said clinic staff did not see children being vaccinated without a family member present. "Anyone receiving vaccination would have been taken through the consent process by clinical staff and if there was any indication that someone whatever their age didn't understand the consent process, they would not be vaccinated," she wrote in an email. Only a handful of demonstrators took part in the protest. Howard said that police were present due to threats to the clinic. Under Ontario's Health Care Consent Act, there is no minimum age to provide consent for vaccination, according to Toronto Public Health spokesperson Dr. Vinita Dubey. Rather, it is up to the healthcare providers to ensure that they obtain informed consent prior to immunization. "This means the healthcare provider administering the vaccine has to deem the youth capable of understanding their decision," Dubey said. "If the individual is incapable of consenting to receiving the vaccine, they would need consent from their substitute decision-maker, such as their parent or legal guardian." KYIV, Ukraine (AP) The chief editor of a popular Internet news site in one of Belarus largest cities was detained and his residence searched amid a crackdown on independent journalists and opponents of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. Police said Sunday they were investigating Hrodna.life editor Aliaksei Shota on suspicion of extremism. The publication focuses on Belarus fifth-largest city Grodno. City police said the website posted information products that were duly recognized as extremist, but did not give details. The website said he was held by police for several hours before being released, and that computer hard drives were taken by police from his home. Shota has collaborated with the countrys most popular internet portal Tut.by, which authorities closed this month after arresting 15 employees. Belarus crackdown escalated a week ago with the arrest of dissident journalist Raman Pratasevich jand his girlfriend who were aboard a commercial flight that was diverted to the Minsk airport because of an alleged bomb threat. The flight was flying over Belarus en route from Athens, Greece, to Vilnius, Lithuania. There are plenty of appointments that were open, even with that little influx of 12- to 15-year-olds, he said. Its hard to not find vaccine. So far, a total of 225,029 doses have been administered in the health district, and 65% of Albemarle residents have had at least one dose, which is the most in the state, according to the state dashboard. In Charlottesville, 58% of residents have received at least one dose. District-wide, 58% of people have received their first dose. As vaccinations increase, COVID-19 cases are declining locally. On Wednesday, the seven-day average of new cases in Albemarle County hit zero for the first time since the early days of the pandemic. Charlottesvilles seven-day average has stayed at zero for almost two weeks. The zeroes are great, McKay said, cautioning that the averages can be a little misleading as the state conducts quality checks on the data to make sure cases are assigned to the correct locality. Those checks have meant that some localities have had a negative number of new cases. Still, numbers have fallen to the level where the health district can contain future cases, especially positive as state COVID restrictions were lifted Friday and students soon will leave school for the summer. Jawara King, founder of Vibe Fest and another local consultant for the initiative, said sometimes theres the thought that one or two things are needed so Black people will feel that a business is for them. Thats not really how it works, he said. We like a lot of the same things, so if a business is catering to a diverse crowd, then Black people are going to feel welcome [If you are] open minded, welcoming, warm, understanding of a perspective thats not your own, then youre going to be heading in the right direction. Were trying to put on display businesses, people and activities that have that kind of thinking in mind. Discover Black Cville is launching on Facebook and Instagram, as well as a landing page on the CACVBs website that highlights Black-owned businesses and Black historic sites. It also links to the Charlottesville Black Business Directory developed and compiled by Destinee Wright. A lot of the things that were going to be doing or amplifying right now were already in place in some shape, form, or fashion, King said. Were recovering from a pandemic, were recovering from history, recent and past, so people are being more intentional about participating in having a healthy, diverse community. He would go ahead and make anonymous donations to their projects, and so a lot of the things that children use at my school were donated by my dad, she said. The 2020 ceremony was supposed to be held last June but was moved to this October due to the pandemic. Hermsmeier said she, her sister and their husbands plan to attend. Were glad that theyre going to be able to go forward with the ceremony, because COVID did cancel a lot of things, Hermsmeier said. We were fortunate that his Arlington ceremony was able to go through before COVID hit. As he had planned, Brazes body was donated to the Body Farm at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He has a memorial marker at Arlington National Cemetery to honor his service. His final action was still giving service to your country carried all the way through his death, Hermsmeier said. He wanted to make sure that if somebody could learn something from, you know, studying his body, then by all means he wanted them to do so. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) As Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis struggled to contain the coronavirus pandemic, Democrats readied to pounce. The state's economy was in tatters, infections and deaths were on the rise and there were doubts about the Republican's plan to lead Florida out of crisis. Now that the pandemic appears to be waning and DeSantis is heading into his reelection campaign next year, he has emerged from the political uncertainty as one of the most prominent Republican governors and an early White House front-runner in 2024 among Donald Trump's acolytes, if the former president doesn't run again. As DeSantis' national stature has risen, he has remained defiant in the face of continued attacks on his hard-line opposition to mask mandates and lockdowns. Hold the line. Dont back down, he told a crowd at a party fundraiser in Pittsburgh on May 20. And in the state of Florida, with me as governor, I have only begun to fight. That fight will happen soon, as he campaigns for a second term and pressure builds on Florida Democrats to regain their footing in a state that has swung toward Republicans for several election cycles. Unless they find a new formula, Democrats could find themselves shut out of statewide office for the first time since Reconstruction. ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) President Joe Biden started the Memorial Day weekend by visiting a rock climbing gym in northern Virginia as the state lifted all COVID-19 distancing and capacity restrictions at private businesses and much of the nation pushes toward a greater sense of normalcy. Biden sought to use the stop on Friday at Sportrock Climbing Centers an 18,000-square-foot (1,670-square-meter) space of climbing and bouldering walls, a gym, and yoga studios to celebrate progress made as the country looks to turn the corner on the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 593,000 Americans and 3.5 million people worldwide. The president, who later paid tribute to the armed forces with an address at an Air Force base elsewhere in Virginia, used the day to thank Americans who have already received vaccinations about 51% of Americans are now fully vaccinated and again urged Americans who haven't to get their shot. All over the country weve gone from pain and stagnation of a long dark winter to an economy on the move, Biden said. He added, Americans of every party, race, creed have come together and rolled up their sleeves literally and done their part. The margins are now razor thin because of the PBMs, Seymour said. When I got out of pharmacy school in 1983, all of our business was basically cash. Now, 95% is insurance. The power of the PBMs, of which only three take up 80% of the market, and the other parts of health care conglomerates leave pharmacists little room to negotiate better deals for themselves in what is a take it or leave it contract, according to Seymour. Other businesses can adapt to these price fluctuations, but pharmacies cannot because they lack control over their own prices, according to Seymour. Say my landlord raises my rent. If Im a pizza parlor, I start charging more for large pepperoni pizzas to cover my rent, passing (the cost) on, Seymour said. Theres no way we can pass it on because of the fixed contracts. The pharmacists said that if they turn down a bad deal, it will only make things worse. Once out of coverage for customers, the pharmacy loses a sizable chunk of their customers who will likely no longer be able to afford medication from the independent pharmacy due to the increased price of buying out of pocket. Americans are not noted for their patience. We want to solve problems, not live with them. But sometimes its best to be patient, to wait for events to unfold instead of trying to control them. The Taiwan issue with China is an example. Ukraines struggle with Russia is another. A third is Irans threat to build nuclear weapons, and the newest was Israels decision to crush Palestinian resistance in Gaza. A classic example of waiting for leadership change occurred in 1953 when Soviet dictator, Josef Stalin, died at age 74. He had ruled the Soviet Union for nearly 40 years. The logjam in relations with the West opened up, and President Eisenhower took advantage of the resulting vacuum to press new Soviet leaders for detente in the Cold War. The Spirit of Geneva, as it was known, lasted until 1960 when an American spy plane piloted by Gary Powers was shot down over Russia. The new Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, chose to exploit the case for propaganda advantage and cancelled a Moscow summit with Eisenhower. Ikes successor, John Kennedy, faced a new Cold War. Business featured As Denton businesses face hiring shortages, job seekers rethink post-pandemic work life Jeff Woo/DRC Kylie MacEntee works in her home office last week in Denton. She was furloughed more than a year ago from her job as head bartender at a downtown restaurant. Jeff Woo/DRC Wash It Kwiks marquee advertises Help Wanted and its $500 sign-on bonus for new hires, but the laundromats owner says no ones yet stayed on for the 90 days required to receive the bonus. A mile-long drive down most major highways in Denton reveals at least a half-dozen Now Hiring signs posted at the entrances of restaurant and retail establishments. While employers say extended unemployment benefits are to blame for a shortage of willing workers, some residents are rethinking what they want their work life to look like post-pandemic. Finding alternatives Kylie MacEntee was working as head bartender at Queenies Steakhouse when she was furloughed in March 2020. Since then, she has mastered two languages, learned to play chess and enrolled in a coding boot camp to prepare for a career change which may be in jeopardy now that the extra $300 in weekly pandemic unemployment benefits is ending June 26. Ive been enrolled in a coding academy, trying to like teach myself that so that I dont have to go back to bartending, and now its like well, I wont be able to afford my rent and go to school and not work, MacEntee said. I think this is going to force a lot of people into really bad situations and accepting really bad pay again. Queenies reopened May 1, 2020, but as someone who is immunocompromised, MacEntee said she was already uncomfortable with the restaurants handling of COVID-19, and they did not call her to return to work. Though she is vaccinated now, MacEntee says the $2.15 per hour she made is not enough to justify returning to an industry in which navigating the politics of pandemic safety practices has often fallen to public-facing employees. Ever since things have been soft opening, at least for bartenders and people in the service industry, its just been nothing but horror stories about the dregs of humanity are the ones that are going out and eating, and theyre not taking care of their servers, theyre being disrespectful and cruel, and you dont make hardly any money as it is, MacEntee said. A lot of people that I know that were working in the service industry prior, theyre trying to find alternatives now because, just with everything that weve seen, why would we want to go back to that, and how can we go back to that? The worst Ive ever seen Some local employers have begun offering incentives such as sign-on bonuses and higher wages in attempts to attract workers. Bruce Walker, owner of Wash It Kwik, said his full-service laundromat is experiencing its busiest year to date. But despite raising starting wages to about $13 hourly and offering a $500 incentive for new employees, it has been difficult to expand his team. I spend $100 a day with Indeed trying to advertise for our positions and thats typically what we find, is we get about 10 applicants a day, so well go through and well call them all, and very few of them will ever call us back, Walker said. For the few interviews that we do get set up, I would say 70% of the time the interviews ghosted, and then were just left with whoever makes it through all of that. Some reports suggest vacancies like those at Wash It Kwik could remain as many workers may not reenter the workforce right away or at all post-pandemic. Women are more likely to work in service occupations and be primary caregivers, and with not all child care facilities at 100% capacity, men accounted for most of the national job gains in April. Roughly two-thirds of unemployed Americans have seriously considered a job change, and because unemployment hit low-wage workers the hardest in 2020, according to the Pew Research Center, that could leave many service positions unfilled. Though Walker says Wash It Kwik offers incentives that workers might not find at other unskilled jobs, such as two weeks paid vacation, a retirement plan with up to a 6% match and access to a free financial literacy course, no new hires have yet remained on for the 90 days required to earn the sign-on bonus. At staffing agency ASAP Personnel Denton, it also has been a struggle to find workers, branch manager James Watts said. The firm, which connects employers and job seekers in property management, maintenance and customer service, has increased its pay scale for new hires but still experienced a lull in those seeking work through ASAP. People are just relying on unemployment versus going to work, Watts said. That has been the hardest hit for us as a staffing agency because our product is people, of course, and were here to help people find jobs, but its really hard for us to because of that [unemployment]. Ive been in the staffing business 28 years, and this is the worst Ive ever seen. Seeking flexibility While some service industry workers are rethinking their return to their former jobs, others who worked from home for the past year may also be feeling anxiety about returning to the office full time. A lot of that attitude about returning to work depends on peoples life context, but I do feel theres a general sense of hesitation and anxiety from a lot of people, said Carmen Cruz, a licensed psychologist and associate director/director of training at Texas Womans Universitys Counseling and Psychological Services Center. Social anxiety might play a role since people have spent more time alone during the past year, as might concerns about who is vaccinated and who is not, Cruz said. While some hesitation about returning to in-person work could wear off as employees readjust, it could also be a side effect of people rethinking what they want from their work life. Most people in a work environment pre-COVID were burning the candle at both ends, and I think for a lot of people, there was a sort of existential examination of, What is my life, whats my career? Cruz said. People that used to commute 30 to 60 minutes each way to work have five to 10 hours extra in their life now, and thats a long time. People got to engage in healthier behaviors like have a little bit more sleep, a little bit more exercise it sort of made time that we didnt have before in the hustle and bustle. Many have been enjoying the extra flexibility the past year has brought and want to maintain it going forward. And that could benefit employers, too, as productivity increased during the pandemic. But for more than half the workforce, remote work is not an option unless they change industries meaning a return to pre-pandemic routines could be a necessity. Regardless of industry, Cruz says workers can help make the reentry process less jarring by examining the habits theyve built over the past year. Theres an emotional and practical prep that needs to happen youre going to be more successful if you start really planning the practical things that can help with reentry, Cruz said. I think people are just grappling with, What habits can I keep, and what do I have to do the same [as before] that I have no choice? Things like changing wake-up time and deciding, if you have an exercise routine, can you keep it at the same time or not controlling the controllables can help. For those employers that have the power to do so, easing employees back into the re-entry process by, say, allowing them to gradually increase their office hours could help make the transition easier, Cruz said. While it likely will take time to determine how COVID-19 will impact the local and national workforce in the long term, people should be patient with themselves as they adapt. If they find that after a few months they are not able to adjust to their new or old work life, it may be time for a change. This is a time of adjustment, which is complex for everybody, and adjustment by definition means this is going to take time, Cruz said. Psychologically, if people havent adjusted in three to six months, thats when its a problem. Atos and Thales announce the creation of Athea, a joint venture that will develop a sovereign big data and artificial intelligence (AI) platform for public and private sector players in the defence, intelligence and internal state security communities. Athea will draw on the experience gained by both companies from the demonstration phase of the ARTEMIS programme, the big data platform of the French Ministry of Armed Forces. The contract to optimise and prepare the full-scale roll-out of the ARTEMIS platform was also awarded jointly to the two leaders by the French Defense Procurement Agency on April 30, 2021. The new joint venture will initially serve the French market before addressing European requirements at a later date, a statement said. With the exponential rise in the number of sources of information, and increased pressure to respond more quickly to potential issues, State agencies need to manage ever-greater volumes of heterogeneous data and accelerate the development of new AI applications where security and sovereignty are key. Athea will create a solution to securely handle sensitive data on a nationwide scale and support the implementation of that solution within government programmes. The new entity will also provide expert appraisal, consulting, training and other services. The joint venture will pool the companies investments, expertise and experience to respond quickly and efficiently to demand for innovation. Athea will work with an ecosystem of large companies, SMEs, start-ups and research institutes specialising in big data and artificial intelligence. In conjunction with the recently created Defense Digital Agency, the joint entity will also provide secure solutions and open and modular technological building blocks, which encourage collaboration and stimulate the industrial and sovereign ecosystem, in order to support the development of trusted applications. This joint venture between Thales and Atos illustrates the commitment of both our companies to supporting the digital transformation of our customers by providing a secure and innovative solution based on French technology to process huge volumes of heterogeneous data. Together, we will capitalise on our respective areas of expertise to provide best-in-class big data and artificial intelligence solutions. said Marc Darmon, Executive Vice President, Secure Communications and Information Systems, Thales. Sensitive data capabilities have become a sovereignty issue for State agencies. By combining the expertise of two major players in defence and digital technologies with the flexibility of a dedicated entity, Athea will generate huge potential for innovation, and stimulate the industrial and defence ecosystem, including innovative start-ups, to meet the needs of government agencies and other stakeholders in the sector. This new joint venture between Atos and Thales is an opportunity to combine a comprehensive understanding of the defence and security issues faced by European States with access to the latest innovations in big data and artificial intelligence. said Pierre Barnabe, SEVP, Big Data and Cybersecurity, Atos.-TradeArabia News Service Denton, TX (76205) Today Mainly clear. Low around 75F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear. Low around 75F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. One person was killed and two others were injured in two separate shootings across Denver overnight in downtown and the Lowry neighborhood, police said. Officers were dispatched to the area of Pontiac Street and East Lowry Boulevard after a report of a shooting around 11:45 p.m. Friday, said Jay Casillas, a public information officer with the Denver Police Department. ALERT: Officers are investigating a shooting in the area of Pontiac and Lowry. One person was transported to the hospital with unknown extent of injuries. No arrests at this time. Updates will be posted as they become available. pic.twitter.com/YuZWrLecmk Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) May 29, 2021 Officers located a woman who sustained a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead on-scene, police said. The shooter remains at-large. DPD responded to another shooting in the 1700 block of Champa Street around around 4:40 a.m., Casillas said. ALERT: #Denver Officers are investigating a shooting in the 1700 block of Champa. 2 people were transported to the hospital with unknown extent of injuries. No arrests at this time. Updates will be posted as they become available. pic.twitter.com/GmOBKce8WA Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) May 29, 2021 Upon their arrival, they located two a man and woman who sustained gunshot wounds and were transported to a local hospital. They sustained serious injuries but are expected to survive, Casillas said. Police announced they apprehended a man believed to be a shooter early Saturday afternoon. Information regarding the suspect is not being released. Both investigations are ongoing. Anyone with information regarding either incident are encouraged to contact the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) The pace of COVID-19 vaccinations in Alabama has fallen to a level not seen since the earliest days of the immunization campaign even though less than 30% of the state's population is fully vaccinated. Statistics from the Alabama Department of Public Health showed Friday that the number of people getting shots in recent days was similar to the rate in January, when vaccine supply was still very limited. Officials are worried that large numbers of people are simply refusing to get shots, meaning the threat of the new coronavirus will remain higher than necessary. Its very distressing because we have vaccine and we have it in every corner of Alabama, said Dr. Karen Landers, assistant state health officer. Several vaccination sites have closed because of the lack of demand, and some areas have considered turning down vaccine shipments. In Opelika, East Alabama Medical Center said very low demand and plenty of vaccine supply meant a community clinic would close after giving patients a second round of shots on June 14. Central Vietnam strengthens first line of defense against storms Realizing the vital role mangrove forests can play in protecting central Vietnams coasts and riverbanks from storms and erosion, some initiatives are strengthening the region's first line of defense. Many recent and long running mangrove reforestation and protection initiatives have been adopted in the provinces of Quang Nam and Thua Thien-Hue so that these tropical forests, partly submerged in brackish or saltwater, continue to facilitate local livelihoods and protect residents in flood and storm prone areas. Sustainable source of livelihoods Le Thi Huong, 59, has lived on the banks of Thu Bon Rivers estuary for 20 years. The only thing that protects her family from rain, storms and floods are nipa palm mangroves which her family planted behind the house when they settled here. Every year, she prunes the palms leaves and trunks to control their growth and use them as material for thatched roofs used by restaurants, cafes and homestay accommodations. Her own house is built entirely with nipa palm leaves and branches. A house completely covered and roofed with dried mangrove palm leaves in Cam Thanh Commune, Quang Nam Province, January 2021. Photo by Yen Duong. Nipa palms are not native to Cam Thanh Commune of Quang Nam Province's Hoi An Town. Locals say their ancestors brought them from the Mekong Delta 200 years ago. Over the years, as people noticed the mangroves ability to protect the coast from erosion, strong waves and winds, more nipa palm trees, locally known as water coconuts, were planted. The nipa forest area at the beginning was only around 3.5 hectares, or "bay mau" in Vietnamese, hence its present name, the "Bay Mau nipa forest." Thanks to local, state and NGO initiatives to enlarge the forest, the total area has expanded to 120 hectares today. Diep Van Nam, 45, a farmer with many side jobs, helps to seed and plant nipa palms for a government-funded project under the Cua Dai Bridge in Cam Thanh. He has been doing this for a decade, teaching himself how to plant the nipa palms through his own experiences with other plants. The key, he said, "is to monitor the river tides every day," as they directly affect the growth of the nipa palms. Diep Van Nam, a mangrove palm farmer, demonstrates how to harvest mangrove palm leaves in Cam Thanh Commune, Quang Nam province, January 2021. Photo by Yen Duong. "The water coconut palms have very strong roots," Nam said, likening their roots to a system of intertwining tyres that go up to 1.5 m deep underground in muddy soil. This helps nipa palms survive strong currents and heavy flooding, sometimes up to seven days. During the 2020 historic storms that hit central Vietnam in October and November, the nipa palms were submerged for three days in a row, but pulled through. The government has categorized nipa palms in Cam Thanh as a protection forest, which means it is prohibited by law to exploit or chop them down. Each family in the area is assigned a certain forest area to look after and prune twice annually as Huong does behind her house. "Nipa palms protect the land, help the ecosystem stay in balance and offer locals stability and livelihood," said Nguyen The Hung, vice chairman of Hoi An. "The forest is a breeding ground for many species of fish and shrimp." A corner of a mangrove nipa palm forest in Cam Thanh Commune, Quang Nam Province, January 2021. Photo by Yen Duong. In recent years, the Cam Thanh mangrove forest has emerged as a popular tourism destination. Before the pandemic, Huong was one of hundreds of local guides who took visitors on basket boat tours through the canals lined with nipa palms. Locals said this forest used to be a hiding place for soldiers during the Vietnam War. Embrace, not confront nature When landscape architect Ngo Anh Dao first visited Triem Tay Village, Dien Ban District, Quang Nam Province, to help UNESCO turn it into a new ecotourism and homestay destination in 2015, what struck her first was its greatest problem: erosion. With each flooding that happened every three to five years during the monsoon season, Triem Tays riverbank would retreat further inland by over 10 meters. Using a trial and error method, Dao came up with a model of ecological embankment and piloted it along the west side of Triem Tay Village. The ecological embankment, which can be described as "a soft approach to erosion," consists of three layers of plants with sonneratia mangroves at the frontline, followed by local grasses and tall pine trees. Together, they create an ecosystem that attracts fish, shrimp, birds and insects. Remnants of the An Nhien farm's natural embankment damaged by 2020 floods in Triem Tay Village, Dien Ban District, Quang Nam Province, January 2021. Photo by Yen Duong. Unlike the concrete embankments that are widely applied in Vietnam and elsewhere, the philosophy of this soft approach is not to confront but embrace nature. It fits well with the idea of "living with floods" and adapting to natural changes. In the historic storms of 2020, two-thirds of the sonneratia forest was destroyed but the riverbank only suffered mild erosion. Therefore, Dao doesnt view it as a failure, but as a natural event. As of spring 2021, the forest was already showing signs of revival. Over the years, the floods absorbed by the embankment will turn the area into a wetland, Dao predicts, as she continues to adapt her model to achieve harmony between land, hedges and water. Ecological balance, economic benefits Similar to Triem Tay, another local effort in planting sonneratia forests to protect the land from erosion is happening at the Tam Giang - Cau Hai Lagoon, the largest semi-closed lagoon system in Southeast Asia, which was officially recognized as a protected wetland area in 2020. Part of a sonneratia forest in Tam Giang Lagoon, January 2021. Photo by Yen Duong. The forest was planted by the local forestry unit in 2015 as part of Thua Thien-Hue Provinces strategy to revive the biodiversity of Tam Giang - Cau Hai Lagoon, adapt to climate change and protect its concrete coastal embankment from destructive waves triggered by frequent storms. Nguyen Viet Hung, director of the Thua Thien-Hue Environmental Protection Agency, said there have been many failed attempts at planting mangroves in the lagoon as they struggle to adapt to the harsh climate and environment, but those planted at the mouth of the river where sediment is delivered is a hopeful sign as it is developing and enlarging. There is another advantage. The sonneratia mangroves in the lagoon's Quang Loi fishing village form 35 one-hectare ponds that are equally assigned to locals to farm fish and shrimps. A fisherman with his catch in the Tam Giang Lagoon, January 2021. Photo by Yen Duong. These are a replacement for traditional rock ponds. The green ponds, supported with soil, bamboo and cement, have proven to hold better against disasters during the monsoon season, reducing maintenance costs by 80-90 percent while also creating a natural breeding ground for various marine species, according to Tran Cong Truc, deputy director of the Quang Loi Commune Cultural Office. Tam Giang-Cau Hai is also home to Ru Cha, the country's last remaining primary mangrove forest that spans five hectares and a highly popular spot for local tourists. For the past 40 years, Ru Cha has been home to a couple, now approaching their eighties. They are credited with protecting the forest from exploitation for firewood while leading a simple life fishing and tending to it. Now that Ru Cha is part of the wetland protected area, authorities have already started planting additional nipa palms and plan to expand the forest to 300 ha. Ru Cha mangrove forest in Thua Thien-Hue Province, January 29, 2021. Photo by Yen Duong. An area around the Saigon Opera House is almost empty amid complicated Covid-19 developments in HCMC, May 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. Ho Chi Minh City's chairman has ordered social distancing measures to be imposed across the city for at least two weeks starting Monday, amid rising Covid-19 infections. Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong said at a meeting Sunday that strict measures are needed as a religious mission cluster in the city has kept getting bigger. The city has recorded 126 patients linked to the cluster since Wednesday, although 33 of them have not been confirmed by the Health Ministry. The city is going to impose social distancing measures following the government's Directive 16 in Go Vap District, where the mission is based, and District 12's Thanh Loc Ward. A large number of infections have been recorded in these areas. The rest of the city will follow instructions from Directive 15. Directive 15 requires suspension to social events, bans gatherings of 20 people or more in one place and of 10 people or more outside workplaces, schools and hospitals. A minimum distance of two meters between people in public places should be ensured. Directive 16 imposes stricter measures. It does not allow gatherings of more than two people in public and asks people to only leave home for emergencies, buying food and medicine, and working in factories, production facilities and businesses that involve "essential" goods and services. Go Vap, with a total area of 19.7 square kilometers, is the second most populated district in HCMC after Binh Tan with a population of over 676,000 people. Nearby District 12 has a total population of more than 620,000 people, including nearly 42,000 in Thanh Loc Ward. Nguyen Van Nen, Party Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City, said: "The city must accept the social distancing measure for long-term protection. The two weeks period can be quite long, but there is no other solution. We need to take into account possible worse scenarios for the city." This is the second time HCMC, the country's largest city with 13 million residents, imposes citywide social distancing, with the first time in April last year when it followed a national order. Vietnam's latest Covid-19 wave has seen 3,893 infections over the past month with the outbreak hitting 34 cities and provinces, including 108 confirmed cases in HCMC. Of the new cases, 44 and 31 cases were reported in the northern provinces of Bac Giang and Bac Ninh, respectively. Hanoi, Lang Son and HCMC respectively recorded 13, six and one cases. All the cases in Bac Giang are linked to the province's Quang Chau industrial park and detected in quarantine zones. In Bac Ninh, the cases were either associated with previously confirmed Covid-19 patients, detected in quarantine zones or through Covid-19 screening in the community. Among the cases in Hanoi, 12 stemmed from contact with two previously confirmed patients and one was found in an affected area that has been isolated. The cases in Lang Son comprise one who had made contact with a coronavirus case, three are workers from the Giang Chau industrial park, and two were found in an affected area that has been isolated. The case in HCMC is of a person whod had contact with previously confirmed Covid-19 patients. Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO), in collaboration with Dubai Holding, has unveiled a 200-metre-long 3D artwork as part of the Jumeira brand identity campaign. Launched under the umbrella of the Jumeira Project, an initiative introduced in 2018 to raise the areas profile as a social and cultural destination, the public artwork is part of Brand Dubais efforts to infuse a new creative energy into the prominent neighbourhood. Displayed on a 236 X 12 metre hoarding, the artwork created by 3D international artist Juandres Vera features an image of a painting brush creating long strokes of sea waves ridden by surfers. The immersive artwork, inspired by surfers on Jumeira beach, allows viewers to be part of a 3D illusion of them creating the waves with a brush. The project is among several of Dubai Holdings ongoing initiatives aimed at empowering the emirates creative community as part of its mandate to operate For the Good of Tomorrow. Since the inauguration of its Dubai Walls initiative in 2016, Dubai Holding has rolled out various public art projects across its destinations, attractions and communities, allowing the public to explore the works of unique world-class artists. Khalid Al Malik, Managing Director of Dubai Holding, said: Our partnership with Brand Dubai will enable us to further drive public engagement with art and creativity across the city to help enhance peoples happiness and quality of life. This new initiative forms part of a series of Dubai Holdings art activations that have enriched Dubais public spaces and its overall urban ambience. We truly believe in the positive, powerful impact of creative expression on society. In line with our mission to operate For the Good of Tomorrow, we are proud to continue playing a role in promoting appreciation for art and artists and enhancing the experience for the community in all our destinations, Al Malik added. Nehal Badri, Director of Brand Dubai, said: Brand Dubai is pleased to partner with Dubai Holding to offer an exciting new public art experience in the city that will help enhance Dubais urban environment and highlight the citys thriving creative culture. This project is in line with the vision of Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to transform Dubai into an open-air museum. The Jumeira brand identity campaign was launched with the aim of raising the neighbourhoods profile as a social and cultural hub that provides diverse creative and aesthetic experiences for the community. Through the campaign, we have been committed to enhancing Dubais position as an incubator for creativity through several projects that highlight Jumeiras unique character as a bridge between the citys past and present, Badri added. Dubai Holdings art and creativity initiative, Dubai Walls, has seen several activations since 2016 including: Souk Seven, Sculpture Park in Jaddaf Waterfront as well as various art and street art festivals hosted across Dubai Holding destinations including JBR, City Walk, La Mer, Al Seef, d3 and others. TradeArabia News Service LAS VEGAS (AP) A mother and metro Las Vegas authorities misidentified an 8-year-old boy as a young homicide victim, police said Saturday after the boy, an older half-brother and their father were all found safe in Utah. The homicide victim, whose body was found Friday near a southern Nevada trailhead, remained unidentified, and the investigation into his death continued, homicide Lt. Ray Spencer told reporters during a late afternoon news conference outside police headquarters. During a Saturday morning news conference, Spencer had announced that the 8-year-old boy's panicked mother" contacted police early that morning to say she had seen news coverage of the homicide and believed the victim was her son, who had been picked up at his home by his father Thursday night. The homicide victim was identified as the 8-year-old boy, whose name was not released, by the mother and another relative, and the mother of the half-brother told police she also believed the 8-year-old was the the boy in a sketch made from a photo of the homicide victim, Spencer said during the afternoon news conference. As leaders in Nevadas health care community, we believe every resident of our state deserves access to quality health care, and we strongly support efforts to make affordable, comprehensive health coverage available to all Nevadans. With that in mind the members of the Nevada Hospital Association urge state lawmakers to cautiously consider proposals like SB420 which we believe will significantly impact our states health care system. Our states pervasive shortage of doctors and nurses is one of the main obstacles to improving the availability and accessibility of quality health care for Nevadans. According to the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, demand for physicians in Nevada continues to exceed the current supply as our state ranks 45th for active physicians per 100,000 population, 48th for primary care physicians per 100,000 population and 50th for general surgeons per 100,000 population. Data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reveals that Nevada ranks last among the 50 states in registered nurses per capita. The COVID 19 pandemic revealed the consequences of this dangerous shortage, as we worked to convert space and add additional hospital beds to meet rising needs brought on by several surges in cases. However, it is clear that it doesnt matter how many beds we have if we do not have the doctors and nurses to treat the patients. With coronavirus cases plummeting and 1.8 million U.S. residents getting vaccinated each day, more Americans plan this upcoming Memorial Day weekend to get back to old pleasures like friends over, evenings out, travel and afternoons at a ball game. They will also encounter something new and less pleasant: rising prices. Prices are expected to keep rising for much of the summer, pushed up by, among other things, bottlenecks crimping supply of both materials and labour, and surging consumer demand. Full screen Sin tituloA boy scout places American flags at graves ahead of Memorial Day in the Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, California on May 29, 2021. - The "Flags In" tradition takes place ahead of Memorial Day which honors service members who died while serving in the military. (Photo by Agustin PAULLIER / AFP) AGUSTIN PAULLIER (AFP) Memorial day sales Memorial Day sales are an enduring feature of summertime's opening three-day weekend, with deals on big-ticket items like washing machines and mattresses. But with demand up, parts scarce, and inventories low, prices for durables are up 7.5% from February 2020. Airfares have also increased for those looking to get away for the weekend with a sharp rise recently, including a 10% increase from March to April, airfares are still 18% below pre-pandemic levels, meaning that an air ticket today is going for around what it might have done about 15 years ago. Lodging Banking on Memorial Day 2021 Those hoping to pop into their local banks on 31 May will be out of luck with all major banking institutions and credit unions closed on Memorial Day 2021. Online banking services and ATM machines will still be active and customers should remember that although you can make a deposit on Memorial Day bear in mind that it isnt considered a business day and that the transaction wont be posted until June 1st. It is known that the so-called "post-COVID syndrome," or the duration of symptoms of coronavirus disease, can last 12 weeks or more from the onset of the disease. The symptoms can occur from any system of the patient's body, but most often it is the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous and digestive systems. Also among the symptoms of "post-COVID syndrome" are neurological disorders, such as prolonged weakness even after a mild course of the disease, sleep disturbances and severe weakness. Cognitive disorders are also common - impaired memory and functions of the higher nervous system. Ukrainian experts and their colleagues from the EU in the United States recommend restorative therapy, physical rehabilitation, proper nutrition and normal sleep. Patients with clear complaints need additional examination and correction if necessary. The Dnipro-Beskyd health resort became the first one in Truskavets where a comprehensive rehabilitation program after COVID-19 using unique mineral waters was developed and implemented. Today, tens of thousands of Ukrainians suffer from post-COVID syndrome, many need long-term rehabilitation. The virus aggressively attacks the lungs, and complications can spread to the nervous, cardiovascular and digestive systems. Therefore, specialists from Dnipro-Beskyd together with scientists from the Ukrainian Research Institute of Medical Rehabilitation and Balneology of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine have developed effective methods that have already helped many return to normal life. The rehabilitation program for patients with post-COVID syndrome in the Dnipro-Beskyd health and hotel complex is unique and exclusive, because only here there is an opportunity to conduct effective rehabilitation using Pomiretska Naftusya mineral water. It has been known since 1836, has no analogues in the world, the composition of beneficial bacteria is ten times greater than in all existing analogues, while mineralization is much less, which allows faster digesting by the human body. It has been scientifically proven that Naftusya is the only "living water" in the world that strengthens human immunity. The healing properties of Naftusya were first described in the Ceplice works by royal (Polish) physician Wojciech Oczko in 1578. Water is received in the world's first pump room with a contactless access system in Europe. Also, only patients of Dnipro-Beskyd undergo rehabilitation with the use of natural hydrogen sulfide mineral water from well No. 123, one of the oldest sources, known since 1836. During the baths, hydrogen sulfide enters the human body through the skin and mucous membranes, as well as through the lungs during respiration. As a result of its action, hydrogen sulfide normalizes blood pressure, increases blood flow and slows heart rate, improves metabolism, reduces the manifestations of various inflammatory processes, strengthens intervertebral cartilaginous discs, increases oxygen consumption and pulmonary ventilation. Hydrogen sulfide baths help normalize the immune and nervous systems. Patients become calm, their sleep and mood improve. The use of unique mineral waters in combination with a modern medical and diagnostic base and highly qualified medical staff makes the program as effective as possible. This allows you to return to a normal lifestyle in the shortest possible time. Patients who have already undergone the rehabilitation program note significant improvements, after the first days of treatment they can move without shortness of breath, cough decreases, sleep and general condition improve. Video review Rehabilitation is needed for patients with complaints of cough, poor sleep, fatigue, and cardiovascular disease. Specialists of Dnipro-Beskyd have developed an individual rehabilitation program for such patients. Those who have suffered from pneumonia are offered procedures to help repair the lungs affected by COVID-19. The cost of the rehabilitation program includes accommodation, food, diagnosis and treatment, the cost of the program starts from UAH 720 per day, there are also promotional offers. Find out more on the official website of the Dnipro-Beskyd health-hotel complex - https://beskyd.com.ua The Cairo Court for Urgent Matters on Saturday ruled Hamas a terrorist organisation, a month after the group's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, was also designated a terror group by the same court. The verdict resulted from two separate private suits filed by Samir Sabry and Ashraf Said, both lawyers, against the de facto rulers of the Gaza Strip. The relationship between Egypt's authorities and the Islamist group has soured since the ouster of the Muslim Brotherhoods Mohamed Morsi in July 2013. Hamas is the Muslim Brotherhood's Palestinian sister organisation. Egypt's cabinet declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group in December 2013, and the authorities have since charged many Brotherhood members with offences including support for terrorism. Egypt has accused Hamas of meddling into its internal affairs and supporting Islamist insurgents in Sinai, accusations that the group has repeatedly denied. Cairo has kept the Rafah crossing to the Israeli-besieged Gaza Strip closed for extended periods since Morsi's ouster. The court's reasoning on Saturday for designating Hamas a terrorist organisation mirrored its January Al-Qassam ruling. In January, the court said that Al-Qassam's and Hamas' "support and financing of terrorist attacks in Egypt show that they have swayed from their original cause of fighting the Israeli occupation." In recent months, the Egyptian government has been strengthening penalties for acts of terrorism in its penal code. Last week, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has also signed a sweeping new anti-terrorism legislation to counter "Terrorist Entities". It is not yet clear how these court decisions would affect Egyptian traditional efforts to mediate peace talks or cease fires between Gaza leaders and their Israeli counterparts. Short link: Egypts Public Prosecution has ordered an investigation into the death of Viktor Hvozd, Ukraines former head of the foreign intelligence service, who died in a scuba diving accident in the charming South Sinai city of Dahab. Hvozd died while being transferred to the Dahab Central Hospital and his death was reported on Friday, the prosecution said in a statement on Saturday. A Ukrainian friend of Hvozd, who was with him while diving, ruled out any criminal suspicion, it added. The friend noted that the deceased was diving at a depth of 40 metres on that day. He suggested that the death occurred as the deceased ascended to the surface of the water too fast, saying he tried to prevent him from doing this but to no avail. He added that Hvozd removed his breathing apparatus once he ascended to the surface and was still alive at that moment, the statement read. He said he and an Egyptian diver managed to take him out to the beach and gave him first aid but he then died. The prosecution said it questioned Hvozds friend, the owner of the diving center that the deceased used its equipment and the diving trainer who accompanied them. They all affirmed that Hvozd had an international license that allowed him to dive at a depth of 100 metres. They confirmed that the death occurred as a result of his extreme fatigue after he suddenly rose to the water surface, ruling out any criminal suspicion. The prosecution said their conclusion goes in line with the polices investigations. According to the statement, the prosecution had examined Hvozd's body, saying it did not detect any apparent injuries. It, however, said there was cyanosis in his neck and face, secretions out of his mouth and red spots on his back and feet. The prosecution informed the Ukrainian Embassy of the incident to send a delegate to attend the investigation procedures, the statement read. The prosecution also assigned a forensic doctor to examine the body and disclose the cause of the death. It also sent the diving equipment the deceased used to Egypts Chamber of Diving and Watersports (CDWS) to examine their suitability for the depth Hvozd reached before his death. Lieutenant General Hvozd was Ukraines chief of foreign intelligence service between 2014 and 2016. Hvozd assumed several high-level posts in several countries and had a Doctorate degree in military sciences, according to Ukrainian Independent Information Agency (UNIAN). Short link: Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi dispatched on Sunday a high-level security delegation, led by head of the General Intelligence Service (GIS) Abbas Kamel, to Israel to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss means to firm up a ceasefire with Palestinian factions. The delegation will also tackle efforts of rebuilding the Gaza strip, and reaching a comprehensive de-escalation in the West Bank and the besieged enclave, Egypt's state-run news agency MENA reported. President El-Sisi entrusted the delegation to push for ending the Palestinian division, stressing the importance of taking all necessary measures to avoid any further escalation between Israel and Palestine. El-Sisi also directed to push ahead with efforts to end the problem of prisoners and missing people between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas, which rules the strip. Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, which came into effect on 21 May, ending 11 days of Israeli aggression on the enclave. The Israeli bombing campaign left more than 250 Palestinians dead, hundreds injured and homeless, while tens of residential and commercial buildings were demolished by Israeli air strikes. Egypt has taken several political and diplomatic steps since then to consolidate the ceasefire, including sending security delegations to the warring sides. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry is meeting his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi, in Cairo on Sunday as part of the country's effort to shore up the de-escalation efforts. Search Keywords: Short link: Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi arrived in Cairo on Sunday for talks with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, in the first such official visit by a top Israeli diplomat to Egypt in 13 years. Egypt's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Ahmed Hafez, said Shoukry's meeting with Ashkenazi comes within the framework of Egypt's relentless and continuous efforts to revive the peace process and build on the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Palestine which has ended 11 days of Israeli airstrikes' aggression that killed more than 250 and injured thousands of Palestinians. In a tweet on Saturday, Ashkenazi said he would discuss with Shoukry establishing a permanent ceasefire with Hamas, which controls the Palestinian Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Egypt, the United States and other regional partners are working to reinforce the truce. During his regional tour of Egypt, Jordan, Jerusalem and Ramallah, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Egypt was a real and effective partner in dealing with the latest violence between Israel and the Palestinians. Egypt and the US are working together to let Israelis and Palestinians live in safety and security, Blinken said, according to Reuters. The top Israeli diplomat added that he will also have talks with Shoukry on a mechanism for providing humanitarian aid and the reconstruction of Gaza, with a pivotal role played by the international community. Ashkenazi's visit comes as a high-level Egyptian security delegation, led by head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service (GIS) Abbas Kamel, was dispatched to Israel on Sunday to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss means to firm up the ceasefire with the Palestinians. On 18 May, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi announced the allocation of $500 million as part of an Egyptian initiative for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip with the involvement of Egyptian companies where tens of buildings had been destroyed leaving hundreds of Palestinians homeless in the enclave. Blinken pledged last week an additional $75 million in development and economic aid to the Palestinians in 2021, $5.5 million in immediate disaster relief for Gaza and $32 million to the UN Palestinian aid agency. This brings overall US assistance to Palestinians under the Biden administration to over $360 million after the previous administration led by Trump cut off assistance to Palestine. Moreover, Blinken warned against actions by Israel or the Palestinians that risk inciting tensions or ultimately undermining the two-state solution, to which he said Washington is still committed. Such actions, he said, include Israeli settlement activity in occupied territory Palestinians seek for a state, possible Israeli evictions of Palestinians from East Jerusalem, and incitement to militant violence on the Palestinian side. On 27 May, the top UN human rights body passed a resolution aimed to intensify scrutiny of Israel's treatment of Palestinians, after the UN rights chief said Israeli forces may have committed war crimes. Short link: Kamel met Abu Mazen in Ramadan and conveyed a message of support from the country's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to the Palestinian president. In the message, El-Sisi reaffirmed Egypt's full backing of the Palestinian people, their inalienable rights, and their cause. He also assured Abbas that the Palestinian cause will remain Egypt's top priority. From his side, President Mahmoud Abbas praised President El-Sisi and his stances in supporting the Palestinian people and their just cause. Top Palestinian officials in Fatach, including Head of Palestinian Intelligence Services Maged Farg, attended the meeting between Abu Mazen and Abbas Kamel in Ramallah. Earlier on Sunday, the Egyptian president gave his directives to continue the efforts and meetings in order to solve the issue of prisoners of war and missing persons between Israel and Hamas as well as stabilising the ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions. Earlier in the day, Kamel leading an Egyptian security delegation left for Israel and the Palestinian territories, where he will discuss means to solidify the ceasefire. He also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier on Sunday. Kamel is expected to make another stop in Gaza to continue his talks with Hamas and the other Palestinian factions. On Sunday, Cairo received Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi in a visit that is a first for an Israeli official of that level in 13 years. Ashkenazi came to discuss with Egyptian officials a permanent ceasefire. Egypt brokered a simultaneous and mutual ceasefire in May 2021 to end 11 days of Israeli aggression on Gaza, which erupted in response to rocket attacks on Israeli towns from the strip, which is controlled by Hamas. The Israeli bombing campaign on Gaza has been deemed the most vicious since the 2014 Israeli 51-day assault on Gaza, as Israel upped its aggression on the strip with artillery fire and air strikes. Egypt has taken several political and diplomatic steps since then to consolidate the ceasefire, including sending security delegations to the warring sides. The Israeli offensive on Gaza killed over 250 Palestinians, including 66 children and 39 women, and injured hundreds. Hundreds of homes were destroyed as well by Israel's air strikes. Egypt allocated 11 hospitals to receive injured Palestinians and committed $500 million to rebuilding Gaza. Short link: Head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service (GIS) Abbas Kamel held talks on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to consolidate the Egypt-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, an official statement read. Kamel, leading a security delegation, left for Israel and the Palestinian territories earlier today to discuss means to solidify the ceasefire. The talks, which also included relevant authorities in Israel, addressed the latest developments in the Palestinian territories, the statement read, without immediately revealing further details about the meeting. The statement said Kamel was delegated by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to meet and hold talks with Netanyahu. Kamel, during his visit, also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and conveyed to him a message of support from President El-Sisi. According to the statement, El-Sisi ordered the security delegation led by Kamel to push forward the efforts to end the Palestinian division. El-Sisi also affirmed the need to take all the measures required to prevent the reoccurrence of the recent escalation between the Palestinian and Israeli sides. Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, which came into effect on 21 May, ending 11 days of Israeli aggression on the enclave. The Israeli bombing campaign left more than 250 Palestinians dead, hundreds injured and homeless, while tens of residential and commercial buildings were demolished by Israeli air strikes. Egypt has taken several political and diplomatic steps since then to consolidate the ceasefire, including sending security delegations to the warring sides. Egypt also announced the allocation of $500 million for the reconstruction of Gaza and opened many hospitals nationwide to receive injured Palestinians from Gaza. Short link: GE Renewable Energys Grid Solutions, a GE business that equips utilities and industries to bring power from the point of generation to end-users, has completed a landmark turnkey contract for a substation to power Rabigh-3 salt water desalination plant, one of the worlds largest Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) plants that will supply drinking water to the Holy City of Makkah and Jeddah. GEs Grid Solutions had secured an Independent Water & Power (IWP) Bulk Supply Joint Project from Rabigh-Three Company, the co-owner and operator of Rabigh-3 IWP plant. The original agreement for the contract was signed between GEs Grid Solutions and Shandong Tiejun Electric Power Engineering Co. Ltd. with project ownership under Rabigh Three Company. GEs Grid Solutions completed the design, civil works, equipment supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the 380/110 kV substation despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, a statement said. Energising the plant within the timeframe contributed to the on-schedule commissioning of Rabigh-3 IWP, which has the capacity to deliver 600,000 cu m of drinking water daily to Makkah and Jeddah. Bernard Dagher, President & CEO Grid Solutions MENAT at GE, said: The energisation of the substation is a testament to our commitment to delivering our projects in the Kingdom, despite the challenges presented by the pandemic. The substation contract enabled us to partner on the ambitious Rabigh-3 Sea Water Reverse Osmosis desalination plant that supplies water to Makkah and Jeddah. The use of our advanced technology and the efficient and safe mobilisation of our teams highlights our focus on supporting the Kingdom in meeting the Vision 2030 goal of ensuring high quality services, including water, to the people. Abdulaziz Al Madhi, CEO of Rabigh-Three Company, added: The substation serves as a critical link in the commissioning of the Rabigh-3 IWP plant, which will bring reliable, uninterrupted and safe drinking water to the residents of Makkah and Jeddah. One of the worlds largest such plants, Rabigh-3 IWP is a national asset that adds to the quality of our water services infrastructure. We are delighted to have partnered with GEs Grid Solutions to deliver high-quality, efficient on-site work to complete the project ahead of schedule. Mo Bing, Project Director of Shandong Tiejun Electric Power Engineering Company Ltd. Branch, added: The energisation of the substation is an important part of the Rabigh-3 IWP to provide the 600,000 cu m per day capacity of drinking water to serve the people of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As a state-owned company of Shandong-China, the participation of our organisation as the Main Contractor and the successful achievement of the energisation of the substation with the GE in the shortest duration compared to other projects in Saudi Arabia is not less than a miracle. And, this is one of the exemplifications of Chinas commitment and relation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the development and support to meet the stupendous vision 2030 of the King and the Crown prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. GEs Grid Solutions drew on several of its internal GE teams, including SWS (Software Solutions) Saudi Arabia, for the internal units of the substation. GEs Grid Automation facility in Dammam, Saudi Arabia supplied protection and SAS systems. GEs Grid Solutions Project Management, Site, Commissioning, EHS and Quality Teams in Saudi Arabia successfully led the work on the 380/110 kV substation. Intelligent spatial planning and the compact design of the new T155 380 kV gas-insulated substation (GIS) led to less space being utilised for the substation. GEs Grid Solutions is also providing training for Rabigh-3 employees at GE facilities as well as on-site. Rabigh-3 IWP is majority-owned by ACWA Power, a leading Saudi developer, investor and operator of power generation and water desalination plants with assets in 13 countries.TradeArabia News Service Starting 1 June, Egypt will extend the opening hours for commercial venues amid the coronavirus pandemic, ending a three-week decision to close these facilities at 9pm. The country will, however, continue its ban on weddings in closed halls. Heading a meeting for the higher committee tasked with managing the coronavirus crisis on Sunday, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said the decision allows the addressed facilities to open in accordance with the summer working hours. The summer working hours of commercial shops and shopping malls are set from 7am to 11pm on weekdays and until midnight during weekends. Coffee shops and restaurants can operate from 5am to 1am throughout the week. Madbouly said the government will apply fines on violating shops addressed by the decision. These shops will be immediately closed for two weeks and will be re-closed for a month if the violation is repeated, he added. Cabinet Spokesman Nader Saad after the meeting told media that the fine will be EGP 4,000. Weddings will be allowed in open areas only, Madbouly said, affirming the continuing ban on weddings in closed halls. The meeting affirmed the continuation of applying all coronavirus preventive measures in significantly crowded public areas, Madbouly said. These measures include imposing fines on violations and preventing cafes from offering shisha (hookah), he explained. As per the committees decisions, the street celebrations known as Mawlid as well as wedding and mourning marquees are banned, Madbouly said. The decision to close shops and restaurants at 9pm came as Egypt suffered from a significant surge in coronavirus cases and deaths amid the third wave of the virus. This corresponds with the states campaign to vaccinate citizens against the coronavirus, which started in January. The country has so far received millions of coronavirus doses of the Sinopharm and AstraZeneca vaccines. Importing new vaccines Attending the meeting, head of the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement Bahaa El-Din Zidan noted that Egypt has contracted to receive 40 million doses of the Sputnik V and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Egypt has not imported any of these vaccines yet. Zidan said Egypt contracted with an Emirati company that is permitted to import the Russian Sputnik V vaccine. As per the contract, Egypt will receive 20 million Sputnik V doses until the end of the year, he said. Egypt also contracted with the African Bank to import 20 million Johnson & Johnson vaccine doses. Egypt took official steps to locally produce the Sinovac and Sputnik V vaccines. Earlier this month, the country received the first shipment of raw materials to produce Sinovac doses. The government plans to produce 40 million doses of the vaccine in the first year. Vaccination plan Health Minister Hala Zayed during the meeting said Egypt is expected to receive 2 million doses of the Chinese Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines in the first half of June. This is in addition to 1.9 million AstraZeneca doses set to be sent to the country through the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX), Zayed said. The minister said 403 centres have been allocated nationwide to provide the vaccine to citizens, noting that around 110,000 citizens receive the vaccine per day. Efforts are underway to open large vaccination centres nationwide, the minister noted. Zayed said 26 centres have been allocated to vaccinate workers in the petroleum, electricity, aviation, railway, and public transportation sectors, in addition to workers at the Suez Canal. The minister affirmed that all workers in the hotels of South Sinai and the Red Sea have been vaccinated, noting that the ministry is about to end vaccination of other related workers. Zayed also ordered the vaccination of all dwellers of the cities of Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh after tourism workers are vaccinated. Cabinet Spokesman Saad said 2.1 million citizens have been vaccinated against the coronavirus. He noted that the authorities seek to vaccinate 50 percent of citizens throughout the year. Egypts population, according to the states statistical agency CAPMAS, has surpassed 101.8 million people. For the weddings allowed in open areas only, Saad said a maximum of 300 people would be allowed to attend a ceremony. Short link: Egypts Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday that it arrested a foreign man following the publishing of a video of him harassing a local Egyptian girl in the country. The ministry added that the foreign man was referred to the prosecution. The announcement comes hours following the plea of many, including womens rights activists, to the government to take action, as a video went viral featuring a renowned Brazilian plastic surgeon and influencer V.S mocking and sexually harassing in Portuguese an Egyptian woman selling papyrus in an unidentified bazaar in Egypt. In the video, the woman smiles as she shows him papyrus papers while he speaks in Portuguese in a sexual way, taking advantage of her ignorance with his language. The video was originally shared on his Instagram story before he made his Instagram account private. He also closed his Facebook (FB) page. The last known location for him in Egypt before closing his FB page was in Luxor. The video went viral in Brazil in the past 48 hours, with many condemning the behaviour of the influencer and how he took advantage of the Egyptian vendors ignorance. Brazilian activists reached out to Speak Up, an Egyptian anti-sexual harassment page, and shared the story to bring justice for the clueless woman. Several Egyptian anti-sexual harassment Facebook pages and accounts spoke about the incident when it became viral. The #Hold_the_Brazilian_harasser_accountable hashtag in Arabic has been top trending in Egypt for several hours on Twitter. According to some sources, the Brazilian influencer was arrested while attempting to leave the country. Millions of Egyptian women fall victim to sexual harassment on a daily basis. Egypt criminalised sexual harassment in 2014, with punishments including jail terms ranging from six months to three years and/or hefty fines. Last year, the Egyptian Parliament passed a law to keep the identity of victims of sexual assault and harassment confidential to protect their reputation and encourage them to file police reports. Short link: Egypt's Minister of Defence and Military Production Mohamed Zaki discussed on Sunday further military cooperation with South Korea's Minister of Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) Kang Eun Ho in Cairo, the Egyptian armed forces said in a statement. According to the statement, Zaki discussed with the South Korean delegation ways to promote military cooperation and enhance the strategic partnership between both countries at various levels, especially cooperation with South Korean defence companies. Applauding the distinguished ties between the armed forces of both friendly nations, Zaki stressed he looks forward to furthering defence industry cooperation and knowledge sharing. Meanwhile, the South Korean official said his country is looking forward to participating in the 2nd edition of Egypts Defence Expo, the only tri-service defence exhibition in North Africa fully supported by the Egyptian Armed Forces. Scheduled to run from November 29 until December 2, the award-winning event presents a unique opportunity for exhibitors to showcase the latest military technology, equipment, and systems across land, sea, and air. Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Mohamed Farid attended the meeting, along with a host of senior military officials from the armed forces of both countries. Short link: Units of the Egyptian and Pakistani air defence forces on Sunday continued their Sky Protectors-1 joint military exercise, hosted by Egypt. The first-of-its-kind drill comes as part of military cooperation between Egypt and Pakistan. The activities included a pre-training phase to achieve integration between the participating forces by carrying out a set of theoretical and practical lectures to review modern and advanced air defence systems and organising an exhibition of the participating weapons and air defence equipment. The Commander of the Egyptian Air Defence Forces and Director General of the Pakistani Joint Staff Mohammad Haider attended the activities. The participating forces from both sides also carried out joint tactical exercises, which revealed the capability of the joint naval forces to perform their tasks efficiently and rapidly. The training is being held to exchange expertise between the two countries in the field of air defence in light of the spread of advanced aerial attack weapons. Short link: Head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service (GIS) Abbas Kamel discussed on Sunday implementing a permanent ceasefire between Israelis and Palestinians with Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz during his visit to Israel. The two officials also discussed supporting the Palestinian authority, as well as the prisoners of war and missing persons. From his side, Gantz thanked the Egyptian intelligence chief and asserted his wish to achieve peace on the long run and asked Kamel to convey his thanks to President El-Sisi for his efforts to restore stability and security in the region, as well as the special security between the two countries. Kamel met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier on Sunday During his visit, he also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and conveyed to him a message of support from President El-Sisi. The intelligence chief and his accompanied delegation is expected to visit Gaza on Monday. On Sunday, Cairo received Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi in a visit that is a first for an Israeli official of that level in 13 years. Ashkenazi came to discuss with Egyptian officials a permanent ceasefire. Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, which came into effect on 21 May, ending 11 days of Israeli aggression on the enclave. The Israeli bombing campaign left more than 250 Palestinians dead, hundreds injured and homeless, while tens of residential and commercial buildings were demolished by Israeli air strikes. Egypt has taken several political and diplomatic steps since then to consolidate the ceasefire, including sending security delegations to the warring sides. Egypt also announced the allocation of $500 million for the reconstruction of Gaza and opened many hospitals nationwide to receive injured Palestinians from the strip. Short link: ECOWAS Leaders gathered in Ghana for an emergency summit on Mali in response to the latest political crisis that threatens the stability of the country, Ghana's president said Leaders of the West African regional bloc gathered in Ghana for an emergency summit on Mali in response to the latest political crisis that threatens the stability of the country, Ghana's president said Sunday. President Nana Akufo-Addo opened the summit in Accra, saying the regional political grouping the Economic Community of West African States, known as ECOWAS, must `` remain resolute in supporting the people of Mali to find a peaceful solution, and restore democracy and stability in the country.'' Mali's constitutional court on Friday named Col. Assimi Goita as the West African nation's government days after he seized power by deposing the president and prime minister and forced their resignations. Their arrests Monday by the military took place hours after a new Cabinet was named the left out two major military leaders. The court Friday said that Goita would take the responsibilities of the interim president ``to lead the transition process to its conclusion.'' Interim President Bah N'Daw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane had been appointed following an August 2020 coup led also by Goita. The military staged a coup d'etat against former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita that led to mediations then by ECOWAS that were also led by Nigeria's former leader, Goodluck Jonathan. The transitional government was set up with Goita as transitional vice president. Elections were to be held in February and March 2022. After taking power this week, Goita assured that elections would still be held, however, it's unclear what part the military will play in the government given his latest actions. The international community has condemned this latest power grab, demanding a transitional civilian government be put in place immediately. The African Union and ECOWAS were in Mali for mediations when N'Daw and Ouane resigned. The U.N. Security Council says they resigned under duress. The U.S. has already pulled its security force support and other bodies, including the EU and France, are threatening sanctions. Goita has justified his actions saying there was discord within the transitional government and that he wasn't consulted, per the transitional charter, when the new government was chosen. Akufo-Addo said Sunday that ECOWAS was committed ``to the peaceful transition in Mali, with the basic goal of restoring democratic government, and working for the stability of Mali and of our region.'' He acknowledged that a May 14 dissolution of the government by the transitional prime minister was worrying and the reappointment of the new, broad-based government on May 24 hours before the arrests ``generated considerable tension between various groups, particularly the military, as the former ministers for defense and security were not reappointed.'' Goita attended the summit as his first order of duty after being named transitional president by the court. Presidents Umaro Sissou Embalo of Guinea Bissau, Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, Alassane Outtara of Ivory Coast, Adama Barrow of The Gambia and Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria were also in attendance, along with presidents from Burkina Faso, Niger, Togo and Liberia. The summit should wrap up Sunday and is again led by Jonathan. Ghana's minister for foreign affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, said the actions in Mali this past week ``necessitated a reevaluation of the strategies adopted by ECOWAS to bring normalcy to the country.'' Short link: Israeli occupation forces and illegal settlers started on Saturday taking over Palestinian homes in the villages of Kisan and Fureidis, to the east of Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank. Israeli settlers from the illegal settlements of Maale Amos and Ibi Hanahal took apart Palestinian-owned land near the village of Kisan and started demolishing it, installing seats, power poles and umbrellas as a prelude to start forming a settler-only park. In Fureidis, Israeli occupation forces ordered a Palestinian citizen to demolish his own house and an animal barn under the excuse of building without Israels permission. Palestinian citizen Mahmoud Al-Bahsh said that the Israeli occupation forces told him that they will proceed with the demolishing of his own house and animal barn and then forced him to pay the demolition process expenses. These incidents took place only a day after the Israeli occupation authorities approved the construction of 560 housing units in the illegal settlement of Maale Amos. Palestinians who live in Area C of the occupied West Bank and are considered territories under the Oslo Accords are under full Israeli control. Therefore, they struggle getting building permits. Most Palestinian communities do not have master plans, while others cannot get expansion plans approved. The building permits are charged at overpriced prices and are unaffordable for most Palestinians. This then causes a legal loophole for Israel to annex more land and leave Palestinians in an indeterminate state through preventing them from developing infrastructure. There are over 700,000 colonial Israeli settlers living in Jewish-only settlements across the West Bank. This is in violation of international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention which expressly bans the relocation of the occupying nation's civilian population to the land of the occupied. Israel has used a complex legal and bureaucratic mechanism, based on Israeli rights group B'Tselem, to take control of more Palestinian land in the West Bank. They took control of land through declaring it as 'state land'. This process began in 1979 and is based on a manipulative implementation of the Ottoman Land Law of 1858. Other methods - employed by Israel to take control of land - include seizures for military needs, declaration of land as 'abandoned assets' and the expropriation of land for public needs. Short link: Turkey's foreign minister began a trip to Greece on Sunday, quickly angering his hosts with tweets about his meeting with members of the Muslim minority. "In Greece to meet members of Turkish Minority in Western Thrace and discuss our bilateral relations," Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted as soon as he touched down at the airport in Alexandroupolis, in the northeastern region close to the Turkish border. Cavusoglu visited a school as well as a village and the Turkish consulate, where he met with representatives of the Muslim minority. "I emphasized that we will always stand resolutely with the Turkish Minority in their struggle for their rights and underlined once again our strong support," he tweeted afterwards. Athens describes the minority as multi-ethnic Muslims, and Cavusoglu's description of them as "Turkish" prompted an angry response from the Greek foreign ministry. "The Muslim minority in Thrace has about 120,000 Greek inhabitants," the ministry said in a statement. "Turkey's constant attempts to distort this reality, as well as the allegations of non-protection of the rights of these citizens, or of discrimination, are unfounded and are rejected in their entirety," it added. "Greece would like to improve relations with Turkey, but with the respect for international law as a prerequisite." Muslims in the Thrace region were given minority status in Greece after the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne, which ended a war between Greece and Turkey. Turkey has often claimed that Greece fails to properly protect the rights of the minority, many of whom are of Turkish descent and Turkish-speaking. During a heated press conference in Ankara in mid-April, Cavusoglu raised the issue with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias. "You don't allow the Turkish minority (in Greece) to call themselves Turkish. You call them Muslims," he said. "If they call themselves Turkish, they are Turkish -- you have to recognise this." Cavusoglu is due to meet Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis as well as Dendias in Athens on Monday. Cavusoglu had previously said the aim of his visit was to prepare for a bilateral meeting between Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a NATO summit in Brussels on June 14. While the Greek media said Cavusoglu's visit was a "test" of how his meetings would go in Athens, the Greek government had tried to downplay any significance of the Thrace trip ahead of his arrival. "The visit in Thrace is a private visit. Greece is an open, democratic country that does not forbid private visits. As far as the (Thrace) minority is concerned, it is enjoying a status of equality," Greek government spokeswoman Aristotelia Peloni said on Thursday. The status of Greece's Muslim minority is one of several points of contention between the two NATO allies. Byzantine heritage inside Turkey, after Ankara's move last year to convert the revered Hagia Sophia cathedral from a museum into a mosque sparked fury from Athens, is another. Relations also plunged last year during a face-off over a wealth of energy deposits in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Short link: A mortar shell hit a wedding ceremony in northern Afghanistan, killing at least seven people, mostly children, and wounding at least four others, a police spokesman said. Taliban insurgents attacked a government security checkpoint in the district of Tagab and one of their mortar shells hit a civilian house, Kapisa provincial police spokesman Shayeq Shoresh said Sunday. He said the attack happened the night before. But Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in a tweet accused police of firing several mortar shells toward the civilian house, causing the casualties. Both the Taliban and government forces routinely blame each other for attacks. The assailants are rarely identified and the public is seldom informed of the results of investigations into the many attacks in the capital. The United Nations has repeatedly demanded both sides take more precautions to protect civilians. In the first three months of this year, the U.N. mission in Afghanistan said 1,783 civilians had been killed or wounded in Afghanistan, up 29% over the same period last year. Recently, Afghan national defense and security forces and the Taliban have increased operations against each other in most of the provinces of the country, where most often civilians are caught in the crossfire. Meanwhile, the Islamic State group in a statement Sunday claimed credit for a roadside bomb that struck a minivan full of university lecturers and students in Kapisa on Saturday, killing at least four and wounding 11 others. The militant group in its statement said the minivan was carrying ``Shiite apostates.'' Short link: GE Renewable Energys Grid Solutions, a GE business that equips utilities and industries to bring power from the point of generation to end-users, has completed a landmark turnkey contract for a substation to power Rabigh-3 salt water desalination plant, one of the worlds largest sea water reverse osmosis (SWRO) plants that will supply drinking water to Makkah and Jeddah. For the project, Grid Solutions drew on several of its internal GE teams, including SWS (Software Solutions) Saudi Arabia, for the internal units of the substation. GEs Grid Automation facility in Dammam, Saudi Arabia supplied protection and SAS systems. GEs Grid Solutions Project Management, Site, Commissioning, EHS and Quality Teams in Saudi Arabia successfully led the work on the 380/110 kV substation. Intelligent spatial planning and the compact design of the new T155 380 kV gas-insulated substation (GIS) led to less space being utilised for the substation. GEs Grid Solutions is also providing training for Rabigh-3 employees at GE facilities as well as on-site. The GE unit had won this independent water and power (IWP) bulk supply joint project from Rabigh-Three Company, the co-owner and operator of Rabigh-3 IWP plant. The original agreement for the contract was signed by GEs Grid Solutions and Shandong Tiejun Electric Power Engineering Company alongwith project ownership under Rabigh Three Company. As per the deal, GEs Grid Solutions completed the design, civil works, equipment supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the 380/110 kV substation despite Covid-19 challenges, said a statement from the company. Energising the plant within the timeframe contributed to the on-schedule commissioning of Rabigh-3 IWP, which has the capacity to deliver 600,000 cu m of drinking water daily to Makkah and Jeddah. President & CEO GE Grid Solutions (Mena and Turkey) Bernard Dagher, said: "The energisation of the substation is a testament to our commitment to delivering our projects in the kingdom, despite the challenges presented by the pandemic." "The substation contract enabled us to partner on the ambitious Rabigh-3 Sea Water Reverse Osmosis desalination plant that supplies water to Makkah and Jeddah. The use of our advanced technology and the efficient and safe mobilisation of our teams highlights our focus on supporting the Kingdom in meeting the Vision 2030 goal of ensuring high quality services, including water, to the people," he stated. Abdulaziz Al Madhi, CEO of Rabigh-Three Company, said: "The substation serves as a critical link in the commissioning of the Rabigh-3 IWP plant, which will bring reliable, uninterrupted and safe drinking water to the residents of Makkah and Jeddah." "One of the worlds largest such plants, Rabigh-3 IWP is a national asset that adds to the quality of our water services infrastructure. We are delighted to have partnered with GEs Grid Solutions to deliver high-quality, efficient on-site work to complete the project ahead of schedule," he stated. Mo Bing, Project Director of Shandong Tiejun Electric Power Engineering Company, said: "The energisation of the substation is an important part of the Rabigh-3 IWP to provide the 600,000 cu m per day capacity of drinking water to serve the people of Saudi Arabia." "As a state-owned company of Shandong-China, the participation of our organisation as the Main Contractor and the successful achievement of the energisation of the substation with the GE in the shortest duration compared to other projects in Saudi Arabia is not less than a miracle," stated Bing. "And, this is one of the exemplifications of Chinas commitment and relation with Saudi Arabia in the development and support to meet the stupendous vision 2030 of the King and the Crown prince of Saudi Arabia," he added. Rabigh-3 IWP is majority-owned by ACWA Power, a leading Saudi developer, investor and operator of power generation and water desalination plants with assets in 13 countries.-TradeArabia News Service The 74th Cannes Film Festival will be unveiling its official selection on 3rd June, postponing the release from the previously planned 27th May. While not much is known about the films selected, some critics and film afficionados point to a number of titles from Arab countries, hoping to find them within the festival's programmes. The selected films will be announced during a press conference by the festival's artistic director and general delegate Thierry Fremaux. Held with the attendance of journalists, the conference will take place at the UGC Normandie cinema in Paris. So far, the festival has revealed that its opening film will be Annette, a musical romance directed by Leos Carax, starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard. We also know that two other films will compete for the Palme d'Or: Benedetta (France) by Paul Verhoeven and The French Dispatch (USA) by Wes Anderson, starring French-Algerian actress Lyna Khoudri. The film critics' predictions point to a few titles from the Middle East that might make it to Cannes' official selection or other segments of the event. Among the potential films discussed is Amira by Egyptian director Mohamed Diab. The filmmaker's second feature, Clash, opened Cannes Un Certain Regard in 2016. Tunisian filmmaker Leyla Bouzids A Story Of Love and Desire is among other films with strong potentials of entering the festival's race. Following his two Academy award nominations, hopes are high for Palestinian director Hany Abu-Assad's thriller Hudas Salon which until recently was in a post-production phase. Abu-Assad's 2013 film Omar was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival where it won the Jury Prize. Berlin-based Syrian filmmaker Diana El-Jeiroudi might have a chance at entering Cannes this year with her recent documentary Republic Of Silence. Two previous films by El-Jeiroudi, Silvered Water and Syria Self-Portrait premiered at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, while the director was one of the jury members for the first-ever documentary film award "L'il d'Or" (The Golden Eye) at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. Variety magazine also points to Moroccan-French Cannes regular Nabil Ayouch, who could enter the Cannes race with her Casablanca Beats. Ayouch had two previous films screened at Cannes: Horses Of God in Un Certain Regard in 2012, and Much Love screened in Directors Fortnight in 2015. The 74th Cannes Film Festival will take place across the city's cinemas. Industry-related events will be in hybrid format, with physical attendance of the industry delegates, while an earlier industry market will be held shortly prior to the festival. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Short link: Transit and business passengers at Cairo International Airport who do not have the time to visit Egypts unique archaeological museums and sites will be able to see some of Egypts history from this week when two museums were inaugurated by the minister of tourism and antiquities at terminals 2 and 3. Passengers waiting to complete their journeys will also not have to spend so much time shopping in the duty free or sitting reading a book, as they can now use the time to find out more about ancient Egyptian civilisation and admire some of its distinguished treasures. At Terminal 2, a 100-square-metre museum has been established to display a collection of 304 artefacts showing the different forms of art that have developed in Egypt from ancient Egypt through the Graeco-Roman, Coptic, and Islamic eras. The museum also highlights Egypt as a cradle of the three monotheistic religions. The artefacts were carefully selected from the storage galleries of the Egyptian Museum and the Coptic and Islamic Museums as well as from the Al-Gawhara Palace Museum at the Cairo Citadel and the Kafr Al-Sheikh Museum. Moemen Othman, head of the Museums Sector at the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, explained that the artefacts were displayed chronologically and thematically. The museum is divided into six themes. The first is about kingship in ancient Egypt showing the roles that kings played in the progress of the country and the prosperity of its civilisation, dazzling the world for centuries. The second theme is the afterlife in ancient Egypt displayed through a collection of canopic jars to preserve the internal organs and daily life objects such as clothes, jewellery, amulets responsible for the protection of the deceased, and food. Arts and sculpture in Graeco-Roman Egypt is the third theme. The art of sculpture had reached perfection in this period, and it is shown in several statues such as the bust of an unidentified man from the third century CE. Coptic art is on display through icons and the portraits of saints, such as one showing the saints Cosmos and Damian with a silver shell-shaped halo encircling their heads from the 18th century. A collection of daily life objects decorated with verses from the Quran represents the Islamic era. Among these is a ceramic ewer and basin from the 19th century and a Mameluke lamp. Egypts modern history is also presented in the museum through items from the Mohamed Ali family era, such as a gold pocket watch decorated with a portrait of the khedive Mohamed Ali, a small 19th-century gold frame with a painting depicting the portrait of a princess, and a gold chest pin studded with gemstones attributed to queen Farida, the wife of king Farouk. The museum includes pieces highlighting Egypts role as the cradle of the monotheistic religions that have flourished in the country in peace and harmony. The museum in Terminal 3 was initially allocated a 60-square-metre area in 2016, but this was later expanded to 150 square metres. Among the museums most prominent exhibits are two well-preserved mummies, one from the Roman era covered in a gilded mask and decorated with colourful drawings. The other comes from the Late Dynastic Period and depicts a man in the Osiris position, his feet together and his arms crossed at the wrists over the centre of the chest. Othman said that one of the most important pieces on display was a bronze statue of the winged goddess Isis wearing the two horns of Hathor with the sun disc between them. The exhibits include a group of canopic jars from ancient Egypt, pieces from the Islamic and Coptic periods, and a group of portraits from the Late Dynastic Period. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Khaled El-Enany described the opening of the museums as a way of promoting Egypt and its great civilisation and cultural tourism. They would give passengers a glimpse of Egypt and its ancient treasures, he said. The minister of civil aviation said that if the new experience proved successful, it would be implemented in other airports in Egypt, especially those located in touristic governorates. Archaeological museums at all Egyptian airports could be an influential and important factor in attracting tourism and help to make the achievements of the countrys civilisations better known to benefit the Egyptian economy. To encourage travellers to visit the museums, tickets have been set at low prices. Tickets for foreign visitors are $3 or LE50, and they are LE25 for Egyptians. *A version of this article appears in print in the 27 May, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Short link: Their beaming smiles say a lot about the passion of the three university girls who chose to put effort into challenging deep-rooted norms in order to see change on the horizon. Zeina El-Salamony, Farida Rashwan and Neamat El-Touby are three students in their final year at Egypts MSA University, who just launched the Raise them well campaign as part of their graduation project. The campaign has already taken off on various social media platforms, and will be distributed via print outlets soon, El-Salamony told Ahram Online. The students are using their campaign to battle the problem of gender-based differences in parenting. They say their aim is to help parents learn about the mistakes they make, their long-term effects, and how to prevent them. The team explained to Ahramonline that they were prompted to initiate the campaign after observing how since the beginning of time, the differences in raising boys and girls has been prominent and obvious to many girls and women of this day and age. Providing a historical overview, the students explain that mothers, grandmother, and great-grandmothers discuss the differences in the level of liberty and freedom that they had in contrast to the permission and independence that their brothers had. Although the topic has raised many eyebrows over the years, it has been all talk and no action," El Salamony says. In turn, the students launched the campaign to raise awareness about the prejudice girls face as they grow, and the psychological turmoil that is created. "As this happens, boys are affected too. Their personality is embedded with a sense of false superiority, which causes them to belittle females. When we view many of our traditions and culture, the differences in the upbringing in terms of sexes is remarkable. Arab culture raises girls to be inferior in society, while her male opposite is raised to be superior," El Salamony adds. The students say that a clear example is the way parents discipline the child. In many cases, boys are pressured to be violent in order to "be a man", while girls are pushed to be quiet, polite, and obedient. Describing the impact of these differences in parenting, they explain that on many occasions, girls are accustomed to being undermined, which leads to diminished self-esteem and sense of self-worth. With this campaign, the main goal is to overturn this mentality as much as possible and convince parents to raise their children as equals, El Salamony concludes. Short link: Dutch researchers have trained bees, which have an unusually keen sense of smell, to identify samples infected with COVID-19, a finding they said could cut waiting times for test results to just seconds. To train the bees, scientists in the bio-veterinary research laboratory at Wageningen University gave them sugary water as a reward after showing them samples infected with COVID-19. They would get no reward after being shown a non-infected sample. Having got used to the system, the bees were able to spontaneously extend their tongues to receive a reward when presented with an infected sample, said Wim van der Poel, a professor of virology who took part in the project. "We collect normal honeybees from a beekeeper and we put the bees in harnesses," he said. "Right after presenting a positive sample we also present them with sugar water. And what the bees do is they extend their proboscis to take the sugar water." The extending of the bees' straw-like tongues to drink is confirmation of a positive coronavirus test result, according to the researchers. It can take hours or days to get a COVID-19 test result, but the response from the bees is immediate. The method is also cheap, potentially making it useful for countries where tests are scarce, they said. But Dirk de Graaf, a professor who studies bees, insects and animal immunology at Ghent University in Belgium, said he did not see the technique replacing more conventional forms of COVID-19 testing in the near future. "It is a good idea, but I would prefer to carry out tests using the classic diagnostic tools rather than using honeybees for this. I am a huge bee lover, but I would use the bees for other purposes than detecting COVID-19," he said. The technique of "insect sniffing" was effectively tested by the U.S. Dept. of Defence to detect explosives and toxins in the 1990s, De Graaf said. Moths, bees and wasps were used "for safety purposes to detect explosives as well as for medical diagnosis," he said. But too little is known about the Wageningen testing to determine its true effectiveness, he said, although he was open to the idea of bee testing providing an indication of illness when PCR tests were unavailable. Short link: Egyptian and Israeli foreign ministers, agreed on Sunday, to continue coordination between the two countries with the Palestinian national authority to seek breaking the current stalemate in the Palestinian-Israeli peace path. Egypts Sameh Shoukry and Israels Gabi Ashkenazi met, in Cairos El-Tahrir Palace, a week after Israel and the Palestinian factions agreed to an Egypt-brokered ceasefire that ended 11 days of Israeli aggression. Israel had launched airstrikes against the Gaza Strip, killing more than 250 people including dozens of women and children. Their airstrikes corresponded to rockets launched by the Palestinian factions against Israel. Todays meeting, between Shoukry and Ashkenazi, comes within the framework of Egypts contact with the Palestinian and Israeli sides to consolidate the ceasefire between Israel and the Gaza Strip, a statement by the Egyptian foreign ministry read. The ministers discussed ways to urgently facilitate the reconstruction of Gaza during the upcoming period, the statement added. Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi ordered, days before the ceasefire, the allocation of $500 million for the reconstruction of Gaza, as Israeli airstrikes reportedly wrecked hundreds of houses and displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians. During the meeting, Shoukry affirmed the need for further measures to enhance de-escalation between the Israeli and Palestinian sides as well as to create the appropriate climate for the revival of the desired political process, the statement read. Shoukry also highlighted the need to launch serious and constructive negotiations between the two sides urgently and to refrain from any measures that obstruct the efforts made in this regard. The Egyptian diplomat underscored during the meeting the necessity to build on the ceasefire declaration by stopping all practices that would lead to tensions and the escalation of confrontations related to the Palestinian lands, the statement said. Shoukry also affirmed the necessity of taking into account the special sensitivity related to East Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque and all the Islamic and Christian sanctities. The Egyptian minister reiterated Egypt's unwavering stance on the need to reach a two-state solution, as the only way to achieve the desired permanent peace, security and stability in the region. Shoukry also stressed the self-determination right of Palestinians through establishing their independent state based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital, in accordance to relevant international references. Egypt will continue its endeavours and contacts with all relevant parties in pursuit of this goal, the statement cited Shoukry as saying. Earlier, Head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service (GIS) Abbas Kamel, leading a security delegation, left for Israel and the Palestinian territories to discuss means in firming up the ceasefire. Kamel conveyed a message of support from President El-Sisi to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, reaffirming Egypt's full backing of the Palestinian people, their inalienable rights and their cause. Short link: Egypt's Senate approves 2021/22's socio-economic development plan with EGP 1.2 trillion in investment Gamal Essam El-Din, , Sunday 30 May 2021 Minister of Planning Hala ElSaeed said the new development plan aims to raise economic growth to 5.4 per cent, up from 2.6 per cent in current year Minister of Planning Hala El-Said said that the new development plan aims to raise the percentage of economic growth up to 5.4 percent, from the 2.6 percent in current year The Senate - Egypt's Consultative Upper House - approved the state's 2021-22 socio-economic development plan at a plenary session on Sunday. Representatives of most political parties said they approved the plan because it aims to raise economic growth and helps the country ride out the damaging effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Mahmoud Sami, the Representative of the Egyptian Socialist Democratic Party, was the only senator who voted no to the plan. In a statement before the Senate, on Sunday, Minister of Planning and Economic Development Hala El-Said said Egypt's 2021/22 socio-economic development plan targets EGP 1.250 trillion in overall investments, of which EGP 385 billion (five percent of GDP) is to be injected by the government into projects throughout Egypt. "These investments have gone up by 17.6 percent from last year and aim to raise economic growth up to 5.4 percent, up from the 2.6 percent in the current fiscal year," said El-Said, arguing that "as you know, the more you inject investments, the more you raise the rate of economic growth." El-Said also said that as much as 58 percent of government investments, estimated at EGP 358 billion in 2021/22, will be devoted to spending on social services; 18.6 percent is to be directed to transport and sanitary drainage services, while the remaining investments are to be allocated to the sectors of telecommunications; agriculture; electricity; water; construction; real estate and information technology. El-Said added that one third of government investments will be earmarked to achieve sustainable development in upper Egypt along with the border governorates. "The remaining two thirds of investments will be used to expand on building new housing communities, implementing environment-friendly projects, improving life in slum areas and reducing dioxide emissions," said the minister. As for private investments in the new socio-economic development plan, El-Said said these will stand at EGP 317 billion (25 percent of overall investments in the new plan and up from the 23 percent last year). "These kind of investments will focus on sectors of real estate, manufacturing industries, natural gas discoveries, telecommunications and agriculture," said El-Said. She also said that the net direct foreign investments are expected to reach $7 billion in 2021/22 and this will almost be equal to the pre-COVID-19 level. "The International Monetary Fund (IMF), however, forecasts that net direct foreign investments in Egypt will reach $8.3 billion in 2021/22, $11.4 billion in 2022/23, $14.6 billion in 2023/24 and $16.3 billion in 2024/25," said El-Said, adding that "these estimates show that international financial institutions are optimistic about the investment climate in Egypt." El-Said also argued that Egypt's 2016-2019 economic reform programme - the government's intervention to settle the business sector's legal disputes and the creation of a fast licensing system - all led to improving the investment climate in recent years. Besides, El-Said said that the new development plan hopes to boost revenues from the tourism sector to $6 billion and increase foreign exchange reserves to $42 billion, at the end of the fiscal year of 2021/22. In other terms, El-Said said the new development plan seeks to reduce population growth by two percent, cut annual inflation rate to six per cent, push the unemployment rate down to 7.3 percent and reduce the poverty rate to 28.5 percent. https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/413201.aspx Egypt's defence minister discusses military industry cooperation with South Korea Ahmed Eleiba, , Sunday 30 May 2021 Zaki discussed with the South Korean delegation ways to promote military cooperation and enhance the strategic partnership between both countries at various levels, especially cooperation with South Korean defence companies Egypt's Minister of Defence and Military Production Mohamed Zaki discussed onSunday further military cooperation with South Korea's Minister of Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) Kang Eun Ho in Cairo, the Egyptian armed forces said in a statement. According to the statement, Zaki discussed with the South Korean delegation ways to promote military cooperation and enhance the strategic partnership between both countries at various levels, especially cooperation with South Korean defence companies. Applauding the distinguished ties between the armed forces of both friendly nations, Zaki stressed he looks forward to furthering defence industry cooperation and knowledge sharing. Meanwhile, the South Korean official said his country is looking forward to participating in the 2nd edition of Egypts Defence Expo, the only tri-service defence exhibition in North Africa fully supported by the Egyptian Armed Forces. Scheduled to run from November 29 until December 2, the award-winning event presents a unique opportunity for exhibitors to showcase the latest military technology, equipment, and systems across land, sea, and air. Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Mohamed Farid attended the meeting, along with a host of senior military officials from the armed forces of both countries. https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/413210.aspx Qatar sees no reason for normalising ties with Syria, says foreign minister Reuters, , Sunday 30 May 2021 "So far we see nothing on the horizon for a political solution acceptable to the Syrian people ... the (regime's) approach and conduct has not changed," Qatari Foreign Minister said Qatar has no plans to normalise ties with Syria, the Gulf state's foreign minister said, after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad won a fourth term in office last week in an election derided by the opposition and the West as a farce. Qatar was among several regional states including Saudi Arabia that backed rebels in Syria's decade-old civil war. Some like the United Arab Emirates have sought to normalise ties after Assad regained control of most of the country. "So far we see nothing on the horizon for a political solution acceptable to the Syrian people ... the (regime's) approach and conduct has not changed," Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani told U.K.-based Al Araby television in an interview aired on Friday. "There is no motivation for us to re-establish ties with the Syrian regime at this time," Sheikh Mohammed said. "The Syrian regime is committing crimes against its people." Syria's government said Wednesday's election shows the country is functioning normally despite the war which has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced 11 million. read more Gulf states downgraded or shut missions in Damascus in 2012 over attacks by the government on protests at the start of the conflict. The UAE re-opened its mission to Damascus in late 2018 in a bid to counter the influence of non-Arab actors like Iran, which along with Russia backs Assad, and Turkey, which backs rebels. The UAE has a charge d'affaires in Syria. Oman, one of the rare Arab countries that maintained diplomatic ties with Damascus, sent an ambassador in 2020. The Qatari minister, who visited Libya last week, said Doha plans to reopen its diplomatic mission in Tripoli soon. The embassy was closed in 2014 when many foreign missions in the Libyan capital shut down as the country split between warring administrations. Since fighting in Libya ended last summer, the factions have accepted a new unity government mandated to unify institutions and prepare for elections in December. https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/413216.aspx Egypts intelligence chief holds talks with Israeli defence minister Ahram Online , Sunday 30 May 2021 The intelligence chief and his accompanied delegation is expected to visit Gaza on Monday Head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service (GIS) Abbas Kamel discussed on Sunday implementing a permanent ceasefire between Israelis and Palestinians with Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz during his visit to Israel. The two officials also discussed supporting the Palestinian authority, as well as the prisoners of war and missing persons. From his side, Gantz thanked the Egyptian intelligence chief and asserted his wish to achieve peace on the long run and asked Kamel to convey his thanks to President El-Sisi for his efforts to restore stability and security in the region, as well as the special security between the two countries. Kamel met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier on Sunday During his visit, he also met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and conveyed to him a message of support from President El-Sisi. The intelligence chief and his accompanied delegation is expected to visit Gaza on Monday. On Sunday, Cairo received Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi in a visit that is a first for an Israeli official of that level in 13 years. Ashkenazi came to discuss with Egyptian officials a permanent ceasefire. Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip, which came into effect on 21 May, ending 11 days of Israeli aggression on the enclave. The Israeli bombing campaign left more than 250 Palestinians dead, hundreds injured and homeless, while tens of residential and commercial buildings were demolished by Israeli air strikes. Egypt has taken several political and diplomatic steps since then to consolidate the ceasefire, including sending security delegations to the warring sides. Egypt also announced the allocation of $500 million for the reconstruction of Gaza and opened many hospitals nationwide to receive injured Palestinians from the strip. https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/413218.aspx KYODO NEWS - May 29, 2021 - 13:43 | All, Japan, Coronavirus Japan's top government spokesman said Saturday some restrictive measures against the coronavirus could be kept in place even if the COVID-19 state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka and eight other prefectures is lifted on the June 20 expiration date. The government may scale down the state of emergency to quasi-emergency measures, which also allow local authorities to impose restrictions such as requesting eateries to close early, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said on a TV program. His remarks came a day after the government extended the emergency declaration for nine prefectures and quasi-emergencies in five other prefectures by three weeks to June 20, just over a month before the Olympics begin in the capital. In the 10th prefecture -- Okinawa -- the state of emergency was already due to remain in force until that date. "The important thing is how to curb the spread of the virus effectively," Kato said, adding that the government will need to consider ways and means of improving the infection situation, including quasi-emergency measures, even after the end of the state of emergency. In the same TV program, Satoshi Kamayachi, an executive board member of the Japan Medical Association who also serves on a government advisory panel on COVID-19, said the panel wants to confirm a clear downward trend in the infection situation before considering lifting the state of emergency. Japan is grappling with a fourth wave of coronavirus infections triggered by a surge in highly contagious variants, putting severe pressure on health care services already strained by the prolonged pandemic. Prefectural governors decided in a meeting Saturday to urge Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's government to step up testing capabilities for the highly contagious Indian variant of the coronavirus. In a set of proposals soon to be submitted to the government, the National Governors' Association is also set to ask for detailed schedules for COVID-19 vaccine distribution to municipalities to start inoculating people with underlying health conditions in a swift manner following vaccinations for the elderly. The country lags far behind other developed countries in the vaccine rollout. Suga has vowed to finish inoculating the elderly by the end of July. The vaccination program started in February with health care workers and was later expanded to people aged 65 or over, but only about 6 percent of Japan's population has so far received at least one dose. In the online meeting, many governors of Japan's 47 prefectures voiced concerns over a lack of medical workers who are able to administer COVID-19 vaccines. Addressing delegates at Arabian Travel Market 2021 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dr Adam Wu, CEO, CBN Travel & MICE, which has offices in Beijing and London, said that China was ready for international travel - it has already opened its borders to 36 European and 13 Asian countries. Dr Wu was speaking via video link during a conference panel session on the opening day of the show (May 16) and confirmed that according to Chinas civil aviation administration, a total of 105 airlines including 19 Chinese carriers, are now flying to 55 different countries, culminating in 294 round trip flights per week. About marketing to Chinese consumers, Dr Wu recommended: Chinese speaking staff, a Chinese language website and post regularly on Chinese social media platforms such as DouYin (TikTok), (which as of Q1 2020 had over 800 million active users), he commented. Furthermore, during a China-focused study on both traffic and shopper insights, Swiss research agency m1nd-set found that due to Chinas robust consumer confidence and relentless desire to travel, 2021 will mark the beginning of a robust return to growth for the retail travel sector and should witness an increase of more than 200 per cent in international departures during the year to reach around 30 million international departures. China is due to reach its pre-Covid levels in 2023, when outbound traffic is forecast to reach 88 million following 108 per cent growth in 2022 and a further 44 per cent in 2023. The number of Chinese visitors travelling to Dubai, rose year-on-year by 15.5 per cent to 989,000 tourists in 2019 and should be one of the Middle East regions first destinations to benefit from an overall increase in Chinas appetite for overseas leisure travel. Another panelist, Zayed R. Alzayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism for the Kingdom of Bahrain and Chairman of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority, revealed that it was a part of Bahrains international strategy to encourage more inbound tourists from China. Our initial strategy was to concentrate on local and regional travel first and then focus on international travel. At the end of 2019 we were ready and committed to start a campaign to bring Chinese visitors to Bahrain. We were planning a direct flight with Gulf Air, but then the pandemic hit and all of our plans were put on hold. China remains a priority, he said. Other panelists included Helen Shapovalova, Founder, Pan Ukraine, Sumathi Ramanathan, Vice President, Market Strategy & Sales at Expo 2020 Dubai, Alma Au Yeung Corporate Director Strategic Projects and Partnerships, Emaar and Mr Wang, Managing Director, High Way Travel & Tourism. Earlier in the day on May 16, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, CEO and Founder of the Emirates Group and chairman of Dubai World, officially inaugurated the show, marking the start of the 28th edition of the Middle Easts largest travel and tourism exhibition. Running through until May 19 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, this years event has 1,300 exhibitors from 62 countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Italy, Germany, Cyprus, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, the Maldives, the Philippines, Thailand, Mexico and the US, underscoring the strength of ATMs reach. ATM 2021s show theme is appropriately A New Dawn for Travel & Tourism and spread across nine halls. This year, for the first time in ATM history, a new hybrid format will mean a virtual ATM running a week later, from May 24-26, to complement and reach a wider audience than ever before. ATM Virtual, which made its debut last year, proved to be a resounding success attracting 12,000 online attendees from 140 countries. - TradeArabia News Service KYODO NEWS - May 30, 2021 - 12:02 | All, Japan, Coronavirus As Japan prepares to allow paramedics to give COVID-19 vaccine shots to help accelerate the country's so-far sluggish rollout campaign, fire departments, which employ most holders of paramedic licenses, are discussing how to respond. One proposal is that since Japan's medical system remains under severe strain, the some 12,000 "latent paramedics" working at fire departments -- those who possess licenses but are currently assigned to non-medical duties -- should be encouraged to step forward. Japan launched its inoculation push in February for health care workers and later expanded it to people aged 65 or older. But as Japan battles its fourth wave of coronavirus infections, it has so far administered at least one dose to only about 6 percent of its population of 126 million. In an effort to speed things up, the government has already conditionally allowed trainee doctors and dentists to join qualified doctors and nurses in administering shots. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's administration is now hoping to draft in paramedics and clinical laboratory technicians, too, although Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said they should not join the inoculation effort at the expense of their normal duties. Some 40,000 of the 64,000 certified paramedics in the country are employed by fire departments, with around 12,000 of them working in non-medical areas. The Sakai City Fire Bureau in Osaka Prefecture, for instance, has around 200 certified paramedics, but roughly one-fourth of them are not involved in emergency services. A 46-year-old male official with a paramedic's license who now belongs to the personnel section at the department was keen to be of use. "It is our duty to help out as much as possible," he said. But elsewhere, some paramedics were more cautious, saying that since giving injections is an unfamiliar task for them, the government needs to create an environment in which they can feel confident in joining the inoculation drive. For instance, a 31-year-old male paramedic in Osaka Prefecture wants the government to determine "who would take responsibility in case of an accident." At the same time, however, he hailed the move to get medical professionals other than doctors involved in vaccinations as foreign countries have done. Tetsuji Suzuki, the chairman of the Japanese Paramedics Association, estimates that another pool of some 5,000 to 8,000 "latent paramedics" can be found among those with licenses who are not working for fire departments or hospitals. In recent years, there has been a movement to deploy licensed paramedics to leisure facilities, but in reality, actually performing paramedic duties is limited to those in fire departments. Suzuki, who is also a professor at Suzuka University of Medical Science, says the government needs to show flexibility and strong leadership and prepare training programs for "latent paramedics." It would be a "waste of a treasure" and "society's loss" if those with licenses cannot respond to the current emergency, Suzuki said, urging the government to make all-out efforts to achieve this. KYODO NEWS - May 30, 2021 - 21:08 | All, Japan, Coronavirus The coronavirus vaccination rollout for people under the age of 65 in Japan will be carried out at the same time as those with underlying conditions to help speed up the process, the health minister said Sunday. The health ministry had already instructed municipalities to begin sending vaccination vouchers to all those eligible under 65 from the middle of June. But now, even those without underlying medical conditions will be able to get their jab upon receiving the voucher next month. While those with underlying conditions will generally be given priority, "if we wait until everyone (with underlying conditions) has been vaccinated, we don't know when it will be completed," Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Norihisa Tamura said on a program aired by public broadcaster NHK. Those who qualify to receive priority vaccinations will need to report to municipalities independently, as the government has no data available as to exactly how many people are eligible. Japan's vaccination program was launched in February for front-line health workers and expanded to those 65 and older in April. The government planned to vaccinate those with underlying conditions, those working for nursing homes and finally, the general public after finishing vaccinating the elderly by July 31. But the government is looking to speed up the country's vaccine rollout, which has lagged behind other countries, with just 6 percent of its population having received at least one dose. With the medical system remaining strained, the COVID-19 state of emergency in Tokyo, Osaka and seven other prefectures was extended on Friday by three weeks to June 20, just over a month before the Olympics begin in the capital. Taro Kono, the minister in charge of the country's vaccination efforts, said Saturday in an internet program that the government will leave the decision about who should be prioritized once the inoculation of the elderly is completed to the municipalities. Tamura said he wants local governments to prepare to administer vaccinations to those eligible under 65, prioritizing those with underlying conditions. The central government is also considering administering U.S. pharmaceutical company Moderna Inc.'s vaccine, which was approved in Japan in May, at workplaces, to further accelerate the rollout, he said. Large-scale COVID-19 vaccination centers run by Self-Defense Forces personnel will begin full-scale operations from Monday, a week after opening, raising the maximum number of inoculations per day to 10,000 in Tokyo and 5,000 in Osaka. The centers, which currently target those 65 and older, are available to about 9 million people in the greater Tokyo metropolitan area and about 4.7 million people in the three western Japanese prefectures of Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo. The state of emergency, currently in place over the nine prefectures and Okinawa, which was recently added as the 10th prefecture, may be lifted before its June 20 expiration depending on the infection situation, but "measures must continue to be taken even after it is lifted to prevent a resurgence," Tamura said. Jammu: Six suspected drug peddlers were on Monday arrested and three kilograms of Charas were seized from them near Katra in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police official said. The arrests were made during vehicle checking from a Katra-bound passenger mini-bus at Moorie village, the official said. He said that the police was busy in routine vehicle checking near the town, which serves as the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, when some people, boarding a private car, left the vehicle and boarded a mini-bus. The police got suspicious and stopped the vehicle for checking, he said, adding that the police seized three kilograms of Charas and five grams of smack from six people. Also Read: Are you feeling suicidal? Anaesthesia drug ketamine may reduce those thoughts in no time They were identified as Shabir Ahmed, Mohammad Altaf, Mehraj Din, Janak Raj, Vijay Kumar and Rohit Sharma. All the six were arrested and booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Bengaluru: The Uttar Kannada police have claimed to solve the alleged kidnapping attempt of a class 9th girl student of Honnavar. The girl, say the police, confessed that she had fabricated the kidnapping story and had, in fact, attempted suicide. The girl had complained that on December 14 around 7.30 am two persons attacked her from behind while she was on her way to the school and tried to kidnap her. She said she sustained injuries from the knives the two men carried and due to her strong resistance the duo dumped her and ran away. At a time when Uttar Kannada district is already witnessing communal unrest and violent protests by the BJP against the mysterious death of 18-year-old Paresh Mesta, BJP MP Shobha Karandalaje immediately tweeted about the incident and blamed the members of the minority community for this incident. Karandalaje tweeted, "Jihadis tried to rape and murder a girl studying in 9th std near honnavar. Why is the govt silent about this incident? Arrest those who molested and injured this girl. Where are you CM @siddaramaiah? Jihadis tried to rape and murder a girl studying in 9th std near honnavar.Why is the govt silent about this incident?Arrest those who molested and injured this girl. Where are you CM @siddaramaiah? Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) December 14, 2017 However, police say the investigation has revealed that the girl has been stalked and harassed by a youth Ganesh Ishwar Nayak, a resident of Bajjikeri of Honnavar taluk, for about 6 months. On the morning of December 8, he had confronted her asking her to get on his two-wheeler, threatening her of dire consequences if she resisted. The girl informed her mother about this who approached a gram panchayat member who assured the girl's mother that the youth would be warned. The girl did not go to school for 3 days due to the prevailing communal tension in the area. Meanwhile, when she called her friend she learned that there was an exam on December 14. However, she could not prepare for the exam as she was already disturbed by the acts and threats of Nayak. She was also afraid that if she goes out of the house Nayak might harass her again. With these fears in mind, she decided to end her life and took some thorns from a lemon tree and tried to cut herself. She immediately resented her decision and sought help from a friend. The two went to Magodi to get a bandage for the girl's wounds but her friend got a small bandage which was not enough to cover the abrasions. When the two went to the medical store to return the bandage to get a bigger cloth bandage the owner of the medical store, instead of asking the reason for the injuries, told her that he had seen two people, one of whom had a beard, moving suspiciously in the area. He also told other people in the neighbourhood that they had cut the girl with a knife, and because of the existing communal tension in the area, others who had gathered at the spot too assumed that this was true. Fearing the consequences of revealing the truth, the girl decided to go along with this version. Hemant Nimbalakar, IG western range said, "Upon medical examination, doctors found that the girl's injuries were consistent with self-inflicted wounds. When faced with these findings, the girl confessed about the nature of the wounds and based on her complaint a case has been booked against Nayak under POCSO Act." Now, police are trying to identify the miscreants who attempted to spread communal disharmony through social media using this incident. New Delhi: Days after UIDAI action against Bharti Airtel, state-owned oil companies have started writing to the Sunil Mittal-led firm, asking it to transfer back the LPG subsidy that was credited to its payments bank accounts. The countrys largest mobile operator has been accused of opening Payments Bank account of its subscribers without seeking their informed consent. Bharti Airtel, which also operates this new category of banks, has been allegedly using Aadhaar numbers of mobile subscribers to open their accounts, which led the subsidy to flow to the latest bank account linked to the biometric ID. The subsidy that government pays to households for buying the cooking gas has got credited to these payments bank accounts, leading to inconvenience to users many of whom did not know that their entitlement was not coming to their regular bank account but going an account which they had not applied for. Taking a lead, Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) has written to Airtel asking it to revert the subsidy to the customers earlier bank account or transfer the same to the oil companies. In a statement, HPCL said oil marketing companies and the oil ministry have been getting a large number of complaints from LPG consumers on not receiving LPG subsidy amounts into their earlier bank accounts for the past few weeks. In many cases across the three oil marketing companies (Indian Oil Corp, Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd and HPCL) where the Aadhaar linking of LPG consumers has got changed in the NPCI mapper to Airtel Payments Bank and hence the LPG subsidy is getting sent to the new bank account in the Airtel Payments Bank, it said. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) is an umbrella organisation for all retail payments in India. HPCL has written to Airtel Bank and requested that the subsidy amounts of these consumers be immediately either transferred back to the customers earlier bank account or to the respective OMCs, the statement said. Over Rs 167.7 crore LPG subsidy of 37.21 lakh LPG consumers has so far been deposited in Airtel Payments Bank accounts. National biometric ID issuing authority UIDAI had on Saturday temporarily barred Airtel from using Aadhaar to authenticate mobile phone connections and opening new payment bank accounts. In order to check diversions, the government pays subsidy equivalent to buying 12 LPG cylinders of 14.2 kg each in a year, directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries. Unlike in the past, LPG now is only available at market price. Beneficiaries get subsidy for one cylinder in advance and are replenished the moment they use it up to buying LPG refill. According to senior government official, of the Rs 167.72 crore, Rs 88.18 crore of subsidy was transferred of 17.32 lakh consumers enrolled with Indian Oil Corp (IOC). Just over Rs 40 crore subsidy belonged to 10.06 lakh consumers enrolled with HPCL and Rs 39.46 crore to 9.8 lakh consumers of Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL). The UIDAI, in an interim order late last week, suspended the eKYC licence key of both Airtel Payments Bank and Airtel, which has 285 million subscribers. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The National Green Tribunal on Monday directed the Delhi government to consider shutting schools whenever air quality touches emergency levels to save the children from inhaling pollutants. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar asked the AAP government to look into this aspect and incorporate it in its action plan to deal with the problem of air pollution. "Why don't you close schools whenever the particulate matter levels are found to be beyond 900 micrograms per cubic meter. Ask the schools to run on Saturday and Sunday if required," the bench observed. Advocate Tarunvir Singh Khehar, appearing for the Delhi government, said that this was difficult to implement because the children will have to suffer academically. He said that air quality is bad in winter season for three months and if schools are closed during this period it would be difficult to complete their syllabus and examinations will have to be postponed. The bench, however, expressed dissatisfaction and said, "You don't do your duty and now you are giving reasons. You are spoiling the lives of children. Infants are taking antibiotics in Delhi. Why should they suffer? "In the last 12 years, the Delhi government has not taken a single step to bring down the ambient air quality within permissible limits. If the lungs of children are affected today, imagine the disease they will have after 20 years," it said while directing it to consider the suggestion. The NGT also rapped the AAP government for not installing air purifier in government schools as per its earlier direction. During the proceedings, the Delhi government submitted its action plan for the period when air quality touches emergency levels which it divided in three categories dealing with different levels of pollution. The NGT said that it would pass detailed order on ways to handle air pollution after perusing the action plans submitted by the Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh governments. Also Read: NGT bans plastic items in towns located along banks of Ganga The tribunal had on December 6 slammed the AAP government and the neighbouring states over their action plan on ways to deal with severe air pollution in the city and directed them to file a detailed document to tackle the problem. It had observed that air pollution was never at "normal level" in the national capital and directed the neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan to file the action plan afresh. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that the Gujarat election results raise questions on the credibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the Gujarat verdict was a moral victory for Congress and stated that it sends a message to PM Modi and the party that "Your anger will not work for you, you can be defeated by love." The Congress president also said, "There is a serious issue with Modi ji's credibility... this election has put a big question mark on PM Modi's credibility. We didn't win, but we fared well. The result was good for us." The BJP on Monday retained Gujarat, however, by a much lower margin of win compared to the last time, while the Congress posted its best result since 1985 in the state. Rahul Gandhi had on Monday accepted defeat and he had also congratulated the BJP on winning both Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. The BJP fought off a strong challenge from Rahul Gandhi-led Congress to win the Gujarat assembly polls for the sixth straight time, and also wrested power from the Congress in Himachal Pradesh with a close to two-thirds majority. The twin victories tightened BJP's grip over the country's politics that saw Congress lose one more state with general elections only 18 months away. Still, the euphoria in the BJP camp was tempered by the lower-than-expected margin of victory in Gujarat -- it took 99 seats in the 182-member assembly, down from 115 it won in 2012, and far lower than the 150-plus seats it had hoped for. The Congress won 77, up by 16 seats at the end of counting of votes in the Gujarat polls tonight that was marked by acrimonious exchanges and rhetoric during the high octane campaign. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the party's victory in Gujarat--where it has been continuously in power since 1998 --as "unprecedented", noting that retaining office was once considered a huge achievement in the country. Modi also said the win in Gujarat this time was not 'samanya' (normal) but 'asamanya' (special). He accused the Congress of promoting casteism in the elections, and said there were "many forces at work" besides the opposition party to bring the BJP down. "In their hunger for power, some people tried to sow the seeds of casteism in the last few months for the elections. The people rejected it," he said. Gujarat is a prestigious trophy for the BJP given that both Modi and BJP President Amit Shah hail from the state. The two leaders personally led a high-pitched campaign to counter Gandhi, who grew in influence with well chosen homilies, one-liners and clever barbs to target the BJP on issues such as GST, corruption and development. The elections, especially the Gujarat polls, became a virtual trailer for the next Lok Sabha elections, which should be held before May 2019. (With inputs from PTI) Ahmedabad: Backward class leader Alpesh Thakor, who had joined the Congress just ahead of the Gujarat Assembly polls, on Monday scored his maiden election victory from Radhanpur seat, defeating his closest BJP rival by 15,000 votes. Alpesh Thakor, who had led an agitation against the BJP government over the issues concerning the OBCs under the banner of the Gujarat Kshatriya-Thakor Sena, defeated Lavingji Thakor. Alpesh Thakor, who cornered crucial Thakor votes for the Congress, bagged 85,777 votes, while Lavingji Thakor's tally stood at 70,920 votes. New Delhi : An Amtrak train making the first-ever run along a faster new route hurtled off an overpass south of Seattle and spilled some of its cars onto the highway below, killing at least six people, authorities said. The death toll was expected to rise. Seventy-eight passengers and five crew members were aboard when the train moving at more than 80 mph derailed on a route that had raised safety concerns. At least 50 people were hospitalized, more than a dozen with critical or serious injuries, authorities said. An official briefed on the investigation told The Associated Press that preliminary signs indicate that Train 501 may have struck something before going off the track about 64 kilometers south of Seattle. The official was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. A local official had raised concerns about the safety of the new bypass as recently as two weeks ago at a public meeting. The Pierce County Sheriff's Office said several vehicles on Interstate 5 were struck by falling train cars and multiple motorists were injured. No fatalities of motorists were reported. In a radio transmission immediately after the accident, the train's conductor can be heard saying the train was coming around a corner and was crossing a bridge that passed over Interstate 5 when it derailed. "I'm still figuring that out. We've got cars everywhere and down onto the highway," he tells the dispatcher, who asks if everyone is OK. Chris Karnes was on the train, three or four cars back from the front. He said the only part of the train remaining on the tracks was the rear locomotive. Several cars were hanging over the overpass. Daniel Konzelman, 24, was driving parallel to the train on his way to work as an accountant in Olympia. He was about 30 seconds ahead of the train on the freeway when he saw it derail. Konzelman, who was driving with a friend, said he pulled off the freeway and then ran down along the tracks and over the bridge to get to the scene. They saw three cars and a semi-truck on the freeway that had been damaged by the derailment. There were train cars with their roofs ripped off, or that were tipped upside down, on both sides of the track or turned sideways on the bridge. They climbed into train cars and found people hurt some pinned underneath the train, others who appeared to be dead, he said. If they were mobile and seemed stable, he helped them climb out. If they appeared seriously hurt, he tried to comfort them by talking to them. "I just wanted to help people because I would want people to help me," he said. "I'm an Eagle Scout. I have a lot of first-aid training and emergency response training." They stayed for nearly two hours before hitting the road again. "I prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. I saw a little bit of both," he said. President Donald Trump used the deadly derailment to call for more infrastructure spending in a tweet sent about three hours after the accident. He said the wreck, on a newly completed bypass, shows "more than ever why our soon to be submitted infrastructure plan must be approved quickly." The train was making the inaugural run on the new route as part of a USD 180.7 million project designed to speed up service by removing passenger trains from a route along Puget Sound that's bogged down by curves, single-track tunnels and freight traffic. The Amtrak Cascades train service is jointly owned by the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Oregon Department of Transportation. Amtrak operates the service for the two states as a contractor and is responsible for day-to- day operations. Amtrak Cascades runs trains from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Eugene, Oregon. The Amtrak schedule called for the train to leave Seattle around 6 AM and arrive in Portland about 3 1/2 hours later. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Ahmedabad: Although the BJP retained power in Gujarat, it lost the Unjha assembly constituency in Mehsana district, which includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's hometown Vadnagar, to Congress. Congress candidate Asha Patel defeated BJP nominee and sitting MLA Narayan Patel with a comfortable margin of over 19,000 votes to win the Unjha seat. The 79-year-old BJP veteran had defeated Asha Patel (40) in the 2012 assembly elections. However, the picture changed this time following the Patel quota agitation and Thakor community's increasing leaning towards the Congress. Out of the total 2.12 lakh voters of Unjha, over 77,000 are Patidars, while around 50,000 belong to the Thakor community. Unjha is also known for the Umiya Mata temple, the reigning deity of Kadva Patel sect. Both Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi had held poll rallies in Vadnagar. All travellers arriving in Saudi Arabia, including citizens of the GCC countries and holders of new visas, who have been vaccinated with one of the Covid-19 vaccines, need to register their vaccination status online, said a report. Saudi Arabia's Public Health Authority (Weqaya) has announced that all those entering the Kingdom, whether they are citizens, residents, or vaccinated passengers, need to complete the vaccination registration process online before their arrival by visiting https://muqeem.sa/#/vaccine-registration/home, said a report in Saudi Gazette. Registration is available only to those who have completed taking the doses for the following approved vaccines: Two doses for the Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Moderna One dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine Presenting proof for vaccination on arrival As to those who received one dose of the Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca vaccines, they cannot register on the website, and institutional quarantine measures will be imposed on them on arrival. For Saudi citizens and residents, the Immune status shown on the Tawakkalna app, either with the first dose or both, and those who have recovered from the virus for a period not exceeding six months, is sufficient, the report said. Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for BJP's victory in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections. In a statement, KCR said he is congratulating Modi on behalf of the people of Telangana and his party the Telangana Rashtra Samiti. The BJP fought off a strong challenge from Rahul Gandhi-led Congress to win the Gujarat assembly polls for the sixth straight time on December 18 and also wrested power from the Congress in Himachal Pradesh in a sweeping victory. Meanwhile, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said the outcome of Gujarat Assembly elections was a clear indication that Congress was on its way back to power across the country. Speaking to media persons at AICC Headquarters in the national capital, Reddy said despite being out of power for 22 years, the performance of Congress in Gujarat elections has been tremendous. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: As the BJP retained Gujarat, its bickering ally, the Shiv Sena, on Monday said it was the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress which had emerged as the "real winner" in the election. Coming to power was no "big thing", Sena leader Sanjay Raut said, adding that the Congress might have lost the polls, but had "defeated" the BJP. "Although you see the BJP coming to power, the real winner is the Congress party. They may have lost, but have defeated the BJP," Raut said. He pointed out that the Gujarat had been in power for over 20 yeas in Gujarat. "Coming to power is not a big thing," Raut said. The sena leader also claimed that the BJP's "much-touted Gujarat model" had failed. "...the model, which took the BJP on the path to power in the country, has failed. The reason is that none of the dreams you (BJP) showed the state and the country were realised," Raut claimed. The BJP "deprived the poor by emptying their pockets" with demonetisation, the Rajya Sabha member further said. "The result is seen in Gujarat," he told reporters here. Raut stressed that the poll results indicated that the people were not happy with the BJP in Gujarat. The BJP came to power in the country by citing the 'Gujarat model' (of development), he said. "If people in Gujarat are not happy (with the BJP) today, then understand their psyche, understand what people in the country feel," Raut said. The BJP, he added, should understand the mindset of the people of Gujarat and "the reason the people there are not happy". Raut claimed that the Narendra Modi-led government had not registered success on a single issue, whether it was security, Kashmir, Pakistan, the note ban, unemployment or farmer suicides. "This is what I gather from the Gujarat election results," he said. Raut's remarks came as the Sena heaped praise on Rahul Gandhi, lauding the newly appointed Congress president for "fighting the Gujarat poll battle without bothering about the result". The Uddhav Thackeray-led party said the 47-year-old Amethi MP had taken over the reins of the party at a crucial stage. "Rahul Gandhi has accepted the responsibility as Congress president at a crucial stage. There should be no objection in wishing him all the best," said an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'. The BJP today retained power in Gujarat, securing a simple majority in the 182-member Assembly. New Delhi: BJP chief Amit Shah on Monday blamed Congress's "caste politics" for his party's lowest tally in Gujarat since 1996, but cited the rise in its vote share and the sixth straight victory in the state to assert that the people had chosen its "politics of performance". Citing his party's winning streak since it came to power at the Centre in May, 2014, he said the BJP would win the 2019 Lok Sabha poll with a strong majority, and the people would help realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream of a "New India" by 2022. He rejected suggestions that it was a "kante ki takkar" (close fight) in Modi's and his home state, saying that the BJP's vote share was eight per cent more that of the Congress. "A gap of 8 per cent does not imply a close fight," he said at a press conference held after it became clear that the BJP would form another government in Gujarat and wrest power from the Congress in Himachal Pradesh. The BJP is set to win 99 seats in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly against 77 of the Congress. It had won 122, 117 and 116 seats in the 2002, 2007 and 2012 polls, respectively, against the Congress's 51, 59 and 60. With the Congress claiming "moral victory" after putting up its strongest show in the saffron bastion since 1985, when it had 149 seats and had formed a government, Shah accused it of "lowering the political discourse", claiming this was the lowest form of campaign he had witnessed in his career. The twin verdicts were a defeat of the "politics of dynasty, casteism and appeasement" and a win for his party's politics of performance, he said, adding that Indian democracy was entering a new era. The country's development journey had taken two more steps with these wins, he said. While the BJP had five chief ministers and was in power with an ally in another state when it formed the Central government in May, 2014, it would now have 14 chief ministers. It is in power with allies in five other states, he said. He rejected the claim that his party had carried out a shrill discourse, with Modi alleging a collusion between the Congress and Pakistan. The BJP could not have remained silent after it was targeted and Modi was called names, the BJP president said. Asked if the Congress's strong show in his home state was a setback to his agenda of a "Congress-mukt" (Congress-free) India, he replied that the opposition had lost power in one more state, in a reference to Himachal. He played down the opposition party's improved performance, saying that it had carried out a casteist campaign and tried to divert the attention of the people from real issues by attempting to throw the state into the "fire of casteism". To a question about his target of winning 150 seats in Gujarat, Shah claimed he had not realised that the Congress would have "sunk to such a low" in its campaign. Despite that, the BJP, with a 49.1 per cent vote share, had seen a rise of over 1.25 per cent from that in 2012, he said. The defeat of several top state Congress leaders showed that the people had rejected it after it "outsourced" its leadership, Shah claimed. The Congress had struck alliances with Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, who won as an independent candidate, and OBC leader Alpesh Thakor, and also had an electoral understanding with Patidar leader Hardik Patel. He said the people's faith in Modi and his government's reforms and pro-poor policies were the reasons for the victory. Shah expressed confidence that his party would win the Assembly polls in Tripura, Meghalaya, Karnataka and Mizoram, to be held next year. Also Read| Gujarat election results 2017 updates: PM Modi credits 'VIKAS' for BJP's victory To a question on the likely impact of the Patidar agitation for quotas, he said his party had done well in Surat and Mahesana, the hotbed of the protests. He also rejected Patel's allegations that EVMs or electronic voting machines had been tampered with. Polling machines work well when opposition parties win, he said dryly. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Bengaluru: To attract IT and electronics sector for investment in Uttar Pradesh during UP Investors Summit 2018, scheduled to be held on 21st and 22nd February, UP Government on Monday organised a roadshow in Bengaluru. Uttar Pradesh Industries Development Minister Satish Mahana and six senior bureaucrats held meetings with many investors and business persons in Bengaluru. Uttar Pradesh has two big IT hubs at Noida and Greater Noida with more than 25 special economic zones and software technology parks but Uttar Pradesh's BJP government now wants to foster growth in cities like Kanpur, Meerut, Agra, and Bundelkhand region. In an exclusive interview with News Nation, Satish Mahana said, "We want to develop entire state and will provide all the facilities to the companies who will invest in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh Government has announced that all the IT/ITe companies will be provided land at subsidised rates, stamp duty exemption, electricity duty exemption coupled with EPF incentives, added Mahana. Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said the outcome of the Gujarat Assembly election had exposed the hollowness of the "model of development" in that state. "It (Gujarat development model) is a fraud on the people and aimed at misleading the voters," Yadav said in an official statement here. He said the BJP was expecting 150 seats but the results have proved that the people of that state did not endorse the Gujarat model of development through the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi went all out to ensure the party's success. The SP had fielded candidates from five Assembly seats in Gujarat, all of whom lost the polls. The party chief said the Congress should take all secular parties along to usher in change in the 2019 Lok Sabha election as regional parties and regional issues would have a role to play in the next general elections. "The BJP speaks of 'sabka sath, sabka vikas' but when we try to give justice to all sections of the society, the same BJP calls it appeasement," Yadav said. "We can build a strong Bharat only by taking all the people and sections along," said the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, adding that the country could not progress when farmers were distressed and the youth was unemployed. Amravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday congratulated the BJP over its victory in the Assembly elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. Chandrababu, who is currently holidaying in Maldives with family, tweeted: "Congratulations @BJP4India on winning the elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. Wishing them all the best for their forthcoming tenure in governance." Congratulations @BJP4India on winning the elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. Wishing them all the best for their forthcoming tenure in governance. N Chandrababu Naidu (@ncbn) December 18, 2017 The Telugu Desam Party and the BJP are allies, both at the Centre and in Andhra Pradesh. TDP spokesperson Y V B Rajendra Prasad also congratulated the BJP over the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh victory. Meanwhile, BJP cadres, led by MLC Somu Veerraju, organised celebrations at the state party office here. They danced to drum beats and distributed sweets. "Taking the Gujarat victory as an inspiration, we will build our strength in AP as well and emerge as a strong force," Veerraju said. The BJP won the Gujarat assembly polls for a record sixth straight victory on Monday. The party got majority in Himachal Pradesh as it won 35 seats and was leading in nine in 68-member Assembly, as per the Election Commission tally. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah after the party's win in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls, hailing it as a "victory of people". "After 2012, the BJP has emerged victorious in most of the elections which have been held and now the party is ruling in 19 states. In 2014, the BJP formed the government in Haryana with full mandate. Since then, it has been running successfully under the guidance of the prime minister and Amit Shah," Khattar said here. When reminded that the BJP was expected to do better than what it had fared in the Gujarat polls, Khattar replied, "Nothing succeeds like success, a win is a win after all. Now, whether the vote percentage is less or more, what factors were at work...there are local and other issues, but in the end, we got majority". The increasing mandate of BJP is taking the country closer to the prime minister's vision of "Congress-mukt Bharat", Khattar told reporters. On anti-incumbency, Khattar said it had always been there against Congress governments, "but so far, there is no such factor against the Centre or in states which are ruled by the BJP". Describing Modi "as popular as ever", the 63-year-old chief minister said the victory of BJP in both the states had made it clear that people voted for the "welfare policies" implemented by the Narendra Modi-led government. Khattar said the BJP had worked with an eye on the poor, farmers, labour class and people belonging to the weaker sections of society. "The Congress only raised slogans in favour of these sections, but actually they never worked for their welfare," he claimed. Asked if there was a possibility that the BJP-ruled Haryana may opt for having Assembly polls simultaneously with the next Lok Sabha elections, Khattar said, "If a call is made that elections in most of the states be held along with the Lok Sabha, we are ready. "But we do not have any such agenda to hold elections along with the Lok Sabha polls. It entirely depends on the decision of the Centre," he added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu on Tuesday said India will host a meeting of about 40 WTO members in February to muster support for food security and other issues. "We are trying to call a meeting of almost 30-40 countries (WTO ministerial) in Delhi in February just to help multi-lateral process," Prabhu said here at an event organised by Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC). He, however, did not give details of the meeting. The proposed meeting would be in the the backdrop of developed nations forming groupings to prepare ground for pushing investment facilitation, preparing rules for e- commerce, promoting gender equality and reducing subsidy on fisheries with a view to curbing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. India has been keenly pushing agriculture issues at the World Trade Organisation (WTO). It has also been raising its voice against bringing new issues, especially those which are not directly linked to trade, on the negotiating table. On Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with European Union, Prabhu said, he had meeting with the EU minister to discuss various issues. "When we talk of FTA there is always trade-offs...as a country we have to find how trade-off can benefit us," he said. EU is great market for India for garments, which is employment generating sector, the minister said, adding that the government is preparing a standard operating procedure for any new FTA to be entered. Besides EU, he said, India is also in discussion with Canada and Australia for the FTA. Speaking at the same event, Textile Minister Smriti Irani said the department will do a lot in the coming year for the sector. She said skilling is another focus for the government and assured all support to garment manufacturer. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kochi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting at Kavaratti in Lakshadweep to review the situation arising due to Cyclone Ockhi which left a trail of destruction in the Union Territory. Modi, who reached the island on Tuesday morning was received by top officials of the Lakshadweep administration and public representatives, including Lakshadweep MP Muhammed Faizal. "PM @narendramodi reviewed the situation arising due to#CycloneOckhi at a high-level meeting in Lakshadweep," a tweet by the Prime Minister's Office said. Earlier on Tuesday, youngsters of Lakshadweep extended a warm welcome to the prime minister, it tweeted said. Besides, Modi will visit the cyclone-battered areas of Tamil Nadu and Kerala on Tuesday. During his visit to the southern states, Modi will visit coastal Kanya kumari and Thiruvananthapuram where he will meet officials and public representatives as well as the cyclone victims, including the fishermen, and farmers' delegations. Parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep were severely affected by the cyclone late last month and early this month. The prime minister has constantly been monitoring the situation arising out of the natural calamity in the southern parts of the country. A PMO statement had said the Centre released the second instalment from the State Disaster Relief Fund(SDRF) for Kerala and Tamil Nadu to supplement the efforts of these states in dealing with the situation. "During financial year 2017-18, the amounts of the central share of the SDRF to the governments of Kerala and Tamil Nadu were Rs 153 crore and Rs 561 crore respectively,"it had said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: US President Donald Trump has asked Pakistan to take "decisive action" against terror groups operating from its soil, as he unveiled America's new National Security Strategy (NSS). Mandated by the Congress, Trump on Sunday released his first NSS, according to which the US has asked Pakistan to intensify its counterterrorism efforts. "We have made clear to Pakistan that while we desire continued partnership, we must see decisive action against terrorist groups operating on their territory. And we make massive payments every year to Pakistan. They have to help," Trump said in his remarks as he announced the NSS. Pakistan has received more than USD 33 billion from US since the 9/11 terror attacks. "We will press Pakistan to intensify its counterterrorism efforts, since no partnership can survive a country's support for militants and terrorists who target a partner's own service members and officials," it said. The US will also encourage Pakistan to continue demonstrating that it is a responsible steward of its nuclear assets, the NSS said. The US will continue to partner with Afghanistan to promote peace and security in the region, it said. "We will continue to promote anti-corruption reform in Afghanistan to increase the legitimacy of its government and reduce the appeal of violent extremist organisations," it added. The NSS links its efforts to build trade and investment ties with Pakistan with improvement in security."We will press Pakistan to intensify its counterterrorism efforts, since no partnership can survive a country's support for militants and terrorists who target a partner's own service members and officials," it said. Observing that the US continues to face threats from transnational terrorists and militants operating from within Pakistan, the NSS said the prospect for an Indo-Pakistani military conflict that could lead to a nuclear exchange remains a key concern requiring consistent diplomatic attention. The Trump administration has been talking tough with Pakistan after it came to power, but has stopped short of taking any action against it even though the Pakistani leadership have shown reluctance in taking decisive action against terrorist groups. On November 25, the White House asked Pakistan to immediately re-arrest and prosecute Hafiz Saeed, leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba. "If Pakistan does not take action to lawfully detain Saeed and charge him for his crimes, its inaction will have repercussions for bilateral relations and for Pakistan?s global reputation," the White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders had said. In his South Asia speech on August 21, Trump became the first US president to publicly point out for its support to terrorist outfits and leaders. "For its part, Pakistan often gives safe haven to agents of chaos, violence, and terror," he said and asked Pakistan to "demonstrate" its commitment to civilisation, order, and to peace. US, Trump then said, can no longer be silent about Pakistan's safe havens for terrorist organisations, the Taliban, and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond. Since then top US leadership, including the Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, have visited Pakistan to press the latter. Mattis has refused to give necessary certification to Pakistan that it is taking action against Haqqani network, as a result of which blocking several hundred million coalition support funds to Islamabad. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. SMBC Aviation Capital, one of the world's leading aircraft lessors, has ordered 14 additional Boeing 737-8 jets in a move to position its portfolio for air traffic recovery. The new order comes as airlines prepare for a robust return to air travel and modernize their narrowbody fleets to reduce fuel use and carbon emissions. "We are pleased to have concluded an agreement with Boeing for the purchase of 14 low-cost carrier configured 737 MAX aircraft which is an aircraft we are seeing increased customer demand for following its successful return to service," said Peter Barrett, CEO of SMBC Aviation Capital. The new purchase builds SMBC Aviation Capital's 737 MAX portfolio to 121 jets, expanding their investment in Boeing's single-aisle family. SMBC Aviation Capital also continues to incorporate new 737 MAX airplanes into the global fleet. In the first quarter of 2021, the lessor delivered 13 737-8s to customers, including 11 planes to Southwest Airlines in the U.S. and two planes to TUI in Europe. "SMBC has been actively managing its portfolio in a very dynamic market. With this new order for the fuel-efficient 737-8, the lessor is well positioned to help its customers capture domestic travel demand in several countries and regions," said Ihssane Mounir, Boeing senior vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing. "We are honoured by SMBC's trust in the 737 family, and we look forward to partnering with them to support airlines for the market recovery ahead." The SMBC Aviation Capital purchase follows recent orders and commitments from Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. The total number of gross orders and commitments for the 737 MAX this year now exceeds 250 airplanes. A member of the 737 MAX family, the 737-8 is designed to offer more fuel efficiency, reliability and flexibility in the single-aisle market. The 737-8 can fly 3,550 nautical miles about 600 miles farther than its predecessor allowing airlines to offer new and more direct routes for passengers. Compared to the airplanes it replaces, the 737-8 also delivers superior efficiency, reducing fuel use and CO2 emissions by 16% and also reducing operating costs. TradeArabia News Service Tokyo: Japan's government today approved the introduction of the US military's land-based Aegis missile interceptor system, beefing up its defence against "serious" and "imminent" North Korea threats. The regime in Pyongyang has fired two missiles over Japan this year and has threatened to "sink" the country into the sea. Last month, North Korea test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that plunged into the waters of Japan's exclusive economic zone. "North Korea's nuclear and missile development has entered a new stage of threat that is more serious and imminent to our country's security," the government said as it endorsed the introduction of Aegis Ashore at a cabinet meeting. Japan needs to drastically improve its missile defence, Tokyo added. Japan plans to introduce the Aegis Ashore system at two locations, covering the entire nation with powerful radars. The deployment will hand the US ally another layer of defence in addition to SM-3 guided missiles launched by Aegis destroyer vessels and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles. However, it will take years before the Aegis Ashore system is operational, according to Japanese officials. The contract is yet to be signed with the United States and deployment at two locations could cost a total of 200 billion yen ($1.8 billion), including the cost of building new facilities. However, officials insisted the new system would boost Japan's missile defence. "Naval vessels need to return to their ports regularly for rest and refuelling, but if it's ground deployment, we will be able to operate almost 24-7," an official said. "We can be on permanent vigilance even when signs (of missile firing) are hard to detect," he said. Japan is reportedly planning a record $46 billion defence budget for the next fiscal year in the face of the North Korean threat. Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said this month the country also plans to purchase long-range cruise missiles from US firms with a range of some 900 kilometres (560 miles). The move would be controversial as Japan's pacifist constitution bans the use of force as a means of settling international disputes. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the AAP-led city government to run an awareness programme on the rights and protection available to senior citizens, on the lines of the pan-India 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and justice C Hari Shankar also suggested to the authorities to place frequent advertisements in mass media like televisions, radios and newspapers for the benefit of senior citizens in distress. "You need to do a little bit of publicity in this regard.The people do not know of their rights. The frequency of the advertisements should be like the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. "If you do (ads) on Doordarshan (broadcasting television network), the whole of Bharat will know about it," the bench said. The court's direction came during hearing of a plea by a Delhi-based social activist Hemant Goswami who has sought resumption of the Maintenance Tribunals and appellate tribunals, constituted under the Maintenance and Welfare ofParents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007. The petitioner has claimed that the tribunals were paralysed. The plea has also sought a direction to the Delhi government for expeditious appointment of members to ensure proper and complete constitution of the Appellate Tribunal andMaintenance Tribunals within a specified time limit. Also Read | Odd-even: Delhi govt urges NGT to exempt women, two-wheelers It had also sought advertisement of the various schemes meant for senior citizens. The bench, thereafter, issued notice to the Centre and Delhi government and directed them to take action with regard to issuing advertisements on a mass level. The bench also directed the authorities to place before it the proposed action plan on the issue before the next date of hearing i.e. January 30. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Jammu : Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday congratulated Narendra Modi, saying the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh election results were an endorsement of the governance and developmental agenda of his government. Mufti hoped that the prime minister would give a new impetus to the development agenda. "These results are an endorsement of his government's governance, developmental and economic agenda," she said in a statement. The chief minister said that under the determined leadership of Modi, the people of Jammu and Kashmir had nurtured the hope of resolution of their problems and difficulties. Also Read: Mehbooba Mufti says Jammu and Kashmir is under siege For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Over the past few months, Covid-19 has hit Nepal hard. Things have gone so bad that Nepal has become one of the most affected countries by Covid-19 in the world at the moment. Almost the entire country has been on lockdown for a month. While numbers are going down, experts say that the cases and deaths could have been avoided had Nepal been a bit proactive in procuring vaccines. The country has vaccinated some of the population but most of them have been limited to the capital, Kathmandu. As of May 29, 2.7 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered in Nepal as it stands 51st globally. As KP Sharma Oli dissolved the House of Representatives on May 22 and called for elections in November, people have been warning the government that if there is no vaccine by then, they will not vote. But, the government has failed to ensure the availability of the vaccines although PM Oli has promised they would be available before the polls. But, the public wants them as soon as possible; even though they were sceptical initially, people have now realised that getting the shot will help them deal with the virus. Many people have been asking why this has been the case even though Nepal had been one of the first few countries in Asia to start the vaccination drive. We try to answer this and all your questions about the Covid-19 vaccination drive in Nepal. 1. How many vaccines did Nepal get? Was it all aid or did the government procure it? Nepal receives the first lot of Covid-19 vaccines from India, in Kathmandu, on Thursday, January 21, 2021. Photo: Chandra Bahadur Ale Out of the 2.7 million vaccines that have been used in Nepal, most of them has been handed over as aid by its neighbours. According to the government, it has only bought 1 million vaccines from India while the rest has been donated by India, China and Covax. The first country to donate vaccines to Nepal was India as it donated 1 million Covishield vaccines on January 21. Soon after that, Nepal started to hold talks with the Serum Institute, the company that produces the Covishield AstraZeneca vaccines in India, to procure 2 million vaccines. Nepal even paid an advance to the company. Out of the 2 million, Serum provided Nepal with 1 million vaccines on time, but it is yet to provide Nepal with the remaining vaccines even though Nepal is continuing lobbying to get them. Apart from this, India also provided an additional 100,000 vaccines for Nepal Army. China has also helped out a lot. It initially provided 800,000 Vero Cell vaccines even though it had announced that it would only donate around 300,000. Covax has also provided Nepal with 348,000 vaccines. 2. Are more vaccines being donated to Nepal? Chinese Ambassador Hou Yanqi hands over Vero Cell vaccines to Health Minister Hridayesh Tripathi So far, only China has pledged to give vaccines to Nepal as it recently announced that it would be sending 1 million vaccines to Nepal. When they will arrive is yet to be seen. This would probably be the last vaccines Nepal gets from China as aid because it has already given a lot in the past months. According to data, Nepal is number one on the list of countries to whom China has provided vaccines. As vaccines are coming from China, it is unlikely that Nepal will get much help from India. However, people close to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu say that Nepal might get around 200,000 additional vaccines from India. Another country that Nepal is relying on for vaccines is the USA. The US recently announced that it would be donating 60 to 80 million vaccines to different countries. Nepali government officials think that out of that, Nepal might get around half a million vaccines. Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali says that US officials have told him that Nepal was among the first few countries that would be getting vaccines from the US. But, when they will arrive is uncertain. Officials are also talking to the UK to send some vaccines. 3. What countries are Nepal talking to purchase vaccines? Nepal has been talking to multiple countries where vaccines are being produced for procurement since December 2020. But, lately, there have been only two countries that have shown interest in selling vaccines to Nepal. They are China and Russia. Gyawali says that talks being held with Russia and China about procuring 5 million vaccines each. Well have a breakthrough in a few days, he had said. 4. Were laws unfavourable to procure vaccines? How has it changed? A refrigerator van is ready to transport Covid-19 vaccines imported by the government, at Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, on Thursday, January 21, 2021. Photo: Chandra Bahadur Ale The main hindrance the government faced was due to the Public Procurement Act which gives the contract to the lowest bidder. But, the government last week issued an ordinance that exempted the act from being implemented when it came to procuring equipment for controlling Covid-19 in Nepal. Thanks to that, now the government can talk to any international organisation and procure equipment and medical supplies related to Covid-19. That has given Nepali diplomats abroad to procure the vaccines and send it to Nepal. 5. Should Nepal forget about buying vaccines from India? Is the government hopeful? An Air India aeroplane delivers one million doses of Covishield vaccines, in Kathmandu, on Sunday, February 21, 2021. Photo: Aryan Dhimal The government feels it would be insensitive to ask India to sell vaccines as India itself has become a major hotspot for Covid-19. But that said, Nepal has been regularly asking if India could provide a million vaccines which Nepal has paid for already. If that would arrive, the government could give out the second dose of Covishield to 1.3 million people who are above the age of 65 who received their first dose over eight weeks ago. Nepal has been continuously asking India to give it 1.7 million vaccines to ensure that everyone who took the first dose of Covishield receives their second dose. President Bidya Devi Bhandari in a telephone conversation with Indian President Ram Nath Kovind had requested him to send the vaccines. India has said it will be exporting vaccines at the end of 2021, but Nepal has trying to do its best to pursue India but things are not looking so good. 6. How many vaccines is Nepal expecting from Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (Covax)? The government had expected a lot of help from Covax. When Covax sent 348,000 vaccines to Nepal in March, everyone in the government was excited. Covax has said that it would provide as many vaccines as required for 20 per cent of the countrys population. But, the speed at which Covax is sending vaccines is slow and the government is continuously in talks with it. But, Covax has told Nepal to seek alternatives to Covishield as it might not be able to send more vaccines on time. 7. Can the private sector be mobilised to bring the vaccines? Yes, the government has opened the door for private firms to bring in vaccines. The Department of Drug Administration has given permission to Hukum Enterprise to bring in Covishied and Lomas Pharma to bring in Sputnik V (Russia). Even though there have been bids to bring in Vero Cell, the department is yet to decide whom to give it to. 8. Why hasnt Russian Sputnik V come to Nepal? Sputnik V vaccine Russia was the first country to produce a vaccine and administer it to its people. In December 2020, there were even talks of that vaccine being brought to Nepal. But, as reports about its effectiveness surfaced on global media, the idea was dropped. Now, scientists have proved that the vaccine works and is effective. Soon after that, Nepal gave the green light to import the vaccine. However, the work to bring it to Nepal is still ongoing but will take time, according to government officials. Russia does not seem likely to provide the vaccines as aid. 9. Which country would be ideal for Nepal to import vaccines from? The answer has to be India. It is closer than any other country and transporting the vaccines is easier and cost-effective. Initially, Covishield was purchased for $4 per vaccine. It could not get cheaper than this. The price of vaccines that will be purchased from the US and China is yet to be determined. Bangladesh purchased Vero Cell from China for $10 per vaccine. India is also buying vaccines from Russia for $10 per vaccine. Other vaccines used in the west like Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson were selling for $20 a vaccine, say various media outlets. 10. How many people does the government plan to vaccinate? The government plans to vaccinate 72 per cent of the population. To do so, the government needs to spend at least Rs 48 billion whereas the government allocated Rs 26.75 billion or so for the vaccines in the budget plan for the next year. It is planning to use government funds and sources to procure these vaccines and is not willing to pay more than $10 per vaccine, according to sources. It is also hoping to get more aid. But, with more young people being infected by the virus, experts say more than 72 per cent should be vaccinated. Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- If the meme-stock mayhem were a movie -- and by all accounts it will be -- were now at the scene where the protagonists, after pulling off their first big mission, fight about what to do next.Emboldened by their initial success, the more daring would be anxious to ride again while the weather-worn veterans advise caution and, somewhere in between, a few characters cant decide which side theyre on.That scene is playing out now on the 10 million-member WallStreetBets forum, where Rishi Sunak - Reuters Rishi Sunak is pushing the United States to agree to tougher rules on the tax paid by tech giants as part of a global corporation tax overhaul. Finance ministers from the G7 will meet this week to thrash out the biggest reforms to global tax rules in a generation in a bid to ensure multinational companies pay their fair share. President Joe Biden has proposed a minimum global corporation tax rate of 15pc as well as new rules forcing the world's largest 100 companies to pay taxes based on the location of their customers, rather than where they book profits. The plans are aimed to preventing multinationals from shifting profits to low-tax jurisdictions - a growing problem that is feared will deprive governments of revenues as they try to recover from the pandemic. However, the UK is holding out on backing America's plans for a minimum corporation tax rate as it seeks more assurances over the tax treatment of big tech companies such as Facebook, Amazon and Google. The Chancellor told the Mail on Sunday: "We understand why an agreement on global corporation tax is important to our American friends. We need them to understand why fair taxation of tech companies is important to us. "There's a deal to be had and I'm urging the US - and all of the G7 - to come to the table next week and get it done." He added: "Negotiations are going well ... but it has to be the right deal for Britain and that's what this week's negotiations will be about." About 140 countries have been involved in discussions about the overhaul, which comes as Mr Biden tries to fund a $2 trillion stimulus package and raise America's corporate tax rate. The UK Government has been trying to establish what it regards as a fairer tax system for tech giants for years. Last year, it introduced a digital services tax to get those companies to pay taxes on sales made in the UK, but has said this was a temporary solution until a global agreement could be reached. Story continues Last month the US backed plans for a global 15pc minimum corporation tax rate, saying it could help end a "30-year race to the bottom". It would mean that, for example, if a company paid a lower rate by moving profits to a lower tax country, the home country could top-up the minimum rate, eliminating the advantage. It would not necessarily force companies to book profits in the country where those profits are made, however. The UK's corporation tax rate is 19pc and set to rise to 25pc in 2023. Many US giants do not book major profits in Britain despite selling goods and services worth billions here. In 2019, Amazon paid less than 300m in UK taxes on revenues of almost 14bn. There are fears in Whitehall that if it backs the Biden minimum rate too soon, it will lose leverage for action on big tech. Officials are also said to be concerned that the proposals could result in British firms paying more elsewhere in the world, potentially cutting revenues for the Exchequer. A Treasury source told The Telegraph last week: A minimum tax that means tax is paid elsewhere that ought to be paid in the UK will not fund the UKs schools and hospitals. We're not going to rush to sign up without a proper, more detailed deal on where tech companies pay their tax - something that you're confident can be pushed through Congress. Mr Sunak added: "The right companies are not paying the right tax in the right places. That's not fair and that's something that I want to fix. There's a big prize here but we need to stick to our guns to get it over the line." Science wins again, he said. Its really a victory for mankind. As the world enters its second summer in the midst of a pandemic, half of the U.S. population and 54 percent of all Virginians have received at least one dose. Rates are lower in the Rappahannock Area Health District, where 41 percent of all residents have gotten a shot in the arm. We are lagging just a little bit, McDermott said. I do wish more were vaccinated. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} All along, health officials have suggested that about 75 percent of the population needs to get vaccinated to reach herd immunityor what Dr. Danny Avula, Virginias vaccine coordinator, has started calling community immunity from the virus. Older residents enthusiastically signed up for shots as soon as they were availableresulting in about 80 percent of the 65-plus population being vaccinated locally and nationwidebut younger residents havent been nearly as eager. Still, cases, hospitalizations and deaths have declined dramatically. Just last month, Virginia regularly reported more than 1,200 new cases a day. Twice since last Sunday, new case numbers totaled under 240 per day. Getting through the COVID-19 pandemic has been a community-wide effort, but members of the Fredericksburg-area alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority felt some have worked extra hard under the radar. The chapter honored 10 Unsung Heroes in the areas of healthcare and education from each of the five jurisdictions in Planning District 16Fredericksburg City and Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline and King George counties. As a chapter, we thought they have made some significant contributions to the community and continue to do so, said Joyce Diggs, president of Delta Sigma Thetas local alumnae chapter. Some have longevity and some of the heroes are new, but what theyre doing is changing lives and impacting change in the community. You dont really realize how much they are doing, Diggs continued. Theyre under the radar and [what they do] is a passion for them. The Delta alumnae chapter honored the Unsung Heroes at the annual May Week event last month. A June 8 Republican primary election will decide if incumbent Aquia District Supervisor Cindy Shelton will continue her run for a second term or if former Supervisor Paul Milde will step in as the partys candidate in November. It takes more than one term to complete projects, and I have a lot of things in play that I want to see finished, said Shelton. The winner of the June primary will not face a Democrat in the Aquia District race, but Brooke resident Monica Gary said she plans to run as an independent candidate in the November general election. The bulk of the Aquia District lies between Aquia and Potomac creeks east of Interstate 95. Shelton said after she was first elected as supervisor nearly four years ago, she began to realize many county decisions were being made by supervisors based on politics and emotions, not data. If you go back to the comprehensive road study, one of the things [supervisors] did was put in weighted values to help determine the priorities and make it really transparent on why one thing is over the other, said Shelton. Weve done it in such a good way, even the schools are doing the same thing, so were all talking the same apples-to-apples, which is awesome. Saudi Arabias General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has issued instructions to all airliners operating in the Kingdom's airports, regarding the update of lifting travel restrictions on travellers arriving to Saudi Arabia. The circular provides for permitting entry to the Kingdom for those arriving by air and ending the suspension of travel for those arriving from the following countries: the United Arab Emirates, the US, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, the UK, Sweden, Switzerland, France and Japan. This is following the announcement of the competent authorities based on what was presented by the health authorities regarding the stability of the epidemiological situation in a number of declared countries, and the effectiveness of controlling the pandemic in some of these countries. GACA has stressed the need to adhere to the application of institutional quarantine procedures for those arriving from those countries. The measures taken by GACA include requiring all concerned authorities and air transport companies operating in the Kingdom's airports to comply with health safety requirements and precautionary and preventive measures. TradeArabia News Service Surplus government computers drives are wiped clean to safeguard security, but that means all their operating programs must be re-installed to make them usable. Once refurbished, government computerswhich are often pretty up to datecan be used by veterans for daily tasks, including searching for and applying for jobs as they transition to civilian life, Spanberger said. Its so important for people to be able to be connected to the internet, she said. The Central Virginia legislator said she was tipped to the issue by Mark Casper, CEO of Tech For Troops, a nonprofit based in Henrico County. Tech for Troops is an amazing place to visit, Spanberger said. It uses its training to help veterans who are facing homelessness, then donates PCs to jobs-training programs. That helps veterans pivot into the workforce. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased homelessness and unemployment among veterans, Casper said. Tech For Troops mission is to reduce both by providing vets with the technology and job skills they need to rejoin the workforce and provide for their families. And theres Jesse LeRoy Brown, who earned the Distinguished Flying Crossthe first Black naval officer to complete the Navys basic flight training program and the first Black naval officer killed in the Korean War. He was killed trying to save Marines trapped at the Chosin Reservoir. His body was never recovered, and his family was left without a grave to honor and remember him. The SicilyRome American Cemetery and Memorial is the final resting place for 7,861 servicemen who died liberating Italy from the Nazis. Many more heroes from all our wars rest in hallowed grounds around the world. We cant lose sight of what Memorial Day means for our nation and families who continue to grieve the loss of a soldier, sailor, airman, Marine or Coast Guardsman. For these Americans, Memorial Day may not be a day of celebration. It may be a deeply personal and somber day. Remember them in your prayers and recognize that we are free because of their sacrifices. President Biden told me that my job as VA secretary is to fight like hell for veterans. He also said that there is no more sacred duty than to care for our nations vets who have given us so much. THE MORE we make Memorial Day about remembering our fallen warriors, the better off we are as Americans. And in the days after Memorial Day, there are many steps we as thankful Americans can take to honor the service and sacrifice of those who have so selflessly served us. Its important to realize that in every war in our nations historyfrom Bunker Hill to Baghdadthe majority of those who took up arms were volunteers. Sure, there were conscripted soldiers and draftees in the Civil War, both world wars, Korea and Vietnam. But even in those conflicts, most of the fighting, bleeding and dying was done by those who choose to put on a uniform. How amazing is that? There have always been so many Americans willing to fight and die to ensure the rest of us can live in freedom, peace and prosperity. The nobility of their sacrifice, regardless of the war or terms of service, deserves our prayerful thanks. It not only affirms who they were; it is a validation of who we are: a nation worth fighting for. In recent years, many worried that America was forgetting the true purpose of Memorial Day, succumbing to distractions like blowout car and furniture sales or prepping for the big cookout. Today, however, there are bigger things to worry about. Fremont offers a variety of outdoor excursion possibilities. Parks can be found throughout the city. Walkers and joggers can enjoy the area around Johnson Lake which features a new, lighted, floating fountain. Nearby, the new, inclusive playground offers fun for youth. The Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area is a favorite place for many who love the outdoors. The recreation area features 20 man-made lakes just west of Fremont. Each year, an estimated 800,000 people come to the area, which consists of 40 land and 300 water acres. Earlier this week, Gov. Pete Ricketts and First Lady Susanne Shore launched an initiative to Reconnect Nebraska with relationships, activities and service opportunities as the pandemic ends and life returns to normal. They were joined by Nebraska Tourism Commission Executive Director John Ricks who encouraged Nebraskans to get out and enjoy the states beautiful places and the exciting events happening across Nebraska this summer. Ricks invited Nebraskans to take part in the 2021 Nebraska Passport Program, which runs through the end of September. This year, participants can get their passport stamped at 70 stops throughout the state. Stamped passports then can be submitted for prizes. To order a passport and learn more about this years program, go to nebraskapassport.com. A senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has been reported missing after he did not return home May 25 as expected from a trip to Hawaii. Samuel Joseph Martinez, a 23-year-old Fremont High graduate studying microbiology at UNL, flew to Kauai on May 12 with the intention of hiking and camping, according to a news release from the Kauai Police Department. The students father, Ted Martinez, said the family hasnt heard from Samuel since a few hours after he landed on Kauai. He had eight permits to camp at different locations around the island. Ted Martinez said the family, which lives in North Bend, had hoped his sons lack of communication during his two-week trip was a result of poor connection. He said the family filed a missing persons report with the Lincoln Police Department on Wednesday after Samuel missed his connecting flight in Los Angeles on Tuesday. LPD contacted law enforcement in Kauai on Thursday. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Ted Martinez said his son got a ride to a grocery store nearly 20 miles south of the airport in Kauai a few hours after he landed on the island, as he prepared to head toward mountainous campsites. The family has not heard from him since, Ted Martinez said. Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Sunny. High 83F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Mostly clear. Low 57F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph, becoming NE and decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. The health ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have adopted a guideline for the use of vaccines and approved official applications related to the pandemic aimed to facilitate movement between the GCC countries. At their 5th extraordinary meeting on Saturday in Riyadh, they discussed the importance of vaccinations as a safe means to protect communities to overcome the pandemic, with the need to sustain adherence to the approved precautionary measures, said a Saudi Press Agency report. They called for cooperation with the respective authorities in each country to link these applications with an electronic integration network through the GCC health council, in addition to approving a study of the genetic sequence of the coronavirus in the GCC countries, and approving its allocated budget. The meeting was chaired by the Bahraini Health Minister (the current president of the councils session), Faeqa Bin Saeed Al-Saleh, with the participation of the GCC health ministers and the GCC Secretary-General Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf. During the meeting, the ministers expressed their appreciation to the GCC leaders for their unlimited support to the health sector and commended the distinguished efforts of health practitioners in the GCC countries and their dedication to fieldwork to confront the pandemic, praising all efforts exerted in order to ensure comprehensive and safe vaccination of the society. The ministers also stressed the importance of relying on applications approved in the GCC countries, and the importance of continued exchange of information between the member states, especially with regard to developments and mutations of the coronavirus, precautionary measures, and available vaccines and their effectiveness. Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute in Denver and hosts "The Devil's Advocate with Jon Caldara" on Colorado Public Television Channel 12. His column appears Sundays in Colorado Politics. Ben Murrey serves as Independence Institutes Director of Fiscal Policy, working to promote fiscal responsibility in Colorado government and to defend the Taxpayers Bill of Rights in the states constitution. In Denver, homicides have increased 23.1% and shootings have increased 62.8% this year, compared to the citys three-year average. In an effort to contain the spike, the city's law enforcement are launching a new policing strategy centered on community collaboration and crime prevention in the citys most violent areas. South Africa: More than 60% of public healthcare workers vaccinated South Africa has vaccinated more than 67% of public healthcare workers, says President Cyril Ramaphosa. Addressing the nation on the developments in the countrys response to the pandemic, the President said the health workers received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which only requires a single dose. Two weeks ago, the country started the second phase of the vaccination programme, targeting the balance of health workers, who were not vaccinated during the first phase, and all those in the country who are over 60 years of age. This followed the first phase of the programme, in which nearly 480,000 health workers were vaccinated. Since the evidence shows that older people are at a far greater risk of severe COVID-19 illness and death, we have prioritised the elderly for this second phase. Over the last two weeks, over 480 000 people received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, as part of the public vaccination campaign, the President said on Sunday. Since the Pfizer vaccine requires two doses to provide maximum immunity, people will need to have a second dose at least 42 days after their first dose. In total, over 960 000 people in South Africa have received one vaccine dose. Within the next few days, we will have administered vaccine doses to more than one million of the most vulnerable South Africans, the President said. There are now more than 400 vaccination sites in operation across the country in both the public and private sectors. As we have previously reported, we have secured enough vaccines to reach all adults in the country, which is around 40 million people. This includes 31 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which is a single dose, and which will be manufactured here in South Africa. It includes 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which requires two doses to provide full protection, the President said. He noted that the scheduled delivery of the Johnson & Johnson vaccines has been delayed due to regulatory issues related to lack of adherence to proper standards at a manufacturing plant in the United States. We are waiting for these issues to be resolved before the first batch of Johnson & Johnson vaccines can be released from the facility in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape. While this is a challenge that has affected the supply of vaccines for many countries and not just in our country, we are in constant contact with the relevant authorities to ensure that our doses can be released as soon as possible, the President said. About 1.3 million Pfizer doses have already been distributed and nearly 500 000 administered. The next 636 000 doses arrive tonight, with weekly deliveries of an equivalent volume until end June, when we will receive 2.5 million doses. Our reliance on the Pfizer vaccine for now has affected the pace at which we are able to open vaccination sites. Due to the properties of the Pfizer vaccine which requires an ultra-cold supply chain, inclusion of smaller sites and sites in more rural areas is limited, the President said. He said when the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been cleared, it will be much easier to administer. It is a single dose vaccine and can be stored in a normal fridge. While our vaccine rollout ramps up over the coming weeks, I urge everyone to be patient and to await their turn. It is important that we allow healthcare workers and those above the age of 60 to be vaccinated first, as they are most at risk of severe illness or hospitalisation, the President said. More than three million registered for vaccine Over three million people have registered on the Electronic Vaccine Data System. The Electronic Vaccine Data System forms the backbone of the programme to manage registration and the allocation of vaccines. The system links people who have registered to a vaccination site near them. The system enables the national team to monitor vaccine use and to deploy vaccines to where they are needed, the President said. He acknowledged that there might have been some challenges that inconvenienced people and sometimes caused delays. Fortunately, these have been attended to quickly and the system is being continually adapted and strengthened as the rollout proceeds. There are other challenges we are working to address, the President said. There are four ways that citizens can register to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. They include the following: The online registration platform available on the SA Coronavirus website. Dialling *134*832# and registering via USSD. Sending the word register via WhatsApp to 0600 123 456. Calling the national toll-free call centre on 0800 029 999, where somebody will help with registration and answer any questions about the vaccination rollout. Government is continuing discussions with other vaccine manufacturers so that they can be included in the countrys vaccines programme. Some of these manufacturers are in the process of seeking the necessary approvals from our health products authority, the President said. The continent is also pushing ahead with efforts to expand its vaccine manufacturing capacity with a view to be self-sufficient in vaccine production We are also part of the global effort to ensure that all countries have access to sufficient vaccines as a matter of urgency. We are continuing to urge all countries to support a waiver of the TRIPS agreement at the World Trade Organisation so that COVID-19 vaccines and treatments can be produced on a greater scale, at lower cost and at a faster pace, the President said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-05-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. He was transferred to Pearl Harbor in October 1940 and was stationed on the USS Oklahoma. The ship was one of those sunk during the surprise attack by the Japanese on Dec. 7, 1941, which resulted in the United States entering World War II. Keninger was one of the 429 crewmen on the USS Oklahoma who died during the attack. A total of 2,402 Americans lost their lives at Pearl Harbor that day. Wallaces grandparents received a letter from the Navy telling them Keninger was presumed dead. She said it was extremely difficult to positively identify the remains of those killed at Pearl Harbor because DNA testing didnt exist then. Here is what the Navy Department sent to the Keninger family (according to information found on findagrave.com): "After exhaustive search it has been found impossible to locate your son, Leo Thomas Keninger, fireman first class, U.S. Navy, and he has therefore been officially declared to have lost his life in the service of his country, as of Dec. 7th, 1941. The department expresses to you its sincerest sympathy." Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs Chief of Bureau of Navigation Finkenauer served two terms in the Iowa House, then one in the U.S. House before losing her re-election bid in 2020. Her candidacy would come as little surprise to those who follow Iowa politics closely. Finkenauer has been mulling her options since her defeat in November, and a Senate run would make sense for her. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} (Quick aside: There is a possibility that the U.S. Senate race could wind up a rematch of that 2020 1st District congressional campaign, if Finkenauer runs and wins the Democratic nomination, and if Grassley retires and Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson runs and wins the GOP nomination. But I digress.) One Iowa Democrat who has ruled out a run for U.S. Senate is state auditor Rob Sand, who made the revelation this week to the Carroll Times. Sand had been considering myriad options for 2022: run for re-election as auditor, or run for the U.S. Senate or governor. Sand has whittled the Senate off that list. It seemed likely the Democrats were headed for a competitive primary in Iowas Senate race. The questions now are how competitive, and whether the national Democrats aka "the establishment" will get involved. Tickets for the 2021 Actors Renaissance season shows are available now. Memberships for the 2021 season are also on sale, with such benefits as discounts on tickets, insider events and more. Tickets and memberships can be purchased online at AmericanShakespeareCenter.com or by calling 1.877.MUCH.ADO (1.877.682.4236). About the American Shakespeare Center The American Shakespeare Center recovers the joys and accessibility of Shakespeares theatre, language, and humanity by exploring the English Renaissance stage and its practices through performance and education. Year-round in Stauntons Blackfriars Playhouse the worlds only re-creation of Shakespeares indoor theater ASCs innovative programming and shamelessly entertaining (The Washington Post) productions have shared the delights of Shakespeare, modern classics and new plays with millions over the past 30 years. Beyond the Playhouse, ASC is a hub for Shakespeare education and scholarship and tours nationally from Texas to Maine each year with a repertory of three plays. Founded in 1988 as Shenandoah Shakespeare Express, the organization became the American Shakespeare Center in 2005 and can be found online at www.americanshakespearecenter.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. ASC programming is sponsored in part by the Ambrose Monell Foundation, the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge, The Shubert Foundation, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, and the generosity of countless donors. We are so grateful that you care enough about your employees and your community, Cooper said during a news conference at PHB, where local officials joined. Because you know that makes for a safer workplace, safer family life (and) makes for a safer community. Sometimes people are on the fence about whether to get a vaccine and a little incentive can get people to step over the line, Cooper said. We want you to know that we believe we are emerging from this pandemic even stronger than before, and the key to it all is vaccinations, said Cooper, noting nearly 80% of North Carolinians age 65 and older have been fully vaccinated. I think people are feeling better about themselves and their communities, Cooper said. What we do know, however, is that people who are not vaccinated are still at risk. We are still in a pandemic. On Thursday, more than 600 people across the state were hospitalized with COVID-19, while about 13,000 in N.C. had died from the novel coronavirus since the first state cases were reported in March 2020. He pictured something similar to a university student center an interactive space where students could collaborate, socialize, study, access technology and utilize current research resources. But, initial estimates put the project at around $350,000, far more than the school systems budget would allow. The project is now greenlighted after Eden native Homer Wright pledged $300,000 in support of the new Student Center. Plans are now complete on the new Student Center with work set to begin in early June. It is Moodys goal for construction to be completed when students return to classes after the summer break. The plan calls for the latest technological support for a new generation of learners. Furnishings in the room will be movable giving faculty and students opportunities for teaching and learning in small or large groupings. Tables and chairs are interchangeable and height- adjustable making it possible to be used as the need requires. There is also a plan for the center to expand outside the building in a 20 by 70 area for study and socializing. The riders, traveling on two motorcycles, were shot Monday afternoon around 4:45 p.m. as they headed northbound along the U.S. 29 bypass between Barnes Street and N.C. 14, officials said. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} RCSO investigators said the deadly gunfire came from a red Dodge dually pickup. A dually is a dual rear-wheel truck. Page said on Tuesday that the truck was recovered at the time of Coxs arrest in Kentucky. This type of crime is horrific. Its not something we see here in Rockingham County. In fact, in my more than 30-year career in law enforcement in this county, I dont think Ive seen anything like it, Page said in a Tuesday email. Our team at the Sheriffs Office is working hard to identify the shooter(s) and bring them to justice. At this point in the investigation, we do not believe this was a random act. My top priority is and always will be protecting our citizens and keeping them safe. Motorists alerted authorities that two victims were lying along the the highway with calls to 911 at around 4:45 p.m. on Monday. Deputies and other first responders found a third victim shortly after arriving on the scene, RCSO officials said. RALEIGH The latest estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show about 251,000 North Carolinians unemployed as of April, down about 58,000 since the beginning of 2021. Alas, the news about our labor market isnt as good as you might think. Of those 58,000 fewer unemployed North Carolinians, some 31,000 actually found jobs. The remaining 27,000 stopped looking. Our states labor-force participation rate has steadily dropped over the first four months of the year. Heres another way to think about the trends. North Carolinas headline unemployment rate is 5%. If those 27,000 were still counted in the labor force, jobless but actively looking for work, our unemployment rate would be 5.5%. The unemployment data Ive cited so far come from a monthly survey of a bit over a thousand households in North Carolina, with comparable samples sizes in other states. Another, broader set of data come from surveys of establishments businesses, nonprofits, and governments and is a more-reliable way to count jobs. Its findings are no more comforting: total employment is up about 24,000 jobs so far this year. In other words, either a big chunk or most of North Carolinas apparent decline in unemployment is due to people dropping out of the labor force, not to people finding jobs. And now, at age 72 on the eve of his 30th anniversary on the court hes become garrulous at every single argument, damaging his brand, in my opinion. Of course, it is inevitable that if you remain mute for years at what are, after all, called oral arguments, thats going to put added scrutiny on what you say when you do speak. For instance, in 2013 Thomas broke his dignified silence to engage in one of the courts favorite traditions: trading sophomoric jokes about rival schools Harvard and Yale. At the time, all nine justices had attended either Harvard Law School or Yale Law School. (Talk about embarrassing and disgraceful.) Thomas, a Yale Law graduate, piped up unexpectedly during a discussion of whether a lawyer had provided a defendant with adequate counsel. When it was noted that the lawyer had attended Harvard, Thomas burst out with: Well, there, see he did not provide good counsel. Now does anyone believe that was funny enough to justify breaking a hard-fought, much-criticized, 2,500-day record of silence? Reuters reported tentatively that it was apparently a joke and its never a good sign if people arent sure your joke is a joke. She rarely realizes it, but Alex has spent much of her life looking for family, for belonging. The first 15 years of her life, she essentially had none. Oh, she lived with her mother, an artist and art professor at a Midwestern university. She was well fed, housed and clothed. But her mother was largely indifferent to Alex, not caring what she did as long as Alex didnt inconvenience or embarrass her. As she entered her teens, Alex realized this neglect had its advantages. She just had to be invisible, and shed have all the freedom she could want. Maybe too much, as it turns out. She didnt know she had a father until she was 10 and his latest novel was a huge success. Her mother sued him, and he showed up unannounced, wanting to see the bastard Alex, his illegitimate daughter. After that he traveled from Los Angeles every now and then, though he never called or wrote. In the fine new novel by Greensboros Lee Zacharias, What a Wonderful World This Could Be, Alexs longing for family and her struggle to find a place for herself send her lurching through some of the most turbulent years of the 20th century. By Tuesday, the campaign had already resulted in 121 charges, the Highway Patrol said on Twitter. That was the same day an irate driver fired a bullet, shattering glass in another drivers vehicle on I-485, Matthews police said. The victim told police that the other driver shot out his windows on the I-485 Outer Loop between Providence Road and East John Street just before noon Tuesday, according to a police news release. The bullet missed the victim, but the driver suffered minor injuries from the shattered glass, police said. The preliminary investigation of this case indicates that this stemmed from an incident of road rage, according to the release. Police were searching for a vehicle believed to have been involved in the encounter a white or silver 1996-2002 model Toyota 4Runner SUV with a North Carolina registration plate. Increase in road rage Troopers who cover highways in Mecklenburg County have seen a rise in aggressive and speeding drivers and road rage incidents in recent months, according to Pierce. The uptick coincides with the traffic increase after the easing of travel and other COVID-19 restrictions, he said. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The U.S. Justice Department announced in late April it had opened an investigation into whether deputies had violated Brown's federal civil rights. That investigation is ongoing. Meanwhile, the protesters keep marching, wearing out shoes long past the time when those brought into the streets of other cities and towns have returned to their couches and their normal routines. Nonviolent direct action The marchers' dedication, historians say, is a tribute to a long line of Americans who have used civil disobedience and nonviolent direct action as a way to call attention to systems or institutions that need to change. "What happens most of the time in most of the world is that political repression becomes violent and the people who want equality, democracy and justice get weary and they lose patience," said writer, professor and historian Tim Tyson. "These are tyrannies where they will take you out and kill you in front of your mama if you disagree with their social vision. It happens all over the world." What, then, to make of Barry Jenkins saying he wants to push past this terminology? In that same NPR interview, Jenkins notes that right now (Americans) are referring to (Black slaves) as enslaved, which I think is very honorable and worthy, but it takes the onus off of who they were and places it on what was done to them. And I want to get to what they did. I think that Jenkins is onto something important here. Whichever side you take in the ongoing terminology debate, both slave and enslaved person erase both personality and agency from the individuals being described. And this is the conundrum: The state of enslavement was, by definition, dehumanizing. For artists, writers and thinkers its difficult to reflect on the dehumanization of masses of people without diminishing some of the characteristics that make them unique. And once you step onto that path, its a short journey to reducing the identity of the collective group including their ancestors to one thats defined by their worst experiences. Seeing slaves on screen And more recently, this message is implicit in the coordinated right-wing effort to incite and mobilize gullible white voters with propaganda about the supposed grave threat to civilization (not to mention the tender psyches of white children) posed by critical race theory a complex and deeply nuanced academic concept of which not 1-in-10 carping conservative critics has even the slightest genuine grasp. But the people advancing this concocted controversy are savvy enough to know where and when its expedient to spout such propaganda. They know it will fly on Fox News and with select conservative audiences. But as the conversation edges closer to the academic world a venue in which skilled experts can call B.S. on inaccurate claims the messaging gets tempered. Thats why no one on the UNC Board of Trustees is willing to come out publicly and say whats really going on in the treatment of Hannah-Jones. The trustees all of whom are appointed by the Board of Governors, which is in turn appointed by the arch-conservative leadership of the General Assembly are mostly loyal Republicans willing to do the bidding of their higher-ups. The Darling Hotel in downtown Visalia has been named one of the "25 hottest new hotels in the world" by Trip Advisor. The state is receiving national attention as a desirable vacation destination. Conde Nast Traveler listed Montana as a top destination in the country for travel this summer. Betsy Baumgart is the operations manager for Helena-based travel agency Travel Cafe. Baumgart said the company's clientele has historically been Montanans and some corporate accounts in nearby metro areas, but more so lately the company has been receiving "a lot of calls from people who want to travel to Montana." "People want to come to Montana, but they just don't have a good concept of travel in Montana," she said, adding that many tourists want to travel between Glacier and Yellowstone national parks. "People have been asking me if they can just take an Uber." Both Stoddard and Baumgart said they have heard the shortage could last into the second quarter of 2022. "But no one knows for sure," Baumgart said. Car rentals rank eighth on the list of top expenditures for nonresident travelers in the state, according to the Institute for Tourism & Recreation Research at the University of Montana. The institute's 2020 report on economic contributions by nonresident travelers determined nearly $145 million were spent on car rentals on average in 2018 and 2019. Quintrell vowed at that time to never speak about Vietnam, a promise he kept to himself for 34 years. Over the next four decades, he struggled with his demons from the war, experiencing bouts of alcoholism and PTSD. In 2003, influenced by the Vietnam Womens Memorial founder Diane Carlson Evans, Quintrell began talking about his Vietnam experiences. He started looking for the men he fought alongside in the jungles, and in 2004 he organized the first Wolfhound Reunion in Washington, D.C. Since then, as chairman of Wolfhounds Veterans Association, Inc., he has located well over 100 men and hosted eight reunions. In his books acknowledgements chapter, among the many people Quintrell pays tribute to are his children Tim, Tom, Tammy and Laura Louise. Tim believed in his dads mission for the Wolfhounds, and his daughter inspired him to write his stories. In closing, I want to express my deepest appreciation and abiding love to my wife Laura, she has supported me through the rough times of reliving the horrors of Vietnam, penned Quintrell, who is the keynote speaker at Sundays Memorial Day Ceremony at Memorial Park. She sat in the background listening to all the stories the Wolfhounds would tell me. She was and will always be, my hero. Curt Synness, a Navy veteran, can be reached at 406-594-2878, or curt52synness@gmail.com. Hes also on Twitter @curtsynness_IR Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 But acknowledging reality doesnt seem to be a strong point with either Gov. Greg Gianforte or his Republican legislative cadre. They already lowered our water quality standards for nutrients and now Gianforte opposes releasing more water from Fort Peck Dam in the spring to keep the pallid sturgeon from going extinct. These fish have been in Montanas river systems for tens of millions of years, a fact that appears to hold no weight with a governor who seems to believe the earth is 6,000 years old and humans co-existed with dinosaurs. Its worth noting the pallid sturgeon was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act more than 30 years ago. Now, with less than 130 sturgeon remaining in Montana including those raised in hatcheries since there has been no documented successful natural reproduction one might think its time to do whatever we can to prevent yet another native species from vanishing forever. Todays Highlight in History: On May 30, 1431, Joan of Arc, condemned as a heretic, was burned at the stake in Rouen, France. On May 30: In 1883, 12 people were trampled to death in a stampede sparked by a rumor that the recently opened Brooklyn Bridge was in danger of collapsing. In 1922, the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., was dedicated in a ceremony attended by President Warren G. Harding, Chief Justice William Howard Taft and Robert Todd Lincoln. In 1937, ten people were killed when police fired on steelworkers demonstrating near the Republic Steel plant in South Chicago. In 1943, during World War II, American troops secured the Aleutian island of Attu from Japanese forces. In 1971, the American space probe Mariner 9 blasted off from Cape Kennedy on a journey to Mars. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. In 1972, three members of the Japanese Red Army opened fire at Lod Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, killing 26 people. Two attackers died; the third was captured. In 1989, student protesters in Beijing erected a Goddess of Democracy statue in Tiananmen Square (the statue was destroyed in the Chinese governments crackdown). In 1994, Mormon Church president Ezra Taft Benson died in Salt Lake City at age 94. In 1996, Britains Prince Andrew and the former Sarah Ferguson were granted an uncontested decree ending their 10-year marriage. In 2002, a solemn, wordless ceremony marked the end of the agonizing cleanup at ground zero in New York, 8 months after 9/11. In 2006, the FBI said it had found no trace of Jimmy Hoffa after digging up a suburban Detroit horse farm. In 2011, President Barack Obama selected Army Gen. Martin Dempsey to be the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman. Germany announced plans to abandon nuclear power over the next 11 years, outlining an ambitious strategy in the wake of Japans Fukushima disaster to replace atomic power with renewable energy sources. In 2015, Vice President Joe Bidens son, former Delaware attorney general Beau Biden, died at age 46 of brain cancer. In 2016, President Barack Obama challenged Americans on Memorial Day to fill the silence from those who died serving their country with love and support for families of the fallen, not just with words but with our actions. In 2020, tense protests over the death of George Floyd and other police killings of Black people grew across the country; racially diverse crowds held mostly peaceful demonstrations in dozens of cities, though many later descended into violence, with police cars set ablaze. The National Guard was deployed outside the White House, where crowds taunted law enforcement officers, who fired pepper spray. A fourth day of violence in Los Angeles prompted the mayor to impose a citywide curfew and call in the National Guard. Street protests in New York City over police killings spiraled into the citys worst day of unrest in decades, as fires burned, windows were smashed and confrontations between demonstrators and officers flared. A rocket ship built by Elon Musks SpaceX took off from Floridas Cape Canaveral to carry two Americans to the International Space Station; it ushered in a new era of commercial space travel. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 TAYLORVILLE The Christian County coroner released the name of the shooting victim who died May 27 on the Taylorville square. Alter E. Ivy II, 17, of Taylorville was identified as the victim by coroner Amy C. Winans. Ivy was pronounced dead at 10:30 p.m. Thursday at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital Emergency Room. An autopsy was done Saturday. Preliminary results indicate that Ivy died of a single gunshot wound. The investigation continues by Taylorville Police, Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services, and the Christian County Coroners Office. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Christian County State's Attorney Mike Havera filed three counts of first-degree murder against Richard J. Klekamp Jr. and one count of aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm. Klekamp is being held in the Christian County jail without bond pending a bail review hearing at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Contact Donnette Beckett at (217) 421-6983. Follow her on Twitter: @donnettebHR Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DECATUR The 2018 race for Macon County sheriff isn't over yet. Tony Brown said Saturday that he plans to appeal the order from Champaign County Circuit Court Judge Anna M. Benjamin that found that Jim Root won the race by 16 votes. The final tally was 19,579 votes for Root to 19,563 votes for Brown. "Obviously I am disappointed as far as the judge's ruling," Brown said. "We plan on appealing." Brown, who was sworn into office in 2018, said he also will be requesting that he be able to remain as sheriff pending the outcome of the appeal process. Brown said the appeal would focus on those early voting ballots cast at the Macon County Clerk's Office that were deemed void because they lacked identifying marks from an election judge. "It is unfortunate that individuals that actually cast their votes, the early votes, in the clerk's office, and witness by his staff, what have you, won't be counted," he said. "We're not bitter or anything else like that. It's a process and we just got to trust it. We're just doing this for the best of the voters." Brown said that once the appeal is ruled upon, he will abide by that ruling, no matter who it favors. "Once we get through the appeal process and they say yea or nay, we're fine," he said. "I just want to make sure that people who actually go in and actually vote, that the process itself is handled correctly, and to just make sure they have their right." Brown said he will be asking for the appeal to be acted upon quickly. "We're going to trying to apply for one to see if we can actually get one that gets the results back in 30 to 45 days," he said. But speed has not been a hallmark of this case. The legal fight over the results of the 2018 sheriffs race began shortly after Election Day. Brown was declared the winner by just one vote 19,655 to Roots tally of 19,654. A discovery recount of ballots followed in December 2018 to gather evidence to persuade a judge to order a full recount. Benjamin, brought in as an impartial jurist to handle the legal battle, then ordered a full hand recount in July 2020. Brown re-emerged the winner with a margin of 18 votes, but the recount also revealed dozens and dozens of disputed ballots. There were two uncounted ballots for Root that had previously been discovered in a ballot tabulating machine and then forgotten until after the 2018 count was ratified. Benjamin presided over five court hearings that finished up in February as lawyers on both sides fought over issues ranging from what ballots should count to questions of whether there had been election fraud. Both sides then submitted written closing arguments. We filed this case two and half years ago and we presented our case and the judge has ruled on it. We know that Tony Brown has an appeal process, Root told the Herald & Review on Friday night. Since it has been ruled on and the judge has clearly ruled on a very narrow window of items were hoping he will allow for a smooth transition in the next couple weeks. John Fogarty, Root's attorney, said Saturday that they would oppose any action that would delay his client from assuming the office pending the outcome of the appeal. Brown said like everyone else, he wants to see this process come to an end. "I agree. We want to get it over with, too," he said. "But the thing is, we want to make the sure the process itself is done right." Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Fogarty is confident his client will prevail, noting the challenge Brown cited for the appeal lacks merit. "We're not unsympathetic, but election judge initials are required. It is the way the code is written," he said. "It's the law. There's no provision in statutory or case law that allows a ballot cast early, just because it was cast at the county clerk's office, to be counted if it's not properly processed. It's just that simple." According to Benjamin's ruling, "there are 68 uninitialed ballots cast by early voting in person." Of those, 40 included votes for Brown and 28 were for Root. Benjamin examined the issue in detail in the ruling, stating in the order that "Some of the most difficult legal issues in this controversy arise out of ballots cast early by personal appearance. Therefore, the court devotes considerable effort to explaining this portion of the ruling." The ruling details the argument made by Brown's attorney, Chris Sherer, citing exceptions to be considered to the mandate that the ballots be initialed by an election judge. Benjamin noted there was "no clear and convincing evidence" that the stated exception applied to the early, in-person ballots. The appeal will be considered by a panel of three judges. The next stage in the appeal process, should that be pursued by either side, would be a request to the Illinois Supreme Court to consider the case. Root said he was driving with his wife to meet friends for dinner when he got the call Friday afternoon from his attorney that the ruling on the outcome of the 2018 election was in. A few minutes later, after dropping his wife off at the restaurant and returning home to read the document, he got the news he had waited more than two years to receive. Im happy the justice system did its part and saw the true outcome of the election, Root said Friday night. This is all about the will of the people, he said. I would like to thank my family and friends and everybody that has been with me over the course of the 2018 election cycle. Root said text messages congratulating him on his victory began arriving while he was still reviewing the order. After calling his attorney, Root said he called his wife to share the good news. I called her and said, Hey, I won by 16 votes. She said I just got a text from somebody saying that you did, he said. Root's first day back in the office following the ruling will be Monday night. It will be fine. It will be just like any other day of going to work. I go to work, I do my job and I go home, he said. Root, who joined the sheriffs department in 1996 and continues to serve as a lieutenant, said he will begin getting up to speed on things as he prepares to be sworn in as sheriff. I will go back and start looking at the budgets and things that I have not been part of and see what those things look like so I can have that knowledge when I get in the office, he said. Root, a Republican, wouldnt say Friday if he intends to run for sheriff in 2022. Lets savor the 2018 election win before we start the 2022 process, he said. If he does decide to run, Root already has a potential primary opponent in Howard Buffett, who has indicated in campaign finance documents that he will run as a Republican in the upcoming election. Buffett, the 66-year-old philanthropist, businessman and son of multibillionaire investor Warren Buffett, previously served as sheriff for 14 months before the 2018 election. He was chosen by former Sheriff Thomas Schneider, a Democrat, to serve the remainder of Schneider's term. Brown told the Herald & Review earlier this month that he had not decided whether to run in the 2022 election, saying he wanted to get past the legal battle with Root before making a decision. Warren Buffett is the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. That company sold its newspaper division last year to Lee Enterprises Inc., the parent company of the Herald & Review. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. JACKSONVILLE A bill that passed Thursday in the Illinois House could make Juneteenth a state-recognized holiday. Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day and Freedom Day, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The House approved Senate Bill 1965, which already had been passed by the Senate, without opposition. The bill now will go to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's desk. If Pritzker signs the bill into law, it would take effect in 2022, making June 19 Illinois' 13th official state holiday. "I am happy that this has finally got this far in Illinois," said Doris Robinson, secretary for the NAACP's Jacksonville chapter. Under the legislation, June 19 would be a school holiday and a paid day off for all state employees. When the holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday would be a holiday for state employees. Recognizing the day as a paid holiday gives it more significance, which could lead to more people wanting to learn about it and more likely to consider it important, Robinson said. Please log in to keep reading. {{featured_button_text}} Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. "It has the same impact in the African American community as the Fourth of July has in the nation as a whole," she said. While recognized elsewhere, Juneteenth most commonly is celebrated in Texas, where it has been a state holiday since 1980. Juneteenth is an opportunity to talk about history, Robinson said, noting that it's an opportunity to learn about the culture, art and influences that African Americans have had in the country. "I'm happy that parts of our history that have been omitted are now being publicized and highlighted," she said. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862. It took effect on Jan. 1, 1863, though slaves were not set free in Confederate states until the Union army gained control of those areas. On June 18, 1865, the Union army arrived in Galveston, Texas. On June 19, 1865, Gen. Gordon Granger announced that slaves in Texas were free by order of the president of the United States. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 McClanahan said his life revolves around religion, family and occupation. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} I have said it many times, but the Democratic Party that we know today is no longer the party my grandfather was involved in, McClanahan said. The ideologies of the party have shifted away from those traditional values. Currently the Democratic Party is going against everything I stand for, pushing for defunding the police and the taking away of safeguards that have been put in place for us. McClanahan was elected in 2019 and represented the Democratic Party. He defeated incumbent longtime Sheriff Ray Foster, the Republican Party nominee. I can no longer be associated with the national Democratic Party due to them intoducing bills that negatively affect my community and my livelihood, McClanahan said. Hieatt said he was disappointed with laws that were introduced by the Democratic Party in Virginia. The day after this past election [2019] we were hit with several Democratic proposed laws to infringe on our gun rights that I, along with all of our Board of Supervisors, spoke out against, Hieatt said. Along with several of my deputies, I attended a mass protest in Richmond because I believe in the right to bear arms and the right to be able to defend ourselves. In a Cold War episode reminiscent of Boris and Natasha, the dictator of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, hijacked an international airline flight to kidnap a dissident. It was so clumsily transparent that it would be funny if the life of journalist Raman Pratasevich, now the prisoner of the KGB, werent in danger. The civilized world, which is just about everywhere but Belarus, must unite against this act of state piracy, blocking flights to or from Belarus and steering international air traffic around the East European prison house. Pratasevich was traveling on Ryanair Flight 4978 from Athens to Vilnius, in Lithuania, on Sunday, overflying Belarus. The trip is a little less than three hours, but shortly before the non-stop was due to arrive in Vilnius, it did a U-turn and landed in Minsk, escorted/forced down by a MiG-29 fighter jet. Pratasevich was grabbed and pulled off the plane, which then proceeded to Lithuania. Official excuse: there was bomb threat. We left out the article a to give it a sense of the original. Pratasevich later showed up in a video from his jailers with him saying that he is being treated well, even though his parents say it looks like his face is swollen and his nose is broken. Pratasevich must be released and allowed out of the country. I thought it was a good time to join, he said. The Soviet Union was collapsing; Germany was getting ready to reunify, and I was going to go to Europe to hang out with the young people. Bissette thought he needed to develop his maturity before going off to college. Little did he know when he signed up for the Army that he would most definitely receive that opportunity. Bissettes military service started smoothly. He trained at Fort Knox, Kentucky, became an Abrams tank driver and was awarded the Top Gun Award on the 9mm pistol. He deployed to northern Germany, where he was stationed with the 2nd Armored Division, also known as Hell on Wheels. Bissette looks back on his time in Germany fondly, referring to it as like Boy Scouts with guns in a nod to his own Boy Scout experience. But things didnt go on that way for long. Little did he know that less than a year after finishing his M1 Abrams tank training at Fort Knox, he would get the opportunity to implement the Scout Oath in its entirety: On my honor I will do my best to do my duty, to God and my country. Representative image Islamabad [Pakistan], May 30 (ANI): A collective group of civil and rights bodies in Pakistan has outrightly rejected the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) Ordinance 2021 that the country's federal government intends to impose. The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), and Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) issued a joint statement to condemn the proposed law. The group termed the proposed law as "draconian in scope and devastating in impact" on the constitutional principles in the country. "The proposed law is draconian in scope and devastating in its impact on the constitutional principles and guarantees for freedom of expression, media freedoms, and the right to information as well as the profession of journalism," the strongly worded joint statement read. The civil and rights bodies have raised serious objections to the draft of the ordinance, stating that the proposed law reflects a "mindset hostile to the concept of people's freedom of expression and right to information". The ordinance proposes to repeal all current media-related laws in the country and wants them to be merged under the PMDA. The PFUJ, HRCP and PBC warned that upending the current media regulatory regime, as proposed in the law, would destroy all public media as it exists in Pakistan today. "This malafide step is another U-turn from the promises made by the prime minister to expand freedom of expression before he took oath of office. This ordinance will further tighten the grip of the government on all forms of media, including print, electronic, and social media, and drama and films," the statement said. They also decried the proposed establishment of media tribunals to hand down punishments of up to three years in jail and PKR 25 million in fines to content producers for violating the repressive new provisions. "The proposed ordinance is nothing less than imposing "media martial law," the media and civil society leaders said. They vowed to resist such draconian steps by the government by taking trade unions, academia, political parties and citizens' organisations on board. (ANI) A 32-year-old Indian national who arrived here on April 25 from Nepal could not have been infected with COVID-19 at the Changi airport as there is no phylogenetic link between her case and those infected in the airport's Terminal 3 cluster, officials said. Singapore's health ministry said on Friday that its investigations have confirmed that there is no phylogenetic link between the Sonal Wadde case and those in the Changi Airport Terminal 3 cluster. Phylogenetic testing helps to determine if infections are related. Wadde, who arrived here as a dependant's pass holder, had said that she felt safer in India, according to a report by The Straits Times. The matter came to the fore after a screenshot of her response to a question on Facebook that she was infected "most probably" at Changi Airport circulated online. This was because two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests I took before boarding the flight to Singapore and upon arrival had been negative, she wrote in the comment section, which was picked up by several online news websites. It is unclear when she posted the comment, or what question she was responding to, said the Singapore English daily. "A negative pre-departure test or on-arrival test does not necessarily mean that a person is free from COVID-19, as one could be incubating the virus from an exposure prior to taking the tests," the newspaper quoted the health ministry as saying. The Changi Airport cluster is currently the largest active cluster with 108 cases linked to it as on Thursday. Wadde is an imported case who was confirmed to have COVID-19 infection on May 2, the ministry said, adding that she tested positive during her stay-home notice at a dedicated facility. After Wadde was identified as an employee of Singapore's DBS Bank in online articles on Tuesday, the bank clarified in a Facebook post that she was previously engaged as a contract employee through a third-party vendor from June to July 2019. Wadde is not currently a DBS employee, the bank's post said. Story continues "We hold our employees to the highest standards of conduct, both in person and online. DBS is fully committed to supporting the national effort to contain the spread of COVID-19," said DBS, Singapore's largest banking group. Singapore reported 15 local and imported coronavirus cases each on Friday. There have been 61,970 confirmed COVID-19 cases so far here, out of which, 61,407 people have been discharged from hospitals and community facilities. A total of 241 people are still in hospitals, 290 housed in isolated facilities with milder symptoms, and 32 people have died due to infection-related complications. Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here CPI(M) leader Elamaram Kareem (File photo) New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): Communist Party of India Marxist CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Elamaram Kareem on Sunday alleged that the Lakshadweep administration is trying to "hide reality" by delaying his party's delegation visit to the Union Territory to understand the current situation. He said that Additional District Magistrate (ADM) informed the CPI(M)'s delegation to "plan the proposed visit on a later date" considering the COVID-19 situation. Kareem taking to Twitter said, "A delegation of CPIM Kerala MPs have decided to visit Lakshadweep to understand current situation. Today ADM informed us to "plan the proposed visit on a later date" considering COVID situation. They wanted to delay our visit and avoid world knowing ground reality. SaveLakshadweep." The CPI-M state secretariat has decided to stage a protest on May 31 in front of the Lakshadweep offices in Beypore and Kochi accusing the central government of trying to abolish the special rights of Lakshadweep. Meanwhile, Lakshadweep Collector S Asker Ali defended the laws imposed by Administrator Praful Khoda Patel and said that these administrative decisions will help the union territory to develop like Maldives thereby benefiting local residents. Over the last week, several leaders have called for a new administrator in the Lakshadweep islands, including Lakshadweep MP and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Mohammed Faizal. Faizal accused Patel of implementing anti-people rules and regulations and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to 'listen to the outcry of the local people and send in a new Administrator'. Congress had written to President Ram Nath Kovind alleging that the current Administrator of Lakshadweep Praful Patel had taken "authoritarian measures" and demanded his recall. (ANI) Representative Image Tripoli [Libya], May 30 (ANI/Sputnik): A MiG-21 fighter jet of the Libyan Air Force crashed on Saturday during a military parade in Benghazi, the second-most populous city in the country, killing the pilot, a military source told Sputnik. "A MiG-21 fighter jet crashed during a military parade of the Libyan National Army (LNA) in Benghazi, pilot Jamal ibn Amer was killed," the source said. Later, the crash was confirmed by LNA spokesman Khalifa al-Obeidi who expressed grief over the death of Jamal ibn Amer via Facebook. On Friday, LNA spokesman Ahmed al-Mismari said that the planned parade at a military base of Benin in Benghazi would be the largest military parade in the history of Libya. (ANI/Sputnik) The distressed vessel MV X-Press Pearl was carrying 1,486 containers with nitric acid and other hazardous IMDG code chemicals. New Delhi [India], May 30 (ANI): Indian and Sri Lankan authorities' joint efforts to extinguish the massive fire onboard a container vessel off Colombo have yielded positive results with increasing signs of fire being under control, said Indian Defence Ministry on Sunday. Smoke density has also reduced and the fire has been localised to a small area near the aft section of MV X-Press Pearl, the ministry said. The distressed vessel MV X-Press Pearl was carrying 1,486 containers with nitric acid and other hazardous IMDG code chemicals. The extreme fire, damage to containers and prevailing inclement weather has caused the vessel to tilt to starboard resulting in the falling of containers overboard. On Wednesday, the ICG rushed its vessels to douse the fire that broke out on container vessel MV X-Press Pearl off Colombo coast in Sri Lanka. Indian Coast Guard (ICG) is working tirelessly to extinguish the massive fire onboard container vessel MV X-Press Pearl, the ministry said. The challenging round-the-clock fire-fighting operation is underway since May 25, 2021, jointly with Sri Lankan authorities. It has been named Operation Sagar Aaraksha 2 which symbolises growing maritime cooperation between India and Sri Lanka. "At present, three ICG ships and four tugs deployed by Sri Lanka are involved in the operation and continue fighting the fire by spraying AFFF and sea water using external fire-fighting systems," the statement read. "The non-stop joint firefighting efforts have yielded positive results with increasing signs of fire being under control. Smoke density has also reduced. The fire has been localised to a small area near the aft section of the vessel," it added. The ICG ships 'Vaibhav' and 'Vajra', in addition to their fire-fighting capabilities, are also equipped with adequate Pollution Response (PR) capabilities for the oil spill. The presence of a specialised PR vessel ICGS Samudra Prahari since May 29, 2021, has provided added strength to overall PR capabilities, the defence ministry said. Story continues Additionally, ICG Dornier aircraft sorties are being undertaken daily from Madurai for aerial assessment of the situation. Reports from the ships and aircraft indicate that there has been no oil spill. The ICG ships and Sri Lankan tugs are undertaking continuous boundary cooling. Also, the dropping of DCP bags over the burning vessel is being undertaken by a Sri Lankan helicopter to contain and extinguish the metallic fire. ICG formations at Kochi, Chennai and Tuticorin remain on standby for immediate assistance, if any, towards Pollution Response. Indian Coast Guard is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining continuous liaison with Sri Lankan Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) and other authorities. A similar joint operation between the two countries was named Sagar Aaraksha in September 2020 when ICG Ships and Sri Lankan authorities were involved in a fire-fighting operation onboard MT New Diamondoff the East Coast of Sri Lanka. MT New Diamond was carrying 2,70,000 Metric Tonnes of crude oil at the time of the incident and a major oil spill was averted due to the joint effort by ICG and Sri Lankan authorities. (ANI) Representative Image Beijing [China], May 30 (ANI): The Philippines has lodged protest against China's continuing "illegal presence and activities" near Pag-asa Islands on Saturday. "The Department of Foreign Affairs lodged a diplomatic protest yesterday against the incessant deployment, prolonged presence, and illegal activities of Chinese maritime assets and fishing vessels in the vicinity of the Pag-asa islands, demanding that China withdraw these vessels. The Pag-asa Islands is an integral part of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. As Beijing's assertiveness continues to grow in the disputed areas of the South China Sea, Philippines has "substantially" increased the number of boats on patrol following encounters with Chinese coastguard and militia vessels, according to a Washington-based think tank. The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said that from March 1 to May 25 it had observed "13 Philippine law enforcement or military vessels paying a total of 57 visits to waters around the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal", South China Morning Post reported. It said this was "a substantial increase over the previous 10 months, when three vessels were tracked making seven total visits to contested features". In March, tensions between the Philippines and China came to a climax after hundreds of Chinese boats were spotted in the disputed portions of the South China Sea. Philippines defence and foreign ministers have claimed that the "threatening" Chinese vessels are manned by militias. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and has overlapping territorial claims with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan. The figures, released in a report on May 26, were based on "tracking data from commercial provider Marine Traffic and satellite imagery from Maxar and Planet Labs", the think tank said. Story continues Not only were patrols more frequent, but their location had changed to include four disputed features of the sea not visited during the previous period, SCMP reported. The think tank said that from the satellite data, it could not verify Philippine national security adviser Hermogenes Esperon's May 4 claim that Chinese coastguard and militia vessels were engaging in "dangerous manoeuvres". However, tracking data showed that when the Philippine coastguard sent four vessels - BRP Gabriela Silang, BRP Sindangan, BRP Habagat, and MCS 3005 - to within 10 nautical miles of Scarborough Shoal, they were met by Chinese coastguard vessels 3301 and 3102. In the first week of May, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had said that he will not withdraw navy and coastguard boats patrolling the disputed South China Sea and insisted that the country's sovereignty over the waters is "not negotiable". China has been increasing its maritime activities in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea over the past few months, partly in response to Beijing's concerns over the increasing US military presence in the region because of escalating Sino-US tensions. Beijing's rising assertiveness against counter claimants in the East and South Sea has resulted in unprecedented agreement across the Indo-Pacific. (ANI) Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah (Photo Credit - Reuters) Sindh [Pakistan], May 30 (ANI): Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Saturday sought parliament debate on census results as population was undercounted in his province. Sindh CM said that his government wanted the census results to be properly considered before being approved as the results of the sixth census (Census-2017 data) after the Council of Common Interest (CCI) failed to address their concerns, reported Geo News. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah made a request to National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser and Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani under Article 154(7) of the Constitution to summon a joint session of parliament. Murad said that the Article 154 (7) states that "if the federal government or a provincial government is dissatisfied with a decision of the council, it may refer the matter to Parliament in a joint sitting whose decision in this behalf shall be final." The Sindh CM said that in the federal legislative list census appears as entry number 9. He also explained that the CCI was "empowered" to have a final say on the matter as a "genuine and accurate census is a pre requisite to so many constitutional and legal rights" and as it has provincial representation, reported Geo News. Murad Ali Shah said that it was unfortunate that cabinet committee unilaterally proceeded with the finalisation of census report. Murad said that it was last year in November 2020 the CCI was informed that a cabinet committee was formed to looked into the census. He also added that he had raised the concerns of his province in the meeting and was assured that the committee would address the concerns of the provinces, reported Geo News. The CM explained to the Speaker and the Chairman that Sindh Government has always maintained the position that its "population has been undercounted". He also claimed that there is "empirical evidence on record to substantiate" the provincial government's "argument", reported Geo News. Story continues "Unfortunately, for the first time since the creation of CCI, a decision as important as any national cause was taken by way of majority and not unanimously" said the CM. He added that during the voting PM Imran Khan "chose not to take the vote of the three federal ministers who were present at the meeting". The CM also shared a copy of the dissenting note he had written on the matter to PM Imran Khan last month. Murad said that after the CCI approved the "controversial and faulty census" the provincial cabinet in a meeting on April 13 decided to refer the matter to the Parliament. He also added that he had made the request for the joint sitting on the basis of that decision. "A copy of this letter is also being sent to the Honorable President and Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan so that an urgent joint session of the Parliament is summoned to address the issues raised by the Government of Sindh in respect of approving the controversial and faulty Census results," concluded Murad. The copy of the letter was also sent to all the chief ministers of the country and three federal ministers who are part of the CCI. Last month, the federal government approved the official release of the Census-2017 results which had been withheld for the last couple of years. The decision was taken during a virtual meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) -- a body that resolves the disputes of power-sharing between the federation and provinces -- with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair. It should be recalled that during the 44th meeting of the CCI, different provinces expressed their opinions regarding the release of the Census-2017 data, after which the council had decided to convene a virtual meeting to make a final decision. According to sources, while Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa insisted on releasing the census data, Sindh demanded the census be held anew in the province so that the consolidated data could be released together. During the last meeting, Balochistan had said that it needs more time to deliberate over the matter, reported Geo News. (ANI) A Tamil actor has filed a complaint against a former Tamil Nadu minister, accusing him of cheating on her after being in a relationship with her for five years. Shantini Theva accused former AIADMK minister M Manikandan of promising to marry her and then abandoning her after she got pregnant. In the complaint, she has also accused him of forcing her to get an abortion and threatening her and her family. Manikandan has reportedly denied all allegations made and has claimed he did not know Shantini at all. Shantini lodged a formal complaint against Manikandan with the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime Against Women and Children in Chennai on Friday. She later addressed the media and released the complaint copy as well. In the complaint, she has said that she met Manikandan in 2017 when he was the Minister for Information Technology in Tamil Nadu and alleged that he expressed an interest to marry her while he was married to another woman. She has also said that they lived together in a house in Besant Nagar in Chennai and had evidence to support the same. In her complaint, Shantini has said that during the course of their relationship, she was pregnant thrice and Manikandan persuaded her to get an abortion each time with the assurance that they could have the baby once they are married. She also said that they travelled across the country several times together and he also duped her claiming that he plans to invest in Malaysia, where her family is based. The complainant has also accused Manikandan of ending their relationship in April 2021 and forcing her to leave the country at the same time. She told the media that he threatened to upload her nude pictures online if she failed to oblige along with threatening her family. She has also accused a close aide of Manikandan of assisting him in physically assaulting her. Navy veteran Faron Smith Jr. reacts as he receives a COVID-19 vaccination at a Veterans Administration pop-up vaccination site on April 17, 2021, in Gardena, Calif. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images) As the nation takes a day to memorialize its military dead, living military veterans are facing a deadly risk that has nothing to do with war or conflict: the coronavirus. Different groups and communities have faced different degrees of danger from the pandemic, exemplified by the humanitarian disaster in India and the inequalities in U.S. health outcomes, vaccine distribution problems and outright rejection of vaccines. Veterans have been among the most hard-hit, with heightened health and economic threats from the pandemic. These veterans face homelessness, lack of health care, delays in receiving financial support and even death. Collier was one of three Democrats picked to negotiate the final version, none of whom signed their name to it. She said she saw a draft of the bill around 11 p.m. Friday which was different than one she had received earlier that day and was asked for her signature the next morning. Texas is also set to newly empower partisan poll watchers, allowing them more access inside polling places and threatening criminal penalties against elections officials who restrict their movement. Republicans originally proposed giving poll watchers the right to take photos, but that language was removed from the final bill that lawmakers were set to vote on this weekend. Another new provision could also make it easier to overturn an election in Texas, allowing for a judge to void an outcome if the number of fraudulent votes cast could change the result, regardless of whether it was proved that fraud affected the outcome. Major corporations, including Texas-based American Airlines and Dell, have warned that the measures could harm democracy and the economic climate. But Republicans shrugged off their objections, and in some cases, ripped business leaders for speaking out. History repeats itself. But do decades duplicate? As hopes rise that the pandemic is ebbing in the United States and Europe, visions of a second Roaring Twenties to match last centurys post-pandemic decade have proliferated. Months of lockdown and restrictions on social life have given way to dreams of a new era of frivolity and decadence. For some, it feels like party time. In many parts of the world, such thoughts are unthinkable. India is engulfed in crisis. The virus is raging in South America. Japan is grappling with a punishing new wave of cases. And even in places where cases are falling and vaccinations are expanding, deep wounds remain from more than a year of death, illness and isolation. COVID-19 wont disappear. More infectious variants are circulating. Herd immunity may be elusive. Long-term health effects will linger. There will be no Hollywood ending. Cookouts, fun on the lake, a trip to the beach, and the Coca-Cola 600. These are all often the first things that come to mind when we hear Memorial Day Weekend. While these things are all good, especially after a year of lockdowns and social distancing, its important that we remember the true meaning of Memorial Day. The Bible tells us in John 15:13, that Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. We hear this verse a lot, especially around Memorial Day each year. But not many of us know personally what this verse really means. I had the honor of being at Fort Bragg on Tuesday for the first of several Memorial Day events throughout the week including placing flags at the Oakwood Cemetery with the American Legion in Concord, honoring our troops at the Coca-Cola 600, and joining the Kannapolis annual Memorial Day event. Tuesdays ceremony at Fort Bragg honored the fallen Soldiers of the 3rd Special Forces Group. While there, I met many who had lost loved ones including a Gold Star mom, a 7-year-old girl, and an 11-year-old boy. DON'T MISS: "America's Got Talent" After a challenging season hampered by pandemic restrictions and an injury to Simon Cowell that forced the show to go on without him, summertime's biggest reality hit is back with Cowell and a live audience in place. As usual, things kick off with a barrage of auditions, during which serious contenders are separated from the wacky pretenders. Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel and Sofia Vergara return to the judges panel alongside Cowell, and Terry Crews is back as host. (8 p.m. Tuesday, NBC). Other bets SUNDAY: Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise team up to host the "National Memorial Day Concert 2021" from Washington, D.C., and around the country. The event, dedicated to American heroes, features music by Gladys Knight, Vince Gill, Sara Bareilles, Alan Jackson, The Four Tops, Mickey Guyton and more. (8 p.m., PBS). SUNDAY: The documentary "Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre" marks the 100th anniversary of one of the worst acts of racial violence in American history when the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Okla., also known as Black Wall Street, was destroyed and hundreds of residents were killed. Included: rare archival footage and interviews with historians, city leaders and activists. (8 p.m., History Channel). Still, the movie never got past talking, and, while writer-director Francis Coppola not long ago reworked the third film into Mario Puzos The Godfather Coda, Coppola has said he would not make a fourth film. But Paramount, which owns the Godfather rights, well might someday. In a statement to the Times last year it said, While there are no imminent plans for another film in the Godfather saga, given the enduring power of its legacy it remains a possibility if the right story emerges. Q: I enjoyed the PBS series Victoria that ran from 2016 to 2019. I thought it ended rather abruptly. Will there be more of Victorias life? Answer: That is a nagging question akin to the one about Godfather IV. A fourth season of the series about Queen Victoria has been ordered, but it has yet to start production. PBSs Masterpiece website says only, The series is currently on hiatus, and unfortunately, we dont have any additional information to share at this time. COLUMBIA, S.C. Its been more than a decade since Randy Gardners brother was the last U.S. inmate executed by firing squad, years the Utah man says have been filled with nightmares about what he describes as his brothers gruesome death. Now, Gardner is among advocates spending time in South Carolina speaking out about why he feels the method shouldnt be used here. Gardner didnt witness the 2010 execution of his brother, Ronnie Lee Gardner, condemned to die for shooting a man to death during a failed courthouse escape attempt. But Gardner said that Ronnie had chosen to die by firing squad restrained in a chair as five gunmen carried out the sentence, a hood covering his face in part because of how he had taken another persons life. He knew how gruesome the firing squad would be, Randy Gardner told The Associated Press on Friday. But he thought, well, he killed someone with a gun, and he thought he deserved the same treatment. Gardner has been part of recent conversations arranged by Death Penalty Action, a national anti-death penalty group that helps local ones organize against capital punishment. A small gathering was planned for Columbia on Friday, with a larger rally scheduled for Saturday in Greenville. The Cooper administration launched Thursday North Carolina's version of a vaccination lottery featuring four $1 million cash prizes and those newly vaccinated getting two entries. Meanwhile, Gov. Roy Cooper said he will provide Friday a status update on his COVID-19 statewide pandemic emergency order. In both HB334 and their joint statement, the senators took a minimalistic, oh-by-the-way, approach to the corporate income-tax cut proposal. The language pertaining to the rate cut was just 14 lines in the 41-page revamped bill. "Over the past 10 years of Republican-led tax reductions, people and businesses have flocked to North Carolina in droves," they said. "There are many factors that weigh into a state's business climate, and tax structure is one of the top considerations." Instead, the senators focused on sweeteners placed into HB334 designed to appeal to individual taxpayers. "The measure is a continuation of the legislature's decade-long commitment to cutting taxes so people can keep more of the money they earn," according to the statement. The state income tax would be lowered from 5.25% to 4.99%, while the state's child-tax deduction would rise by $500 to up to $3,000 annually for families who claim the federal child tax credit. The personal income-tax deduction would be increased from $21,500 to $25,000 for a married couple, from $16,125 to $19,125 for a head of household, and from $10,750 to $12,750 for those who are single. Those changes would take effect Jan. 1. (July) Aside from mismanaging the pandemic, mongering fears left and right, and undermining our faith in government, aside from all that, Donald Trump just isnt a decent human being. (August) Weve ordered so many books from Amazon that Ive put out an orange traffic cone to save a parking place for the delivery guy. So far, weve read White Fragility, White Too Long, The Color of Compromise and Raising White Kids. You see a color scheme developing there? (After hearing about Betties death and Hardys) For months I have said that I knew of no one in my circles of family and friends who had died of COVID-19. I cant say that anymore. (September) My mother taught me to cover my mouth when I cough. These people who refuse to wear a mask didnt their mothers teach them that? (October) I have noticed two kinds of walkers on downtown sidewalks. People who are walking to or from work or who are on a work-related mission stare straight ahead, seemingly focused on an object on the horizon. They appear to be in deep thought about serious things. People who are walking for exercise or for fun look you in the eye and smile through their masks, as if to say, Hey, were outside! Is this cool or what? He portrayed illegal immigrants crossing the Southern border as rapists and drug dealers. He called Black athletes protesting police brutality sons of bitches and said they should be fired. He claimed that a U.S. federal judge, an American citizen born in Indiana, would be unfair to him because Hes a Mexican. He repeatedly retweeted messages from white supremacist Twitter accounts. He called Haiti and African countries s-hole countries. He reduced U.S. refugee intake to historic lows and drastically reduced legal immigration. Hate crimes against minorities surged under his administration, often committed by people who chanted his name. Despite his occasional, tepid denouncements, leaders of the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazis saw in him a kindred spirit and gave him their full support. And now the people who want nothing more than to return him to power also want to dictate what schools can and cant teach our children about racism. Across the country, theres been an organized, concerted effort among Republicans to pass state and federal bills that limit or prevent the inclusion of the Pulitzer Prize winning The 1619 Project and critical race theory, a decades-old field of academic study, in school curricula. Theyre often accompanied by bills that ban diversity training for federal employees and the military. For 27 years, the Lincoln Journal Stars Class Acts section has recognized seniors who have excelled academically in Southeast Nebraska high schools. This year, we invited the principals of 45 area schools to nominate eligible students, who in turn were asked to submit photos, personal top 5s and future plans. By the deadline, 351 students had responded with information and a photograph. Their bios are featured throughout the section. Eligible Lincoln Public Schools students achieved summa cum laude status (cumulative weighted GPA of 4.25 or higher). Students at other Lancaster County schools had to rank in the top 5% of their graduating classes. Other schools in the Journal Star's newspaper circulation area nominated their valedictorians, salutatorians or equivalents. All students with minimum cumulative ACT scores of 32 were eligible. Many of the seniors also responded to optional questions we posed: * Do you feel the pandemic set back your education over the past year? If so, how? * What is your dream job? See JournalStar.com for responses to those questions. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Having sailed around the world as a deckhand in his youth, he was mustered into the U.S. Navy as an officer and served with distinction aboard an ironclad monitor warship in the Atlantic. After transferring to the Gulf Coast, in New Orleans Lieutenant Loring was given command of a retrofitted stern-wheeled transport ship which was barely seaworthy. In a forgotten and meaningless 1864 battle in Louisiana, and with no coal to fuel his ships boilers, the vessel sank, and Loring was captured by Confederate troops. The remainder of the book describes his confinement at Camp Groce, a Rebel prisoner of war camp northwest of Houston, where he was incarcerated. Conditions there made the more notorious Andersonville camp in Georgia seem like Club Med. With the fire of patriotism still burning brightly, Loring was able to escape on two separate occasions through the disease-infested swamps of East Texas. Both attempts are presented in detail and are reminiscent of Steve McQueens classic escape movies, The Great Escape and Papillon. Shortly after Americas largest private farmland owners, Microsoft billionaires Bill and Melinda Gates, acknowledged their pending divorce, some wag on Twitter wondered what might be the appropriate time to wait before he approached the soon-to-be-former missus to ask about renting some of her farmland. While he was joking, its no joke that the about-to-split pair owns the largest amount of working farmland in the nation. According to the winter 2020 issue of the Land Report, a quarterly magazine that tracks U.S. land sales, Bill and Melinda Gates now own 242,000 acres of farmland worth more than $690 million. If their transitional and recreational acres are added in, the Gateses own 268,984 acres. According to the Land Report, most of it was acquired through Cascade Investments LLC, a private, Washington state-based firm that handles both the Gates familys personal investments and those of the $50 billion Gates Foundation, a global philanthropic effort dedicated to fight poverty, disease, and inequity. Much of the land, mostly purchased in the last decade, lies in the South: 69,071 acres in Louisiana, 47,927 acres in Arkansas, 16,963 acres in Mississippi, and 14,828 in Florida. There are two sides of the pie: low-value care and care that people get in trouble if they dont get, said Oakes, who expects researchers to take advantage of all the data provided from COVID-19 on both types of care. One recent study looked at Veterans Affairs patients who had elective surgeries canceled because of COVID. The study found they were no more likely to visit hospital emergency departments than patients who had undergone those surgeries in 2018. Dr. Heather Lyu of Brigham and Womens Hospital and Harvard Medical School said much testing and care was cut back by patients fears of contracting COVID in a medical setting and because medical facilities and staffers were fighting just to keep up with COVID cases. There are some procedures, tests, and exams that cannot be delayed in any situation, Lyu said in an email. For example, she pointed to the screening, surveillance and treatment of cancer patients. However, she said other tests and treatments can be delayed or canceled without negative effects. Lyu oversaw a 2017 survey of 2,000 physicians, with half the doctors saying the percentage of unnecessary medical care was higher than 20.6% and half saying it was lower. I have so much admiration for Sheila for immediately stepping up with the mask-making and PPE, said Carolyn Ducey, curator of collections at the quilt museum on Holdrege Street. For us to have the quilt that represents the entire phenomenon of how these quilters stepped up and helped their community is really important. And the sheer number of masks was astounding, Ducey said. I am not aware of any other group that has made the number of masks that they have made. The public can get a peek at Mask Up! at the International Quilt Museum as part of its First Friday open house. Green will share the story behind the quilt. A chronology of the mask project. The 14,000 hours of sewing. The 4,367 yards of fabric. The 10,000 yards of elastic. A few of her volunteer mask-makers will be there to answer questions. Saturday morning, she will make her way to History Nebraska with the second quilt, accompanied by sewists. They will gather in the lobby. Mooney, the curator, will welcome them and thank them. The quilt will make its way into the permanent archive and into future displays documenting the Pandemic of 2020. A senior at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has been reported missing after he did not return home May 25 as expected from a trip to Hawaii. Samuel Joseph Martinez, a 23-year-old studying microbiology at UNL, flew to Kauai on May 12 with the intention of hiking and camping, according to a news release from the Kauai Police Department. The student's father, Ted Martinez, said the family hasn't heard from Samuel since a few hours after he landed on Kauai. He had eight permits to camp at different locations around the island. Ted Martinez said the family, which lives in North Bend, had hoped his son's lack of communication during his two-week trip was a result of poor connection. He said the family filed a missing persons report with the Lincoln Police Department on Wednesday after Samuel missed his connecting flight in Los Angeles on Tuesday. LPD contacted law enforcement in Kauai on Thursday. Ted Martinez said his son got a ride to a grocery store nearly 20 miles south of the airport in Kauai a few hours after he landed on the island, as he prepared to head toward mountainous campsites. The family has not heard from him since, Ted Martinez said. Over half of this year's Class Acts honorees -- 177 graduates -- indicated plans to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. With nearly two dozen more attending other campuses in the NU system -- University of Nebraska at Kearney (13) and the University of Nebraska at Omaha (10) -- in-state schools predictably dominated students' future plans. A large group -- 11 students -- are headed to Nebraska Wesleyan University, significantly more than other private schools. Class Acts students intend to attend three different Ivy League schools -- Cornell (3), Harvard and Princeton. Six are headed to service academies -- two each to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Military Academy and Naval Academy. Other schools and the number of students planning to attend: Eight students: Concordia Seven students: Wayne State Six students: Doane, Southeast Community College Five students: Hastings Four students: Creighton, St. Olaf A fire at a house near 12th and F streets Sunday morning sent two people to the hospital. Lincoln Fire and Rescue responded to the fire at about 9:47 a.m. on Sunday, acting Battalion Chief Curt Faust said. Faust said the Lincoln Police Department was already on the scene when fire crews arrived and officers saw people going in and out of the house, which is converted into multiple apartments, to retrieve items. One person was trapped on the second floor when first responders arrived and had to be removed from the house. Two people were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The estimated damage to the house was about $20,000, Faust said, and the home is unsafe for residents to return to. The fire was caused by a cigarette in the house's basement that was likely either improperly discarded or left lit when the smoker fell asleep. Reach the writer at lstephens@journalstar.com or 402-473-7241. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Los Angeles toddler has become the youngest American member of Mensa, where membership is strictly limited to those who score at the highest levels in IQ tests. Kashe Quest may be a two-year-old but her skills include naming all of the elements on the periodic table, identifying all 50 states by shape and location, learning Spanish and deciphering patterns, according to her parents. "She has always shown us, more than anything, the propensity to explore her surroundings and to ask the question 'Why,'" Kashe's father Devon Athwal told CNN. "If she doesn't know something, she wants to know what it is and how does it function, and once she learns it, she applies it." The Athwals said that as soon as Kashe said her first word, her skills developed rapidly. Soon she was speaking in sentences that contained five or more words. Through their daily observations, it struck the family that their daughter might be advanced for her age. Not your ordinary toddler "Once her pediatrician also acknowledged it, at her 18-month check-up I had let her know where (Kashe) was on her number shapes and colors, and wanted her perspective on all of it, and she said it was amazing ... it's something worth looking into." Kashe's mom Sukhjit Athwal told CNN. * So, Sen. Mitch McConnell is running the clock in the Senate once again, focused on the next election. There was a reason that the Founders did not want Congress to represent the political parties. * Ben Sasse has demonstrated independence once again, voting in support of an independent inquiry into the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol after voting last February to convict former President Donald Trump on a House impeachment charge of inciting an insurrection. * It is worth noting that in an overwhelmingly Republican state that voted for Trump, three of Nebraska's five Republican members of Congress voted to proceed with an insurrection inquiry. * Answering a question on CNN about reports that McConnell asked Senate Republicans to vote against an insurrection inquiry as a personal favor to him, Chuck Hagel said that is "absolutely shocking and shameful ... if he said it" and, if he did, he "should not have the responsibility or the privilege of being a leader in Congress." * Republicans in the nonpartisan Legislature already have demonstrated their power to control legislative and congressional redistricting with adoption of guidelines that quickly split senators into partisan camps. And there they shall be. It is time now to think big. The resources will be there in 2022, Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers says, as $500 million in new federal pandemic recovery assistance comes flowing into the state. "It might be a once-in-a-legislative-generation opportunity for the state," Hilgers said. And legislative dynamics shout that the moment is now: Some heavy-hitters, experienced senators who are leaders and doers and who already have racked up some big accomplishments for the state, will be serving their eighth and final year in the Legislature, the Lincoln senator noted. "Big thinkers with good working relationships," Hilgers said. The time is right, he said, and the resources will be there. "We're going to come to play next year," the speaker said. After reviewing the pandemic-challenged 2021 Legislature's accomplishments during an interview in his office at the Capitol immediately after senators adjourned Thursday and headed home, Hilgers cast a look ahead. The speaker said he's open to all kinds of big ideas, but his thoughts move quickly to the Legislature's adventurously named STAR WARS Committee. OMAHA The City of Gretna is poised to double in size and add nearly 3,000 people after the Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday sided with the city in an annexation dispute with Sarpy County. At issue was a 2017 annexation package by Gretna to bring nearly 3,000 acres into the city. The area includes Valas Pumpkin Patch, Sapp Bros. and housing subdivisions including Lincoln Place, Willow Park and Standing Stone. In a lawsuit that has delayed the annexation by nearly four years, the county argued that the annexation wasnt legal because it included 22 parcels of agricultural land that were "almost exclusively unplatted, with rural roads and no sewer connection," according to a filing by the state Supreme Court. State law says cities can annex only land that is urban or suburban in character. Last year, a Sarpy County District Court judge sided with the county, accepting its arguments that the contested parcels qualified as agricultural land. The district court found that none of the parcels were currently being developed, and that Gretna's growth as a city had not trended in the general direction of the areas which Gretna sought to annex, the filing states. But the high court Friday overturned that decision, ruling that the district court failed to consider future development plans in the annexed areas. Ending extended unemployment benefits might push some back into the work force, but it isnt going to bring 8,600 more employees out of the woodwork especially considering that Lincoln has been at or above full employment for nearly all of the past decade. Sure, the shock of a sudden free-fall into a pandemic-fueled recession that cost tens of thousands of jobs in the state plus a bounce-back that was equally rapid will take some time to work out. Many other laid-off workers jumped into fields where immediate demand was high, such as grocery stores, and/or began training for new careers. In the end, though, it seems as if the governors choices have been based on his theory that reducing the social safety net will "help people get to work and increase their income," as he said defending his vetoes of legislation. But that doesn't address the underlying problem. Rather than voluntarily ending participation in a federal program, Nebraska must continue to address the problems the state continues to face, especially in regards to geographic disparities in joblessness and helping working families afford safe child care a real problem during the pandemic while still earning an income, as some stayed home to tend to family instead. As Americans cautiously return to normal life activities, stable and affordable housing for millions of renters remains out of reach. The pandemic has exacerbated our underlying housing crisis. Thousands of households are getting evicted, and many are at risk of experiencing homelessness because they can't pay the rent. The U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey estimates that 48.5% of renters in Nebraska have no confidence to only moderate confidence in their ability to pay next months rent. For households with children, the outlook is even more bleak. According to the survey estimates, approximately 75% of renter households with children had no to moderate confidence in their ability to pay next months rent. Despite the desperate and real need, federal rental assistance only goes to one in four eligible renters due to inadequate funding. President Biden has proposed building affordable housing in the U.S., but Congress must do more by expanding rental assistance to all eligible renters so millions of families can keep a roof over their head. Housing Choice Vouchers, America's largest rental assistance program, allow low-income renters to find safe housing they otherwise cannot afford. Studies show that families with stable housing earn higher wages and have better health and education outcomes. In the Nebraska Legislature last week, the funding of services for children with developmental disabilities was up for debate. LB376, a bill designed to provide basic supports and services to Nebraska families with a disabled child, was filibustered and failed. The reasons LB376 died are debatable, though in the days following it became clear that petty partisan politics played a large role, once again leaving Nebraskas citizens as the ones who pay the price. In this case, our most vulnerable citizens: disabled children. LB376 would have been a huge source of hope for families of disabled children like us. Like others, we spend an ungodly amount of time and money to keep our daughter healthy and thriving. She attends therapy five days a week. The out-of-pocket cost after our good private insurance totals $30,000 per year. This doesnt include follow-ups with specialists, procedures, durable medical equipment and medications that are necessary keep our daughter in good health. If it werent for our access to Medicaid, we would be forced to leave this state we have called home for almost a decade. We simply could not afford to live here. The U.S. moved to set up a dispute-settlement panel to review Canadas dairy quotas, which Washington alleges undermine the ability of American dairy exporters to sell a wide range of products to Canadian consumers. The U.S. is challenging Canadas tariff-rate quotas, or TRQs, which apply a preferential duty rate to a certain quantity of imports and a different rate to imports above that quantity. Specifically, the U.S. is questioning the set-aside of a percentage of each dairy quota exclusively for Canadian processors, and the U.S. has requested a panel under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to review the measures, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in a statement Tuesday. These measures deny the ability of U.S. dairy farmers, workers, and exporters to utilize the TRQs and realize the full benefit of the USMCA, the USTR said. Launching the first panel request under the agreement will ensure our dairy industry and its workers can seize new opportunities under the USMCA to market and sell U.S. products to Canadian consumers. DOVER Dozens of children, most with scouting groups, others with family, volunteered Saturday morning to place American flags at the graves at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in the Town of Dover in preparation for Memorial Day. Take advantage of this great offer! Just $3 gives you full access for 3 months to exclusive content from The Journal Times and journaltimes.com. The incredible deal won't last lo Were here for Grandpa Jack, said Lonnie Reid, as he helped his grandsons Reece, 10, and Rollin, 8, of Burlington, as they placed flags along rows of headstones. Reid grew emotional as he spoke of his father, Jack Ratliff, a Vietnam veteran who is interred at the cemetery. Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Mary Kolar greeted the volunteers at the cemetery. I so appreciate your being here, your taking this time to place these flags that honor veterans who have served our country, and particularly those who have lost their lives defending our freedom, Kolar told the group before they began their work. Volunteers place the flags every year, according to a spokesman at the cemetery, with scouting groups, civic and veterans groups generally leading the way. Kolar said similar efforts are underway a the two other veterans cemeteries in the state. Pucketts leadership proved vital. He repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire in order to survey terrain and protect his men. The Rangers held the hill against five massive human wave attacks. Puckett ultimately ordered his men to retreat from what had become an untenable position. Badly wounded, he told his men to leave him. They refused to do so. For his actions in that battle, he received the Distinguished Service Cross, which has now been upgraded to the Medal of Honor. During the Vietnam War, Puckett again served in combat in command. He displayed comparable courage and leadership. On May 21, President Joe Biden awarded Colonel Puckett the Medal of Honor at a ceremony at the White House. In attendance was President Moon Jae-in of South Korea, who was visiting Washington to meet with President Biden. This is the first time the leader of a foreign government has attended a Medal of Honor ceremony. Timing the ceremony to coincide with President Moons visit is impressive, for reasons that go beyond the importance of the Korean War for our foreign policy, and for international relations generally. That war forged the important, enduring alliance between our two peoples. The Korean War also transformed the Cold War from a European to a broadly global conflict. 1. Yes. Its important to keep my child as safe as possible. We plan to take advantage. 2. Yes. With the school district dropping its mask mandate, its a necessary step. 3. No. Local COVID cases are dropping. There is no good reason to vaccinate my child. 4. No. There hasnt been enough data on vaccinated children. I think Ill hold off. 5. Unsure. I havent decided yet whether to take part in the vaccine clinics. Vote View Results We couldnt go into an area until 10 a.m. because everyone was still drunk. At 4 p.m., they all started drinking again, Baltzell said. I was glad when the eight weeks were up. Wildfires, earthquakes In 2001, he spent 11 weeks after wildfires in Los Alamos, N.M., overseeing the files of 40 adjusters and 20 FEMA employees. FEMA people had bodyguards in case someone was unhappy. Nothing ever happened, but the government just wanted to be sure about it, he said. Every Friday, one of those in the office was in charge of making lunch for 60 people. His turn came up twice. In 2004, he did adjusting after the earthquake in Los Angeles, and I hated every minute of it, he said. His insurance company had loaned him to another company, and their guidelines drove me nuts. In one house, the only damage was a fallen section of concrete block fence. The insurance company required him to take a picture of every wall in every room to prove there was no other damage. I took pictures of every room, all for a piece of concrete block. Back then, we had no cellphones. I had a camera, and each claim required from 30 to 60 pictures, he said. President Moon Jae-in speaks during virtual summit talks with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, May 30. Yonhap South Korea and Denmark agreed Sunday to elevate their ties to a "comprehensive green strategic partnership" as part of efforts to further deepen cooperation on the climate and environment. The accord was reached during virtual summit talks between President Moon Jae-in and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen held just before the 2021 P4G Seoul Summit opens, Moon's office Cheong Wa Dae announced. It marks South Korea's first bilateral green partnership with a foreign country. The two sides commemorate the 10th anniversary this year of establishing a "green growth alliance" and "strategic partnership." The upgrading of the relationship opens a new chapter in their green cooperation, according to Cheong Wa Dae. The dusty blacktop road on the far east side in Tucson, Arizona, doesn't look like it leads to a British nobleman's house. But the 151-acre ranch near the foothills of the Rincon Mountains belongs to Sir Paul McCartney, whose wife Linda died there in 1998. McCartney's company still pays taxes on the property; someone obviously maintains the place. But that's the backstory. What we have here is a yarn about a larger-than-life love affair. This is an honest-to-goodness Camelot-style love story replete with a chivalric royal knight and his queen. This fairy tale spans the world and ends in this house near Redington Pass. Paul McCartney's connection with Tucson was through his wife, Linda Eastman. She attended the University of Arizona, where she began her prolific photography career. Linda was enamored with the desert beauty and tranquility of life. The two met in London in 1967 when Linda was on a photo assignment for a book about rock stars. After a two-year courtship, they were married in 1969 in a civil ceremony at a town hall in London. They soon pushed each other beyond the limits of their combined imagination. Over the 29-year marriage, Paul was the most creative in his musical career, and Linda blossomed as a musician. Over their 29-year marriage, the couple was apart only one night. After buying the Tucson ranch in 1979, the McCartney family began to grow. The house became a dominant family home, mainly in the spring and fall a place to be free and one with nature, away from global prying eyes. Locals understood and gave them a wide berth. Occasionally mom, dad and the children would venture out and thrill Tucsonans at restaurants and stores. The McCartneys visited the old Skaggs Drug Store at Speedway and Camino Seco, especially at Halloween and Thanksgiving. During these times, fans would hang out waiting for autographs and a glimpse of the rock star family entourage. Other locals camped out at the nearby AJ Bayless grocery store, where Paul would kindly sign albums while picking up milk and bread. In 1995, Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer. The privacy of the ranch allowed her to face treatment and healing in secluded personal privilege. Just days before Linda's passing, she and Paul rode her much-loved Appaloosa horses, Spot and Blanket, over the ranch and adjoining wilderness area, enjoying the private time together. Paul and Linda's doctors had decided not to tell her how much her cancer had aggressively spread. In the predawn hours of Friday, April 17, 1998, 56-year-old Linda Eastman McCartney died at the Tucson ranch house. Paul and the family, including their four children, were with her. A half-moon traversed Tucson's star-filled sky on the evening of her passing, casting a consoling soft glow over their tin roof. Linda's body was cremated in Tucson and became part of the desert she respected and embraced when the family spread her ashes at the ranch before returning to London. Tucsonans Greg Ash and Dave Slavin contributed to this story. Freelance writer Jerry Wilkerson, who lives in SaddleBrooke, is a former press secretary for two U.S. Congressmen and was a correspondent for Chicago CBS radio and newspaper correspondent. Wilkerson is a U.S. Navy veteran and served as a police commissioner. Email: franchise@att.net Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Former Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat, in 2004 set up a state website to help residents find cheaper drugs in Canada. In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration sent Doyle a letter warning against the practice. Bringing in cheaper drugs from Canada may be appealing to many consumers, but most health care provider groups, including the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, are against it, said Look, of UW-Madison. The arrangements would take advantage of the Canadian governments negotiations with drug manufacturers and potentially allow more counterfeit drugs to enter the U.S., Look said. If a bill is introduced in Wisconsin, I think there would be a lot of pushback from a lot of different entities, he said. Transparency Evers budget sought to require drug makers to tell the state if they were increasing the cost of brand-name drugs by more than 10% or $10,000 in a 12-month period, or generic drugs by more than 25% or $300. Evers also proposed making insurers report the top 25 highest-cost drugs and the 25 with the highest-cost increases, similar to a requirement in Oregon. The states budget of $752,000, including only 11 dam inspectors, is not enough to provide adequate safety for aging dams exposed to extreme weather events. Dams holding mine waste tailings are constructed of crushed waste rock and sandy soil. These dams are 10 times more likely to fail than dams holding water. A tragic example is the January 2019 breach of the Brazilian earthen tailings dam that killed 270 people and contaminated local water supplies. Worldwide, there have been 46 tailings dam failures in the past 20 years. The same design for storing mine waste, known as the upstream dam construction method, is being proposed for the Back Forty Project, a large metallic sulfide mine and tailings dam on the Wisconsin-Michigan border. This earthen tailings dam and mine would be just 150 feet from the Menominee River. Despite the fact that the Menominee River is an interstate waterway, the state of Michigan has assumed permitting authority because the proposed mine is located in Stephenson, Michigan. The Wisconsin DNR, under former Gov. Scott Walker, allowed Michigan to assume exclusive jurisdiction over the permitting process. Employers of all sizes in Lancaster County share a big problem -- they cant fill their job openings. The pandemic is keeping thousands of potential workers here on the sidelines, for various reasons, stifling the efforts of many businesses to grow, according to local executives and community leaders. With the demand for help exceeding the supply, many employers are competing for new hires by raising their minimum pay for entry level jobs as high as $15 an hour. Theyre also offering sign-on bonuses to new hires as well as bonuses to existing employees who recruit a new hire. The pandemic drove people out of the job market -- and for good reasons. The challenge is, now, how to bring them back. Increasing pay is one of the few motivators employers have available to them, said local economist Naomi Young, director of the Lancaster-based Center for Regional Analysis. The consequences are significant, said Young, who oversees the economic research center thats part of the Economic Development Company of Lancaster County, a nonprofit that helps local employers stay healthy and grow. The labor shortage presents headwinds to the pace of the countys economic recovery, she said. For many of the businesses that have been on hold through the pandemic, we are hearing that reopening and returning to full-scale operations critically hinges on being able to hire. As Lancaster Chamber President and CEO Tom Baldrige put it: It is not an understatement to say that the business community is going from one crisis - the pandemic to another, the workforce shortage. I am hearing story after story how the shortage of workers is limiting businesses opportunities to take on additional work, impacting their hours of operation and putting a burden on their existing workforce due to lack of extra help. Lancaster Countys labor market traditionally has been tight, as the countys unemployment rate has been among the two or three lowest in Pennsylvania for decades, state figures show. But the struggle to find new hires has worsened during the COVID-19 outbreak, even though there are about 5,400 more jobless countians now than before the pandemic, state figures show. Workforce experts cite several reasons for the situation. Sometimes idled workers can get more in jobless benefits than they earned on the job. During the pandemic, idled workers collecting jobless benefits werent required to search for work, but the Wolf administration announced Monday it will reinstate that requirement in July. Other times, its because the available jobs are a poor match for the skills of the idled worker, workforce experts said. Exacerbating the situation, another 9,900 countians have dropped out of the labor force during the pandemic, state data indicates. Often thats to stay home to care for children who are no longer at school or child care, or due to fears that their own health would be jeopardized by being in the workplace. Widespread impact The difficulty finding workers is most visible in the restaurant industry, because its led to delayed reopenings and reduced operating hours, as LNP | LancasterOnline has previously reported. But its pervasive in the local economy. We are hearing about wage-rate increases in many industries that are trying to hire individuals at the lower end of the wage scale and/or more entry level/low skill levels, said Lisa Riggs, president of the Economic Development Company. Industries affected include retail, health care, senior living, hospitality, manufacturing and construction, she said in an email. All have labor-force gaps where we are seeing wages that maybe two or three years ago were in the low teens ($11-$13 per hour) being bumped up to $15-$19/hour. When employers elevate their minimum pay, that generally triggers a ripple of pay raises for other jobs at the low-end of their wage scales, all of which supports not only efforts to attract new hires but to retain existing employees too. The state and national minimum wage has been $7.25 since 2009, though Gov. Tom Wolf has repeatedly called for gradually increasing until it reaches $15 in 2027, a message he and business owners repeated Wednesday during an event at Two Dudes Painting on Poplar Street held to promote the proposal. Higher and higher Consider the strategy of WellSpan Health, a York-based health system that has 4,200 employees in Lancaster County, a need to hire 243 more here and a goal of becoming the regions employer of choice. WellSpan Health, best known here as the owner and operator of WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital, said earlier this month it will bump its minimum pay to $15 effective July 4. The minimum has been $12.50 since July 2019. We have seen the competition in the local market for talent intensify over the last couple of years driven by a variety of factors. Most recently, this has come to include not as many people being part of the labor market amid the pandemic, said spokesman Ryan Coyle. Mennonite Home Communities, owner and operator of Woodcrest Villa and Mennonite Home, with 510 employees and a need to hire 38 more, came to the same conclusion. It raised its minimum pay to $15 from $10 effective May 10. As with other employers, elevating the minimum pay had a sizable ripple effect. Not only did the move benefit the 238 employees who were earning less than $15, Mennonite Home Communities also increased the pay of employees who were already at $15. For example, the starting rate for certified nursing assistants was lifted from $15 to $18. Finding and retaining employees for certain positions has been challenging because of the competitive job market in our area. It seems like there are more businesses looking to hire than there are people looking for work, said Kari Cassidy, director of human resources and risk management. Smaller employers are struggling with the same challenges. A case in point is Cabalar Meat Co., a family owned butcher shop and eatery in downtown Lancaster that last week grew to 12 employees. Co-owner Steve Cabalar said months of online help-wanted postings generated zero applicants. So on May 2, he announced a boost in the shops minimum pay to $15 from $12. Voila five applicants. Two of them started working there roughly two weeks ago. Definitely we want to be competitive but we also want to give our employees what they deserve, Cabalar said. Were a busy place. We work hard. One of the new hires, James Renz, 36, said the minimum pay boost was a key factor in his decision to take a job as a line cook there. Renz, whos worked in restaurant kitchens since he was a 13-year-old dishwasher, said he was anxious about his personal finances if he took a line cook job at the typical starting pay of $9 to $11. The ability to start at $15 and work up from there took a lot of stress away, he said. Wages werent the only factor, Renz said. He also was swayed by Cabalar Meats convenient location (a five-block walk from his home), the weekend hours (which fit into his schedule as a full-time student at YTIs Pennsylvania School of Culinary Arts) and its positive work environment. Its a great atmosphere, Renz said. Everybodys friendly and willing to help you out, instead of yelling at you and telling you what you did wrong. More upward pressure Local labor-market conditions arent the only source of pressure on minimum pay here. National and regional companies also are heating up pay rates here by implementing their company-wide increases at their locations in the county. For instance, Minneapolis-based Target, with three stores in Lancaster County, boosted its minimum pay to $15 an hour last July. It also gave all of its hourly workers at that time a $200 bonus. Prior to that, the minimum pay was $13 an hour. Seattle-based Amazon, which has one delivery station in Elizabethtown and a second slated for Mount Joy, bumped its minimum pay to $15 an hour in October 2018. Previously it ranged from $10 to $13.50 an hour, depending on the location. Sheetz, based in Altoona, boosted its minimum pay by $2 to $12.50 an hour and tacked on a temporary increase of $1 an hour more through Sept. 23, in hopes of enticing workers to stay through the summer, said Sheetz spokesman Nick Ruffner. Sheetz has 17 stores and 545 employees here. Heres a sampling of what other major employers here in a variety of industries are doing. For Lancaster General Health, the countys biggest employer, with more than 9,300 workers, raising its minimum pay to $15 an hour is a goal but not an imminent one. The countys largest health system last raised its minimum pay in July 2019, when it was boosted from $12 an hour to $13, said spokeswoman Melissa Esterly. LG Health has a long-term goal to reach a minimum wage of $15 an hour in the years ahead, as part of its commitment to ensure that all staff are rewarded equitably and competitively, she said. The health system has more than 470 job openings. The countys biggest bank, Fulton Bank, raised its minimum pay to $15 an hour from $12 in June, to stay competitive. The increase to $15 per hour did help to attract new employees more readily, but the labor market also has become more competitive especially as more business activity has started to resume in recent months, said spokesman Steve Trapnell. Lancaster-based Fulton, with more than 1,300 employees here, has 45 job openings. Willow Valley Living, which runs the countys biggest senior-living provider, Willow Valley Communities, declined to share its minimum pay. But its mindful of wage trends in the marketplace and reacting to them accordingly, said Scott Summy, chief human resources officer. Without sharing specifics, he said, Over the past several years, we have made, and will continue to make, market rate adjustments to the extent that we are able as the business environment changes. Thats especially important since many of its 1,400-plus employees hold jobs in the hospitality and nursing fields. These are currently two of the most challenging fields in which to find workers right now, he said. Another sizable employer here, Walmart, has a nationwide minimum of $11 an hour since February 2018, a company spokesman said. However, minimum pay can be higher in certain markets, the spokesman pointed out. He was unable to provide the minimum pay in effect at its three Lancaster County stores, which employ about 900 people. One of the countys largest general contractors, Benchmark Construction, this February increased its construction laborer rates by $2 an hour on average. A company spokeswoman declined to specify the wage. The company has nearly 200 employees; its looking to hire eight more. The Four Seasons Family of Companies, which consists of Four Seasons Produce and three other firms, this month enacted far-reaching pay hikes, as LNP | LancasterOnline reported Monday. The companies gave all of their front-line employees raises ranging from 50 cents an hour to $2, lifting the companies minimum pay to $13 an hour. They also changed the shift differential from 7% of an employees wage to a much more substantial $3 per hour. And they recently started paying $3,000 sign-on bonuses for new hires doing packing, order selection, facilities sanitation and driving trucks. In addition, Four Seasons launched a $30 million expansion that will position them to handle increasing volume and has the "side benefit" of bringing some of its shipping functions from evening and overnight shifts to day shift a shift that most workers prefer, strengthening Four Seasons recruiting and retention efforts. Woodstream, a maker of pest- and animal-control products, birdfeeders and electric fencing, last year raised its minimum pay to $15 an hour from $10 to $12, as LNP | LancasterOnline reported in April. The company has about 450 employees here; its looking to hire about 50 more. Oil of lavender, bitumen of Judea. And a pinhole in a pewter plate to do crudely the elegant work of the human eye. On a morning in 1826 or so, a Frenchman with a mechanical bent gathered them all, pointed the box out a window across roof-lines of a dull barnyard and invented photography. Photography, of all the arts, I respect and admire and dont pretend to understand. And Ive worked alongside photographers in newspapers for almost 40 years now. A photographers medium is light, light itself, that stuff Einstein told us was more real than time but which scientists grope to define. Im not even sure whether to call it a force or a wave or a particle. As a word-person, that feels like free-falling. When I was writing history columns for my last newspaper, a very old man told me about some forgotten cemeteries he knew in the woods above Avondale. A photographer and I drove down there one day and picked him up to go hunt them. His daughter was dubious that he knew any such thing, but it was a beautiful spring day. I drove the three of us around in the hills, talking about the old days. We never found any graves. But I remember the photographers fascination with the old mans clear eyes, the way they caught the reflected light in the car, and I watched her turn her camera irresistibly to him as subject. In the most factual of occupations, she was still, and always, an artist. And she had her eye open always for both the news and the art. Somewhere I still have a print of one of the shots of him she took. More than most artists, I think, photographers have that opportunistic eye. Theyre all journalists, in a sense, coldly waiting to pounce on the light when it turns magic. More so than painters or poets, they are bound by reality, but they compensate by an alertness to it that seems animal and aesthetic all at once. I have seen one watch a cloud cross a field for half an hour till it stood just so behind that tree. The Milky Way I unrealistically expect all photography to act responsibly around reality. It knows it can fool people. With such powers come responsibilities, no? And these day reality already has enough banana peels under its heels. Stargazing is an old hobby of mine, but I look at pictures of the night sky online and see digital photographs of something I have never seen and never will: The Milky Way in the night sky above a lit-up city. They are not fakes: That light is really there. The galaxy, with its channels of dust and stars too faint for mere eyes, looms over a grid of streetlights and office lights. You will never see that except in a photograph because your eye does not behave like the digital camera that took it. You cant set your aperture and fiddle with your ISO and shutter speed. Theres no Adobe in your head. Dark skies in our times require patience. You have to get away from light long enough for your eyes to fully open. Rest indoors in darkness for 20 minutes or so, then step out under a clear night sky in a lightless landscape. The heavens all but sing Gloria to you. Many people now living never have seen it. That sight and the wonder of it are perhaps the starting spot of all human speculation since our ancestors left the trees for the wide Serengeti. Arrange that scene for a modern teenager? Is that all? It looks better on the internet. Can I have my phone now? Writers chase words, photographers chase light. That unity in light is why photography is one art, from the 1826 barnyard bitumen shot (if there were geese or pigs in it, they erased themselves in moving back and forth during the hours of exposure), to the digital display of the galaxy spanned over us. The artist gathers the light, mechanically or digitally. Already reality is cropped and dodged; the photographer has chosen this hour, this spot, this angle and frame of the lens. Then the photographer alters, more or less, the gathered light and makes it art. It ceased to be real before the lens clicked. Unscripted is a weekly entertainment column produced by a rotating team of writers. This story contains links that will take you to our archives site on newspapers.com. This content is free for LancasterOnline subscribers who are logged in. Click here for more information about how to subscribe. Excerpts and summaries of news stories from the former Intelligencer Journal, Lancaster New Era and Sunday News that focus on the events in the countys past that are noteworthy, newsworthy or just strange. School board meetings might have a reputation for being poorly attended and less than exciting. Unless, of course, something controversial is being discussed. But what happens if a contentious agenda item draws a big crowd to a public meeting - and then the school board doesn't show up? That's what happened in May 1996, when the School District of Lancaster was embroiled in budget woes and was eyeing a hefty tax increase. More than 50 people turned out to publicly comment on the budget, but were stymied when only two of the nine members of the school board showed up for the meeting. (To be fair, four of the seven missing members did eventually turn up - but they arrived late enough that board president Carl Pike had already canceled and rescheduled the meeting.) According to the New Era, the city residents who came to the meeting were displeased, and some speculated that the board's actions were a deliberate plot to avoid public accountability. However, the New Era tracked down all but one of the late and missing officials the next morning, and found that they all had work or personal conflicts. All were apologetic and assured readers that there was no effort on the part of the board to avoid the public. In the headlines: Heidi Fleiss wins new trial Surcharges have ATM users fighting back 'Twister,' 'Mission Impossible' lift summer movie season to fast start Check out the May 30, 1996, Lancaster New Era here. The May 30, 1971, edition of the Sunday News featured a story about a local couple who had big plans to travel in a big vehicle. Bob and Winnie Wagner were Lancaster County residents who were bitten by the travel bug in the 1940s, and saw as much of the world as they could in the decades thereafter. They camped in a pup tent in Mexico, turned Europe in a VW camper van, and drove to all 48 contiguous states in the U.S.A. - as well as Alaska and the Panama Canal Zone. And as the 1970s began, they decided to custom-build a massive mobile home from a used tour bus. Bob Wagner found the 39-seater, 36-foot-long bus for sale for $12,000 and jumped at the chance. Built in 1960, the bus had 390,000 miles on it - but was built to last for more than 2 million. Avid DIY-ers, the Wagners were prepared to spend $8,000 more to buy equipment and materials, undertaking the labor themselves. After removing all the passenger seats, the Wagners' work included adding wall-to-wall carpets, wall paneling, beds to sleep six, a full kitchen, a stereo, television and plenty of seating, including a couch and swivel chairs. Beneath the floor, Bob Wagner installed a full water and sewer system, as well as a generator. The Wagners had already tried out the "Knotabus," as they dubbed the beast, on a trip to Maine and were ready to undertake a longer journey next - to Denver, Colorado. In the headlines: Calif. mass murder toll climbs to 23 Crashes, injuries mar Indy 500 GIs facing addiction screening Check out the May 30, 1971, Sunday News here. Lancaster County communities along the Susquehanna River were breathing a sigh of relief on May 30, 1946, as the flooded river was starting to recede. The river had wreaked havoc on communities further upstream, including Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport and Sunbury. And while disaster relief facilities were on full alert for similar destruction here, the county was spared - aside from some minor property damage to homes and building close to the river in Columbia and Marietta. Thousands of people flocked to the river towns to see the flood waters rising. Police and other emergency personnel had to manage the crowds of onlookers while still keeping an eye on the river. The river crested about 10 p.m. on May 29, after which the water gradually receded. In the headlines: U.S., miners sign pact; strike ends Truman pledges fight for 'right of individual' 12 dead as flood waters sweep to Chesapeake Bay Check out the May 30, 1946, Intelligencer Journal here. Nearly 20 years since American military aircraft launched attacks and the first groups of CIA and Special Forces personnel entered Afghanistan, the countrys longest war is drawing to a close. The Pentagon is following orders to withdraw the remaining 2,500 to 3,500 U.S troops by Sept. 11 the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. On May 25, top military leaders revealed that the entire NATO military force in Afghanistan, including American forces, should be out of the country by mid-July. Five men who called Lancaster County their home, at least for a time, gave their lives in military service in Afghanistan. They are among the more than 2,440 U.S. troops killed there. Others from here were injured during Operations Enduring Freedom (2001-2014) or Freedoms Sentinel (2014-present), joining the ranks of more than 20,500 troops injured in the impoverished and war-torn country thats been the site of fighting, in some form or other, since the Soviet Union invaded in 1979. LNP | LancasterOnline asked the families of two county residents who died there, one former resident, as well as veterans who served in Afghanistan, for their thoughts on the pending withdrawal. If a theme emerges from their responses, it is one of mixed feelings, but also a consensus that yes, after 20 years, it is time to end U.S. military involvement. Worries of terrorism Terry Styer, of East Lampeter, whose son, Army Pfc. Brandon M. Styer, 19, was killed there on Oct. 15, 2009, said hes not exactly sure what to make of the withdrawal. I agree with the pullback, but you cant just walk away from it, he said in a recent interview. A lot of lives were lost in it. They died there to keep us safe here because that evidently is a hub of terrorism. Youre trying to stabilize a country that actually, I feel, doesnt want to be stabilized. He said he is worried that without some sort of U.S. presence, terrorism could surge. Denise Torbert, of Millersville, whose son, Marine Cpl. Eric M. Torbert Jr., 25, was killed Dec. 18, 2010, also worried that terrorism could increase. Im afraid if we pull out and we (have to) go back in, well have another 2010. I dont want to say massacre, but thats basically what it was; 2010 was the worst year for losing our military, she said. That year, 496 troops were killed, the deadliest year of combat for the U.S forces in Afghanistan. On the withdrawal Mikki said she is happy the United States is withdrawing troops. It has lasted so long and you start to wonder, Why is it lasting that long? She has friends in the military who were deployed in Afghanistan and will be returning, she said. It needs to end. It needed to end before, she said. She worries about the possibility of terrorists taking over former U.S. installations. She also thinks about the cost of the war in human terms. The men who were with her husband when he died will live with that forever, she said. Sometimes I wonder if he thinks it would be worth it, she said, before stopping herself to explain. Worth it isnt the right word. I mean, he wanted to do that. He had fun. He loved it. But he has a 10 year old. On a broader level, she said, I will always worry about deployed troops because I dont want other families to look like mine. Veterans' thoughts Veterans who served there said they believe its time to bring the troops home. We originally went over to seek revenge for the attacks of 9/11. You cant say we didnt put the time in. Weve been there 20 years, said Joey Lombardo, 32, of Brecknock Township. He served two tours there as a Marine tank gunner. Were always going to have the threats of the Taliban. But we have bigger threats to put our resources to, such as China, he said. I just dont know when you call it over. When we were over there, we would clear an area, leave, and the Taliban would just take it over. So, what did we accomplish there? Little progress Luke Thorsen, 32, of West Lampeter Township, who served in the Army infantry, called the withdrawal bittersweet. I saw a lot of fighting, a lot of people killed and injured. But (the area) fell back into Taliban hands. Its like all of that work we put into it, it was for nothing, he said. But, also, he said its good that the fighting is coming to an end for Americans. David E. Wood, 57, of Manheim Township, retired in March as brigadier general of the Pennsylvania National Guard and is now an adviser at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He spent 18 months in Afghanistan in 2003, flying and overseeing aviation combat missions. It is probably time for us to come home. However, the United States being the beacon of freedom that I truly believe we are, having some troops (positioned nearby) is maybe not a bad idea to do, he said. Obviously, I dont want to put men and women in harms way. The reason you have troops in a foreign country is not to occupy them, but is to protect the freedoms we have in our country and try to spread our freedoms to the rest of the world. Leave something stable Evan Johns, 44, of Lancaster, was awarded the Purple Heart after he was injured when a roadside bomb exploded his mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle. I would probably say that if were not going to commit to dedicate the amount of troops that we need because weve always been short on troops ... we need to figure out how to leave something stable when we leave. We dont want to create another power vacuum when we leave. We dont want to create another ISIS-situation by us not being there anymore. Im not sure how we do that, but hopefully better minds than mine are on that. Earnest Jones, 44, of Lancaster Township, was an Army mortuary affairs specialist. He said it is definitely past time to bring the last troops home. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2001. He recounted an experience that summed up his feelings on the matter. One day, Jones said, an older civilian approached him near a market and began yelling. He berated me for when the Russians invaded them and where was America to help them, he said. The man told him the Russians didnt win and were not going to win and we just need to leave their country. And I agreed with him, he said. These people over there they have their way of life and they have a way of doing things and their own type of justice, and we try as Americans to look at it with our eyes, which is not their vision. We have to let them figure it out there, he said. We went over there because of 9/11, but we ended up fighting the whole country. And the whole country wasnt terrorists but our presence gave other people, other groups, reasons to fight the Americans. An East Petersburg intersection where a brother and sister were killed in a fiery crash last week has been a hazardous problem for years, according to a nearby resident. Jim Arnold, who has lived at the southwest corner of Graystone Road and Main Street (Route 72) for the past 33 years, said Saturday hes never seen a crash like the one that killed Brandie Kasper, 21, and her brother Lenny Kasper, 18, both of Mount Joy, on May 22. Its always been dangerous, Arnold said of the intersection where he and his wife have lived since 1988. I hope PennDOT and the borough are cognizant of the problems that are here and that they do something about it. Though the Kaspers are the only fatalities Arnold can recall, he said hes seen countless collisions at the intersection over the decades, including several that have damaged his home and lawn. On one occasion, two vehicles collided into one another, causing a van to careen off the road and onto Arnolds yard, striking the corner of his garage, he said. The sign on the back (of the van) said, Hows my driving? said Arnold, 81. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportations Crash Information Tool shows there have been 62 crashes at or near the intersection between 2001 and 2020 a rate of more than three per year during that period. All five crashes at the intersection between 2016 and 2020 were angle crashes, which PennDOT defines as a crash in which two vehicles on opposite roadways collide at a point of junction, such as an intersection, according to a five-year crash report. Four of those crashes resulted in at least seven injuries, though no fatalities were listed. Arnold agreed with comments the Kaspers father, Len Kasper, made to LNP | LancasterOnline last week when he said the traffic light at the intersection didnt have a long enough delay before changing colors. The yellow caution light is too quick, Arnold said. Northern Lancaster County Regional police, who are investigating the crash, have not stated who or what may have caused the collision, though the Kaspers father said the lack of a 3-second delay before the signal for north and southbound traffic switched over for east and westbound traffic was at least partially to blame. Other hazards perceived Arnold said the intersection has other issues as well. Located on a path that leads from other municipalities like Manheim, Cornwall and Lebanon, Arnold said the junction serves as a magnet for speeders and large commercial vehicles making their way south to Lancaster city. Arnold said he can count more than two dozen car carriers, dump trucks and other large vehicles on Route 72 pass the junction every half hour. Arnold said the drop from 45 mph to 25 mph for southbound traffic along Route 72 comes too quickly, and large vehicles like tractor-trailers or the car carrier that collided with the Kaspers vehicle are often unable to stop in time. What happens is the green light turns to red so fast that by the time they stop theyre almost through the intersection, he said. Some large vehicles simply blow their horns as they pass through the red light, unable to safely stop on time, Arnold said. When were sleeping at night well hear them blowing horns, he said. Arnold also said that a home in the northeast corner of the intersection produces a blind spot for westbound traffic along Graystone Road the same direction the Kasper siblings where heading. The longtime resident suggested that the intersections yellow light be extended, as well as adding a longer delay before the signal changes. He also suggested installing a blinking caution light for southbound traffic along Route 72 to remind motorists to slow down. Requests for comment from Northern Lancaster County Regional police and East Petersburg Borough, which maintains the traffic light, were not immediately returned. The Kasper siblings were headed west along Graystone Road at around 9 p.m. May 22 when they were struck by a car-hauling tractor-trailer headed south on Route 72. We heard a real thunder and banging from the accident, Arnold said. The crash caused the Kaspers vehicle to ignite, killing them both. We saw a ball of fire through our blinds, Arnold said. The explosion was large enough to singe grass, trees and other foliage on Arnolds property, as well as melt his address post. The Kasper family will hold a private funeral service for the siblings next week. Terry Styer figures his son Brandons desire to join the U.S. Army stemmed from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He knows it sounds cliche: Many people who joined the service in the last two decades probably said that. Brandon was just 10 years old when the attacks happened. But a member of Terrys extended family, a New York City firefighter, was killed when one of the World Trade Center towers collapsed. The Styers attended his funeral, and it affected Brandon, Terry recalled. He kind of perked up and listened to it. It gave him more of a push. And (his senior year) he said, I just want to serve. I just want to go in the Army. I just want to go. And once he made up his mind, hey, go for it. So it wasnt really a surprise when, just before Brandon graduated Conestoga Valley High School in 2008, he enlisted. Brandon was 18. A man, but also, still a boy. So he didnt exactly have the guts to tell his father that an Army recruiter would be visiting their home. He did eventually. When the doorbell rang. That September, the handsome, dark-haired young man who liked Taylor Swift and tinkering with cars set out for basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. When he completed basic, his family had a surprise for him. Terry had spotted a metallic blue 2006 Mazda RX8 at a dealer near the Manheim auto auction. It was just the kind of car Brandon had been after, Terry said during a recent interview as he drove his sons car to the PFC Brandon M. Styer memorial bridge on Route 896 near the Good N Plenty restaurant where Brandon worked in school. The car was in the garage when Brandon got home in December after basic training. Brandon got a loan and took over the car. When he deployed overseas, he began to buy parts to modify it with tax-free Uncle Sam money, as he called his earnings. A fairing. A $1,400 set of iridescent wheels from Miami. A carbon fiber hood. Terry would get a call from Iraq, where Brandon was first deployed in March of 2009. Fed-Ex package coming, his son would say. Two days. Whatever parts arrived, Terry would install them, sometimes with Brandons high school buddies. Working on the Mazda was something Brandon, or B-Sty, as he was known by friends and fellow soldiers, and Terry could do together, even if they were half a world away. And it helped pass the time in Iraq, where Brandon told his dad in a call that he was bored. In one call, he told his father it had been eight or nine days since his unit had even been shot at. Brandon might have wanted excitement, but his family was glad: Boring was also safe. But as the fighting wound down in Iraq, it was heating up in Afghanistan, and thats where Brandons unit, the 4th Engineer Battalion, 569th Company, 3rd Platoon, was deployed to, starting in spring of 2009. Deployment to Afghanistan One day soon after Styers arrival in Afghanistan, his staff sergeant, Glen Stivison Jr., asked if anyone had a license because he needed a driver for the mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle assigned to the unit. Known as an MRAP, it was designed to withstand improvised explosive devices basically, roadside bombs. Styer spoke up. But he didnt know Stivison meant a military drivers license, not a civilian license. Brandon was made to do push ups for volunteering for a job he wasnt qualified for. It was all in good nature, and a quick promotion from private to private first class was arranged so Brandon could get his military license. Styers job was to drive ahead of other vehicles and search for bombs. Rollers that could be attached to the reinforced vehicles front or side would detonate the roadside bombs. Sometimes, Styer set up his computer in the vehicle and video chat with his dad, who then got to know some of the other guys serving with his son. Terry said he could tell his son loved what he was doing, and so did the others, even though Styer and his comrades were doing dangerous work. They actually came under fire just about every time out. They were route clearance, so they were the first out. If (insurgents) had set up bombs, they were to find them, Terry said. And they came under mortar fire a lot, Brandon told his father. On one mission, a guy jumped out from between two women and fired a rocket, hitting a wall just behind their vehicle and showering it with debris. One of the guys in the truck yelled, We just washed this (expletive) truck! Terry said, recounting that video call. That was their mentality. Terry recalled his son telling him once, If youve never eaten adrenaline at 4 a.m. in the morning, youre really not living. Styer was also a ham. Being Stivisons driver meant he had to stick with him basically all the time. And that meant he got to sleep inside Stivisons air-conditioned hut. One day, in the sweltering heat, Styer popped out of the tent and, seeing his fellow soldiers sweltering in the heat, teasingly rubbed his arms as if to warm himself up. He thought Stivison was asleep. He wasnt. Stivison kicked Styer out for the night to sleep with the other soldiers in the unairconditioned barracks. He goofed it up by acting like a clown, Terry said. There was the ugly side of war, too. They saw some nasty stuff, Terry said. Brandon, he called bawling one night. They had a kid who was hit by an RPG (rocket propelled grenade) from behind and the boy's body hit the truck. Insurgents had been using the child to get a sight on the truck. Styer told his father insurgents would hide among women and children for protection as they shot at the Americans. But there was no way hed kill a kid, Brandon told his father. Leave: Driving his car, a trip to Florida with dad In September 2009, Styer came home on leave. His face had shed its youthful softness. And he was jacked, the result of passing time on deployment by lifting weights. He weighed about 150 pounds and could bench press 275. He visited family and friends. In about a week, he put 2,200 miles on his RX8. One morning he called home to say he had gone with friends to breakfast in Nyack, a bit north of New York City. Terry and his son had plans to drive to Florida for a few days, but the cars spark plugs were fouled, so they flew. There, Brandons bench pressing ability earned him free beers on his fathers friends tab out at a bar. He had also begun to think of a career in the military, Terry said. It was a good visit. It was also the last time his family would see him alive. Brandon Styer returned to Afghanistan on Oct. 1. Two weeks later, he was killed. He was 19. Lives cut short by roadside bomb On Oct. 15, Styer was driving the mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle near Kandahar. It was his teams second mission that day, dispatched to help another unit that was under enemy fire. Styers vehicle had just crossed a bridge when a 1,600-pound roadside bomb was remotely detonated, blowing the vehicle in half and leaving a 25-foot deep crater. All four soldiers in the vehicle were killed: Styer, along with Stivison, 34, of Blairsville, Indiana County; Specialist Daniel Lawson, 33, of Florida; and Specialist Jesus Flores, 28, of California. Terry said his wife, Diane, got the news first. She called Terry at work and told him he had to get home immediately but didnt say why. Terry thought maybe their cat died. He parked in the driveway and came into the house through the back door, into the kitchen. Looking into the front room, he could see the boots and uniform pants of the Army casualty assistance officer. It was the worst day of Terrys life. There would be many bad days to follow, which spilled into months. I was in a dark place for a time, Terry said. Eventually, Terry sought counseling and continued with it for five years. Probably saved his life, he admitted. But he cant speak highly enough of how the Army and Veterans Administration, and others, treated the family. Police officers from Lancaster County escorted the Styers to and from Dover, Delaware, so they could bring Brandons body home. That his son died doing what he loved brings some comfort, Terry said. He was bubbly. Would do anything for anyone. He helped everybody. He was good to everybody. He was a kind guy. But a tough-ass. He just loved life. He was happy with it. He loved what he was doing in the Army, when youd see him talking about it you could hear it in his voice, just the way he told a story. Columbia Borough police VANDALISM COLUMBIA: An unknown person drew graffiti on a shed in the 100 block of Commerce Street sometime before 11:19 a.m. on May 19, police said. Manheim Township police BURGLARY MANHEIM TWP.: An unknown burglar smashed an exterior window at Stauffers of Kissel Hill at 1850 Oregon Pike and entered the abandoned business, discharging fire extinguishers inside and causing $800 in damage at 2:07 p.m. on May 26, police said. CRIMINAL MISCHIEF MANHEIM TWP.: Elijah Haaji Matthews, 26, of Lancaster, was charged with theft and criminal mischief after he was seen pouring bleach onto $600 worth of clothes that did not belong to him in the 800 block of Pleasure Road at 1:45 p.m. on May 2, police said. Matthews also stole a $250 Apple iWatch, police said. DISORDERLY CONDUCT LANCASTER TWP.: Kienna N. Wright, 49, of Lancaster, was charged with disorderly conduct after he was seen enticing an employee at a Burger King at 1298 Millersville Pike to engage in a physical fight, alarming others in the area, at 1:55 p.m. on May 15, police said. DUI LANCASTER TWP.: Elizabeth D. Ubiles-Hernandez, 29, of Lancaster, was charged with driving under the influence after crashing her vehicle in the 100 block of Jennings Drive at 4:41 p.m. on April 27, police said. Ubiles-Hernandez had a BAC of 0.108%, police said. FRAUD MANHEIM TWP.: Mercedez Sarah Davido, 24, of Lancaster, was charged with access device fraud after fraudulently using another persons credit card to make eight purchases totaling $646.46 in the 1500 block of Fruitville Pike between Dec. 29, 2020 and Jan. 7, police said. HARASSMENT LANCASTER TWP.: Maria C. Maldanado, 20, of Lancaster, was charged with harassment after biting another person on the arm during a fight in the 900 block of Clark Street at 8:25 p.m. on May 25, police said. STRANGULATION MANHEIM TWP.: Kelsi J. Raymond, 22, of Columbia, was charged with strangulation, false imprisonment and harassment after refusing to let a person leave a room during a domestic dispute in the 1300 block of Harrisburg Pike at 12:45 a.m. on May 15, police said. Raymond continually put her hand over the persons mouth to prevent their calls from help from being heard, and also squeezed the person by their throat for about two minutes to the point where they could not breathe, police said. THEFT MANHEIM TWP.: Lisa M. Loop, 54, of Lititz, was charged with retail theft after she was seen stealing $276.58 of merchandise from a Giant Food Store at 1605 Lititz Pike at 10:10 p.m. on May 12, police said. MANHEIM TWP.: A 16-year-old juvenile, of Lancaster, was charged with theft from a motor vehicle after they were seen breaking into vehicles and attempting to steal property inside in the 900 block of Cameron Avenue at 12:14 p.m. on May 19, police said. MANHEIM TWP.: An unknown thief entered an unlocked vehicle in the 100 block of Kings Gate Drive and took $285 worth of items including sunglasses, an AirPods case and $50 in cash sometime during the night of May 23-24, police said. TRESPASS LANCASTER TWP.: Charles Elmer Henry Jr., 64, of Willow Street, was charged with criminal trespass and criminal mischief after kicking in a door, damaging it, and forcing his way inside a residence in the 1600 block of Chadwick Circle at 3:53 p.m. on May 20, police said. Henry had been in an argument with another person, who then retreated inside the residence and locked the door, police said. Henry refused to leave the residence when he was ordered to do so, police said. Manor Township police ASSAULT MANOR TWP.: Randall Eugene Kreiser, 28, of Millersville, was charged with simple assault and harassment after punching a woman in the face, causing her to bleed from her nose, during a domestic assault in the 300 block of Knollwood Road at around 8:30 p.m. on May 22, police said. Kreiser fled the scene but was found by Manheim Borough police within an hour, police said. MANOR TWP.: Antonio Rodolfo Morales, 23, of Lancaster, was charged with simple assault and harassment after striking a man in the face, causing scrapes, bruises and swelling, during a domestic assault in the 2000 block of Stone Mill Road at 10:40 p.m. on May 22, police said. DUI MANOR TWP.: Andrew Kraft, 28, of Stewartstown, was charged with driving under the influence, resisting arrest and two traffic violations after crashing his vehicle in the 1800 block of Columbia Avenue at 11:10 p.m. on May 9, police said. Kraft, who refused to take field sobriety tests and refused to submit to a breath test, was removed from his vehicle by force after he refused multiple requests to get out of his car, police said. SHENYANG, May 29 (Xinhua) -- All 413 members of the eighth Chinese peacekeeping force to Mali have been awarded the United Nations Peace Medal of Honor, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to peacekeeping operations. Since its deployment in July 2020, the Chinese peacekeeping force has successfully accomplished a series of missions assigned by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, including armed patrols, constructions and medical support. The eighth Chinese peacekeeping force to Mali consists of a guard detachment, an engineer detachment and a medical detachment. The medal award ceremony was held at the camps of the three detachments separately due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. South Coatesville Borough Council received an unexpected visitor during its May 25 public meeting held on Zooms videoconferencing service. Former council President Sylvia Washington was addressing borough officials on stormwater drainage on Ash Street when the meeting was Zoombombed by a hacker named Harrison Berger. The hacker yelled racial slurs against African Americans and Jewish people, plus homophobic language. South Coatesville has a high African American population including four council members and Mayor John Long Jr. Officials were startled but kept business moving forward in a professional manner. Zoombombs have become prevalent with the rise of virtual meetings during the coronavirus pandemic. Internet hackers have hijacked teleconference calls with cruel language or inappropriate imagery. Earlier this month, a town council meeting in Massachusetts adjourned early after lewd imagery appeared. The FBI does list the offense as a federal crime, but offenders have been difficult to track down. The hacker was removed from the Zoom call. During the meeting, Borough Manager Allen Smith introduced a proposal for parking permits in South Coatesville. Borough residents would pay an annual fee of $100. The parking permit would be registered to one vehicle and any changes must be reported to Borough Hall within 30 days. Residents are allowed two permits per household. Permits are to be used solely for the vehicle on record with the borough. Any vehicle without a permit will be towed. All borough parking lots would have numbered stalls. For example, stall number one would only be in parking lot A. Parking lot A will have stall numbers one through 15, Parking lot B would have 16 through 30. Appropriate signage would be placed at each parking lot. The South Coatesville Police Department would have access to the online database of permit details, including expiration dates. Permit holders receive a placard that must be displayed on the dashboard. Stolen or lost placards must be reported to the borough immediately by the holder. Council member Renee Carey supported the proposal but suggested adding how visitor parking would be handled. Smith responded, visitors would have to find parking on side streets. Vice President Kenneth Bond then motioned to table the proposal until we resolve it with more thorough thought. Smith said, The purpose of this is to get the conversation moving, we do need a short-term solution. Earlier this month, we laid to rest the cremated remains of Dales mother Marian in the niche wall for urns at Arlington National Cemetery, just outside of Washington, D.C. We were fortunate that her ceremony was scheduled after the family was vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. We were able to gather together to honor and celebrate her life and to inurn her ashes alongside those of her husband, Army Air Corps Master Sgt. George Hamby. As a military spouse and mother, she had served our nation on the home front. Though we gathered to celebrate Marian, the place and time so close to Memorial Day made it impossible not to think of the hundreds of thousands in our countrys history who donned the cloth of the nation and committed themselves to its service. Many of them gave the ultimate sacrifice and died for our country in battle or as a result of their combat injuries, both physical and psychological. Others returned home relatively unscathed, but no less deserving of our respect and honor. The sheer vastness of Arlington, the final resting place for so many of our nations veterans, is awe-inspiring. Looking across thousands of white marble gravestones brings home the truth that we, as a nation, owe enormous gratitude to these heroes and their families. Each gravesite was earned through the personal valor and dedication of a soldier, sailor, airman, Marine or Coast Guardsman. Its hard to fathom the personal sacrifice when faced by the seemingly endless rows of graves. By putting a more personal face on that service, we make better sense of what these individuals did for us. We found ourselves recounting stories about comrades who have died. And we spoke of our fathers, who were very much present in our hearts and minds as we took pause to reflect on the sacrifice of those who have served and are no longer with us. Each was a person of unique courage and conviction. Yet, in so many ways, their stories were the stories of so many others who served without great fanfare, but with an abiding belief in our nation and its people. Master Sgt. George Hamby, Dales father, served in World War II as a crew chief on B-17 bombers. He cared for his troops and shepherded them through the horrors of war. He survived several crashes only to face the wretched job of identifying casualties when other aircraft crashed. These were friends, comrades, men with families. Georges service was both to his nation and to his fellow soldiers and their families. He came home to Marian bearing scars that affected him for years to come, but secure in the knowledge that he had done his duty. He went on to instill that sense of duty in his children and took great pride that sons Dale and James took the same oath that he had taken to defend our Constitution and our nation. Jans stepfather, Army Cpl. Gilbert Gib Myers, served in World War II as a combat engineer. His unit deployed with Operation Overlord to strike against the Axis powers on D-Day in June 1944. They were to land at Utah Beach, but due to the fog of war, they instead went ashore at Pointe du Hoc on Omaha Beach in the thick of some of the worst German resistance. Gib was one of only eight members of his company to survive the day. Later, during the Battle of the Bulge, he was seriously wounded and returned stateside. He did not like to speak of his Army service, but he did speak of duty and sacrifice and the obligation of all citizens to honor the men and women who serve their nation. When Jan deployed to Iraq, knowing he was in the terminal stages of cancer, he told her that when he died, he did not want her to come home for his funeral that she should stay and do her duty, too. We are fortunate that both our fathers returned from World War II. They suffered wounds, physical and mental, but unlike many of their comrades, they did return. The unfortunate truth is that war kills and wounds. That is the cost of war, but it is a price worth paying to preserve the ideals of justice and democracy. On this Memorial Day weekend, do not forget that your ability to pursue your own prosperity came at a cost, and at the great personal expense of others who paid the price for you. Honor those men and women in small repayment of the debt we owe. Retired Navy Rear Adm. Jan Hamby and retired Army Maj. Dale Hamby reside in East Drumore Township. How many times have you struggled to read a cursive letter or historical document for a class? Older generations probably have no clue what Im talking about, but younger millennials and those in Generation Z probably know exactly what I mean. Why do we struggle to read some original historical texts? Because most public schools no longer require cursive to be taught in elementary schools. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, both Pennsylvania and New Jersey removed the cursive mandate from their elementary curricula in 2010. As a result, too many school districts are no longer teaching students to read or write cursive. My main concern is this: Why has cursive been removed from elementary curricula? Knowing how to read and write cursive is a vital part of being able to function in society, even in 2021. Cursive also has many benefits. According to the Inquirer, Cursive develops fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination ... by stimulating brain activity, increasing writing speed, and improving retention and self-discipline. Some people might argue that cursive is a waste of time or that its old-fashioned and outdated especially while there are other pressing matters to be taught in the classroom. One such critic is Noelle Mapes, a third grade teacher at a public school on the lower east side of Manhattan, who told The New York Times, Im a millennial teacher, so it almost feels like a boomer effect. Heather Sox, a fifth grade teacher in Greenville, South Carolina, told the Times that she had to work hard to find time during the week to teach cursive a few years ago when a mandate was put into place. However, to my understanding, it is a teachers job to arrange their lessons in such a way that they can cover everything thats required in the curriculum. Therefore, whose fault is it that Sox had to find time? Is the mandate at fault, or is the teacher at fault for not appropriately managing her instructional time in the classroom? Think about it: These teachers probably know cursive because it was offered to them as a part of their education. So, why would they want to deprive their own students of learning an essential life skill? One of the simplest benefits of knowing cursive is that it allows us to sign our names in cursive correctly, which, believe it or not, many of us do not know how to do. Handwriting expert Steve Graham, an education professor at Arizona State University, pointed out to the Inquirer that some states where cursive is mandated require just 45 minutes of instruction per week. But, honestly, what difference does 45 minutes make? In my view, that doesnt do anyone much good. Additionally, for those who argue that students do not need to develop skills regarding cursive instruction because we live in such a technologically advanced world, isnt it also a major issue that we as a society spend too much time on technology, anyway? Maybe learning cursive can offer kids some much-needed down time from the devices that consume the majority of our school days. There are many education experts who believe that students need to engage with real texts and items to manipulate. We need to be writing with our hands, not just mindlessly clicking keystrokes on a computer. So, whats the big deal here? It should be every teacher and administrators goal to equip their students with valuable skills that will benefit them in school and in life regardless of the hassle, headache or time commitment needed to get there. Even if some educators do not think that cursive is particularly necessary or applicable anymore, then maybe they can just think of it as equipping their kids with another life skill that modern students can carry in their educational toolbox. Syanna Duval is in 10th grade at Garden Spot High School. THE ISSUE As LNP | LancasterOnlines Nicole C. Brambila reported last week, Lancaster Countys two Republican commissioners waded into personnel issues outside their purview during Wednesdays public meeting, taking Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health to task for its new employee COVID-19 vaccine policy. Hospital employees and clinical staff must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Sept. 1, and starting July 1 new hires will be required to provide verification of or complete vaccination two weeks prior to their start date. Employees can seek an exemption for religious or medical reasons in much the same way they currently do for the influenza vaccine, which is already required. LG Health CEO John Herman notified employees of the COVID-19 vaccination requirement on May 19. Lets get this straight. The Republican county commissioners who say they are opposed to big government, and therefore arent convinced that Lancaster County needs a public health department, last week essentially told a top official of this countys largest hospital how to do his job. According to Brambilas reporting, Commissioners Josh Parsons and Ray DAgostino directed their displeasure with Lancaster General Healths COVID-19 vaccination policy at Dr. Michael Ripchinski, the health systems chief clinical officer. This is the same health system, remember, that has been heroically battling the COVID-19 pandemic for more than a year. As Ripchinski wrote in a column in last Sundays Perspective section, Lancaster General Hospital admitted its 3,000th COVID-19 patient earlier this month. When a person with COVID-19 is sick enough to be hospitalized, its likely he or she will require physically exhausting and emotionally draining care from the hospitals doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and other staff members. Now multiply that effort by more than 3,000. Consider, too, that of those more than 3,000 COVID-19 patients, hospital officials say that 356 ranging in ages from 30 to 100 have died at LGH, despite the valiant efforts of the hospitals staff members to save them. And consider the distinct possibility that Parsons and DAgostino safely ensconced in their offices at the Lancaster County Government Center may not be the best people to challenge a hospitals policy on staff vaccination. Or to be involved in any way in health policy and administration. This is yet another reason that this county needs a public health department staffed by actual public health experts. Politicians who are guided by ideology rather than science simply should not be making public health decisions. The smartest ones know this and delegate such decision-making to physicians and other people trained in medicine and health. The values debate Parsons took to his Facebook page Thursday to complain about Brambilas reporting, because not only is he an ideologue, but hes a thin-skinned ideologue. He asserted that it was indeed the purview of the commissioners to address constituent complaints. He claimed he has had outreach from a number of LGH employees about the decision to require all employees to get this vaccine. And he wrote this: Regardless of what each of us think about their choices, to force them to do so, or to fire them for not doing so, would be wrong and not in accordance with Lancaster County values. To what Lancaster County values was he referring? The value we place on getting skilled medical care from professionals we can trust not to infect us with a lethal virus? The value we place on personal responsibility and pragmatism, which means accepting that an employer may require us to take a drug test before bringing us onboard or, if we work in health care, to get vaccinated so we dont sicken others or get sickened by ailing patients? And who are these unnamed LGH employees? Are they the same unnamed doctors who, according to a Facebook post from the Lancaster County chapter of FreePA, are in this fight against LGHs vaccination requirement, too? Wed like to know who these doctors are, so we dont end up in their offices when we need medical care. FreePA is a group of so-called patriots who have opposed the so-called tyranny of mask-wearing and other COVID-19 mitigation measures. On the Lancaster chapters webpage, theres a photo of Parsons flashing the thumbs-up sign as hes flanked by women wearing black T-shirts emblazoned with the red, white and blue FreePA logo. The image doesnt exactly inspire confidence in Parsons ability to make clear-eyed decisions in the interests of public health. It mostly conveys Parsons eagerness to win the favor of extremist conservatives who reject health guidelines. In our experience, Lancaster County values tend more toward common sense, moderation, responsibility and caring. Getting vaccinated to protect oneself and others seems to us to be in line with those values. Safety is the priority In his first interview with LNP | LancasterOnline last Monday, LG Health CEO Herman told Brambila that the health system is still working out what to do with employees who fail to get an exemption and refuse to be vaccinated. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, federal laws do not prevent an employer from requiring all employees physically entering the workplace to be vaccinated for COVID-19. That federal agency says that employees who do not get vaccinated because of a disability or a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation that does not pose an undue hardship on the operation of the employers business. Roughly two-thirds of its employees have received the COVID-19 vaccine, according to LG Health. Those who want to work at LGH also must provide proof of immunization status for measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chickenpox) and hepatitis B, as well as agree to getting an annual flu vaccine. They also must provide proof of hepatitis C antibody testing and undergo a chest X-ray if theyve had tuberculosis and have no documentation of an X-ray within the past year. None of this strikes us as onerous for people who want to work in a hospital, where infection control is essential. While relatively few hospital systems now require COVID-19 vaccination for employees, that seems likely to change as it becomes ever clearer that the vaccines are remarkably effective and safe. Nancy Foster, vice president of quality and patient safety policy at the American Hospital Association, told the website Beckers Hospital Review that most association members have indicated that they will decide about requiring the shot for their employees when the vaccines receive full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Association. Such approval is only a matter of time and paperwork, Ripchinski noted in his column last Sunday. (The vaccines now have emergency use authorization, which, Ripchinski wrote, is the normal first step for new vaccines.) At last weeks commissioners meeting, Ripchinski said, The safety of our patients and employees is our top priority. As it should be. Patients shouldnt need to wonder if the clinical staff providing them with medical care have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Especially if those patients have compromised immune systems and potentially weaker protective responses to COVID-19 vaccination. Reading from a prepared statement, Parsons, however, insisted at Wednesdays meeting that LG Healths vaccination requirement was counterproductive and heavy-handed. He may not be an epidemiologist or physician, but his written statement noted that he was at the White House when President Donald Trump discussed Operation Warp Speed, so theres that. As Brambila reported, Ripchinski attended Wednesdays meeting to receive county support that is, funding for pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinics the health system is conducting throughout the summer to vaccinate difficult-to-reach communities. This, too, raises a concern related to this countys lack of a public health department. Because no such department existed to create the Lancaster County Community COVID-19 Vaccination Center, Ripchinski and LG Health took the lead. But the relationship between the commissioners and hospital officials meant the latter might have had to handle messaging on COVID-19 in ways that didnt offend the political sensibilities of the former. We hope LG Health remains unmoved by the Republican commissioners hissy fit over the hospitals commonsense vaccination policy. And well say this yet another time: Lancaster County needs a public health department to handle public health policy and messaging. Parsons and DAgostino reminded us why last week. An article in The New York Times last month reported that our own beloved U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker said that U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney had a low E.Q., or emotional quotient. Imagine that. It was likely one of the few times Smucker has been quoted in any national newspaper, though I doubt it was intended to be viewed as the utterance of a polymath. After all, one of former President Donald Trumps many attorneys, Sidney Powell, through her own attorney, recently told a court that no reasonable person would conclude that her unfounded claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election were statements of fact. Rep. Smucker, what does that say about you, and about either your E.Q. or IQ? Youve never given any proof to support your reasons for objecting to the certification of Pennsylvanias electoral votes. And you still voted against certification after the Jan. 6 insurrection. When will you ever tell those who voted for you and those who have not but unfortunately live in your district what facts exist that support your stance, which appears to all persons with a reasonable IQ or E.Q. to be specious? Perhaps since you have seemingly demonstrated you have no inclination to tell us what information supports your outrageous stance, we can get the answer from Elizabethtown Area school board candidates Danielle or Stephen Lindemuth. Danielle? Stephen? Melvin H. Hess Lititz Swiss Pull Out of EU Negotiations, May Vote Against CO2 Legislation May 29, 2021 (EIRNS)Switzerland abruptly withdrew from negotiations to expand their relations with the European Union over fears of the erosion of their sovereignty. The Swiss governments decision came just three weeks before a June 13 national referendum on climate legislation. The Federal Act on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (CO2 Act), which would increase energy and other prices, could very well fail. Switzerlands withdrawal from EU negotiations is also seen as another failure for the hopeless European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, under whose auspices the negotiations were taking place. The Swiss and the EU have been negotiating a new agreement since 2014. Although a draft agreement had been completed in 2018, negotiations to finalize the deal had been unsuccessful on key issues affecting Swiss sovereignty. Under the guise of creating a level playing field, the EU had demanded that Switzerland adopt the EUs free movement directive, which would give EU citizens uncontrolled access to the Swiss labor market on the same terms as within the EU. The Swiss opposed it because it would lead to wage-dumping, and the practice of cross-border workers being employed under foreign contracts. Some Swiss laws protecting its workforce would not be allowed in EU countries and the Swiss would have to give them up. Swiss citizens generally have higher incomes than those in the EU, because their cost of living is higher. Current agreements allow EU nationals to live in Switzerland only if they have a job or other sources of income. Switzerland is a small country with 8.5 million citizens and already has 1.4 million EU citizens living there, while only 450,000 Swiss live in EU countries. Another issue would demand Swiss modify their legislation to correspond to new legislation adopted by the EU. That would negate the right of Swiss citizens to petition for a referendum on any law if a sufficient number of citizens opposed it. Moreover the EU was demanding that the Swiss accept the judgments of the European Court, which was also a no-no for the Swiss. It should be noted that issues of bank secrecy and taxation have already been resolved in separate agreements several years ago. The real issue is sovereignty. The Swiss would want to be part of the EU economically but they dont want to be part of the EU politically, the May 28 posting of Euronews quoted Laurent Goetschel, director of the think tank Swisspeace and professor of political science at the University of Basel as saying. Goetschel suggested that the Swiss government felt it would not be able to get an agreement accepted by Swiss citizens. Ultimately, the government came to the conclusion that such a treaty would not have enough chances in a popular referendum, Goetschel said. In the background is the CO2 Act referendum which will take place on June 13. There is a big mobilization by both conservative Liberals and the conservative Swiss Peoples Party as well as industrial stakeholders to defeat the legislation. Its defeat would be the first of its kind in Europe. New permit requirements in the city of Los Angeles have made it difficult for street vendors to sell goods in the village. Local organizers are working to obtain a long-term permit. The L.A. Standard Newspaper needs your support so that we can continue to create positive stories about Black communities. $20, $50, $100, $500, $1,000. Any amount would be greatly appreciated. -Jason Douglas Lewis, Owner/Publisher. Donations can be made through Cash App https://cash.app/$LAStandard, Venmo https://venmo.com @LA-Standard-Newspaper, PayPal https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/lastandardnewspaper, and GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-blackowned-los-angeles-standard-newspaper By Jason Lewis For many years the African drum circles and Black street vendors have been a way of life in Leimert Park Village along Degnan Boulevard between 43rd Place and 43rd Street. The village is one of the most prominent Black cultural spaces in Los Angeles, and it is a symbol of Black life in this city. Leimert Park has been a meeting place for melanated people at least since the early 80s, if not into the 70s, said Ezell McDowell, who participates in the drum circles. The drum circles feature musical styles from across the African diaspora, with drummers coming from various parts of Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean islands, and locally. McDowell points out that a marketplace typically follows a cultural event like this. He has also seen the evolution of this cultural space over the years. He spoke about the importance of this weekend event, and how the drum circle and marketplace are intertwined. We have created something where were meeting our needs the ways that our needs need to be met in terms of unification; in terms of having a meeting place, he said. As a culture, we operate in certain ways. So when we have events that are in alignment with our culture, thats what gives our events power. The marketplace features Afrocentric products that are hard to find at mainstream retail stores. Theres such a variety, said Jenn Laurent, who is a representative of the African Marketplace and Drum Circle Farmers Market. If you start with our food vendors, we have vendors who do Jamaican food, vegan food, and other cultural food like Belizean food. Theres a barbecue food vendor. As far as non-food products, you can get everything from clothing to cultural items like African art and statues. You can get cultural clothing. With Black communities in Los Angeles shrinking because of gentrification, this historically informal event has an additional importance to local Black residents. Thats part of the reason why we wanted to hold this space for the vendors, Laurent said. Because of the importance and the historical significances of Black people in L.A. This is one of the last spaces that were holding and that we can call our own. Many people have come to us and told us how important the drum circle is, McDowell said. Its important that we continue our culture through drumming and through the marketplace as well. Because these are things that over time have been chipped away from our culture in so many different ways. As far as drum circles and having vendors there, weve been doing that uninterrupted for at least 25 years. What we have here is very special. While the drum circle does not need a permit and will be able to continue uninterrupted, the marketplace is in jeopardy because of permit issues. Historically, street vending in Los Angeles has been illegal, but vendors in Leimert Park Village were not bothered much by law enforcement over the years. Street vending was decriminalized in Los Angeles County in 2017. In November of 2018, the Los Angeles City Council approved an ordinance which legalizes sidewalk vending, and the city started issuing vending permits in early 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. With the new vending ordinance and permit requirements, the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services started to patrol the city, ensuring that street vendors are in compliance. This has impacted Leimert Park Village. In the beginning stages, the Bureau of Street Services was not issuing financial citations. Instead their goal was to educate street vendors on the rules in what was considered a grace period. But at some point that grace period was going to come to an end, and vendors would receive financial citations and be shut down if they were not in compliance. In Leimert Park Village, this led to the formal creation of the African Marketplace and Drum Circle. The African Market Place and Drum Circle came out of necessity, Laurent said. Street vending has always been a part of the culture in the village. It was more informal. It was based around culture, community, spirituality, and it was attached to the meaning of the drum circles. Laurent is the executive director of LA Legal Assistant, and her group has been helping the vendors obtain the proper permits. Whats happened over the past year to two years is that due to the Metro Crenshaw train station opening, the re-opening of the Vision Theater, and the Olympics, there have been some fears that the street vendors and the drum circles would be displaced, she said. Weve seen signs of gentrification all throughout South Central, so that also added to the fears that the street vendors would be displaced. Laurent points out that this is a city-wide issue. Latino communities where street vending happens on a daily basis have been fighting to legalize and regulate street vending for years. With the new regulations, Laurent, along with volunteers, helped street vendors in Leimert Park apply for the proper permits. They had a difficult time obtaining permits for food vendors, which have a higher level of scrutiny because they are serving food. Laurent also pointed out that local business owners and residents in and around Leimert Park Village had complaints about the trash left behind and traffic issues. One of the traffic concerns was a safety issue, because moving cars and people would occupy the same pathways, and some of the vendors were setting up their tables in parking spaces. Some merchants along Degnan Boulevard also had issues with vendors setting up tables in front of the merchants store. Leimert Park essentially became a free-for-all for the vendors, and the event needed to be regulated. According to a representative of Councilmemer Mark Ridley-Thomas office, they helped Laurent and the street vendors obtain a farmers market permit, which would allow them to close off Degnan Boulevard and 43rd Place on Sundays, which would solve the traffic safety issue, and it would allow the food vendors to obtain permits. The first official African Marketplace and Drum Circle Farmers Market took place on April 18, 2021. According to Laurent, they were given good reviews by parking enforcement, law enforcement, and the fire department. She said that they were told that they needed to address a few issues, such as blocking fire lanes, and having emergency medical technicians on site. Two days before the second farmers market was to be held on April 25, Laurent was informed that their permit was being revoked by the Bureau of Street Services. We were told that it was revoked because there were complaints from the fire and police department that we did not adhere to all of the compliance rules and regulations that we were supposed to. We were surprised by that because previously the fire and police department had said that we had done well. After conversations with Councilmember Ridley-Thomas office, the permit was reinstated. But it would not be reinstated for the full year, which it was (originally) issued for, Laurent said. Most farmers market permits are issued on an annual basis. Our initial permit that we got in writing says that it was approved for a one year period. The councilmembers office said that they would reinstate the permit for two months instead of one year. And then we were told that wed have to fill out a special events application as opposed to a farmers market application. According to a representative of Councilmember Ridley-Thomas office, the permit is set to expire at the end of the citys fiscal year, which ends on June 30. The marketplace will be allowed to continue while the organizers work out the permit issue before the new fiscal year. Laurent said that she is not clear what the city is looking for to extend the permit. Councilmember Ridley-Thomas has 12 staff members who work with issues and on community programs within Leimert Park, and he has a plan to invest $35-40 million of resources to Leimert Park by the end of 2022. As the Councilmember for the 10th Council District and longtime resident of Leimert Park I have a deep appreciation for the historic and cultural significance of the village, he said. In no small part, I see my role as working to ensure that the village lives up to its full potential, and that it is clean and welcoming for all members of our community to enjoy. This means investing in improvements to the plaza, bringing back the crown jewel of the village the iconic Vision Theater facilitating street improvements, and supporting small businesses and local commerce including the marketplace for the benefit of local vendors and visitors alike. My office is committed to working with the businesses, festivals and events taking place in the village to ensure they operate safely and professionally, and so that we hold true to the standard and potential of what Leimert Park can and should be. We deserve nothing less. For more information on the Africa Marketplace and Drum Circle, visit www.leimertparkvillagevendors.com and follow the Leimert Park Village Vendors Instagram page. @leimertparkvillagevendors Some young Black people want their universities to fulfill their promises to help the descendants of enslaved people. They say students and people who live in college communities need to hold the universities responsible. And they say this is the time to do it. Jason Carroll recently graduated from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Shepard Thomas graduated from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. a year ago. They are descendants of enslaved people. Carroll said, Theres been a shift in America. Were at a different place. Just a few years ago, it was controversial to say Black Lives Matter. Carroll and Thomas say at least their universities recently identified their ties to the slave trade. But they believe there is still more to be done. Thomas is a member of a group of students who came to Georgetown because of a special program for the descendants of enslaved people. Historical ties to slavery In the 1800s, Georgetowns leaders helped sell a group of 272 men, women and children who were slaves at large farms in Maryland to other farms in Louisiana. The money from the sale helped the school pay off debt. About five years ago, Georgetown said it would give students like Thomas special admissions considerations. He is among the first of that group to graduate. Some of the older universities in the U.S. had ties to slavery or received money from people who sold slaves. Craig Steven Wilder at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology wrote a book about the connection between higher education and slavery in 2013. Around the time of Georgetowns announcement, he said: Every college that was established before the American Revolution has direct ties to slavery. Carroll was a student government leader during his time at Brown. Students there recently voted to ask the university to offer a program similar to the one offered by Georgetown. It would help the descendants of slaves entangled with and/or afflicted by the university and the Brown family. In addition to Georgetown and Brown, people are watching the University of Chicago, the University of Virginia and the University of Georgia. The city of Athens is home to the University of Georgia. The city is trying to make up for a 1960s plan that took over the properties of 50 Black families in order to build student housing. Activists and students say both the university and the city need to pay attention to the way the construction hurt families. Hattie Whitehead Thomas is now 72. She grew up in the Athens neighborhood taken over by the school. She said the school needs to do moreand acknowledge what it did. The school has said that the student housing helped Black people because students from all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds lived there. Earlier in 2021, the mayor of Athens signed a resolution that said the city would take steps to make up for the harm caused when the land was taken over. Efforts to make up for the past The University of Virginia, or UVA, in the town of Charlottesville, was established by the third American president, Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was a slave owner. Lawmakers in Virginia recently approved a program. It requires the states five public colleges, including UVA, to identify the descendants of enslaved people who worked on the land that the schools now occupy, and offer them benefits. One of the benefits might be free college. Cauline Yates says she is a descendant of one of Jeffersons slaves. She said the university needs to stand up and honor our ancestors. Brian Coy is a UVA spokesperson. He said the school is not yet sure what kind of offer it will make to the descendants of slaves. But he said UVA created a memorial that recognizes the work enslaved people did for the school. Caine Jordan is a graduate student at the University of Chicago. He said students there are upset that the university does not seem to be willing to take full responsibility for how it dealt with Black people in the past. The school removed markers honoring Stephen Douglas, a U.S. senator from the 1800s who profited from slave labor. But the school said Douglas has no connection with the university, which was founded after the senators death. The University of Chicago president is expected to make a statement noting the schools commitment to racial fairness. All of it rings hollow if youre founded on Black pain, and youre not willing to acknowledge that, Jordan said. Thomas and Carroll want people to continue to follow the stories at Georgetown and Brown universities. Both schools say they will look for ways to spend money on community projects that would help slave descendants. Thomas said observers need to pay attention to how the money is spent. The fear is that the university will use these funds for their own purposes. In Rhode Island, one part of the Brown University plan is to spend money to help local schools in Providence. However, Carroll notes that most local students are not Black. Thats not really a solution, he said. In a way, its even more insulting. Davarian Baldwin is an American studies professor at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. He said the students and community members should keep the pressure on the universities. (They) will do as little as they can get away with, he said. Im Dan Friedell. And Im Jill Robbins. Philip Marcelo wrote this story for the Associated Press. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. Do you think American colleges and universities are doing enough for the descendants of enslaved people? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. Quiz - Graduates Demand US Colleges Make Up for Past Slavery Ties Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story descendant n. someone who is related to a person or group of people who lived in the past graduate v. to earn a degree showing official completion of studies at a college or university funds n. (pl.) money benefits n. (pl.) money or something extra that is provided by an employer or government to a worker or citizen acknowledge v. to accept or not deny the truth of some statement or position shift n. a change in position or way of thinking controversial - adj. relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement, or argument : likely to produce controversy entangle v. to get (someone) involved in a confusing or difficult situation usually used as (be/get) entangled afflict v. to cause pain or suffering to (someone or something) ring hollow adj. describing a weak or empty statement get away with v. to do something without being held responsible International organizations and other groups are calling for climate change studies to become a usual part of school curriculums around the world. They say such education is an important step toward reaching targets on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization, or UNESCO, said this month that environmental studies should be taught in all countries by 2025. That may seem like a large goal, but some environmental groups and politicians say it is not enough. Lorenzo Fioramonti is an Italian lawmaker and a former education minister. He said without faster progress on education, there will be no chance of reaching the goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050. Fioramonti fought for a law in 2020 that made Italy the worlds first country to have all schools teach about climate change. But he admits that forcing all schools to teach it has been difficult. He resigned shortly after the law was passed so he was unable to oversee its establishment. At the same time, the COVID-19 emergency left Italys schools struggling to teach the usual curriculum. New Zealand has since begun teaching climate change studies for students between 13 and 19 years old. Other countries such as Argentina and Mexico are taking steps toward teaching it also. The Brookings Institution, a United States research group, has called for climate action projects in all schools by 2025. The group examined how people buy products after they have studied climate change. It found that investing in education would be more effective in cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 than investing in wind and solar power. Jim Knight is a Labour Party politician in Britain and the former Schools Minister. He presented a bill last Tuesday calling for sustainable citizenship education. It included climate change studies and would become part of the normal school curriculum starting in 2023. Britain is the current president of the Group of Seven leading industrial nations and Italy is leading the G20, a group of 20 major economies. Together, they could play an important part in pushing climate change education. These two groups are organizing the U.N. climate change conference known as COP26. It will be held in Glasgow, Scotland in November. Knight said, "If we are to make the changes in energy consumption, transport and food choices that we need to reach our carbon zero goal, then the best place to start is in schools. Green parties and interest groups have also been pushing the G20 to officially support the proposal requiring that schools teach about climate change. Education ministers from the member countries will meet in the Italian city of Catania on June 22. Im Caty Weaver. Garvin Jones reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story curriculum n. the courses that are taught by a school, college, etc. emission n. the act of producing or sending out something (such as energy or gas) from a source sustainable adj. involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources consumption n. the use of something (such as fuel) carbon n. a chemical element that forms diamonds and coal and that is found in petroleum and in all living plants and animals San Francisco closed some major roads to cars during the coronavirus pandemic to provide more space for people to safely exercise and socialize. Now, a debate has begun over whether to permanently keep vehicles off some of those roads. Some citizens are pushing to keep cars off some of the citys much-used streets, like the main road into Golden Gate Park. Others support reopening the roads to traffic, saying the step is a necessary part of returning to normal life. San Francisco closed more than 72 kilometers of neighborhood streets. The closures began in April 2020 after mayor London Breed declared a state of emergency. City officials are now trying to decide which roads might remain closed permanently. Debate over the issue has been marked by demonstrations on both sides that have centered on safety and environmental concerns. Shamann Walton is president of San Francisco's Board of Supervisors. He has argued against the continued closure of John F. Kennedy (JFK) Drive in Golden Gate Park, a major road. He said closing the street and its free parking spaces will affect low-income families who cannot easily bike or take public transportation to the park. San Franciscos Vanessa Gregson loves the fact that JFK Drive, a four-lane road that runs along the beach, is automobile free. She now rides her bicycle through the area and enjoys the quiet. You hear the beach. You hear the waves, Gregson told The Associated Press. You feel like youre in nature, and youre in San Francisco. But Tim Boyle, who lives near the road, says life has been anything but peaceful since the street was closed to cars. This is because trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles now move through his neighborhood because of the closures. He said his street used to be very peaceful. Now he finds traffic near his home is very heavy. About 2.4 kilometers of JFK Drive remain closed to vehicles. The road through Golden Gate Park is normally used by more than 24 million visitors a year. Another closed street, the citys Great Highway, usually carries more than 18,000 vehicles a day. San Franciscos streets are set to reopen 120 days after the mayor lifts an emergency declaration, which could come next month. A city spokeswoman said the Board of Supervisors will make the final decision about JFK Drive and the Great Highway. They could decide to fully or partly reopen the roads or keep them permanently closed to vehicles. Seattle and New York are other U.S. cities looking to permanently ban cars from streets temporarily closed during the pandemic. In Europe, Paris officials announced plans to ban most traffic in the city's center, with exceptions for public transportation, delivery trucks and residents vehicles. Connie Chan is the supervisor for an area affected by the closures along the beach and in Golden Gate Park. She told the AP she thinks most people are probably in the middle on the issue, wanting both open space and clear transportation paths. They just want to be able to go where they need to go, and not be stuck in traffic," Chan said. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story parking n. leaving a vehicle in a particular place for a period of time delivery n. the taking of things to a person or place resident n. someone who lives in a particular place Chinese company launches construction of new industrial park in Ethiopia Xinhua) 09:31, May 30, 2021 ADDIS ABABA, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese construction giant - China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) on Friday launched the construction of the CCECC Dire Dawa Industrial Park in eastern Ethiopia. The first-phase construction of the Park is to be on 370 hectares of land on the outskirts of Ethiopia's second-largest city Dire Dawa. It will have various clusters for export, development, and service-oriented businesses and is expected to attract potential export-oriented investors into sectors including textile and clothing, food and beverage, leather and leather processing, construction building materials, metal products, machinery manufacture, modern logistics, international trade, financing, and cultural tourism. Ahmed Mohamed Bouh, Dire Dawa City Mayor, told at the launching event that the park will attract world-class investors into Dire Dawa, which will eventually inject much-needed momentum into the East African country's export sector. "We would like to thank you for coming here and investing your capital in Dire Dawa as this will help the local community in technology transfer as well as job opportunities for the youngsters and actually developing the Dire Dawa city administration," the mayor said. The Park will be built along the 752.7-km Ethiopia-Djibouti standard gauge railway and is expected to enjoy ease of access to the international market. Ethiopia's neighboring Djibouti port presently handles about 90 percent of Ethiopia's overall export-import trade. "CCECC is participating in various mega projects in our country. The company is developing the majority of industrial parks in our country, in which the just launched CCECC Dire Dawa Industrial Park is one of them," Daniel Teresa, Deputy Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) told Xinhua. "The industrial park will ultimately support the export sector, create abundant job opportunities, and facilitate investment opportunities," he added. The industrial park will eventually expand to 1,000 hectares of land when operating at its full capacity, according to the CCECC. Li Minggang, Deputy General Manager of CCECC Ethiopia Construction plc, on his part said the industrial park, as the pioneer industrial park of the Dire Dawa Special Economic Zone, is aiming to become a demonstration platform for the cooperation between China and Ethiopia. Li said the industrial park aspires to promoting local employment, improving the living environment, and optimizing logistics supporting facilities in the area and beyond. Ethiopia currently has 13 operational industrial parks, with several more under construction expected to be commissioned during the current Ethiopian Fiscal Year 2020/2021. Chinese companies are the major players in Ethiopia's ambitious industrial parks development, which form part of the country's broad economic strategy to make it into a light manufacturing hub in Africa by 2025. The Ethiopian government in March this year announced that it has earned some 610 million U.S. dollars in export revenue from industrial parks during the first nine months of the current 2020-21 Ethiopian fiscal year that started on July 9, 2020. According to figures from the Ethiopian Industrial Park Development Corporation (IPDC), the revenue was earned from the exports of apparel and other products by companies operating across 13 industrial parks targeting global markets including the United States and Europe. The industrial parks have also created in excess of 89,000 employment opportunities for Ethiopia's burgeoning youth population, the IPDC said. (Web editor: He Zhuoyan, Bianji) BEIJING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- A foreign ministry spokesperson Friday said that China deplores and rejects relevant Taiwan remarks in a joint statement of the Japan-EU summit. China vows to continue defending its national sovereignty, security, and development interests. "The relevant remarks by Japan and Europe have completely gone beyond the scope of normal development of bilateral relations and are harmful to international peace and stability, mutual understanding, and trust among regional countries, not to mention the interests of a third party," spokesperson Zhao Lijian said. Zhao made the remarks at a daily press briefing. China will never allow any country to interfere in Taiwan-related issues in any way, he said. He noted that Japan, for some time, has made an issue out of China on various occasions, portraying China as a threat. Japan gangs up with a few others to pursue geopolitical confrontation, throwing mud at China. Japan's slander is based on lies and false information and grossly interferes in China's internal affairs. "Japan's wrong approach goes against the trend of the times of peace and win-win results and brought adverse effects on bilateral relations and regional stability," he said. Zhao stressed that in dealing with China, megaphone diplomacy is not the right approach. Attacks and smears will backfire, ganging up won't help, and coercion and confrontation are a dead end. "We hope Japan will know better than to go further down the wrong path," he said. Competing in his first basketball game of the season, sophomore Jaedyn Brown was summoned off the bench and provided Pullman with the shot in the arm the Greyhounds needed to sew up a 70-65 road victory against Clarkston in the second game of a Greater Spokane League doubleheader Friday at C On Dec. 20, 1977 the Honda Canyon Fire fueled by hurricane-force winds became a raging inferno that killed four people including installation commander Col. Joseph Turner, three Santa Barbara County firefighters and injured dozens more on Vandenberg Air Force Base. Dennis Ford was an Airman first class on base and was a firefighting augmentee called to assist that day. Now 63, Ford has released Firestorm '77: The True Story of the Honda Canyon Fire, a new 54-minute documentary about the fire told by the people who lived it. The impetus for the film came about 10 years ago after a conversation between Ford and a worker at the Santa Maria Airport who told him the fire never happened. "I deal with this guy who tells me it never happened," Ford said. "The point is that history has been forgotten and that sent me on a long course to create a documentary." Santa Barbara County gearing up for high fire season Santa Barbara County Fire Department, in conjunction with other local fire jurisdictions, will declare May 3 the start of the 2021 high fire s Ford co-produced the movie with Joe Valencia, who also fought the fire, and partnered with Chris Hite, an Allan Hancock College film professor, who directed. The film includes interviews with 15 individuals, including several former County fire personnel and former KSBY reporter Melanie (Koolkanian) Bedwell. The screenplay, which took two years to write, was completed in 2018 and film production began later that year, according to Ford. After finishing in October 2020, the three submitted the movie to more than a half-dozen film festivals. It received recognition, including an award for Best Feature at the 2021 San Luis Obispo International Film Festival. Ford plans to hold more public events for the movie, which is now available to stream for $5 on www.malibuflix.com. A tight budget kept the film's length short, although it contains original audio and video footage, and 1970s era B-roll to take the viewer back in time, Ford said. "It makes a very interesting story in terms of a film because there's a lot of action going on, and its all true," Ford said. Dispatchers called the fire in sometime between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., when easterly wind gusts exceeding 100 mph pushed against a low-pressure storm from the west, knocking over a power pole that ignited a fire along Tranquillon Ridge. It started approximately three miles east of Space Launch Complex-6, according to Valencia, who was a 19-year-old Hotshot firefighter on base and who previously wrote about the experience. Turner and several fire personnel were situated on an overlook above Honda Canyon observing the fire when the winds picked up, pushing flames through a narrow gap where they then jumped the ridge. Flames overran the men sometime after 9 a.m., killing Turner, Vandenberg Fire Chief Billy Bell and Assistant Fire Chief Eugene Cooper. Bulldozer operator Clarence McCauley was critically burned and died days later, according to Ford. About 30 hours later, and after the fire scorched about 10,000 acres, a rain storm put the fire out, he said. Ford believes the young firefighters were not prepared to fight a fire of that magnitude. The biggest travesty, Ford said, is that the people who fought in the fire never got the recognition they deserved. The devastation, however, led to changes in how firefighters respond to wildland fires, according to Ford, who adds there is still a lot to be learned. "We were sent out to fight this fire but we could never win the fight, because it wasnt doable," Ford said. "You cant fight a fire in a hurricane." Various Lebanese Christian groups will meet in the Vatican on 1 July to reflect on the situation in their country and pray for peace. Love, in fact, is essentially a gift of oneself, and in its original and infinite reality, it is the Father who gives himself by generating the Son, who in turn gives himself to the Father, and their mutual love is the Holy Spirit, the bond of their unity. It is not easy to understand, but one can experience this mystery. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Christians must show love through their conduct, the love that is the reality of God, the essence of the Trinity, the mystery of the one God in three Persons since God, despite being one and unique, is not loneliness but communion, said Pope Francis before the recitation of the Angelus on the day in which the Church celebrates the Most Holy Trinity. After the recitation of the Marian prayer, speaking once again before several thousand faithful in St Peter's Square, Francis announced that on 1 July various Lebanese Christian groups will meet in the Vatican to reflect on the situation in their country and pray for peace. Before the recitation of the Angelus, Francis spoke about the Most Holy Trinity, the mystery of the one God in three Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The mystery that Jesus gave us, emphasising that people are not the emanation of God, they are people. It is an immense mystery, which surpasses the abilities of our mind, but which speaks to our hearts, because we find it enclosed in the expression of St John that sums up all Revelation: God is love (1 Jn 4:8-16). As love, God, while one and unique, is not loneliness but communion. Love, in fact, is essentially a gift of oneself, and in its original and infinite reality, it is the Father who gives himself by generating the Son, who in turn gives himself to the Father, and their mutual love is the Holy Spirit, the bond of their unity. It is not easy to understand, but one can experience this mystery. Jesus himself revealed to us the mystery of the Trinity. He showed us the face of God as a merciful Father, introduced Himself, a real man, as the Son of God and the Word of the Father; he spoke of the Holy Spirit that comes from the Father and the Son, Spirit of Truth, Paraclete Spirit, who is our Comforter and Advocate. And when Jesus appeared to the Apostles after the Resurrection, he sent them out to evangelise all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Mt 28:19). Therefore, today's feast enables us contemplate this wonderful mystery of love and light from which we come and towards which our earthly journey is oriented. After the Angelus, the Pope mentioned yesterdays beatification of three nurses in Spain Maria del Pilar Gullon y Turriaga, Olga Perez-Monteserin Nunez and Octavia Iglesias Blanco killed in hatred of the faith during the Spanish Civil War. Hot n Spicy opened on October 18, 2018. It was a decision made in a week, when Phothiboupha drove up to Madison from Rockfield, Illinois, where he lives and owns a nail salon. Phothiboupha had checked a few places in Madison for his mother, who had also been running a nail salon for years and was looking for a new spot. It was not an easy hunt. He almost gave up, but a casual visit ignited a fire of inspiration. At Viet Hoa, a South Asian grocery store in Monona, Phothiboupha examined the food-prep counter and talked with the landlord about rental terms. He decided he and his mom should open a quick-serve Laotian food counter. Over dinner that night, Phothiboupha encouraged her to take the leap: Mom, if you can be patient with me, I think we can make this work. Fortunately, Congress stood with frontline health care providers and passed the No Surprises Act with a robust IDR mechanism that will protect patients and ensure providers receive the reimbursements they depend on. But the passage of the No Surprises Act is just the beginning. Under the leadership of Secretary Xavier Becerra, the Department of Health and Human Services will soon begin the rulemaking process implementing the ban on surprise billing. How exactly HHS crafts the precise details of the IDR mechanism is critically important. If Becerra and policymakers at HHS build considerations into the IDR process that are too heavily tilted toward insurers, frontline providers will face immense financial pressure. Politicians and policymakers in Washington must do everything to support providers who have been hammered by the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent survey from the AMA found that, on average, physicians saw revenue drop by 32% after February 2020; about one in five physicians saw revenue plunge by 50% or more. More than 1.4 million healthcare jobs were lost in April 2020 alone. Now is not the time to further boost the profits of large insurance companies. I urge Wisconsin Sens. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat, and Ron Johnson, a Republican, to work with Becerra to protect both patients and providers by implementing the bipartisan No Surprises Act as intended by Congress. Cadwell was in the begin the world over again camp. And he was not satisfied that the fight to deliver that portion of freedom was finished with the war in which he fought. Because he lived to be 99 years old, making him one of the last surviving vets of the Revolutionary War, Cadwell became a living link between the founding moment and the struggle to make real the promise that all men (and women) are created equal. Cadwell died Feb. 11, 1857, just 17 days short of his 100th birthday, and just four years before the first shots were fired in the Civil War. Aware that the fight to abolish the original sin of the American experiment would need to be waged, he made his epitaph an anti-slavery statement. "Oh my country, how sure I loved thee, it read. In my youth I fought for, sought and saw thy prosperity. Free all thy sons. May thy freedom be universal and perpetual. That was a radical demand for the future that resonated with me when I first read it as a child, and that seems even more relevant today. Paine, Cadwell and the wisest of their comrades understood that they did not fight for their freedom alone. Theirs was not a self-absorbed struggle merely to do as they pleased or to refuse to care about the health and safety of others. It was a righteous rebellion against the concentrated wealth and power of the British Crown. And it did not stop there. Cadwell lived long enough to explain the plain truth that, for America's promise to be realized, his countrymen and women would need to revolt against the sin of human bondage just as we must resist the racial and social and economic injustice that denies that promise in our time. John Nichols is associate editor of The Capital Times. jnichols@madison.com and @NicholsUprising. Share your opinion on this topic by sending a letter to the editor to tctvoice@madison.com. Include your full name, hometown and phone number. Your name and town will be published. The phone number is for verification purposes only. Please keep your letter to 250 words or less. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many students here in Wisconsin took classes virtually from home rather than going to school and risking infection. Now, with all Americans 12 and up eligible for vaccines and nearly 40% of Wisconsinites vaccinated, many of our schools have either returned to normal or are making plans to do so after summer break. While this should allow us to take a sigh of relief, we must take this moment to address another health concern our children will face as they get back on buses to go to school: the long-standing threat of toxic diesel exhaust. Yellow school buses have been American icons since 1939, and over the ensuing decades, diesel has become the fuel of choice for these important vehicles. In Wisconsin, 59,763 kids ride about 10,000 big yellow buses most of which run on diesel to school every day. This is a huge danger. Diesel exhaust can cause cancer and respiratory diseases. The toxic fuel can also worsen existing conditions such as asthma and is linked to higher rates of mortality. Inhaling these fumes can especially hurt children, whose lungs are still developing. Researchers have also linked breathing polluted air from diesel school buses to poor academic performance. Dear Editor: There isnt consensus in the Democratic Party that President Joe Biden did the best he could to halt the violence in Gaza. A very concise analysis of the order of events and Bidens response as they unfolded was in Axios on May 22 from Israeli journalist Barak Ravid. In 11 days, 8 calls and a ceasefire; Inside Bidens response to the Gaza crisis, Ravid explains the diplomatic challenges Biden had before him and his actions behind the scenes. Good sources told Ravid that on May 9 Biden had asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to dial back on the activity that appeared to be provoking violence, but he was rebuffed. On May 10 police attacked the al-Aqsa Mosque and Netanyahu began addressing Bidens issues. What Biden didnt ask for and what didnt happen was for police to be called back from the Mosque compound. So, as Hamas and history clearly predicted, Hamas fired rockets at Jerusalem and Israel attacked Gaza in what both declared acts of self-defense. Ravid draws no conclusions about why the day after Bidens request, the one request made by Hamas was ignored. Written and illustrated by Alison Bechdel; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (240 pages, $24) After two masterful graphic quasi-memoirs that were almost more about her parents (Fun Home and Are You My Mother?), Alison Bechdel finally turns her gaze on herself, with beautiful results. Ostensibly framed as the story of her decadeslong obsession with exercise, the book appears to have metamorphosed from a simple physical fitness guide. The final product yokes in Margaret Fuller and the Transcendentalists, Jack Kerouac, Joseph Campbell, Buddhism, L.L. Bean, Patagonia, discovering yoga in Minneapolis, workout videos, various manias and girlfriends, the pressure of even graphic novelist-level fame, and, ultimately, death itself. Using her pursuit of different fitness fads (a rampant expanse of damp spandex) as a jumping-off point, Bechdel describes her decade-by-decade search for some kind of meaning to transcend all the hamster wheels she kept jumping on. Her mania for work, whether the long-running Dykes to Watch Out For comic strip or her minutely detailed books, was matched by exercising to the point of burnout. Continually measuring herself against others especially her father, whose somewhat disapproving glare familiar from Fun Home reappears here she knows that her fitful bursts of mania and bleakness are as unsustainable as her avoidance of mortality: I seemed to be going nowhere fast. As ever, Bechdel satirizes and analyzes herself with a sharp, knowing, but affectionate touch that is observant without being solipsistic. This is a thoughtful, funny and ruminative autobiography whose intensity is leavened with surprising notes of grace. Regulating pharmacy benefit managers One part of Evers agenda has already passed: a bipartisan bill he signed in March to regulate pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs. The companies which act as brokers between drug makers, insurers, employers, patients and pharmacies help determine which drugs people can take, where they can get them and how much they will pay. The new law bans PBMs from contract gag clauses preventing pharmacists from telling patients about more affordable drugs and requires PBMs to report rebates they get from manufacturers and what percentage they keep, among other provisions. The prescription drug supply chain can be a confusing and opaque system that often sends folks jumping through hoops just to access their life-saving medications, Evers said in a statement after signing the bill. Thats just wrong. Period. But Lee also described opposition among independent voters to Trump-aligned candidates as a brick wall with a couple layers of thickness to it. Whats an asset in a primary could potentially be a liability in the fall, Lee said. It was no mistake, perhaps, that the first attack Parnell faced from GOP rival Jeff Bartos was to try to fray his ties to Trump. The Bartos campaign quickly spooled out a Parnell missive on Twitter from 2016, when he criticized Trumps refusal to release his taxes. Asked about it, Parnell said he thought Trump could inoculate himself from that line of attack if he had. Parnell had campaigned for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida in the presidential primary that year, but his criticism didn't stop when Rubio dropped out. For instance, Parnell retweeted a headline saying Trump wouldn't disavow support from David Duke or the KKK. Parnell commented, I suppose I should be surprised but I'm not." In another, he criticized Trump's embrace of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Memorial Day weekend has often seen increases in shootings and violence in Baltimore and other major cities. Last year, nine people were killed in Baltimore during the holiday weekend, despite residents being ordered to stay at home during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. Harrison said at the time that the killings were not random and that retaliatory violence was to blame for some of the shootings. Q: Fishing is such an ingrained sport among people who live in Wisconsin and I do think there is something immediately calming when being on water. What is it about fly fishing specifically that has kept you so attached to the sport? A: I find it to be more challenging (than traditional fishing). I think its like solving a puzzle for me. Oftentimes, with trout fishing, trout become very selective about what theyll eat and when. When an insect hatch comes off, you have to find out what stage in the insects life cycle the fish are feeding on. Figuring out what theyre feeding on, what life cycle stage the fish are focused on, and trying to match the size, shape and color (with the flies) creates a lot of different variables that make it a challenge. I tend to gravitate to things that are more challenging. For example, I prefer bow hunting to gun hunting. Q: What message do you hope people take away from this book? Even kids that were learning in-person experienced challenges with feeling more disconnected from their friends because they would have to maintain social distancing at school, Belton said. Access to teachers and help during assignments was another contributing factor to increased mental health challenges, but students were explicit in not blaming their instructors because they understood the difficult circumstances educators were working through, according to the study. Its like a perfect storm of factors that came together over the last year to really make it challenging for a lot of kids, Belton said. At the same time, we also noticed that kids had limited awareness of resources to help them with mental health-related concerns. Most high school students in the study said they would seek out support from friends or parents, but it was unclear if those peers or parents had the tools necessary to effectively help students with mental health struggles. Most of the students commented that their schools had a counselor, but many said they thought the counselor was too busy or overwhelmed to help them. Students also noted stigma surrounding mental health challenges as one of the main reasons they did not seek help. In addition to conversations with other legislators, individuals at the Legislative Services Office, the Idaho State Tax Commission and the Idaho Department of Insurance, Langrill said his team pulled sign-in sheets from the last five years of House Revenue and Taxation Committee meetings and identified the organizations and representatives that were present most often. That resulted in a list of contacts who were sent a survey about what they felt were important factors in designing a review process. Then we followed up with a couple people who were especially opposed to the idea to find out what the concerns were because we wanted to make sure if the Legislature moved forward with this, it wouldnt be dead on arrival from the stakeholders, Langrill said. Of those surveyed, Langrill said most of the concerns were about whether the Legislature itself would drive the process, not legislative analysts. There was also concern about whether this process would result in the same waste of time and resources that it has been in the past, according to Langrill. The Idaho 97 Project formed in recent months to combat extremism, COVID-19 disinformation Political and civic minded Boiseans Nathaniel Hoffman and Emily Walton created The Idaho 97 Project, the newest group entering the fray to oppose extremism and engage Idahoans. It was quite spontaneous Emily and I both were sort of simultaneously reacting to the very aggressive protesting outside of Central District Health (while the public health district was considering strategies to slow the spread of the coronavirus), Hoffman said. The name was pretty spontaneous too, Hoffman added. It represents what we believe to be the feelings of most Idahoans, who have had enough of the extremist views of politics ruling the day. Soon, Mike Satz, an attorney and a former executive officer and associate vice president for the University of Idaho in southwest Idaho joined the effort. Satz became the founding executive director of The Idaho 97 Project and the group formed as an LLC and relaunched. Satz said he is the only paid staff member, and the projects funding is entirely donation-based. He said they have received contributions ranging from $5 to $5,000 and have received support from independents, Republicans, libertarians and Democrats alike. While not all of us are called to serve our country in the armed forces or the political arena, we can all make a difference through the ways we live our lives. With freedom comes responsibility responsibility to ensure that our freedom is maintained. Freedom is never free; it comes at a cost of lives, vigilance, time and effort. The Declaration of Independence provides the foundation for our country: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. We have life and liberty and must guard them both, but we are provided only with the opportunity to pursue happiness, not a guarantee of happiness. Whether you achieve happiness is up to you and is not the responsibility of our government. In November 1863, then-President Abraham Lincoln reminded us of our responsibility when he delivered his address at the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Civil War was still raging. He was not the main speaker for the day but had been invited as an afterthought. His speech was so short (less than two minutes) that the photographer did not have time to get a picture of him delivering it. Please log in to keep reading. Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. Home inventory, prices rise Virginia Realtors, a organization of real-estate agents in Virginia, reported a 12% increase in new listings on the market between March and April, which follows months of very low inventories of available homes. Listings typically increase between March and April, but the report said this years month-to-month gain is larger than it has been in recent years. Some 17,558 new listings came on the market in April 2021, which are 33.5% more than April 2020, which was diminished by the onset of COVID-19. There were 13,413 home sales statewide in April 2021, and there were 2,500 more closed transactions than in both April 2019 and April 2018, the association said. Statewide, the median sales price was $355,643 in April 2021, up 12.5% compared to a year ago. As prices go up, the time it takes homes to sell continues to decline. In April, homes were on the market an average of 25 days statewide, 16 days faster than the average in April 2020. DMV is adding more options Starting Tuesday the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles will be opening more windows in its customer service centers, which will create some 184,000 additional appointment opportunities statewide, VDH said in a release. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Italy on Sunday recorded 44 deaths from COVID-19, the lowest daily tally in more than seven months as the country continues to make progress with its coronavirus vaccinations. The last time Italy so few deaths was on October 14, with 43 fatalities. Italy's total death toll from the pandemic now stands at 126,046, according to Civil Protection Agency and Health Ministry data. The number of people with an active coronavirus infection fell by 3,670 to 236,296, another seven-month low. Meanwhile, Italy has now administered 34.2 million vaccine doses and 11.8 million peoplenearly 20 percent of the populationhave been fully vaccinated, the government said. The encouraging data came after Health Minister Roberto Speranza extended an entry ban Sunday for travellers coming from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The ban, a continued precaution against the more transmissible variant of the coronavirus first detected in India, will be prolonged until June 21, Speranza's spokesman said. The measure, first introduced in late April, would have otherwise expired on Sunday. It does not apply to Italian citizens. Explore further Italy passes 30 million vaccine dose milestone 2021 AFP After they died, I became pretty hard I lost touch with God and was giving up on stuff like that, Perez said. She found herself drifting away from her spirituality and traditional practices that had always been a part of her life. Then slowly, she began to revisit different cultural activities and felt her mindset start to shift. She got a job with Language Nest, which is developing a tribal language curriculum for Fort Belknap school children. It provided the sense of purpose gained from translating and teaching Nakoda language classes. My language is what saved me, honestly, she said. Perez acknowledged how lucky she was to have opportunities that so many young people on the reservation did not. She has a job; she has a community. But despite all the challenges young people face, Perez still believed that the reservation matters. Theres a lot of people who talk about how ugly [our rez] is, or how sad it is, or how pitiful we are, but this is our only home, she said. This is where were from and running away from it isnt going to fix anything. Kelly Wiseman, general manager of the Community Food Co-Op, said some of the roughly 40 employees the business laid off last year left the area and haven't come back. Other employees left their jobs because they were fed up with run-ins with anti-maskers, Wiseman said. "There were a lot of very belligerent, angry people walking around acting like toddlers, in my opinion," Wiseman said. "I think a lot of workers got sick of it." Dawn Brown, human resources director at Montana Ale Works, said it seems all the restaurants in town are trying to hire from the same shrunken pool of workers. Ale Works is trying to hire about 30 more people, Brown said, as they anticipate business picking up as the pandemic's hold weakens. They're getting some applications, Brown said, but not nearly enough. While some are blaming the federal unemployment benefits, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made returning to work difficult for some, Brown and others pointed to increasing housing costs as the primary culprit. A lot of victims (of the massacre) were dumped into mass graves. They were dumped into the Arkansas River, no documentation, left to be forgotten, erased from the history books, Crutcher said. They were forced into silence. They were afraid to tell their stories, because they said if you said anything you would be next. Crutcher, the founder and executive director of the Terence Crutcher Foundation, commended Fletcher and Randle for their courage in going public with their experience as survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Crutcher is also the lead organizer of Legacy Fest. The survivors dealt with internalized grief, and they held it in for so long. They were afraid to speak, she said. But Im so honored to know that these two individuals, at 107 years old and 106 years old, they finally have the courage to tell the world as we encroach on the 100-year anniversary of the worst terror attack on U.S. soil, they finally have the courage to speak out and tell their stories with all of you all. Crutcher went on to say that I want to make it very, very clear: If there is anyone attacking these survivors, these heroes, youre not only gonna have a problem with them. This can determine the length of the spacewalk if these start to run out. Spacewalks of the future Spacewalks are crucial to maintain the space station, but the knowledge gained during these outings can inform the way astronauts approach repairs to their own spacecraft as we push the boundaries of exploration. With NASA's Artemis program, which aims to land the first woman and next man near the lunar south pole by 2024, humans will be staying on the moon for longer than the short visits Apollo astronauts experienced. As we explore the moon and eventually Mars, astronauts will need to be able to repair and maintain their suits, spacecraft and habitats. With Fincke's upcoming mission, he hopes to add another spacewalk to his already impressive list. He said each of his own spacewalks have been memorable, but some moments tend to stand out more than others. During one of his spacewalks, the two crew members finished solving a problem outside of the station and asked teams on the ground what they should do with their remaining time outside. They were asked to take photographs outside of the station because it's impacted by micrometeorites and other things in space -- something the ground team wanted to track. In early May, Palestinian residents in Sheikh Jarrah began to protest the so-called evictions. Israeli security forces responded brutally from violent arrests to the use of tear gas and rubber bullets. The violence escalated over the weekend, and extended into the complex of the al-Aqsa mosque, where thousands of Palestinians visited for Ramadan prayer. Tensions boiled over and Hamas fired rockets from Gaza toward Jerusalem and the south of Israel. The Israeli Defense Force responded with an aerial bombardment of Gaza. The violence only escalated in the following days: warplanes leveled residential buildings in Gaza, killing at least 49 people including 14 children, and showers of rockets from Gaza to Israel killed at least six, including one child. My mind began connecting the dots between the struggle of Sheikh Jarrah and the struggle for justice that has been playing out in America and Philly over the past year. The murder of George Floyd, hundreds of miles away from Philadelphia and thousands of miles away from Israel, started a global movement. The same themes that provoked those reckonings exist in the struggle of Sheikh Jarrah: police crackdown, response to protest with force, racially motivated residential displacement, and the larger question of what is citizenship and who are the government and police meant to serve. Similar testimony from other Israelis casts additional light on the underlying causes of the current violence in Gaza and Jerusalem. David Grossman, a prize-winning novelist, has been writing since the 1980s about Israels mistreatment of the Palestinians. "The Yellow Wind" (1987) and "Sleeping on a Wire: Conversations with Palestinians in Israel" (1992) bear witness to the suffering of these people. He more recently declared, Today we are at one of the lowest points in the relations between Israelis and Palestinians. The idea of dialogue, reconciliation and peace seems farther away than ever. Amos Elon, who died in 2009, was regarded as one of Israels best journalists. In "A Blood-Dimmed Tide: Dispatches from the Middle East" (1997), he criticized the self-destructive nature of Palestinian politics, but added that Muslim extremism occurred largely because of Israeli policies in the territories. He predicted in a 2003 New York Review of Books article that if present trends continued, there would be endless terrorism with results far more terrible than those we are now witnessing. In 1955, in motor racings worst disaster, more than 80 people were killed during the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France when two of the cars colli It was my duty and I wanted to fly, Beckman said during a recent interview at his home near the Bert Mooney Airport. The year was 1944 and the U.S. and its allies remained at war both in Europe against Nazi Germany and in the Pacific against Japan. Beckman trained stateside to serve as navigator or bombardier or even pilot for a World War II-era bomber. But when the war ended in Europe in May 1945 there was suddenly a surplus of airmen, Beckman said, who could deploy in the fight against Japan. He served at various stateside bases, including Fort Snelling in Minnesota, Fort Leavenworth in Kansas and Scott Field in Illinois. Beckman was stationed at Roswell, New Mexico, when he married longtime sweetheart Doris Dibble of North Dakota in April 1946. Believe it or not, I had first met her in a spud field, picking spuds, he said. I was 16 and she was 15. Later, Beckman served two months on Kwajalein Island during Operation Crossroads, a deeply controversial set of nuclear weapons tests conducted to investigate the effect of nuclear weapons on warships. Browns need help The brown trout of Montana deserve our help. For the past several years, brown trout numbers in many Montana rivers have been on the decline. Every good water year since, we have all been hopeful that numbers would begin to rebound. However, numbers have continued to decline, even when water conditions appear to be okay. Well, after a few years of this cycle, it is evident that we need to do more. Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) fisheries biologists will be meeting soon to compare notes to see if there is anything that could be the proverbial smoking gun for the brown trout decline. Climate change, water quality, water temperatures, increasing angling pressure, development, agriculture, and disease are all probable causes of the decline. While the experts are working to determine a cause, the Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana (FOAM) thinks that FWP should enact special regulations to help protect this resource. Republicans and grassroots activist groups have decried the process concluded without benefit of official U.S. Census numbers, which have been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Democrats contend they must be completed by June 25, which is simply the date on which they lose complete control of the work. The people deserve better than bad data, fake deadlines and sham hearings, said Sen. Sue Rezin, a Morris Republican. During hastily called final hearings of the Redistricting Committees in both House and Senate, Republicans slammed the House redistricting leader, Rep. Elizabeth Lisa Hernandez of Chicago, after she acknowledged she didn't know until Thursday night all the sources of data that were used six days after the first version of the map was sprung on the public. Even then, she struggled to explain what numbers were mined or how, other than pointing to the Census' American Community Survey, an ongoing review of changes occurring in communities, which critics maintain are not suitable for drawing lines. She added that input from 50 public hearings and election results were sources but was unable to elaborate, and repeatedly said she did not have a list of individuals who put lines on paper. Summary The story Why Were in Vietnam, is set in 1999, almost thirty years since Sully-John, Willie, and several others were airlifted out of Dong Ha Province. Sully-John had been badly injured and begged someone in the helicopter to kill him. When he realized no one would, he asked them to at least get rid of the mamasan who kept staring at him. It did not take him long to realize he was the only one who could see the old woman. The narrator indicated that the Mamasan had been Malenfants date (594). Soldiers Malenfant, Sully-John, Slocum, and their lieutenant Dieffenbaker had run into a clearing to rescue other soldiers from a helicopter that had been shot down even though Viet Cong were shooting at them. They had been hero-bound, but Malenfant turned into a murderer and Sully-John saved the life... Solidarity has received comprehensive information on the Cubans who are to come and perform engineering work in South Africa, which it calls a victory in the legal battle against their importation. Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Lindiwe Sisulu provided this information after an urgent court application in which Solidarity brought an interdict application pending the disclosure of information. Sisulu announced in April that 24 Cuban engineers had been called in to assist in fixing the countrys water problems in a R64 million project. Opposition parties, labour organisations, and the engineering industry have slammed the move, questioning why the government would not use local expertise in this initiative. The Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) has also pointed out that the engineers were not registered to perform the work for which they had been brought to South Africa. Solidarity is trying to stop the Cuban engineering project, which it called foolish, immoral, but illegal, through a legal process. Solidarity CEO Dirk Hermann said this information is a first but important victory in the legal battle against the importation of Cuban engineers. It is a shame that the Minister deliberately misled the public in a statement by saying that the case had been withdrawn. There is no question of that happening, said Hermann. The urgent case has merely been removed from the court roll after an agreement between the parties. Solidarity said it can now proceed with the review application to have the Ministers decision on the Cuban engineers declared invalid. The Napa man convicted last month in the sexual abuse of four minors three of them family members has been sentenced to 197 years to life in state prison. Napa Superior Judge Mark Boessenecker handed down the sentence against 36-year-old Flemin Fernando Martinez on Friday, the office of District Attorney Allison Haley announced in a news release. Martinez, who was arrested in October 2019, was convicted by a jury April 20 on 17 sexual abuse counts, including one count of forcible rape of a minor over 14 and 12 counts of lewd acts on a child. The other convictions included two counts of oral copulation with a child 10 or younger, one count of using a minor for sex acts, and one count of possession of matter depicting a minor engaging in sexual conduct. Boessenecker also awarded $715,000 in noneconomic damages to the victims, whose ages ranged from 7 to 16 at the time of the abuse, as well as their families. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Special offer: $1 for your first 6 months! The convictions stemmed from the sexual abuse of three of Martinez family members and one friend between 2011 and 2019 in Napa County, according to the District Attorneys Office. Napa Police began investigating the case after a close friend of one victim reported the disclosure of the abuse to a family member who also was a school official, the department said. Public health officials have said anywhere from 70% to 85% of the total population not just eligible people needs to be fully vaccinated to beat COVID-19 or at least keep its transmission low enough. But local health departments focus on eligible populations instead because vaccines have not been approved for children under 12. Many have goals of vaccinating 75% to 80% of eligible residents. Community or herd immunity is important to protect those who cannot get vaccinated and to return to normal activities with little or no restrictions, such as on June 15, when California lifts its indoor mask order for vaccinated people. Dr. John Swartzberg, an infectious disease specialist at UC Berkeley, said the concept of herd immunity cant really apply to counties or cities alone because they arent insulated from one another. I think a better way to look at it is: as we approach this theoretical number, things will get better, even one percent of increase in vaccinations translates into thousands of fewer infections, he said. Public higher education is intended to equip the citizenry with the skills necessary to preserve democracy and work for the common good of humanity, shared Dr. Eileene Tejada, NVC Academic Senate president. We are sending you into the world as great lights your mission is to work for the common good, never losing sight of the humanity of all, especially of those with whom you may disagree. Oscar Loyola Jr., Napa Valley College Class of 2021 valedictorian, acknowledged, The road towards earning our degree was far from a smooth ride, but we were able to prevail and reach the summit. We all came from distinct paths, but we all share a common goal to improve ourselves and become better educated for our own future and the future of our loved ones. A first-generation college student, Loyola earned an associate degree in business administration with a 4.0 GPA. He is headed to the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley in the fall. Guns were stashed near doorways and in crawl spaces. They may have been placed there so Cassidy could grab them in an emergency such as law enforcement arriving, sheriff's Sgt. Joe Piazza said. Cassidy's locker at the rail yard had materials for bombs, detonator cords, the precursors to an explosive, Sheriff Laurie Smith said. Questions remained about what might have set off Cassidy's lethal rampage and whether there were warning signs. Patrick Gorman, special agent in charge of the San Francisco field division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said he was not aware of any information about Cassidy, such as tips from the public, being shared with his division before the shooting. U.S. customs officers who detained him in 2016 on his return from the Philippines found books about terrorism and fear as well as a memo book filled with notes about how much he hated the Valley Transportation Authority. But he was let go, and a resulting Department of Homeland Security memo on the encounter was not shared with local authorities. Peterson maintains his innocence and a judge is considering whether to grant a new trial because a juror failed to disclose that she had sought a restraining order in 2000 against her boyfriends ex-girlfriend. She said in seeking the order that she feared for her unborn child. The judge must decide if that amounted to juror misconduct, and if so, whether it was so prejudicial that a new trial is warranted. If no new trial is granted, he will be sentenced to life imprisonment. One of Petersons attorneys said the announcement is not a precursor to a plea deal and that his client will seek a new trial if a judge decides his first one was tainted by juror misconduct. Superior Court Judge Anne-Christine Massullo said she hopes to make a decision this year whether Peterson merits a new trial. Its not clear if prosecutors could again seek the death penalty if there is a new trial and he was again convicted, said defense attorney Pat Harris, who is handling the death sentence portion of the case. A different attorney, Andras Farkas, is representing Peterson on the issue of whether he gets a new trial. Farkas did not respond to an email requesting comment. RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) A jailed suspect denies any involvement in a series of BB gun shootings that shattered windows of about 100 vehicles on Southern California freeways. Jesse Leal Rodriguez was arrested last week and charged with attempted murder and other crimes in connection with a BB gun attack that broke a window of a Tesla. The charges deal only with a single attack and not the many other similar attacks on dozens of vehicles in recent weeks. All the incidents are under investigation, and more charges could be filed in the future, prosecutors said Friday. In a jailhouse interview with the Southern California News Group, Rodriguez denied being involved in any of the shootings. I didnt do any of them, he said. Not one person has reported that they saw me shoot. The Riverside County District Attorneys Office declined to directly address his statements. Rodriguez is scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday. The 34-year-old said he doesn't have an attorney. But as the years went by, and the dividing lines of the war blurred into memory, Memorial Day became more standardized the end of May became customary, and the last Monday in May became official in 1971. Today, the day is dedicated not to the Union or Confederate dead, or even to the dead of the Civil War, but to all the men and women who have given their lives in the service of the United States. Through all the changes and the differing observances of Memorial Day, the idea has remained the same: to honors those who did not come home. The people who survived our wars both the veterans who fought and the civilians who tended the home front were able to tell their stories. They were able to write new stories of life after the war. For those men and women who did not come home, their stories stopped on the battlefield. The idea of Memorial Day then is to honor their sacrifice and make sure that these men and women remain part of our stories, even if their voices were silenced too soon. It is for the idea that their untold stories should not be forgotten that we gather every Memorial Day. To be fair, both sides have engaged in shell games. Biden responded to the GOP offer by slicing half a trillion from his initial proposal, but he merely moved some of the deletions into another bill. "There's no goodwill on either side," a congressional aide told me. "There's a complete and utter lack of trust." The biggest stumbling block isn't the overall number, but how to pay for all that spending. Biden wants to raise taxes on corporations and anyone making more than $400,000 a year; McConnell and other Republicans have dismissed that as unthinkable. One mildly promising sign emerged on Tuesday: A bipartisan group of moderates including maverick Democrat Joe Manchin III of West Virginia said they were working toward a new compromise. But they are acting without McConnell's support, which will make it difficult for them to attract the 10 Republicans needed to reach the Senate's 60-vote requirement. It's not surprising that negotiations on ambitious legislation would be tough; they're supposed to be. The problem is that Doyle McManus McConnell, in contrast, is rooting openly for Biden and the Democrats to fail. He's revived the playbook he used against then-President Obama, when he saw obstructionism as a way to turn voters against the administration and toward the GOP. The Iceland season begins on July 7 with the 6-day Wild Island Escape, a compact adventure to the remote fjords and volcanic isles along the country's western coast. Guests will encounter evidence of volcanic activity as they soak in geothermal hot springs, hike over cooled lava fields, and view Iceland's newest isle, Surtsey. They will set out by Zodiac to observe cliffs teeming with nesting puffins and snow-capped plateaus, watching for humpback and minke whales. Rates begin at $5,180 per person based on double occupancy in a category one cabin and include all meals, drinks, and excursions, plus complimentary bar tab and crew gratuities. The 11-day Circumnavigation of Iceland will showcase glaciers, geysers, thundering waterfalls, immense cliffs, geothermal springs, boiling mud pots, and lava-scapes of unearthly beauty. Departures begin on July 11. The expedition will travel Icelands wild western coast; Grimsey in the north; the rarely visited rugged east coast; and the Westman Islands in the south, among the planets youngest archipelagos. Guests will cruise into the remote Westfjords and spend time on the Arctic Circle spotting nesting seabirds, and hike on remote stretches of the coast. Rates begin at $11,460 per person based on double occupancy in a category 1 cabin. SP+, the company that runs parking meters and garages in Annapolis, began using the ParkMobile APP in 2019. At the time ParkMobile was used by more than 13 million people in North America, including Baltimore, Washington, Bethany Beach, Ocean City and Towson. The company calls itself the most widely used parking app in the United States. The American administration, led by President Joe Biden, presented budget proposals for 2022, according to which financial assistance to Armenia remained unchanged. The document notes that the funds allocated to the countries of Europe and Eurasia in the framework of financial assistance are aimed at ensuring the resilience of these countries to foreign harmful influence, their progress along the path of Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as solving the growing challenges and encroachments from Russia and China. Funding will support programs aimed at protecting democracy, the rule of law, promoting human rights and gender equality, fighting corruption, and countering authoritarianism. The programs will work to support allies and partners as they develop responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and take action to address the impact of the pandemic across all sectors of the economy and public affairs, the document says. According to the document, the United States intends to allocate more than $ 88 million in financial assistance to Georgia in 2022. Thus, Georgia will receive the largest amount of aid from all countries in the region. For comparison, the assistance provided to Armenia and Azerbaijan remained unchanged - 23.40 million and 9.14 million US dollars, respectively. Through military education and training, the countries of Europe and Eurasia will receive $ 26.9 million. These funds should go to strengthening regional security, interoperability with the US, NATO, and European forces, as well as helping to counter Russian aggression. The request for 2022 for Armenia and Azerbaijan under the IMET program is $ 600,000 each. In 2020, $ 192,000 was allocated to Armenia, and $ 211,000 to Azerbaijan. In 2022, $ 1,940,000 will be allocated to Turkey under the program, and $ 651,000 was provided in 2020. Within the framework of the financial assistance program, the countries of Europe and Eurasia can receive 299 million from the United States to counter Russian influence and aggression by strengthening the ability of allies and partners to exercise sovereignty and provide their own defenses by improving interoperability with NATO. Within the program, Georgia was offered to provide $ 25 million, the rest of the region's countries were not included in this program. EU President: I applaud Azerbaijans & Armenias parallel humanitarian gestures Georgia is ready to participate in settlement of humanitarian issues between Baku and Yerevan Aliyev: If Armenia wants peace, they should start negotiations with us on delimitation Kocharyan intends to turn government dachas into rehab center Baku says it handed over 15 POWs to Armenia in exchange for map of minefields Nikol Pashinyan shares photo of Armenian POWs returning home Eight more remains found in Artsakh search operations Saturday Armenia MOD refutes reports on deployment of Turkey army units in Sev Lake region Armenia MP candidate charged with bribery is remanded in custody Armenia acting PM on border situation: Our Russian partners have come, looked at areas where they can be deployed Armenia acting premier: This election battle has already turned into class struggle 20 Afghanistan security force members killed in clashes with Taliban Armenia acting PM supporters give kids instructions in Gegharkunik Province village Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: We reject vendettas Armenia ex-President Serzh Sargsyan pays tribute to late PM Andranik Margaryan Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: Maybe 2018 evens would not have happened if they had kept level of education Bright Armenia Party MP: Our prime ministerial candidate is Edmon Marukyan Armenia former President Kocharyan: I want to be proud of my homeland One person on Armenia ruling party electoral list also has Iran citizenship, his registration is declared invalid Armenias Pashinyan congratulates Boris Johnson on Queens Birthday Armenia ex-President Kocharyan in Spitak town, pays tribute to victims of 1988 earthquake Acting premier: Corrupt clergymen discredit Armenian Apostolic Church, traditional values Armenia, Georgia customs officials meet at Bagratashen border checkpoint One new case of coronavirus reported in Artsakh Armenia acting deputy PM signs new decision Sarkissian to Putin: Armenian-Russian cooperation is developing confidently in all directions 8 dead in China factory chemical leak Putin notes differences between "outsider" Trump, "career man" Biden 88 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia President: Karabakh has always underscored Russia's invaluable place, role in our region Security Council chief: We have had Russias support in Artsakh for centuries Pashinyan to Putin: I am convinced that Armenian-Russian interstate relations will continue to develop Armenias Pashinyan congratulates Mishustin on Russia Day Newspaper: Armenia criminal authorities take neutral position in current electoral process Newspaper: Real "war" behind scenes of Armenia authorities after every provincial visit of acting PM Armenia acting PM Pashinyan tells details from his talk with army General Staff former chief Gasparyan Man found dead in Armenia canal NATO Secretary-General affirms willingness for cooperation with Russia Armenia Special Investigation Service charges political party member for giving electoral bribe Armenia Central Electoral Commission grants motion to launch criminal prosecution against MP candidate "I Have the Honor" bloc member: Coronavirus and 'nikolavirus' (Nikol Pashinyan) are both lethal Greek PM: Greece willing to back positive EU agenda for Turkey Russia Deputy FM, France Ambassador discuss settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict CoE: We are engaged in a dialogue to develop a set of confidence-building measures between Armenia, Azerbaijan Armenia 3rd President states when country's security system began to collapse Armenia Armed Forces' General Staff ex-deputy chief on acting PM's statement on his "National Hero" title Armenia Arevik National Park director dismissed for being a friend of Meghri mayor Reuters: Erdogan's summit with Biden clouded by bitter disputes Armenia acting MOD receives Head of ICRC Delegation Gagik Tsarukyan: Armenia needs to develop the economy by using resources of country and people Gagik Tsarukyan: Russia is Armenia's main ally, and this can't be altered Armenia MOD: Azerbaijanis try to carry out engineering works in Kut border section, Armenian side counters Armenia 1st President's nephew and his son involved in brawl in Yerevan Snap elections online voting starts, Azerbaijan continues 'trial' of Armenian POWs, Jun 11 digest Armenian former high-tech industry minister, member of ruling party on June 9 brawl in Yerevan Robert Kocharyan: If Armenia wants a peaceful settlement of Karabakh conflict, it needs to give Azerbaijan hope Armenia acting PM: During campaign meetings hundreds of mothers thanked me for signing Nov. 9 document Citizens are demanded to applaud Armenia acting PM Armenia ruling party lawmaker, MP candidate: Civil Contracts election promises are continuation of 2018 promises Armenia villager to Nikol Pashinyan: Yard of Turk's house is in front of our military post Opposition Prosperous Armenia Party assures that it's not expecting ministerial positions Robert Kocharyan: "Armenia" bloc will restore and deepen country's ties with allies Czech Rep. parliament committee calls on Azerbaijan to release all Armenian captives immediately "Armenia" bloc member Armen Gevorgyan holds meetings with diplomatic corps and international organizations Dollar still dropping in Armenia Azerbaijan announces names of 26 Armenian servicemen it intends to "put on trial" Armenian publishing house to print 66,925,000 ballots for upcoming snap parliamentary elections "Armenia" bloc member: There are reports that over 10 police buses escorted acting PM yesterday Gallup: "Armenia" bloc records slightly higher indicator than ruling party Armenia acting PM has been obligated to publicly apologize to Khachatryan family "Armenia" bloc: Robert Kocharyan and ARF-D resolved crisis that Levon Ter-Petrosyan created in 1998 Intellectual Armenia Party to support "Armenia" bloc in snap parliamentary elections Armenia ruling party MP's powers terminated Brawl takes place during Armenia ruling Civil Contract Party's campaign meeting, case launched Armenia acting premier: We also have enclave under Azerbaijan rule Holy Etchmiadzin: We express regret for unwise, inappropriate statements of acting PM "I have the honor" bloc member: Armenia acting PM has instructed his voters to go to polls by afternoon Prosperous Armenia Party MP: Enemy does not divide Armenians into "blacks" and "whites" Bright Armenia Party leader: Acting premier will not be able to get 60% of votes Armenia acting PM: There are people in media who are more like "killers" than journalists Ex-President Kocharyan: 2009-2018 I did not agree with Armenia authorities on many issues Armenia has new millionaires Armenia President visits Russia embassy, meets with ambassador Artsakh search continues Friday for remains of Armenian soldiers killed in war Armenia ruling party election offices heads being paid by provincial halls? Armenia emergency ministry preparing for a new cooperation with USAID US, Turkey top defense officials discuss regional issues 95 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia G7 leaders pledge to share 1bn doses of coronavirus vaccine with world Armenia snap parliamentary elections online voting starts Trump tells Biden to give Putin his warmest regards Newspaper: Pashinyan is both Armenia acting PM and not Newspaper: Why is Armenia arms dealer released from custody? National Geographic officially announces 5th ocean Armenia MP candidate is detained Armenia Prosecutor General receives OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission's delegation France's Macron intends to discuss situation in Nagorno-Karabakh with Turkish counterpart Armenia 3rd President on Nikol Pashinyan: People look at him and say 'greetings, son of a b**ch' US Department of Commerce intends to impose sanctions against Armenia's Armenal aluminum foil producer/exporter Armenia 1st President recalls his "remedial secession" formula for Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement The United States is concerned about recent developments on the international border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including the detention of several Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani troops, the US Embassy in Baku tweeted. "The United States is concerned about recent events on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including the detention of several Armenian soldiers by Azerbaijani servicemen. We call on both sides to resolve this incident peacefully. We call on Azerbaijan to immediately release all detainees," the statement reads. "The United States calls on Azerbaijan to redeploy its troops to the positions they held on May 11, as well as return to substantive negotiations as soon as possible under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to achieve a long-term political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," the official website of the embassy said. If they do not come into compliance in 60 days, they can be sued and subjected to a penalty of up to $500,000. MDE approved a nearly $13 million grant to Valley Proteins more than 80% of the cost to upgrade its wastewater system. This money is to be taken from the Bay Restoration Fund which has been used to upgrade government-operated sewage treatment plants to remove nitrogen and phosphorus. We all pay the Flush Tax on our water and sewer bills which have never been given to a for-profit corporation in 16 years of the Restoration Funds existence. Indonesian authorities said two oil tankers - the Iranian-flagged MT Horse and Panamanian-flagged MT Freya - were released after being detained for four months for illegally transporting oil in Indonesian waters, the Associated Press reported. The two ships were released on Friday and their captains were allowed to leave, despite being sentenced to a year in prison on Tuesday for violating shipping channel rules, said Wisnu Pramandita, a spokesman for Indonesias Maritime Security Agency. According to Pramandita, MT Freya was also fined 2 billion rupees (almost $ 140,000) for an oil spill at sea. Iran has been selling oil on the black market since President Donald Trump imposed sanctions in 2018 and threatened to punish countries that bought Iranian oil. Iranian oil tankers turn off their tracking equipment, hiding the purpose of their voyage. MT Horse and MT Freya were detained at the end of January, along with 36 Iranian and 25 Chinese crew members. A few days later, the Chinese government called on Indonesia to treat the Chinese sailors fairly, but gave no indication of what their oil tanker was doing when it was found carrying fuel from an Iranian ship at sea. Tianzhou-2 docks with space station module A Long March 7 rocket, carrying China's Tianzhou-2 cargo craft, lifts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre in Hainan province. Photo: AFP A Chinese cargo spacecraft carrying equipment and supplies successfully docked with the core module of the country's future space station on Sunday, state media said. A Long March 7 rocket carrying the Tianzhou-2 cargo craft -- loaded with essentials such as food, equipment and fuel -- blasted off late Saturday from the Wenchang launch site on Hainan island, the Xinhua news agency reported. The docking with the space station's Tianhe core module was completed at 5:01 am Beijing time (2101 GMT Saturday), the agency said, citing the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). China will need to carry out around 10 missions in total to complete assembly of the space station -- named Tiangong, meaning "heavenly palace" -- in orbit. The station is expected to become fully operational in 2022. Once completed, it is expected to remain in low Earth orbit for up to 15 years. With the possible retirement of the International Space Station after 2028, Tiangong could become the only human outpost in Earth's orbit. Now that the cargo craft has docked, China plans to begin preparations to send three astronauts up to unpack the goods, which include meals such as shredded pork with garlic sauce and Kung Pao chicken, the agency said. "We will transport support materials, necessary spare parts and equipment first, and then our crew," Xinhua quoted CMSA director Hao Chun as saying. Beijing has pumped billions into its space programme in a bid to make up ground on pioneers Russia and the United States, with ambitious projects in Earth orbit and the landing of uncrewed craft on the Moon and Mars. But it was heavily reprimanded by the United States and many experts for a potentially dangerous breach of space etiquette for letting a massive rocket segment free-fall to Earth earlier this month after launching the Tianhe core module. Although Chinese authorities have said they are open to foreign collaboration on their space station, the scope of that cooperation is as yet unclear. But the European Space Agency has already sent astronauts to China to train for work inside Tiangong when it is ready. Earlier this month, China landed its Zhurong rover on Mars, becoming only the third nation to successfully land a craft on the red planet. The rover has begun roaming to study Martian geology -- it is to spend around three months taking photos and harvesting data from a vast northern lava plain. The United States and Russia are the only other countries to have reached Mars, and only the former has operated a rover on the surface. The launch of the Tianzhou-2 was to have taken place just days after the Mars rover landing, but was postponed for technical reasons. (AFP) Museum on Tiananmen crackdown reopens Museum on Tiananmen crackdown reopens Several visitors took their children to the exhibition on the first day of its re-opening. Photo: RTHK The exhibition features photos from the 1989 student movement in Beijing, as well as the role of Hong Kong at the time. Photo: RTHK Organisers say they see nothing wrong with the museum and have pandemic measures in place. Photo: RTHK The organisers of the annual June Fourth events to commemorate the Tiananmen Square massacre on Sunday reopened a museum for people to learn more about the crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 1989 and to pay tribute to the victims. For the second year in a row, police refused to give permission for the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China to hold a candlelight vigil, and a march, citing pandemic concerns. The alliance called on the public to make reservations online to visit, as part of their Covid prevention measures. Some members of the public were quick to book their visits for the first day of the exhibition, as they spoke of fears that it could be the last time they could see it. "I booked it immediately because I worry that, you never know, the exhibition may be closed again for other reasons," said a woman named Helen. "The significance is that we still can talk about it, June Fourth in Hong Kong, but I worry that, you know, because this year we cannot really have our memorial thing in Victoria Park this year, so I worry that this exhibition cannot stay in Hong Kong." A woman, surnamed Li, brought her two high school children to the venue in Mong Kok, noting that she had previously taken her teenage son and daughter to a candlelight vigil in Victoria Park. "The Chinese government really killed so many students, those innocent students, we want my children to know that this really happened, this is history...Even though time flies, we won't forget about this. Don't fool us, even though it's 30 years, they try to make people lose their memory about this because of time," she said, adding that the exhibition was important so people could learn from history. A university researcher from the mainland said he found out about the exhibition when looking for museums before leaving Hong Kong, and he decided to pay a visit. "This is an opportunity that I can get more information about history, real history...You know for a person he or she will also be curious about something in history...if I do not come here, then later it'll be quite difficult for me to learn this period of history," said the man, who gave his name as Chen. The museum opened its doors again at a sensitive time, with some pro-Beijing figures claiming slogans chanted at past June Fourth events would now be outlawed by the national security law. But Mak Hoi-wah, a standing committee member of the Alliance, said he saw nothing wrong with the museum. "As Chinese, we have to learn about our history, historical developments," he said. "Of course, some people may think that it's not acceptable in China, therefore it's not acceptable in Hong Kong. I think it's not the way, Hong Kong people, even under the national security law, we're not breaking any law, we're not doing any harm to the society and I don't see any reason why the Hong Kong Alliance or our museum should be suppressed." One visitor, Valerie, who came with her three children, said she preferred to keep up her hope that there could still be public commemorations of the 1989 massacre, but she said she was prepared that the exhibition and the vigil may never return. "I think that we will always remember. I think we can do it from home, I think we can do it from anywhere," she said. Anyone with information regarding the identity of the two individual or concerning the incidents are asked to contact WPD at 410-848-4646 or confidentially at 410-857-8477 or by texting 847411 keyword TIPWPD. Reuters Videos The S&P 500 rose marginally to end a languid week Friday at another record high. Economically sensitive consumer and financial stocks led the rally. The Dow ended flat while the S&P added two-tenths of a percent, and the Nasdaq rose a third of a percent. In a week marked by mostly sideways action with few market-moving catalysts, the blue chip index fell but the broader indexes gained ground. FiPlan Partners President Greg Powell: I think today is just an indication that people are trying to find some sense of direction. At the same time, we're just kind of taking a breath here.Even the frenzied trading in social media-driven meme stocks subsided a tad on Friday. AMC Entertainment outperformed the pack with a 15% increase. Healthcare stocks were the days biggest decliners. Biogen shares dropped over 4%. The Food and Drug Administration is facing mounting criticism because it had quickly approved the biotech companys Alzheimers drug Aduhelm without strong evidence of its ability to fight the disease. Next week, inflation-obsessed Wall Street will be eyeing producer price data on Tuesday and the Federal Reserve policymakers meeting that ends on Wednesday. Data: Quorum; Chart: Will Chase/Axios Ninety members of Congress have served in the military 42 in the Army and least 14 more have family members with military experience, Axios reports from an analysis of bios by Quorum. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free. Rep. Dean Phillips' father was killed in Vietnam when the Democratic congressman from Minnesota was 6 months old. He and other lawmakers join Americans this weekend in remembering and honoring those who lost their lives in combat. More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free American Airlines has suspended alcohol service after a violent incident left a Southwest Airlines flight attendant missing two teeth (Getty Images) As travel surges in the United States for Memorial Day weekend, passenger misbehavior on airplanes also appears to be on the rise. On Saturday, American Airlines became the latest airline to suspend the serving of alcohol on flights after a passenger allegedly brutalized a Southwest Airlines flight attendant, who suffered serious injuries and lost two teeth. Let me be clear: American Airlines will not tolerate assault or mistreatment of our crews, Brady Byrnes, American Airlines head of flight service, said in an internal company memo obtained by CNN. Mr Byrnes said the airline has seen deeply disturbing situations on board aircraft over the past week, especially as flight attendants tried to enforce the federal mandate that all passengers wear masks. The airline says it will stop serving alcohol until at least 13 September which is also when the mask mandate ends. Southwest Airlines had already announced a similar ban. Given the recent uptick in industry-wide incidents of passenger disruptions in-flight, we have made the decision to pause the previously announced restart of alcohol service onboard, a spokesperson for the airline told USA TODAY. The number of people traveling in the US has skyrocketed this week, as Americans enjoy what many consider their first post-pandemic holiday. After over a year of being told to stay home and avoid visiting relatives in person, many Americans including over half of all US adults are now fully vaccinated and can safely roam the country. The resulting numbers are staggering. On Friday alone, the Transportation Security Administration said it screened 1.96 million people. If that figure reaches 2 million at some point this weekend as its expected to it will be the highest number of travelers per day since early March 2020, before the pandemic began. The roads are busy as well. The American Automobile Association predicted that more than 37 million Americans will drive at least 50 miles from their homes this weekend, a 60 per cent increase from last year. Story continues This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Paula Twidale, a spokesperson for AAA, told NBC Connecticut that travel has been increasing since April, when larger numbers of Americans began getting their Covid shots. People are just excited to get out, she told the station. Read More Southwest bans woman accused of assaulting flight attendant Flying over Memorial Day? Expect long lines at airports AAA sees a huge jump in travel over Memorial Day weekend NJ to give beachgoers COVID shots over Memorial Day weekend Southwest flight attendant loses two teeth in onboard assault Photo credit: Getty Images Pitch Perfect and Trolls World Tour star Anna Kendrick has landed her newest role in a Netflix movie about an infamous real-life serial killer. Rodney & Sheryl is about Rodney Alcala, a man who is currently serving a prison sentence (originally a death sentence) for five murders in California and two more in New York though the actual number of people he has murdered is widely believed to be much higher. Photo credit: Getty Images Alcala is known as the Dating Game Killer, as he appeared on a television show called The Dating Game, essentially the US' version of Blind Date, in 1978. At this point, he had committed several murders already and had been convicted of the attempted murder of a 12-year old, not that the producers properly looked that up. The show was where he met a woman named Cheryl not Sheryl Bradshaw with who he 'won' a date, but she refused to go as she found him creepy. Sheryl will be played by Kendrik who is also executive producing. Photo credit: Jurgen Olczyk - Netflix Recently, Kendrick starred in another Netflix film, high-concept science-fiction movie called Stowaway, which we gave a solid three out of five stars to. As high-concept science-fiction movies tend to do, the ending for it was quite ambiguous, but Kendrick and co-star Daniel Dae Kim gave their thoughts on how they think things went. Digital Spy's digital magazine is back and we've got an EXCLUSIVE interview with Dave Bautista. Read every issue now with a 1-month free trial, only on Apple News+ . Interested in Digital Spy's weekly newsletter? Sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox and don't forget to join our Watch This Facebook Group for daily TV recommendations and discussions with other readers. You Might Also Like President Biden and congressional Republicans disagree on how to define exactly what infrastructure means. WASHINGTON With a summer target approaching to pass an infrastructure deal with Republicans, President Joe Biden faces a dilemma over the most ambitious parts of a proposal he's said would rival construction of the interstate highway system and the space race. Does he keep pushing the progressive agenda he campaigned on with a package that addresses "social infrastructure" such as caregiving, housing and climate change, or promote bipartisanship by working with Republicans on a much narrower bill focused on roads, bridges and railways? Republicans have made it clear they won't support any elements that go beyond physical infrastructure, something that remains a critical point of disagreement months into negotiations and as the White House signals it wants a deal soon We want to focus on actual infrastructure the platforms and services that move people, goods and services through our economy," said Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., on Thursday. Thats what people understand to be infrastructure, and we can reach an agreement if we focus on those items." Biden: Biden declares his 'economic plan is working,' pushes infrastructure plan as the next step Republicans slammed the so-called "human infrastructure" proposal as pet liberal projects even before Biden first unveiled his American Jobs Plan in March and have kept that stance through their latest $928 trillion counteroffer released Thursday. Though that was enough to claim progress ahead of the president's self-imposed Memorial Day benchmark for traction toward a deal, the White House is now circling the week of June 7, when Congress returns, to produce a "clear direction" on a bipartisan package. "Were going to have to close this down soon, Biden said Thursday as the White House expressed encouragement over the new GOP proposal. Heading into the holiday break, Democratic senators reiterated Biden's call for an infrastructure package that goes beyond bridges and roads. Story continues Elevated tracks in Philadelphia in March 2021. "We must pass comprehensive jobs and infrastructure legislation this summer," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., told reporters Friday. "The American people gave us a Democratic Senate to produce big and bold change on the major issues confronting us and that is what we are doing." Democrats and activists don't want Biden to cave, saying he should move ahead without Republicans if necessary to achieve the ambitious agenda they believe won them Congress and the White House. GOP offer: GOP senators pitch new $928 billion infrastructure plan in latest offer to Biden Ellen Sciales with the progressive Sunrise Movement urged Biden not to "cower to Republicans," noting not a single one voted for the COVID-19 relief package in March. And Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said the country's post-pandemic phase needs the government to spend money improving day care, education and other elements of the "care economy." "Without those pieces, you're not gonna be able to recover the economy," she said. "So I think it's a mistake to proceed in a small way, when the moment is demanding a robust response to the economic collapse due to COVID." More talks are planned for next week after a brief phone call Thursday between Biden and West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, the leading Republican on infrastructure negotiations. Both described the call as positive, but she's sticking by her version of infrastructure. "What is the definition of infrastructure? We have stayed within the boundaries of our original plan. I think that's what the American people think of when they think of infrastructure and that's certainly what we do too," she said Thursday during a news conference in which Republicans unveiled their latest offer. "The big question is the scope," Capito said. 'The clock is ticking': Democrats grow restless with infrastructure talks as Republicans float next counteroffer Biden could choose to go it alone with only Democrats using a legislative maneuver called reconciliation to keep his package intact. But there's no guarantee he has the votes to do even that. And yet if he sacrifices his most ambitious elements to score Republican votes, he risks jeopardizing the grand scale he's said is needed to accelerate the U.S economy in the 21st century. Reconciliation, a process subject to certain rules, would allow Democrats to approve a bill with a simple 51-vote majority without any Republican support. Otherwise, Democrats would need the backing of at least 10 Republicans to overcome a legislative hurdle called a filibuster to bring the plan to a vote. Schumer said the use of reconciliation was under "serious consideration." "The events of the last few days probably made every member of our caucus realize that a lot of our Republican colleagues are not willing to work with us on a whole lot of issues, even issues where we're trying to be bipartisan," he said Friday. Such a path would mirror how Biden won approval of his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 rescue plan in March after talks with Republican fizzled. But Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell dared Democrats to try that this time, predicting it will be harder for Democrats to stay unified around an infrastructure plan that has a tax hike. "They may be able to pull it off, but I think it's going to be really hard, and we're going to fight them the whole way if that's what they have in mind," McConnell said in an interview last week on Fox News. President Joe Biden walks off of Marine One on the Ellipse near the White House on Thursday after returning from a trip to Cleveland. The guarded optimism surrounding a new GOP proposal this week on infrastructure and the promise of more talks with the White House belies a stark reality: both sides remain far apart. Senate Republicans upped their offer to $928 billion Thursday, several days after Biden trimmed his American Jobs Act from $2.25 trillion to $1.7 trillion. There's good news: the gap between the two sides is about half what it was just two weeks ago. And the new GOP plan includes money for electric charging vehicles, a priority for the Biden administration trying to address climate change by lowering fuel emissions. Infrastructure visualized: Joe Biden wants to spend $2 trillion on infrastructure and jobs. These 4 charts show where the money would go. But even if Biden embraces a proposal for only traditional infrastructure matching what Republicans want both sides so far remain intractable on how to pay for it. Republicans refuse to consider the corporate tax hike Biden wants to use to pay for his plan, noting it would undo tax cuts they approved in 2017, and Democrats refuse to allow billions in recently passed COVID-19 relief to be "repurposed" for infrastructure as Republicans do in their plan. And beyond their competing definitions of infrastructure, the two sides haven't agreed on what physical infrastructure should be covered. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the Biden administration remains "concerned" that the GOP counteroffer has little or no funding for fixing Veterans Affairs hospitals, rail, repairing transit system, replacing the nation's lead pipes and investing in clean energy jobs. Big differences on how to pay for it It's not just what's in the bill that has senators at odds, it's finding the money to finance it. where the money to pay for it will come from. The $928 billion package GOP senators unveiled Thursday would pay for some transportation improvements by siphoning billions in COVID relief money as part of Biden's American Rescue Act that Congress passed in March. Infrastructure talks: Infrastructure talks hit snag as Republicans reject Biden's reduced $1.7 trillion counteroffer Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., the GOP's lead negotiator on a counteroffer to President Joe Biden's infrastructure plan, walks with reporters as senators go to the chamber for votes on Thursday. Republicans would prefer to "repurpose," or redirect, money Congress approved in March as part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. Capito mentioned that some of the money could come from unspent federal unemployment benefits since 23 states have declined to apply the $300 weekly benefit to help those out of work. That's a no-go, according to Psaki. "We are worried that major cuts in COVID relief funds could imperil pending aid to small businesses, restaurants and rural hospitals using this money to get back on their feet after the crush of the pandemic," she said in her statement. Republicans, meanwhile, are refusing to budge on the president's proposal to raise taxes on corporations from 21% to 28%, a linchpin of his economic justice plan to make the wealthiest Americans pay more to help the country. Toomey said raising taxes is a nonstarter. "We believe that the 2017 tax reform contributed significantly to enabling us to achieve the best economy in my lifetime. And that's no small thing," he said in Thursday's news conference. "We're not interested in undoing the provisions in the tax reform bill that allowed us to get here." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden infrastructure plan: Sides at odds on social infrastructure Bill Cosby has been denied parole as a result of his refusal to participate in sex offender treatment. The Pennsylvania State Parole Board declined Cosbys parole request on May 11, according to a board letter provided to Oxygen.com. The letter states that Cosby didnt participate in "a treatment program for sex offenders and violence prevention," and that he failed to develop a parole release plan. Spokesperson Laura Treaster told Oxygen.com via email on Friday morning that in order for Cosby to possibly get parole he must successfully participated in/successfully completed a treatment program for sex offenders and violence prevention, maintain a clear conduct record and receive a favorable recommendation for parole from the DOC. Mr. Cosby is to be reviewed again upon completion of programming as indicated by recent DOC assessment, Treaster stated. There is no set timetable for this to take place. Cosby was convicted in 2018 of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004. He is currently behind bars, serving a sentence of three to 10 years. While he was convicted of one assault, more than 50 women had come forward alleging that Cosby had drugged and sexually assaulted them over the course of decades. A statement was released on all Cosby's official social media accounts on Thursday by a representative for the actor who said that the parole board's decision "is not a surprise to Mr. Cosby, his family, his friends and/or his legal team." "It was brought to our attention by Mr. Cosby that over the past months, members of the PA State Parole Board had met with him and empathically stated, 'if he did not participate in SVP [Sexually Violent Predator] courses that his parole would be denied,'' the statement reads. It goes on to state that the 83-year-old has vehemently proclaimed his innocence and continues to deny all allegations made against him, as being false, without the sheer evidence of any proof. The statement says that Cosby continues to remain hopeful that the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court will issue an opinion to vacate his conviction or warrant him a new trial." Cosbys maximum sentence date is for the fall of 2028, Treaster told Oxygen.com. By that point he would over 90 years old. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants the upcoming Group of Seven summit to reach agreement on Covid-19 vaccine passports and to open talks on a "world treaty" to prepare for future pandemics. "We need to have agreements on issues such as vaccine passports, Covid status certification and the rest," Johnson said in an interview broadcast Sunday by Canadian public channel CBC. "There has to be some sort of agreement then, at the G7 level to start, on how travel and passports are going to work." Johnson was speaking ahead of a June 11-13 summit of the G7 economic powers (US, Canada, Japan, Britain, France, Germany and Italy) which he will host in Cornwall, at the southwestern tip of England. "What we need, I think, is a global treaty on pandemic preparedness," he said, adding that 2020 had been a "terrible year for humanity." To date, the pandemic has killed more than 3.5 million people worldwide. Britain was among the hardest-hit countries, though it has been recovering since beginning vaccinations. Johnson said it was also a bad time "for believers in global cooperation, because the world simply became balkanized," with many countries slow to share stocks of protective equipment, medicines and vaccines. "We've got to do better than this," the prime minister added. "Vaccination has got to be a global enterprise," Johnson said in the interview taped Friday. He said it was crucial that developing countries receive vaccine supplies as quickly as possible. Rather than the goal set by some of vaccinating the world by 2024 or 2025, Johnson set a more ambitious target, saying, "We need to get this done by the end of next year." As to the debate over the origins of the pandemic -- which flared up recently when President Joe Biden ordered a new intelligence report on the problem -- Johnson said he still leaned to the theory that it had spread from wild animals to humans, not leaked from a Chinese laboratory. Story continues "But," he added, "I'm not going to exclude any possibility." Johnson, who himself was hospitalized last year with a serious case of Covid, has faced sharp criticism in Britain for his early handling of the pandemic there. The G7 summit will be an in-person affair. The group was set to meet last summer in the US, but Covid concerns led to the meeting's cancellation. ps/fff/bbk/dw The woman sold two polar bear skulls to an uncover US Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent, the Department of Justice said. Reuters/Mathieu Belanger A Canadian woman sold federally protected wildlife items to an undercover agent, the DOJ said. Vanessa Rondeau, the owner of an oddity boutique, is facing multiple charges including smuggling. According to the DOJ, she sold the polar bear skulls to the agent on two separate occasions. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. A Canadian woman was arrested and charged after selling the skulls of polar bears, a species protected under federal law, to an undercover agent, the Department of Justice said Friday. Vanessa Rondeau, 26, of Montreal, Canada, owns a local business called The Old Cavern Boutique that sells oddity items, "many composed in whole or in part from wildlife," according to the DOJ. An undercover United States Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent reached out to Rondeau in September 2019 about a crow mount advertised on her page, the DOJ said. When the agent asked about potential problems with shipping the item to the US, due to it be a "protected species," she said she had not had a problem before and labels the items as an"Art piece." The DOJ said she also sold two polar bear skulls to the agent. The agent private messaged Rondeau on Facebook to inquire about the items. The first skull was sold to the agent for $750 plus a $30 shipping fee. The agent, located in Buffalo, New York, received it in February 2020, according to the DOJ. About a year later, the agent contacted Rondeau again for another polar bear skull that she was selling on her business page. The agent agreed to purchase the second skull for $685, with an additional $35 shipping fee, the DOJ said. The agent received the skull in February 2021. Recently, on Wednesday, she was stopped at the US border in Highgate Springs, Vermont, while attempting to enter Canada when authorities discovered that she had "numerous undeclared wildlife items" with her, according to the Associated Press and court documents. Story continues The extensive list of items included: six shark jaws, 18 crocodile skulls and heads, one three-toed sloth, 12 horseshoe crabs, eight African antelope horns, 23 raccoon feet, 30 sea stars, and four pufferfish. A human skull "with mounted butterflies" was also found, court documents said. The DOJ said Rondeau was charged with smuggling, Lacey Act Trafficking, and Lacey Act False Labeling. She faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. She has been released on a $50,000 bond, local outlet WIVB reported. Read the original article on Insider As COVID-19 loosens its grip on the state of Connecticut and residents drop their masks and return to their social lives, health officials say the state may soon bid farewell to another prominent marker of the pandemic: testing sites. With Connecticuts vaccination rate rising and overall testing numbers dropping, officials say there soon wont be a need for the semi-permanent sites that have taken over parking lots across the state. Probably over the next few weeks well start to see those wind down, said Dr. Deidre Gifford, the states acting public health commissioner. Those efforts will begin to shift instead to hospitals and doctors offices, meaning testing will still be easily available, if less immediately visible. The states testing numbers have already fallen steadily in recent weeks. In mid-April, Connecticut was administering well over 35,000 tests per week. By the end of May, that number had fallen to about 20,000. That owes in part to decreased surveillance testing in places such as nursing homes and prisons, as well as to increased vaccination rates. Not only are vaccinated people less likely to get sick, but guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says they dont need to seek testing even after a known exposure to COVID-19, so long as they have no symptoms. That lowered demand could soon render large testing sites unnecessary. Health officials say some locations have already been scaled down and that the remainder of semi-permanent sites could be dismantled in the next month. Weve already scaled it down quite a bit, said Dr. James Cardon, Hartford HealthCares chief integration officer. I dont think that were going to need, for the near term future, the big drive-through kind of centers. Cardon said that the Connecticut Convention Center, which houses one of Hartford HealthCares mass testing sites, has indicated it would like its garage space back by July. But the hospital system may very well vacate the testing site even earlier. Story continues Keeping it staffed for nobody coming through doesnt make a whole lot of sense. We can use those resources potentially other places, Cardon said. Mark Masselli, CEO of the Community Health Center, said his organization plans to evaluate its dozen or so testing sites in June. But he also said he worries that dismantling the widespread testing and vaccination infrastructure now could cause problems down the road. Though he noted that the current demand for testing has waned considerably, Masselli also pointed to the large number of as-of-yet unvaccinated people (more than 1.3 million people in Connecticut are entirely unvaccinated, according to CDC numbers) and to other countries where more dangerous variants are still emerging. If COVID-19 returns, he said, the state will need public health infrastructure already in place. This is not over, Masselli said. We simply are fooling ourselves if we think somehow weve got it under control. Its called [a] pandemic for a reason, and until its solved globally we are all going to be living under this cloud. If right now what we do is take down all these vaccine and testing sites, or remove that sort of infrastructure, we may rue that day. But once the existing sites do close, that doesnt mean that coronavirus testing will go away entirely. Dr. Ohm Deshpande, associate chief clinical officer at Yale New Haven Health, said the health care system will likely vacate its coronavirus testing sites in the next six to eight weeks, but will incorporate coronavirus testing into its other operations. Our general intention is to meet the demand that still exists, albeit in a different way, Deshpande said. Cardon said Hartford HealthCares testing will move largely into medical offices and hospitals, where patients can get tested just as they would for any other suspected illness. Itll fall into more of a standard operations, Cardon said. Just like if youre worried you [have] flu, you go get a flu test. You didnt necessarily have to spend a whole lot of time thinking about ... where to go. Hartford HealthCare also plans to keep its mobile testing capacities intact, Cardon said, in order to respond to any outbreaks in the state. Gifford said the closure of the semi-permanent testing sites doesnt mean the states testing program will be shuttered entirely but rather that it will be directed toward communities that need it. We still want to make sure that in the communities that have low vaccination rates that theres plenty of testing available, Gifford said. Were not just going to stop all of our testing programs. We want to make sure if we start to see an uptick in cases that the state is a position to make sure testing is widely available in those communities. As the state moves toward more intentional testing, Gifford said contact tracing will become even more crucial, in order to catch and stop any outbreaks. As long as a significant portion of residents remain unvaccinated, Connecticut will almost certainly see more outbreaks, according to Cardon, Gifford and deputy state epidemiologist Dr. Lynn Sosa. That means that COVID-19 will continue to circulate in the community and testing will continue at some level. Were not going to be in a situation where we need to have everybody tested all the time, Sosa said. But there are likely going to be situations where, Hey, it looks like theres an outbreak in this town. Whats going on there? So we want to make sure well be able to respond in those situations. Alex Putterman can be reached at aputterman@courant.com. An afternoon spent fishing ended in tragedy Saturday when a 5-year-old boy fell in the Guadalupe River in Texas. The boy and his dad were fishing on the river when he fell in around 12:45 p.m., the Kerrville Police Department wrote in a Facebook post. His dad immediately dove in to try to rescue the boy, but couldnt find him. Police said visibility in the water was extremely limited due to the recent heavy rains. Divers with the Kerrville Fire Department began searching for the boy and recovered his body roughly two hours after hed fallen in, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Kerrville Police Department extends our deepest condolences to the family and friends of this child. The childs name has not been released. Kerrville is roughly 65 miles northwest of San Antonio. Read next: Family members see kayak flip before man disappears under water, Texas police say Passenger killed, another missing after boat hits piling in Texas river, officials say 20-year-old spots teens swept into water near dam and dies trying to help, Ohio cops say Among the holidays which commemorate the turning points in American history, Thanksgiving has a significance peculiarly its own. On July 4 we celebrate the birth of the nation; on this day (Memorial Day), we call to mind the deaths of those who died that the nation might live, who wagered all that life holds dear for the great prize of death in battle, who poured out their blood like water in order that the mighty national structure ... the great leaders of the Revolution, great framers of the Constitution, should not crumble into meaningless ruins, Roosevelt said. Some residents across the Northeast may have swapped air conditioners for space heaters at the start of the Memorial Day weekend. Areas that experienced temperatures indicative of July at midweek were subjected to weather whiplash to start the weekend as temperatures were generally closer to those of April or even March. With June only days away as temperatures plummeted and dreary conditions settled in, many folks across the northeastern quarter of the United States were left asking one question: Why did this happen? "A cool, damp northeasterly flow that wrapped around a storm tracking through the Northeast is generally to blame for the cold and gray weekend," AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said. A webcam image captured Saturday, May 29, 2021, shows a rainy, dreary day at a nearly empty boardwalk in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. (EarthCam) "As moisture-laden air from the Atlantic Ocean wrapped around the storm, it tended to get wedged in areas from the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic Coast, resulting in cloudy skies, drizzle and in some cases, a steady rainfall," Buckingham explained. CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Many locations from the Ohio Valley to the mid-Atlantic and Northeast picked up over an inch of rainfall as storms moved through the area Friday and Saturday. Some daily rainfall records were broken on Friday as rain soaked the region. "Not only will a storm like this lead to an extended stretch of gray and damp conditions, but temperatures tend to flatline in the 40s and 50s F in many Northeastern locales," Buckingham added. Temperatures did in fact flatline. AccuWeather forecasters say dozens of records were broken on Saturday. Many locations broke daily low temperature records, while others shattered lowest daily high temperature records. Some of these records for lowest high temperature dated back to the 1800s. Harrisburg, Reading and Allentown, Pennsylvania, all experienced a 41 degree Fahrenheit difference in high temperatures from Wednesday, May 26, to Saturday, May 29. Reading, for example, soared to a high of 93 degrees on May 26, just 1 degree shy of matching a 107-year-old record. Just a few days later on May 29, the city struggled to reach a high of 52. This high of 52 became the lowest high temperature ever recorded for the city on May 29. It shattered the previous record of 58 from 1996. Story continues Pittsburgh was only able to top out at 51 degrees on Saturday and in doing so, broke a record that had stood since the late 1800s. The previous lowest high temperature for the city was 54 degrees, set in 1897. On the other side of the state, Philadelphia broke an even older record with a high temperature of only 54 degrees on Saturday. The previous lowest high temperature for the date was 56 degrees from 1884. More than two dozen locations from Ohio and Kentucky, eastward to southern New England either broke or tied daily records for lowest high temperature on May 29. A few notable cities in this list are New York City and Baltimore. In addition, record low temperatures were broken or tied across portions of the Great Lakes, Northeast and other areas in the northern tier of the country. Both Binghamton, New York, and LaGuardia Airport in New York City, tied record lows when temperatures dropped to levels more akin to April than late May. In addition to the chilly actual air temperatures and rain, AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures lagged several degrees lower than the thermometer read to start the holiday weekend. For anyone hoping to squeeze in a trip to the beach or host an outdoor barbecue, conditions were less than ideal on Saturday. While the high temperature nearly made it into the middle 50s in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Saturday, AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures remained in the 40s or even into the upper 30s throughout the afternoon. Even in Ocean City, Maryland, where air temperatures topped out in the upper 50s, AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures still lagged behind in the 40s and lower 50s. A webcam image captured Saturday, May 29, 2021, shows a drizzly, dreary day in Coney Island, New York. (EarthCam) In addition to the unseasonable chill and rain, some of the highest elevations in the Northeast even woke up to a fresh coating of slushy snow to start the holiday weekend. In some of the interior mountaintops in the Northeast, accumulating snow was reported Saturday morning. Nearly an inch of snow could be seen on webcams at Mount Snow, Vermont. A slushy coating was also caught at Stratton Mountain Resort in Stratton Mountain, Vermont. Webcam image from the Stratton Mountain Summit, Vermont, at Stratton Mountain Resort on Saturday morning, May 29, 2021. Even before snow fell in parts of the Northeast, unseasonable chill posed a real danger to crops for parts of the Great Lakes. Friday night into Saturday morning, a wide swath of freeze warnings were in effect for portions of Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin. Frost advisories were in effect for other parts of the area, leading many residents to take steps to mitigate damage to their plants or crops. Frost advisories persisted across much of Michigan and Wisconsin even into Sunday morning. Freeze warnings (darker blue) and frost advisories (lighter blue) were in effect for portions of the Great Lakes early in the morning of Saturday, May 29, 2021. (AccuWeather Severe Weather Center) The good news for residents impacted by Mother Nature's whims early this holiday weekend, is that AccuWeather forecasters say that Memorial Day itself will turn out rather nice for much of the Great Lakes and portions of the Northeast. However, New England will continue to deal with pesky clouds, rain and chilly air on the holiday. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. CAIRO (AP) Workers dig and ferry wheelbarrows laden with sand to open a new shaft at a bustling archaeological site outside of Cairo, while a handful of Egyptian archaeologists supervise from garden chairs. The dig is at the foot of the Step Pyramid of Djoser, arguably the worlds oldest pyramid, and is one of many recent excavations that are yielding troves of ancient artifacts from the countrys largest archaeological site. As some European countries reopen to international tourists, Egypt has already been trying for months to attract them to its archaeological sites and museums. Officials are betting that the new ancient discoveries will set it apart on the mid- and post-pandemic tourism market. They need visitors to come back in force to inject cash into the tourism industry, a pillar of the economy. But like countries elsewhere, Egypt continues to battle the coronavirus, and is struggling to get its people vaccinated. The country has, up until now, received only 5 million vaccines for its population of 100 million people, according to its Health Ministry. In early May, the government announced that 1 million people had been vaccinated, though that number is believed to be higher now. In the meantime, authorities have kept the publicity machine running, focused on the new discoveries. In November, archaeologists announced the discovery of at least 100 ancient coffins dating back to the Pharaonic Late Period and Greco-Ptolemaic era, along with 40 gilded statues found 2,500 years after they were first buried. That came a month after the discovery of 57 other coffins at the same site, the necropolis of Saqqara that includes the step pyramid. Saqqara is a treasure, said Tourism and Antiquities Minister Khaled el-Anany while announcing the November discovery, estimating that only 1% of what the site contains has been unearthed so far. Our problem now is that we dont know how we can possibly wow the world after this, he said. Story continues If they dont, it certainly wont be for lack of trying. In April, Zahi Hawass, Egypts best-known archaeologist, announced the discovery of a 3,000-year-old lost city in southern Luxor, complete with mud brick houses, artifacts and tools from pharaonic times. It dates back to Amenhotep III of the 18th dynasty, whose reign (13901353 B.C.) is considered a golden era for ancient Egypt. That discovery was followed by a made-for-TV parade celebrating the transport of 22 of the countrys prized royal mummies from central Cairo to their new resting place in a massive facility farther south in the capital, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. The Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh is now home to an archaeological museum, as is Cairos International Airport, both opened in recent months. And officials have also said they still plan to open the massive new Grand Egyptian Museum next to the Giza Pyramids by January, after years of delays. Entrance fees for archeological sites have been lowered, as has the cost of tourist visas. The government has for years played up its ancient history as a selling point, as part of a yearslong effort to revive the countrys battered tourism industry. It was badly hit during and after the popular uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak and the ensuring unrest. The coronavirus dealt it a similar blow, just as it was getting back on its feet. In 2019, foreign tourisms revenue stood at $13 billion. Egypt received some 13.1 million foreign tourists reaching pre-2011 levels for the first time. But in 2020, it greeted only 3.5 million foreign tourists, according to the minister el-Anany. At the newly opened National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Mahmoud el-Rays, a tour guide, was leading a small group of European tourists at the hall housing the royal mummies. 2019 was a fantastic year, he said. But corona reversed everything. It is a massive blow. Tourism traffic strengthened in the first months of 2021, el-Anany, the minister, told The Associated Press in a recent interview, though he did not give specific figures. He was optimistic that more would continue to come year-round. Egypt is a perfect destination for post-COVID in that our tourism is really an open-air tourism, he said. But it remains to be seen if the country truly has the virus under control. It has recorded a total of 14,950 deaths from the virus and is still seeing more than a thousand new cases daily. Like other countries, the real numbers are believed to be much higher. In Egypt, though, authorities have arrested doctors and silenced critics who questioned the governments response, so there are fears that information on the true cost of the virus may have been suppressed from the beginning. Egypt also had a trying experience early on in the pandemic, when it saw a coronavirus outbreak on one of its Nile River cruise boats. It first closed its borders completely until the summer of 2020, but later welcomed tourists back, first to Red-Sea resort towns and now to the heart of the country Cairo and the Nile River Valley that hosts most of its famous archaeological sites. Visitors still require a negative COVID-19 test result to enter the country. In a further cause for optimism, Russia said in April that it plans to resume direct flights to Egypts Red Sea resort towns. Moscow stopped the flights after the local Islamic State affiliate bombed a Russian airliner over the Sinai Peninsula in October 2015, killing all on board. Amanda, a 36-year-old engineer from Austria, returned to Egypt in May. It was her second visit in four years. She visited the Egyptian Museum, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization and Islamic Cairo, in the capitals historic center. She had planned to come last year, but the pandemic interfered. Once they opened, I came, she said. It was my dream to see the Pyramids again. El-Rays, the tour guide, says that while hes seeing tourists starting to come in larger numbers, he knows a full recovery will not happen overnight. It will take some time to return to before corona, he said. More than 10,000 people have attended an anti-US rally in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, to denounce President Joe Biden's policy on the conflict in the country's northern region of Tigray. Mr Biden had called for a ceasefire in the conflict, now in its seventh month. At the rally, people held placards criticising the US while others applauded Russia's President Vladimir Putin and China's leader Xi Jinping. The Ethiopian government has come under pressure over the conflict in Tigray. Thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and at least two million others have been displaced. The conflict began last November, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered an attack on forces loyal to the region's former ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), after they had overrun federal army bases. Mr Abiy declared an end to the conflict after just a month, with the capture of Tigray's capital, Mekelle. But more than half a year later, Ethiopian troops and those from neighbouring Eritrea are still fighting TPLF forces. Both sides in the conflict have been accused by human rights groups of committing crimes against civilians, including mass killings and rape. Last week Mr Biden demanded an end to "large-scale human rights abuses", including "widespread sexual violence" in Tigray. He also warned of a possibility of famine. The US president also said he was "deeply concerned by the escalating violence and the hardening of regional and ethnic divisions in multiple parts of Ethiopia". In another development, the US State Department imposed restrictions on economic and security assistance to Ethiopia over the conflict, a move that angered Mr Abiy's government. The foreign ministry said the move was "regrettable" that could "seriously undermine" US-Ethiopia relations. Story continues The Biden administration has also been pushing for the withdrawal of Eritrean troops who remain in Tigray despite Ethiopian authorities saying weeks ago that they will leave the country. What happened at the rally? The meeting was organised by the Ethiopian Youth Ministry and attended by supporters of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The mayor of Addis Ababa was one of the main speakers. "We will never kneel down. The preconditions and travel restrictions by the US and its allies are completely unacceptable. It needs to be corrected," Adanech Abebe is quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. Most of the demonstrators held slogans written in Amharic, one of the widely spoken languages in the country, as well as in English and Arabic. Some of them read "Ethiopia doesn't need a guardian", "We demand the US to rethink its stance on Ethiopia", "We will never kneel down for external pressure". Another said "We elect our leaders", a nod to the country's delayed election on 21 June. The banners praising Mr Putin and Mr Xi are meant to send a message to the US that Ethiopia has other powerful friends, the BBC's Kalkidan Yibeltal in Addis Ababa reports. Other rallies denouncing the US were also held in other cities including Diredawa, Harar and Gambella, our reporter says. The claim: Voltaire said, 'If you want to know who controls you, look at who you are not allowed to criticize' Voltaire is one of the many historical figures that is often misattributed. A May 20 Facebook post claims the 18th-century philosopher said, "If you want to know who controls you, look at who you are not allowed to criticize.'' The post has accumulated more than 2,300 interactions. USA TODAY reached out to the user for comment. Fact check: No, Albert Einstein did not say famous quote about fish climbing trees Voltaire was a critic and public activist, according to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, but the quote came more than two centuries after his death. Quote is from reported neo-Nazi, white nationalist figure The original quote is worded slightly differently, according to etymologist Barry Popik, and it's from a 1993 radio broadcast by Kevin Alfred Strom. Strom is an American white nationalist and Holocaust denier, according to the Associated Press. "To determine the true rulers of any society, all you must do is ask yourself this question: Who is it that I am not permitted to criticize?" said Strom in "All America Must Know the Terror That Is Upon Us." USA TODAY searched Voltaire's correspondence from 1742-1777 in the University of Southern California's digital library but did not find any evidence to support the claim. Strom, one of the founders of the National Vanguard organization, confirmed in 2017 that the quote is indeed his. "So its pretty clear, even to my critics, that I came up with the idea and the quote and Voltaire never did," said Strom in the online post. Strom said it was "kind of flattering" that his words would be paired with "the name of the man who said such witty things." The quote is "not un-Voltarian" said Paul Gibbard, a professor at the University of Western Australia and a researcher at the Voltaire Foundation at the University of Oxford in England, in an interview with The Guardian. Story continues Fact check: Quote attributed to Virginia Woolf was in a movie, not her primary work Gibbard said Voltaire's resistance to authority makes the public think it is plausible that he would have said the quote. USA TODAY reached out to Gibbard for comment. Our rating: False The claim that Voltaire said, "If you want to know who controls you, look at who you are not allowed to criticize,'' is FALSE, based on our research. The quote is from Kevin Alfred Strom, a reported American white nationalist and neo-Nazi figure. In 2017, Strom confirmed the quote is his, with a slight change in the wording. Our fact-checking sources: Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Quote in viral post misattributed to Voltaire Dorristene Branham got divorced when her only child, Constance Dunlap, was a few months old and for years it was just the two of them. Branham eventually remarried but after her husband died in 2006, mother and daughter found themselves together again in Branhams West Hartford home. Now, Dunlap says, my best friend is slipping away from me. Branham, 73, has been diagnosed with dementia; she is incontinent, relies on a walker and is considered a fall risk. I have a chair alarm and a bed alarm and I get very hyper every time she moves, Dunlap said. Caring for her mother full-time is a day-to-day challenge, Dunlap said with a weary sigh. Some days I feel like Ive got the hang of this and some days I feel like what have I done? Why am I getting punished? It is a struggle. Dunlap is part of a vast legion of family caregivers helping an aging relative or an adult child with disabilities manage daily life at home. Fifty-three million Americans provide unpaid care to another adult, the majority of whom are older than 50. We know that unpaid family caregivers are and really always have been the backbone around our nations long-term support, said Anna Doroghazi, director of advocacy and outreach for AARP Connecticut. Those unpaid services are what keeps people alive and living in the setting of their chosing, Caring for a vulnerable senior at home can be financially and emotionally challenging, and the largely female workforce providing this labor receives little help from the government. A new proposal, part of President Joe Bidens $2.25 trillion infrastructure plan now before Congress, aims to change this. This is the so-called sandwich generation, Biden said on the campaign trail last year. It includes everyone from an 18-year-old daughter caring for a mom who suddenly gets sick to a 40-year-old dad raising his child and caring for his own aging parents. The joy and love are always there. But its hard. I know its hard. Story continues Last month, Biden outlined a plan to spend $400 billion to support family caregivers. The proposal would be paid for by higher taxes on corporations. The funds could be used to cover home visits from nurses, respite care and home repairs and modifications, among other services and programs that help keep older Americans out of nursing homes. Biden has not released details of exactly how the money would be dispersed and the idea faces strong opposition from Republicans in Congress. But even without specifics, Biden is bringing new attention to the role of family caregivers. The Democratic president has characterized caregiving is human infrastructure,' every bit as deserving of government support as roads and bridges are. Family caregivers and in-home caregivers are taken for granted until the system fails and then there arent very good choices, said Sheila Molony, professor of nursing at Quinnipiac University and a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America. Its just like a bridge. We may not think much about it until it starts to fall down and then were like oh my goodness, why havent we invested money in this. Weve waited until its crumbled. Bidens iniative is indicative of a change in the way caregiving is perceived, said the AARPs Doroghazi. Historically, we do not do a great job acknowledging or valuing caregiving...for people of any age, she said. I think theres been a cultural shift in the last 10 or 20 years about how we talk about parenting, about how we talk about the labor that goes into being a mother or being a father and how valuable that is, but weve never collectively done a great job of acknowledging or valuing labor that is not paid with money. Talking about these forms of labor in a way that acknowledges their value marks a really big shift in the conversation. The coronavirus pandemic has shed light on the shortcomings of the American system of caring for the elderly. Across the U.S., more than 183,000 residents and staff of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities died of COVID-19. But even before the pandemic, surveys show that many older adults would much rather remain at home than live in an institutional setting. In most cases, families are expected to work out the details on their own, without government support, said Sade Dozan, senior director of development for Caring Across Generations, a national group that advocates for paid family leave, child care and long term care. That mentality was always a huge barrier, Dozan said. Bidens plan, she added, is a solid step toward changing that mindset. Pat Lang of Newington cared for both of her parents and her husband prior to their deaths. When my mother was dying, I told her, Youre very lucky. God waited until I was retired so I could help take care of you, said Lang, who worked in pharmaceutical sales before taking an early retirement at age 62. When Langs father reached his late 90s, he, too, needed asistance with daily tasks. Lang helped her brother, who was able to work from home while caring for their father. Lang, who is now 77, also took care of her husband when he was diagnosed with a fast-moving, and ultimately lethal, type of prostate cancer. With help from hospice and her stepson, who unemployed at the time, she was able to keep her husband home as well. Nobody wants to go into a nursing home or a hospital, Lang said. Some caregivers have to chose between helping an elderly family member and their own fulltime job. One in five family caregivers report a high level of financial strain and 45% experience some type of financial impact, according to AARP. No one, including those who care for elder adults as well as adult children with disabilities, should have to make the choice between caring for a family member or paying their bills, said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat from Connecticuts 3rd District and the chairwoman of the powerful Appropriations Committee. Long before the pandemic, family caregivers have been undercompensated and undervalued. Now, with demographic trends and the spread of COVID-19, we face a caregiving crisis that must be addressed, DeLauro said, adding that she is committed to working with the Biden administration. Connecticut has a number of programs that provide support to at-home caregivers, said Christy Koval, of the Alzheimers Association of Connecticut. But more is needed to help the 80,000 people in the state with the illness, or another form of dementia, 70% of whom are cared for at home. Any expansion of the home and community-based system would be a benefit, she said. Constance Dunlap receives assistance to help pay for 20 hours of respite care for her mother each week, for which she is grateful. But that isnt enough to allow for Dunlap to take a fulltime job. When friends and acquaintances ask Dunlap, a former substitute teacher, why she cant work from home, she has a ready answer: I am working from home, Im taking care of my mom, thats basically my job Fourth stimulus check in jeopardy while the last payments keep dwindling Though people are still receiving stimulus checks of up to $1,400 from the pandemic's third round, that emergency support from President Joe Biden's administration is fast running out. And so far, there's no fourth stimulus check in the works. Millions of struggling Americans are pleading for more relief to help them cover essential bills and pay down debt, and scores of lawmakers are fighting to keep the money flowing. There's talk in Congress of a fourth direct payment and even a fifth. But proposals calling for additional stimulus checks appear to be in jeopardy, at least right now. Here's a look at where things stand. Pleas for new checks grow as last round winds down Steve Heap / Shutterstock Last week, the IRS sent another 1.8 million direct payments to households under the COVID-19 rescue bill President Joe Biden signed in March. That makes for a total of nearly 167 million payments worth roughly $391 billion since the third round of stimulus checks started going out on March 12. The distribution is likely winding down. Round 2 last winter involved just 147 million payments, the IRS says, though this time the number has been higher because some people have received bonus checks based on their 2020 tax returns. The chorus of voices calling for additional direct payments continues to build. Nearly 2.25 million people have now signed an online petition started by an out-of-work restaurant owner in Denver calling for new $2,000 stimulus checks for adults and $1,000 payments for children. Those would be followed by regular checks for the duration of the pandemic. More than 80 members of Congress have signed letters urging President Biden to support recurring payments for the rest of the crisis. Most recently, seven members of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee wrote to ask Biden to include the ongoing relief in his new package of support for families. "A fourth and fifth check could keep an additional 12 million out of poverty," the committee members say in their letter. Story continues Economic data raises doubts about need for more aid Vintage Tone / Shutterstock Recent census data shows that among people willing to give an answer, the majority have continued to spend their stimulus checks on basic necessities, including food, rent, mortgage payments and utilities. And though some have used their cash to invest in the record-shattering stock market, others have bought nonessential, but still necessary, things like clothing and affordable life insurance. Demand for those policies has seen a sharp increase due to the pandemic. But while many Americans would benefit from further government support, there's increasing evidence that the pandemic's worst days may be far enough behind to make another round of stimulus checks unnecessary. The government confirmed last week that the U.S. economy grew at a strong 6.4% annual rate over January, February and March. Unemployment remains high 6.1% in April with nearly 10 million out of work but new sign-ups for jobless benefits recently hit their lowest level since the COVID crisis began. Biden's Democratic party controls Congress by ultra-thin margins, and those majorities include moderates who are likely to resist footing the bill for billions more in stimulus checks at a time when the economy is already showing signs of life. Those fiscal conservatives had heartburn over the latest, third round of direct payments and successfully demanded that the money be "targeted" away from taxpayers earning $75,000 or more. Will there be a fourth check? Stay tuned A fourth stimulus check seems pretty iffy at the moment. Though President Biden told Congress in late April that the direct payments have been "making all the difference" to many people, he hasn't given any indication that he wants to see more. His press secretary told reporters that stimulus checks "are not free," and that it's up to lawmakers to decide whether to provide more. For now, Democratic leaders are highlighting the new stimulus checks, of a sort, that are on the way to U.S. families starting this summer. From July through December, parents who qualify will receive monthly payments of up to $300 per child, as part of a temporary expansion of the child tax credit. As for those proposals calling for regular payments through the end of the pandemic, congressional leaders haven't taken any stand. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said the priorities for Congress include passing Biden's "families plan" and his spending package to fix U.S. roads, bridges and other infrastructure. The goal is to complete both bills this summer. So, there could be time to toss recurring stimulus checks into the families plan, as recommended by House Ways and Means Committee members. But don't look for any movement this week. Congress is on its Memorial Day break until the week of June 7. You may need to create your own stimulus GreenMiles / Shutterstock A fourth stimulus check may not be on its way any time soon if it comes at all. But if you need more relief, you have plenty of options for creating a little more financial breathing room on your own. Refinance your mortgage. If youre a homeowner and haven't refinanced your mortgage in the last year, you could be leaving money on the table. With the typical mortgage rate dipping below 3% again, mortgage data and technology provider Black Knight said last week that 14.1 million homeowners have an opportunity to save an average $287 a month through a refi. Cut your insurance costs. While youre slashing the cost of homeownership, dont stop at your mortgage because a little comparison shopping could help you save big on homeowners insurance. Shopping around and comparing rates also might help you find a better deal on car insurance. Diminish your debt. Credit cards are great if you can pay them off in the short term, but carrying high-interest credit card debt can take a monstrous bite out of your finances over time. You can slash your interest costs and pay off your debts faster by rolling them into a lower-interest debt consolidation loan. Grow your spare change in the stock market. You don't need another $1,400 check to take a shot at the stock market, which recovered from its COVID-19 losses and has kept climbing. A wildly popular app can help you invest in a diversified portfolio just by using "spare change" from everyday purchases. It happened in the parking lot of the Clarion Hotel on Blackstone near Griffith in Central Fresno. Video Transcript - Happening now, the Fresno Fire Department is asking for your help in finding an arson suspect. Take a look at these surveillance images. Officials say the man in these photos set a car on fire early Wednesday morning. It happened in the parking lot of the Clarion hotel on Blackstone near Griffith in central Fresno. You can see the man carrying a gas can and holding it over a car. Then you see the flash of flames. The man was captured on several cameras, so take a good look. Anyone who might know him or where he might be is asked to contact the Fresno Fire Department. The animal was wedged so tight, they had to use the jaws of life to free the feline. Video Transcript - From fires to felines, a team of Fresno firefighters are proving there's no job they're not up to the task for. If you hear those cheers of approval right there, crews were called out to the tower district where a cat found itself stuck between a tree branch and a hard place. The animal was wedged so tight, that you have to use the jaws of life to bring the feline. That too typically use to free people from car crashes but here they got a little creative. With that work, the cat was brought down safely and return to a very thankful owner. That thankful owner, of course, that little kid in the background that you hear saying, You've got him out. you've got him out. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) used the Memorial Day weekend to again call on her Senate colleagues to bring her military sexual assault bill to a vote. Why it matters: The bipartisan legislation which would reform the procedural process for how the military handles sexual assaults and other crimes has yet to receive a vote despite having enough co-sponsors to defeat a filibuster, the Hill reports. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free "This Memorial Day weekend, there is no better time to talk about the sacrifices the men and women in our armed services have made for us," Gillibrand said on CNN's State of the Union. The big picture: The bill's primary obstacle to reaching the floor has been the reservations of Gillibrand's Democratic colleague, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee. Reed wants to confine the legislation's scope to sexual assault and incorporate the issue into the annual defense policy bill. Gillibrand said on CNN that she believes narrowing the focus would "break apart the criminal justice system within the military." Go deeper: Top general no longer opposes change in sexual assault policy More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Creation of the team was one of several steps the county took last year after the release of the final report of the Gun Violence Taskforce, which was set up in the wake of the June 28, 2018 murders in the Capital Gazette newsroom. Five staff members were murdered in the shooting. ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece reacted angrily on Sunday to a statement by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu that described members of a Muslim minority in northern Greece as Turkish and that said they were not accorded full civic rights. The statement by Cavusoglu, during a private visit to the northern Greek region of Thrace on Sunday, came ahead of his official meetings on Monday with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in Athens. The two foreign ministers clashed openly last month at a news conference in Ankara following a meeting aimed at easing months of tension between the two historic rivals. "We want Greece to give the same rights as we provide to the Greek Orthodox Church and Greek minority to the Turks in Western Thrace," Cavusoglu said according to a video provided by the Turkish Foreign Ministry. A century after the two countries fought a war that displaced more than a million people on both sides of the border, Turkey says the roughly 120,000-strong Muslim community in the region is a Turkish minority, a position rejected by Athens, which describes them as Greek Muslims. "Turkey's continuous efforts to distort reality, as well as its claims alleging lack of protection of these citizens' rights or discrimination, are unfounded and are rejected in their entirety," Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexandros Papaioannou said in a news release. The two countries, both members of the NATO alliance, are at odds over issues ranging from competing maritime territorial claims in the eastern Mediterranean to the status of Cyprus and the treatment of migrant boats. They came close to armed conflict last year when naval vessels from each side manoeuvered close to each other in disputed waters during a standoff over energy exploration. Tensions have eased slightly in recent months and officials resumed exploratory talks over their disputes earlier this year following a five-year hiatus. (Reporting by Lefteris Papadimas in Athens and Ezgi Erkoyun and Yesim Dikmen in Istanbul; Editing by Peter Cooney) Demonstrators protest outside the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service office in Miami on Feb. 20 demanding that the administration of President Joe Biden cease deporting Haitian immigrants back to Haiti. Haitian families across the United States are celebrating the Biden administration's decision to spare at least 55,000 people from deportation back to their corruption-and-violence plagued home country. The decision announced late May 22 by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas covers Haitian migrants living in the United States as of May 21, granting them Temporary Protected Status to remain and work legally for at least another 18 months. In Florida, Haitians were "dancing in the streets" when Mayorkas announced the decision, said Rep. Frederica Wilson, a Democrat who represents neighborhoods north of Miami. "It was so celebratory people knew we were in a pandemic and weren't supposed to hug, but people were hugging and dancing in the streets, in their masks." Congresswoman Frederica Wilson speaks outside the Little Haiti Cultural Center in Miami, May 25, 2021, shortly after the Biden administration agreed to protect Haitian refugees living in the United States from deportation. Migrants arriving after May 21 are not covered, the Department of Homeland Security said, including those who are presenting themselves at the U.S.-Mexico border. "For Haitians who are in this country, now they get a reprieve from having to return to an unstable situation," said Allen Orr Jr., an immigration lawyer and president-elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. "And they get work authorization." The decision reverses a Trump administration-era decision to withdraw TPS for Haitian migrants, although most deportations had been halted by the courts shortly after President Donald Trump tried to end it in late 2018. An estimated 2,000 Haitians were expelled in the months after President Joe Biden's inauguration, despite his promise to halt temporarily deportations. Experts said most of the Haitians repatriated in that period were new arrivals across the U.S.-Mexico border who were removed because of immigration protocols intended to temper the spread of COVID-19. Immigration rights groups applauded the TPS designation, which they said better reflects the United States' legal, ethical and moral obligation to the world. Story continues "It's who we are as a country: We don't return people to certain death. It's just not something we do," Orr said. "The concern was equity, and that we were deporting people to certain death, for no reason. The question is, why did it take so long?" President Barack Obama's administration first granted TPS status to Haitians in 2010 after a devastating earthquake destroyed much of the island nation's infrastructure, including its roads and airports, and killed as many as 300,000 people. American taxpayers poured more than $2 billion into reconstruction, and nonprofits quickly fanned out, fighting the cholera and starvation that followed. Nearly a decade later, Trump's administration said Haiti had sufficiently stabilized to justify returning people to their homeland, and in late 2018 it said it was ending TPS for Haitians. Critics argued that Trump and his administration were ignoring widespread evidence of violence in Haiti. The Biden administration agreed. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks to the media after meeting with Haitian community leaders at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex on May 25, 2021, in Miami. Mayorkas met with the leaders after a new 18-month designation of Haiti for Temporary Protected Status was put into place by the Biden administration. After careful consideration, we determined that we must do what we can to support Haitian nationals in the United States until conditions in Haiti improve so they may safely return home," Mayorkas said in announcing the policy. Mayorkas visited Miami on Tuesday to discuss the change with Haitian community leaders. Pamela White, a former U.S. ambassador to Haiti, said it's clear the country remains unsafe, with rampant political corruption, robberies and murders. In March, White and other experts testified before Congress that more than 1,000 people, including 37 police officers, were murdered in Haiti in 2020, and another 65 people, including three police officers, were killed in January and February. The United Nations has also recorded thousands of human rights violations in Haiti in recent years, including gang violence directed by a former police officer. Making matters worse, there's virtually no COVID-19 vaccine available for the island nation's 11.3 million residents, White said. "In fact, Haiti is not running just fine. There's almost no money in the till, and they're not really exporting anything," White said. "They just can't get a break because it's just not safe." Wilson, whose daughter is married to an American citizen of Haitian descent, said the Biden administration's decision was a good first step in reversing Trump's hard-line immigration policies. Wilson said she hopes Biden can win passage of comprehensive bipartisan immigration reform, giving Haitian migrants a chance at citizenship or permanent legal residency denied to them by Trump. Wilson said many immigrants of African descent, including many people from Haiti, are still angry that Trump in January 2018 reportedly referred to their home nations as "shithole countries." "It was very clear that he had no respect for people of color and he didn't want them in the United States," said Wilson, who lobbied Biden heavily to grant TPS to Haitians. "This decision, potentially, affects more than 100,000 Haitians living in the United States, who couldn't sleep at night wondering about their future. These are people who in some cases have lived in this country for many years, for decades, and for whom this TPS designation has almost become like a chess match: You win today, but how long does that win last before you have to engage in another challenge with another president?" Today, Haitian immigrants to the United States have largely clustered in Miami, Los Angeles, New York and Boston, immigration experts said. While official estimates put the number of TPS-covered migrants at 55,000, experts said the number could be three times that. Patrice Lawrence, co-director of the UndocuBlack Network, which advocates for undocumented Black migrants, said she and her colleagues are now working to change how new migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border are being treated under Title 42, a public health order used to deny them asylum because of the spread of COVID-19. She said that if the government agrees that the Haitians already living in the United States should be protected from being sent home, so, too, should those requesting asylum now. "The United States government is extremely creative and if they want to get something done, they do," she said. Biden's decision helps clarify that Haitians covered by TPS are allowed to work, a key step in removing the day-to-day uncertainty they face, said Carline Desire of the Boston-based Association of Haitian Women, which provides housing, education and training to newly arrived refugees. Desire, a Haitian immigrant herself, said many Haitians come to Boston because they have family in the area, but also because New England is known as a hub of higher education. She said clarity over their work status may help Haitian migrants get better jobs: "You have people with Ph.Ds who are driving cabs." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden OKs Temporary Protected Status for Haitian migrants living in US MOSCOW (Reuters) - Hollywood actor Steven Seagal, a long-time admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has joined a pro-Kremlin party, the the party said on Sunday. Seagal received a party membership card of an alliance named Just Russia - Patriots - For Truth on Saturday, a video relased by the party showed. It was formed earlier this year, when three leftist parties, all of which support Putin, merged into one. Seagal, a Russian citizen since 2016, proposed a crackdown on businesses which damage the environment. "Without being able to arrest people, when we just fine them, they are probably making more money of the production of the things that are defiling the environment," said in his welcome speech at a party event. The party controls a faction in the lower house of the Russian parliament and plans to take part in a parliamentary election in September. Seagal, a U.S.-born martial artist, is best known for producing and starring in action movies, while Putin, who granted him the citizenship, is a fan of martial arts. At Saturday's ceremony, Seagal posed for pictures next to one of the party leaders, Russian writer Zakhar Prilepin, who enrolled in an army of pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine and admitted to commanding a combat unit in a conflict which has killed 14,000 people in seven years. In 2018, Russia tasked Seagal with improving humanitarian ties with the United States at a time when relations between the two countries have deteriorated to their worst level since the Cold War. As a Russian representative, Seagal visited Venezuela earlier in May and presented a samurai sword to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. (Reporting by Maria Tsvetkova; Editing by Angus MacSwan) May 30At least 350 people were vaccinated today at four mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinics around the island, the Honolulu Fire Department reported. The state Department of Health asked HFD to activate its Incident Management team to execute and oversee the four Mobile Vaccination Points of Dispersal, or PODs, located at SALT at Our Kakaako, Waipio Shopping Center, Kaiaka Bay Beach Park and Windward Mall. HFD did similar work with coronavirus surge testing in 2020. Around 170 Pfizer shots were administered at Windward Mall, and almost 60 shots were given at SALT at Our Kakaako. Nearly 90 and 40 Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson's Janssen shots were given at Waipio Shopping Center and Kaiaka Bay Beach Park, respectively. HFD worked with the DOH and other partners, including Queen's Health Systems, Adventist Health Castle and Foodland Pharmacy, to give shots to people ages 12 and up who wanted to get the vaccine at a location near their homes. The Mobile Vaccination PODs will return to the same locations on June 19 to administer the second shots for those who received the Pfizer vaccine. Rania Batrice in Dallas, Texas, in October of 2019. To be Palestinian is to be perpetually gaslit. Each and every day, choices are made that all but ensure that the imbalance of power and continued oppression lives in perpetuity. From the nearly $4 billion per year handed over from the United States government to the Israeli government with no humanitarian strings attached to the propaganda machine of the Netanyahu regime the Israeli government has no motivation to stop oppressing and brutalizing my people. This situation isn't complicated. In fact, its only 73 years old. My dad is older than the state of Israel. He was in his first year of life during the British Mandate, when the British government supported "a national home" for Jewish people, leading to the creation of Israel. My people call the 1948 war that uprooted Palestinians from their home "al Nakba". The rest of the world doesnt have a name for it because its rarely even acknowledged. With the Israeli governments feet pressed firmly on our necks, they still find ways to stab us in the heart. Members of the so-called progressive left still fail to see their own hypocrisy. Im a proud Palestinian and an American and Ive worked in politics and advocacy for over two decades. My work has always centered justice, equity and fairness. And the same people who call to ask me how to best ally with Black communities in their fight for self determination and how to provide support to Native peoples in their continued fight for sovereignty, tell me that I dont understand history and the rise in support of Palestinian people is about popularity. The gaslighting is as blinding as it is maddening. Palestinians disparaged abroad I grew up in Texas, and I have a lighter complexion than the rest of my family. Which means that for my entire life, Ive been Arab-undetected. That means people feel comfortable saying things in front of me they wouldnt to the rest of my family: theyve called me, my family, my people terrorists. Theyve quoted the Bible at me as justification for the persecution of Palestinian people. Theyve disparaged those people and assumed I would agree. Story continues I often let them dig the hole just deep enough before I reveal that I am Palestinian and that the majority of my family is actually Catholic. Because, yes, there are Palestinian Christians. Not that religion should matter in fighting bigotry and oppression, but it is an ignorance that must be named. The problem, in part, lies in the inability or refusal to separate true antisemitism from the legitimate critiques of the oppressive Israeli regimes that have reigned over Palestinians, carrying out human rights abuses that would not be justified in almost any other circumstance. Ruins from Kafr Birim, a Palestinian Christian village, where the Batrice family began. Palestinians persecuted at home Lets start with the fact that Palestinians, and Arabs, are actually Semitic people. So the attack itself is not even accurate. Last month, Human Rights Watch released a report outlining the atrocities carried out against Palestinians and concluded that Palestinians are in fact living under apartheid. Israelis want to live without fear: Israel is the Jewish people's ancient home. We will always defend ourselves from Hamas. The accusations of antisemitism began immediately an intentional tactic to distract from the truth. Even Jewish people who dare to speak out against this oppression are being attacked and labeled antisemitic. Meanwhile, Jewish settlers, bolstered by the Israeli government, are forcibly displacing Palestinian families from their homes. These details are conveniently forgotten while claiming Israels right to defend itself. The bottom line is standing up for Palestinians isnt the same as antisemitism. Arabs are Semites too, and ethnic persecution is ethnic persecution. I may not live in Palestine, but the trauma I have to go through in order to go see my family and friends is painful and enraging. I have dual citizenship because of my parents forced Israeli citizenship. But I was born in the United States. Why am I being attacked?: I'm a Palestinian living in Gaza. No matter when it is or where I am, I know I'm not safe. When I fly to Tel Aviv, my U.S. passport is literally useless. I have been detained for hours on end. My family doesnt know when to pick me up because my release is based on the whim of that particular day's security agents. I have been strip searched. My bags and electronics have been ripped apart and scanned and then scanned again and again. The security agents shuffle me from office to office and ask me absurd questions like when was my grandfather born? What was my great grandmothers maiden name? Why dont I speak Hebrew? This entire process is meant to anger and intimidate and remind me that Im not equal. If my American citizenship can't protect me, imagine how vulnerable every Palestinian living from the West Bank to Gaza feels. Rania Batrice is a first-generation American, born to Palestinian parents, and the founder of Batrice & Associates, a communications, advocacy, organizing, and legislative strategy firm. She has worked for many elected officials and electoral entities including Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee. Follow her on Twitter: @RaniaBatrice You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Palestinian American: Criticizing Israel doesn't make me antisemitic From $1 million cash prizes to a free dinner with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, states and cities are offering incentives as part of their efforts to boost vaccination rates. Driving the news: U.S. daily administered doses fell dramatically in late April and May, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free. About 51.2% of adults in the U.S. have been fully vaccinated, while nearly 62.4% have received at least one dose of a vaccine. The incentives states and cities are offering: California: Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that 30 Californians 12 years and older have a chance to win $50,000 if they complete their vaccination. If a minor wins, the cash will be put in a savings account until they turn 18 years old. The state is also offering a chance at winning one of 10 $1.5 million cash prizes. Additionally, the first 2 million people to begin and complete their vaccinations starting May 27 will automatically receive a $50 prepaid or grocery card. Colorado: Gov. Jared Polis has unveiled the Colorado Comeback Cash Vaccine Drive, a five-week sweepstakes that will award five people $1 million each for getting a vaccine. Delaware: Delaware residents 18 years and older who get vaccinated between May 25 and June 29 will have a chance to win a variety of cash and other prizes, including vacations and free tolls. Those 12 to 17 years old will have a chance to win a full scholarship to a state university. Illinois: Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced on May 13 that Six Flags Great America will offer 50,000 free tickets valued at $4 million to newly vaccinated Illinois residents. Maine: The state is offering a variety of rewards, including a certain number fishing and hunting licenses to any resident who gets at least one dose of the vaccine by the end of May. Maryland: Any Maryland resident 18 years and older who has been vaccinated in the state will be automatically entered in a daily drawing to win a $40,000 prize. The drawings will be held from May 24 to July 4. One person will win $400,000. Story continues Minnesota: Gov. Tim Walz announced last week that the first 100,000 people who get a vaccine between Memorial Day weekend and the end of June will be eligible for several rewards, including a free state parks pass or fishing license. New Jersey: The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection started offering a free state parks pass on May 27. People age 18 or older can also enter a drawing to win a free dinner with Gov. Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy. New York: Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that anyone who received a vaccine at a state vaccination site between May 24 and May 28 had a chance to win $5 million or other smaller monetary prizes. Cuomo also announced that the state would raffle off 50 four-year scholarships to any public college or university in the state for people between 12 and 17 years old who receive the vaccine. New York City: Big Apple dwellers can choose from an array of incentives for getting a vaccine, including free tickets to Liberty Island, a free Public Theater annual membership or a $25 gift card to NYC Public Markets. Ohio: As part of the state's Vax-a-Million campaign, five people 18 years or older will win $1 million each, while five 12- to 17-year-olds will each win a four-year scholarship to public college or university in the state. The state announced its first winners on May 27. Ohio said vaccinations in the state increased 94% among 16- and 17- year-olds, 46% among 18- and 19-year-olds and 55% among those between 20 and 49 years old after Gov. Mike DeWine announced the lotteries. As of May 24, more than 2.7 million adults had registered for the $1 million drawings and 104,386 minors had registered for the scholarship raffles. Oregon: Residents 18 and older in Oregon will have the chance to win $1 million or one of 36 $10,000 prizes if they receive at least one dose of the vaccine by the drawing date. The state is also offering those 12 to 17 years old a chance to win one of five $100,000 Oregon College Savings Plan scholarships. West Virginia: People aged 16 to 35 who get vaccinated in West Virginia can receive an $100 savings bond, Gov. Jim Justice announced in April. The big picture: Andy Slavitt, the White House senior advisor for COVID-19 response, said he supported vaccine incentives during a press briefing on May 25. President Biden has set a national goal to get 160 million U.S. adults fully vaccinated and at least one shot administered to 70% of adults by the Fourth of July. Go deeper: Employers dangle rewards for vaccination despite legal hurdles Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Iranian authorities indicted a French tourist on charges of spying and spreading propaganda against the system, his lawyer said Sunday. It was the latest in a series of cases against foreigners amid heightened tensions between Iran and the West. Benjamin Berier was arrested in May last year after taking pictures in a desert area where photography is prohibited and asking questions in the media about Irans obligatory Islamic headscarf for women. Under Iranian law, a spying conviction can bring up to 10 years in prison and a conviction on a charge of spreading propaganda against the system can be punishable by three months to a year. Beriers indictment was handed up by the justice department in the northeastern city of Mashahd. It wasn't immediately clear when his trial would take place. Rights groups accuse hard-liners in Irans security agencies of using foreign detainees as bargaining chips for money or influence in negotiations with the West. Tehran denies it, but there have been prisoner exchanges in the past. Last year, Iran and France swapped French researcher Roland Marchal for Iranian engineer Jalal Ruhollahnejad. Berier is the latest Westerner to be held on widely criticized espionage charges. In March, prominent British-Iranian dual national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe reappeared in a Tehran court to face similar accusations of spreading propaganda after completing a five-year prison sentence. She remains in limbo in Iran awaiting a verdict, unable to return to London. The cases come as Iran escalates pressure on the United States and European powers, including France and Britain, to grant badly needed relief from sanctions. Harsh sanctions were reimposed on Iran after the U.S. withdrew from Iran's nuclear accord with world powers in 2018. President Joe Biden has since joined in talks aimed at restoring the deal. But Washington and Tehran have reached an impasse, with each insisting the other move first to revive the deal. Israel and Egypt's foreign ministers on Sunday held high-level talks about prolonging the current ceasefire between Hamas and the Israeli military and finding a potential "fragile truce," AP reports. Why it matters: The White House found Egypt to be the only effective mediator to facilitate the ceasefire earlier this month, as the Biden administration charted its response. Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free. What they're saying: Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi called this his first formal visit to Egypt since 2008 and said discussions were focused on "establishing a permanent ceasefire with Hamas, a mechanism for providing humanitarian aid & the reconstruction of Gaza with a pivotal role played by the intl. community." Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel plans to meet with Palestinian officials before traveling to Gaza for discussions with Hamas leaders, per AP. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Kamel in Jerusalem as part of ceasefire efforts. Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. Israeli and Egyptian officials held talks in both countries Sunday aimed at bolstering the Cairo-brokered ceasefire that ended the latest deadly flare-up of violence between the Jewish state and Gaza's Hamas rulers. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel in Jerusalem to discuss "strengthening cooperation" between their countries, Netanyahu's office said. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi tasked Kamel and his delegation, who also visited the occupied Palestinian Territories, with hammering out a permanent ceasefire deal, senior Egyptian security officials told AFP. On the same day, Israel's Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi made the first official visit by an Israeli top diplomat to neighbouring Egypt in 13 years, for talks with his counterpart Sameh Shoukry. Ashkenazi tweeted that they would "discuss establishing a permanent ceasefire with Hamas, a mechanism for providing humanitarian aid and the reconstruction of Gaza with a pivotal role played by the international community". He later called for efforts "to prevent strengthening extremist elements that threaten regional stability, and to ensure the return home of the missing persons and prisoners held by Hamas." The Egyptian foreign ministry tweeted that the ministers' talks were "part of Egypt's relentless and continued efforts to revive the peace track and to build on the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip". Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was also expected in Cairo for talks, senior Egyptian security officials said, without providing further details. Egypt played a pivotal role in negotiating the May 21 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that brought an end to 11 days of deadly fighting. Israeli strikes on Gaza killed 254 Palestinians, including 66 children, health officials said. Rockets and other fire from Gaza claimed 12 lives in Israel, including one child and an Arab-Israeli teenager, medics said. Story continues - Prisoners - Sisi also tasked Kamel with working to help iron out political divisions between Hamas in Gaza and Fatah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, the Egyptian officials said. Kamel met Sunday with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in Ramallah, according to official Palestinian media. They discussed the latest developments linked to the truce, as well as the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, and Palestinian national dialogue, the Wafa news agency said. A bitter divide between Hamas and Fatah has long plagued Palestinian politics, but analysts say the latest escalation has served to unite the geographically fragmented Palestinian community in a way not seen in years. Netanyahu reiterated Israel's demand "for the prompt return" of Israelis being held in the Gaza Strip, according to the statement. Ashkenazi also said Israel was "fully committed" to repatriating Israeli prisoners held by Hamas. Since Israel's 2014 invasion of the Gaza Strip, the Islamist group has held the bodies of Israeli soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, although Hamas has never confirmed their deaths. Hamas is also believed to be holding two Israeli citizens who entered Gaza alone and whose families say they have mental health issues. Israel is meanwhile holding more than 5,000 Palestinians in its jails. - Gaza reconstruction - Sisi has pledged $500 million to help reconstruction efforts in the densely populated Gaza enclave, which was pummelled by Israeli air strikes. Hamas has pledged not to touch "a single cent" of international aid to rebuild Gaza. Israel, which has enforced a land and maritime blockade on the enclave since 2007, accuses the group of diverting international aid to military ends. The statement from Netanyahu's office said he and Kamel also discussed "mechanisms and processes to prevent the strengthening of Hamas and its use of the resources that will be directed to the civilian population in the future". The latest violent flare-up was sparked by increased tensions in Jerusalem, including over Israeli security forces cracking down on Palestinians inside the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, Islam's third holiest site, which is also revered by Jews as the Temple Mount. Shoukry emphasised the "need to consider the particular sensitivity (of) east Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa mosque and all Christian and Muslim holy sites," the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement. The UN Human Rights Council decided Thursday to create an open-ended international investigation into violations surrounding the latest Gaza violence. It said it would also look at the "underlying root causes of recurrent tensions and instability, including systematic discrimination" in the occupied Palestinian Territories and inside Israel. UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet voiced particular concern about the "high level of civilian fatalities and injuries" from the bombing of Gaza and warned the Israeli strikes on the enclave "may constitute war crimes". burs/ff-ah/sw/fz/par/lg Serbia-China bilateral relations are strong: Serbian Foreign Minister Xinhua) 09:35, May 30, 2021 GUIYANG, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Serbia-China relations are strong in many fields of everyday life, and the COVID-19 pandemic has improved and strengthened bilateral relations and cooperation, Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic said on Friday night. The foreign minister, who will visit China from May 29 to 31 at the invitation of the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, made the remarks when answering a question from Xinhua News Agency in Guiyang. Serbia is an important cooperative partner of China in Europe and has maintained friendly relations with China for a long time. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, China and Serbia have helped and supported each other. Around one month ago, the fifth batch of Chinese Sinopharm vaccines arrived in Serbia to help prevent and control the pandemic. "Serbia was the first European country to use Chinese vaccines," Selakovic said, adding that the most vital step between the two countries was the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine production in Serbia. Noting the vaccination process, he said that it is not a geo-strategic issue but about humanity and saving lives. "China has offered vaccines to different countries. The countries who accepted the offer have shown all the others that it is not an issue of geopolitics but humanity," the foreign minister added. Selakovic also mentioned other Chinese support from the beginning of COVID-19. This support included the advice of the best Chinese experts and doctors who helped Serbia combat COVID-19 and the technological equipment for Serbian hospitals, doctors, and nurses. "I would like to express gratitude, not only my personal gratitude, but also the gratitude of the Republic of Serbia, our president Aleksandar Vucic, and all the people of Serbia for the firm and consistent support and help from China," he added. Noting the cooperation between the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China, and Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs), Selakovic spoke highly of the positive impact of the initiatives. He described the BRI as a historical development initiative, which gathers many countries in one big project. It also shows that the world can be jointly successful through this kind of multilateral cooperation. Taking the construction of the Budapest-Belgrade railway as an example, he said it is not just about Serbia and Hungary, but about connectivity between south-eastern Europe with Central Europe. "I know that we will have many good projects in the future. It is not just a part of Serbia-China relations, but a part of the BRI and China-CEECs cooperation," the Foreign Minister said. Noting this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the Foreign Minister extended congratulations to China. He added that China achieved an enormous, incredible transformation through development in 100 years. These are the outcomes by the Chinese people under the leadership of the CPC. "The CPC initiated the most vital transformation in Chinese society. You have to be proud of the fact that in all this period, you have had wise and smart leaders who have undertaken strategic efforts to bring about the historical transformation of your great country," he noted. "Without the CPC, the essential part of your society, I'm not quite sure if such significant results could have been possible," Selakovic said. (Web editor: He Zhuoyan, Bianji) Scores of people took to the streets across Europe on Saturday, against the Belarusian government led by President Alexander Lukashenko, following the detention of journalist Roman Protasevich. The call has been given by the Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya for "global protests" against the government, following the detention. Lukashenko administration is facing fierce criticism from the international community for forcing an airliner to land in Minsk and detaining journalist Raman Pratasevich, who was on board the plane. Protesters held rallies in Lithuania, Norway, and other European countries on Saturday in response to an appeal from Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who is staying outside her country. In Poland, demonstrators gathered at a square in Warsaw, calling for more freedom in Belarus, NHK World reported. Meanwhile, as per DW News, Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has also called for a demonstration of global solidarity with political prisoners in Belarus yesterday, the one-year anniversary of her husband's arrest. "I call on the international community to join the Global Picket of Solidarity with Belarus on May 29. We need your support. Tell your friends & the whole world about the repressions in Belarus, about political prisoners, about Raman Pratasevich, Sofia Sapega," she tweeted. She made the call from Lithuania where she has been living in exile since the outbreak of the large-scale protest movement against the President following his widely rejected electoral victory last August. Tsikhanouskaya took center stage in the opposition movement after her husband Sergei Tsikhanousky, who had planned to run against Lukashenko, was arrested last May. Tsikhanouskaya announced the "Global Picket of Solidarity with Belarus" with a video shared on social media. She asked people to take part in events to raise awareness about the fate of repression of political prisoners in Belarus, specifically naming the anti-government blogger Raman Pratasevich who was detained along with his girlfriend Sofia Sapega almost a week ago after his flight from Greece to Lithuania was forced to land in Minsk. Tsikhanouskaya said in her video that the arrest of her husband had "sparked the wave of peaceful protests and solidarity chains across the country." "That is when the harshest repressions in the modern history of Belarus started," she added. Meanwhile, Lukashenko held the second day of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the southern Russian city of Sochi yesterday. Belarus' state-run media reports that the leaders agreed on a loan to Belarus, and an increase in the number of flights between the two countries. (ANI) Also Read: Ryanair plane incident: Welcome EU call for sanctions on Belarus, says Joe Biden CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Egypt's foreign minister stressed during a meeting with his Israeli counterpart on Sunday the need to build on a truce between Israel and Hamas by stopping all practices that lead to escalation, the Foreign Ministry said. Egypt helped broker the May 21 truce to halt the worst fighting in years between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist group that rules Gaza, and is working with the United States and regional partners to expand it into a more permanent ceasefire. Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry affirmed in his meeting with Gabi Ashkenazi in Cairo "the need to take into account the special sensitivity associated with East Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque and all Islamic and Christian holy sites", the Egyptian statement said. Clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians around the mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan helped trigger the conflict this month. Egypt reiterated its call for creating an appropriate atmosphere to revive talks between Israelis and Palestinians with the aim of reaching a two-state solution, the statement added. In Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel. Netanyahu said his meeting dealt with regional security issues and ways to prevent Hamas from siphoning off civilian aid to strengthen its capabilities. Palestinian officials have put reconstruction costs at tens of millions of dollars from Israeli strikes in Gaza, where medical officials said 248 people were killed during 11 days of fighting. Israel is also repairing damage caused by Palestinian rockets and missiles, which killed 13 people in Israel. Kamel also met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Sunday and handed him a message from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi affirming Egyptian support to Palestinians and Abbas, state news agency MENA said. Ashkenazi, whose trip to Cairo was the first such visit in 13 years, said he would discuss with Egyptian officials "establishing a permanent ceasefire with Hamas," along with ways to help rebuild Gaza. Story continues Both Netanyahu and Ashkenazi said a key aim for Israel was to secure the return of two Israeli civilians and the remains of two soldiers held for years in Gaza. Hamas has refused to hand them over. In tweets after the meeting, Ashkenazi called Egypt an important regional ally committed to peace in the region, adding: "We all need to act to prevent strengthening extremist elements that threaten regional stability, and to ensure the return home of the missing persons and prisoners held by Hamas". Sisi directed Egyptian officials to continue efforts and meetings to solve the problem of prisoners and missing people between Israel and Hamas, MENA reported on Sunday. Egypt's work to broker and secure the truce has thrust it into the diplomatic spotlight, prompting top-level reengagement from Washington and overshadowing moves by several Arab states to normalise ties with Israel. (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch and Mahmoud MouradAdditional reporting by Ahmed Tolba Editing by Peter Graff and Frances Kerry) CAIRO (AP) Egypt and Israel held high-level talks in both countries Sunday to shore up a fragile truce between Israel and the Hamas militant group and rebuild the Gaza Strip after a punishing 11-day war that left parts of the seaside enclave in ruins. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shukry received his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi, in Cairo. The meeting is part of an effort to build on an Israel-Hamas cease-fire reached May 21 and to revive Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, which have been dormant for more than a decade, Shukry's office said. Egypt has not said how it would be able to restart talks. The hours-long visit was the first public one by an Israeli foreign minister to Egypt since 2008, according to the Israeli Embassy in Cairo. Spokesman Ahmed Hafez said Shukry called for establishing an atmosphere to relaunch serious and constructive negotiations between the two sides. He also urged both sides to refrain from any measures that could hamper efforts to revive peace talks. They also discussed the release of Israeli soldiers and citizens being held by Hamas, Israel's top diplomat said. "We all need to act to prevent strengthening extremist elements that threaten regional stability, and to ensure the return home of the missing persons and prisoners held by Hamas," Ashkenazi said. He also criticized the Palestinian Authority over its moves at the International Criminal Court and the U.N. Human Rights Council, saying such activity damages the chances of future cooperation. Ashkenazi alleged that Palestinian war crimes complaints against Israel filed over its military conduct since a 2014 war with Hamas and ongoing settlement construction are an obstacle to political dialogue. The ICC is investigating both Israel and Hamas for possible war crimes. Hamas is under investigation for random rocket fire toward Israeli communities. Despite cease-fire talks, Hamas and the smaller militant group Islamic Jihad have staged weapons parades in a show of force. On Sunday, thousands attended a Hamas rally in the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya, where masked militants displayed rockets, launchers and drones. Story continues Hamas is holding the remains of two Israeli soldiers killed in a 2014 war. It also is holding two Israeli civilians who were captured after entering Gaza. As part of the cease-fire efforts, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Abbas Kamel, Egypt's intelligence chief, in Jerusalem. Netanyahu said he had raised the issue of returning the remains of soldiers and the two civilians as well as Israeli demands to prevent Hamas from gaining strength or diverting resources meant for the civilian population. An Egyptian official said Kamel would also meet with Palestinian officials in the West Bank before heading to Gaza for talks with Hamas leaders. The intelligence agency, which is Egypts equivalent of the CIA, usually handles Egypt's ties with Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups in Gaza. Egypt's state-run MENA news agency said Kamel would convey a message from el-Sissi to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, affirming Egypt's full support to the Palestinian people. It said Cairo would host talks among Palestinian factions to achieve unity between those in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied areas of the West Bank. The report did not provide further details. During a visit to the region last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was seeking to bolster Abbas and weaken Hamas as part of the cease-fire efforts. Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip from Abbas' forces in 2007, leaving the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority in charge of administering autonomous zones in some 40% of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist, is branded a terrorist group by Israel, the U.S. and other Western countries. Discussions with Israeli officials have touched on a set of measures that would allow materials, electricity and fuel into the territory, as well as the possible expansion of maritime space allowed for Gaza fishermen, the Egyptian official said. The role of the Palestinian Authority is central in the talks, he said. Egypt is seeking to have it deeply involved in the reconstruction process. The Egyptian official, who had close knowledge of the proceedings that led to the cease-fire, spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasnt allowed to brief reporters. The 11-day war killed more than 250 people, mostly Palestinians, and caused heavy destruction in the impoverished coastal territory. Preliminary estimates have put the damage in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Egypt was key in mediating a deal between the two sides. The official said Egypt has offered guarantees that rebuilding funds will not find its way to Hamas, possibly going through an international committee led by Egypt or the United Nations that would oversee the spending. Kamel has also discussed the situation in Jerusalem and ways to ease tensions in the holy city. That would include understandings at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, where Israeli police repeatedly clashed with Palestinian demonstrators, and how to prevent the planned eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in east Jerusalem, the official said. Egypt last week invited Israel, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority for separate talks in Cairo to consolidate the Cairo-mediated cease-fire and accelerate the reconstruction process in Gaza. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is expected to visit Cairo this week, according to the group's spokesman Abdelatif al-Qanou, who also said Hamas is open to discussing a prisoner swap with Israel. [This story previously aired on July 20, 2019. It was updated on May 29, 2021.] In America today the language of hate and prejudice has been inciting violence more and more often. Some of the victims are linked by faith, others by the color of their skin, and still others by sexual orientation. CBS News correspondent Tracy Smith has a story about one young man targeted by that kind of hate. Meet Blaze Bernstein. He was 19 years old. Word spread across Orange County. Blaze Bernstein, brilliant, kind-hearted, Jewish and gay, had come home from college for the holidays and vanished. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: He wanted to spend time with us. He's not gonna just disappear like that. Tracy Smith: But your thought was? Gideon Bernstein: Well it was just so highly unusual. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: Where had he been? Who had he gone with? We didn't know. Where is he? Blaze Bernstein with his parents Gideon and Jeanne Pepper Bernstein. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: We had a happy life. We really did. We had good many, many good memories. The memories and magic that remain began when the baby was born. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: That night I dreamt that his name was Blaze. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: And the first time I saw him, I looked in his eyes. Something about this baby, he's gonna change the world someday. In his own way, he did change the world. He already has. It was 1998 when Jeanne Pepper Bernstein and Gideon Bernstein welcomed their first of three children, Blaze, into their Orange County, California, home an oasis of love and creativity. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: I call him a unicorn He was magnificently creative. Raiah Rofsky: We were best friends when we were very young, yeah. Tracy Smith: What'd you learn about Blaze? What'd you know about him? Raiah Rofsky: Blaze was always a very kind and caring person. He was always a very cuddly kid. Cuddly and creative, it was no surprise to Raiah Rofsky when Blaze joined her for high school at OCSA the Orange County School of the Arts. Raiah Rofsky: It's very prestigious. It's known for getting a quality arts education with a quality academic education. Story continues Claire Velau: Blaze was honestly one of the smartest people I've ever met. Another classmate, Claire Velau, also knew Blaze was more than brilliant. Claire Velau: Something that was really unique about Blaze is he always made you feel important Like, if you were talking to him, like you knew he was actually listening. For Blaze, OCSA was a feast of educational riches. Eric Tryon | OCSA teacher: He was just like a beam of light. Eric Tryon taught his student about writing, which became Blaze's focus. Eric Tyron: He wanted to do the work, which you can't always say for kids that age that's a dream student. And then there was another classmate, Sam Woodward. Philip Schwadron | OCSA teacher: He was just a very serious guy. He didn't crack jokes. Didn't laugh at jokes. Philip Schwadron taught Sam acting. Philip Schwadron: He wanted to do a monologue about the military. He wanted to play an Army guy, a general or something. In a school that embraced tolerance and diversity, many thought Sam had deeply troubling ideas. Raiah Rofsky: I have a friend who was in a playwriting class with him, and they were reading "Raisin in the Sun" and they all got their individual copies. When everybody gave theirs back, he had had the "N" word written all through it. Racist scrawls in the classic American drama about the struggles of a black family. Tracy Smith: He had a reputation of being what? Raiah Rofsky: Racist, homophobic, sexist. But for Rofsky, one particular incident is impossible to shake. Raiah Rofsky: He was drawing guns in his notebook in class. Tracy Smith: Did you say anything? Raiah Rofsky: No. Tracy Smith: But you thought Raiah Rofsky: This is terrifying. Tracy Smith: What were people saying about Sam? Raiah Rofsky: People were saying that they wouldn't be surprised if he came and shot up the school. Tracy Smith: People said that about him? Raiah Rofsky: Yes. And I felt that too. He's gonna be that kid. Tracy Smith: Did Sam stay at OCSA? Raiah Rofsky: He left after sophomore year of high school. Tracy Smith: And did you find out why? Raiah Rofsky: No. At the Orange County School of the Arts, a school that embraced tolerance and diversity, many thought Sam Woodward had deeply troubling ideas. Sam Woodward transferred to a more traditional high school. Blaze went on at OCSA, learning more about his world. He had already learned a key thing about himself. Tracy Smith: So you guys were kind of walking down the beach alone together and he came out to you? Raiah Rofsky: Yeah. Yeah. Tracy Smith: Did you get the sense that Blaze had told anyone else that he thought he was bi? Raiah Rofsky: I don't think that he did. He was kind of upset to say it. Tracy Smith: Something that clearly was a big secret for him. Raiah Rofsky: Yeah, you know coming out to yourself is a really mature, difficult thing to do. Tracy Smith: And what did you tell him? Raiah Rofsky: I told him, "It's OK. If you like boys that's totally fine. Love who you love." And while he hadn't yet come out to his parents, Gideon and Jeanne sensed Blaze might be gay. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: We went up to him and said, "Listen, whatever your situation is, we embrace it. We love you. We don't care." Gideon Bernstein: "We love you for whoever you are." It was late summer 2016 and Blaze, who'd already achieved so much, was headed to an Ivy League School, the University of Pennsylvania. There'd be new friends, mentors and challenges. And Blaze seemed ready for it all. Grayson Honan | Blaze's friend: I can still remember, like he was wearing this really cool overall outfit the first time I met him [laughs]. Tracy Smith: Overalls? Grayson Honan: Yeah. Tracy Smith: Took some fashion risks it sounds like. Grayson Honan: Yeah. Amy Marcus | Blaze's friend: But he didn't care. College friends Amy Marcus and Grayson Honan sensed, even by Ivy League standards, Blaze was something special. Amy Marcus: The track that he was headed down was psychology, and he was really, really excited to do some psychological research, especially into happiness, which I thought was really cool. He was also an incredible writer. And a gourmet chef. He now was also considering a career in medicine. Grayson Honan: He wanted to help as many people as he could and it was really impressive to see. During Winter break 2017, Blaze came home to Southern California. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: It was a much anticipated visit. He was really looking forward to being with us, too. There were holiday celebrations. Then, sometime on the night of Jan. 2, 2018, Blaze left the house. Tracy Smith: So that night, when did you realize that he was missing? Gideon Bernstein: We didn't. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: I didn't know that night. Gideon Bernstein: We didn't even know. We thought he slept in and the next day we were Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: I had my aha moment when I was at the dental appointment. The next day, Blaze was due to meet his mom for a dentist appointment. But Blaze never showed up and wasn't answering his cell phone. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: I called Gideon he asked me if Blaze had ever come home the night before. And I screamed out, "I don't know!" Gideon Bernstein: That's when I just basically just rushed outta the office and came home. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: We both did. We flew home. Blaze's parents rushed home and checked his room. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: His wallet. His retainers. His keys. Gideon Bernstein: Those were all still at the house. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: His glasses. Yeah, all of that stuff was at the house. They called the police, and then tried to log on to Blaze's social media accounts. Gideon Bernstein: and then we just jumped on his computer, tried to get into his, you know, files and this was a big challenge for us. With the help of family and friends, Jeanne and Gideon got access to Blaze's Snapchat account. That's where they discovered that Blaze had sent his home address to someone: Sam Woodward, Blaze's one-time classmate. Raiah Rofsky: The only reason I could think of Sam meeting up with Blaze is because either number one, he wanted to hook up with him, or two, because he was planning to murder him. THE SEARCH FOR BLAZE Rabbi Arnold Rachlis nurtured Blaze's spirit at Orange County's University Synagogue. Rabbi Arnold Rachlis: a good heart, a good soul. That's what Blaze had. within less than a day of Blaze being missing, word spread. Borrego Park became the center of the search. Lt. Brad Valentine | Orange County Sheriff's Dept. [to reporters]: So it's gonna be a slow, tedious search as they get out there and beat the bushes and look for any signs of him. Edgy hours turned into anxious days. Gideon Bernstein [to reporters]: We're here today to get your help to find our son. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein [to reporters]: Please keep your eyes open for my baby. I want him home with me. Now. All Jeanne and Gideon Bernstein had to go on was that clue they found on Blaze's computer: their home address sent out to a seeming stranger: Sam Woodward. Gideon Bernstein: We never heard the name. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: We never heard the name before. Raiah Rofsky: It was already terrifying that I found out that Blaze was missing. But it was even more terrifying to find out he was with Sam Woodward. Tracy Smith: Why? Raiah Rofsky: Because he was literally known as being a crazy, homophobic, racist guy. Sam Woodward Sam Woodward, now a college drop-out, was working part-time and living at home. Orange County cops went to meet him. Sam Woodward couldn't have been more cooperative. He told Blaze's parents and police that he and Blaze came to Borrego Park to hang out. And according to Sam, after awhile Blaze walked down a path alone and disappeared into the brush. The search for Blaze Bernstein heated up. / Credit: Gideon Bernstein/Facebook Rabbi Arnold Rachlis: We printed up thousands and thousands of fliers that people in the congregation put up on wall boards, coffeehouses, on poles and everything. Raiah Rofsky: There was a Facebook page, "Find Blaze Bernstein." There were like helicopter searches. Rabbi Arnold Rachlis: The police are looking. Everybody's looking. NEWS REPORT: The search for Blaze Bernstein went airborne Sunday with more than a dozen drone pilots. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: I really didn't know if we would ever find him Gideon Bernstein: As the days passed it became more and more difficult. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: And I thought we're never gonna know. We're never going to know what happened exactly. We're never going to figure it out. [Pauses, shakes her head] Yeah. That's what I thought. Raiah Rofsky: And I just got this gut feeling in my stomach. That I justI just thought to myself, "Oh my God." Blaze Bernstein and Raiah Rofsky / Credit: Bernstein Family From day one, Blaze's oldest friend had an instinct that chilled. Raiah Rofsky: I immediately thought, "He's dead. He's dead." Tracy Smith: Just from hearing that he was with Sam? Raiah Rofsky: Yes. It was day seven since Blaze last left home. A family and a community were beyond frustrated. Detectives had searched Borrego Park over and over again. But they decided to give it one more look. In the pouring rain, hidden under a large tree branch was a mound of dirt. Under the wet caked earth lay Blaze Bernstein. Missing student Blaze Bernstein found dead, case investigated as homicide Gideon Bernstein [to reporters]: Needless to say our family is devastated by the news. We, like so many of you around the world, loved Blaze and we wanted nothing more than to seek his safe return. Tony Rackauckas | Former Orange County D.A.: [to reporters] This is a senseless murder of a young man who possessed the combination of a high-caliber mind and the heart of a poet. Tracy Smith: How did Blaze Bernstein die? Tony Rackauckas: He was stabbed multiple times in the neck 19 stab wounds in the neck. Tracy Smith: What does that tell you? Tony Rackauckas: Well it tells me that there was a lot of hate. Raiah Rofsky: All I could think of was just, "I knew it. I knew it. I knew it." Tracy Smith: You knew. Raiah Rofsky: I knew. Rabbi Arnold Rachlis: Then the funeral happened And it was shattering. Friends, family gather to remember Blaze Bernstein The grief seemed to stretch across Orange County neighbors, friends, strangers, teachers. Neighbor [tying a blue ribbon around a tree]: We're hugging them right now. We're all hugging them. This is our big giant hug to them. Eric Tryon | Teacher: It was devastating to hear. And it's so horrifying to think about what happened. Rabbi Arnold Rachlis: And not stabbed once or twice, but over and over and over again in a crazed angry murderous rage. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: I just try not to think about what that really meant. I don't think that I physically can deal with the trauma of what's happened yet. REPORTER: Can you tell us what happened to Blaze? SAM WOODWARD: [Grunts] No comment. REPORTER: Were you there when he disappeared? SAM WOODWARD: No comment. [Goes inside house and shuts the door] Days after Blaze Bernstein's body was found, investigators were ready to take the next step. Sam Woodward was arrested charged with murder with the personal use of a knife days after Blaze Bernstein's body was found. / Credit: KCBS REPORTER MICHELE GILE | CBS LOS ANGELES: Undercover officers made their move on Sam Woodward this afternoon as he pulled out of his Newport Beach driveway and went down the road. They pulled that car over and arrested him. D.A. Tony Rackaukas: Sam Woodward was charged with murder with the personal use of a knife. Woodward pleaded not guilty. A community - a school, a synagogue, and a family were in shock. But another community small, twisted with sick rage greeted the news of Blaze Bernstein's brutal murder in a very different way. Former Atomwaffen member: He killed a Jew. Like, was there a party? No, but like did people joke about it? Yeah. Everyone celebrated him. Everyone in the hate group this man belonged to. They say they are Nazis. And they rejoiced for one of their own, Sam Woodward. Former Atomwaffen member: I never physically met the guy but I knew him online. For months, "48 Hours" has been trying to learn more about the violent neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen from the inside. Former Atomwaffen member: Like, he killed a gay Jew. And finally, a one-time member agreed to talk. The words are unimaginable, but to understand Atomwaffen we felt it necessary to hear some of the hate. Former Atomwaffen member [via Skype]: You know, he killed two birds with one stone essentially. Tracy Smith: Which is even better in Atomwaffen's eyes? Former Atomwaffen member: Yeah, of course. Joanna Mendelson: It's dangerous. Their ideology is at the core deeply hateful. Joanna Mendelson has spent close to 20 years monitoring the dark world of extreme hate at the Los Angeles office of the Anti-Defamation League. Joanna Mendelson: It's important that we shine a very bright light on these groups and understand them for what they are. Not to glorify them and not to give them any more notoriety than they already have. Tracy Smith: But at the same time, to be able to recognize what they're doing? Joanna Mendelson: We have to be able to call them out. Jake Hanrahan | Journalist: Atomwaffen is essentially a extreme, extreme, far-right militant neo-Nazi group in America. And their end goal is the destruction of America as a whole. WHY? Tracy Smith: How would you describe Blaze? Richard Bernstein: He had a lot of imagination. And very curious. It's a truth as timeless as the human family. Leah Bernstein: We just loved him. There is no love like the love of a grandparent for a grandchild. And so it was for Leah and Richard Bernstein, and their grandson Blaze. Leah and Richard Bernstein reminisce over photos of their beloved grandson, Blaze. / Credit: CBS News Leah Bernstein: I feel that he lives in our heart. And every night I have a difficult time going to sleep because I always think of him before I go to sleep. Richard Bernstein: I think the world lost a beautiful soul. The evidence marking the loss of that soul was revealed when the heavens opened up and the rain came down. Leah Bernstein: If not the rain, we would have never known what happened to him The person that murdered him made like a, you know Richard Bernstein: Grave. Leah Bernstein: a grave and covered him all with mud, so the rain uncovered his face. Then, in Borrego Park, where Blaze ended up with one-time classmate Sam Woodward, investigators found Blaze's phone. And in Woodward's car ... Tony Rackauckas: The blood on the headliner belonged to both Sam Woodward and Blaze Bernstein. Tracy Smith: Blaze Bernstein's blood was in Sam Woodward's car? Tony Rackauckas: Yes. Yes. Tracy Smith: And then they went on to search the house? Tony Rackauckas: Yes. Tracy Smith: What kind of forensic evidence did they gather? Tony Rackauckas: There was a knife The knife had blood on it Blaze Bernstein's blood on the knife. Gideon Bernstein: [In tears] Just wanna know why. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: I don't I don't even wanna know because I'm not gonna like that answer. But it's "the why" Blaze was murdered that makes an unbearable loss almost unspeakable and transforms his murder into a national issue. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: It's very alarming that this is happening This is atrocious hate. It's just right there. Jake Hanrahan: Sam Woodward was absolutely, definitely a member of Atomwaffen Division. "48 Hours" spoke via Skype with British journalist and CBS News consultant Jake Hanrahan. For Hanrahan, the arrest of Woodward brought an awful confirmation: Atomwaffen was right at home glorifying an accused killer. Jake Hanrahan: Oh yeah. Absolutely. They made T-shirts using Sam Woodward's mug shot. Hanrahan had been reporting on Atomwaffen for nearly two years. They weren't all that hard to find. Hanrahan obtained their secret chat logs and first made note of an angry college dropout, Sam Woodward. Jake Hanrahan: Doing like Nazi salutes next to other members of Atomwaffen. Former Atomwaffen member: I joined Atomwaffen in 2016 Tracy Smith: Did you consider yourself a neo-Nazi? Former Atomwaffen member: I just considered myself a Nazi. The man Hanrahan introduced "48 Hours" to wouldn't tell us his name or dare to show his face. He claims to have been a member of Atomwaffen for more than a year. Former Atomwaffen member: I joined Atomwaffen because of the militancy and the brotherhood that they offered Tracy Smith: Brotherhood. Former Atomwaffen member: Yeah. It was like a camaraderie type of feeling common interests. Tracy Smith: And those interests were hating other groups, hating Jews, hating gays, hating blacks? Former Atomwaffen member: Yeah. Oh yeah. Joanna Mendelson | Anti-Defamation League: This is some of the most intense and some of the most extreme rhetoric that I've seen in a long time. Atomwaffen began in Florida in 2015. The group believes that the so-called alt-right that converged at the violent 2017 demonstration in Charlottesville doesn't go nearly far enough. Former Atomwaffen member: They don't even like to be associated with the alt right at all. They hate the Alt Right. Joanna Mendelson: Their rhetoric and their ideology is white supremacy on steroids In fact, the name of Atomwaffen translates in German to atomic weapon. Tracy Smith: We'll just obliterate you. Joanna Mendelson: We'll wipe you out. According to investigators, Sam Woodward, a privileged upper middle class kid from Southern California, was drawn to this ideology drawn to Atomwaffen's heroes: Adolf Hitler, Charles Manson, Timothy McVeigh and James Mason, author of Atomwaffen's favorite neo-Nazi publication, "Siege." Woodward went to meet him. Former Atomwaffen member: Did I think that like, this guy was going to do something like this? Honestly, I wasn't surprised. And by 2017, Sam Woodward, at times sporting his absurd Atomwaffen mask, attended their version of a corporate retreat. Joanna Mendelson: Hate camps have occurred across the country, involving Atomwaffen members. Joanna Mendelson: They talk about cutting telephone wires and power grids. And shutting down the system. A system that they detest. The images and ambitions are surreal, but their hatred could not be more real. Jake Hanrahan: They want to kill, obviously, first and foremost Jews. They want to kill gays. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: There were people congratulating this accused killer, for what he has done, killing my son. Congratulating him. Jake Hanrahan: They call him the gay, the one-man gay, Jew wrecking ball. You know, like kind of reveling in this idea that he's killed this gay, Jewish kid. Nazi "wannabes" laughing at the murder of Blaze in Orange County. Tracy Smith: "LOL OC." Joanna Mendelson: "LOL OC." Laughing at the fact that Blaze Bernstein's life was extinguished. Former Atomwaffen member: Everyone in Atomwaffen believes Jewish people just need to be wiped off the face of the earth. Rabbi Arnold Rachlis : As the story unfolded that the murder was related to homophobia and antisemitism, well then the anger in the community and the anxiety ratcheted up. Tracy Smith: Do you think that Blaze was murdered because he was gay, and because he was Jewish? Raiah Rofksy:Yes, 100 percent. Rabbi Arnold Rachlis: Permission has been granted for the ugliest kind of racism, antisemitism, immigrant bashing and hatred. Joanna Mendelson: We used to monitor these groups that lurked in the shadows. But today they are emerging front and center. Tracy Smith: Had you ever heard of Atomwaffen before this? Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: No. But we should have. Because we're a perfect target for that group. A perfect target for today's Nazi, just as Blaze's grandma Leah, a Holocaust survivor, was so many years ago. A little Jewish girl forced by Hitler's Nazis to wear a yellow star. Leah Bernstein: Yes. We did wear the stars. Tracy Smith: You all had to wear the stars. You've seen a lot. Leah Bernstein: Quite a bit. Tracy Smith: It's a horrible irony, that what you escaped is. Leah Bernstein: Is following me. Yeah. THE TENTACLES OF HATE Clear across the country from where Sam Woodward morphed into an Atomwaffen Nazi, Nick Giampa grew up with his own set of insecurities and issues that eventually led him to find Atomwaffen's online propaganda. Emily: By the time he was in second grade Nicholas wasn't your ordinary little boy. Nick's sister Emily and her husband Chris stuck by Nick. They say he was bipolar and suffered from other psychological issues. Chris: He was in one school in the second grade, another school in the third grade, another school in the fourth grade. I think it was eight or nine different schools. Emily: Nicholas was bullied, called a freak, called a retard, stupid, dumb. Emily: He thought he was invisible. He said, "Nobody ever sees me. Nobody ever calls my phone. He was a lonely child on the internet. Nick Giampa / Credit: Facebook A perfect profile to be vulnerable to the postings of a hate group. Still, in his junior year of high school, Nick's life changed in a positive way. Emily: It was such a self confidence boost, like "Wow, I found someone that loves me." Chris: Everything in the world was going good for him. Nick had his first-ever girlfriend, a classmate. "48 Hours" agreed not to show her face. She was the 16-year-old daughter of a Reston, Virginia, couple Scott Fricker and his wife Buckley Kuhn Fricker. Deb Merriner: She was always learning, always wanting to see if she could figure out how to serve people better. Buckley Kuhn Fricker was a lawyer-turned-advocate for the elderly. Deb Merriner was her assistant. Scott and Buckley Kuhn Fricker / Credit: Facebook Deb Merriner: They were amazing parents. I was blown away by the dedication to making sure their kids were raised right. Justin Jouvenal | Washington Post crime reporter: It was three days before Christmas. 911 CALL: Caller is still upstairs with her boyfriend. Shots fired. Justin Jouvenal: And I got a call from the office very early in the morning, saying that there had been this horrific double murder in a fairly upscale neighborhood just outside of D.C. Washington Post crime reporter Justin Jouvenal would learn about the rich family values of Scott and Buckley and the bankrupt ideology of Atomwaffen. Justin Jouvenal: So I jumped in my car early that morning and made my way out to the neighborhood and began reporting on what happened. According to Nick Giampa's own family, just hours earlier, Nick grabbed a gun from his home, and drove to the Fricker's home. A house decked out for the holidays. Justin Jouvenal: There was yellow crime tape up around the house There were snowflakes on the house. Christmas wreathes. Detectives going in and out, crime scene investigators. Buckley and Scott Fricker had been shot to death in their own home, likely in front of their 16-year-old daughter Nick Giampa's first girlfriend. Justin Jouvenal: It was absolutely horrific The daughter was not shot. But Nick Giampa was in the house, still alive after allegedly shooting himself through the skull. A trail of blood led to Atomwaffen. Joanna Mendelson: Nick Giampa allegedly killed his girlfriend's parents because they found out about his white supremacist beliefs. Tracy Smith: And they told her not to date him anymore? Joanna Mendelson: They forbade their daughter from dating him. Justin Jouvenal: The daughter agreed to stop seeing her boyfriend. This set him off. Buckley, a concerned and involved mom, had confronted her daughter after discovering Nick's retweets of Atomwaffen on her daughter's phone. The teenage girl had nothing to do with Atomwaffen, but Nick was sharing their racist posts. Justin Jouvenal: Very slick propaganda, which they've pushed out via social media, that's been picked up by people who are, you know perhaps, vulnerable. Emily: It was a way for Nicholas to be the bully for once. Former Atomwaffen member: If you're looking at their propaganda they're seeking to attract ostracized youth and outcast youth. Especially white kids that are just bullied. Chris: That was just him trying to get a rise outta people on the internet And that's what he did. The boy who once felt invisible, had found a horrendous way to get the world's attention. Chris: Nicholas was not part of any Atomwaffen group. He was never part of that. Former Atomwaffen member: He was an initiate in the Virginia chapter You can't say Nick was a member of AW But you can say Nick was an initiate in AW. Chris: I don't think he would ever be part of any Atomwaffen group. This was my little brother. But just as they did when Blaze Bernstein was murdered, Atomwaffen's small membership of Nazi wannabes mocked a murder this time the unconscionable killing of Scott and Buckley Kuhn Fricker. Former Atomwaffen member: Yeah. They made Nick Giampa propaganda. Justin Jouvenal: They sent out a tweet with his picture superimposed on a Kalashnikov. Sam Woodward allegedly embraced Atomwaffen. Nick Giampa was infected by far more casual contact. But in each case, the Nazi cancer proved deadly. Joanna Mendelson: They reaffirm hate, they desensitize the viewer, and they create a sense of normalcy. Tracy Smith: That this is OK. Joanna Mendelson: This is acceptable. Tracy Smith: Do you think if Buckley and Scott hadn't found those Nazi images on their daughter's phone, would they still be alive today? Jake Hanrahan: [Sighs] Probably. FIGHTING HATE WITH LOVE Detectives say Sam Woodward went online trolling gay men, pretending he was interested in a sexual hookup. But the former D.A. believes it wasn't a hookup Sam had in mind with Blaze Bernstein; it was a setup for murder. Tracy Smith: Does it seem like Sam is sexually conflicted himself? Tony Rackauckas | Former Orange County D.A.: He doesn't claim to be sexually conflicted. He claims to be somebody who hates gays and wants to cause harm to them. Jake Hanrahan: In fact on his Tinder he said, "I'm going hunting." The kid was planning to kill someone because of his ideology. On Aug. 2, 2018, the Orange County D.A. added an enhancement to the charges against Sam Woodward in the murder of Blaze Bernstein. From Blaze's family to his friends, no one was surprised by the D.A.'s decision: Tony Rackauckas [to reporters]: This increases the maximum penalty to life without the possibility of parole. We will prove that Woodward killed Blaze because Blaze was gay. After police seized physical evidence, including an Atomwaffen mask in Sam Woodward's car, they found a trove of Nazi hate on his phone and computer. After police seized physical evidence, including an Atomwaffen mask in Woodward's car, they found a trove of Nazi hate on his phone and computer. Former Atomwaffen member: They found evidence of Sam being involved in Atomwaffen. Blaze's murder was now considered a hate crime. Tony Rackauckas: Sam Woodward is a hater. He hates homosexuals. He hates people who are Jewish. He hates people of all different kinds of categories who are not white. For Gideon and Jeanne Bernstein, it deepened the darkest tragedy. Gideon Bernstein [to reporters]: Today we suffer an added layer of pain from learning that he was likely killed simply because of who he was as a human being. For Blaze's oldest friend Raiah Rofsky, who is Jewish and identifies as bisexual, it brings an unsettling fear. Raiah Rofsky: I have to be careful and I'm terrified. Tracy Smith: You truly feel unsafe. Raiah Rofsky: I do. Rabbi Arnold Rachlis: There has to be zero tolerance of homophobia, zero tolerance of racism, of antisemitism, of immigrant bashing. For Blaze's grandma Leah, who wore that yellow Nazi star, sadness and belief blend into one. Leah Bernstein: It's very painful. It's very, very hard. Tracy Smith: After seeing all this, are you hopeful? Leah Bernstein: I'm very hopeful. Because there are lots of good people in the world. And at least one new way to fight hate with love. Leah Bernstein: Well, we BlazeItForward. Jeanne and Gideon Bernstein are channeling their grief into kindness through #BlazeitForward and a memorial scholarship in Blaze's name. / Credit: CBS News BlazeItForward. Just days after they learned of their son's death, the Bernsteins made the remarkable decision to channel their grief into kindness. Gideon Bernstein: Let's do something where we go onto this, you know, BlazeItForward Facebook page and tell people to give money to some charity. Gideon and Jeanne targeted foster care kids and at-risk youth. They raised money for a scholarship at OSCA, the high school where Blaze shined so bright. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein [at scholarship event]: We are delighted to award two scholarships this year from the Blaze Bernstein memorial endowment scholarship. Thousands of friends and strangers gathered to honor Blaze. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: I want to do my piece to repair the world in Blaze's honor and to promote his legacy. As they embraced each other, their community "Blazed it" right back. Pride Parade Organizer [addressing parade goers]: This parade is rededicated as our community's official Blaze Forward OC LGBT Pride Parade Jeanne Pepper Bernstein [addressing parade goers]: We thank you for giving us this honor. For honoring my son and his memory and for Blazing It Forward. BlazeItForward. It's much more than a slogan. It is now a calling, a new way of life for Jeanne and Gideon Bernstein. At its heart is finding some sort of silver lining in an unspeakable tragedy. And at Orange County's Pride Day, the spirit of BlazeItForward is everywhere. It's a promise made to a young man targeted by hate, now inspiring love. And perhaps steering one hater away from the poison that is Atomwaffen. Tracy Smith: Do you feel like you owe Blaze Bernstein's family an apology? Former Atomwaffen member: Yes, I do. And if he is to be believed, because of the murder of Blaze Bernstein he says he's no longer a Nazi and has quit Atomwaffen. Tracy Smith: You could say something now. Former Atomwaffen member: To them? Tracy Smith: Sure. Former Atomwaffen member: Yeah, so, I'm so sorry that I'm so sorry that this happened to your son I would like to see AW brought down. I would like to see Sam put behind bars for life. In Borrego Park, where Blaze Bernstein's light was extinguished, people from around the world leave stones in his memory. / Credit: Bernstein family In Borrego Park, where Blaze Bernstein's light was extinguished, people from around the world leave stones in his memory. Leah Bernstein: It's beautiful. Richard Bernstein: You see all the stones, you feel the love. Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: I think that sometimes I dream. I can't control that. And I dream. And I wake up. And it [sighs] just haunts me. Those dreams can haunt me for days. Tracy Smith: Dreams about? Jeanne Pepper Bernstein: About my son. Just him, alive. Sam Woodward's trial is expected to take place later this year. Produced by James Stolz and Gayane Keshishyan Mendez. Michelle Fanucci is the field producer. Grayce Arlotta-Berner, Marcus Balsam and Phil Tangel are the editors. Peter Schweitzer is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Susan Zirinsky is the senior executive producer. Commemorating 100 years since Tulsa race massacre leveled "Black Wall Street" Supreme Court begins final month of annual term and expected to rule on major cases Evaluating the LGBTQ+ business climate index FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) Ola Kamara scored twice, Paul Arriola added a goal and an assist and D.C. United beat Inter Miami 3-0 on Saturday night. Kamara slipped a bending shot past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper John McCarthy to give D.C. United a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute. Paul Arriola banged a left-footer off the post in the 21st to double the advantage. Arriola played an arcing ball toward the far post where Kamara put away a header from point-blank range to cap the scoring in the 71st minute. D.C. United (3-5-0) snapped a four-game road losing streak its longest since early in the 2018 season dating to the end of last season. Bill Hamid had three saves for D.C. United. The 30-year-old goalkeeper made his first appearance of the season following off-season hernia surgery followed by a calf strain suffered in April. Miami (2-4-2) was scoreless for the second consecutive game and for the fourth time in its last six. ___ More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Kendall Jenner has swapped her Pepsi for her very own beverage brand: 818 Tequila. The 25-year-old model's latest business venture, a new brand of "best-tasting tequila," was met with backlash from the Latino and Mexican-American communities. The criticism? Another white celebrity cashing in on an industry and culture to which she has no proximity. "There are so many other authentic, woman-owned tequila companies to (choose) from," wrote a Twitter user. "Dont support the exploitation of our culture and resources." But supporters argue Jenner is not the first non-Latina or white celebrity to create a tequila brand, and she's being unfairly criticized. George Clooney (Casamigos), Nick Jonas (Villa One), Dwayne The Rock Johnson (Teremana Tequila), AC/DC (Thunderstruck Tequila), LeBron James (Lobos 1707) and more have all gotten into the tequila game. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. What sets Jenner apart from the rest, however, is her and her family's murky history of profiting off of other cultures and repeatedly being accused of cultural appropriation. One user tweeted: "leave it to Kendall to be as tone deaf as possible, this is so offensive. Modeling that chic migrant worker look for her tequila brand, watch her cry and say she didn't know later on for the 100th time." Another user replied to the original tweet, adding that people should keep the "same energy for all the celeb men" who have also ventured into the business. '#KimOhNo': Kim Kardashian's plan to trademark 'Kimono' angers Twitter Kendall Jenner has swapped her Pepsi for her very own beverage brand: 818 Tequila. The 25-year-old model announced a new brand of tequila earlier this year and was met with criticism from the Latinx and Mexican-American community. Justin Biebers dreadlocks spark debate: Whats cultural appropriation versus appreciation? Reps for Jenner and the 818 Tequila team declined to comment. The model's foray into the tequila industry isn't the first time critics have discussed the cultural and economic implications of celebrity-backed liquor companies. Andy Coronado, who co-owns La Gritona Tequila with businesswoman Melly Barajas Cardenas, says celebrity tequila companies "pull away resources from smaller brands that need access to agave," the plant from which tequila is made. It takes roughly seven yearsfor the plant to reach maturity for harvest. Story continues "It is a commodity, and it boosts the prices," he adds. "It leaves the rest of the tequila world to trying to survive." Barajas Cardenas says that while she's not familiar with Jenner, she believes that celebrities creating their own tequila is more indicative of the globalization of the drink. If you say tequila, you immediately think about Mexico, she says, in an interview conducted in Spanish. I would love for it to be known all over the world by whoever because although an American creates their own brand and whether you like it or not, Mexico also sees that money because theres no other country where it can be produced. But the distiller believes there are two types of people who dabble in the tequila industry: one who "genuinely loves Mexico, tequila and our roots," and another who sees Latino and Mexican-American consumers as only a dollar sign, she says. The latter is the group to which critics believe celebrities like Jenner belong. Kendall Jenner's marketing of 818 Tequila receives cultural appropriation backlash In February, Jenner announced on Instagram the anticipated release of 818 Tequila available in anejo, reposado and blanco adding that it was "almost 4 years in the making." Fast-forward to May: Jenner celebrated the official release of 818 with a social media campaign that didn't go down as smoothly to some. To promote 818, Jenner relocated to "local, family-owned farms" in Jalisco, Mexico, as her backdrop. She swapped her high-fashion gowns for jeans, an oversize button-up resembling a Mexican shawl and a white tank top. She accessorized with a sombrero and a pair of cowboy boots, and she wore her hair in pigtails. In addition to the outfit, Jenner rode a horse through agave fields in the promotional video and sat in the back of a pickup with a broken window covered in a plastic bag, nonchalantly petting a stray dog with one hand, sipping tequila with the other. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The criticism began to trickle in via Instagram comments, tweets and TikTok videos dissecting what people thought was wrong with her tequila ad. Jenner turned off comments on that post. Social media users argued that the way Jenner dressed perpetuated harmful stereotypes. "It's also about the way she's dressing up like a Mexican person," one Twitter user wrote. "It's wrong & super distasteful. There were other ways to market. But this one? It's not it." Author Julissa Arce wrote on Twitter: "Why cant Kendall Jenner just show up as her white girl self to sell Tequila?! Why does she have to go and put on the braids, and wear the sombrero." The backlash prompted many on social media to support locally-owned and women-owned tequila brands, including La Gritona, a mark distilled by Vinos y Licores Azteca also created and owned by Barajas; Bertha Gonzalez' Casa Dragones; Stella Anguiano's Prospero Tequila; Nitzan Marrun's Satryna Tequila and others. La Gritona co-owner Coronado adds that since the 818 Tequila backlash began, he has noticed an influx of followers and overwhelming support for La Gritona, which is 100% staffed by local women. He asks: "Why aren't these people attacking Clooney or The Rock. Why are they going after Kendall? Because she's a woman and because she comes from this family that is perceived as superficial and not taken seriously. I dont know what I would think of her tequila, but she can do whatever she wants." 'Customers are really able to see when an endorsement is authentic' Ali Fazal, VP of marketing at Grin, a platform dedicated to creating authentic influencer marketing campaigns, says the lack of diversity and inclusion in influencer marketing invites this type of backlash. "Things like misogyny, racism, cultural appropriation nobody ever liked them," Fazal says. "It's just that now we can talk about them more freely, without fear of persecution or the fear of retribution." Now consumers feel more empowered to speak their mind, he says: "They're super discerning and they're very critical of brands." Fazal attributes the pandemic to consumers' craving authenticity. "People are starting to evolve and get used to that being the norm," he says. "Customers are really able to see when an endorsement is authentic and feels authentic." Many don't view Jenner's intentions or her tequila as authentic. Mike Morales, CEO of Tequila Aficionado Media, says that anything that is mass-produced or mainstream is "not using authentic methods" of production, and is mostly taking "short cuts" to lower the cost of production and spend more on marketing. "For those who want to do something authentic, you should know right off the bat that you're in for the long game," he says, adding that all some celebrities really have going for them are their followings. Even then, Morales thinks Jenner stepping into the tequila business is a "nonissue." But four years after her infamous Pepsi ad, i which the reality TV star was depicted leaving a modeling shoot to join a protest, handing the beverage to a police officer as a peace offering, the optics still don't look good. Tequila is ingrained in Mexican culture and is a marker of the country's identity. When celebrities or non-Latinos venture into the industry, Barajas Cardenas says, "You're selling a little piece of Mexico. We are not numbers." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kendall Jenner's 818 Tequila met with criticism, experts weigh in Kroger logo is seen at one of their stores in Athens, Ohio. Stephen Zenner/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Kroger is launching a giveaway for individuals who get their COVID-19 vaccine at Kroger Health. Five winners will receive $1 million, and 50 others will get free groceries for one year. The grocer joins a growing list of companies trying to incentivize both customers and employees to get vaccinated. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Kroger is offering $1 million payouts and free groceries for one year to individuals who get their COVID-19 vaccines at its stores. The Community Immunity giveaway campaign, announced on Thursday, kicks off on June 3. Over the course of five weeks, five individuals, including the stores' customers and associates, will win $1 million. Separately, 50 more people that enter will be awarded free groceries for a year. The grocer had previously offered a one-time $100 payment to employees for getting the vaccine. "The faster we reach community immunity, the sooner we can all get back to enjoying backyard barbecues, live music and gathering for special occasions," Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and CEO, said in a press release on Thursday. The retailer's website confirms that individuals who have already gotten the vaccine at Kroger Health are eligible to enter the sweepstakes. Further details regarding the campaign will be released next week. Kroger is the latest company to try and incentivize both customers and employees to get the vaccine. Target, Dollar General, Krispy Kreme and several US states, including New York and California, have offered prizes and gifts for those who get vaccinated. US COVID-19 cases neared a pandemic low over the Memorial Day weekend, as federal health officials said more than half of all adults in the country have been fully vaccinated for the disease. An Ohio resident receives the COVID-19 vaccine in March 2021. Stephen Zenner/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images The Ohio-based retailer launched the sweepstakes in collaboration with the administration of President Joe Biden after it announced its goal to have at least 70% of Americans partially vaccinated by July 4. Story continues "We greatly appreciate President Joe Biden's leadership and partnership with the private sector to increase vaccinations among the US population, especially people of color and individuals under age 30. As an employer, grocery provider, and community partner, the #CommunityImmunity giveaway is another way we are doing our part to help America recover from the public health crisis and safely return to normal," McMullen wrote. The Kroger supermarket chain's headquarters is shown in Cincinnati. Reuters Kroger said it has distributed 4.6 million vaccines during the pandemic. More recently in May, the grocery chain joined companies like Costco and Target in removing its in-store mask mandate for fully vaccinated customers and workers unless otherwise required by state or local rules. Kroger still, however, requires pharmacy and clinic employees to wear masks. Read the original article on Insider A look at whats happening around the majors today: ___ TOP ARMS OUT WEST The finale of an entertaining four-game series between longtime rivals features an excellent pitching matchup at Dodger Stadium. San Francisco sends Kevin Gausman (5-0, 1.53 ERA) to the mound against Los Angeles lefty Clayton Kershaw (7-3, 2.94), who will make his 50th career start versus the Giants. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is 24-13 with a 1.79 ERA and 0.88 WHIP against them. DOUBLE TROUBLE Aaron Civale and the Cleveland pitching staff are in for a tough test the Indians are set to play back-to-back doubleheaders. After a game cut short by miserable weather Friday night and a rainout Saturday, the Indians will play a twinbill against Toronto at Progressive Field to close the weekend. Civale, second in the AL with seven wins, starts the opener for Cleveland. On Monday, the Indians will host the Chicago White Sox for a pair of seven-inning games. Cleveland manager Terry Francona will miss the matchups with Toronto to attend his youngest daughters wedding in Newport, Rhode Island. Hes expected to be back for Mondays doubleheader. RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY Weather permitting, two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom (3-2, 0.80 ERA) makes his second start since coming off the injured list when the banged-up New York Mets host NL East rival Atlanta in prime time. The teams were washed out Friday night, and the forecast again calls for rain all day in New York. After missing a couple of weeks due to tightness on his right side, deGrom struck out nine in five innings of three-hit ball Tuesday against Colorado. Max Fried (2-2, 4.63) is scheduled for the Braves. DRY IN THE DESERT The reeling Arizona Diamondbacks are desperate for a win. They've lost 13 games in a row, one short of the franchise record, going into their series finale at home against St. Louis. The Diamondbacks dropped 14 straight in 2004, when they lost 111 games. The teams 18-35 record this year is the worst in the National League. Story continues Were in every game. Were right there, catcher Stephen Vogt said. Tying run at the plate, winning run at the plate. One hit, one pitch away from winning these games. Were frustrated, were upset, were unhappy. Arizona right-hander Matt Peacock (1-1, 4.91 ERA) faces Kwang Hyun Kim (1-2, 3.09). SPUTTERING AT THE PLATE Last in the AL Central, the Detroit Tigers try for a surprising three-game sweep of the visiting New York Yankees. Aaron Judge and the Bronx Bombers had won seven of nine before arriving in town, but theyve totaled only three runs in the first two games of the series. The Yankees hadnt lost a series at Comerica Park since August 2014. We obviously arent doing what we need to do offensively, manager Aaron Boone said. Weve got hitters in their prime with a track record of success at this level. We just need to make sure were getting them ready every day. Tarik Skubal (1-7, 5.23 ERA) pitches for Detroit against long reliever Michael King (0-1, 2.29), in the New York rotation spot normally occupied by injured Corey Kluber. King went 0-2 with an 8.36 ERA in four starts for the Yankees last year. ARRESTED Atlanta Braves star Marcell Ozuna was arrested Saturday on charges of aggravated assault by strangulation and battery after police officers said they witnessed him attacking his wife. A statement from the Sandy Springs Police Department in Georgia said officers responded to a 911 call Saturday afternoon and entered a home where the front door was open and they heard screaming coming from inside. The statement said officers witnessed Ozuna grab his wife by the neck, throw her against a wall and strike her with his arm which has a cast from a previous injury. Ozuna was placed on the injured list Friday by the Braves with two dislocated fingers on his left hand. The police report said the victim had visible injuries but was not transported to a hospital. Ozuna has been booked into Fulton County Jail. Sandy Springs is a suburb of Atlanta. Major League Baseballs Department of Investigations plans to review the matter under the joint domestic violence policy in place between MLB and the players association. UNLUCKY 13? The Orioles will try to avoid their 13th straight loss when rookie left-hander Keegan Akin starts in Chicago against the White Sox. Baltimore was swept in a doubleheader Saturday. The Os have dropped 12 in a row, their longest skid since losing 13 straight in 2009. This is hard, there is no doubt about it. This is very, very challenging. This is very difficult, this is frustrating, embarrassing at times, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. Akin has a 6.10 ERA in four relief appearances this season. He earned his only major league win last year. Lucas Giolito (4-4, 4.04 ERA) starts for Chicago. He outpitched former high school teammate Jack Flaherty to beat St. Louis in his last start while feeling some tightness on his right side. ROAD WEARY Texas plays at Seattle looking to snap an 11-game road losing streak. The club record is 12 in a row set in 2003. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Hadizatou Toure, 35, is vaccinated in April by registered nurse Janice Taylor in Los Angeles. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles County public health officials on Saturday reported 220 new coronavirus cases and seven related deaths, while urging all Angelenos who haven't been vaccinated to follow masking and distancing protocols over Memorial Day weekend. As California moves toward a full reopening of the economy on June 15 when nearly all restrictions will be lifted after more than a year L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer stressed that broad-scale vaccination remains the surest path toward pre-pandemic conditions. We are all glad this Memorial Day will look so different from last Memorial Day its such a relief for so many of us to be able to gather with family and friends again, Ferrer said. I encourage everyone who hasn't been vaccinated yet to make time to get vaccinated. The vaccine provides the best protection and is keeping transmission in L.A. County low." L.A. County officials have confirmed a total of 1,243,712 coronavirus cases, including 273 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19, and 24,338 deaths. Across the county, as in most of the nation, Black and Latino people have been hospitalized and died at disproportionately high rates throughout the pandemic. And the disparities continue to widen , according to new data presented by the Department of Public Health showing that Black residents are now three times as likely to die from COVID-19 as white or Asian American residents. More than 54% of Californians have received at least one shot of a vaccine, according to a Times analysis, while 43% of Californians are fully vaccinated far shy of the roughly 85% experts say is needed to bring the pandemic under control. Anyone 12 and older is now eligible for a vaccine. Families looking for information about vaccine sites should visit the citys website , the county's site or the Spanish-language site VacunateLosAngeles.com or call (833) 540-0473. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By Christian Akorlie and Paul Lorgerie ACCRA (Reuters) -West African regional bloc ECOWAS on Sunday suspended Mali's membership in response to last week's coup and said authorities must stick to a timetable for a return to democracy, but stopped short of imposing new sanctions. Leaders of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States held an emergency summit in Ghana's capital Accra to agree a response to the Malian military's ouster of a president and prime minister for the second time in nine months. Mali's neighbours and international powers fear the latest revolt will jeopardise a commitment to hold a presidential election next February, and undermine a regional fight against Islamist militants. In a communique after the summit, ECOWAS said Mali's membership in the bloc was suspended with immediate effect. However it did not announce sanctions like those it imposed after the coup last August, which saw members temporarily close their borders with landlocked Mali and halt financial transactions. It also did not call for new interim President Assimi Goita to step down. The army colonel, who led the August coup and last week's revolt, was declared president on Friday. Instead, ECOWAS said a new civilian prime minister should be nominated and a new inclusive government formed to proceed with the transition programme. "The date of 27th February 2022 already announced for the presidential election should be absolutely maintained," the leaders' communique said. There was no immediate response from Goita, who attended the summit. Goita, a 38-year-old special forces commander, was one of several colonels who overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita last year. He ordered the arrests last Monday of interim President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane. Both resigned on Wednesday while still in detention. They were later released. ECOWAS and Western powers including France and the United States worry the political crisis could exacerbate instability in northern and central Mali, a home base for regional affiliates of al Qaeda and Islamic State. (Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Giles Elgood and Daniel Wallis) Virginia State Police K-9 officer Tyler Fridley, poses with his dog Aries at State Police headquarters in Richmond, Va., Monday, May 10, 2021. Drug-sniffing police dogs from around Virginia are being forced into early retirement as the state prepares to legalize adult recreational use of marijuana on July 1. AP Photo/Steve Helber Since 2012, 16 states have legalized recreational marijuana. Legalization is forcing police dogs, who are trained to smell illicit drugs, into early retirement. The dogs do not recognize that weed is no longer an illicit drug they need to sniff out. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Some highly-skilled workers are finding themselves out of work due to major policy changes impacting their industry. In Virginia, where recreational marijuana will become legal later this year, drug-sniffing dogs are being retired early, a trend other states have also experienced, the Associated Press reported. Thirteen dogs with the Virginia state police are being retired, while many more being retired by smaller departments. Some are replacing their K-9s with newly trained pups that only recognize still-illicit drugs, while are others are ending their dog programs because they cannot afford the $15,000 a newly trained dog would cost, according to AP. Read more: The top 7 law firms advising on marijuana megadeals worth billions The Virginia General Assembly passed a bill in April that allows for the legal possession of one ounce of marijuana. Gov. Ralph Northam later signed the bill, which goes into effect on July 1. Since 2012, 16 states have legalized recreational marijuana and many more have legalized marijuana use for medical reasons. Drug-sniffing dogs are trained to detect, primarily with their sense of smell, a range of illegal drugs. Their sense of smell is 2,000 times stronger than a humans, according to security firm ICTS. The dogs typically react the same way regardless of the drug they are detecting. "Sniffer dogs have totally no interest in the drugs themselves. What they're actually searching for is their favorite toy. Their training programme has led them to associate that toy with the smell of drugs," according to ot ICTS. The executive director of the United States Police Canine Association, Dan Slavik, told AP the trend of retiring dogs as marijuana is legalized is "everywhere." Story continues "Once you train a behavior in a dog, that never goes away," he said. When police dogs retire, it is common for them to get adopted and go live with a family. Often, retired service dogs are adopted by their handlers or other service members, Readers Digest reported. Read the original article on Insider Excluding Pakistan, Saudi Arabia has allowed people from 11 countries to travel to the middle eastern country as it lifted travel ban from Sunday that was imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19, Gulf News reported. Citing people familiar with the development, Saudi Newspaper said that the travel ban will be lifted from 11 countries starting 1 am on Sunday (local time). The travelers from these countries will, however, be required to go through institutional quarantine. Travelers from the United Arab Emirates, Germany, the United States, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, France and Japan, will be allowed entry from Sunday. "Due to stability in the epidemiological scene and effective pandemic-controlling efforts in those countries, Saudi Arabia has decided to allow travelers coming from the 11 countries, starting from Sunday 1 am, Gulf News reported quoting an official source at the Saudi Interior Ministry. International passengers coming into Saudi Arabia are all required to undergo a seven-day mandatory quarantine period at their own expense, starting from the day of arrival, at one of the kingdom's quarantine facilities the publication reported. On the seventh day, they must take a PCR test, after which they will be allowed to leave quarantine if its comes back negative. In February, Saudi Arabia temporarily halted flights with several countries, exempting Saudis, diplomats and health workers from the ban. The 20 countries on the ban list were Argentina, the UAE, France, Germany, the US, Indonesia, India, Japan, Ireland, Italy, Pakistan, Brazil, Portugal, the UK, Turkey, South Africa, Sweden, the Swiss Confederation, Lebanon, and Egypt. (ANI) Also Read: COVID-19 cases in India declining, 1,65,553 new cases recorded in last 24 hrs Reuters Cambodia's capital of Phnom Penh on Saturday began overseeing the dismantling of "floating home" communities on the banks of the Tonle Sap River over the objections of longtime residents who say they have nowhere else to go. For generations, the floating wooden houseboats of Phnom Penh have been both livelihood and way of life for mostly ethnic Vietnamese families, home to fish farming and interconnected by warrens of hand-built bridges interspersed with sunken poles and small boats. "Our ancestors have always been here," said Kith Dong, 54, as he and relatives dismantled his home of consisting of a grayling timber platform with a sloped tin roof off the shore of Phnom Penh's Prek Pnov district. May 30Family members of a young woman whose rape and murder remains an unsolved mystery nearly 40 years after her death say they are cautiously optimistic a renewed round of interviews in the case could bring police closer to finding out what happened to her. Santa Fe beauty school student Teal Pittington disappeared in the summer of 1984. A passing motorist discovered her body nine months later in a culvert near Lamy, so badly decomposed she had to be identified with dental records. The state Office of the Medical Investigator said Pittington's death among the most notorious in Santa Fe in the 1980s was a homicide, ruling an "unknown assailant(s)" had raped the woman and strangled her with her own bra. Over the years, the case which began as a missing persons investigation by the Santa Fe Police Department and was transferred to New Mexico State Police when her body was discovered outside city limits grew colder and colder. Key pieces of evidence, including the potential murder weapon, Pittington's undergarment, have gone missing. And in 2020, Pittington's live-in boyfriend, Marion Owen Jent, once considered a prime suspect in the case, died. Still, investigators have never stopped trying to close the case and conducted new interviews this year thanks in part to persistent pressure from Pittington's family members, who have refused to stop believing her killer might someday be brought to justice. "You're always hopeful," said Pittington's father, John J. Pittington, 76, of Los Lunas. "You always hope they will figure out who did it. That's always on my mind. But you know, we're talking 36 years. ... I'm hopeful, but then again I'm not gonna hold my breath." The beginnings The state police case file on Teal Pittington's death many typed pages created in an age before computers were common provides a glimpse of what life was like for the young woman living in Santa Fe decades ago. Story continues She attended Vogue College of Cosmetology, where the uniform was blue pants, white shirt, smock and closed-toe shoes, the report says. She worked nights at a local pizza place, where, her manager told police, he suspected she was dealing marijuana as well. She had many male admirers, according to witnesses interviewed by police including Jent, with whom she lived in a house on Declovina Street with a rotating roster of roommates. Some had criminal records. Police discovered early on that Pittington and another young woman, Tamara Britton, who vanished about a week before Pittington's disappearance, had both lived with and dated Jent, then 20. Pittington was living with Jent when she disappeared, according to the police file, and he'd been seen driving her car several days later. The story became more complex when investigators learned Britton had been living under an assumed name and Social Security number, one belonging to an infant who had died in 1959 in Wisconsin. Jent reportedly passed two polygraph exams related to the Pittington case and was never charged. He later left the state and was convicted of drug and property crimes in Florida and Idaho, but he was never charged with any violent crimes. Investigators contacted Jent in 2018, state police spokesman Dusty Francisco said, but he declined to be interviewed. Britton's fate and true identity remain unknown. A little movement Gladys Waltman, Pittington's aunt by marriage, said it's her understanding investigators reinterviewed state prison inmate David Bruce Morton about the case in April. Morton is serving time for having killed two other young Santa Fe women in the mid-1980s. He also has been convicted of killing a woman in Texas, according to previous reports. Francisco confirmed investigators from the state police Cold Case Homicide Unit have interviewed one person and plan to conduct more interviews. "There are other persons of interest in this case, although none of them are considered suspects at this time," he wrote in an email. Francisco wrote state police would not identify the people investigators interview, adding he couldn't provide more detail because the case is still an active investigation. "There are no recent developments that would bring the case closer to resolution," he wrote. This isn't the first time Morton's name has surfaced in the Pittington investigation. Santa Fe police Detective Tony Trujillo who worked the case in the late 1980s and has kept up with it over the years told The New Mexican in 2017 he suspected Morton was involved in or knew something about Pittington's death. He recalled interviewing Morton about the case in 2003, when Morton was doing time in a Texas prison. "I asked him about Teal Pittington," Trujillo said in the 2017 interview with the newspaper. "He stared off to the side, and he said, 'I remember her. She was a cute little thing.' " Trujillo said Morton told him he and a friend used to visit Pittington at the pizza place where she worked, and if Trujillo wanted to know what happened to Pittington, he should find that man, who could be in Texas. Waltman said she has been given a name of a person in Texas police intend to interview. The New Mexican is not publishing his name because he has not been charged or named a suspect in the case. Trujillo said in a recent phone interview it wasn't his place to say who state police had interviewed. But he said he believes investigators could still crack the Pittington case. "It's a very solvable case," Trujillo said, adding many cold cases are being unraveled using DNA analysis that didn't exist at the time of the crime. Unfortunately, he said, that won't help in Pittington's case because much of the physical evidence has been lost over the years. State police in 2017 told The New Mexican the agency was still hoping to locate the bra that might have been used to strangle Pittington. Francisco wrote the bra and other missing items still haven't been found. A family mystery Pittington's short life and tragic and mysterious death have continued to haunt Waltman and other family members including some who never met her. Waltman, who lives in Albuquerque, said she has spent much of her free time since retiring in 2019 sifting through evidence in the case and keeping in touch with investigators to ensure they are still looking for Pittington's killer. She said she met with new case agent Mark Jackson and Trujillo in January, and she has called every month since to see if there has been any progress. "I want them to know that people still care," she said in a recent phone interview. Nothing will bring Pittington back, Waltman said, but knowing what happened to her could bring the family some closure. "Closure is not finding out there is a mummified body at [the Office of the Medical Examiner] that has to be identified," she said. Waltman said her older sister, Melinda Waltman, married Teal Pittington's father when the girl was about 6. Gladys Waltman was only 5 years older, and the two girls became close. "She was such a sweet, sweet young person," Waltman said. "She maintained such a positive personality. We got into shenanigans together. She was so fun. She had a lovely laugh and sincere smile. "She spent a lot of time at our mother's house," Waltman said. "There were not a lot of grandparent figures in her life. Her mother moved around a lot ... so the stable influence was my mother, and they had a great relationship. That's what caused me to pursue this." Waltman said that when Pittington first went missing, she and her mother drove up and down Interstate 25 searching rest stop bathrooms for any clues hoping to find etchings on bathroom walls that could lead to her whereabouts. Waltman said she doesn't know if the recent round of interviews in the case will lead police to Pittington's killer, but "they are giving me hope that it's not closed and that if information comes about they will pursue it." Erica Bellar, a cousin on Pittington's paternal side who lives in Colorado, also has taken a keen interest in the case. She said she and her sister want to produce a multipart podcast about Pittington's life and death to preserve what memories and evidence do exist. Bellar, 47, is John Pittington's great-niece. She said family members are far-flung and she didn't even know Teal Pittington existed until her death. Bellar was 10 at the time and said she remembers hearing the adults talking about what had happened, though never openly. "Probably my parents and grandparents interpreted it as being painful for [John Pittington] if it was brought up," she said in a recent phone interview. "As a kid, I would hear bits and pieces, but I really didn't understand it. I actually grew up thinking Ted Bundy had killed my cousin. ... It wasn't until much later, when I grew up and started looking into stuff, that I realized that wasn't true. It was something I was very curious about. Plus, the forbidden nature of even asking questions made me want to understand what actually happened." "My sister and I have followed Teal's case as adults because we didn't want her memory or the memory of what happened to her to be forgotten," Bellar wrote in an email. Teal Pittington's mother, Julie Keating, said she quit her job to search for her daughter after Teal's disappearance and even hired a psychic to help at one point. But in a phone interview from her home in Oregon, she said she gave up calling to check on the case years ago. "It's very troubling," said Keating, 79. "I do wonder about it, but I just kind of came to the conclusion that if it's meant for me to know something I will. I think that's the excuse I gave myself because I don't know what to do. "I'm hopeful," she said upon hearing police had begun a new round of interviews in the case. "But it would really surprise me if anything came of it. I've just learned how to live with [it]. I just put it in God's hands." Miami police chief Art Acevedo called for gun control and criminal justice reform after a pair of shootings in the Miami-Dade area (CBS/Face the Nation) Miamis chief of police is calling for stricter gun control and other reforms after two shootings rocked the Miami-Dade area in a single weekend. It's just an indication of the problem we have with the scourge of gun violence in this country that we need to do much more at a federal level to stop, Art Acevedo, chief of the Miami Police Department, told CBS Face the Nation. The first shooting broke out on Friday night in Miami's Wynwood district, and the second occurred on Saturday night in Hialeah, just south of Miami. Collectively, the violence left three people dead and at least 26 people wounded. Mr Acevedo said politicians at the national level should be doing more to stop the bloodshed. First and foremost, they need to come out of their own corners, the left and the right, and come to the middle, which is where most Americans are, the police chief said, calling for specific reforms. We need to have universal background checks, he said bluntly. We need to make burglarizing these licensed gun stores a federal crime with mandatory sentencing. And we need the federal government and both sides to address this issue because without legislation, without certainty as it relates to holding these criminals accountable, we're never going to get through the summer without much more death and destruction. A large majority of Americans, including 83 per cent of gun owners, support universal background checks for gun purchases. The House of Representatives has repeatedly passed legislation to expand the checks, but the bills have languished in the Senate, which until recently was controlled by Republicans. Another part of the problem, Mr Acevedo said, is that the justice system is moving too slowly to punish the shooters. Our criminal court system across this country is absolutely at a standstill, he said. They are not moving cases. Thousands of felons [are] running around and cases [are] languishing three to five, six years before they even go to court. We've got to get our system back on track. Story continues When host John Dickerson asked if this backlog was due to the pandemic, Mr Acevedo said Covid was not an excuse. It's time for the president, Congress and governors to get our court system up and running, he said. It starts with the presidential commission, getting our criminal justice system back online and having real consequences for these felons that are carrying these firearms that are not afraid of death, but they are afraid of state prison. And we need to deliver some safety to the American people. Read More Florida shooting: Two dead and more than 20 injured outside club in Hialeah Police: 2 dead, over 20 injured in banquet hall shooting Twenty killed and at least 74 injured in spate of shootings across US over the weekend Enough: Biden urges Congress to act on gun control in wake of San Jose mass shooting Schumer vows vote on background checks after latest shooting LISBON (Reuters) - All those who got up close to Champions League celebrations in the city of Porto should monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and avoid close contact with others over the next 14 days, Portugal's northern region health authority said on Sunday. In the few days leading up to Saturday's final between Chelsea and Manchester City, big crowds of English fans, who were largely maskless and did not socially distance, took over Porto's riverside area to drink and chant team slogans. Some 16,500 fans were allowed into the stadium but many others travelled to Porto to support their teams from the sidelines. On Saturday evening, ecstatic Chelsea fans erupted with joy in Porto's streets after their team clinched the title. There has been concern in Portugal the event could lead to an increase in infections after authorities decided to relax COVID-19 rules for the match, but also due to the highly contagious coronavirus variant spreading in parts of England after first being identified in India. All fans had to present a negative COVID-19 test on arrival. Portugal is on the British government's "green" list allowing tourists to visit the country without quarantining on their return. In a statement, the regional health authority (ARS Norte) said those who were in fan zones or around areas where celebrations took place should monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, including fever, cough and loss of taste or smell. It also said people should try to "reduce contacts over the next 14 days" and strictly follow preventive measures, such as maintaining social distancing and wearing a mask. The recommendations were made due to the high number of fans in Porto who did not comply with COVID-19 rules, ARS Norte said, adding it would "keep monitoring the epidemiological situation" and adjust its response accordingly. (Reporting by Catarina Demony; Editing by Stephen Coates) (Reuters) - Breathless, fevered and without the extra oxygen that could help keep them alive, the new coronavirus patients at a hospital near Myanmar's border with India highlight the threat to a health system near collapse since February's coup. To help her tend the seven COVID-19 patients at Cikha hospital, day and night, chief nurse Lun Za En has a lab technician and a pharmacist's assistant. Mostly, they offer kind words and paracetamol. "We don't have enough oxygen, enough medical equipment, enough electricity, enough doctors or enough ambulances," Lun Za En, 45, told Reuters from the town of just over 10,000. "We are operating with three staff instead of 11." Myanmar's anti-COVID campaign foundered along with the rest of the health system after the military seized power on Feb. 1 and overthrew elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose government had stepped up testing, quarantine and treatment. Services at public hospitals collapsed after many doctors and nurses joined strikes in a Civil Disobedience Movement in the forefront of opposition to military rule - and sometimes on the frontline of protests that have been bloodily suppressed. Thirteen medics have been killed, according to World Health Organisation data that shows 179 attacks on health workers, facilities and transport - nearly half of all such attacks recorded worldwide this year, said WHO Myanmar representative Stephan Paul Jost. Some 150 health workers have been arrested. Hundreds more doctors and nurses are wanted on incitement charges. Neither a junta spokesman nor the health ministry responded to requests for comment. The junta, which initially set fighting the pandemic as one of its priorities, has repeatedly urged medics to return to work. Few have responded. TESTING COLLAPSED A worker at one COVID-19 quarantine centre in Myanmar's commercial capital, Yangon, said all the specialist health workers there had joined the Civil Disobedience Movement. Story continues "Then again, we don't receive new patients any more as COVID test centres don't have staff to test," said the worker, who declined to give his name for fear of retribution. In the week before the coup, COVID-19 tests nationally averaged more than 17,000 a day. That had fallen below 1,200 a day in the seven days through Wednesday. Myanmar has reported more than 3,200 COVID-19 deaths from over 140,000 cases, although the slump in testing has raised doubts over data that shows new cases and deaths have largely plateaued since the coup. Now, a health system in crisis is raising concerns about the likely impact on the country from the wave of infections with variants that is sweeping through India, Thailand and other neighbours. Patients with COVID-19 symptoms started showing up at Cikha hospital in mid-May. It is only 6 km (four miles) from India, and health workers fear the illness could be the highly infectious B.1.617.2 strain - though they lack the means to test for it. "It's very concerning that COVID-19 testing, treatment and vaccinations are extremely limited in Myanmar as more lives are at risk with new, more dangerous variants spreading," said Luis Sfeir-Younis, Myanmar COVID-19 operations manager for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. SURGE OF CASES Twenty-four cases have been identified in Cikha, said Lun Za En. Seven were so serious they needed hospitalisation - a sign of how few cases had likely been detected. Stay-at-home orders have now been declared in parts of Chin state, where Cikha is located, and neighbouring Sagaing region. The WHO said it was trying to reach authorities and other groups in the area who could provide help, while recognising the difficulties in a health system that was precipitously reversing years of impressive gains. "It is not clear how this will be resolved, unless there is a resolution at the political level addressing the political conflict," said Jost. Lun Za En said her hospital was doing the best it could with nebulisers - machines that turn liquid to mist - to relieve breathlessness. Some patients have oxygen concentrators, but they only work for the two hours a day that the town gets electricity. Refusing to abandon the sick, Lun Za En said she decided not to join the strikes. "The junta will not take care of our patients," she said. Across Myanmar, some striking doctors have set up underground clinics to help patients. When Myanmar Red Cross volunteers established three clinics in Yangon neighbourhoods, they quickly had dozens of patients. At best, such options can provide basic care. "Eighty percent of the hospitals are public health hospitals," said Marjan Besuijen, head of mission for the Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) aid group. "As MSF or others we can't step in, it's too big." Although military hospitals have been opened to the public, many people fear them or refuse to go on principle - including for coronavirus vaccinations in a campaign the ousted government had launched days before the coup. "I am very worried that these new infections will spread all over the country," said Lun Za En. "If the infection spreads to the crowded cities, it could be uncontrollable." (Reporting by Reuters staff; Writing by Matthew Tostevin; Editing by Richard Pullin and William Mallard) The U.S. Embassy in Cuba. REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini U.S. officials are investigating possible 'directed energy' attacks on government officials. Who's behind them? Here's everything you need to know: What is Havana syndrome? It's the name given to a mysterious constellation of symptoms that first surfaced among American officials in Havana in 2016. Dozens of diplomats and CIA officers stationed in the U.S. Embassy there began falling ill with vertigo, headaches, fatigue, hearing loss, visual disturbances, cognitive impairment, and other symptoms. Some said at the outset they heard clicking and other odd sounds and felt intense pressure in the head. The following year, diplomats and other U.S. officials in Guangzhou, China, reported similar problems. Numerous CIA officers in Asia, Europe, and Australia have been afflicted over the past couple years, according to news accounts; CBS reports that more than a dozen CIA officials have returned to the U.S. for medical care so far this year, many requiring emergency evacuation. In a worrying development, two National Security Council officials reported being struck by Havana-like symptoms near the White House in November. One later told The New Yorker he fell to the ground, couldn't speak, and suddenly felt as if "I was going to die." How many people have been affected? The New York Times reported last month that more than 130 Americans have been sickened. The Senate Intelligence Committee said in April that the pattern of attacks "appears to be increasing"; that same month, Pentagon officials told the House Armed Services Committee they're increasingly worried about possible attacks on U.S. troops in the Middle East and elsewhere. "We have failed to take it seriously as a threat," said Rep. Jim Banks, an Indiana Republican on the committee. Do victims' symptoms last? Some say their illnesses faded, but others have suffered lasting damage. Doctors at the Center for Brain Injury and Repair at the University of Philadelphia, who've treated dozens of victims, published a study describing "sustained injury" to cognitive, balance, motor, and sensory functions, similar to what's seen in a severe concussion. Marc Polymeropoulos, a 26-year CIA veteran, was forced to retire by injuries suffered on a trip to Moscow in 2017. He awoke in his hotel room with an intense feeling of nausea and vertigo, "like I was going to both throw up and pass out at the same time," he said. A former covert operative who'd spent years hunting terrorists in the Middle East, he's suffered constant, debilitating headaches ever since, and was treated for traumatic brain injury at Walter Reed Hospital. "It incapacitates you," he said. "Ultimately, it's a pretty brilliant terror weapon." Story continues How are these attacks carried out? It's still not known for sure, but the general consensus is that the attacks involve targeted radio frequency energy, a type of radiation that includes microwaves. A team of experts from the National Academies of Sciences convened by the State Department concluded in a report released in December that "directed, pulsed radio frequency energy" was "the most plausible mechanism" to explain the syndrome. Some skeptics have suggested mass hysteria is behind the symptoms, pointing out that no known directed-energy weapon exists and that there's not even a solid theory about how one might work. "All the available science suggests that any such weapon would be wildly impractical," wrote Cheryl Rofer, a former chemist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, at Foreign Policy last month. "No evidence has been offered to support the existence of this mystery weapon." If the weapon is real, who is wielding it? The U.S. has not officially blamed anyone yet but all indicators point to Russia and its military intelligence unit, the GRU. The recent National Academies of Sciences report noted there's been "significant research in Russia/USSR" on pulsed radio frequency technology. The CIA has used mobile-phone data to locate Russian intelligence agents who worked on microwave-weapons programs in the same cities where CIA officers were afflicted, according to news reports. These weapons could be small enough to fit inside a van or even a backpack, and could target an individual up to 1,000 yards away, officials believe. "It looks, smells, and feels like the GRU," an official involved in the investigation told Politico. How is the U.S. responding? Amid growing pressure from lawmakers and victims, the Biden administration has vowed to step up the investigation. CIA Director William Burns, who was queried about the attacks during his confirmation hearings, has met with victims and established a task force on the attacks. The Pentagon and State Department each have their own task forces, and the White House says it's coordinating the agencies' studies. Leaders "across the intelligence community" are "focused on this issue," said Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. With the attacks causing growing anxiety among U.S. diplomats and soldiers around the world, "it is absolutely critical that we find out who did this," said Polymeropoulos. "The idea of dismissing it outright is just not acceptable anymore." A possible 'guinea pig' Were a pair of National Security Agency operatives targeted in a directed energy attack in 1996, two decades before the Havana cases? Mike Beck, a retired NSA officer, believes he and a colleague, Charles Gubete, were attacked that year while on assignment in a "hostile country" he's not allowed to name. Beck awoke one morning intensely groggy and disoriented in his hotel. The symptoms passed, but 10 years later, at 45, he lost control of the right side of his body and was diagnosed with a rare, nontremor form of Parkinson's. Gubete, then 55, developed the same form of Parkinson's. "I thought this is not coincidental that we're both presenting the same variant of Parkinson's at the same time," Beck said. In 2013, Beck filed a worker's compensation claim saying he'd been injured on the job, citing a classified report that the country he'd visited was thought to have a "high-powered microwave system weapon" that could injure without evidence. Intelligence sources told the Washington Examiner they believe Beck and Gubete were "guinea pigs" for a Russian directed-energy program. The Labor Department has denied Beck's claim because he can provide no evidence he was attacked, but he continues to press his case. "I'm just looking for what's right out of this," he said. This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here. The French Open, plus the three other Grand Slam tournaments, issued a joint statement Sunday announcing that world No. 2 Naomi Osaka has been fined $15,000 for skipping her media obligations following her Round 1 win against Patricia Maria Tig at Roland-Garros. Osaka was also warned about the consequences of continuing to skip media sessions, which could be a whole lot worse than a $15,000 fine. Osaka said last week that she would not participate in any of her contractually mandated media obligations during the French Open due to mental health concerns. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Grand Slams warn Osaka of greater consequences According to the statement, Roland-Garros first reached out to Osaka to discuss her concerns, and when it was unable to speak with her, all four Grand Slam organizations (the US Tennis Association, the All England Lawn Tennis Club, the French Tennis Federation and Tennis Australia) reached out to her. Following [Osaka's] announcement, the Roland-Garros teams asked her to reconsider her position and tried unsuccessfully to speak with her to check on her well-being, understand the specifics of her issue and what might be done to address it on site. Following the lack of engagement by Naomi Osaka, the Australian Open, Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open jointly wrote to her to check on her well-being and offer support, underline their commitment to all athletes well-being and suggest dialog on the issues. She was also reminded of her obligations, the consequences of not meeting them and that rules should equally apply to all players. Naomi Osaka has been fined $15,000 after skipping her media obligations after her Round 1 win on Sunday. (Getty) Osaka, who said she expected to be fined for not speaking to the media, was assessed a $15,000 fine for her actions Sunday. She was also warned about the consequences of continuing her media blackout, which involve not just greater fines, but also tournament defaults and possible Grand Slam suspensions. We have advised Naomi Osaka that should she continue to ignore her media obligations during the tournament, she would be exposing herself to possible further Code of Conduct infringement consequences. As might be expected, repeat violations attract tougher sanctions including default from the tournament (Code of Conduct article III T.) and the trigger of a major offence investigation that could lead to more substantial fines and future Grand Slam suspensions (Code of Conduct article IV A.3.). Story continues The statement said the mental health of the players is a top priority of the Grand Slams, but chose not to describe any of the "significant resources dedicated to player well-being." The statement also emphasized that the rules are in place to ensure that "all players are treated exactly the same, no matter their stature, beliefs or achievement," and that the Grand Slams feel Osaka's media blackout gives her an "unfair advantage" over her competitors. Osaka's next match is Wednesday against Romanian Ana Bogdan. Osaka has +1400 odds, according to BetMGM, of winning the tournament. More from Yahoo Sports: TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) As Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis struggled to contain the coronavirus pandemic, Democrats readied to pounce. The state's economy was in tatters, infections and deaths were on the rise and there were doubts about the Republican's plan to lead Florida out of crisis. Now that the pandemic appears to be waning and DeSantis is heading into his reelection campaign next year, he has emerged from the political uncertainty as one of the most prominent Republican governors and an early White House front-runner in 2024 among Donald Trump's acolytes, if the former president doesn't run again. As DeSantis' national stature has risen, he has remained defiant in the face of continued attacks on his hard-line opposition to mask mandates and lockdowns. Hold the line. Dont back down, he told a crowd at a party fundraiser in Pittsburgh on May 20. And in the state of Florida, with me as governor, I have only begun to fight. That fight will happen soon, as he campaigns for a second term and pressure builds on Florida Democrats to regain their footing in a state that has swung toward Republicans for several election cycles. Unless they find a new formula, Democrats could find themselves shut out of statewide office for the first time since Reconstruction. This isnt just one race this is two races in one, given how Ron DeSantis is trying to use a reelection win as a slingshot to then be the odds on favorite" for the GOP nomination in 2024, said Fernand Amandi, a Democratic pollster in Miami. If they manage to prevent him from getting reelected, they almost certainly eliminate any possibility of him running for president. DeSantis won in a nail-biter three years ago against Democrat Andrew Gillum, and Democrats worry whether they can field a candidate able to win back the governors mansion for the first time since 1994. U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, a former Republican governor who is now a Democrat, announced his campaign for governor this month. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, the only Democrat currently holding statewide office, has teased a June 1 date to publicly announce whether she will run. Story continues Some Democrats had hoped U.S. Rep. Val Demings, who helped manage the first Trump impeachment and was considered as President Joe Biden's running mate, would join the race. Instead, she is considering a run for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Republican Marco Rubio. Regardless of who gets in the Democratic contest, toppling DeSantis will be a tall order, said Ryan Tyson, a Tallahassee-based Republican pollster. The Democrats fail to understand that the state of Florida is changing under their very noses. Floridas population continues to boom, but many of the states new residents are older and come from parts of the country friendlier toward Republicans. Before last Novembers presidential election, Republicans had narrowed the registration gap with Democrats to about 117,000. On Election Day four years earlier, Democrats had a 327,000 voter registration lead. Since then, Republicans have continued to gain with the Democratic advantage now barely over 100,000. Both sides will try to nationalize the race, partly to draw support from big-money donors from outside the state. For DeSantis, its also about raising his national profile. That of course, probably will become a line of attack for Crist and Fried, who accuse DeSantis of being more interested in pursuing his political ambitions than in tackling the concerns of Floridians. Just like our former president, he always takes credit but never takes responsibility, Crist said when he announced his bid for governor. In a video hinting at her possible entry into the race, Fried called DeSantis an authoritarian dictator. Appealing to Trump supporters might be smart as the Republican Party deepens its allegiance to the former president, whose shadow will no doubt loom over high-profile races like the one about to unfold in Florida. During his Pittsburgh visit, DeSantis applauded Trump for recognizing the military and economic threats posed by China and sympathized with him over his battles against social media companies such as Twitter, which banned him from its platform. The governor is definitely made efforts to to appeal to the Trump base. The disadvantage to that, of course, is that the former president is so polarizing, said Kevin Wagner, a political scientist at Florida Atlantic University. But in the state of Florida, where the former president did really well, appealing to his base of voters seems like a pretty prudent move. DeSantis ambitions could become muddled if Trump runs in 2024. That would force DeSantis and other hopefuls to wait it out or begin redefining themselves beyond Trump's shadow. Democrats thought the pandemic would be a strong line of attack against DeSantis. In November, Floridians were about evenly divided about the governor's handling of the pandemic, with 49% approving and 50% disapproving, according to AP VoteCast. In that same poll, 48% had a favorable opinion of DeSantis while 45% viewed him unfavorably. But with about 18 months before the November 2022 election, it remains to be seen how the pandemic might play out in the campaign. The pandemic has become a key talking point against what DeSantis called the militant left. Weve saved millions of livelihoods from the brunt of lockdowns," he said in Pittsburgh. "All I can say to any state that has not followed suit: Open your state, open your schools, take off these mask mandates, let people live and thrive. While he spent his first years as Florida governor casting himself as a defender of the environment, including the states cherished Everglades and imperiled coastlines, and even as a booster for his states underpaid teachers, DeSantis has more recently taken a sharper turn to the right. During Floridas just-completed legislative session, DeSantis successfully pushed for an anti-riot law that countered the Black Lives Matter movement. He won legislation that excoriated social media companies that, the governor charged, censor conservative thought. On a recent appearance on Fox News one of many DeSantis showcased a freshly signed law that tightens voting rules amid unproven claims among Trump followers that Trump was denied a second term because of election irregularities. The governors priorities certainly got through, and that can only be good for him, said Susie Wiles, a Republican strategist who helped Trump win Florida last year and continues to work for him. What is good for him has proven to be good for the state, which in turn makes his fortunes good going into reelection next year. ___ Associated Press writer Hannah Fingerhut in Washington contributed to this report. The officer was found guilty of gross misconduct and misconduct. (Getty) A police officer who shared an image of a man trying to post a letter through a burqa has kept his job despite being found guilty of gross misconduct. During a five-day misconduct hearing, PC Andrew Sexton, who has served with Wiltshire Police since 1997, admitted to sending the image to colleagues last year. The photo, which was captioned with the words Should have gone to Specsavers, shows a white man trying to post a letter into the eye-opening of a womans burqa. Sexton told the panel that he sent it in a fit of frustration over being told contradictory information during a live police drug operation. Read: Ambulance service declares critical incident due to surge demand over Bank Holiday The officer was also found guilty of using other racist and homophobic slurs at work. But Sexton, who is based in Swindon, has been allowed to keep his job, despite the panel finding him guilty of misconduct and gross misconduct. Panel chairman Derek Marshall told the hearing, at Wiltshire Polices headquarters in Devizes: There is no room in the police service for racists or homophobic views or behaviours. It comes after an independent inquiry found that Boris Johnson's comments comparing women wearing burqas to "bank robbers" and "letterboxes" gave the impression the Tories are "insensitive to Muslim communities". Sexton, who now works on an elite squad responsible for gathering intelligence on drug gangs, apologised immediately after sending the message, the panel heard. Officer found guilty of gross misconduct over burqa comments He also claimed it had not occurred to him at the time that the image might be offensive. The hearing heard he had previously been placed on a support plan in September 2019, requiring him not to use derogatory language in the workplace. He said he agreed to go on that informal action plan because his sergeant told him he may be causing offence without realising it. Story continues The officer, originally from Australia and formerly of the Australian federal police, said: It was put to me that someone in the office was upset about language that I may have used. Therefore to prevent further upset I had to be mindful of my language. But further allegations were then laid against the officer while he was on the support plan, the hearing heard. These included claims that he used the phrase black blokes to refer to two alleged drug dealers who had been arrested. Watch: Not enough change a year on from the death of George Floyd, says activists In paperwork sent to Wiltshires professional standards department, he also said: I am sure Romania has many nice people in it but I have never met any of them so I associate that country with bulk shoplifters and criminals. In August 2020, he also said in a team meeting about joint working with another force: Once we get an in, then they will know we are not benders. Sexton told the panel he had never used the word before and had not used it as a homophobic slur. He suggested it could have been a reference to banana bender, an Australian slang term for someone from Queensland and taken to mean a time-waster. He apologised after the offensive nature of his comments were pointed out, the panel heard. But Mark Ley-Morgan, for Wiltshire Police, accused the officer of telling the panel a pack of lies. The barrister added that said the comments cause serious reputational harm for Wiltshire Police. He said: What has been the key issue so far as policing is concerned all over the world in the last couple of weeks? How police treat ethnic minorities." Read: Man jailed after stabbing man in back with machete in street Maria Brannan, representing Sexton, presented 11 character references to the panel in support of her client, including a Chief Constables commendation. But the panel found the allegations that Sexton sent the offensive image and made racist and homophobic slurs were proved. He was found guilty and was given a final written warning as well as being placed on a support plan for five years. Following the hearing, Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills said: It is very important that all our officers and staff feel confident to report anything that they feel is inappropriate, unfair or unlawful. As a force, we remain committed to robustly and proportionately tackling inappropriate behaviour in the workplace and supporting those who report wrongdoing." Watch: How can we better understand the 'particular culture of racism' in the British countryside? Friends and family mourn during the wake for mayoral candidate Rosa Alma Barragan in Moroleon, Mexico. Barragan was killed while campaigning to lead the city of Moroleon, in violence-plagued Guanajuato state. (Armando Solis / Associated Press) Her campaign rally was already heating up, with a live band belting out ranchera beats on the street, when Rosa Alma Barragan sent out a hastily made video on Facebook in hopes of drawing an even bigger crowd. "Come and listen," she said from the city of Moroleon, where she was running for mayor. "Come and share a moment. Together we can make things better. Ill wait for you here. It wasnt just her admirers who took note. An hour or so after her shout-out, gunmen in a convoy of sedans and motorcycles crashed the festivities, scattering the crowd with a spray of bullets that left four people wounded and Barragan dead on the ground. The assassination Tuesday afternoon stunned Mexico. But it was only remarkable in its brazenness. Election season in Mexico is a whirlwind of impassioned debates and confetti-strewn rallies and a steady stream of intimidation, threats and deadly attacks against candidates. A woman attends the wake of mayoral candidate Rosa Alma Barragan in Moroleon, Mexico. (Armando Solis / Associated Press) Barragan was the 34th office-seeker killed in the run-up to national midterm balloting on June 6, according to Etellekt Consultants, a risk analysis firm. On Friday, a city council candidate in the southern state of Chiapas was found slain, police said, bringing the total to 35. Hundreds of other candidates have been threatened, leading some to drop out. The violence has struck across party lines, but the most frequent targets have been those opposing incumbent parties. Campaigning and killing have long been entwined in a shadowy embrace in Mexico. The best-known case in recent history is the 1994 assassination of presidential aspirant Luis Donaldo Colosio at a rally in Tijuana a slaying still shrouded in conspiracy theories and doubts about the official story that it was the work of a lone gunman. But most attacks target small-town candidates lacking extensive protection details. In many ways, organized crime has more interest in local politics than in national politics. Control of city halls swells gang coffers and provides a path to broader influence as "bought" officeholders ascend the political ladder. Story continues Mayoral candidate Guillermo Valencia with the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, puts on his bulletproof vest at a relative's home before campaigning in Morelia in Mexico's Michoacan state. (Marco Ugarte / Associated Press) "Municipalities are the easiest point for organized crime to penetrate, but the consequences go way beyond the local orbit," wrote columnist Sergio Sarmiento in the daily Reforma. The politicians killed during the current electoral cycle constitute "the tip of the iceberg," he wrote. "We don't know how many more have been pressured or have had to accept demands from organized crime to keep on competing." Criminal syndicates seek to infiltrate police forces, seize smuggling routes, corner public funds and patronage jobs, launder illicit proceeds and expand opportunities to extort money from local businesses. Some gangs bankroll candidates outright, while ordering hit men to deal with the competition. Ultimately, the perennial election cycle of violence raises a profound question: Have thugs hijacked Mexican democracy? The specter of criminal violence and its objectives are, unfortunately, much bigger than the candidates of any party," said Javier Oliva Posada, a security expert at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. A government-assigned bodyguard keeps an eye on mayoral candidate Guillermo Valencia, rear center, as he campaigns. (Marco Ugarte / Associated Press) This years midterms are thought to be the largest elections in Mexican history. At stake are more than 20,000 seats across the country, including 15 governorships, 500 congressional positions, 30 of 32 state legislatures and thousands of mayoralties, city council positions and other local posts. Not on the June 6 ballot is President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who began a six-year term in 2018 and has been widely criticized since then for scaling back law enforcement operations against cartels, even as homicides surged to record highs. Imagine if what we were living through here were happening during elections in Germany or the United States without an overwhelming response from the federal government, said Oliva Posada, the security expert. In comments to reporters last week, Lopez Obrador said cartels were trying to scare off voters. A government-assigned bodyguard for Guillermo Valencia holds his assault rifle in his vehicle during one of the candidate's campaign stops. (Marco Ugarte / Associated Press) We shouldnt be terrorized, we have to participate and get out and vote, he said. When there is abstention, the mafias dominate the elections. His aides said that authorities have provided security to at least 148 candidates a meager percentage of the thousands running. In the town of Xochitepec, in the state of Morelos, mayoral candidate Alejandra Lagunas only received police protection after she announced last month that she had no choice but to drop out of the race. Somebody had tried to run her car off the road, and death threats appeared on social media and her cellphone, she explained. She said her 8-year-old son pleaded with her: "Mama, please, don't continue because they are going to kill you." With a patrol car stationed outside her house, Lagunas rejoined the race. But she said she doesn't plan to campaign publicly. "The truth is, if I had known this would have happened I never would have become a candidate," said Lagunas, 26, a mother of three. "I'm so worried about having put the lives of my family at risk." Independent mayoral candidate Julio Gonzalez, second from left, holds a Mexican flag as he walks with supporters during a campaign rally in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato state. (Alfredo Estrella / Getty Images) May has been an especially dark month for Mexican candidates. The victims have included Omar Plancarte Hernandez, 57, who hoped to be mayor of the municipality of Uruapan in Michoacan state. His political party said he had been kidnapped and remains missing. Plancarte, an avocado farmer, denounced the presence of organized crime in Uruapan. His two adult sons were kidnapped in 2012 and never seen again, a fate shared by tens of thousands of other "disappeared" Mexican citizens. A local reporter had asked Plancarte last month if he feared for his own life. Why should I be afraid if they already hit me where it hurts most? he replied. Jose Alberto Alonso, 35, who is running for mayor of Acapulco on the Pacific Coast, was riding in an SUV when a pair of assailants on a motorcycle sprayed the vehicle with more than a dozen 9-millimeter shells. No one was hit. We threw ourselves to the floor and [the bullets] passed five centimeters from our heads, he told Radio Formula. Zudikey Rodriguez, a former Olympic sprinter and reality-show contestant running for mayor of Valle de Bravo, a resort town outside of Mexico City, was kidnapped and ordered to drop out of the race, according to her party. "All my life I have never allowed fear to push me backward," Rodriguez, 34, who is also a sergeant in the Mexican army, declared after restarting her campaign, albeit in limited, indoor venues. In the southern state of Chiapas, angry townsfolk grabbed Juan Salvador Camacho, 39, a mayoral hopeful in San Cristobal de las Casas. They shoved him into a playground and placed a noose around his neck in a scene that was captured on cellphones and went viral on social media. Residents were enraged about what they called Camacho's failure to complete public works projects during his tenure as a local elected official. Camacho scion of a politically prominent and wealthy family was released unharmed after agreeing to pay the equivalent of about $15,000, according to news accounts. He later denied any deal to buy his freedom. Also in May, Abel Murrieta, 58, a mayoral candidate in the city of Cajeme in the northern state of Sonora, was gunned down as he handed out campaign literature on a street. Photos showed his bloodied body amid scattered leaflets. Murrieta was a prominent former state attorney general and was a lawyer for the LeBaron family, which lost nine members in a 2019 cartel ambush on an isolated desert road about 70 miles south of Arizona. Murrieta was running under the banner of the small Citizens' Movement party also the party of Barragan. Barragan, 60, a grandmother and shop owner, was making her inaugural run at public office. Moroleon, a city of 50,000, is in Guanajuato state, which has experienced some of Mexico deadliest violence in recent years. Rival bands battle for control of drug-trafficking, black-market gasoline, extortion and other rackets. Barragan had vowed to combat crime and graft and described herself as a social warrior who, if elected, would donate her salary to build a shelter for destitute children. Writing on Facebook less than two months before she was killed, Barragan said she had been the victim of a dirty war in which anonymous opponents had labeled her a mafiosa. Behind the smears, she asserted, were crooked municipal bosses terrified that her rise would end their gold mine of ill-gotten gains. I am not afraid, Barragan wrote. They dont intimidate me. They make me stronger. Because it confirms that we are going in the right direction. Special correspondent Cecilia Sanchez contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko discussed economic relations including trade and the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic during their talks in Sochi, said an official. "There were mainly two major topics, namely the further development of the trade and economic cooperation of Russia and Belarus as well as the fight against the pandemic," Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday, reported TASS. According to the Kremlin spokesman, the leaders held a formal meeting on Friday and went on to informal talks on Saturday. Al Jazeera reported that Putin and Lukashenko's two-day summit came as the European Union and the United States denounced Belarus for using a hoax bomb threat to force a Ryanair jet to land in Minsk. Belarusian authorities sent a fighter jet to escort the plane down, before arresting journalist Roman Protasevich and his partner Sofia Sapega, a Russian citizen. Both are in jail accused of orchestrating mass riots. Protasevich could be jailed for up to 15 years. Several European nations have imposed flight bans on Belarusian aviation, while the US said that "full blocking sanctions" on nine state-owned Belarusian companies will come into effect on June 3. Washington also said it was working with the EU in drawing up a list of targeted sanctions against key members of Lukashenko's government. Kremlin spokesman also informed that Putin and Lukashenko have instructed the two countries' transport ministries "to organize all the issues of air communication." "The transport ministries of the two countries - Russia and Belarus - are instructed to organize all the aspects of air communication, including with regard to the upcoming holiday period and with regard to a large number of Belarusians, who want to come to Russia's Black Sea coast, and, what is important, with regard to the fact that a large number of Belarusians have to somehow return to their homeland," the Kremlin spokesman said. Meanwhile, Alexander Lukashenko-led Belarusian government is facing fierce criticism from the international community for forcing an airliner to land in Minsk and detaining journalist Raman Pratasevich, who was on board the plane. Amid the crisis, massive protests are erupting from many parts of Europe demanding the release of the journalist. (ANI) Also Read: Belarus: Protests call for release of journalist Roman Protasevich VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Francis has invited representatives of Lebanons Christian community to the Vatican on July 1 for a day of prayer and reflection about the worrisome situation in the country. Francis announced the encounter during his Sunday noon blessing, saying the aim was to pray together for the gift of peace and stability." He asked for prayers ahead of the meeting and for Lebanon itself so the country can enjoy a more serene future. Lebanon, a Mediterranean nation of 5 million, has the largest percentage of Christians in the Middle East and is the only Arab country with a Christian head of state. Christians make up a third of the population. Lebanon has been enduring an unparalleled financial, economic and political crisis for months, which has been worsened by the coronavirus pandemic. Francis met in April at the Vatican with Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and urged all Lebanese political leaders to urgently commit themselves to the benefit of the nation. Because of political deadlock, the country has been without a government since the Cabinet resigned days after a massive blast at Beiruts port on Aug. 4, killing 211, wounding more than 6,000 and damaging entire neighborhoods. In recent weeks, with foreign currency reserves dwindling at the central bank, Lebanon has been witnessing severe shortage in medicines as well as fuel, with people having to wait in line at gas stations to fill their cars. Electricity cuts last more than 12 hours a day. Cardinal Bechara Rai, head of the Maronite Catholic church that is the largest in Lebanon, has criticized the countrys political class and urged them to quickly form a Cabinet to bring Lebanon out of its crisis. Excuses are not convincing anyone regarding delays in the formation of a government, Rai said last week. It looks like Cabinet formation is in a long vacation. The stalemate is a killing to the country and the people. It must stop. During his meeting with Hariri, Francis reaffirmed his desire to visit Lebanon as soon as conditions permit. The July 1 meeting, presumably, will be an opportunity for the pope to express his solidarity now, given that a visit in the near future isnt possible. Story continues According to Lebanons power-sharing system, the president has to be a Maronite Christian and the parliamentary speaker a Shiite Muslim, while the prime minister has to be a Sunni. Parliament and Cabinet seats are equally split between Muslims and Christians. It wasn't immediately clear which representatives of Lebanon's Christian community would be coming to Rome. ___ AP reporter Bassem Mroue contributed from Beirut. Pope Francis plans to meet with leaders of Lebanon's Christian community on Tuesday for a "day of reflection on the worrying situation in the country," Reuters reports. The state of play: Lebanon is still reeling from the massive explosion that shook Beirut last year, deepening the country's economic crisis and sparking a political shakeup. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri "has been at loggerheads for months with President Michel Aoun over cabinet positions," per Reuters. Hariri won last October, but has been unable to form a new government, according to Reuters. The big picture: Pope Francis has previously said that he would visit Lebanon once it formed a new government. He said Sunday that during their meeting, he and Lebanon's Christian leaders will "pray together for the gift of peace and stability," per Reuters. The Vatican did not confirm which representatives of Lebanon's Christian denominations will be present at the meeting. More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Get essential education news and commentary delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up here for The 74s daily newsletter. Education experts are proposing myriad interventions to address the harm the pandemic is having on students academic progress and social-emotional well-being. National tutoring programs. More school counselors. Year-round school. But scientific research and findings from a new market research survey of 2,000 parents align with an idea already backed by decades of robust research: give pets a place in schools. Yes, pets. Children have suffered as the pandemic forced school buildings to close and public health experts to discourage in-person interaction. According to a report from Save the Children, more than half of children who were separated from their friends during the pandemic feel less happy and more worried as a result. Pets have provided relief while many students have been adjusting to suddenly learning from home. The number of pets in U.S. homes surged during the first year of the pandemic, while dogs in foster care increased by 17 percent and cats by 23 percent, compared to 2019. And, according to that market research survey of 2,000 parents in the United States and United Kingdom who own pets and have school-age children, pets had a remarkable effect. Results show 83 percent of parents believe a pet helped their child feel less lonely, and 73 percent felt their pet reduced stress caused by isolation away from classmates. Overall, 9 in 10 believe their pet has positively impacted their childs experience with remote education and more than half (56 percent) report having a pet helped improve their childs academic performance and motivation for virtual schoolwork. Robust research backs these parents view. In her role as Vice President at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Kay has worked with global partners for over 10 years exploring human animal interaction in settings from classrooms to hospitals and at work or at home. Research published in 2020 in partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that having animals in the classroom can have a positive impact on learning by directly increasing motivation, engagement, self-regulation, and human social interaction. Story continues Previous studies have shown that children with pets have higher levels of self-esteem than children without pets and dogs in particular can help children cope with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). And research conducted by Washington State University with support from Waltham also found that therapy dogs can help boost college students attention and memory and help them tackle stress, and a similar study at Kent State University showed dogs can help younger students relieve stress, too. Now, as school buildings reopen around the world, the vast majority of parents surveyed 80 percent would like their child to be able to continue realizing these benefits as they return to school, too. To be clear, we are not suggesting schools allow all students to bring their family pets to school. We are also mindful of the need to properly train animal therapy teams and provide education for students on how to appropriately interact with pets to ensure the well-being of all involved. In other words, we are advocating for intentional pet interaction in schools, which would expand opportunities for children to benefit from animal interaction beyond just those fortunate to have pets at home. Pet Partners, where Mary Margaret is the Chief Mission Officer, has been supporting schools, hospitals, and other organizations with animal-assisted interventions since 1990 and pivoted to offer this service virtually last year. During the pandemic, her team has been inundated with interest from teachers, parents, and students for virtual therapy animal visits. The timing couldnt be better. Over the last year, a consistent majority of parents of public school students have supported rethinking what education looks like after the pandemic, and the infusion of financial support from the federal government has schools searching for ways to spend this new funding. According to the market research survey we mentioned earlier, three-quarters of parents support schools investing more to bring intentional pet interaction into the traditional classroom setting. The idea is more feasible than you might imagine. Before the pandemic, many schools, including dozens in New York City, were using emotional support animals with positive results. Many businesses embraced the idea, too. Pre-pandemic, highly sought-after employers like Amazon, Uber, and Airbnb were welcoming thousands of pets into their offices, with the rationale that the perk attracted employees and, ultimately, improved performance. Admittedly, welcoming therapy animals into schools is still considered a nontraditional idea. But, as we embrace the new normal in all aspects of life post-pandemic, maybe now is the time to reflect on what we learned and look at unconventional ideas. Dr. Kay ODonnell is the Vice President of the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, the science center for Mars Petcare focused on advancing research into the nutrition and health of pets. Mary Margaret Callahan is the Chief Mission Officer of Pet Partners, the leading organization in the United States offering trained therapy animal interaction programs. Related: Sign up for The 74s newsletter A Raleigh man who was seen carrying a gun outside WakeMed has been arrested and charged in connection with an incident Saturday night that police described as a kidnapping. The Raleigh Police Department received a report of an armed man at the hospital around 1 a.m., according to spokeswoman Laura Hourigan. He did not enter the hospital buildings, and no shots were fired at the location, she said. Hourigan said the report was part of a kidnapping incident that occurred Saturday night. Demond Donte Octetree, a 33-year-old man, has been arrested and charged with second degree kidnapping, possession of a firearm by a felon, felony fleeing arrest, felony larceny of a motor vehicle and hit-and-run failure to stop involving property damage, she said. The victim of the alleged kidnapping was a 24-year-old Holly Springs woman, according to a copy of the incident report obtained by The News & Observer. Hourigan said the woman and Octetree had a prior romantic relationship. Octetree fled in a car stolen from his 31-year-old sister, according to the incident report. No one was injured in the events of the night, she added. Associated Press The woman who was in a vehicle when members of a federal U.S. Marshals Service task force fatally shot the driver last week said she never saw a gun on the man or in the vehicle, her attorneys said Thursday. The statement from the woman's attorneys contradicts investigators' claims that Winston Boogie Smith Jr., who was Black, displayed a handgun before officers on the task force opened fire on June 3 in a parking ramp in Minneapolis' Uptown neighborhood. Authorities have also said evidence indicated Smith fired his gun, saying a handgun and spent cartridge cases were found inside the vehicle. Stock photo of a drone flying. Getty Images A deadly drone "hunted down" a human target without being instructed to do so, a UN report says. The incident took place during clashes in Libya last year, the Daily Star reported. Experts are sounding the alarm about the lack of regulation around using "killer robots." See more stories on Insider's business page. A "lethal" weaponized drone "hunted down a human target" without being told to, likely for the first time, according to a UN report seen by the New Scientist. In the March 2020 incident, a Kargu-2 quadcopter autonomously attacked a person during a conflict between Libyan government forces and a breakaway military faction, led by the Libyan National Army's Khalifa Haftar, the Daily Star reported. The Turkish-built Kargu-2, a deadly attack drone designed for asymmetric warfare and anti-terrorist operations, targeted one of Haftar's soldiers while he tried to retreat, according to the paper. The drone, which can be directed to detonate on impact, was operating in a "'highly effective' autonomous mode that required no human controller," the New York Post reported. "The lethal autonomous weapons systems were programmed to attack targets without requiring data connectivity between the operator and the munition: in effect, a true 'fire, forget and find' capability," the report from the UN Security Council's panel of experts on Libya said. Read more: Etsy is awash with illicit products it claims to ban, from ivory to dangerous weapons and mass-produced good This is likely the first time drones have attacked humans without instructions to do so, Zak Kallenborn, a national-security consultant who specializes in unmanned systems and drones, confirmed in the report. Kallenborn has concerns about the future of autonomous drones. "How brittle is the object recognition system?" he said in the report. "How often does it misidentify targets?" Story continues Jack Watling, a researcher on land warfare at the Royal United Services Institute, told the New Scientist that the incident demonstrates the "urgent and important" need to discuss the potential regulation of autonomous weapons. Human Rights Watch has called for an end to so-called "killer robots" and is campaigning for a "preemptive ban on the development, production, and use of fully autonomous weapons," according to a report by the nonprofit. Read the original article on Business Insider LONDON (AP) Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to build a national flagship to travel the worlds oceans promoting British trade and investment. But critics are suggesting it is he who is at sea. Johnson announced his plans over the weekend, saying the vessel would be the first of its kind and reflect the U.K.s status as a great, independent maritime trading nation. Every aspect of the ship, from its build to the businesses it showcases on board, will represent and promote the best of British a clear and powerful symbol of our commitment to be an active player on the world stage, he said in a statement. While Johnson didnt put a price tag on the flagship, British media reported it would cost about 200 million pounds ($233 million). The project harkens back to a previous golden age, where the royal yacht projected the majesty of Empire when Britannia ruled the waves. Thats precisely the problem, according to Peter Ricketts, a retired diplomat and independent member of the House of Lords. I think the fact that no other country has a ship like this is because the idea is now so long out of date and there are more modern ways of presenting the high tech face of Britain to the world, he said Sunday during an interview with the BBC. Besides, Ricketts said, if Britain needs a flagship it already has one the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. The 3 billion pound ($3.5 billion) vessel was christened in 2014. The Independent, an online publication, lampooned the proposal, accompanying its story about the announcement with a video of Johnson and a visiting European Union official climbing into a rowboat and paddling around a pond. Johnson said the bidding process for the contract to build the ship would begin later this year and the vessel will enter service sometime in the next four years. The ship, which will be crewed by the Royal Navy, could travel to international ports in conjunction with prime ministerial visits, provide a venue for international summits and host trade fairs, Johnson said. Story continues The opposition Labour party suggested taxpayer money could be better spent. We want to see public money used for targeted investment in a green economic recovery, resources for our (National Health Service) and supporting families to succeed, lawmaker Bridget Phillipson said. If this ship is going to be part of a genuine plan for Britains future, the government must set out clearly how it will boost trade, jobs and growth in every corner of our country. The last royal yacht, HMS Britannia, was decommissioned in 1997. It visited more than 600 ports in 135 countries during its 44 years of service. Peter Cordi, a student at Rutgers University in New Jersey, told "Fox & Friends Weekend" on Sunday that he commends his chancellor for denouncing widespread acts of anti-Semitism, but was disappointed that because members of the Palestinian community "were absolutely outraged," his chancellor felt the need to apologize for "the simple act of denouncing anti-Semitism, something that used to be uncontroversial." The campus reform correspondent went on to point out that "emotions have flared on all sides in the wake of the recent Israel-Palestine conflicts and this has led to a massive rise in anti-Semitism online and in-person, on and off campus." Cordi noted there has been a "sharp increase in violence and harassment against Jews" and pointed to information from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which released preliminary data earlier this month showing an increase in online and real-world incidents of anti-Semitism in the U.S. since the most recent clash between Israel and Hamas. The ADL noted that an analysis of Twitter in the days following the recent outbreak of violence showed more than 17,000 tweets in the span of one week, using variations of the phrase "Hitler was right." "Israel is one of our closest allies," Cordi noted. "There used to be almost unanimous support for the state, especially after the Second World War." "Unfortunately supporters of the Jewish refugee state are becoming the minority in college," he continued. "While it used to be uncontroversial to stand up for the Jewish community, today such an action, like you see, demands an apology." FLORIDA HOLOCAUST MUSEUM TAGGED WITH ANTI-SEMITIC GRAFFITI AS HATEFUL INCIDENTS RISE ACROSS US Cordi was referencing Wednesdays email from Rutgers University-New Brunswick chancellor Christopher Molloy and provost Francine Conway to the student body condemning the recent rise in anti-Semitism America is experiencing amid the conflict between Israel and the terror organization Hamas. Story continues A day later, the college leaders apologized for condemning anti-Semitism. Molloy and Conway sent a separate email, titled "An Apology," on Thursday to "sincerely" apologize for their first email condemning anti-Semitism. The administrators said the "intent" of the initial email was to "affirm that RutgersNew Brunswick is a place where all identities can feel validated and supported" but added that the "impact" of the communication "fell short of that intention." "In hindsight, it is clear to us that the message failed to communicate support for our Palestinian community members," the email read. Molloy and Conway wrote that the university was "enriched by our vibrant diversity" and that "diversity must be supported by equity, inclusion, antiracism, and the condemnation of all forms of bigotry and hatred, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia." "As we grow in our personal and institutional understanding, we will take the lesson learned here to heart, and pledge our commitment to doing better," the email said. "We will work to regain your trust, and make sure that our communications going forward are much more sensitive and balanced." The administrators ended the email by saying they hoped to "learn" from the "mistakes along the way" as they continued to make a "beloved community" at the university. The initial email read that people should denounce the "acts of hate and prejudice" against Jewish people and "any other targeted and oppressed groups on our campus and in our community" as the country sees a "recent resurgence of anti-Semitism." Rutgers University-New Brunswick declined to comment on the administrators' email. When host Pete Hegseth asked Cordi if he feels like there is a sentiment on campus that Israel is not legitimate, he said "absolutely." He went on to explain that not only college professors, but also celebrities "have been putting Jews in the class of privileged oppressors." "When you have people in positions of societal authority pushing actual Hamas propaganda, like the claim that Israel is targeting hospitals and schools to kill civilians, the emotional youth will passionately pick a side," Cordi said, noting that "this is the kind of rhetoric that led to the scapegoating and organized violence against Jews in 20th century Europe." Cordi added that he is worried that people who dont learn from history "are doomed to repeat it." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "As a lover of humanity and student of Jewish descent, that troubles me deeply," he explained. "The leftists who claim to be on the right side of history should really study it more." Fox News Houston Keane contributed to this report. The chiefs of South Carolina Native American tribes say that for generations they have been striving for society to acknowledge their heritage and historical contributions in the very place their ancestors have always dwelled. Still, after centuries on this land, they have to prove their existence in a society they say has rendered their narratives obsolete in order to be recognized in the eyes of government. But how does one prove identity when it is innate? The hue of your skin, the texture of your hair and the structure of your face may superficially define identity yet cannot adequately characterize generations of ancestors traced in DNA. State tribal leaders say their value their identity is defined by a heritage of rich traditions and bloodline of pride not adequately exemplified in a textbook. And their validation, they add, should not depend on an arduous governmental process of documentation, proving genealogical kinship to their native descendants or archaeological discoveries validating their material culture and tribal significance. Wethe Indians in this state, in the United States is the only race, the only people thats got to prove who they areno other race in the country has got to prove to the state of South Carolina, to our government, that we are who we are, Santee Indian Organization Chief Randy Crummie told The State. However, proving their tribal history and ancestral lineage is part of the expectation the standard required of Native American tribes to be formally recognized, achieving a status that affords the tribes legal and financial benefits. It is not lost on them that they have to prove their identity in a system framed by the colonizers who settled on their land. And while the tribes ancestors cultivated this land centuries ago, it was not until 2005 that South Carolina recognized its first American Indian tribe: the Waccamaw Indian People. The tribe located in Horry County is one of nine state-recognized tribes in South Carolina. Story continues Other Pee Dee area tribes include the Sumter Tribe of Cheraw Indians, Pee Dee Indian Tribe of S.C. and the Pee Dee Nation of Upper S.C. The Edisto Natchez-Kusso Tribe, Santee Indian Organization and Wassamasaw Tribe of Varnertown Indians are located in the Lowcountry. The Beaver Creek Indians are based in the Midlands, and in the Upstate region are the Piedmont American Indian Association Lower Eastern Cherokee Nation. The Catawba Indian Nation is the sole federally recognized tribe in the state. The South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs grants state recognition to tribes, affording them access to some educational, environmental and economic grants. And in order to petition for such status, native entities are required to meet certain criteria including providing contact information of their tribal leaders, a mission statement, documents indicating their efforts to promote Native American culture and address the socio-economic challenges they face as well as historical narratives indicating their establishment. In a statement to The State, the commission said in part, the agency has supported the states Native American tribes in various ways, more recently through the distribution of PPE supplies; providing information on COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites; serving as a liaison between tribal leaders and the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control to establish COVID-19 testing locations in communities across the state; identifying grant opportunities; and connecting organizations to address water access. In South Carolina, only 10 tribes remain that haveattained tribal recognition out of what historians estimate were 29 distinct ethnic groups before Europeans settled the continent. Its a rigorous processdeveloping your history over 100 years and their genealogy and their current tribal membership role. Their archaeological backgroundpulling all that together in a large file that is reviewed by this group, said Christopher Judge, archaeologist and USC Lancaster assistant director of Native American Studies. Judge added that for some Americans, its a privilege to never have to worry about proving ones identity a liberty Native Americans are not afforded. As a Caucasian middle-class male, we dont get asked these questions. Subtle reminders of how far society has yet to come to recognize and value the lives of Native Americans are apparent on a daily basis, the chiefs say. Whether its completing the other section of a doctors form, proudly penciling in Native American as their race, only to get lab results labeled, instead, as a white male. Or, when visiting a local school, a bright-eyed child gleams up and asks, Where is your horse? But more than government recognition, the chiefs say they desire to be seen beyond primitive figures discussed during seasonal lessons in a classroom or only acknowledged by state officials during their designated month of recognition in November. Native Americans exist. Native Americans exist in South Carolina. When we talk about history, we have to be inclusive, even when we dont know it, S.C. state archaeologist Jonathan Leader said. The things that give us our history are reliant on other peoples history we pretend to ignorethey are so embedded in our history that whether we recognize it or not, it produces who we are. Native American chiefs in South Carolina say they strive to honor the land their ancestors were ordained with, sharing their native language, traditional regalia, song and art with the next generation while educating their surrounding communities in order to keep their heritage alive. And preserving their rich history and sacred traditions in a society that has erased so much of them propels tribal leaders and state archaeologists to hold tighter to what remains by educating the community about the tribes in South Carolina. After the slave insurrections, there was this massive effort to erase African culture, and also Native American culture. By 1790, theyre no longer enumerating on the Census, Judge said, adding natives of this land now South Carolina date back to the last ice age 13,000 years prior to the first European or African arrival. People who are Native American, theyre falling under the category of free person of colorAnd then what we have found at the Native American Studies Center is that they become invisible, Judge, the centers assistant director, said. A feeling of invisibility losing their cultural identity caused some natives to blend in with or adapt to societys norms in order to survive, Beaver Indian Tribe Chief Louie Chavis said. A lot of people are ashamed and embarrassed to be called an American Indian. There is a great stigma that kind of goes with it, Chavis said. All of our native people, we have the attitude or the thought that we will survivewe have endured so long without. Chief Randy Crummie of the Santee Indian Organization at the tribes community complex in Holly Hill, South Carolina on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Crummie works full time in addition to his responsibilities as chief. Were here Prejudice. Its a word Chief Randy Crummie says embodies the struggles of growing up American Indian in a small, rural town of Orangeburg County Holly Hill during the 60s. It was a time of segregation when Native Americans were often mistreated, undermined and relegated to separate learning facilities when there was no place for them in the white or Black schools. I grew up when the Indians werent allowed to go to the public schools in townin the 60s, the 61-year-old Santee Indian Organization chief said. The whites would come out and taught the Indians. American Indian children like Crummie often found their haven in single-room institutions. Those schools included the Leland Grove School educating children of Marlboro and Dillon County, the Varner Town Indian School in the Varner Town Indian Community and, for the children of Holly Hill, it was Santee Live Oak Indian School, which closed in 1966 due to integration and served as the tribal headquarters for the Santee Indian Organization. Indian schools then became folded into colored schools, Leader said. In losing their schools, Native Americans found themselves losing hold of what little they held as their own in a society that shunned them. A discriminatory past is still felt today for the tribal reservation that stretches along the nearly 5-mile strip of road in Holly Hill a place where, the grandson of a tribal chief says, some people still fail to acknowledge them as an American Indian community. Still, being the leader of his tribe means advocating on their behalf, even if its simply acknowledging their existence. They just need to recognize that we are here. Were here. Were not asking America for nothing, Crummie said. Its about helping my people. Grandfather has extremely blessed my people Chopping and delivering firewood to warm homes or climbing atop a 12-foot ladder to pick figs for a fellow tribal member to prepare preserves are just a few ways retired lineman Chief Louie Chavis helps to take care of his Native American community one he says has been self-sufficient despite their circumstances. They are circumstances that have forced them to adapt to a world that was forgetting who they were causing some indigenous people to lose a sense of themselves, their own cultural identity, Chavis said. [Its] trying to either adapt to exactly where we are but what people are looking, thinking or either expecting us to be. However, for more than 16 years, the 73-year-old has been leading his growing 650-member tribe while keeping the legacy of the Beaver Creek Indians alive despite the obstacles preserving their history presents. Their ancestors settled along branches of the Edisto River, along Big and Little creeks, in Orangeburg County. And their presence there spans over two centuries to today. My people, our tribe, we dont even do a pow wow, we do a gathering where anyone is welcome to come. We break bread, Chavis said. You do not have to prove anything to come and have a good time. Enjoy, fellowship and try. Just try to look and see how close the similarities are with such a difference in culture. And the grandson of a Lake City Pentecostal preacher says faith has sustained his people. Grandfather has extremely blessed my people. All of our native peoplewe have the attitude or the thought that we will survive. We have endured so long without, the 73-year-old said. We knew then and now, as Grandfather True , the Great Spirit, the master of life, the giver of life, YahwehHes always been there. And tomorrow when we wake up, Hell still be there. Chief John Creel at Little Rock Holiness Church on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Creel began pastoring as a temporary position 25 years ago, and has pastored ever since. To whom much is given, much is required Chief John Creel of the Edisto Natchez-Kusso Tribe has been providing spiritual and physical nourishment to people of this state and foreign lands ministry and medicine joining hand-in-hand as his service and purpose in life for over two decades. And it was an evening at the Edisto Indian Church of God hearing how ministry was impacting Native Americans of South Dakota that changed the trajectory of his life as a teen. Face quivering, with tears running down his face, Creel said he knew the Lord was calling him to a higher purpose: preaching the word of God. I asked my brotherdid you hear him say theres a young man in here that Gods got His hand oncalled into the missions? And he said, No, the 53-year-old said. I was not confusedIt was like I heard the spirit say to me, I was speaking to you. The Medical University of South Carolina associate professor and family medicine physician hails from generations of tribal leadership: his father served as chief in 1982 and a distant cousin held the leadership role for 20 years. Creel is only in his second year as chief, an elected position, though hes served on tribal council since 1995. His commitment to his community is best characterized by his sacrifice and service that has led to expanding the services offered by the Edisto Indian Free Clinic an establishment he helped reach nonprofit status and acquire additional medical staffing as well as the organizing of the Little Rock Holiness Church of Cottageville, South Carolina. Still, there is so much more the married father of three desires to have for his tribe: a 20-bed assisted living facility, the addition of a free dental clinic, a museum and a space for elders to teach the next generation the skills of their ancestors. They know how to do things with their thumbs on phones and games but they dont know how to farm, plant and grow crops or fish or hunt, Creel said. Were wanting to revive our basket making and our Cypress boat paddle which our tribe is famous for. And his unwavering determination to grow and preserve the tribal community can be exemplified by his motto, included in the signature of every email correspondence. Its a testament to his role as a caregiver for the community and for his own family: a family where he cares for his life-long companion and wife, battling stage four colon cancer and a son born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus who was miraculously revived to life four years ago. Gods delays are not denials. Dont give up in the midst of trials. Chief Pete Parr of the Pee Dee Indian Tribe poses for a portrait at the tribal grounds in McColl, South Carolina on Wednesday, April 7, 2021. We are beginning to stand up and be recognized As a child, Chief Prentiss Pete Parr of the Pee Dee Indian Tribe recalls sitting in an open field in Cheraw, peering out over a seemingly endless sea of cotton, watching his mother inflicted with polio from the waist down causing her feet to club as she maneuvered her way through the crop, picking the fluffy fiber from its stalks. I can remember my mom when I was about three of four-years-old, we used to sit at one end of the cotton row, and she would pick down the row and come back and then she moved me over to another row, Parr said. My dad worked in a cotton mill and my mom worked beside himand when the cotton season was over, they picked tobacco. Hard work is ingrained in the son of a Scottish, Irish and American Indian father and mother whom he calls a full-blooded Pee Dee Indian, sustaining the family of seven that lived between Cheraw and Baltimore, Maryland. The 71-year-old says he always considered himself American Indian, officially joining the tribe in 1982 though South Carolina only recognized them in 2006. However, the retired iron worker says that the state was not always welcoming to his race, causing some to deny who they were in order to survive. South Carolina was a bad state for Indians. I dont know the reason why, but our people was just not recognized, was not wanted or I guess they figured we was no value, Parr said. We have Native Americans here that are hurting, that are in need. And the vestiges of ignoring their needs for so long can be felt today for some members of the tribe, Parr says, referencing an apparent mistrust and fear in the government some are even hesitant to be vaccinated for COVID-19. However, those challenges do not preclude them from giving back to their surrounding communities: Parr says with the assistance of Marlboro County Council and state Rep. Pat Henegan, the tribe sponsored a food giveaway which provided over 900,000 pounds of food and perishable items to families in surrounding communities in 2020 during the height of the pandemic. I care about my people, which is in the Pee Dee, but we care about all Native Americans, Parr said. They thought they killed the good seeds in the ground, and were the product of that seed now. We are actually beginning to stand up and be recognized. Two Texas students didnt get their diplomas after they wore military sashes to their graduation ceremony, according to school officials. The Nederland High School students, who have enlisted in the Marines and Air Force, wore their sashes showcasing their branches of service to their graduation ceremony Thursday night, 6KFDM reported. Another student walked across the stage displaying the Mexican flag and all three werent given diplomas, according to the publication. They put them on after they sat down, which is against our guidelines for graduation, said an NISD representative, according to Port Arthur News. After the graduation, administration held their diplomas, which is per the guidelines, so they could talk to the administrator before deciding the next step. The school district has been communicating with the students families, the publication reported. We are aware of the issue concerning students wearing non school issued items during the 2021 graduation ceremony. All students participating in the ceremony sign and agree to abide by the guidelines set forth by Nederland High School for the event, the district said in a statement May 18. While Nederland ISD supports all students and their future endeavors our intention during this ceremony is to celebrate their academic accomplishments while a student is in our school district. We are currently reviewing all practices and guidelines for future programs while maintaining the long-standing traditions of Nederland High School. the statement reads. Nederland is a town of about 17,000 on the Texas coast, south of Beaumont Yemen's Houthi militia said they launched a fresh bomb-laden drone attack at dawn on Sunday on the King Khalid Air Base in Saudi Arabia's southwestern border city of Khamis Mushait. "The drone attack hit the Saudi airbase accurately," Houthi military spokesman Yehya Sarea was quoted by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV as saying. Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed a bomb-laden drone the Houthi militia launched toward Khamis Mushait, Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV reported at dawn on Sunday. This was the second such foiled attack by Houthi on Saudi Arabia in nearly 24 hours, according to Al-Arabiya TV. Cross-border missile and drone attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis have escalated since February when the group began a major offensive against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government army to capture the oil-rich province of Marib in central Yemen. A recent UN-brokered negotiation between Yemen's warring sides and other relevant parties has failed to produce a cease-fire agreement. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. The Saudi-led Arab coalition started to intervene in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government. (ANI) Also Read: US redirects vaccine manufacturing supplies allowing India to make additional 20 million Covid vaccine doses MP Clive Betts has written to the government to ask why new guidance designed to help about 500,000 leaseholders sell or remortgage their flats is not being followed. It was issued by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in March. It is supposed to help surveyors decide which tower blocks need extra fire safety checks. But although mortgage providers were consulted on the guidance, Money Box has found some lenders are ignoring it. The extra checks are called an Exterior Wall System form, or EWS1, and were introduced in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire in which 72 people died. That form is supposed to provide assurance for buyers, sellers and, crucially, mortgage providers about whether or not a flat is safe to buy, sell, or lend against, depending on whether it has flammable cladding, vertically stacked balconies or other issues. But Money Box listener Jie Shen, who is trying to provide for his retirement, is selling a flat which has neither of those problems. He says three separate mortgage providers have turned down his prospective buyer because Jie's building doesn't have an EWS1 form - even though the RICS guidance says it doesn't need one. "I feel like I'm trapped into this situation. I can't move on with my life, I'm just locked into this and I don't know how to resolve this," he says. "I think the mortgage lenders should follow the advice from RICS and shouldn't insist on an EWS1 form [for a building] that does not contain flammable cladding. "I just don't understand why the mortgage provider insists on this - it's just bureaucracy." 'System is a complete failure' Another complication for Jie, and many others like him, is that getting an EWS1 form is not in his power, even if he wanted to get one. He is a leaseholder and the decision to pay for the survey needed to get the form lies entirely with the freeholder who owns his building. Story continues In Jie's case, the management company of his building, representing the freeholder, has quoted the RICS guidance to show the building should not require an EWS1 form, leaving Jie utterly stuck. But Jie's buyer has been turned down by three mortgage providers exactly because he doesn't have an EWS1 form. And so it goes round and round, with Jie left in limbo. It's hearing about cases like Jie's that has made Mr Betts act. Writing to the Secretary of State for Housing, Robert Jenrick, Mr Betts, while recognising that the EWS1 is "a process led by industry", has asked two key questions on behalf of the Housing, Communities and Local Government committee, which he chairs: The ways in which the government is supporting the implementation of the new guidance from RICS The actions that the government plans to take in the event that mortgage lenders continue to insist that EWS1 forms are obtained for buildings that do not meet RICS criteria. He has requested answers by the end of May. Mr Betts has also asked people who find themselves in the same position as Jie - when the RICS guidance shows their tower block doesn't need an EWS1, but when lenders are insisting on one - to email the committee at "hclgcom@parliament.uk". Speaking to Money Box after hearing about Jie's case, Mr Betts said: "The system was set up with the lending industry and the surveying industry to work together to give reassurance to lenders. That's its whole purpose. "So if it isn't giving reassurance to lenders to lend on buildings which the system says don't need a certificate... then the system is a complete failure and it needs taking up with both RICS and the lenders, so it doesn't leave people stranded in homes that they can't sell and can't remortgage." UK Finance, which represents nearly 300 banks, building societies and mortgage providers, says it's supportive of the guidance but it's down to individual lenders whether or not they implement it, based on their own risk appetite. It also told Money Box that while lenders instruct valuers to complete property valuations, it's the valuers who determine whether or not EWS1 forms are required. The Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government told Money Box it wanted to encourage "a sensible, proportionate approach to risk and for lenders to accept alternative forms of assurance", adding that it was investing 5bn to help protect leaseholders from the cost of replacing unsafe cladding on their homes. Follow Money Box and Dan on Twitter. JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -South Africa has extended its nightly curfew and limited the number of people at gatherings to slow the spread of COVID-19 as positive cases surge, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday. The level two lockdown restrictions will start on Monday, forcing non-essential establishments like restaurants, bars and fitness centres to close by 2200 local time (2000 GMT) as the curfew will now start at 2300 from midnight and end at 0400, Ramaphosa said in an address to the nation. All gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 100 people indoors from 250 and 250 people outdoors from 500. Where the venue is too small to accommodate these numbers, no more than 50% of the capacity of the venue may be used. Ramaphosa said according to the country's health experts, the recent surge in new infections is due to the increasing number of social gatherings where people are not observing essential health protocols. Funerals and so-called "after tears" parties, as well as camps and sporting activities at schools have also been identified as other sites of increased transmission. "The Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 has therefore recommended that the country urgently implement further restrictions to limit the increase in infections," Ramaphosa said. "It bases this recommendation on the sustained increase in new cases in the last 14 days, increased hospital admissions in almost all provinces and an increase in the proportion of COVID tests that are positive." Over the last seven days, the country has seen an average of 3,745 daily new infections, with cases rising by 4,515 over the past 24 hours to over 1.659 million cases. Over 960,000 people have been vaccinated in the country. The provinces of Free State, Northern Cape, North West and Gauteng, which houses Johannesburg, have reached the threshold of a third wave of infections and "it may only be a matter of time before the country as a whole will have entered a third wave," Ramaphosa said. (Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Giles Elgood) Stuart Dallas has insisted he could not turn down the opportunity to play for Northern Ireland this summer because he knows nothing is guaranteed in football. Dallas will captain the side when they face Malta on Sunday as one of the senior players in a 22-strong squad that blends youth and experience. While Ian Baraclough had told his players they could sit out this end-of-season tour after a punishing schedule over the past 18 months, Dallas had no hesitation in extending a season in which he was virtually an ever-present for Leeds in their first campaign back in the Premier League. We are in a privileged position, the 30-year-old said. It would have been easy to pull out, of course it would have been, but Ive had a good season and I wanted to be here. I wanted to set an example to the younger lads coming through that you cant just pick and choose when you play for your country. It doesnt happen to every kid and there are loads of people who would dream to be in the position we are in. I want to represent my country for as long as I can, but I know football can change in the blink of an eye. Its important we enjoy the moment and enjoy these two games. After a tough start to World Cup qualifying on the back of missing out on a place at Euro 2020, Northern Irelands primary mission on Sunday is to record a win, one that if it comes would be Baracloughs first inside 90 minutes in his 12th game in charge. Its important we start to get results, Dallas added. We havent come here just to make up the numbers or to come on a summer tour (and enjoy ourselves), weve come to win two games. We must get back to winning games. There will be opportunities for the fresher faces in Baracloughs side to establish themselves in the group both in Sundays match and Thursdays trip to Ukraine, by which time Baraclough hopes Dan Ballard and Kyle Lafferty will have arrived to add to his options. Story continues These end-of-season trips have a long history of allowing new players to force their way into the picture. Baracloughs squad includes two teenaged defenders in Conor Bradley and Sam McClelland, while Alfie McCalmont, Ethan Galbraith and Dion Charles will be looking to cement their places. The manager has not guaranteed players time on the pitch, with the focus for Bradley and McClelland to soak up their surroundings. Its a factfinding mission for us, Baraclough said. You hope one or two will surprise you and make the step up very easily. Theyve seen a pathway for them, and they can see that if they work hard they can get to the stage where they make their senior international debut. We hope they all come through, but weve got to give them time. Im not averse to throwing someone in and seeing if they sink or swim, but youve also got to do right with them and not set them back. Caden McKnight was elected student body president of his Las Vegas high school in February 2020. A year later he was in his room, attending a Zoom meeting of the Clark County School District Board of Trustees, pleading with board members to reopen the districts schools. Just being together in person and having a normal routine, McKnight said, would help kids cope with mental health struggles. He told the board members about his own grief over the death of his friend, Mia, who died just after Valentines Day this year from an accidental drug overdose. I knew her since I was 11, he said of Mia, who had been his date to a homecoming dance. I grew up with her and she got to see me grow up. Its tough as a 17-year-old kid when these people around me are dying. I love my family, but I have no outlet to express how Im feeling the way I used to when I was at school with teachers and friends. Caden McKnight, a high school senior in Las Vegas, pleaded with school board members for the Clark County School District to reopen schools, arguing that it would help students mental health. From loneliness and anxiety to severe or suicidal depression, the coronavirus mental health impact on youth has surged into its own epidemic, swelling the number of childrens visits to emergency rooms for mental health problems. National screenings show that children, adolescents and teens have struggled emotionally during the pandemic more than any other age group. More than one-third of teen girls and one-fifth of teen boys have new or worsening anxiety, according to a January poll by the C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital in Michigan. But as waves of young people return to school, the system of mental health supports that await them remains patchy and overburdened. As of 2018, each of the 37,000 school psychologists in the U.S. was responsible for an average 1,200 students, nearly double the recommended number. In some school districts, one psychologist is responsible for as many as 3,000 students, according to the National Association of School Psychologists. The nations 43,000 school social workers were responsible for, on average, 1,200 students each, in 2018, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Thats nearly five times the recommended ratio of 1-to-250. And millions of students attend schools where there is no social worker or psychologist. Story continues School mental health providers are in critically short supply for two reasons: There arent enough training programs for those interested in entering the field, and those who do obtain credentials can earn more as in the private sector. Mental health providers are also concentrated in cities. In rural areas of the country, districts often cant fill open positions and are beginning to opt for connecting students with practitioners by video. Experts, including Robert Boyd, president and CEO of the School-Based Health Alliance, also worry that most providers are white women. Especially needed, he said, are pathways for young people of color to become licensed and certified mental health providers without accumulating massive debt. Its best to have practitioners who can relate to the students, said Boyd, whose organization is working to expand programs focused on recruiting middle and high school students into the field. But that approach, Boyd concedes, will take at least a decade to make a dent. No state in the country meets the recommended ratio of 250 students per social worker. Many districts, even while under pressure to accelerate learning, are adding behavioral health programs as they reopen schools. In some cases, this means flipping the way students receive help from the traditional referral-based system to proactive outreach. Social workers are calling students who they have seen before to ask how they are doing and using surveys to assess other students for signs of distress. Education and COVID-19: Thousands of summer camp counselors can't come to the US because of visa holdups They may not understand how to reach out, so we are reaching out, said Terrilyn Rivers-Cannon, a social worker at Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta. We have to be careful and ask, Is everything OK? We massage the conversation from there and then find out about the sleepless nights. And once they start talking, many kids are more open than they were before the pandemic. In general, said Rivers-Cannon, youth and parents who never would have spoken about emotional issues are more comfortable sharing. We do have cultures that are not willing to discuss it, and thats OK, she said. We come in and provide information that everyone, at some point, can relate to. Then they may reach out and say, Yes, I need the help. Investment in kids' mental health Many states are rethinking their lack of investment in student mental health. While it wont address the workforce shortage, retooling state Medicaid plans could generate millions of dollars, enabling districts to add more mental health providers. Most states have typically restricted the use of Medicaid funds in the schools to services for students eligible for special education. Eleven states recently amended their laws to allow school social workers and psychologists to bill for time they spend with any Medicaid-enrolled student. For example, when Michigan lawmakers expanded the states list of Medicaid-eligible services, districts were able to hire additional masters-level psychologists and behavioral health analysts. The state projects an increase of $14 million in funds for school-based mental health services, resulting solely from being allowed to bill Medicaid for the services of psychologists. Eight other states are either considering the same change or are in the process of doing so. Most young people have experienced what experts call disenfranchised grief the sadness and irritability of missing out on life, with no return to normal in sight, coupled with a sense that such feelings dont rate attention when other people have lost loved ones. Students walk the hallways in between periods at South Side High School. Experts expect many students to have mental health issues that need addressing as the pandemic recedes, but few communities have enough social workers and psychologists to adequately respond to students' needs. Over the winter, when coronavirus cases spiked in the Bay Area, the isolation of remote learning got really hard for Aurora, an eighth grader in Oakland. To protect her privacy, Aurora gave her middle name and asked that her last name not be used. Every single day of my life has been the same for almost a year, she said. It drags you down after a while. Aurora began feeling depressed and disconnected during the winter, partly due to all the time she was required to spend staring at a screen on Zoom. She found her way through it and when school reopens, Aurora said, she doesnt want to spend a lot of time in class talking about how she feels. If Im going to be completely candid, schools and teachers and administrators can do nothing to affect how comfortable I feel, she said. What schools can do is make interesting curriculum and give us time to talk to our friends, who are going through the same things. Education and coronavirus: A school project began as a pandemic lesson. Harvard got interested, then COVID-19 hit. The type of sadness Aurora experienced, over missed social gatherings and other everyday things, can be easy to minimize, said Kathleen Minke, executive director of the National Association of School Psychologists. Kids will look at those things and grieve their losses, but theyre not the same as the friend whose dad died, she said, and that can lead to guilt layered on top of grief. Ignoring such feeling can lead to problems later on. Experts say that most kids will respond positively to two things that schools provide naturally: routine and friends. Few age groups are as developmentally social as teenagers; being able to safely return to typical peer group interactions may be all some kids need. Amelia Harris, 18, said her closest friends in Burlingame, California, stayed tight during the pandemic, but she missed the smaller connections to acquaintances she maintained in person at school. Im a really social person, said Amelia Harris, a senior at Burlingame High School in Burlingame, California. In school, Id have these little side conversations. Now, I have three close friends. There are all these loose friendships that have fallen by the wayside. Harris, 18, is editor-in-chief of her school newspaper and works closely with a teacher adviser to train writers and produce the paper. That teacher, Harris said, is the only adult at her school whom she could imagine approaching if she was feeling overwhelmed. She said she isnt even sure how to access mental health services at her school. Changes following Parkland shooting Some districts have had more practice spreading the word about available mental health services. Following the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, when a gunman killed 17 people and injured 17 more, Broward County voters approved allocating $93 million a year for four years to pay for teacher salaries, school security and behavioral health providers. Florida tacked on another $69 million to fund school-based mental health services throughout the state. Are we where we want to be? No, said Ralph Aiello, director of school counseling for the school district in Broward County. But we are certainly making tremendous progress. The Broward County School District has 260,000 students and more than 400 mental health professionals on staff, 155 of whom are social workers. In contrast, the Clark County district in the Las Vegas area has just 133 social workers for more than 320,000 students. Broward County also offers support and training to the 15,000 teachers who work with students day-to-day. They cant teach grit and resiliency if theyre not exemplifying it themselves, Broward Countys Aiello said of his districts teachers, who also receive instruction on how to identify students who may be in distress. You need resources, but in addition, the culture is what has changed, Aiello said. We are much more receptive and open to the needs of our students and staff that go beyond academics. If we dont address those non-cognitive factors, they wont succeed academically, which is ultimately what we are held accountable for. Following the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, voters approved allocating $93 million a year for four years to pay for teacher salaries, school security and behavioral health providers. Florida tacked on another $69 million to fund school-based mental health services throughout the state. For many kids, just getting back to normal wont magically make anxiety and depression go away, experts say. Robust, school-based mental health programs that last beyond this year will be critical to identifying and helping all the kids who need support. Such programs have been thin on the ground for decades, but advocates are hopeful that the federal reaction to the pandemic could help schools change course. The Biden administration has urged state lawmakers to direct some of the federal relief funds earmarked for K-12 public schools $195 billion between the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan to mental health supports. All of this might help address student needs in the short term. But the if the shortage of professional providers persists it will only get bigger. States can make long-term investments to expand that workforce by recruiting young people to train as mental health professionals and paying for their education, enabling them to return to their home districts to work, said Boyd of the School Based Health Alliance. Short-term money is important, dont get me wrong, said Boyd. Were working with superintendents to recruit kids out of the schools were seeking to serve, to increase and diversify the workforce over the next 10 years. Itll take that long to do it. Back in Las Vegas, schools have re-opened, as Caden and many others begged them to do. But Jesus Jara, the school district superintendent, worries that the new mental health initiatives his district has put in place will fall short. I still think, are we doing enough? he said. Are we doing enough dealing with this pandemic? This story about mental health was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: After COVID, students facing scarce mental health resources at schools Two days after Mount Nyiragongo erupted, out of the volcano's direct path Hadidja Dusengimana felt a powerful tremor and a sound "like a landmine" rippling through her home in Gisenyi. "We were sleeping and the house started to shake... Then I heard a boom. We ran out of the house and saw the damage," said Dusengimana, surveying the deep fissure running from the courtyard to her living room, where sunlight now peeps through cracked walls. Gisenyi, on Rwanda's northwestern frontier, is separated by an international border from Goma, the eastern Congolese city in the shadow of Nyiragongo, and most at its mercy. They have endured the immediate terror in recent days as Africa's most active volcano has spewed lava but those in Gisenyi -- about 20 kilometres from the crater -- have not been spared its wrath. Violent tremors in the aftermath of the May 22 eruption have damaged houses, ripped up roads and cracked water pipes in the city. Businesses are shut, while the city's hospital services had to be relocated. Some 1,800 homes have been affected and nearly 340 completed flattened, the city municipality says. To compound the pressure,thousandsof refugees from Goma have poured into the city on the shores of Lake Kivu, fearing Nyiragongo could blow again, all in need of emergency shelter and assistance. - Unprecedented - The Dusengimana family, who live just a few hundred metres from the DR Congo border, have been sleeping in the courtyard of their home for a week, sharing the space with chickens and a pig. "We're going to sell him, because we can't live like this," said Dusengimana, a 40-year-old farmer and mother of eight. "We've organised the yard so that everyone can sleep. In the morning, we light a fire, and in the evening we take out the mattresses to sleep. "But we are devoured by mosquitoes," she said, gesturing to her face pocked with bites. She does not know when her lot will change, with cash in low supply and little help to rebuild her shattered home. Story continues "With help, I could rent somewhere else and escape the mosquitoes, but since I have no money, I'll have to sleep outside and wait to see what happens," she said. A neighbour, who declined to be named, confessed to being so worried she couldn't eat. "We worry so much about our house," she said of her earthquake-damaged dwelling, "we can't fix it." The damage is worse than even during Nyiragongo's last major eruption, a disaster in 2002 that covered the eastern part of Goma in lava and claimed more than 100 lives. "We had nothing then, no earthquakes," said Kabaya Seratiyeri, a man in his 80s. "This was so powerful it scared us." - 'God will help us' - Rwanda has extended assistance to Congolese refugees escaping the volcano's path, setting up tents and clinics and assisting those unable to return home. But those in Gisenyi affected by the disaster say help has been slow coming. "The Congolese are coming, and they have help. If they get help, we should get help too. If not, God will help us," said Dusengimana. Her neighbour said: "We are asking for help, our children are suffering." "They came on Monday to take stock of the damage and register us, but we haven't heard anything since," she added. Deogratias Nzabonimpa, the deputy mayor of Gisenyi in charge of economic development, said the refugees were in dire need and assisted as a point of priority. "They were the first to be served so that they did not lack the means to survive," he told AFP. "Now that we have finished with the orientation of the various refugees from Congo, we are proceeding with the Rwandans who have been affected. We hope that within two or three days, everything will be up and running," he said. On Sunday morning, at a makeshift camp that just a day earlier housed Congolese evacuees, Rwandans in need gathered for handouts of food, soap, and blankets. sva/np/bp Tesla's long-running battle with pro-dealership laws is about to create an awkward situation in Texas. The Drive and The Verge report that Texas' legislature is winding down its session on May 31st without advancing a bill that lets Tesla sell directly to customers. In other words, the EV maker will likely have to ship cars from its upcoming Austin-area Gigafactory out of state before it can sell them to Texans more than a little problematic when Governor Greg Abbott celebrated the factory plans last July. The state could theoretically call a special legislative session or develop a regulatory exception, but neither is considered likely. The next regular session isn't due until 2023. Tesla chief Elon Musk was unsurprisingly unhappy with this, saying his company "sure would appreciate" a change in the law to avoid this workaround. The proposed law would have allowed any automaker to sell directly to customers in Texas so long as the vehicles were entirely electric and weren't sold through dealerships, opening the door to Tesla as well as competitors like Rivian. Texas isn't the only state with laws protecting the dealership model, nor is it the only one with proposed reforms. Connecticut has in-progress legislation that would let Tesla sell cars, not just lease them. However, these states generally don't have EV factories. The Texas Gigafactory highlights economic consequences of these laws that haven't always been evident until now. Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced this week that he would fine social media companies that ban political candidates. Every outlet from Fox News to MSNBC fired off missives about the bill. What got lost in the news coverage is that Silicon Valley deplatforms very few politicians, save shock-jocks like Donald Trump and Laura Loomer (if you want to call her a politician). The same cannot be said for sex workers. This month, Centro University released a study estimating that 46 percent of adult influencers reported losing access to Twitter or Instagram in the last year. The bans put a permanent dent in the stars income, with Centro estimating sex workers lose $260 million a year due to social media bans. You wont hear DeSantis, Fox News, Glenn Greenwald, or any other so-called free speech warriors decrying porn stars lost incomes, so let me break down how social media companies are screwing over porn stars (and not screwing them in a good way!). Silicon Valley titans have revoked my social media access multiple times. Take my recent Snapchat ban. The Santa Monica-based app barred me from posting on my public account, so I lost the means to communicate with fans who would message me on Snap. I lost 50 percent of my revenue until I built back my following. What Everyone Can Learn From How Porn Stars Do Their Taxes Other adult performers have faced far worse. The Centro report shows that 39.7 percent of adult influencers report temporarily losing Instagram accounts, 15.3 percent say they have been briefly removed from Twitter, and 8.7 percent claim to have been suspended from both. Many performers regain access to their accounts, but not everyone. Approximately 10.5 percent of performers report being barred from Instagram, and 7.9 percent say they are banished from Twitter, while 1.3 percent report being deplatformed from both. Centro analyzed the monetary impact of these bans and found that an influencer earning $4,000 a month could see their income drop 30 percent to $2,600 a month. Six months later, they would gain only $1,000 a month without social media. They could lose $30,000 a year. Story continues I understand why losing social media impacts bank accounts. For sex workers, social media is our central advertising platform. Kicking us off socials is like banning a movie studio from taking out billboard, print, and television ads. We lose our ability to sell our content. Companies hire me because they know that fans will click the link and press buy when I link out to my videos. In contracts, they include clauses requiring performers to post about their content on social media. I am a porn star because millions of people follow me, and I can market directly to them. Without my followers, Im just another girl taking it all off on camera. Todays porn market has undergone a massive paradigm shift from the 70s porn industry, when suggestive posters turned Linda Boreman into Linda Lovelace, or the 90s when VHS covers in adult video stores transformed Jenna Jameson into a household name. Todays stars market porn studios content, not the other way around. Of course, when I appear in a significant companies porno, I boost my following, increasing my star stature and ensuring more studios hire me in the future. Most importantly, I come onto the radar of men or women watching streamers porn, and they then consider subscribing to my OnlyFans. Without social media, none of this would happen because I would lose the ability to market products. My product is myself. Without advertising myself on social media, I have no way to gain enough eyes for my products, and without a decent follower count, Im less valuable to companies that might want to book me. And without a huge pool of people seeing my advertising every day, I have zero chance of selling my OnlyFans subscriptions. Its a vicious cycle, and when a social media platform kicks me off, I fall off the merry-go-round. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. I have no idea how a performer could break into porn today without social media accounts. But its hard to get social media companies to care about sex workers the same way DeSantis has sounded the alarm on the consequences of deplatforming a controversial politician. Part of the problem is that sex workers operate on the periphery of mainstream society. I know a girl who rappers have offered to fuck in exchange for writing a song about her, but mainstream magazines have yet to profile her. Everyone watches porn, but porn stars hover on fringes. Nobody cares about us. Right now, I doubt Silicon Valley will reconsider its sex-worker policies. The media and public rarely cry out about porn stars losing their rights to post, so why would they? For now, Ill be adding former presidential candidate to my Twitter bio. Well see if DeSantis and his ilk care the next time a social media giant deplatforms me, or if they only care when wacko politicians lose Twitter access for tweeting something crazy. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast Earlier this month, a lawyer for the busted Capitol rioter Anthony Antonio offered a remarkable defense for his client: It was Fox News fault. After losing his job during the pandemic, his lawyer argued, Antonio spent the next six months watching Fox News constantly. In doing so, he developed "Foxitus, which caused him to believe Donald Trump's stop the steal lies and then storm the Capitol. While this defense has garnered loads of media attention for its novelty, a much more cynical courtroom defense involving Fox News and right-wing punditry has been largely overlooked. That defense, dubbed the No Reasonable Person defense, has been made by a string of prominent conservatives, including Sidney Powell, Alex Jones, and Tucker Carlson. It argues that no reasonable person would believe the statements they make, which ostensibly gives them the right to say whatever they wantno matter how reckless or untrue. The No Reasonable Person defense is significant because it shows that conservative media stars and their networks, and even prominent conservative lawyers, are finally admitting that they are not reliable sources of facts: They are opportunists and entertainers, first and foremost. The GOPs Plan to Move On From Jan. 6? Flood the Zone With Shit. Take Sidney Powell, Donald Trumps former lawyer. In March, Powell sought to dismiss a $1.3 billion defamation suit filed against her by Dominion Voting Systems. Her lawyers argued that No reasonable person would conclude that the statements [Powell made] were truly statements of fact. The statements the motion referred to were Powells claims that Dominion engaged in a widespread conspiracy to rig the 2020 presidential election for Joe Bidenby, among other things, electronically switching votes cast for Trump to Biden. Those statements were repeated constantly by Fox News and other right-wing outlets, doing untold damage to our democracy by helping entrench the fallacy that the election was stolen (polls show most Republicans still believe this). Story continues As Orwellian as Powells defense soundsshe is a lawyer, after allit was just the latest attempt by a prominent conservative to use this argument to avoid responsibility for making potentially libelous claims. Given the enormous influence Powell (by representing Trump) and these other conservative stars hold on the Republican electorate, the essence of the argument is jaw-dropping. They are arguing, in a court of law, that they should not be held accountable for their statements because most people should know that their statements are not true. Whether their viewers and listeners are reasonable is another matter, but one need only look at Antonio and the Capitol riot to know that ludicrous, baseless statements are often widely believed. Alex Jones is another example. In April 2017, Jones, the host of InfoWars, was in a heated custody battle with his ex-wife, Kelly. In making her case against Jones, Kelly argued that Jones was "not a stable person and that his manic rantswhich included claims that the Sandy Hook mass shooting and the moon landing were stagedwere often overheard by their children (since Jones broadcast from home). But Jones' lawyers argued that his on-air rants should not be taken seriously because he was in fact a "performance artist" who was merely "playing a character." To judge Jones based on his on-air personality, his lawyers argued, would be akin to judging "Jack Nicholson based on his performance as The Joker." But Jones, of course, is not Jack Nicholson nor some random shock jock with a handful of listeners. His fans consider him a valued source of political information. His website, InfoWars, garners 10 million monthly visits, which is more than some highly respected mainstream outlets receive. In 2015, Donald Trump appeared on Jones show and told him that his reputation was amazing. Jones even helped fund the rally that occurred before the Capitol riot. So however earnest or disingenuous Jones public proclamations, they cant be disregarded as harmless performance art. But the question remains: Does Jones believe what he says? The answer can be found not only in his custody defense but also in the apologies hes made. After Jones helped spread the Pizzagate conspiracy theory, for examplewhich claimed that Hillary Clinton and other Democrats were running a sex ring out of a D.C. pizzeria called Comet Ping Pongthe owner of the pizzeria threatened Jones with a libel suit. Jones not only apologized but retracted his allegations. Then, after families of Sandy Hook victims forced Jones to undergo a sworn deposition, Jones acknowledged that the shooting was real and claimed that he had been suffering from a form of psychosis when he denied it. One must conclude that Jones custody defense was accurate: He is a showman and an opportunist and should not be taken seriously. On a broader level, its time to admit, once and for all, that this is an apt description of the entire conservative political-media conglomerate. Fewer and fewer serious thought-leaders occupy positions of influence on the right. People like the aforementioned and so many of their colleagues are the ones with the stranglehold on the Republican electorate. And they do not exist to enlighten. They exist to sell a product to a demographic that craves a particular worldview. This is not breaking news, of course, but its noteworthy that some of the most influential conservative pundits are finally admitting iteven if its being forced out of them in a court of law. This disingenuousness extends to entire networks, as well. Take One America News, an increasingly influential conservative news channel. For a story published in April, Marty Golingan, a producer at OAN, told The New York Times that he believed his channels misinformation helped spark the Capitol riot. Moreover, he claimed that most OAN employees did not believe Trumps voter fraud claims even though the network frequently promoted them. Checking his claims, the Times interviewed 18 current and former employees and found that 16 of them backed Golingan, agreeing that the channel ran stories that were misleading, inaccurate, or untrue. (Twelve OAN employees ultimately quit in the wake of the riot.) While we expect a measure of hyperbole in our political speechindeed, the First Amendment allows for wide latitude with such speechwe should not allow that speech to become so unhinged from reality that it undermines Americans basic faith in democracy. Donald Trumps Big Lie did just that. In fact, Republicans are increasingly cloaking themselves in the First Amendment to justify all kinds of mendacious, destructive speech, apparently unaware that free speech is not absolute. Just as you cant yell Fire! in a crowded theater, you should not be allowed to yell, over and over on popular media outlets, without evidence and for cynical political purposes, that a voting machine company rigged an election. Because in the end, whats a worse consequence: a mad rush for the exits in a darkened theater or an attempted coup that kills five? In spreading his Big Lie, Trump was aided by people like Powell, Jones, Carlson, Rudy Giuliani, Jeanine Pirro, Lou Dobbs (these last three are being sued by Smartmatic, another voting systems company) and so many like them. But again, these are entertainers and lackeys, not serious commentators. The evidenceindeed, their own courtroom admissionsis increasingly bearing this out. One more example bears repeating. In September 2020, a federal judge dismissed a defamation suit against Fox News brought by Karen McDougal, the former Playmate who claimed she had had an affair with Trump. What prompted McDougal to file the suit was Tucker Carlson's on-air claim that she had attempted to extort Trump by alleging the affair. But Fox's lawyers succeeded in getting the suit tossed by arguing that Carlson's statements "are not reasonably understood as being factual." U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil agreed, ruling that "Given Mr. Carlson's reputation, any reasonable viewer arrives with an appropriate amount of skepticism about the statements he makes." Tucker Carlson has been widely mentioned as an early frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. An appropriate amount of skepticism, indeed. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. ATHENS, Greece (AP) Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Sunday began his trip to Greece with an unofficial visit to the northeastern province of Thrace, where most of Greeces Muslim minority resides. The official part of Cavusoglus trip will take place Monday morning, when he will meet with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He and Dendias will also have an informal dinner later Sunday. Cavusoglu arrived by official plane at the Greek city of Alexandroupolis on Sunday and proceeded to the city of Komotini, where a large part of the Muslim minority resides. In #Greece to meet members of Turkish Minority in #WesternThrace and discuss our bilateral relations, Cavusoglu tweeted. His mention of a Turkish minority is diplomatically sensitive, because Greece recognizes the minority as a religious one, while Turkey refers to it as an ethnic Turkish minority. Greece has tried to promote the ethnic diversity of the minority, highlighting its Roma and Pomak components, in an effort to contain Turkish influence and possible secessionist sentiment. Cavusoglu met with the two Turkish-approved muftis, of the cities of Komotini and Xanthi, whom Greece doesn't recognize, having appointed its own. He also visited the grave of Dr. Sadik Ahmet, who was elected in the Greek parliament in 1989 as the head of the openly pro-Turkish Party of Friendship. Equality and Peace. It was Ahmets election that prompted Greece to change its electoral law to introduce a national vote threshold of 3% for parties to gain parliamentary seats. Cavusoglu also visited Komotinis Bayar Minority Gymnasium and Lyceum, a junior and senior high school named after a former Turkish president. He told media after the school visit that when he meets with Greek officials, he will "bring up the subject of the rights of the Turkish minority in western Thrace. Despite Cavusoglus statements about the minority, both countries expect the visit to be relatively low-key and avoid the tensions generated in Dendias visit to Ankara in April.) The two ministers traded barbs and listed their respective countrys grievances against the other in a rare public exchange of accusations. Story continues Greek officials view the visit as preparing a meeting between Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in mid-June, on the sidelines of a NATO summit. The hope is that this summer will be less tense between the two allied but antagonistic neighbors than the previous one, when clashes over delimitation of maritime zones and search for oil and natural gas dominated. Greek and Turkish deputy foreign ministers also held talks this past week on lower-level cooperation issues, such as tourism, the environment and improved transport links between the two countries. ___ Ayse Wieting contributed to this report from Turkey. If you are old enough to remember the hit comedy movie of 1980, Caddy Shack, then you will recall that a gopher infestation was threatening a golf course in Nebraska. The somewhat deranged groundskeeper was tasked with getting rid of the pest. His efforts at eradication include shooting, f COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -The U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) used a partnership with Denmark's foreign intelligence unit to spy on senior officials of neighbouring countries, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Danish state broadcaster DR said. The findings are the result of a 2015 internal investigation in the Danish Defence Intelligence Service into NSA's role in the partnership, DR said, citing nine unnamed sources with access to the investigation. According to the investigation, which covered the period from 2012 to 2014, the NSA used Danish information cables to spy on senior officials in Sweden, Norway, France and Germany, including former German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and former German opposition leader Peer Steinbruck. Asked for comment on the DR report, a spokesperson for the German chancellery said it only became aware of the allegations when asked about them by journalists, and declined to comment further. Danish Defence Minister Trine Bramsen declined to comment on "speculation" about intelligence matters in the media. "I can more generally say that this government has the same attitude as the former Prime Minister expressed in 2013 and 2014 - systematic wiretapping of close allies is unacceptable," Bramsen told Reuters in a statement. In Washington, the NSA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) declined to comment. A spokesperson for the Danish Defence Intelligence Service also declined to comment. Denmark, a close ally of the United States, hosts several key landing stations for subsea internet cables to and from Sweden, Norway, Germany, Holland and Britain. Through targeted retrievals and the use of NSA-developed analysis software known as Xkeyscore, NSA intercepted both calls, texts and chat messages to and from telephones of officials in the neighbouring countries, sources told DR. The internal investigation in the Danish Defence Intelligence Service was launched in 2014 following concerns about former NSA employee Edward Snowden's leaks the previous year revealing how the NSA works, according to DR. Story continues Snowden fled the United States after leaking secret NSA files in 2013 and was given asylum in Russia. Following DR's report, Snowden posted a cryptic Danish-language comment on Twitter saying: "If only there had been some reason to investigate many years ago. Oh why didn't anyone warn us?" Steinbruck told German broadcaster ARD he thought it was "grotesque that friendly intelligence services are indeed intercepting and spying on top representatives" of other countries. "Politically I consider it a scandal," he said. Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist told Swedish SVT broadcaster that he "demanded full information". Norwegian Defence Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen told broadcaster NRK that he took the allegations seriously. In Paris, French Minister for European Affairs Clement Beaune told France Info radio that the DR report needed to be checked and that, if confirmed, it would be a "serious" matter. "These potential facts, they are serious, they must be checked," he said, adding there could be "some diplomatic protests". A decision in August last year to suspend the head of the Danish Defence Intelligence Service and three other officials following criticism and accusations of serious wrongdoings from an independent board overseeing the agency centred on the 2015 investigation, according to DR. Denmark said last year it would initiate an investigation into the case based on information from a whistleblower report. That investigation is expected to be concluded later this year. (Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen; Additional reporting by Nikolaj Skydsgaard in Copenhagen, Christopher Bing in Washington, Simon Johnson in Stockholm, Kirsti Knolle in Berlin and Dominique Vidalon in Paris; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Nick Macfie) This photograph taken on December 19, 2020 shows longtail boats moored at a beach on Koh Lipe island in the Andaman Sea. MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP via Getty Images Andrii Beshta, the Ukrainian ambassador to Thailand, died suddenly Sunday. Beshta, 45, died while vacationing with his soon in Koh Lipe, an island in Thailand. A police spokesperson said that there were no signs he was attacked. See more stories on Insider's business page. Andrii Beshta, the Ukrainian ambassador to Thailand, died suddenly early Sunday while vacationing with his son in the Thai island of Koh Lipe. Beshta, 45, was found dead in his hotel room at 5:30 a.m. local time. He was appointed as the Ukrainian ambassador to Thailand in 2016, according to the Agence France-Presse. He first began working in Thailand in 2007 as a diplomat, the report said. Beshta's son, Ostap, who was traveling with him, told authorities his father had gone to bed around 11 p.m. Saturday but woke up around 4:30 a.m. Sunday and began to vomit before he fell unconscious. Beshta and his son had arrived at the Koh Lipe resort hotel for a vacation on Friday, according to the Bangkok Post. "Preliminary investigations showed no signs of him being attacked, no signs of a raid or violence," said Kissana Phathanacharoen, a police spokesperson, according to multiple reports. According to Satun governor Ekkarat Leesen, a preliminary autopsy conducted at the Satun Hospital where his body was transported early Sunday found he died of a heart attack. Ekkarat said Beshta tested negative for COVID-19 and the disease was not involved in his death, according to the report. Beshta's body was transported to the Police General Hospital for a complete autopsy, the Bangkok Post reported. Read the original article on Business Insider The US Coast Guard said Sunday it had ended its search for 10 Cuban migrants listed as missing since Thursday in seas off Florida. Earlier, eight migrants were rescued and two bodies were recovered. The survivors said they had left the Cuban port of Mariel last Sunday, but that on Wednesday night, some 15 miles (25 kilometers) from Florida's Key West, 10 of their shipmates had disappeared, the Coast Guard said. It said elements of the Coast Guard, the Navy and the Customs and Border Patrol agency had launched searches by sea and air over a wide area, but in vain. Cubans, fleeing deteriorating economic conditions in their home country, have increasingly taken to the sea in flimsy vessels ill-suited for the 95-mile passage across the Florida Strait, and many do not make it to the United States. In the last eight months alone, the Coast Guard has intercepted 298 Cubans, up from 49 in the fiscal year ending in September. lp/yo/bbk/mdl Young Israel of Century City synagogue on Pico Boulevard, where a vandal twice tried to smash a concrete chunk into the synagogue windows. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) A vandal hurled concrete slabs this week at the windows of a West Los Angeles synagogue and a nearby kosher restaurant in the heart of the city's Jewish community, the latest in a national surge in antisemitic attacks amid the recent Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Security camera footage released to local media by Young Israel of Century City synagogue on Pico Boulevard showed a man about 1 a.m. Friday throwing a concrete slab at the building. Shatter-proof windows at the Pico-Robertson synagogue prevented the concrete from breaking the glass, and the concrete bounced back onto the sidewalk. The man, who was wearing a red cap, tried a second time to lob the concrete at the synagogue, and he rushed off when it was unsuccessful. We will not be frightened by any act by anyone, Elazar Muskin, an Orthodox rabbi who leads Young Israel of Century City, said at a news conference Friday. Theres no place in our society, and this country created and built on the principles of freedom of religion, for such acts of vandalism and of hate. The vandal also is suspected of tossing concrete at nearby Pat's Restaurant, a kosher steakhouse, and shattering a window there. Errol Fine, the co-owner of Pat's, told The Forward that he had not observed any similar attack in more than three decades of owning the establishment. They can break our windows but not our hearts or our resolve, Fine told The Forward. Were going to stand fast and continue. LAPD Officer Rosario Cervantes said officers were summoned to the area in the 9300 block of West Pico Boulevard on Friday afternoon for a vandalism investigation. No arrests have been made, Cervantes said. Leaders in L.A.s Jewish community condemned the vandalism. Rabbi Marvin Hier, the founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, said in a statement that hate against Jews was "flourishing" in the U.S. "Anti-Semitism has now become Americas greatest hate pandemic and we terribly need to find a vaccine that really reflects Americas human dignity," Hier said. Story continues Sam Yebri, a lawyer who is vying to become the City Council member representing Pico-Robertson and other West L.A. neighborhoods, said on Facebook: "Hate crimes like these in the heart of Jewish Los Angeles are meant to terrorize an entire community. We will not cower but will unite and protect each other." In recent weeks, there have been an uptick in reported attacks targeting Jews in the U.S., drawing a rebuke Friday by President Joe Biden as "despicable, unconscionable, un-American, and they must stop." The attacks came amid the armed conflict that began May 10 and lasted for 11 days. Israeli artillery and airstrikes killed more than 243 Palestinians in Gaza, including 66 children, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. In Israel, 12 people, including two children, were killed by rockets fired out of Gaza by Hamas militants. Last week, diners at a Beverly Grove sushi restaurant were attacked by a group that was shouting slogans against Israel. A video capturing part of May 18 attack shows people in a caravan of cars flying Palestinian flags yelling, F you and You guys should be ashamed of yourselves as they drive by the restaurant. A witness, who asked to remain anonymous to protect his safety, told The Times, that during the attack, They were chanting, Death to Jews and Free Palestine." Two men have since been arrested on suspicion of assault for participating in the attack, which occurred about 2 miles from the Young Israel of Century City synagogue. Police are also investigating a May 17 incident in the Fairfax district, at Rosewood and La Brea avenues, that was partly captured by a security camera. In the video, a man in Orthodox Jewish dress flees from several cars that are flying Palestinian flags and appear to be pursuing him. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A cardboard sign was affixed to the front door of the Chipotle Mexican Grill. In big block letters, someone had written, with more passion than punctuation: "Sorry for the inconvenience but due to us being over worked understaffed and under appreciated we are protesting until conditions are changed." On May 8, Brands Getting Owned, an anonymous Twitter account that supports "dismantling capitalism," posted images of the Chipotle signs to its 156,000 followers. The person who sent the photos to the account didn't want to identify the Chipotle location, other than to note it was on the East Coast, messaged the administrator of Brands Getting Owned, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid repercussions with his employer. A Chipotle spokeswoman declined to name the location, too. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Regardless, the images quickly went viral, racking up nearly 20,000 retweets and finding their way into other tweets that went even wider. Two days later, Chipotle announced that it was raising employee pay to an average of $15 an hour, with "starting wages ranging from $11-$18 per hour," though spokeswoman Erin Wolford said the wage increases were in the works before the protest signs made their way around the internet. "We are seeing increased staffing needs to meet our current demand and we are building our teams for future growth," Wolford emailed. The Chipotle incident shines a light on two intersecting tensions that have come to a head during the worst pandemic in 100 years: The nearly $1 trillion dollar restaurant industry needs workers to ramp back up to 100 percent capacity, while hospitality workers, afforded a period to reflect on their careers while collecting unemployment, have discovered they have leverage over restaurants owners and fast-food chains, perhaps for the first time. Workers are taking their demands directly to employers, sometimes with the help of professional organizers, sometimes on their own. Many understand that the restaurant industry needs them more than they need the industry. Story continues "We're not only seeing walkouts in cities where we haven't organized, we're seeing workers demanding one fair wage and restaurants transitioning to one fair wage in places where we have nobody," says Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage, which advocates for the elimination of the tipped minimum wage, which can be as low as $2.13 an hour. "It's insane. I've never seen anything like it," she added. Worker protests are popping up all over the country. This month, staffers resigned en masse at a Wendy's in Wadesboro, N.C., demanding better pay and working conditions. (The employees affixed a sign to the drive-through intercom that read, "We ALL Quit!! Closed!!") A coalition of workers at Juiceland, a Texas chain of smoothie shops, went on strike at locations in several cities, while simultaneously negotiating with the company over its demands. Protesters gathered outside of Live! Casino, claiming Guy Fieri's American Kitchen & Bar paid lower wages to Black workers at the casino restaurant in the Pittsburgh suburbs. Fast-food employees and dine-dining workers alike are taking a stand. Cooks and cashiers in at least 15 cities went on strike a day before McDonald's annual shareholders' meeting on May 20. Supported by Service Employees International Union, the workers are demanding $15 an hour at all McDonald's restaurants, a demand that came days after the chain promised to raise wages at company-owned stores, which represents just five percent of the nearly 14,000 McDonald's restaurants in the United States. In Washington, D.C., a group of employees at Del Mar, a fine-dining destination on the Wharf, emailed an anonymous letter to chef and owner Fabio Trabocchi, outlining their grievances with the management of the Spanish restaurant. The letter reportedly describes incidents of racial bias and insensitivity, a tip-pool system that lowered servers' take-home pay during the pandemic, an incident of sexual harassment and the "toxic impact" of Stefania Sorrenti, director of restaurants for Fabio Trabocchi Restaurants. After declining to meet with management on May 21 - Trabocchi was in Florida for work and the South Beach Wine and Food Festival - at least seven employees resigned from Del Mar, forcing the restaurant to cancel individual (but not large group) reservations that weekend. Server Naderia Wynn said the stress of working at Del Mar had finally became too much. After months of being "singled out" by Sorrenti, given overloaded sections and being "nitpicked" about things such as the color of her hair tie, Wynn said she started having panic attacks. She was vomiting during her shifts. On May 16, before the larger walkout of her colleagues, she quit, citing racial bias and toxic management. "I just thought, 'It's 2021 and I'm not standing for this,'" she told The Washington Post. "I'm way too qualified as a server to be treated the way I've been treated." Sorrenti could not be reached for comment. Trabocchi told The Post that he has reverted to a tipping system in which all servers keep their own gratuities, as he had previously told employees he would. He would not comment on Sorrenti, citing the privacy of personnel matters. As Del Mar reopens on a limited basis, he said, the restaurant group will be conducting additional trainings for managers as well as listening sessions for employees hosted by Trabocchi. What's more, the company said it will supplement server incomes over the coming weeks until its dining rooms return to its pre-pandemic numbers. "The concerns of our team members are a top priority, and we are committed to their fair and equitable treatment. We will not tolerate anything less," Trabocchi wrote in a statement to The Post. "We have internal policies in place for team members to anonymously provide feedback and for our management team to address these concerns." Wynn had lined up a job at Bresca, a one-Michelin-star restaurant on 14th Street NW, even before she quit Del Mar. Several of her former colleagues have interviewed there, too. Wynn said she was proud of her role in helping to spark the protest. "It just takes one voice to get the dominoes falling, and it made a powerful statement: We're not going to be abused restaurant workers," Wynn said. "I'm glad it was my situation that helped start this. Hopefully it might inspire the entire city." The worker uprisings seem to be having an impact. Juiceland executives in Texas, for example, have laid out an "action plan," with proposals for improved working conditions and a $15-an-hour wage guarantee (although workers say the plan still falls short of their demands). Some companies, large and small, have adopted wages increases without an apparent push by workers. In December, Kevin Johnson, the president and chief executive of Starbucks, said all of the company's employees would earn at least $15 an hour within two to three years. Likewise, the Housepitality Family restaurant group, based in Midlothian Va., eliminated the tipped minimum wage for its servers, instead paying them between $23 and $25 an hour. The company added a 20 percent service charge on checks to help cover payroll. The tipped minimum wage in Virginia is $2.13 per hour. "The business plan for restaurants is based on a 1950s model," Housepitality owner Kevin Healy told the Chesterfield Observer. "I feel like we're on the cutting edge and on the right side of this discussion. Restaurant groups and chains, of course, may just be reacting to market forces. Millions of workers were laid off or furloughed during the pandemic, and many are not returning. Jayaraman with One Fair Wage said that, based on the organization's own research, the main reason restaurant workers are leaving the field is because of "low wages and tips," and the thing that would make them stay is a "stable, livable wage." The restaurant industry as a whole has long lobbied against higher wages, and against the elimination of the tipped minimum wage, but Jayaraman points out a recent comment from Robert Verostek, the chief financial officer at Denny's, who told investors that California's law raising the minimum wage has been good for business. The comment led to a letter from Denny's shareholders, who demanded the company end its relationship with the National Restaurant Association and its lobbying efforts against higher wages. "Restaurant workers, if they're paid more, they tend to eat out more than other people," said Jayaraman. These recent developments give Jayaraman hope that Congress will pass the Raise the Wage Act, which would gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. The current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour has not changed since 2009. Patricia Campos-Medina, executive director of the Worker Institute at Cornell University's ILR School, said workers are feeling more empowered, both in the workplace and in the political arena. "Workers have the sense that this is a time to take a stand," she said. "It's a moment to demand more, not just from their employers, but from the government in terms of more protections and better wages." But Aaron Sojourner, a labor economist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, cautions that the restaurant industry is in a transitional period during the pandemic. It's too early to tell whether the industry as a whole is shedding its historical relationship with workers. The balance of power in the restaurant labor market, he said, will rely on more traditional factors - fiscal policy, supply and demand, political lobbying, workers' collective bargaining power. As if to illustrate the struggles still ahead for workers, a group of protesters on Wednesday targeted Old Ebbitt Grill and Clyde's of Gallery Place in Washington, D.C. They stood outside the restaurants, both owned by Clyde's Restaurant Group, with signs that read, "Will work for fair wages!" and "Low wages stop America's recovery." One Fair Wage organizer Ryan O'Leary, a former server at the Hamilton, another Clyde's property, said protesters singled out the company because it historically has had some of the highest-grossing restaurants in America. Clyde's also opposed Initiative 77, the 2018 ballot measure that would have eventually ended the tipped minimum wage in Washington. The rallies had no apparent effect on Clyde's, however. "It was really, at the most, a dozen people," said Molly Quigley, director of communications for Clyde's. "We continue to support our employees. We've made lots of efforts to support them particularly this year. But we haven't changed our stance on Initiative 77 or the tipped wage." Related Content The Confederacy's final resting place Libyan war's lethal legacy: Booby-trapped homes and fields Baseball's 'dirty little secret' left Cardinals Manager Mike Shildt raging In this undated file photo provided by the Polk County, Iowa, Jail is Nicole Poole Franklin. Polk County Jail via AP, File An Iowa woman who ran over Black and Latino teens admitted the attack was racially motivated. She pleaded guilty to 2 state charges of attempted murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. She also pleaded guilty to federal hate crime charges and could be sentenced to life in prison. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. An Iowa woman who pleaded guilty to charges for attempting to kill two children because she thought they were of Middle Eastern, African, or Mexican descent, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison, The Des Moines Register reported. In April, Nicole Franklin, 43, pleaded to two state charges of attempted murder for the December 2019 incidents. In a statement last month, the Justice Department also said Franklin admitted to federal hate crimes charges stemming from the same incidents. Franklin was driving her SUV in Des Moines, Iowa on Dec. 9, 2019, when she saw two kids walking along the sidewalk. She believed one of the kids was of Middle Eastern or African descent and "drove her vehicle over the curb towards both children, striking one of them," according to court documents. She drove away, and half an hour later saw a child who she thought was Mexican walking on the sidewalk near Indian Hills Junior High School in Clive, Iowa. She again drove her car over the curb and struck the child. She fled the scene but was caught later that day. The first child suffered cuts, bruising, and swelling. The second victim, 14-year-old Natalia Miranda, suffered a concussion and severe bruising and was hospitalized for two days. The Register reported that Franklin's attorney, Matthew Sheeley, said she was experiencing severe schizophrenia and was not taking medication for it because she was pregnant. Sheeley said Franklin had experienced severe hallucinations where she went to a hotel to meet North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un a few days before the incidents. Franklin had also "fallen under the spell of conservative news outlets that portrayed immigrants as invaders," the Register reported. Story continues Sheeley said that if Franklin "would've been in Washington storming the Capitol" during the January 6 insurrection if she hadn't been in jail. "In her mind, these people were invading our country and taking our homes and jobs," Sheeley said. "She was severely mentally ill, but she was not clinically insane." If Franklin pleads guilty to the federal hate crime charges she could also face a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the charged offenses. Her federal sentencing date is set for Aug. 19. Read the original article on Insider A nail salon worker in Texas was shot Saturday during a confrontation over a bill, police say. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted around 6:45 p.m. that officials had responded to the Katy nail salon where a worker had been shot. Two women had just received a service at the salon and got upset about their bill, officials told KTRK. The worker was shot in the chest, according to KHOU. It doesnt make any sense, Jason Spencer with the Harris County Sheriffs Office told KTRK. Whoever would do something like this [is] obviously a dangerous person. We need to get them in custody. The worker is reportedly in stable condition, per KHOU. Police said the two women fled the salon. They have not yet been found. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Katy is just west of Houston. Read next: PetSmart workers charged after poodle dies during grooming visit in Pennsylvania Man hides after JCPenney jewelry theft then falls through ceiling, Illinois cops say A federal agency says companies can, in fact, require their employees to get vaccinated (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images) A federal agency has finally answered the question of whether companies can require their employees to get vaccinated for Covid-19. The answer was yes. The federal EEO laws do not prevent an employer from requiring all employees physically entering the workplace to be vaccinated for COVID-19, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said in an update to its guidelines. The agency added that there are some exceptions, including if the employee has a disability or a religious belief in conflict with the vaccination. In some circumstances, Title VII [of the Civil Rights Act] and the ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] require an employer to provide reasonable accommodations for employees who, because of a disability or a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance, do not get vaccinated for COVID-19, unless providing an accommodation would pose an undue hardship on the operation of the employers business, the EEOC continued. The question of whether corporations can require the shots has been controversial since the start of the vaccination campaign. Just this past Friday, more than 100 Texas health care workers sued their employer, Houston Methodist Hospital, over its requirement that they get vaccinated. Methodist Hospital is forcing its employees to be human guinea pigs as a condition for continued employment, the staff members said in their complaint, charging that the hospital requires the employee to subject themselves to medical experimentation as a prerequisite to feeding their families. In fact, all three of the vaccines that have been authorized for use in the United States went through rigorous clinical trials on thousands of subjects before they became available to the public. All three were found to be extremely safe and effective. But that hasnt stopped the controversy. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis has specifically banned vaccine passports, outlawing government agencies from issuing proofs of vaccination and barring businesses from checking them as a prerequisite for service. Story continues Its completely unacceptable for either the government or the private sector to impose upon you the requirement that you show proof of vaccine to just simply be able to participate in normal society, Mr DeSantis said. How that ban will clash with the new federal guidelines remains to be seen. Experts say the EEOC is somewhat ambiguous about how pushy employers vaccine mandates are allowed to be. The agency says companies can provide incentives for employees to get the shot, as long as those incentives are not so substantial as to be coercive. What is coercive is unclear because, just as with anything else, one person's view of what is a coercive incentive is not the same as another persons, employment attorney Helen Rella told CBS News. The federal agency has promised to make further updates. The EEOC will continue to clarify and update our COVID-19 technical assistance to ensure that we are providing the public with clear, easy-to-understand and helpful information, the commissions chairwoman, Charlotte Burrows, said in a statement. Read More Anti-vaccine passport protesters storm Westfield shopping centre as hundreds join Covid demonstration More states ease lingering virus rules as vaccine rates rise Ron DeSantis clashes with Floridas cruise industry over vaccine checks Americas first vaccine millionaire thought it was a prank call California to offer $116M in coronavirus vaccine prize money May 30Perrysburg's Zoar Lutheran Church is in a time of transition. Like houses of worship across the region, as well as the country, it's navigating an ongoing return to worship that's necessarily taking into account both those who are eager to return to life as it once was and those who are still wary of returning to packed pews. It's opening up long roped-off seating in the sanctuary, as it continues to record virtual services. It's encouraging masks, but no longer requiring them for those in their community who have been vaccinated. Then there's the transition at the pulpit. After 36 years at the helm of one the largest congregations in the Northwest Ohio Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Zoar's Pastor Tim Philabaum, 67, is finally looking toward retirement by Labor Day. But first he'll spend the summer ministering alongside the pastor who will be stepping into his shoes, the Rev. Paul Reichert, whom Northwest Ohio Synod Bishop Daniel Beaudoin is installing at worship services this weekend. Zoar is at 314 E. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg. Sunday services are at 8:30, 9:45 and 11 a.m. The briefly overlapping pastorates are a first-time experiment within the synod, according to the colleagues, who readily point out the benefits of such an arrangement: Pastor Reichert will spend the summer learning about his new congregation from the man who knows it best, and Pastor Philabaum, in turn, can rest assured his flock is in good hands. Pastoral transitions can be tricky for congregations, too, and particularly those that come on the heels of as unusually long a tenure as Pastor Philabaum's at Zoar. So as the congregation looks to build a relationship with a new senior pastor for the first time in three-plus decades, they, too, can ideally benefit from a summer-long opportunity to ease into it. "My hope is that this will be a smoother process, and that we can help the congregation move into the next phase," Pastor Reichert said. "Because there are a lot of new faces. It's not only 36 years of one pastor, but also trying to come out of COVID and adapting to how much the world has changed in this year and a half." Story continues Looking back Pastor Philabaum's first and only career has been in ministry, and unintentionally, he said in a recent conversation in the sun-dappled sanctuary of the historic church the vast majority of it has been at Zoar. His long-time faith community was just his second call after he had graduated from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus in 1980, and he wasn't counting on sticking around through retirement when he arrived as an associate pastor in 1985. His denomination generally doesn't dictate where or for how long a pastor serves within the synod, but Pastor Philabaum said that was still true when his congregation later called him into the vacated role of senior pastor in 1993. "It was not my intention to be here for 36 years," he said with a good-natured laugh. While he isn't quite yet turning his attention toward retirement, during which he said he and his wife have plans to spend much of their time visiting their three children and five grandchildren in Philadelphia, Denver and Santa Barbara, Calif., he reflected this week that he's enjoyed his tenure at Zoar. He thinks back to the pastors he's served alongside, the student interns he's shaped and a facility expansion project that in part introduced to their campus the Family Life Center. The congregation has been gathering in that gymnasium facility for socially distanced worship services at various points throughout the past year and a half. But it's the day-to-day interactions that have stood out the most to Pastor Philabaum. In a community of roughly 1,500 baptized members, who trace their roots as a community to 1850, he's been blessed to be with his congregants at the moments that matter the births, the deaths, the weddings, he said. "At the time of life changes, to be able to be part of other people's lives with the goodness and grace of Jesus," he said. "That really has been a delight for me for all these years." Pastor Philabaum said he'd intended to retire after an even 35 years in the pulpit, but a time of life change of a different sort shifted his plans back a year: "I just wanted to stay around and help the congregation and just kind of be here with them during COVID," he said. As the congregation continues to return to ministry and worship, bringing with them the prospect of a non-virtual goodbye by summer's end, he's ready to return to those retirement plans just not before passing on a bit of his wisdom and insights to his successor. Looking forward Pastors Philabaum and Reichert have already begun their orientations and introductions this month, although Pastor Reichert, 57, jokes he'll have to repeat them when the masks come off and he and his new congregants can see the lower halves of each other's faces. Pastor Reichert comes to the church at the suggestion of Bishop Beaudoin, as well as the enthusiastic agreement of the congregation that holds the ultimate power to call a pastor. It's been a quick and efficient process, beginning with a conversation late last year for Pastor Reichert, who at the time was serving at St. Martin's Lutheran Church in Archbold. "It just seemed through the whole process that this is the right thing to do," Pastor Philabaum said. "It just seemed like this is what God is calling us to do." Pastor Reichert sees plenty to recommend Zoar. A native of Ottawa Hills, he said he and his family are looking forward to living closer to relatives, and that he's looking forward to serving at a church to which he has long-standing ties. "I have connections that go back to Zoar to when I was a small child, because my godfather is a member here. So I've been around Zoar for a very long time," he said. "The folks are not strangers to me, it's not a foreign culture." Pastor Reichert was working at his family's local metal stamping business when he received his call to serve, he recalled. He graduated from Trinity Lutheran Seminary in 1993, and served his first congregation at Calvary Lutheran Church in Northwood. He sees his new position offering a unique challenge as vaccines proliferate and the most acute effects of the pandemic begin to wane; it's a different challenge than pastors and congregations faced in the early days of the pandemic. "How do we build connections while doing our best to keep especially the most vulnerable safe?" Pastor Reichert said. "Finding that balance is an ongoing challenge during COVID." To arrive at such an unusual time of transition in itself is part of his attraction to Zoar, he said. As churches in general have navigated a period of forced innovation amid the pandemic, he sees these faith communities "more open to change than they have been in 50 years." He said he was drawn to that inclination in his conversations at Zoar. "A lot of people are excited about those possibilities," he said. "That was so encouraging. And it's wonderful to be caught up in that kind of energy. For a church that's over 170 years old, to still have that kind of energy and engagement in the community is an exciting thing." If Bennett and Lapid and their other partners can wrap up a deal, it would end, at least for the time being, the record-setting tenure of Netanyahu, the most dominant figure in Israeli politics over the past three decades. Netanyahu has served as prime minister for the past 12 years and also held an earlier term in the late 1990s. As Lynchburg-area colleges and universities plan for a return to normal after an atypical 2020-21 academic year, many are on track to see increased enrollment heading into the fall semester. Liberty University spokesperson Scott Lamb, said as of this week, the university is on track to have as many as 500 more incoming residential students than last year including both new and transfer students. For the fall 2020 semester, residential enrollment at the university was around 15,000 students. With less than three months remaining until the Fall 2021 semester begins, and based on the numbers that our enrollment team is seeing, Liberty University projects that our residential incoming class could be the largest in our schools history, Lamb said in statement to The News & Advance this week. Meredith Woo, president of Sweet Briar College, said the college is seeing a steep increase in the number of students who already have made their deposit to hold their spot for the fall semester. For fall 2020, deposits were about 130 at this time, she said. For the upcoming semester, that number currently is 206 the largest the college has seen in about a decade, Woo said. Woo said the college predicted this increase. Coggsdale said he didnt know what started the fire. According to newspaper archives, the owner at the time said the fire consumed everything in the auditorium. It was not insured and was too costly to repair. During a recent visit, a moldering red chair was against the back wall; presumably, so the operator could sit in-between changing out the oversized reels of film. Coggsdale hoisted a metal canister that held the reels, a metal octagon with three rolls of film slotted into its compartment. It could be used to transport them from theater to theater. It took 12 of the reels to show a single feature-length, he said, but also scattered around the room were smaller strips of film containing trailers from The Little Mermaid to The Land Before Time. He said hes walked through the building with many town council members who came to the movies here often when they were young, like Emerson, who said it was a central hang-out spot, one with a lot of memories for so much of the community. During the 70s and 80s, Emerson saw a lot of the classics there such as Jaws, E.T. and Red Dawn. He was in his late teens when the theater caught on fire. He was on the volunteer lifesaving crew at the time and could remember it as it happened. While the average number of doses administered saw an uptick after children 12 and older became eligible for a Pfizer vaccine, the past 10 days have seen a renewed decline. The persisting challenges to accessing a vaccine are a deterrent to reaching the point Obasanjo said shed feel more comfortable in saying firmly that the pandemic is behind us: 90% vaccinated. Bearman said for him, the percentage is around 80%. COVID-19 is not gone. Its most likely in the rearview mirror in a country such as the United States. However, it is ongoing in many parts of the world. Variants are emerging, Bearman said, pointing toward a new variant that was first identified in India and is circulating in the United Kingdom. As more people go out to bars, restaurants, grocery stores and other essential workplaces, Bearman and Obasanjo said there is a low risk of people on the frontlines being infected after a holiday weekend if theyre wearing masks. But they remain vulnerable, Obasanjo said. The impact has been worse in low-wage jobs, which are usually filled by Black, Latino and immigrant populations who dont have paid sick leave and cant work from home. RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Asking dogs to follow their noses won't work anymore in states that have legalized marijuana. As Virginia prepares to legalize adult possession of up to an ounce of marijuana on July 1, drug-sniffing police dogs from around the state are being forced into early retirement, following a trend in other states where legalization has led to K-9s being put out to pasture earlier than planned. In Virginia, the rush to take marijuana-detecting dogs out of service began even before lawmakers voted last month to accelerate the timetable for legalization. A separate law that went into effect in March prohibits police from stopping or searching anyone based solely on the odor of marijuana. Virginia state police are retiring 13 K-9s, while many smaller police departments and sheriffs offices are retiring one or two dogs. Most are in the process of purchasing and training new dogs to detect only illicit drugs, including cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines. Some departments are unable to afford up to $15,000 to buy and train a new dog, so they are disbanding their K-9 units. Dozens of small white flags flutter on green grass at Rivergate Park in Old Town Alexandria. Each flag represents one city resident who died of the disease caused by the coronavirus. Titled Alexandria Remembrance, the flags set off by white picket fencing and a bed of red and white geraniums are a temporary memorial where, signs say, With love, we remember our 137 friends and neighbors lost to COVID-19. On April 6, when City Council authorized the memorial, 129 residents had died, but the numbers have had to be updated. Family members are invited to write a message or the name of a loved one on a flag. I took a closer look: Our beloved Ray, I & the kids will love you forever and ever. Please watch over us. XOXO Vicky. If that doesnt break your heart, well, you may not have one. All around, life on a lovely weekday afternoon in May went on almost as usual. A father and his young son played catch. A shirtless man sat cross-legged, drinking in the sun. A couple sat talking in the cool shade. They, I, you reading this we somehow survived. With vaccinations and luck, we hope to resume our lives. Our long, international nightmare appears nearly over, but not yet. Look at Japan. Americans are not noted for their patience. We want to solve problems, not live with them. But sometimes its best to be patient, to wait for events to unfold instead of trying to control them. The Taiwan issue with China is an example. Ukraines struggle with Russia is another. A third is Irans threat to build nuclear weapons, and the newest was Israels effort to crush Palestinian resistance in Gaza. A classic example of waiting for leadership change occurred in 1953 when Soviet dictator, Josef Stalin, died at age 74. He had ruled the Soviet Union for nearly forty years. Now the logjam in relations with the West opened up and President Eisenhower took advantage of the resulting vacuum to press new Soviet leaders for detente in the Cold War. The Spirit of Geneva, as it was known, lasted until 1960 when an American spy plane piloted by Gary Powers was shot down over Russia. The new Soviet leader, Nikita Khrushchev, chose to exploit the case for propaganda advantage and cancelled a Moscow summit with Eisenhower. Ikes successor, John Kennedy, faced a new Cold War. We dont yet know where the virus that causes COVID-19, the disease thats killed nearly 600,000 Americans and 3.5 million globally, came from. SARS-CoV-2 may well have crossed over from a wild animal in an unsanitary wet market in or around Wuhan, China. Or it may have emerged from a lab in that city of 11 million where scientists were studying bat coronaviruses. The latter hypothesis, angrily rejected by Beijing, has in recent months begun to gain credence. That doesnt mean its likely, but it does mean it warrants further scrutiny, because a simmering theory left unexamined will burn the pot. President Joe Biden should therefore be commended for ordering from U.S. intelligence agencies what we hope will prove to be a definitive review of the evidence for and against the lab-leak origin story. The debate has been fraught from the start, perhaps because it has been irresponsibly conflated with the claim that the bug was somehow deliberately engineered in the Wuhan Institute of Virology. That didnt happen but there is a possibility that an accident at the lab led to the escape of a virus researchers were studying. Among the dots connected by responsible reporters, officials and scientists: So much has been unpredictable these past months. Weve had to get resourceful and creative in all aspects of our lives, improvising and adapting how we live, work, learn, and engage with one another. Over the last year, weve spent more time outdoors, and paradoxically, weve stayed home more, too. Through it all, we have become more aware of our energy consumption not only in terms of its impact on our personal budgets, but how it affects our environment. With the recent shortages of fuel, weve also been forced to reckon with the vulnerability of out of state supply chains. Individually and collectively, many of us have begun to make changes, at home and in our communities, shifting to clean and renewable sources of energy generated right here in Virginia. Thats where solar shines the brightest. Solar is a predictable, homegrown source of energy that benefits communities and local economies. Across the Commonwealth, Virginians are reaping the many benefits of solar in reliable, locally-generated energy, increased tax revenue, and new jobs. If theres one thing we can count on, its that the sun will rise each day, providing energy to power homes, businesses, and industry. Melissa Tietsort has quite the extended family at The Heritage at Fox Run, and shell be adding even more people to her circle when their new 94,000-square-foot facility opens this summer. Tietsort is a native of Council Bluffs, and she graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 2000. As the new millennium was beginning, so was her career. During high school, Tietsort worked down the hill at the now-closed Indian Hills Nursing Center. In that time, she also took courses at Iowa Western Community College, where she eventually earned her certified nursing assistant status. She later took a CNA position at The Heritage at Fox Run in 2006, and shes been there ever since. Tietsort said that even while working in high school she wasnt sure what she wanted to do for a career, but after enough time she said she fell in love with caring for the elderly. Once I really got involved with it I developed my passion for helping the senior citizens of our community, she said. The process for verifying burials and soldiers names was long and arduous. Roy Linn, from Correctionville, is the Graves Registration Officer for SUV Kinsman Camp #23. While searching for grave sites to be entered in a national database, he found names believed to be near the Kinsman Monument, but no gravestones could be found. Old records for that section of Fairview Cemetery had been lost years ago. After extensive searches in public libraries, the Genealogical Library, the Armed Forces Grave Records and funeral home death and burial records to 1880, he was able to verify that 40 veterans were in the cemetery but had no grave markers. But to receive gravestones from the Office of Veterans Affairs, documentation verifying the veterans burial in a cemetery and the regiment he served must be included. With additional research by Roys wife Linda Linn, they were able to verify that 36 veterans qualified for headstones. Thirty-six marble stones were ordered from the same quarry used by the federal government since the Revolutionary War. Engraved on each is the soldiers name, company, regiment and year of birth and death if known. Collier was one of three Democrats picked to negotiate the final version, none of whom signed their name to it. She said she saw a draft of the bill around 11 p.m. Friday which was different than one she had received earlier that day and was asked for her signature the next morning. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Education is a major focus of Rotary, Wood said. The club completed the following education-related projects this year: Held a literacy project to help teach children about diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and community. The project included a StoryWalk, eight sessions and the distribution of at least 200 books that had been screened and selected as representative of these themes. Sponsored the fifth- and sixth-grade career fair in partnership with the Rotary Centennial Club, aka Morning Rotary. Nominated five seniors for Rotarys Youth Leadership Academy (which is virtual this year), all of whom were accepted, and sponsored two of the students, while companion clubs sponsored the other three. Awarded four scholarships to students attending Iowa Western Community College and will also award the Robert Knox Scholarship. Recognized teachers and students for their accomplishments and their contributions within their schools, community and beyond. According to its mission statement, Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Catching up with a friend over Zoom, I wondered recently what might have happened if China had come clean about the presence and origins of COVID-19 before it spread beyond Wuhan. But, my friend asked, wouldnt the United States have done the same and tried to hide it too? No, I replied. Even if our government had tried, it would have come to light. Thats the beauty of an open society and a ... OMAHA, Neb. (AP) Police say the death of a man who fatally shot himself as he was being chased by officers in north Omaha will be investigated as an in-custody death. LOUP COUNTY A hundred-year-old barn cant contain all the family memories Sandra Mann has acquired and inherited. Its not the original barn on her late husbands 1904 North Loup River ranch. The first burned down one day in 1921 after his paternal grandfather and maternal great-grandfather finished lunch. They looked back and saw the smoke rising behind them. The barn was enveloped in flames when they got back to the farmstead about halfway between Taylor and Burwell. One smoked a pipe, the other cigarettes, so no one knew the culprit, says Mann, 75, an Arthur County native, retired English teacher and writer of two novels drawn from her life across the Sandhills. Nothing to do but rebuild. An homage to Gaylord Allen Mann and Peter Goehring rebuilt, of course. Their descendants, the late Gaylord Manns cousins, are marking the new barns centennial at the ranch this weekend during their biennial family reunion. The barn hadnt been cleaned out and cleaned up in a long time. So Sandra Mann, holed up like so many by COVID-19, started on the task last Aug. 27. She found the detritus of generations. Oh, my gosh, they were keepers, she said. Im a tosser. ... (But) I did keep the things that were worthwhile. She finished on April Fools Day, setting up the barn to tell stories through old farm and ranch tools, horse tack and saddles, family mementos, rediscovered treasures. It was really like an homage to Gaylord, she said. He died at age 69 on Jan. 27, 2016, in the living room of the house he built for them after moving from Ogallala to his familys Loup County spread in 1988. He loved the past, and he loved construction, Sandra Mann said. You can look at this house. He was always a perfectionist, and he wanted everything to look just right. They had been sitting before the fireplace, with a snowstorm coming, talking about their next move with their Black Angus and crossbred cattle. And all of a sudden, he just made a sound and was gone, she said. He was in the midst of health and the midst of living. And then he was not. It was hard on those of us left behind, but it was a wonderful exit for him. His birthday was right around the corner, on March 9. He had told me he was going to ranch until he was 70 and then he was going to retire. He quit a little early. Sandhills daughter Their parting came more than 47 years into their marriage and 50 after they met in Rodeo Club at Kearney State College (now the University of Nebraska at Kearney). Sandra had gone there out of Arthur County High School in 1963. Brother Gary Helmer still ranches her familys spread four miles east and a mile south of Arthur, in the vast western Sandhills where water mostly runs under the land, not through it. Mother Darlene (Soehl) Helmer, the youngest of 10, grew up two miles farther south. Shes the subject of Promisers Big, Manns second novel, published two years after Corporate Cowboy (2006) described a horse-loving Sandhills native lost in the big-city office world. Theres a Sandhills spirit that is unlike any other quality, she said. I dont know what it is. I love the people. I guess its a pioneering spirit. And their sense of humor is so funny its so realistic, but kind of wry and a little bit twisted. Morbid at times. And yet you laugh through the morbidity. Manns mother taught in Arthur for 42 years. Father Parmer Red Helmer only made it through 10th grade because he had to help on the ranch. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} But he was probably the most well-read men Ive ever known, she said. He read voraciously. ... My father and I shared a passion for reading. We read in front of the radio, we read in front of the television. My sister was an English teacher, and I always knew I wanted to be an English teacher. 5-paragraph essays Manns interest in things English went beyond the language. British medieval literature, Shakespeare and research I just have a passion for that. So after two years as a Kearney State graduate instructor she picked up her masters degree in 1969 those were the subjects she typically taught in high schools in Hyannis (1969-75), Ogallala (1975-89) and Broken Bow (1989-2000). "Barn Bridges" by Sandra Mann Left over straw Fresh meadow hay Worn wooden stalls Work horse harness Split reins Roping reins Single broken reins Bridles with geometric bits Spider webs Curry combs Kid saddles Old saddles Trophy saddles Halters and ropes Horses stomping and munching Grain Meowing, leaning cats. Dad, though gone, comes alive when I step into my barn. In memory of her father, Parmer Red Helmer (1911-69) She insisted her students master the classic five-paragraph essay form. Introduce your topic and state your thesis in the first. Present and develop at least three supporting points in the middle. Summarize and get out in the last. Shed have her students write essays on aspects of Shakespeares plays one semester, then have them apply the five-paragraph form in large scale in the next with a multisourced, college-level research paper on subjects they chose. When I went to college, I didnt know how to write, Mann said. I swore none of my students would ever leave my classes not feeling they didnt know how to write. When home called Gaylord Mann, a Burwell High School graduate, majored in industrial arts education at Kearney. He taught industrial arts at Hyannis and ran his own construction business in Ogallala. He and Sandra acquired the current homesite in 1988, when it was time for Gaylord to rejoin his father, Glen, and eventually take over the ranch operation. He built this house. He was just an absolute genius, Sandra said as visiting youngest son Grant, 40, listened and added details. Grant, now an electrician, helped his dad. But Gaylord did everything, Sandra said. He set the trusses himself. He did the sheetrock, the plumbing. The home place, its west wing shaped like a barn, sits on a few acres the couple bought south of the historic ranch. The original homestead sat farther southwest, Grant Mann said. Glen Mann died in 2001, three years before the ranch founded by John Mann Allens brother and Glens uncle received the Aksarben Foundations Pioneer Farm Award for 100 years of continuous ownership by one family. Tough to retire Sandra and Gaylord Mann raised hogs until the rise of large confinements two decades ago made that line impractical. She still raises quarter horses, a Helmer tradition she brought from Arthur County. It wasnt until after Gaylords death that Sandra finally made her professional retirement more or less stick. She retired from the Broken Bow schools in 2000 but then spent four years as Adams Land & Cattle Co.s leadership coordinator, setting up a GED program for its employees and teaching Mid-Plains Community College night classes. Then she joined Loup County High School in Taylor as its drug and alcohol prevention coordinator. She also worked with students on success strategies until retiring again. And I also got to teach seventh-grade English, said Mann, who still occasionally substitute-teaches in Taylor. Most of the Mann Ranchs 1,600 acres are leased out for grazing. But she co-owns cattle with oldest child Stacey herself a teacher and son-in-law Todd Adamson at their Cherry County ranch near Cody. Middle child Mitchell Mann runs a Firestone tire dealership in Davenport, Iowa. Grant lives in Alliance and recently joined Viaero Wireless there. Mann has 11 grandchildren to keep track of. Shell go into Burwell to announce high school rodeos. But shes found her happy place on the spread she married into. This is where I belong, she said. It just rejuvenates myself to be outside. Thats where I want to be. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains, and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. ... Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten, as a people, the cost of a free and undivided Republic. Believe it or not, Memorial Day didnt become a national holiday remembering all American war dead until the Monday Holiday Act of 1971 set it on the last Monday of May, not May 30. If youre into the Indianapolis 500, watch its annual stirring tribute to our war dead about 15 minutes before the green flag drops today. Its because the race not only has always been associated with Memorial Day weekend but long was held precisely on May 30. (Even last year, when finally run in August due to COVID-19, the races Memorial Day tribute still took place.) No matter the date, Decoration Day which the GAR renamed Memorial Day in 1882 did indeed endure as John A. Logan had ordered. Localnews featured J-M rock garden brings awareness to mental health and suicide Courtesy of Jefferson-Morgan School District Courtesy of J-M School District Some of the rocks painted by students at Jefferson-Morgan elementary and middle/high schools to raise awareness of teen mental health and suicide Courtesy of Jefferson-Morgan School District Courtesy of Jefferson-Morgan School District Jefferson-Morgan High School students Katie Ruscitti and Molly Mylan stand amid the ton of rocks donated by a local resident for the schools Suicide Prevention Rocks initiative. Courtesy of Jefferson-Morgan School District Courtesy of Jefferson-Morgan School District Students in the Jefferson-Morgan School District painted inspirational kindness rocks to encourage other students. courtesy Anita Mullen Courtesy of Anita Mullen Michael Mullen played football and was in the band at Jefferson-Morgan High School. Rock gardens at the elementary and middle/high schools have been built in his memory, and to recognize mental health and suicide awareness. Courtesy of Jefferson-Morgan School District Courtesy of Jefferson-Morgan School District Jenna Cyr, a student at Jefferson-Morgan High School, lays painted rocks around a suicide prevention sign, one of many signs students placed on the high school grounds as part of its Suicide Prevention Rocks initiative. May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. In recognition, Jefferson-Morgan High School Student Council members have placed Suicide Prevention Rocks signs throughout the elementary and middle/high school campuses. Scattered neatly around the signs are brightly painted rocks with uplifting messages like, Yes you can, You are not alone, and Every pink flamingo starts out gray. Students are encouraged to take a rock, or to leave one. For Jefferson-Morgan Elementary School teacher Anita Mullen, Mental Health Awareness month and the rocks have become personal. In August 2019, Mullens 18-year-old son, Michael, died by suicide. Michael had graduated from Jefferson-Morgan Senior High School in June, and had just started a job at a car dealership. My sons suicide changed my life in a way I never imagined, said Mullen. Shortly after Michael died, high school business/computer teacher Jodi Fulks and Michaels friends and teachers presented Mullen with painted rocks emblazoned with his favorite things Pink Floyd and AC/DC, footballs and cars and messages about him. On one rock, a friend painted a Kennywood sign and sent a note describing how Michael gave money to a band student who didnt have enough to buy a ticket for the bands trip to the amusement park. Thats when the rocks started for me. It meant a lot to me to have those, said Mullen, who laminated the rocks. Since then, the school district and the community have continued to rally around Mullen and honor Michael, and the kindness rocks have become a symbolic way to let teens know they matter. In recent months, Mullen, staff and students have built rock gardens at four locations at the entrance of the district campus, the entrance of the elementary school, near the parking lot on the high school grounds, and in the serenity space at the high school courtyard. In September, during National Suicide Awareness Month, Mullen organized a Walk for Mullen (friends affectionately called Michael by his last name) to raise awareness of suicide and to raise funds that were used to install a bench at the serenity space and pond. Walkers were invited to paint rocks at the walk. And a rock bearing Michaels name was placed in the You Matter Serenity Garden in Washington, which was started as a Silver Award Project by Girl Scout Troop 52020 and includes a memorial garden for victims of suicide. The school district plans to build rock gardens in Mather and Rices Landing. Ultimately, said Fulks, the students goal is to establish signs and rock spaces throughout Greene County. I like the idea of the rocks. I like the whole message of leaving one for someone, or picking one up if you need it or if you know someone who needs one. It can be an anchor for you, something to hold on to, carry with you, keep it to look at, especially if it has a good message that you connect with. Its a nice way to spread kindness and love, and to let people know they matter, said Mullen. I think its important for us to understand that you dont always know what people are going through. So just be kind to people. Kindness goes a long way. Michael played football and was a drummer in the high school band. Mullen said her son loved sports, old cars, and 70s and 80s music, and loved wearing classic rock band T-shirts. He was so well-liked by a lot of people. He had a lot of friends and he would always take the time to help them out, said Mullen. I had somebody come up at his funeral, a kid he graduated with, who said she was bullied, and he stuck up for her and that it meant a lot to her. He was a good kid. Mullen said the family hadnt noticed any warning signs that Michael was depressed, and they didnt suspect how badly he was feeling. None of us really know the reason it happened, said Mullen. Over the past year and more, Ive gone over it a lot of times thinking, is there more I could have done? Even before the pandemic, suicide was the second-leading cause of death among high school students, with the national suicide rate for people ages 10 to 24 increasing nearly 60% between 2007 and 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A 2019 study conducted by groups including the state Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency showed that 16.2% of youths surveyed reported seriously considering suicide within the past 12 months, and 9.7% attempted suicide, up from 7.6% in 2013. In all, four teens from Greene County died by suicide in 2019 and 2020, according to the coroners office. Washington County recorded five deaths from suicide among people aged 10 to 19 in the period from 2018 through 2019. In Fayette County, there were no deaths from suicide reported from 2018 through 2020. As Mullen continues to grieve for her son, she wants to speak out to help other teens. I want to keep this from happening to any of the other kids in our community. I want them to know that their life matters and they matter to somebody. I dont want another parent to feel the way I feel, said Mullen. I was always a very quiet person, and I still am, but before this I probably wouldnt have spoken out for this. I would have supported efforts, but not as vocally. But since Ive experienced it, its spurred me to want to do something. I want to honor my sons memory. A community member donated literally a ton of rocks, and anyone interested in picking up rocks to paint for the rock spaces can do so. This has been a real collaboration between the school and the community, said Fulks. Its our way of advocating for mental health and suicide awareness, and getting the message out there. It needs to be talked about. Mullen drives by the rock gardens every day. It really touches my heart every time I go past and see them. Im thrilled with them, said Mullen. Were going to try to keep this from happening again to anybody else. Mullen recently painted rocks for a milestone occasion. Students from the first pre-K class she taught at Jefferson-Morgan in 2007 are set to graduate on June 2. She presented those eight students who are still in the district with encouraging rocks at a pre-K ceremony. Anytime we can tell kids how important they are, how much they matter, we need to do it, said Mullen. Everybody goes through things at some point in their life. Something like this can really make a difference. One positive message at just the right moment can change things. Anyone interested in painting a rock for the rock gardens can email Jodi Fulks at jfulks@jmsd.org. The National Suicide Prevention hotline is 1-800-273-8225. Washington, PA (15301) Today Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable. Two people were killed and two others were injured Saturday morning when a vehicle was traveling the wrong way on the Dan Ryan Expressway. It was at least the second fatal wrong-way crash along that stretch of the Dan Ryan in Englewood in about three months. Canadas oil sands industry is too carbon-intensive for the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) targets of some of the worlds largest institutional investors. But not for Canadas own pension funds. The five largest Canadian pension funds, which manage US$1.2 trillion in total assets, saw their combined investment in the U.S.-listed shares of the major oil sands producer surge by 147 percent in the first quarter of 2021, to a total of US$2.4 billion, according to a Reuters analysis of filings to the SEC. Most of the jump in the value of investments of the pension funds merely reflected the rise in share prices of stock already held. Yet, the funds also bought more shares in the largest Canadian oil sands producers, according to the Reuters analysis. Regardless of the way in which the pension funds boosted investment in oil sands in the first quarter, the fact remains that unlike other pension funds and some of the worlds largest sovereign wealth funds, Canadas pension funds have not pledged or made divestments in one of the most emissions-heavy way of producing oil. The funds, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), Ontario Teachers Pension Plan (OTPP), British Columbia Investment Management Corp (BCI), and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP) collectively increased the value of their investments in Canadian Natural Resources, Suncor Energy, Cenovus Energy, and Imperial Oil, according to the Reuters analysis. Some of Canadas pension funds have committed to carbon-neutral portfolios by 2050. Commenting on the analysis for Reuters, a PSP Investments spokeswoman said many of the funds investments were in passive portfolios tracking stock indexes. Representatives of other funds told Reuters that their exposure to fossil fuels as a whole is a tiny percentage of total assets held. Nevertheless, the funds have been criticized by activists for not doing enough to account for climate risk in their portfolios by divesting from the oil sands business. Related: Biden Defends Alaska Oil Project Commenting on this weeks high-profile case in which a Dutch court ordered Shell to slash emissions, holding it directly responsible for contributing to climate change, pension activist group Shift said: Pension funds take note: This case highlights the growing climate-related legal risks faced by oil and gas companies amidst a wave of litigation against the fossil fuel producers most responsible for the climate crisis. We have a big problem with pension funds saying we believe in engagement, not divestment, but theres no sign of this engagement, Shifts director Adam Scott told Reuters. Other institutional investors and pension funds have already dumped their stakes in oil sands companies. In May last year, Norways Government Pension Fund Global, the worlds largest sovereign fund which has amassed its enormous wealth from Norways oil, decided to exclude Canadian Natural Resources, Cenovus Energy, Suncor Energy, and Imperial Oil over unacceptable greenhouse gas emissions. Even the Public Investment Fund (PIF), the sovereign wealth fund of the worlds largest oil exporter Saudi Arabia, has recently sold all the 51 million shares it held in Suncor. Among pension funds, the New York State Common Retirement Fund said last month it would divest its US$7-million investment in Canadian oil sands firms after determining that seven companies failed to show they are transitioning out of oil sands production. The evaluation of the funds oil sands holdings are part of a broader review of climate risk in energy investments, and the fund will next evaluate shale oil and gas companies, it said. The Bank of Canada also warned in its latest Financial System Review (FSR) from earlier this month that climate-related vulnerabilities are first among ongoing issues that we all need to take seriously now to protect our financial system and economy in the future. The potential impact of climate risks is generally underappreciated, and they are not well priced. That means the transition to a low-carbon economy could leave some investors and financial institutions exposed to large losses in the future, Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem said. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Last year was a strong one for green hydrogenat least in terms of media attention. Actual green hydrogen production did not change in any meaningful way, and theres a host of reasons for thatnot the least of which is cost. And yet, not all is lost for green hydrogen and not just because the EU is set on building 40 GW of production capacity, whatever the cost. Its because of trains. Frances Alstom first showcased its hydrogen fuel cell-powered train Coradia iLint back in 2016. Two years later, the first iLint train began operations in Germany. Last year, Alstom said that from next year, it will be launching 14 iLint trains to replace diesel-run trains. Now, Alstom does not say anywhere that the hydrogen it uses in the fuel cells of its iLint trains is green. But the fact that hydrogen trains are already in operation provides a glimmer of hope that even green hydrogen production will someday become commercially viable outside of optimistic forecasts by various energy consultancies. Railway transport appears to be the perfect testing ground for hydrogen technology, per a recent report by the Wall Street Journal. According to a report by Roland Berger, the WSJs Rochelle Toplensky wrote this week, the total lifetime cost of ownership for Alstoms hydrogen trains is already comparable with that of trains running on diesel or electricity. Again, the report does not specifically focus on green hydrogen, but its a start. Hydrogen faces a few substantial obstacles to joining the mainstream fuel flow, with cost chief among them, followed by a lack of infrastructure. As the WSJs Toplensky aptly puts it, this is a classic egg-or-chicken problem. It is very clearly visible in the hydrogen car industry. There are few hydrogen passenger car models, and despite their attractive characteristics, they remain unpopular, first because of the higher price and then because of the absence of a well-developed filling station network. If this sounds familiar, its because EVs have the same problem. But while the Biden administration in the U.S. and the European Union across the Atlantic are taking care of that with plans for building such networks, hydrogen is more or less on its own. Related: Colombias Oil Industry Is On The Brink Of Collapse The need for stations is another reason why railway transport is the perfect testingand adoptionground for hydrogen fuel cells. Trains dont need to fill up every two stations. They need several strategically placed filling stations. We want to focus on the big industrial bases and mobility corridors in order to build the infrastructure. Trains are a good base load and a good target for us, the WSJs Toplensky quotes the Vice President of Air Liquide, the French industrial gases major, as saying. We know when they start and arrive, go from point A to B, and the frequency. It is way easier to develop infrastructure for trains than for trucks. Electric trains are great for the environment, but they are not exactly the cheapest form of transportation. Without help from governments, electric trains would arguably go into oblivion under pressure from market forces. But hydrogen trains are cheaper than electric ones. This is one place where hydrogen fuel cell technology appears to be ready to shine and possibly incite more investor interest in hydrogen technology applicable to other segments of the transport sector at some point. How long until green hydrogen becomes viable even for trains is difficult to say. The technology needs some major scalingand much higher carbon pricesto even begin approaching the costs of blue or grey hydrogen. Yet green hydrogen is the endpoint in the hydrogen evolution, not the first step. The first step is finding a place where hydrogen can shine, and it seems that railway transport has found this place. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The European Union's Emissions Trading System has seen record-high prices lately. This has prompted two kinds of response: on one side, some analysts and officials have welcomed the trend, saying it would motivate businesses to decarbonize more quickly. On the other, some, including European business associations, have warned that record carbon prices are hurting their profitability and competitiveness. Now, governments have cried out against the EU's emission ambitions, too. The reality is that not everyone can afford the green transition price tag. The European Commission this month proposed the setting up of a new emissions trading system for the building and road transport sectors, to make part of a larger climate package that the EC will release in July. "The idea is to have, complimentary, the introduction of an own, separate emission trading system at a very low scale at the beginning. Immediately coupled with a clear social compensation structure," EC President Ursula von der Leyen said. The proposal prompted a quick reaction from Poland. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the plan would disproportionately affect the poorer members of the European Union, which won him the support of those same poorer members, including Romania and Bulgaria, but also the wealthier Baltic States, the Financial Times reported this week, citing diplomats. Morawiecki was not the only one. Earlier this week, in a piece for Euractiv, former Polish environment minister Marcin Korolec wrote that "The Emissions Trading System (ETS), a key pillar of EU climate ambition, isn't a one-size-fits-all instrument, and widening the scope to include buildings and transport may not necessarily lead to emission reductions, but we do risk a social backlash in Europe." The social backlash would be the result of the cost of emission reduction across the EU becoming clearer than before, thanks to the extension of the ETS mechanism. As Korolec illustrated it, "After all, an owner of a large off-road vehicle/SUV from one of the northern EU member states, such as Germany or Sweden, would have to pay the same carbon price as a pensioner from central and eastern Europe, such as eastern Poland or Bulgaria, who has a very different income level and often already struggles to pay the bills for heating their home." Related: Colombias Oil Industry Is On The Brink Of Collapse The rich-poor divide within the European Union is a deep one, indeed. This week's emissions trading debate has exposed this gap clearly. For all the stated goodwill and plans for the good of all, the fact remains that not every member of the EU can afford a green transition within the parameters that Brussels has set. At least not without much help from wealthier members. Yet, those wealthier members have worked hard to become wealthy. As such, they are understandably unwilling to pitch in more than what they consider their fair share to drag the poor relations into the green energy club. As a result, the divide is deepening. This divide, according to the Financial Times, ended discussions on how to distribute the cost of emission reduction in favor of a detailed examination of the impact of the proposed emissions trading mechanism on the environment, communities, and the economy. One would think such an analysis would have been conducted before talks about implementation began. But the EU is rushing to cut emissionsso much so that they might be overlooking things like the competitiveness of European companies against their non-European peers that are unburdened by the obligation to pay for carbon emissions and the reasonable wellbeing of the poorer European communities. The proponents of the "Whatever it takes" approach would likely argue here that the higher the carbon price tag in the building and road transport sectors, the more motivated companies operating in these sectors would be to adopt a lower carbon footprint. However, the recent complaint of the European Steel Association about record-high carbon prices suggests that this argument lacks legs. Besides hurting European companies' competitiveness, the ETS is leaving them with fewer resources to spend on low-carbon tech to reduce their footprint. The problem is even bigger for the poorer EU members. Once the price of road transportation goes up, the price of everything goes up. This would hurt consumption and, eventually, economic growth. While it has become something of a fashion statement in analyst circles that we don't really need economic growth to do well, stagnation is still not something governments like, on either side of the big European divide. Related: Moodys: Credit Risk Is Growing For Big Oil So, what's to be done? EC President von der Leyen has said that the new ETS mechanism for buildings and road transportation would include a compensation scheme for the less well-off European Union members. "The burden has to be carried by those who are on the producing side, on the industry side, and on the higher incomes, without any question," von der Leyen said, as quoted by the Financial Times. "This transformation has to be socially just. It has to be fair, otherwise, it won't take place." Yet Poland, for instance, has a big coal industrymeaning it is a big emitter. It is not, however, considered to be on the "higher incomes" side. Other Eastern European states also have big polluters, and while it would be fair to make the polluters pay for their emissions, they would invariably find a way to pass the additional cost to consumers or go under proudly as their too-expensive output becomes uncompetitive. The European Parliament will be voting on the proposed scheme in July. That leaves the EU less than two months to build a bridge across the divide between the rich and the poor in Europe. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: When it comes to the global shift to low-carbon energy sources, Europe has traditionally been viewed as the world leader. Meanwhile, the United States has frequently been regarded as an importantalbeit grudgingparticipant. Over the past half-decade, China has also improved its stock in the fast-growing market through a plethora of heavy investments, especially in solar and wind. For the most part, those views appear merited: Renewables rose to generate 38% of Europe's electricity in 2020 (compared to 34.6% in 2019), marking the first time renewables overtook fossil-fired generation, which fell to 37%. In contrast, the IEA estimates that natural gas and coal generated a combined 61% of electricity in the United States in 2020, with renewables accounting for just 20%. And the country's standing in the energy transition became even murkier after former president Donald Trump fulfilled a key campaign pledge by withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate agreement, joining the likes of Syria and Nicaragua as the only countries not a party to the agreement. But the United States' clean energy landscape is about to get a complete makeover under Biden. Just months after president Biden rejoined the Paris Climate accord, the global energy market navel-gazer IHS Markit has ranked the United States as the most attractive market for renewable energy investments in the world. The United States has claimed the top spot on the latest IHS Markit Global Renewables Markets Attractiveness Rankings mainly on account of sound market fundamentals and the availability of an attractivethough phasing downsupport scheme. The survey tracks attractiveness for investment for non-hydro renewables such as solar PV, offshore wind, and onshore wind. The ranking evaluates each country based on seven subcategories that include market fundamentals, current policy framework, infrastructure readiness, investor friendliness, revenue risks, and return expectations, easiness to compete, and the overall opportunity size for each market. As expected, Europe dominates the top echelons, with Germany coming in at #2, France #4, Spain #5, and the Netherlands at #9. China has been ranked the third-best market for renewable energy investors, while India is #6, Australia #7, Japan #8, and Brazil #10. Source: IHS Markit Moment in the sun After decades of disappointment, the U.S. solar sector has been having its moment in the sun, with solar stocks enjoying the best run in the energy sector last year. The Invesco Solar Portfolio ETF (NYSEARCA:TAN), the only pure-play solar fund in the U.S. market, more than tripled in 2020 as the renewable energy sector proved its resilience during the pandemic. Related: 3 Chinese Energy Stocks To Buy And 3 To Avoid But, alas, the good times were not to last: TAN ETF is experiencing a sharp reversal, with the fund down 22.8% in the year-to-date. A quadrupling in the cost of polysilicon has pushed solar module prices up 18% YTD and threatens to lay to waste years of falling solar material costs. Solar photovoltaics (PV) has seen the sharpest cost decline of any electricity technology over the last decade, with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) finding that between 2010-2019, the cost of solar PV globally dropped by 82%. Unfortunately, polysilicon makers have lately been struggling to keep up with high demand, lifting prices to as high as $25.88/kg, up from $6.19/kg less than a year ago. Still, the long-term outlook for the solar and wind industries remains good. As IHS Markit puts it: "Onshore wind, offshore wind and solar PV are set to account for over 80% of all new power generation capacity additions globally to 2030. While the lion's share of 2020 capacity additions came from just two markets--China and the United States--close to 50 markets recorded double digit growth in the past year." Here in the United States, two key tailwinds remain in favor of the solar sector. #1. Eliminating solar tariffs In January 2018, the Trump administration implemented Section 201 solar tariffs on imported cells and modules at the height of the trade war with China. A presidential proclamation released back in October seeks to increase those tariffs and eliminate an exemption for two-sided solar panels. Though the evidence is mixed regarding their effectiveness, the cons seem to outweigh the pros. On the one hand, the 2.5-gigawatt solar cell import cap did provide some support for the domestic solar module manufacturing industry and also helped to level the playing field. But the harm done is by no means negligible. According to The Hill, the 2018 solar tariffs have significantly harmed the U.S. solar sector by destroying more than 62,000 jobs and nearly $19 billion in new private sector investments. The tariffs, which began at 30% in 2018, made some imported panels more expensive, with the price of high-efficiency PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) modules nearly doubling in the United States compared to prices in other markets as the modules leave factories in China and Southeast Asia. Indeed, Greentech Media estimates that when purchased in multi-megawatt quantities, such modules now cost 32 cents to 35 cents per watt in the United States compared to only 17 to 19 cents per watt when manufactured. The lion's share of those extra costs can be directly chalked up to the Trump tariffs since shipping costs clock in at a much lower 1.5 cents to 2 cents per watt. Related: OPEC+ Set To Proceed With Plans To Boost July Oil Production That the U.S. solar sector has continued to thrive despite--not because of--the tariffs is a true testament of how strong the solar momentum has grown. Indeed, module imports from China have been on a growth path since January 2019. That's despite a combination of Section 201 tariffs, countervailing duties, and anti-dumping laws. Wall Street expects Biden to order the International Trade Commission to evaluate these tariffs and possibly repeal them, considering the damage they have wrought to the downstream solar industry in this country. Even partly eliminating those punitive tariffs on solar modules and inverters is expected to have tremendous positive effects on solar development. #2. Eliminating fossil-fuel subsidies For years, the fossil-fuel industries have enjoyed approximately $20 billion a year in both direct and indirect subsidies they receive from the government. Biden has already pledged to lower or completely eliminate those subsidies and channel the funds to renewables. This is very likely to give solar and other renewables an opportunity to play on a more level field as the oil, gas, and coal industries. Solar and wind are already competitive with fossil fuels in many electricity generation markets. Eliminating or reducing fossil fuel subsidies will no doubt accelerate the shift to renewable energy. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Traveling war memorial honors veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan who died by suicide CHRIS MACHIAN, THE WORLD-HERALD American and the POW/MIA flags blow in the wind as seen through the colonnade at Memorial Park on Thursday. ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD The sun sets over headstones at Omaha National Cemetery. ANNA REED, THE WORLD-HERALD The sun sets over headstones at Omaha National Cemetery on Thursday. RACHEL GEORGE The national Remembering Our Fallen memorial on display in Peterson Park during Gretna Days 2018. The traveling memorial recognizes Americans killed in the War on Terror since Sept. 11, 2001. Gretna is the hometown of Capt. Kevin Nicholson, who died from the effects of post-traumatic stress in 2014. He is pictured on the blue tower at the extreme left edge of the photo. KENT SIEVERS, THE WORLD-HERALD Bill and Evonne Williams, creators of the Remembering Our Fallen traveling memorial, set aside part of the display for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who took their own lives after experiencing post-traumatic stress from combat. "What they experienced, what they saw it was the right thing to do, Evonne Williams said. The youthful faces look back from the Remembering Our Fallen towers, a mix of uniformed portraits and smiling snapshots of more than 5,000 lives cut short by the long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. One tower in the traveling monument to Americas post-9/11 military dead looks slightly different, the photos arrayed on a deep blue background instead of white. The blue-backed pictures are of 183 young men and women who returned from battlefield deployments to hugs and kisses from relieved parents and spouses and kids then weeks or months or years later, suffering from often invisible pain, they took their own lives. The monuments creators, Bill and Evonne Williams of Patriotic Productions, call it the PTS tower, for post-traumatic stress. They dont use the word suicide. Its heartbreaking to look at that tower, Bill Williams said. All of them are hard, but that one is the hardest. Tom and Donna Nicholson of Gretna saw the towers again at the Memorial Day event Friday in Omahas Old Market, and they know that feeling well. Their son, Marine Capt. Kevin Nicholson who died Sept. 2, 2014, after four deployments to Afghanistan in five years is on the blue tower. To see all the faces, the beautiful-looking people, Donna said. I think, What a loss. What a waste. Remembering Our Fallen is one of the few war memorials that honors warriors who succumbed to PTS alongside those who died on the battlefield. Candy Martin, former president of American Gold Star Mothers, is an Army veteran whose son was killed in combat in Iraq in 2007. She agrees that those who died of PTS deserve recognition, too. We recognize that they died in service, or as a result of service, said Martin, who marched in Omahas Memorial Day parade Friday, along with the Nicholsons. Its not how your child died. We focus on continuing the service that their sons and daughters didnt finish. During the 2010s, the Williamses created 14 traveling memorials for individual states with portraits of those killed in post-9/11 combat. From time to time, Evonne Williams said, they would get queries from Gold Star parents about including their sons and daughters who died of PTS. When they created the national Remembering Our Fallen memorial towers in 2017, they created panels for PTS deaths as well as deaths in training accidents. The top of the first blue panel describes post-traumatic stress: Debilitating anxiety occurring after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event; symptoms can include flashbacks, emotional detachment and jumpiness; bio-chemical changes in the brain and body. Ross Wimer, 32, of Omaha, served four years in the Marine Corps and deployed with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment famous as the Darkhorse battalion during a brutal 2010-11 deployment to Afghanistans Sangin province. The unit lost 25 dead and 200 wounded, a higher rate than any other unit during the war. Many Darkhorse veterans, Wimer said, have been afflicted with survivors guilt. Over the years, suicides have mounted. Ive honestly lost count, he said. Members of his unit reach out to one another for buddy checks, an informal way to keep tabs on fellow veterans who may be in trouble. Wimer does see a distinction between those who died in battle and those who died later, at home, but only a slight one. Hes glad the Remembering Our Fallen towers recognize both types of casualties of war. Its great that Bill and Evonne are doing this, he said. Their heads are in the right place. The Williamses do not contact families of veterans who have taken their own lives because suicide remains a highly sensitive topic, but they will add the names and photos of those who died from the effects of PTS if families request them. Six of the deceased on the PTS panels are from Nebraska. To be included in the memorial, the veteran must have served after Sept. 11, 2001, and they must have served in a combat zone. They get lost. Their service feels like it does not count, Evonne Williams said. They deserve this. Last years Department of Veterans Affairs annual suicide prevention report counted 6,435 veterans who took their own lives in 2018, the latest year for which statistics were available. The numbers have risen about 6% since the Department of Veteran Affairs started counting suicides in 2005 an unhappy trend, but a far smaller increase than the 47% increase in all adult suicides in the U.S. during the same period. In the years since, there have been aggressive campaigns by both the military and the VA to prevent suicides, and to make it easier for veterans to receive treatment for post-traumatic stress. Still, in 2018 veterans were slightly more likely than other Americans to die by their own hand. Veterans represented 8% of the U.S. adult population but 13% of the suicides. Well over half of the veteran suicides last year were among vets over age 55. The 18-34 age group had the smallest number of suicides (874) but the highest rate. Tom and Donna Nicholson had no idea the pain Kevin was in when he visited them in July 2014 for what turned out to be the last time. We were glad to have him home. We tried to do special things, Donna said. He was only 31. They didnt see it coming. Over the years, he had grown more subdued compared with the cheerful youth Donna described as very independent, very smart. He was active in their church and liked to memorize Bible verses, and built models and rockets in 4-H. Kevin graduated from high school in 2001, attending Kansas State and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln before transferring to the University of Nebraska at Omaha and graduating in 2007. While at UNO, he became interested in the military and joined the Marines. He arrived as the Corps ramped up its operational tempo to support two simultaneous wars. He deployed for seven months to Afghanistan, then came home for 12 months before returning to the theater four cycles in five years. He was pretty proud of what he did, but he never talked about it, Tom Nicholson said. They felt awkward asking, so typically they didnt. As the deployments ground on, Donna noticed Kevin seemed distant. I noticed changes in his eyes. There was something about his stare, she recalled. Donna called him in mid-August 2014, just to visit. She asked him what kind of things he would like her to include in the next care package she sent him. The conversation still disturbs her. He just told me, I always send him junk, she said. It was hurtful. ... I dont think he really meant it. I think he was not in a good place. Two weeks later, the doorbell rang at the Nicholsons Gretna home about 6 oclock one evening. Donna answered. Three men in uniform stood on the porch. Donna knew instantly what that meant, but she was confused. Kevin was at home in North Carolina, not in Afghanistan. She shouted her husbands name. I knew something was wrong, Tom said. The rest hurts too much to talk about. Tom remembers numb shock, a sense of going through the motions while planning a burial That was the worst week of my life, Donna said. Learning how Kevin died hurt. It left questions, but they drew support from family and friends, and their church. I called our siblings and others and told them what happened, Tom said. You cant just pretend he fell out of a tree. They came to accept that their son suffered invisible wounds, devastating ones. Bodies get injured arms, legs. The brain gets injured, too. You just cant see it, Tom said. You dont find out some things until its too late. The Nicholsons also found comfort in support groups like the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), which has special groups for those whose loved ones took their own lives. It helps being with other families who know what theyve gone through, and to tell his story. They were happy to join in Fridays Memorial Day event, which included a concert, parade and giveaways. I just try to focus on things that bring happiness, Donna said. I dont think theres anything wrong with being happy. The way Kevins life ended, Tom said, Is just a small part of a big picture. Id like to think that its not the biggest part of the picture. I look at all the good he did. He served our country, Tom added. What more would he have done? Kevin Nicholsons picture is right there on the first of the blue panels, in the top row. One photo shows him in full battle rattle at a base in Afghanistan, eyes hidden behind dark shades and a gloved hand resting casually on the grip of his M-16 rifle. In the other hes standing in a driveway, dressed in polo and khakis. In neither picture does he smile. But above Kevins photos is a message: May these Warriors, at last, Rest in Peace. The number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. If you are a veteran in crisis, or a person concerned about a veteran in crisis, dial the number and press 1 to connect with the veteran crisis line, available 24 hours a day. Additional information can be found at www.veteranscrisisline.net. Favorite PR Odds Setter wins Princess Stakes PR Odds Setter, the 4-5 favorite, posted the victory Saturday in the $20,000 Nebraska Princess Stakes at Horsemens Park. The 3-year-old filly by Gold Schlieger led from the start in the 1-mile event under jockey Jake Olesiak. She was ahead by three lengths at the top of the stretch and held on to win by a length over runner-up Faith Dawning. Owned by Judy Pryor and trained by Jason Wise, PR Odds Setter paid $3.60 to win. Olesiak and Scott Bethke each had two wins on the seven-race card. Horsemens Park will hold its final weekend of racing Friday and next Saturday. Omahan calling races in Lousiana Omaha native Rob Tuel is the new full-time race caller at Evangeline Downs in Louisiana. His past race-calling stops included Lincoln Race Course and South Sioux Citys Atokad Park. He began his career in 2004, calling races at Eureka Downs in Kansas. Tuel, a 1988 graduate of Papillion-La Vista High, also has the responsibility of handicapping each program at Evangeline and hosting the tracks daily simulcast show. Most Americans will never know what combat soldiers endure when they are tired and tense and alone and afraid. You survive when your unit becomes tough. The ultimate test is trusting your life to your comrades. You are taught to think of your buddy first because hes thinking of you. All we have in combat is each other. Letters of praise and gratitude for Davis patriotic essays have appeared in The World-Heralds Public Pulse throughout the decades. Former Omaha deputy police chief Jack ODonnell once thanked Davis by saying, You put into words the feelings we cannot express. ODonnell, a combat infantryman, was severely wounded in Vietnam. When Davis entered military service, he took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. He renewed that oath as a special agent in the U.S. Secret Service, later as attorney-in-charge of the United States Organized Crime and Anti-Corruption Strike Force, and yet again as an attorney practicing law. That oath has no end date, he said. In todays World-Herald, Davis writes about four Rangers he knew from the 75th Infantry Regiment of K Company who specialized in long-range reconnaissance patrols in enemy territory, the most dangerous missions in the war zone. Although I didnt pull the trigger, I was the one who met Mr. Streich online, Shepherd said. The worst thing I could possibly imagine is someone losing their life over this and that became reality. I hope that his family can accept my apology and forgive me. Its sincere and I mean it. Sitting in the back of the courtroom, Streichs daughter, Savannah Beckwith, said she hoped Shepherd meant what he said. And, she said, she understood the sentence. Earlier, Coffey sentenced gunman Dominique Hanks, 27, to 40 to 50 years a term that is reduced to 22 to 27 years under state law. Both men faced anywhere from 20 years to life in prison after their second-degree murder convictions. Beckwith, 25, and a cousin, Melissa Regan, said Streich was a gentle man who looked out for others. He was the kindest person, Regan said. He wasnt violent. His heart always has been good. Shepherd said he was out of money and strung out on drugs when he hatched the ill-conceived plan. Before that night, his family had tried to intervene and get him help but all I wanted was drugs, he said. In the early morning hours of March 12, 2018, Shepherd and Hanks went to Streichs home near 33rd and Kansas Avenues. Streich let them inside. The killings and forced disappearances are rampant in low-income areas of the capital, but nobody is immune, he said. Our interventions save some, but the bodies of others are found in rivers," Ollal said Saturday. Police, without producing any evidence, attempt to explain such killings on social media pages associated with the force by saying the person killed was a criminal he would have bribed his way to freedom, if arrested and prosecuted. Both claims have been proven false by the media and human rights activists. According to rights group Missing Voices, Kenyan police killed 157 people in 2020 and 10 people disappeared without a trace after being arrested. According to Mohamud's family and police, he was abducted on May 13 by unknown assailants as he drove from a mall in Nairobi's wealthy Lavington neighborhood. The family reported him missing three days later, and police reported finding his body the same day in Kerugoya, a town 127 kilometers (78.91 miles) north of the city. The family questions why they were not informed until May 22 when police had identified the body as Mohamuds by at least May 18th. An autopsy carried out by Kenya's chief government pathologist revealed that Mohamud was strangled. The autopsy report said the body showed signs of torture that included blunt head trauma and burn marks, suspected to have been caused by a vehicle's cigarette lighter. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The crash happened about 7:10 p.m., and involved two vehicles and a male pedestrian in the 1000 block of North Lake Shore Drive, according to the Chicago Fire Department. Besides, Ricketts said, if Britain needs a flagship it already has one the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth. The 3 billion pound ($3.5 billion) vessel was christened in 2014. The Independent, an online publication, lampooned the proposal, accompanying its story about the announcement with a video of Johnson and a visiting European Union official climbing into a rowboat and paddling around a pond. Johnson said the bidding process for the contract to build the ship would begin later this year and the vessel will enter service sometime in the next four years. The ship, which will be crewed by the Royal Navy, could travel to international ports in conjunction with prime ministerial visits, provide a venue for international summits and host trade fairs, Johnson said. The opposition Labour party suggested taxpayer money could be better spent. We want to see public money used for targeted investment in a green economic recovery, resources for our (National Health Service) and supporting families to succeed, lawmaker Bridget Phillipson said. If this ship is going to be part of a genuine plan for Britains future, the government must set out clearly how it will boost trade, jobs and growth in every corner of our country. The last royal yacht, HMS Britannia, was decommissioned in 1997. It visited more than 600 ports in 135 countries during its 44 years of service. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The Supreme Courts decision to consider a case that could further curb or even overturn its 48-year approval of a womans right to an abortion shows the continuing impact of Donald Trumps presidency. And it underscores why many Democrats hope the courts oldest justice, Stephen Breyer, steps down sooner rather than later to ensure President Joe Biden can choose his successor. Over the past six decades, Democrats and Republicans have held the White House an equal number of years. But propitious timing has enabled GOP presidents to name twice as many Supreme Court justices, including all three chief justices, giving the court a strong conservative tilt. This mattered less when both parties contained broad ideological coalitions and a potential justices prior views underwent less scrutiny. That resulted sometimes in Democrats naming conservatives, like President John F. Kennedys choice of Byron White. Or Republicans picking liberals, from President Dwight Eisenhowers choices of Earl Warren and William Brennan to George H. W. Bushs pick of David Souter. The Legislature now heads into a critical interim, the first interim after the pandemic-interrupted 2020. Bigger challenges and opportunities lie ahead. The competition around the country for workers, for talent, and for capital is fierce. We are in the middle of a disruptive time in which we are rethinking everything from how we work to how we fulfill our supply chains. Senators will work to meet these challenges and seize opportunities. My colleagues are set to tackle tough issues like major tax reform, K-12 education funding, and how to grow our state. We will be looking for win-win-win opportunities, such as the forward-thinking STAR WARS Committee, designed to focus on our abundant natural resources to both preserve our natural inheritance while finding game-changing opportunities for tourism and recreation around the state. Amidst it all, the impact of term limits looms. We will lose a large set of experienced and thoughtful senators at the end of 2022 as well as an experienced governor who has led on a number of issues, including on military retirement tax cuts and broadband this session. The urgency to act is now. And the 107th Legislature stands ready to lead. Mike Hilgers is the speaker of the Nebraska Legislature. A Lincoln resident, he represents District 21. The Management of University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has expressed gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for the unflinching support to the University in building a globally renowned centre of excellence for teacher education. Rev. Prof. Anthony Afful-Broni, Vice-Chancellor (VC) of UEW, commended the President and the government on behalf of the Governing Council and Management of the University at a special congregation at Winneba. He said as an academic community, they conscientiously reminded themselves of the power of education to profoundly change the world. Madam Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Chief of Staff, who represented President Nana Akufo-Addo, delivered his speech and also commissioned recently completed projects. Five of the projects were named after former President John Agyekum Kufuor, former Finance Minister late Kodwo Baah Wiredu, Prof. Akwesi Asabere-Ameyaw, Prof. Emmanuel Kwesi Ampene and Dr Joseph Ebo Bannerman for their distinguished roles in the Country. The congregation was to recognize and celebrate Right Reverend Prof. Aaron Michael Oquaye and Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh and to also conferred Honorary Doctorate on them for their outstanding contributions towards shaping the quality of life of Ghanaians and the image of the country. Rev. Prof. Afful-Broni assured that the Management of the institution was determined and would continue to dedicate their lives to the nation to achieve total holistic education. The VC said the two awardees would join the list of distinguished persons, who have received the prestigious award, bringing the number of honorary degree holders of the UEW since 2004 to 23. He further thanked predecessors of the university for their respective roles and goodwill in driving the university from its humble beginnings to a formidable institution since its establishment some 29 years ago. Highlighting some of the achievements the university under his regime had chalked, he said through its internally generated fund (IGF), it had initiated the construction of 14 new ultra-modern 500-seater lecture theatres across the various campuses of the University. He said 10 of them were on Winneba campus and two each at the then Kumasi and Asante Mampong satellite campuses while an additional two would be built at the Kumasi campus. The university constructed student-centeredness, an ultra-modern students Centre, Food court, School of Creative Arts Block, five-storey technology block, which has seven lecture halls, 4,000-seater auditorium, 20 audio-visual rooms, and library. On-going projects included a six-storey lecture block with 200 offices, 30 lecture theatres and offices at Winneba and a three-storey facility block at the Ajumako campus. Also, an ultra-modern 100-bed university hospital with several consulting rooms, Outpatient Department, emergency centre, pharmacy, two operation theatres, radiography centre, among others are being built to serve the health needs of the university community and the neighbouring communities, among many other projects. "I recall vividly the solemn pledge I made to you (President Nana Akuffo Addo), on the occasion of my investiture as the Fourth Vice-Chancellor of the UEW, to lay a solid foundation for the intake of the anticipated large numbers of the first batch of the Free SHS product, hence the huge investment on infrastructures made," he stated. "I aligned my vision to the corporate strategic plan that directs the shaping of our university into one of the best tertiary institutions in the world," Rev Prof Afful-Broni added. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ms Sarah Adwoa Safo, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, said the Ministry has sent a proposal for a tax waiver on sanitary products to Parliament for consideration. She said the proposal, when approved, would enable women and girls to have access to sanitary materials during their menstrual cycles, thereby saving them some cost. The Minister said this at the commemoration of the Menstrual Hygiene Day, organized by the Ghana Education Service (GES) and partners. The Day is commemorated globally to mark the importance of ensuring that women and girls had safe and healthy periods. It was on the theme: More Action and Investment in Menstrual Health and Hygiene. Ms Safo said government was committed to ensuring that every young woman and girl had sustainable access to sanitary materials and improved toilet facilities to manage their periods. She said promoting menstrual health and hygiene was vital to the empowerment and well-being of women and girls in the country. She said the Ministry, through a He4She adopted initiative, was championing feminine rights, including menstrual health and hygiene by males. For instance, through our He4She initiative, we have boys leading the advocacy for girls right and privileges in schools, she added. Professor Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa, the Director-General of GES, in a speech read on his behalf, said the vision for the Day was to create a world where every girl and woman managed her menstruation and all related issues without an iota of shame. Every girl and woman should be able to confidently talk about her menstrual health and hygiene without it becoming a barrier in her life, he said. Prof. Opoku-Amankwa said, based on that, the GES was committed to ensuring that the school environment provided the enabling environment to make menstruation an amazing experience for girls. Together we can make sure all girls and boys are educated about menstruation and are provided with the needed support. To achieve this, everyone has a role to play including parents, teachers, and government at the national and decentralized levels, he added. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Some Heads of State have started arriving for the extraordinary meeting of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Accra. The summit is to find an amicable solution to Mali's political turmoil. Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah welcomed the Heads of State at the VVIP Lounge of the Kotoka International Airport, Sunday morning. Those who have arrived are Liberia President, George Manneh Weah, President of Niger, Mohammed Bazoum, and former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, who is the Special ECOWAS Mediator on Mali's political crisis. The meeting is intended to make consequential decisions following the arrest and detention of Transitional President Bah NDaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, early this week. Colonel Assimi Goita, Vice-President of the transitional administration, led a coup and detained the Transitional President and Prime Minister at the Kati Military Base, outside of the national capital, Bamako. The 10 Heads of State and Government who had confirmed participation include Nigeria, Togo, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Senegal and Benin. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ninah Uwumbornyi, a 23-year-old woman at Kpassa has been struck dead by lightning, following a brief rainstorm at Kpassa in the Nkwanta North District of the Oti Region. The incident occurred at the Kpassa JHS B school park on Friday. Mr Kadil Obrenya, Kpassa West Electoral Area government appointee, narrated the sad incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA). The Assemblyman said the deceased, who was walking across the park at the time of the rainstorm, was struck by thunder and died on the spot. He said the incident was a shock to the residents of the Kpassa community. The GNA gathered that the deceased came from Blajai in the Kpandai District and was currently going through her apprenticeship at Kpassa in the Nkwanta North District. Kpassa District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr Thomas Hodanu confirmed the incident to the GNA and said the body of the deceased was released to the family for burial. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. The Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has disagreed with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's comment on the burning of excavators. The President minced no words when he urged Ghanaians who are unhappy with the burning of the excavators to go to court. I know there are some who believe that the ongoing exercise of ridding our water bodies and forest zones of harmful equipment and machinery is unlawful and, in some cases, harsh...I strongly disagree, and I would advise those who take a contrary view to go to court to vindicate their position if they so wish he said on Wednesday, May 26 when he cut sod for Phase One of the Law School Village for the Ghana School of Law. Kweku Baako Reacts Abdul Malik Kweku Baako contributing to a panel discussion on JoyNews Newsfile programme Saturday, May 29, said: "I disagree with the Presidentthose who can go to court and suspect will go to court are those who think they were doing the right thing; those who have valid license" "Ive searched fruitlessly for a provision; whether in the Acts or in the regulations, any provision that actually enables the burning of excavators and other mining equipment and I dont see it" Calls For Amendment Kweku Baako further reiterated his calls for government to amend the law if they see it to be 'ineffective'. "If government has come to a conclusion that all the laws are ineffective, and that the best way of creating a disincentive or a deterrent is to burn the excavators, I advise the President and his government to go to Parliament with a Bill to amend it" he added. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Even in the evening hours as we come out of pandemic, theres still a lot of foot traffic, he said. There are people out. The tragedy that occurred here is that the victim was crossing the street; she would have no reason to look the wrong way for a car. In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, a Long March 7 rocket carrying the Tianzhou-2 spacecraft lifts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Wenchang in southern China's Hainan Province, Saturday, May 29, 2021. A rocket carrying supplies for China's new space station blasted off Saturday from an island in the South China Sea. Credit: Guo Wenbin/Xinhua via AP An automated spacecraft docked with China's new space station Sunday carrying fuel and supplies for its future crew, the Chinese space agency announced. Tianzhou-2 spacecraft reached the Tianhe station eight hours after blasting off from Hainan, an island in the South China Sea, China Manned Space said. It carried space suits, living supplies and equipment and fuel for the station. Tianhe, or Heavenly Harmony, is third and largest orbital station launched by China's increasingly ambition space program. The station's core module was launched April 29. The space agency plans a total of 11 launches through the end of next year to deliver two more modules for the 70-ton station, supplies and a three-member crew. China was criticized for allowing part of the rocket that launched the Tianhe to fall back to Earth uncontrolled. There was no indication about what would happen to the rocket from Saturday's launch. Beijing doesn't participate in the International Space Station, largely due to U.S. objections. Washington is wary of the Chinese program's secrecy and its military connections. A Long March 7 rocket carrying the Tianzhou-2 spacecraft lifts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Wenchang in southern China's Hainan Province, Saturday, May 29, 2021. A rocket carrying supplies for China's new space station blasted off Saturday from an island in the South China Sea. Credit: Chinatopix via AP A Long March 7 rocket carrying the Tianzhou-2 spacecraft lifts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Wenchang in southern China's Hainan Province, Saturday, May 29, 2021. A rocket carrying supplies for China's new space station blasted off Saturday from an island in the South China Sea. Credit: Chinatopix via AP Explore further China launches cargo rocket with supplies for space station 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. We had to get creative, we had to pivot, store manager Alex Brubaker said. Our readers and our customers have been incredible. Its a rainy weekend, but the bookstore is full. Minnesota lifted all statewide coronavirus restrictions for bars and restaurants Friday, though local governments can maintain their own social distancing and mask rules. About 50% of the U.S. population has now received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, according to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 40% of the population is fully vaccinated. Vermont boasts the nations highest vaccination rate, with nearly 70% of its residents having received at least one dose. The governor is expected to drop all pandemic-related restrictions once 80% of Vermonts eligible population has received at least one dose, a milestone the state expects to hit next week. In neighboring Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker lifted a mask mandate effective Saturday, though face coverings are still required in certain places, including on public transportation. The state also still encourages unvaccinated people to wear masks in indoor or public areas. According to state officials, 78% of all adult residents have had at least one vaccine dose. HUDSON FALLS Hudson Falls High School senior Caleb Koutrakos, the Class of 2021s valedictorian, has been accepted into both the U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Military Academy. Koutrakos will report to the Naval Academy on June 30 to begin his first year. According to U.S. News and World Report, West Point Military Academy has an acceptance rate of just 10%. Annapolis, the Naval Academy where Koutrakos will ultimately attend school, accepts just 8% of its total applicants, according to an announcement by the Hudson Falls Central School District. I knew I wanted to go into the military when I was young. But then as I entered high school, I hadnt really thought much of it, said Koutrakos. It wasnt until I saw a news story about Delta Force (the special operation group) a year or so ago that made me remember my dream. I knew I wanted to serve my country. I researched the academies, and in April I got a call from my congresswomans office that I had been accepted to West Point. That was a dream come true. But then to get the Naval Academy acceptance a few days later was incredible. In addition to an appointment to both academies, Koutrakos also received a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps scholarship to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. After taking power, Goita assured that the elections would still be held, though it wasn't clear what part the military would play in the government. The international community, including the African Union, has condemned the power grab. The U.N. Security Council has said the resignations of NDaw and Ouane were coerced. The U.S. has already pulled its security force support and other bodies, including the EU and France, are threatening sanctions. Goita has justified his actions by saying there was discord within the transitional government and that he wasnt consulted, per the transitional charter, when the new Cabinet was chosen. Akufo-Addo said Sunday that ECOWAS was committed to the peaceful transition in Mali, with the basic goal of restoring democratic government, and working for the stability of Mali and of our region. He acknowledged that a May 14 dissolution of the government by the transitional prime minister was worrying and the reappointment of the new, broad-based government on May 24 hours before the arrests generated considerable tension between various groups, particularly the military, as the former ministers for defense and security were not reappointed. Mein Kampf is notorious because of the Nazi movement Hitler led to power several years after the book was published in 1925. Had Hitler faded into nothingness in the 1930s, his book would have followed him there. Other books are also awful, in various ways and to varying degrees. It will be a big job, and a tricky one, to start deciding which titles are acceptable for the yearbook and which are not. Despite our hesitations over this decision, we are not advocating for unfettered free speech in the Cambridge yearbook or any public school yearbook. Excerpts from books, for example, must be reviewed to make sure theyre suitable. Excerpts from Mein Kampf, in many cases, would not be. Hitler was responsible for monstrous crimes, but he was surrounded by like-minded Nazi officials and supported by millions of German citizens. He also had sympathizers around the world, including in the U.S. Understanding how he rose to power and why so many people were willing to justify or ignore the crimes of his regime is important, so we dont do it again. We understand school officials urgent feeling that the books title did not belong in the yearbook as a students favorite. Perhaps the recall was the right thing to do. But we hope that drastic step is followed by a discussion with the student, and in Cambridge classrooms, too, about the content of the book and the circumstances surrounding it, and why they provoke such a strong reaction. Local editorials are written by the Post-Star editorial board, which includes Ben Rogers, president and director of local sales and marketing; Brian Corcoran, regional finance director and former publisher; Will Doolittle, projects editor; and Bob Condon, local news editor. Love 3 Funny 3 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 3 Editor: The New York Medical Aid in Dying Act (S3151A)/(A4321a) was introduced five years ago, and it is time for the Legislature to prioritize and pass it. As a retired family practitioner in Saranac Lake, I have cared for multiple generations of families over 43 years and have been involved with the passing of their loved ones. My interest in end-of-life comfort has also included promoting advanced care planning with respecting choices and as medical director of High Peaks Hospice. Despite excellent medical care, too many of these deaths were unnecessarily traumatic. Adoption of the Medical Aid in Dying Act would give New Yorkers who have a terminal illness and a prognosis of six months or less to live the ability to request medication from their physician, which they could choose to take (or not) at their own discretion to peacefully end their suffering. Experience shows approximately a third of people who make this request choose not to take the medication but die with peace of mind just having the option. Additionally, such legislation encourages discussion of end of life issues and increases use of hospice and palliative care. Unfortunately, New York ranks near the bottom of states in the utilization and timeliness of hospice services. Local featured Everything we knew about death rituals and rites was completely gone: How COVID-19 upended the funeral industry Carrie Antlfinger, Associated Press This March 18, 2020, photo shows a funeral affected by coronavirus rules in Milwaukee. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers restricted gatherings to fewer than 10 people the previous day. Edward Lea, Staff Photographer We're sitting here crying with a family because we can't give them a service that they want," David Umphlett, manager of Adams-Perfect Funeral Homes in Northfield, said about the rules limiting funeral attendees during the coronavirus pandemic. Christine Draper, provided C. Draper Christine Draper, provided Norman Draper died in April 2020. His sister, Christine, postponed a memorial service for her brother due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She recently drove his ashes to Texas to spread them. A few weeks ago, Christine Draper drove to Texas with a portion of her brothers ashes. Norman Draper died April 17, 2020, due to health complications. He was 73. The last time Christine saw him was two weeks before he passed. In Texas, she was meeting some of Normans friends, whom she had never met, to spread his ashes. It was the first time, in over a year, she was doing something to memorialize Norman. I needed closure with my brother, said Christine, of Atlantic City. She didnt hold a service of any kind when he died due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She didnt want to have a ceremony last summer due to indoor capacity restrictions. How do you do that? she said. How do you do a memorial service and stop people at the door and say, Well, sorry. You cant come in. The hardest part was he died in the middle of the pandemic and I did not get hugged until about a month ago when I got the vaccine, she added. The lack of human touch and compassion there wasnt even a handshake. She also lives alone. She had to grieve by herself. Indoor gatherings were limited, at one point down to 10 people last spring. Funerals were somewhat deemed essential, but funeral directors still had to shift operations. When limits were low, David Umphlett, manager of Adams-Perfect Funeral Homes in Northfield, said the family would leave the building to allow for guests to come in and pay their respects. We would only have a certain number of visitors at a time, he said. If we got to our capacity of 50 people, two would leave then we would let two in. But the challenges didnt stop there. In the beginning of the pandemic, everyone thought that they were fully prepared for what was coming, said George Kelder, CEO of the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association, which represents 95% of the funeral homes in the state. But no one had experienced a pandemic in 100 years. When it finally landed on us and we had all of these dead individuals, we realized that the infrastructure we had in place in New Jersey rapidly became taxed. Relaxed COVID-19 restrictions made official with executive order Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday signed an executive order making official next weeks easing of COVID-19 restrictions. Each year, 65,000 to 75,000 people die in New Jersey, according to Kelder. During the pandemic, an additional 25,000 people died. Everyone was operating the way they typically operate, and then all of a sudden the phones didnt stop ringing, he said. It was nonstop, and it was always more. The numbers were never depleting. The association found that hospital systems in the state were not built to accommodate an additional 25,000 dead. It was a rush on funeral homes, he said. Hospitals would say, When are you coming to pick up this individual? Undertakers would already be picking up five to 10 other bodies, he said. But that wasnt good enough. The hospitals were running out of space to store those dead. The crematories were backed up by four weeks. Families were denied being with their spouse on life support in the hospital due to all those visitation restrictions, he said. Then (after they died) you can come in for 10 minutes and then were off to the cemetery. Everything we knew about death rituals and rites was completely gone. There was also a shortage of personal protective equipment. There were no gloves. No garments. No body bags. The numbers were increasing rapidly, but the supplies were decreasing, he said. The pressure was on, and all of a sudden life as we knew it didnt exist. The hardest part was communicating with the families that they couldnt have a service that their loved one deserved. Families said, Why are they doing this to me? Why cant I do what I want to do? said Jack McAvaddy, co-owner of Gormley Funeral Home in Atlantic City. We were trying to get people to understand that you were not having traditional funerals, were not permitted to have traditional funerals. We cant have the big viewings. We cant have the mass of people in church. There will not be open caskets. You wont see that person again. You try to soften it for them, but it was hard on the funeral directors, he added. We were trying to get people to understand that were not the ones doing this. This is the nature of what were dealing with. If a person died of COVID-19, they typically were cremated or buried right away. If there was a service, the casket had to remain closed. The dialogue tough, Umphlett said. Were sitting here crying with a family because we cant give them a service that they want. Due to the restrictions, many families decided to hold off on services and plan for a later date. Christine Draper is having a celebration for Norman this summer. Because people couldnt gather, many funeral homes pivoted virtually and livestreamed services online. Virtual services were starting to take off before the pandemic, Kelder said. COVID-19 just fast-tracked them. He believes logging on to watch a funeral service virtually is here to stay. But the pandemic wasnt just hard on families. The nature of it took an emotional toll on those in the funeral industry as well. We were just dealing with one problem complicated by another problem, Kelder said. In the beginning it was just another order, another order, another order. Were going through it mentally, emotionally, physically too because were working 24/7, were dealing with all of this grief and issues with families who said, No ones going to tell me what to do. Funeral directors had to keep themselves safe as well when it came to the virus. Once the COVID-19 vaccine became available, the association petitioned Gov. Phil Murphys office to be in the first group to receive it. We are truly health care workers, Kelder said. We sit in the middle. You go in to the front door of the hospital and you will leave by the front door or you will leave by the back door. Were at the back door. If you took us out the whole system breaks down. Fourteen months into the pandemic, Kelder is seeing an unvetted grief of the community that hasnt been experienced yet. Things are more normal now, but you have 10,000, 15,000 individuals that havent (had the proper time to grieve), he said. Taking Norman to Texas is a big step in Christine Drapers grieving process. To have a funeral when nobody could be there I couldnt, she said. When you lose somebody, you need that time for people to say nice things and hold your hand and pat your back. We were robbed of that. While Gov. Murphy and Congress surround themselves with armed guards and walls, they simultaneously empower criminals by making everyone in N.J. defenseless, a representative from the New Jersey Second Amendment Society said in a Tuesday email. +3 Authorities looking to identify car connected to Atlantic City homicide The Atlantic County Prosecutors Office is seeking assistance from the public in identifying The representative did not respond to a question regarding potential solutions to decrease the frequency of shootings, though they went on to say, At Gov. Murphys morning press conference it was stated one of the arrested alleged gunman was illegally possessing a firearm and charged with several felonies. 2C:39-4 and 2C:39-7 already prohibits all gun possessions by criminals and those with criminal intent. There are dozens of other State and Federal gun laws they also violated. It is appalling and disingenuous that Gov. Murphy and Congress believe another law would have prevented this disgusting act. The Rev. Robert Moore, executive director of the gun reform advocacy group Coalition for Peace Action, agrees with the governor that the state and country should have tighter gun laws. Moore also showed his support for several of the bills (Murphy) mentioned, like microstamping bullets so ones that are used in crimes can be traced to the purchaser, he said, and closing major loopholes on obtaining a gun, like the ability to get them at gun shows and online without a background check. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} It was a rush on funeral homes, he said. Hospitals would say, When are you coming to pick up this individual? Undertakers would already be picking up five to 10 other bodies, he said. But that wasnt good enough. The hospitals were running out of space to store those dead. The crematories were backed up by four weeks. Vineland cyclist dies after bike hit by intoxicated SUV driver, police say VINELAND A city motorist was intoxicated when he struck a teenager on a bicycle last month Families were denied being with their spouse on life support in the hospital due to all those visitation restrictions, he said. Then (after they died) you can come in for 10 minutes and then were off to the cemetery. Everything we knew about death rituals and rites was completely gone. There was also a shortage of personal protective equipment. There were no gloves. No garments. No body bags. The numbers were increasing rapidly, but the supplies were decreasing, he said. The pressure was on, and all of a sudden life as we knew it didnt exist. The hardest part was communicating with the families that they couldnt have a service that their loved one deserved. Stern often took on high-profile cases. He was lead trial lawyer in the case of victims who died in 2019 in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 Max, and he won a $100 million medical malpractice case in 2000. In 2017, he represented Mariya Plekan the woman trapped for 13 hours in rubble after the collapse of the Salvation Army store on Market Street in Center City in 2013 in a civil suit over the collapse, which killed six people. In total, the survivors of the collapse and families of the deceased received $227 million in a settlement, the largest ever in the state. Plekan, who suffered serious injuries, including the amputation of both her legs and ongoing breathing and kidney problems, received $95.6 million herself. Later, with George Anastasia, a former Inquirer reporter, Stern published a book, Justice Under the Rubble, about his experience trying the case. Anastasia said hed been familiar with Stern, already a high-profile litigator, before they began working on the book, but got to know him better as they pieced together Sterns recollections of the trial and his thoughts on the legal process that ultimately won his client a record settlement. He said he was struck by Sterns care for Plekan concern that went far beyond simply winning in court. Political advisors offer suggestions on high-quality development of museums Xinhua) 09:37, May 30, 2021 Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, presides over a bi-weekly seminar held by the CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, May 28, 2021. (Xinhua/Shen Hong) BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese political advisors have offered their suggestions on pushing forward the high-quality development of China's museum sector during a consultation session in Beijing. The biweekly session, organized by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, was presided over by Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee. At the session held on Friday, Wang called for people-centered approach and great efforts to remove institutional barriers to advance the high-quality development of Chinese museums in the new era, so as to better meet the ever-growing cultural needs of the people. A total of 11 political advisors and special representatives invited to the meeting put forward their suggestions, while 35 political advisors voiced their opinions via a mobile platform. The participants offered suggestions to optimize the layout of China's museum sector and address the existing circumstances featuring lack of special museums with industrial, regional and historical features and greater number of general, old-fashioned museums. They also suggested efforts to boost the differentiated and professional development of museums including the non-state-owned, university-administered, and rural museums. The political advisors urged enhanced research capability of Chinese museums, the development of tech-savvy and smart museums and organization of more online exhibitions for the public. They emphasized the role of Chinese museums in public education, especially for primary and secondary school students. The political advisors also called for further improving the mechanism of transferring and sharing excavated relics, granting more autonomy to museums through institutional reform and innovation, and improving the system of talent cultivation involving the museum sector. (Web editor: He Zhuoyan, Bianji) Opponents of the proposed maps also have said Democrats should wait until August to use official updated census data rather than the community survey information that was the basis for the proposed maps. Census results are delayed this year due to the pandemic, however, and waiting until August might not leave enough time to complete the map-making process before the next election cycle begins. For Hamas, occasional war with Israel is a means to a narrow political end: to unseat Fatah and take control over all Palestinian self-ruled areas. By lobbing rockets into Israel, it can claim to be doing more for the Palestinian cause than the supine Fatah-led government in the West Bank. The strategy has worked. Although Palestinians in general are fed up with both factions, polls show Hamas has gained support in the West Bank. It is concomitantly losing support among Gazans, who bear the brunt of the wars with Israel; this matters little to the leaders of Hamas because their monopoly of violence in Gaza prevents any challenge from Fatah. Hamas has other incentives to keep attacking Israel, such as the patronage of Iran, but these are secondary to its political aims. If it werent for these interests, Israel and Hamas might be able to arrive at a long-term truce, with serious commitments not to attack each other and arrangements for peacekeeping and reconstruction. But because both sides find the status quo useful, they are unlikely to turn the next cease fire into an opportunity for a major restructuring. Can this be avoided? Yes, if the countries pressing for a cease-fire recognize the real motivations of the two sides, and address them directly. Theres certainly enough anecdotal evidence out there to at least ask the Wuhan question. The Wall Street Journal pointed to a U.S. intelligence report that workers at the Wuhan lab were hospitalized in November 2019 with COVID-like symptoms, before the the outbreak was confirmed. It cant be ignored when the information comes from a U.S. intelligence source. It has to at least be looked into. This is where the World Health Organization could be useful. But too often, the WHO has been in dismissive lockstep with the Chinese Communist Party on the Wuhan roots of the pandemic. The WHO took it at face value when the repressive Chinese regime said that there was no human-to-human transmission of COVID. That blunder alone warrants a serious investigation. And the WHO let the Communist regime help write a recent report that said that the possibility that COVID escaped from the Wuhan lab was extremely low. But that finding wasnt good enough for world scientists, who pushed back at the reports conclusion and called for a more thorough probe. Dont count on the Communist rulers in China to all of a sudden turn cooperative. Boosted jobless pay threat to businesses Whether its COVID fear, child-care issues, excess unemployment benefits or all three, Jersey Shore employers relying on workers who qualify for unemployment may lose another summer because they cant find workers. Based on personal experience trying to fill 18 full-time positions in Atlantic County, it seems to me expanded unemployment is to blame. N.J. employees making $38,000 or less can collect the same amount of money, or more, via unemployment, thanks to the federal governments expanded benefit until September. Thats the equivalent of making $18.27 per hour for working 40 hours a week. As an owner of three hair salons, our data indicates that an average stylist makes $25 per hour including tips. Thats $986 weekly or roughly $50,000 annually. Yet, over 40% of job applicants dont return calls or show for interviews. This isnt unique to salons, nor is it confined to N.J. The best outcome, says Masur, of this discussion about monuments in a way would be that we, in general, come to know more about our history and understand the conflicting and sometimes not admirable aspects of the people who are memorialized on the landscape. And also that we add more monuments. Meanwhile, there was the matter of Memorial Day. In addition to being in Congress, Logan in 1868 began serving as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, a kind of Veterans Administration precursor for former Union soldiers. In his first year in that post, he called for Decoration Day to be a national holiday honoring the nations war dead by placing flowers on their graves. The date he picked, May 30 reportedly because it was when flowers were in bloom and was not the anniversary of any specific battle was the national holiday from 1868 through 1970. Beginning in 1971 Memorial Day (the name supplanted Decoration Day over time) became an official federal holiday celebrated on the last Monday in May. A 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica entry on Logan stated the holiday was an idea which probably originated with him. Worth the money? I think the issue is: Is ShotSpotter bringing the value that its costing? Mares asked. It could certainly be used to help with long-term strategy and crime analysis, but between the officer time and pricing, I think its overly expensive for what agencies get out of it. Despite the findings, both departments in the last year have doubled down on the program by requesting donations from the St. Louis Police Foundation to expand coverage to more areas. St. Louis police Maj. Shawn Dace says ShotSpotter is a way to confirm where shots were fired and a fact-check for witness and suspect accounts. Its an important starting point for an investigation, Dace said. Unfortunately there have been times where an individual may show up at a hospital and say he was shot at this location and weve been able to disprove that with ShotSpotter. The St. Louis Police Officers Association, the union representing most officers in the city, opposes an ongoing push from criminal justice activists to cut the technology. If GOP members can maneuver Biden into cutting the program to win bipartisan support, they may reap whatever PR benefits that accrue, while continuing to ride a Trumpian tide of fear and anger. Negotiations on the bill will be interesting to watch. Congresss voting rights act is a potential game-changer, negating the many restrictions that have been passed in Republican states. But even if it somehow gets through the Senate, it would be held up in court for months, if not years, Affected states will pursue lawsuits all the way to the Supreme Court, where they might have a fair chance of winning. Lets not forget that the easing of Covid restrictions also could backfire, if one of the new mutations takes hold and pushes the country back into lockdown. Biden is getting credit for progress toward something like social normality. If we suffer a reversal, so will his approval rating. In fact, Biden will take a hit on almost any misstep. The national media will take him to task for anything untoward, just to prove their objectivity. Every step forward goes through a minefield of possibilities and problems. Trump may be off Twitter, but he still has Fox and other cable propagandists working on his behalf. Not because they love hm, but that his followers are easy touches for advertisers. As a working woman and a mother with six young children, Im concerned that President Joe Biden is focusing too much on getting women into the workforce, and too little on supporting womens personal pursuits. While its true that womens work was disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, thats no longer the case. And a report co-authored by the former chair of President Obamas Council of Economic Advisors found that despite school and daycare closures, parents of young children have experienced fewer employment losses. Whats more important than the status of womens work is their ability to pursue the choices they desire. Striking the right balance between work and family (and other personal and professional pursuits) has never been easy. No one formula works across all ages and stages of life, nor across everyones unique circumstances and ideals. But Bidens message is that politicians have figured it out, and if women follow politicians prescribed ideals, theyll have an abundance of taxpayer-funded government programs to support them. Pope Francis encourages "political leaders to work actively for the common good, to provide the means and resources needed to enable everyone to lead a dignified life and, when circumstances allow, to assist them in resuming their normal daily activities." It is concerning to see the virulence of the virus in India, and it is even more concerning to hear how those who have received vaccinations are still falling ill. Providing vaccines and stopping the pandemic is not only a humanitarian issue, but it is also the only way to prevent a new rise in the USA of cases and a continuing cycle of deaths. To be sure, if weve learned anything from this pandemic, its that were all interconnected. The virus knows no borders, and we must be bold, yet humble to eradicate it. As we come together with our families in the U.S. in the next few months, its my hope that our sisters and brothers overseas those who remain in isolation will not be forgotten. Too many families are searching for medical services, too many are searching for hospital beds, and too many are searching for the oxygen to keep their family members alive. My family has felt the consequences of the pandemic, and I know many other families have suffered around the world. Lets ensure no one else has to suffer the same fate. We echo that call. As officials in the coalition say, the more people seek help now, the greater the likelihood their cases wont end up in court. Already, Judge Carol Pentuic referred to one lawyer who has 100 eviction cases ready to go. Its not clear how many others there might be, but there are 15,000 renters in Rock Island County alone. If only a fraction of those are in trouble, it could be daunting. "We simply cannot handle the volume. Evicting a tenant doesn't solve the problem," Pentuic said at a news conference about a week ago. "It's in everyone's best interest to try to divert this out of the court system and participate in the program. We don't want you coming through the courthouse door if you can avoid it. There are programs available that can help everybody." It may not be in landlords best interest to rush to the courthouse. With other cases that also have been on hold since the pandemic, the court system faces a lot of pressure. Pentuic warned that eviction cases wont proceed as quickly as they once did. As part of this program, landlords who do seek eviction will be required to go through mediation first. Officials in the coalition hope that, by working with professional mediators, landlords and renters will find a middle ground that will work for both. The building also provides ample shelter for cows as they give birth to new calves each year. Keeping livestock out of the elements helps improve their health and safety. Protection is especially important in the Midwest because heavy spring rains can bring knee-deep mud and icy winter months can bring treacherous conditions. Its definitely a step up from them being out in the pasture, Maiers said. The idea is that you (would) have cattle out on pasture free range, but the reality is that its extremely tough, and fatality rates are a lot higher on the calving side. Once calves reach a certain weight, most of them are moved to other farms to mature. Maiers also keeps several each year to sell directly to local customers and people in the St. Louis area. Selling beef directly allows people to purchase larger quantities affordably. Weve done a good job of making sure our local needs are met, that our familys needs are met, but also expanding into some larger urban areas where people are hungry for beef, Maiers said. They really love the off-the-farm feel. The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) underwrote 300 bonds of various types as the lead underwriter in the first quarter to provide funding support to the real economy. The bonds have a total value of over 360 billion yuan (about $56.34 billion), the highest such figure in the market. In supporting the green economy, ICBC served as the lead underwriter of the first batch of "carbon neutrality" green bonds in China, to help realize the goals of achieving peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality, the lender said in a statement. In the first quarter, ICBC completed the underwriting of six "carbon neutrality" green bonds, with over 30 billion yuan raised for issuers. In supporting rural vitalization, ICBC underwrote the first rural vitalization notes in China, to guide and encourage social capital to invest in agriculture and rural areas through market-oriented means, it said. Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum *Just an hour and a half from Clear Lake, the museum honors one of the nation's most famous families -- the five brothers of the Sullivan family who all perished when the USS Juneau was sunk during WWII -- as well as veterans from all US wars. *One of the most interesting exhibits is its Voices of Iowa Oral History Project with nearly 2,000 interviews of Iowa veterans. www.groutmuseumdistrict.org George Wyth State Park *George Wyth Lake has a swimming beach and accessible fishing pier; Fisher is a 40-acre natural lake and oxbow to the Cedar River; and Alice Wyth allows electric motors only across its 60 acres. *There are more than three miles of paved, multi-use trails; 10 miles of soft trails. The park is linked to a 100-mile trail network with links to lakes. www.iowadnr.gov Cedar Valley Nature Trail *69 miles spanning Benton, Black Hawk, Buchanan and Linn counties, meandering between Waterloo and Cedar Rapids. One of Iowas oldest trails, built on an abandoned railroad right-of-way the early 1980s. Two people were killed in two incidents less than 24 hours apart in the Illinois Quad-Cities. One person was killed Saturday in a shooting incident in Rock Island, police said. Rock Island Deputy Chief of Police Richard Landi said in a news release that at 12:47 p.m. officers were dispatched to the 1600 block of 7th Street to investigate a report of a gunshot victim. The victim was taken to UnityPoint Health-Trinity Rock Island where he died. Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson identified the victim Sunday morning as Kielan Sims, 18. Police ask that anyone with information about this incident to call the Rock Island Police Department at 309-732-2677 or Crime Stoppers of the Quad-Cities at 309-762-9500, or submit an anonymous tip via the P3 Tips mobile app or submit a tip online at qccrimestoppers.com. The Rock Island shooting occurred less than 24 hours after Silvis Police were called to the 1400 block of 11th Street to investigate a shooting. Gustafson has released the name of the man killed in that shooting. Daniel Kokuvi Akoli, also known as Kwakuvi Koffi, 28, of Silvis died of a gunshot wound, Gustafson said. Opponents of the standards pointed to language calling on teachers and school leaders to approach their work affirming the validity of students backgrounds and identities, and that they should assess how their biases and perceptions affect their teaching practice and how they access tools to mitigate their own behavior (racism, sexism, homophobia, unearned privilege, Eurocentrism, etc.). Schools of education wont begin implementing those new standards until 2025. But the issue came up Tuesday during discussion of a bill dealing with mentoring programs for new teachers and principals. Senate Bill 814 would make a number of changes and updates to those programs, including a requirement that the content of those programs align with the Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning Standards. If enacted into law, that bill would take effect immediately. Rivera said he had no problems with the underlying mentoring programs or any other part of the bill. He said his only opposition was to the provisions requiring those programs be aligned with the new teaching and leadership standards. He also said it wasnt his groups intent to proceed with the lawsuit until those standards go into effect in 2025. * * * The future of abortion services in Iowa is uncertain, with a potential amendment to the state constitution and a looming key case in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Those pending outcomes have the potential to dramatically impact to what extent abortion remains legal in Iowa and around the country. And those monumental cases come as access to abortions has become rare in Iowa, even as the number of abortions here has increased. Its very clear across the country reproductive freedom is under attack, said Jamie Burch Elliott, director of public affairs at Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa. Abortion access is being limited. Only nine medical facilities in Iowa provided abortions in 2017 a 33% decline from three years earlier and 93% of Iowa counties had no such facility, according to a recent study from the Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit research and policy organization that advocates for sexual and reproductive health and rights. More than half of Iowa women lived in the counties with no medical facility that provided abortions, the institute said. If we are able to reallocate excess profits from these companies, we can help hospitals stay open and keep providing lifesaving care in our low-income and rural communities, Koehler said in a May 27 press release. Illinois began taking steps to privatize its modern Medicaid program in 2010 under then-Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat. Former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner accelerated those efforts, which were embraced by Pritzker, a Democrat. At the same time, consolidations reshaped the insurance sector focused on Medicaid. Today, a handful of publicly traded companies are in charge of one of the most vital functions of Illinois government: providing care to 2.6 million low-income people, including pregnant mothers, people with disabilities, nursing home residents and foster children, records show. Before Medicaid was turned over to private insurance companies, the state paid each doctor, clinic or hospital a fee for every Medicaid service rendered. Today, the state pays the insurance firms a fixed dollar amount per member each month, whether the patient received costly treatments or no medical services. Four of the five companies declined to respond to the BGAs written questions or requests for interviews. Blue Cross said its financial gains were largely limited to the first months of the pandemic. But these investments can accomplish so much more, by "greening" the entire building supply chain. That means going beyond energy consumption in our homes to address energy usage and petrochemicals in the manufacturing and transportation of building materials. In other words, how we build is as important as what we build. We cant make one home green while polluting other communities in the process. Bidens "American Jobs Plan" calls for investing $213 billion in the nations housing infrastructure. This includes $40 billion to repair public housing, $45 billion for the national Housing Trust Fund, an expansion of the Housing Choice Voucher program and more. The administration can "green" this investment by requiring these programs to use holistic green affordable housing criteria. These should go beyond energy efficiency to include the use of sustainably produced, non-toxic building materials. In this way, the infrastructure bill could help stabilize the climate and improve public health while expanding access to affordable housing. Similarly, the Weatherization Assistance Program could be expanded to include health and safety improvements as well as energy-efficiency upgrades, creating well-paying jobs for contractors while reducing triggers for asthma and other health impacts. Opportunity knocked and I answered and I've enjoyed almost every crazy moment after. I've faced death threats and been called every name in the book. I've also won more than 100 awards and made even more friends. I didn't do any of this because I had my act together when I graduated from high school or even college. All of my success came from working hard and being ready to take a few leaps of faith. I took a job in Kansas without ever visiting the city where I would soon live for seven years. That job led to me having to close a newspaper for our parent company, but I also had the chance to open a newspaper for that company in a city that had just lost theirs. One week after I opened that newspaper, my family flew to Addis Ababa and adopted a little boy from Ethiopia. He just turned 14. Like I said, not one second of boredom. It isn't selfish or wrong to do what makes you happy. Doing something because you should or to satisfy someone else is a great way to become a miserable success. So brush your teeth and change your oil, but never chase anyone else's dream or do anything because it feels like you should. I was really happy and couldnt believe it, she said. I practiced the audition music for a long time, so it felt really good. She has been playing violin for five years, starting in Colorado before she moved to Hamilton. Here she takes private lessons from Tasha Fain and has performed in the Missoula Youth Symphony for four years. I love violin. It is my passion and I want to be a performer, Roberts said. [Due to Covid precautions] they only had the Missoula Youth Symphony for the second semester this year. The All-Northwest selects only about 150 students from a six-state region for the symphony orchestra with winds and strings. The event was online this year. With the orchestra only happening every other year Roberts will be graduated by the time they meet again. Roberts plans to attend college and major in music in either Florida or Texas. They have really good music programs, some of the best in the nation, she said. Roberts initially was inspired to play violin in a dream and heard renegade dancing violinist Lindsey Stirling play on the radio the next day. Roberts said she values her private lessons from violinist Tasha Fain. LOS ANGELES (AP) The 19-year-old daughter of Moneyball writer Michael Lewis and former MTV correspondent Tabitha Soren died in a Northern California highway crash. Dixie Lewis was a passenger in a car driven by her friend and former Berkeley High School classmate, Ross Schultz, 20, who also died in the Tuesday afternoon accident, according to her family and authorities. We loved her so much and are in a kind of pain none of us has experienced, Michael Lewis said in a statement to Berkeleyside, a community news site that first reported the deaths. She loved Ross, with whom she died. She loved to live and our hearts are so broken they cant find the words to describe the feeling. Her family, including siblings Walker and Quinn, will find ways for her memory to live in her absence, Michael Lewis said. A statement from Schultzs family said they would hold his memory dear and present and find ways to remember him, and Dixie, forever. Relaford said in the introduction that the song is extremely relevant for America and also Henrico County in this moment. She hopes the song will help people process their emotions, find inner peace, and speak up. In the spring of 1969, Paul Simon penned what would become one of the duos most well-known songs after listening to Black gospel group the Swan Silvertones version of Oh Mary Dont You Weep, where member Claude Jeter improvises the line: Ill be a bridge over deep water if you trust in my name. Jeters line inspired Simon to write Bridge Over Troubled Water. The two met a few years later. Released in January 1970 and featured on the duos fifth studio album of the same name, Bridge Over Troubled Water went on to be covered by the Jackson 5, the Supremes, Elvis Presley, and others by the end of the same year. Aretha Franklins 1971 rendition is among the most famous. As Art Garfunkel, who sang the vocals, put it: I took it to mainstream radio. Then Aretha so brilliantly brought it back to church. The Henrico students, representing each of the districts nine high schools, recorded themselves singing from their bedrooms, kitchens, the outdoors and some sent in audio-only recordings. Carrie Lam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), on Saturday signed in accordance with the HKSAR Basic Law the Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Ordinance 2021 passed by the Legislative Council (LegCo). The ordinance will come into immediate effect after it is published in the gazette on Monday. "Signing bills passed by the LegCo and promulgating laws is one of the Chief Executive's constitutional powers and functions. I have exercised this power and discharged this function in respect of four legal instruments within a year, which are essential to upholding the principle of 'one country, two systems' in the HKSAR and ensuring its full and faithful implementation. It is indeed a significant responsibility," Lam said. The four pieces of legislation comprise the National Anthem Ordinance signed on June 11, 2020; the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the HKSAR, which was passed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and implemented following the signing of the promulgation by the Chief Executive on June 30, 2020; the Public Offices (Candidacy and Taking Up Offices)(Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2021 signed on May 20, 2021; and the ordinance signed Saturday. "The vitality of the law lies in its faithful and accurate implementation. The HKSAR government will fulfil its responsibility and take resolute enforcement action without fear to strive to safeguard the constitutional order of the HKSAR and ensure its long-term prosperity and stability," Lam said. "I express my gratitude to the LegCo for enacting the several pieces of legislation and various sectors and the general public for their support for the legislative work." Looking ahead, Lam said that the HKSAR government's priorities after completing the legislative work of the ordinance are fighting COVID-19 to achieve "zero infection;" preparing for the three forthcoming elections in accordance with the law to ensure that they are held in a fair, just and open manner; and reviving the economy and working in concert with the LegCo to resolve the fundamental livelihood issues. HAMPTON Hampton University will give financial assistance to graduates in the classes of 2020 and 2021. WAVY-TV reports that university President William R. Harvey announced the assistance in a letter to graduates on Friday. Graduates with federal student loans will be given $500 toward repayment of their loans. The payment will go directly to the U.S. Department of Education loan servicer that oversees their loan. Students who do not have federal student loans will be reimbursed their graduation fee of $150. The pandemic has taken a toll on all aspects of campus life and a virtual commencement that wasnt up to the universitys standard of excellence only added to concerns, Harvey said. He understands what graduates missed by not having an in-person ceremony, he said. Graduates will be honored at an in-person ceremony on-campus in December. Students will be provided details by the end of June. Va. Beach lifeguards pulled 75 from water last weekend VIRGINIA BEACH Lifeguards in Virginia Beach rescued dozens of people from dangerous rip currents last weekend. The first time I went to put my hand on the name of a friend carved into the black granite of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, I didnt make it. It probably was in the mid-1980s that my wife and I, with our two young children, were visiting another couple with two children who lived in Reston. They were escorting us around capital sites and, at one point, the father pointed across the grass and said, Thats where the wall is. Would you like to see it? I said, Sure. Our friends volunteered to stay with the four children, and my wife and I walked to the site. Unconcerned about my reaction, I didnt even stop to ask where my friends name was. I just assumed I would find it. I was perhaps a fourth of the way down the sloping walkway when the wheels came loose. I said to my wife, I cant do this now. Or at least I think those words came out of my mouth; they might have just been in my heart. In either case, she took me by the elbow and escorted me back to where wed begun. It would be 10 years before I returned and touched the name, Steven H. Warner. Editors note: This editorial first appeared in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Memorial Day 1996. John Harold Moffitt died on Oct. 4, 2008, but his story and his spirit remain as timeless as ever. With a few minor updates, we again it to you. On Memorial Day, America remembers those who made the ultimate sacrifice: the brave men and women who gave their lives so others might live in liberty. Though the day officially honors fallen warriors, it is a fitting occasion to honor the living as well individuals such as Richmonds John Moffitt, who spent 20 months during World War II as a German prisoner of war at the notorious prisoner-of-war camp, Stalag 17-B. Moffitt endured 603 days of captivity, sustained by little more than the gentle but invincible spirit evident in the letters he wrote home to his family (and discovered after his parents deaths). Six days after being shot down and captured, Moffitt sent this reassuring missive: Sept. 15, 1943 Dear folks, I am well and safe. I am a prisoner of war. I dont have to do any work, and I have a good place to sleep and good food. I wont be able to write very often. Inquire at the Red Cross to see what you can send me. Many died in combat to preserve freedom Editor, Times-Dispatch: Often, we forget that Memorial Day is a day not for merchandise sales or the unofficial start of summer. But rather it is a day set aside to honor those brave men and women who have fallen during the performance of their military duties while serving in the United States Armed Forces. On this solemn day, there will be cemeteries all across the nation where loved ones will pay their humble respects and quiet tribute to a father, mother, sister or brother. The loss might be fresh, or it might only be a distant but still painful memory. Many Americans since the Revolutionary War selflessly have laid down their lives so that others may live a testament that freedom truly is not free and often indeed comes at a heavy price. On this day when we honor their sacrifice, it is appropriate that we revisit the words to The Americans Creed, passed as a resolution by the U.S. House of Representatives on April 3, 1918: I. The 30th day of May, 1868 is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit. We are organized, comrades, as our regulations tell us, for the purpose, among other things, of preserving and strengthening those kind and fraternal feelings which have bound together the soldiers, sailors and marines who united to suppress the late rebellion. What can aid more to assure this result than by cherishing tenderly the memory of our heroic dead who made their breasts a barricade between our country and its foes? Their soldier lives were the reveille of freedom to a race in chains and their deaths the tattoo of rebellious tyranny in arms. We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let no wanton foot tread rudely on such hallowed grounds. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten, as a people, the cost of a free and undivided republic. Uncertainty was raised to a new level last Thursday, when the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it will rewrite regulations involving the Clean Water Act in a way that could give states more power over pipelines. Realizing that it could not complete the stream crossings in time to finish the project by the end of this year, Mountain Valley announced another delay earlier this month, saying the pipeline would not be in service until summer 2022. It wont come soon enough for some property owners, who say that erosion on their land will continue until the pipeline is buried and the land above it is fully restored. Frances Meadows of Craigsville, West Virginia, implored FERC in a recent letter to please approve the necessary permits so this project can be finished up and reclamation can be completed and we can get on with our lives. Work restarts amid legal attacks Perhaps the biggest problem for Mountain Valley has been the mountain of legal documents from environmental groups. Hernandez said Friday he didnt know they had come from the scene of a killing. In prior hearings, Bedford County Commonwealths Attorney Wes Nance said Hernandez helped the two men flee to Charlottesville and eventually New York. They were wanted for about six months before officers arrested them. Soto Bonilla was sentenced to life in prison in December 2019 on his charges, including capital murder, and another man charged in Woods death, Victor Arnoldo Rodas, was sentenced to 55 years in prison in 2018 after being found guilty of first-degree murder and other charges. Sanchez Gomez, who testified in previous trials of his co-defendants to taking part in the events of that night but denied actually stabbing Wood, is scheduled for a March 8 jury trial. Testifying about his own background and history with the gang, Hernandez said through a translator that his family is from a peaceful part of Mexico and hed lived in the U.S. for 12 years. When he was about 16, he said he first met members of MS-13 and got gang tattoos without really knowing their meaning and significance. Wolz said that Winters role in the Icy Roads network included traveling to Georgia twice with Thomas George Belcher Jr., 47, of Elliston. Between November 2018 and January 2020, Belcher was buying meth in Georgia and selling it in the New River Valley, Wolz said. Another defendant in the case said that Belcher made trips to Georgia two to three times per week and obtained from four ounces to a half pound of the drug each time, Wolz said. At Belchers own plea hearing last month, where he pleaded guilty to an assortment of charges and was sentenced to serve 20 years, a prosecutor said Belcher told officers that made 16 trips in all and picked up one to three ounces of meth during each journey. On Thursday, Wolz said that investigators encountered Winters at the Ironto home of another Icy Roads defendant, Kenneth Wayne Raines, 66, who in March was sentenced to serve a year in jail for Icy Roads charges. Raines home was one of several where Belcher sold meth, prosecutors have said. At Raines home, Winters told the officers that she was a meth user, Wolz said. The new rules loosen restrictions on visitors that have been in place since April. Those restrictions were a relaxation of rules set in February. During a surge in cases in January, hospital officials all but banned visitors from the Medical Center. The hospital first cracked down on visitation on March 22, 2020, when it banned visitors from bedsides, except in maternity units and end-of-life situations. It also limited outpatient visitors to one designated person. The restrictions were eased during the fall but were put back in place in January. Although the current restrictions will be eased, the visitation rules fall short of pre-pandemic visitation allowances. Where you see limits of one or two people, prior to the pandemic, patients could have as many with them as they wanted, providing it didnt interfere with care, Bell said. Were not there, yet. If we see COVID returning and were monitoring all the data around that wed return to a more restrictive policy to keep our patients and staff safe. The opposite also applies, he noted. Hopefully, at some point, well return to normal operations, but we cant predict exactly where were going, he said. China sent the cargo craft Tianzhou-2 into space on Saturday, and it successfully docked with the space station core module Tianhe early on Sunday to deliver supplies, equipment and propellant. The Long March-7 Y3 rocket, carrying Tianzhou-2, blasted off from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the coast of the southern island province of Hainan at 8:55 p.m. (Beijing Time) on Saturday, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). After 604 seconds, Tianzhou-2 separated from the rocket and entered its designated orbit. At 9:17 p.m. on Saturday, the solar panels of Tianzhou-2 unfolded and began working properly. At 5:01 a.m. (Beijing Time) on Sunday, Tianzhou-2 and Tianhe completed computer-orchestrated rendezvous and docking. The whole process took approximately eight hours. Combined with Tianhe, Tianzhou-2 will replenish Tianhe's propellant and help test equipment for space application projects. China launched its space station core module Tianhe on April 29. The country plans to complete the verification of key technologies and the in-orbit construction of the space station through multiple launches within two years. Saturday's launch was the first time that the space station cargo transportation system, composed of the Tianzhou spacecraft and Long March-7 rockets, was put into use. Heavy, rich supplies Measuring 10.6 meters in length and with a maximum diameter of 3.35 meters, the Tianzhou-2 cargo ship has a maximum takeoff weight of 13.5 tonnes and carries 6.8 tonnes of goods and materials. More than 160 large and small packages, including supplies for astronauts and space-science equipment, and two tonnes of propellant for Tianhe have been loaded into the cargo freighter, according to the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST). Lei Jianyu, a designer of Tianzhou-2 at the CAST, said that only two types of cargo spaceships currently in service globally have a maximum carrying capacity of more than 5 tonnes. "China's Tianzhou is one of them, and is at the world-leading level." The Tianzhou-2 cargo freighter is composed of cargo and propulsion compartments. Supplies are loaded inside the pressurized cargo section, and propellant in the propulsion section. The propellant used for the Tianzhou-2's flight and the propellant for refueling the Tianhe core module can be flexibly distributed according to demand. As the ancient Chinese said, to carry out an important task, supplies like rations and forage should go ahead of troops and horses. During the construction of the space station, cargo spaceships will always be launched ahead of crewed missions. "We will transport support materials, necessary spare parts and equipment first, and then our crew," said CMSA Director Hao Chun. Yang Hong, chief designer of the space station at the CAST, said that the launch missions of China's space station are closely coupled. Within 48 hours after Tianhe entered orbit, the core module underwent a status evaluation, and Tianzhou-2 then began its launch countdown preparations. Following Tianzhou-2's docking with Tianhe, the Shenzhou-12 crewed spaceship will enter its countdown preparations for launch. Three astronauts aboard Shenzhou-12, who will stay in orbit for three months, will unpack the goods stowed inside Tianzhou-2 to obtain their living and working materials. In addition to supplies for three astronauts, the gear delivered by Tianzhou-2 includes two spacesuits for extra-vehicular activities, each weighing more than 100 kg. Tianzhou-2 also sends spare parts for a life support system. The system, which is necessary for astronauts to stay on the moon or explore deeper space, is installed in the Tianhe core module. It is the first such installation in a Chinese spacecraft. Tianzhou-2 also delivers space food, dubbed "space deliveries" by Chinese engineers, including many traditional Chinese dishes. From staple foods to non-staples, from meat to vegetables, the menu design is of high quality and appetizing for astronauts. Famous stir-fried Chinese dishes like fish-flavored shredded pork and Gong Bao (Kung Bao) chicken are both on the menu. Smart cargo management Engineers have designed a special structure in the 18-cubic-meter cargo craft, dividing the interior into cargo compartments with honeycomb-like panels. Each compartment can hold several packages of different sizes, so that the packages can be efficiently placed in the compartments like building blocks. To improve the efficiency of loading, the research team has made 26 types of packages of different sizes, including some in trapezoidal and wedge shapes to adapt to the cylinder cabin structure of the craft. In addition, they have developed safety locks, similar to those of aircraft seats, to hold the packages in position while in space. The craft is also equipped with an information-management system. Each package has a label pasted onto it with a radio-frequency identification function, allowing the goods to be identified within a certain range. Yang Sheng, a designer of Tianzhou-2 at the CAST, said that China's space station has applied the country's advanced logistics-management technologies, enabling astronauts to obtain the cargo location and information by scanning QR codes. With intelligent positioning, the astronauts can find and access the packages quickly. Fast, flexible docking The cargo craft will operate in orbit for one year. Its power supply capacity is not less than 2,700 watts. It can also carry out multiple in-orbit refueling missions. "China plans to build the space station into a state-level space lab supporting long astronaut stays and large-scale scientific, technological and application experiments," said Zhou Jianping, chief designer of China's manned space program. Tianzhou-2 docked with the rear docking port of Tianhe. It will replenish the core module propellant and wait the arrival of Shenzhou-12. The crewed spacecraft will dock with Tianhe's node at the front end. After three astronauts return to Earth aboard Shenzhou-12, Tianzhou-2 will fly to the front of the core module and turn to dock with the node. It will then test the node's in-orbit refueling capability. In April 2017, Tianzhou-1, China's first cargo spacecraft, successfully conducted automated docking with the orbiting Tiangong-2 space lab, and then carried out the first in-orbit refueling. Another two dockings and two further refuelings were later completed. Compared to Tianzhou-1, Tianzhou-2 can maintain the attitude and orbit of the entire Tianhe-Tianzhou-2 combination, according to Dang Rong, deputy chief designer of Tianzhou-2 at the CAST. "It's like the brain is inside Tianhe and all the engines and propellant are in the cargo freighter, which can extend the space station's service life by minimizing its power and energy consumption," said Dang. The rendezvous and docking technology is crucial for the construction of the space station. Through launch and orbit adjustments, Tianzhou-2 entered its orbit basically consistent with Tianhe, and established communication with the core module. The cargo ship then adjusted the relative attitude and distance between itself and the core module, inched closer to a distance of zero, and completed docking. Chinese engineers equipped the spacecraft with high-precision acceleration measurement instruments, microwave radar and other equipment to ensure the accuracy of rendezvous and docking. They also implanted information of rendezvous and docking into the craft's software, which enables it to finish the rendezvous and docking procedure smarter than its predecessor Tianzhou-1, said the CAST. Tianzhou-1 mainly depends on ground instructions to finish the rendezvous and docking procedure. In Tianzhou-2, the movement sequence has been programmed in an autonomous rendezvous and docking system in advance, saving the time for inputting the instructions and transmitting them from the ground to the space. With the system, Tianzhou-2 can use position information of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System to realize long-range autonomous navigation computation for craft guidance and control. Tianzhou-2 will also test transposition docking. Captured and guided by the mechanical arm of Tianhe, Tianzhou-2 will rotate and dock with the side docking port of Tianhe's node. The maneuver will prepare Tianhe to dock with the Wentian and Mengtian lab modules next year. Tianhe's nodes can dock with up to three spacecraft at a time for short stays, or two for long stays, said Bai Linhou, deputy chief designer of the space station at the CAST. Tianzhou-2, storing waste and human excrement, will eventually depart from orbit and burn up on reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. According to the CMSA, the Tianzhou-3 cargo craft and the Shenzhou-13 manned spaceship will also be launched later this year to dock with Tianhe, and another three astronauts will then begin their six-month stay in orbit. After the five launch missions this year, China plans to have six more missions, including the launch of the Wentian and Mengtian lab modules, two cargo spacecraft and two crewed spaceships, for 2022 to complete the construction of the space station. A short while after Bennett spoke, Netanyahu made a statement of his own in which he denounced the Yamina party leader as a man who cared about nothing other than becoming prime minister. Reminding Israelis that before the March election Bennett had said he would not sit in a government led by Lapid, Netanyahu said his right-wing rival's principles did not have the weight of a feather. Bennett was trying to pull off the "deception of the century," Netanyahu said. It is widely expected that any unity agreement would see the position of prime minister rotate with Bennett going first and Lapid second. It's an unusual arrangement, one made unique by the fact that Bennett's party won only seven seats in the last election. But his party became one of the kingmakers in Israeli politics, as both Netanyahu and the pro-"change" bloc tried to woo Bennett, needing his seven seats to get them closer to the 61-seat majority needed to form a government in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. For more than a year, businesses throughout the commonwealth have overcome some of the toughest economic challenges they have ever had to face. Some sadly could not survive the economic downturn and business restrictions following the coronavirus pandemic. Now, the ones that have weathered the storm face a new challengethis time, a legislative threat from Washington, D.C. The Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce is proud to serve more than 800 businesses employing more than 75,000 hard-working Virginians in communities across western Virginia. Since 1889, we have been working to foster economic growth and success in our communities by giving local businesses the tools they need to create jobs and overcome the obstacles they face. However, the proposed PRO Act could present myriad new challenges that would be difficult for local businesses to overcome. S. 420, the Protecting the Right to Organize Actor PRO Actis legislation that would not only undermine workers rights, but disrupt Virginia workplaces and threaten local small businesses. Virginias delegation to the United States Senate is currently split on support of this bill. I try to imagine what fear he felt to be taken from his mountain environment and being this far away from home. After three months, he was given a 30-day furlough. This was the summer of 1943. I can remember him telling me about the armadillos in Louisiana. We enjoyed his time home and it was sad when he left. No mail was received from him for months, and when he did write, his mail was censored. He could not say where he was or what he was doing. He could only say he was in Europe and was seeing some action. The letters he wrote would take 3-4 weeks to arrive. His letters indicated he was in battles and a lot of mud and rain in 1943 and 1944. Earl wrote my two older sisters who were married and lived in Fieldale. They baked cookies, made fruit cakes and mailed them to him. He would write back how much he enjoyed them even though he sometimes was in a foxhole, covered with mud and cold. He never wrote where he was but said he had seen action, and he was getting used to it. He would mail a type of money order to mama to help out at home. Daddy worked for the highway system, now VDOT. He walked 4 miles to Sydnorsville and would work 8 or 9 hours for $1 a day. In a global pandemic, commercial property owners recently received a letter that let us know something monumental had been done. The Florence City Council levied business license fees on commercial real estate owners that had not been done in decades. The letter blamed the change on Act 176 from the State of South Carolina legislature. However, S.C. Reps. Phillip Lowe and Jay Jordan made it clear Act 176 does not require the city of Florence to levy new rental business licenses and taxes. Also, in other discussions, it was indicated that the municipal association recommended this change; however, according to local attorney Gary Finklea, the city council has the authority to exclude taxing landlords, as there is a rational basis for doing so; i.e., landlords are already taxed by property taxes, and by effectively taxing again, it is double dipping. Commercial real estate owners will now have business license fees of $80 per the rst $2,000 gross income and then $2.77 per each additional $1,000 of gross income in addition to the property taxes. It can take three to four months of rent just to pay property tax. Business license rent can help determine investment property value, and thus property owners are effectively being taxed for rent twice property tax and business license tax. DiAngelos book has the distinction of being criticized from the right as racially divisive and from center-liberal Black thinkers such as author John McWhorter for talking down to Black folks. The whole debate also proved to be a bit much for the Loyola Academy president, the Rev. Patrick McGrath. In an apologetic letter to parents, he declared that the inappropriate questions were no longer being used in the ethics curriculum. Let me be clear, he declared, We have never and will never ask students to apologize for their race. Yet, he also assured that a structured study of racism has been part of the academys curriculum for more than two decades and will continue to be the case on some level. In a telephone interview, he told me that he did not recall any similar backlash like this, which includes a webpage posted by disgruntled parents, in the past, but added, These are hard conversations. I get it. Still, citing church officials as high up as the pope, he insisted that the schools mission to push back against the sin of racism will remain unchanged. A new documentary follows Polanski as he roams Krakow with his lifelong friend and fellow Holocaust survivor Ryszard Horowitz Roman Polanski revisits the "horror" of his Holocaust childhood in a new documentary that premiered Sunday in the controversial Oscar-winning director's Polish hometown of Krakow. The film follows Polanski as he roams the city with his lifelong friend and fellow Holocaust survivor, photographer Ryszard Horowitz, whom he met inside the wartime Jewish ghetto. The documentary is about "memory, confrontations with the past, transience, trauma, fate," said Mateusz Kudla, who directed and produced the movie with Anna Kokoszka-Romer. "Through these two characters who were lucky, who survived, we also wanted to show the tragedy of all those residents of the Krakow Ghetto who never made it out," he told AFP. In one scene of "Polanski, Horowitz. Hometown", which opened this year's Krakow Film Festival, Polanski recalls seeing a Nazi German officer shoot an elderly woman in the back, the blood spluttering out like water from a drinking fountain. "Terrified, I ran through the gate behind me... I hid behind these stairs," says Polanski, who was only six years old when World War II began. "That was my first encounter with the horror," he tells a grim-looking Horowitz. Horowitz, who was among those helped by German industrialist Oskar Schindler, rolls up his sleeve in another scene to reveal the number inked onto his forearm when he arrived, aged five, at the Nazi death camp Auschwitz. "Sometimes I'll randomly glance at it and think it can't be true, it must be some kind of stupid joke. Is it possible that I was there and that I survived?" Horowitz says. The filmmakers also captured the moment a visibly moved Polanski met the grandson of Stefania and Jan Buchala, the Polish Catholic peasants who hid him from the Nazis. Last year, Israel honoured the late couple with the Yad Vashem title of "Righteous Among the Nations" for those who helped save Jews during World War II. Story continues The film makes no mention of the multiple sexual assault accusations against Polanski, who is persona non grata in Hollywood and cannot return to the United States for fear of arrest. "That wasn't our focus, nor was it our intention to defend or accuse anyone. This film is about a whole other chapter in Roman Polanski's life," Kokoszka-Romer told AFP. Kudla asks viewers to consider the possibility that "perhaps in this case Polanski did the right thing by giving (Holocaust) testimony to prevent history from repeating itself." The filmmakers expect the documentary to be available eventually online or on streaming platforms. amj/nrh "He says the problem doesn't exist. So for me, I don't care what color you are, but if you have a track record in building relationships with the community and doing what's fair in community policing, then I can deal with you. Putting someone in that position that looks like us is just a shallow act of putting lipstick on a pig." Franklin did not respond to several interview requests. During his tenure, he has said police need better training in dealing with the public. But he also testified before an Oklahoma legislative panel after 2020's nationwide protests over racial bias in policing that recruiting new officers is difficult because of growing anti-law enforcement public sentiment. "Quite frankly, who would want to come do this job with everything placed upon us," he said. Mitchell said back in the 1950s and 1960s, there were more Black officers, and that fostered the feeling of a partnership. It's different now in 2019, according to the department's annual report, 8.4% of employees were Black, compared to 15.1% of the city's overall population. At present, Mendoza is making about 1,200 16-oz bottles of horchata a week, and is testing the shelf stability of four-gallon "party" jugs. It's been flying off the shelf, and apparently there's been some degree of frenzy buying due to the limited availability. Mendoza said his horchata has received a lot of positive feedback on social media, although fans sometimes feel disappointed by the limited availability. "I'll see pictures of people buying like 10 at a time, 15, just because they know they're not going to have it the next day, or it's going to be out by the end of the day," Mendoza said. "That's how I'm kind of seeing it. Even the store's having people call them, 'Hey, can you save me 10?'" For the time being, Mendoza has no plans to sell Lovechatas at any of South Sioux City's other Hispanic grocery stores or the other food trucks, partly because he can't keep up with demand at Maria's and Daga's as it is. He's also worried that the horchata could spoil if there were too many bottles on the shelf at a store where customers didn't buy as many. "It costs a lot to do that -- I just haven't looked that far yet. Right now, my biggest battle is keeping both places stocked," he said. If you missed some of the bigger limited series last year (and how did that happen?), several are making their way to the DVD market. Now, instead of waiting for a weekly release, you can binge them all at once. One to include: Bryan Cranstons Your Honor. As Michael Desiato, Cranston worries about the victims in his courtroom, the friends from his childhood and, most important, the son hes trying to raise alone. When he discovers his boy, Adam (Hunter Doohan), has killed another teen in a hit-and-run accident, his first inclination is to go to authorities and confess. And then? He sees the dead boys parents and realizes theyre part of a powerful mob family. Quickly, he spirits his son away and begins to fill him with alibis. Written by Peter Moffat, the 10-part Showtime series puts Cranstons Desiato and us in that what would we do? situation repeatedly. He knows what future his son faces and hes going to do everything he can to protect him. Over the last five years, about 90% of graduates from China's higher vocational schools were able to secure a job within half a year of their graduation, according to a recent report. The employment rate of vocational school graduates remained at a stable level in the past five years, and the average monthly pay they receive half a year after graduation has increased 7.37% between 2018 and 2019, China Education Daily reported earlier this week, quoting the report compiled by the National Institute of Education Sciences. Over 93% of the graduates said they are satisfied with the education they received, the report said. According to the report, most of the graduates were hired by the private sector and individual businesses, and their primary employers are in the education, construction, health and social work sectors. The report said vocational education also helped in regional development. It said close to 60% of graduates from higher vocational schools chose to work in the same locality as their alma mater, and 66% worked for small and medium-sized enterprises, providing talent for the development of the local economy. Entrusted by the vocational education and adult education department of the Ministry of Education, the report focused on topics including the education system, school operation, teaching and student development, providing information related to the quality and condition of vocational education since 2016. SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- The interior of the Siouxland Freedom Park's interpretive center will be finished in the coming months and will begin hosting exhibits next year. The interpretive center will be named for the late Brig. Gen. Bud Day and his wife, Doris. Mike Newhouse, president of Siouxland Freedom Park, Inc., made the announcement Sunday afternoon during a Memorial Day ceremony. Thunder on the Missouri, a motorcycle ride honoring veterans, was also held at the park Sunday, with hundreds of people in attendance. Newhouse said an open house will be held at the interpretive center on Veterans Day (Nov. 11), to show off the newly completed interior. An exhibits consultant will visit in June, and Newhouse said putting the exhibits together will take six or eight months. "It's finally getting done!" he said Sunday, followed by a round of applause from the crowd. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Newhouse said the exhibits will be "traveling and static displays, interactive electronics, wow-factor kind of stuff." The exhibits will explore "all services, all conflicts" going back to the Revolutionary War, Newhouse said. KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) Thousands of Ethiopians gathered in the nation's capital Sunday to protest outside pressure on the government over its brutal war in Tigray. Protecting American citizens and enforcing the rule of law are the presidents primary responsibilities. But President Biden has failed in both areas. Border security, under the Biden administration, is non-existent. This is not a Republican or Democratic issue. It is an American issue and has put too many Americans in danger. The presidents job is to put America first. Disastrous consequences exist today as Biden ships (immigrants crossing the southern border) to a community near you. You may think you will not be affected by this crisis, but you would be wrong. It is the greatest self-inflicted humanitarian, national security, and financial crisis in modern history. The presidents catch and release program is sending illegal immigrants all over the country without any tracking information, with no notice to appear later or informing those communities they are coming. The Biden administration is the poster child for human smuggling, sex trafficking, child sex trafficking and promoting the transportation of illegal drugs by his policies. Recently, 5 children under the age of 6 were found dumped at the border alone at night. The youngest was 11 months old. This is only one of the humanitarian tragedies. Biden is enriching cartels instead of putting American interests first. Amidst all the backyard barbecues, camping trips, boat excursions and 3-day weekend getaways, its easy to lose sight of the origins of Memorial Day. One hundred fifty-three years ago today, northern U.S. states observed the first Decoration Day. Gen. John A. Logan, the leader of a group of Union Civil War veterans, was credited with creating a national day of remembrance in which flowers and other decorations were strewn on the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land. The date of the first Decoration Day, May 30, 1868, was chosen largely because it wasn't the anniversary of any Civil War battle. On the first Decoration Day, Gen. James Garfield, a future U.S. president, delivered a speech at Arlington Cemetery, where 5,000 attendees decorated the graves of the 20,000 Union soldiers buried there. After World War I, Decoration Day was expanded to honor not only the Civil War dead, but also U.S. soldiers lost in the Great War and subsequent wars -- World War II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War and, more recently, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I asked myself, how many times can one man be blamed for the repercussions of other peoples choices? The therapists who treated the migrant families came to the conclusion that the zero-tolerance border policy of Trump inflicted severe psychological harm. What about the oppression the migrants endured in their homeland? What about hauling their children across the desert? Or worse, sending their children to the border with paid escorts or no escorts at all? Our advice columnists have heard it all over the years. Each Sunday, we dive into the Dear Prudie archives and share a selection of classic letters with our readers. Join Slate Plus for even more advice columnsyour first month is only $1. Dear Prudence, I accidentally overheard my fiancee telling a friend on the phone, John might not have a lot of money, but at least he doesnt have any parents to annoy me. My parents both died in a car accident in my early 20s. Shocked by this comment, we took a short break afterward. My fiancee said that it was something stupid she said as a joke and that she was sincerely sorry and didnt mean it. She and I have much history together, and I love her. Yet, even after getting back together, I cant forget or totally forgive her for what she said. I may have been an adult when I lost my parents, but they were my whole world. Is it crazy to throw away a whole relationship based on this one comment? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not crazy. I have a fair amount of sympathy for your fiancee, who I dont think is necessarily a secretly callous monster for making a grim joke about not having to deal with in-laws to a friend of hers, but I can also understand why this would haunt you. If you have a long history together and she has always treated you kindly and well, you must know on some level that she does care about you and is not secretly rejoicing at the death of your parentsthat moment of gallows humor was not necessarily a reveal of her true, callous character but a way of acknowledging the painful reality of your situation to a friend. Advertisement But if you dont think you can forget it, tell her so. You cant take her back only to secretly resent and suspect her for the rest of your lives. Tell her that what she said hit you very hard and that it hurt you to see her make light of the most painful experience of your life, even if she did not say it directly to you. Youre not crazy for entertaining doubts about your relationship, but I do think it would be a mistake not to at least try to move past this together. You would likely get a great deal out of a few weeks or months of couples counseling around this particular fight. Make it clear how much this has hurt youdont try to act like youve moved past it when you haventand if her response is compassionate and apologetic, then I think you can trust her. Your parents may have been your whole world, but if shes going to be a part of that world, youre going to have to be able to fight and hurt one another and apologize and forgive. Danny M. Lavery Advertisement From: Help! My Fiancee Made a Joke About My Dead Parents. Should I End Our Engagement? (Mar. 21, 2016) Dear Prudence, My wife and I met 16 years ago when she was 19 years old, we married three years later, and I have been faithful and happy with her. I know she had two boyfriends before me and that she had oral sex with one and intercourse with the other. Somehow I got the idea that she had been forced into the oral sex and didnt enjoy it. So when she would attempt to do that to me I made her stop. She felt rejected and that has impeded both the frequency and her enjoyment of any form of sex with me. She recently clarified that she was the one who initiated the first oral encounter and that she liked it. As a result, we have enjoyed this activity more in the past few weeks than we had in the last several years. Every other element of our sexual relationship has also improved. But Im incredibly jealous at the amount of sex she had before she met me, far more than I had before I met her. Im nearly going insane that she performed oral sex five times more in three years on them than she has with me in 16. How do I move on so that I am not constantly thinking about these guys and the relative number of sexual encounters every time I have sex with my wife? Advertisement Advertisement I think you have solved the national crisis in math education. We might improve our high school graduation rates if math problems read like more like this: Melissa performed five times more oral sex on her two boyfriends for the three years prior to meeting her husband Eric than she has performed on him in the subsequent 16 years. So how many blowjobs (I realize its more likely we simply would increase our high-school oral sex rate.) Your situation is an excellent demonstration of why the words that come out of your mouth can be as important as the organs that you put in it. To stop brooding over what your wife was doing in the backseat of the car more than a decade and a half ago, start blowing your horn to celebrate the end of your semicelibate marriage. You two were set to go through life feeling frustrated and rejected because of a silly misunderstanding. That your wife likes to give oral sex, that shes crazy about sex generally, is a dramatic turnaround in your sexual fortunes, one that should enhance the quality of your marriage. So lighten up and embrace this new connection, instead of undermining it by focusing on the quantitive pleasing she once did. If you forced her to tally her extra curriculars, then shame on you. Since youre clearly a numbers guy, turn the math to your advantage. Calculate how long it will take the two of you to surpass your wifes previous record, and start humping toward that goal line. Emily Yoffe Advertisement From: Help! My Wife Had More Sex Before Our Marriage Than I Did. (Oct. 4, 2012) Dear Prudence, My husband and I have been married for 28 years, but our relationship has been at a brick wall for more than half of the marriage. For the past four years, we have lived under the same roof but completely separately, essentially as housemates. Up until now, I have made the decision to stay in the marriage because A) we have two daughters, both in their early 20s, and B) my husband is a pastor and I was once concerned about his image in the church community if we were to separate. Aggression and worrisome behavior have now entered the equation, and we have both accepted that our union is no longer salvageable. I am ready to start dating and move on with my life, as my husband has been doing for more than half of our marriage, but he still isnt ready to upset the church community with the news of our formal separation. Personally, I am done putting up a facade. I am ready to move on from not only the marriage, but also the church community, but ultimately I do want to be the bigger person and respect my husbands image. How do I move on from the church in a respectful manner? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He doesnt have to do anything he doesnt want to, and I think its very big of you not to want to tarnish his image, but that doesnt mean you have to keep his secrets or lie for him anymore. Youre getting divorced, youre moving on, and youre ready to start dating. You can be honest without spreading the news in a salacious or punishing way; if anyone asks, tell the truth, but dont go into detail. If the truth reflects badly on him, too bad for him. It sounds like youre interested in leaving this particular church for good; youre not required to make an announcement or shake the dust of this unhappy marriage from your sandals at the church door. You can just leave. If there are particular friendships you plan on maintaining, or if youre directly asked, you can keep your conversations about the end of your marriage honest without being unkindWeve been separated for a long time, and have been housemates for the last four years. Im ready to move on and start seeing other people, but I wish him the best. Your husbands image is no longer your problem. Just dont go out of your way to discredit or smear him, and youll have more than achieved your goal of being the bigger person. DL Advertisement From: Help! I Want Out of My Marriage and My Churchbut My Husbands the Pastor. (Mar. 22, 2016) Dear Prudence, Recently, my partners lifelong best friend and his wife were killed in a car accident, leaving us with custody of both of their children. They are two wonderful girls ages 4 and 2 and we love them dearly and are happy to have them. Both of them are comfortable with us since we spent a great deal of time together before their parents passed away, but we did not have any children of our own and we are taking a crash course in parenting. At this moment, I have two main concerns. One of them is that we are not sure how to help them understand what has happened. My partner and I are confirmed atheists, and although our friends were not seriously religious, they did have some spiritual beliefs and we are not sure whether they would want us to teach their daughters that theyve gone to heaven or follow our own instincts to say that even though mom and dad loved them more than anything, theyre simply not coming back. Another concern is that before this happened, my partner and I were trying to conceive a child of our own. Weve decided its best to hold off on this for a while because we believe it would be too much for the girls (and us at this moment) to handle after such a loss. How much time does it take for a child to adjust to such a thing? Should we give up on the idea at present? Advertisement Advertisement What a crushing loss for these tiny girls to absorb. Amid this tragedy, they are lucky that you and your partner are there to provide them with love and security. Making such guardianship arrangements is a responsibility of parenthood; let this be a spur to those who havent done so. As your case illustrates, the best guardians might not be family members, but dear and trusted friends. You now have a large task ahead in becoming an instant family and creating a good life for two confused and frightened little girls. For advice on what you should tell them, and what you should do about expanding your family, I turned to Dr. David Schonfeld, director of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at St. Christophers Hospital for Children. He said there are four painful but essential truths that have to be conveyed age-appropriately to children who have suffered such a loss: Death is irreversible; all life functions end completely at death; everything alive eventually dies; there are physical reasons someone dies. Schonfeld is co-author of this pamphlet that gives instruction on how to explain these difficult concepts. While acknowledging peoples belief in heaven, he says conveying that to children, especially very young ones, can cause tremendous confusion. Its difficult to grasp the idea that your parents no longer exist here, but are in some other realm out of reach. Since you and your partner are atheists, and your late friends didnt have a strong religious tradition, I think you should follow your own instincts about keeping things simple and factual. The girls parents knew of your lack of religious belief and still chose you. As the girls grow up, if they develop an interest in religion, you can decide the best way to respect and foster that. Advertisement Advertisement You do not mention that you are under the immediate pressure of a biological clock, so I agree with Schonfeld when he says now is the time to focus on making yourselves a family and seeing the girls through a traumatic transition. After you feel settled into being a unit, for which there isnt a timetable, you and your partner can explore the question of whether you want to add another child and when. Bear in mind that the loss your girls have suffered is something they will deal with for the long term. It wont always be the primary focus as it is now for everyone, but it will echo through the years. Schonfeld says that with the help of the strong, loving, committed family you will be, the loss the girls suffered will simply be a part of their understanding of themselves, and will not keep them from forging happy lives. EY Advertisement From: Help! Our Friends Died in a Car Crash and Left Us Their Kids. (Apr. 25, 2013) More from Dear Prudence I have been mostly happily married for 13 years. My husband and I get along really well, and I love him very much. That being said, he is not the most affectionate person anymore. We used to cuddle a lot when we were first married and I have told him how much I miss it. He says he doesnt enjoy it because its too hot. Hell make an effort to snuggle while watching TV sometimes if I ask, but I can tell while were doing it that he is counting the minutes until he can stop. About a month ago, I was having a very bad day at work and a male co-worker/friend told me I looked like I could use a hug. Prudie, I did need a hug and he gave me one and I started crying because I couldnt remember the last time I had received nonsexual affection from someone without begging. My co-worker asked why I was crying and when I told him he said he loved his wife very much, but she wasnt affectionate either and he knew exactly how I was feeling. Since that day weve been meeting in his or my office after work a couple of times a week to hug each other. And thats all we dothere is no groping or kissing or even talking going on, we just hold each other for five to 10 minutes and then we go home. I like having a hug buddy and Ive found my relationship with my husband is actually getting stronger because I am not so needy for affection from him. Of course, I have not told him about hugging my co-worker and Im sure if I did hed be upset, but I dont feel like what Im doing is cheating. Is it? This article is adapted from Four Dicks (and Vice President Cheney), the fifth episode of Slow Burns new season. In 2002, there were people in Congress who fell in the middle on the debate over whether to go to war with Iraq. People who maybe didnt want to give President Bush a blank checkwho wanted a third way. The Bush administration [] If it were up to them, they would have just had a resolution that said, you knowThe administration is authorized to go to war in Iraq for whatever purposes it deems necessary, Dan Diller, the legislative director for Republican Indiana Sen. Richard Dick Lugar. Advertisement Dick Lugar grew up on a soybean farm before becoming an Eagle Scout, Rhodes Scholar, and Navy officer. By 2002, hed run for president once and was a high-ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Lugar was a centrist with a reputation for working across the aisle. The chairman of the foreign relations committee was his pal Joe Biden, a Democratic senator who was also into bipartisanship. The two decided to work together on a bill for all the people in the middleone that would authorize the administration to go into Iraq, but with more restrictions than the president was asking for. The Biden-Lugar bill didnt allow for regime-change as a goal. It said the president could only go to war to make Saddam Hussein get rid of his weapons of mass destruction. And it required President Bush to ask for United Nations approval before invading. If he couldnt get it, hed have to prove to Congress that the WMD threat was so serious it could only be handled with military force. Advertisement The Bush administration was doing everything it could to find allies and to block what we were doing. Dan Diller, legislative director for Sen. Richard Lugar We believe that we had potentially 60 votes for a Biden-Lugar resolution and that it was the leading option, Diller says. If you were on the fence about authorizing Bushs war, you might have been drawn to the Biden-Lugar bill. You wouldnt be writing the president a blank check, but you also wouldnt look soft on threats to the United States. Advertisement We had the power to sequence votes in a way that would give cover to the Democrats who did not want to go to war, Diller adds. The idea was that they could vote for our resolution, even though it would have authorized the use of military force, but still had votes that would have proven that they were against the whole process. In addition to what they might say in a statement. Advertisement Those Democrats would look concerned and cautiousstatesmanlike. That was especially helpful for Democrats who were up for re-election in the midterms. Sen. Tom Daschle, the Democratic majority leader, believed that the Iraq vote was not just a matter of conscience. It was also a decision that had to reflect what the public wanted. It wasnt just a question of whats the right policy, but how do you defend yourself politically when youve got the overwhelming majority of the American people in support of the Bush administrations position and really putting pressure on their members of Congress to fall in line and to be as supportive of that policy as they could be? Daschle told me. Advertisement Biden and Lugars team spent that September trying to get senators to back their version of the bill. They had Democrats and Republicans on board. And, according to Biden, the private backing of Secretary of State Colin Powell. Advertisement But there was powerful opposition. The Bush administration was doing everything it could to find allies and to block what we were doing, Diller says. I dont want to get a resolution which ties my hands, Bush said at the time. Im not sure why members would like to weaken the resolution, but well work with the members, and Im confident we can get something done, and well be speaking with one voice here in the country. And thats going to be important for the United Nations to hear that voice. And important for the world to hear that voice. Advertisement Biden-Lugar probably wouldnt have stopped Bush from invading Iraq. But it might have slowed him down, and changed the scope of the war. It was kind of a throwback bill. One that imagined this President Bush might move against Iraq under the same kind of terms his father had. It was a bill that assumed an invasion actually was about WMD. It was a bill that got the Bush administration completely wrong. Still, Lugars side believed they had a path to get their resolution passed. They just needed a little more time to get there. But it turned out that they had a big roadblock in their way: Another powerful man in Congress named Dicka Democrat with an entirely different agenda. Listen to this full episode of Slow Burn below, and subscribe to Slow Burn on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Join Slate Plus for your ad-free feed. Vietnam says it has discovered a new coronavirus variant that is highly transmissible and could help explain the recent surge in COVID-19 infections across the country. Vietnams health authorities carried out genetic sequencing and determined the new variant was a mixture of the COVID-19 strains that were first detected in the United Kingdom and India. That the new one is an Indian variant with mutations that originally belong to the UK variant is very dangerous, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said at a government meeting. Long said that lab tests suggest this new variant could spread more easily. The characteristic of this strain is that it spreads quickly in the air, he added. The concentration of virus in the throat fluid increases rapidly and spreads very strongly to the surrounding environment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vietnam had been seen as a success story in keeping COVID-19 under control. At the beginning of the month, the country of some 98 million had recorded only a little more than 3,100 cases and 35 deaths since the start of the pandemic. Now that number has grown to almost 7,000 cases and 47 deaths while only 1 percent of its population has been fully vaccinated. The new variant could be responsible for the quick spread of the virus, Long said. Experts cautioned it was still too early to tell whether this variant is something to be worried about and it isnt exactly clear how much is known about it. The public statements make it sound that the determination that the variant is more transmissible was made through lab cultures, which may not be a reflection of how it acts in the real world. A lot of different mutations happen as the virus is transmitted and most of them are not of clinical significance, Todd Pollack, a Hanoi-based infectious-disease expert for Harvard Medical School, tells the Washington Post. Just because they say [the new variant] has features of one and the other doesnt mean they got together in one patient and spit out some combined hybrid supervirus. The World Health Organization said it still hasnt made a determination on the significance of the variant. For now, the WHO has said the four variants of the virus that are of global concern are the ones that were first detected in India, Britain, South Africa, and Brazil. Flash Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday held talks with his Polish counterpart Zbigniew Rau in Guiyang, southwestern China's Guizhou Province. Wang said that the sudden outbreak of the epidemic has not interrupted the major diplomatic agenda of the two sides, nor stopped the pace of exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. He noted that China attaches great importance to Poland's international and regional influence and is willing to view China-Poland relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. Wang stressed that the Chinese side adheres to the principle of mutual respect, equality and benefit to develop mutually beneficial cooperation and inject new content into the China-Poland comprehensive strategic partnership. Wang said the two sides, on the basis of strengthening prevention and control of the epidemic, should maintain high-level exchanges, promote policy coordination, and strengthen cooperation in many fields, including economy and trade, logistics, medical and health care, scientific and technological innovation, energy, and digital economy. "The two countries should jointly promote an innovation-driven economy and create new growth points for China-Poland relations," Wang noted. He pointed out that China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) cooperation and the bilateral relations promote each other and focus on practical cooperation, which serve the common interests of all parties. Both sides should sum up experience, increase input and open up new prospects for cooperation. For his part, Rau said that Poland attaches great importance to developing relations with China and hopes to maintain the sound momentum of bilateral cooperation. He said that Poland is willing to launch a fast track with China as soon as possible to help resume personnel exchanges. Rau stressed that Poland understands and respects China's legitimate rights and interests and would like to make active efforts for the healthy development of EU-China relations and cooperation between China and CEECs. BAYARD Bayard Public Library has been selected to receive a $8,500.00 grant from the Kreutz Bennet Donor-Advised Fund, an affiliated fund of Nebraska Community Foundation, to renovate the Bayard Public Library. This project will benefit community patrons of all ages by ensuring a safe, bright, comfortable and exciting environment for its patrons. Bayard Public Library is among 14 Nebraska public libraries in communities with populations under 3,000 selected to receive funding. The Bayard library project includes the rehabilitation of its existing facility by replacing outdated fluorescent light fixtures, replacement of deteriorated carpet, and replacement of cracked and stained ceiling tile, according to a press release from the City of Bayard. All grants from the Kreutz Bennett Donor-Advised Fund require a 1:1 local match. In Bayard, matching funds will be provided by the City of Bayard. Before I applied for the grant, I went before the city council and presented my proposed project. The city of Bayard owns the building and the carpet and lighting have never been replaced. The city council agreed to match funds needed for this project, Becky Henkel, library director for Bayard Public Library said. The renovations should be completed by June 1. Sugar was one of the products rationed by the federal government. To meet the need for sugar, previous federal restrictions on sugar beet farming were removed. The federal government issued posters to encourage farmers to grow sugar beets. With many men fighting in the war and many women replacing men as workers in factories, labor was in short supply in many places. This was especially true in rural communities with needs for agricultural workers. In Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Wyoming and elsewhere, thousands of Japanese Americans held as prisoners by the federal government spent their days on farms providing the labor to plant, weed and harvest sugar beets. The need for sugar beets was so high that some of the German and Italian Prisoners of War (POW) imprisoned in western Nebraska were placed under the supervision of Japanese Americans so that the POWs could help grow sugar beets. Japanese Americans considered by federal officials to be a threat to the U.S. were trusted to such an extent in western Nebraska by those same federal officials that they could supervise the activities of the nations actual enemies. The Sakurada Family was one of the Japanese American families that supervised German prisoners of war. "One is getting people better prepared for the inevitability of fire in areas like the wildland-urban interface. That includes new construction," he said. "And the second is getting our ecosystems better prepared for climate change and fire impacts." On the local level, individuals and communities need to create defensible spaces and evacuation plans, he said. On the government level, more resources need to go toward managing forests. "I think we've got one to two decades," Stephens said. "If we don't do this in earnest, we're frankly just going to be watching the forest change right in front of our eyes from fire, climate change, drought, insects, things of that nature." Part of the issue is that increasing wildfire resilience often requires trade-offs, said Erica Fleishman, professor at Oregon State University's College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. Cities or states could require defensible spaces around homes. Building codes could call for fire-resistant materials. That would drive up construction costs but also mean homes would be less likely to burn and need rebuilding, she said. "The insurance industry and the building industry and communities and lawmakers are all going to need to have the will to create these changes," she said. A grand jury has indicted a 31-year-old prison inmate for first-degree murder for allegedly killing his cellmate in November. Angelo Bol, who was serving a life sentence, is at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution now, and set to make his first appearance in Lancaster County District Court by video Friday in the case. On the evening of Nov. 6, staff members at the State Penitentiary in Lincoln found Kevin C. Carter, 20, on his cell floor unresponsive and covered with a sheet, according to a press release. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead at about 11 p.m. At the time, Corrections Director Scott Frakes called the death suspicious but gave no further detail. Carter had been serving a six- to nine-year sentence for terroristic threats and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony for taking part in the beating and stabbing of a man in Douglas County in 2019. He would have been eligible for parole in less than a year and a half. It wasnt immediately clear how Carter came to be placed in a cell with Bol, who was serving a life sentence for fatally shooting a co-worker, 34-year-old Karel Perez-Almaguer, in the Gibbon Packing parking lot on Dec. 15, 2014. He finished his email by saying, Harley Tanaka should be honored on Monday. Gary is right. Harley, who is buried in North Lawn Cemetery, and all those who gave their lives so we can live free deserve to be remembered and honored on Monday. Memorial Day is not just an extra day off; it is a day to honor fallen heroes, like PFC Harley Tanaka. Back to the series, I was thrilled to read about a local banker who took a stand. As I read about Claude W. Wright, I found myself wiping away tears of pride and joy. The United States was at war, the FBI came and said, call the loans, foreclose and basically destroy the lives of western Nebraskans because they were Japanese Americans. It took great courage to say no, but he did. I also could not help but wonder, what if he hadnt said, "No." What would our valley look like today if so many successful farmers would have lost everything they worked so hard for? One thing I know is I would never have been honored to meet and learn from Yutaka, a successful farmer who was also a photographer. Statesville High Schools Lili Robbins said she has no doubt she and her classmates are ready for the future. We survived a pandemic. We can survive the real world, Robbins, one of two honor speakers for the Greyhounds, said Saturday morning. Robbins and Olivia Roach spoke to the Class of 2021 as family and friends packed Greyhound Hollow. Robbins urged her classmates to find their passion. She said her own passion is dance, something she discovered at the age of 4. And years later, she maintains that same passion for dance. She said her hope for her classmates was to find that same level of joy in whatever they choose to do in the future. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} However, she said, there is still plenty of time for the Class of 2021 to find that joy. She said their 20s will be the time for them to find their passion. Roach reminded her classmates that they did not get to Saturdays ceremony on their own. Family, friends and teachers all played a role in helping them achieve this milestone. However, she said, graduation is an accomplishment they have achieved. Today is our day, she said. The pandemic has brought more awareness to mental health because a larger amount of people are talking about it. The COVID-19 pandemic made mental health a little more acceptable in conversation because it brought forth a lot of anxiety in many of us, said Ellis. How can I help stop the stigma? The past year has demonstrated how talking openly about mental health, even sharing it on social media, can help reduce the stigma of mental illness. Its important for everyone to be open about their mental health because it helps kill the stigma. When more people are talking about it, and awareness is growing, those that are struggling secretly or privately are more comfortable coming forward and getting the help they need, said Ellis. If you know someone who has a mental illness, its crucial to be supportive and validate what they are experiencing to be real and true to them. You should also minimize judgment and encourage the individual to seek the help they need. Oftentimes, the need for help can be temporary; it does not have to be a permanent change in their life. The sooner one seeks help, the better, said Ellis. You are here: World Flash All 413 members of the eighth Chinese peacekeeping force to Mali have been awarded the United Nations Peace Medal of Honor, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to peacekeeping operations. Since its deployment in July 2020, the Chinese peacekeeping force has successfully accomplished a series of missions assigned by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, including armed patrols, constructions and medical support. The eighth Chinese peacekeeping force to Mali consists of a guard detachment, an engineer detachment and a medical detachment. The medal award ceremony was held at the camps of the three detachments separately due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. As the 24 graduates from Statesville Christian School complete the milestone of graduation, they now embark on the rest of their lives. The schools top two students, Olivia Mankos and Josiah Southern, are in many ways like many of their peers: theyve got plans for whats next, but there are plenty of questions too. Its daunting for sure, Mankos said. Theres a lot ahead of me, but Im excited too. Ahead of her now is Liberty University, where she plans to study biotechnology. For the valedictorian, finishing first in her class was something she didnt fully expect despite the effort she put into school and other activities. I still cant believe it. I didnt think I would be first in grades or anything, Mankos said. I definitely wanted to do the best I could do, and pushed myself to do that, but I never thought I would be. Southern said he was pleased with his accomplishments after attending Statesville Christian for 13 years and now has more tangible evidence of his accomplishments. Its great to see all my hard work over the past 13 years at this school has paid off and I can see my achievements now, Southern said. Thanks for reading! Log in to continue. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. No credit card required. On Wednesday morning, Danny Borders and a handful of other homeless people living at Longviews Alabama Street encampment got a ride to a church for hot showers and breakfast. Borders has lived at the Alabama Street site since the city of Longview opened it in December 2019 to provide a designated space for homeless people to camp away from City Hall and the parks. For Borders and other people living at the site, elsewhere outside or in their vehicle, there are many reasons why they dont stay at the countys two emergency shelters or several temporary housing programs. Borders said Wednesday some people at the camp dont want to go to the Community House on Broadway shelter because they dont want to follow the rules. Borders said hes been clean for six weeks but doesnt want to lose his dog. Shes my life. I wouldnt make it without her, he said. Borders is in the Housing and Essential Needs program, which provides rental assistance, but said hes waiting for a call from them to move the process forward. I want to hurry up and get a place, he said. Options, barriers The city of Longview and Cowlitz County are working on a joint plan to set up a hosted encampment to replace the Alabama Street site. The new site would have rules, security and case management services at the site 24/7. +3 Longview City Council sends hosted homeless camp plan to county for review with no site selected The proposal for a hosted homeless encampment took another step forward Thursday when the Longview City Council changed city rules, allowing i Common questions brought up during recent City Council meetings when the plan was discussed include: How many people will go to the site, what will happen to those who dont and why dont people go into shelters or services available now? Longview Police Chief Robert Huhta said during the April City Council meeting that many people at the camp hes talked to want more structure and to clean up the site. It takes time to build rapport and trust with people, especially ones with mental illness or who are victims of abuse, and its reasonable they are reluctant to automatically seek services, Huhta said. Sheree Thomas has lived in a motorhome for more than two years, and often parks near the Alabama Street site. She said Wednesday she hasnt gone to Community House because she doesnt want to lose her three pets. Thomas is in case management and said she has been sorting through different options. The hard part with a motorhome is where to park it, she said. Thomas said a designated spot for people to park motorhomes would be helpful, as well as shelter options for people with pets and unmarried couples. Staff from the local outreach organization Love Overwhelming on Wednesday picked up Thomas and several others living at the Alabama Street site and elsewhere to get a shower at Evangel Christian Fellowship. Outreach and engagement worker Leticia Casarez said Wednesday the nonprofit staff go to the site every day to offer food and other essential items, as well as to take people to appointments for doctor, mental health or substance abuse treatment. They also take people to food banks, the library, banks and to the church for showers. Deeper issues Casarez said its difficult for people to get enrolled in some services or benefits they may qualify for because they need a mailing address. Others have serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder that are outside Love Overwhelmings or other local service agencies ability to treat, they said. Community House on Broadway staff visit the camp once a week to offer services and ask people if they want to go to the shelter or into other programs, said Executive Director Frank Morrison. Staff has seen little interest so far, he said. Morrison said addiction and mental health problems are the predominant reasons that keep people from entering services. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} We know its a physiological thing, the brain changes, but still, its a choice we gotta give them and a lot are choosing to stay where theyre at, he said. Another inhibitor is pets, which arent allowed at Community House, CORE Health Extended Support Service transitional housing, as well as other housing programs, Morrison said. Community House on Broadway requires potential residents to have valid identification and checks for warrants and registered sex offenders. Residents also must remain drug- and alcohol-free and follow the building rules, including participating in a mental health and substance abuse disorder assessment and recommended treatment. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to The Daily News. Love Overwhelmings Casarez said some people have been removed from shelters in the past for violations and its difficult for them to return. The only other emergency homeless shelter in the county is the Emergency Support Shelter, which provides temporary housing for female domestic violence victims and their children. It has 16 rooms, including three that are pet friendly. Most temporary housing programs require people to be clean and sober and follow rules, and some serve families, not individuals. Shifting problem Although the shelters and programs provide options to many and get people into permanent housing, people fall through the cracks, Casarez said. The county needs a hosted encampment, but if it operates the way the draft framework proposes, it will still leave many unserved, some advocates say. Its not a one-size-fits-all solution because its not a one-size-fits-all problem, Casarez said. If the barriers are too high, people will just move around. Morrison said smaller hosted encampments may work better than one large site, but it wouldnt take long for a hosted site to see success. Cowlitz County also needs more inpatient substance abuse disorder treatment beds, as well as more options for people with severe mental illness, Morrison said. Recently his staff had to drive someone 300 miles for inpatient treatment, he said. It would be helpful to have emergency or temporary housing that allows pets, but adding that capability to the system will take time, Morrison said. Housing shortage Available housing in Cowlitz County is in short supply, and temporary or transitional housing programs often have long waiting lists. Tammy, who declined to give her last name, is living at the Alabama Street camp for a second time after losing her housing when the owner decided to sell. Shes struggled to find a new place because of high rents and credit score requirements. Theres not enough opportunities here, she said. Instead of hating on us, make it easier and give us opportunities to better ourselves. Housing Opportunities of Southwest Washington and the Kelso Housing Authority have long waiting lists for their housing voucher and public housing programs that only open periodically. Lower Columbia CAP has multiple programs to help homeless people or those at risk of losing their housing. The number of people in each program is limited by available funding and the average expense of helping each household, said Program Development Director Amanda Rasmussen. CAP constantly is reassessing available funds against the demand, she said. Everyone is having difficulty finding housing in the current market, Rasmussen said. Cowlitz Countys apartment vacancy rate was 0.5%, according to the spring 2021 apartment market report from the Washington Center for Real Estate Research. Thats a fraction of the 7% to 8% considered healthy for the economy, according to the state Department of Commerce. The median home price in Cowlitz County has increased over the past year and the number of listings available have decreased significantly over the past eight years, according to the centers housing market report. The low housing inventory means there simply arent enough available units for everyone who needs them, Rasmussen said. This increased competition means that people with additional barriers such as having low income or a history of housing instability are finding it especially difficult to find adequate housing. Love 1 Funny 7 Wow 1 Sad 7 Angry 6 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. About 60% of transactions are done online, by mail or at self-service stations up from about 25% in 2018. Benson said she wants to get to 75% because that's where we'll have the supply and demand match, so that whenever anyone wants to come to an office they're able to do so at a time that works for their schedule and be in and out." Rep. Steve Johnson, a Wayland Republican who chairs the panel, was among members in both parties who suggested that walk-in customers be allowed. GOP legislators in both the House and Senate have proposed spending bills that seek to require the resumption of non-appointment services. Their fate is uncertain as negotiations begin with Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. You're getting the worst of both worlds here. Because of COVID, because we've extended a lot of things, you have this backlog and you want to try these new ideas. How about until we get those new ideas implemented, we bring in the walk-in option until we get there? Johnson said. Benson said that would not work because staff would be diverted to walk-in traffic, reducing appointment slots and leaving people standing in line, waiting for hours. Residents who cannot get a next-day appointment they open at 8 a.m. and noon the day before should keeping trying because they eventually will, she said. Here's what you need to know about the first FDA-approved drug for Alzheimers disease in nearly 20 years. What will it cost? What will insura Since Democrats have gained control of the Legislature, Inslee has become more emboldened and they have passed policies that are antithetical to rural values. The barrage of taxes, bloated budgets, assaults on firearm rights (Initiative 1639) and invasive proposals have propelled the change in the county and the district. Rural voters have had enough. Their votes have signaled this. This last year, Inslee was handed nearly unlimited powers to deal with the COVID-19 emergency. To compound the issues, the state legislative session ended, failing to provide checks and balances on those powers. This wont help the positions of Democrats in rural areas. When government operates in an echo chamber, passing laws such as an unconstitutional Income Tax on Capital Gains (Yes, the IRS says its an income tax), the people take notice. Some would argue the policy of no isnt enough, that politicians must work with others to craft policy, even when those policies are bad. Many, like myself, believe rural Washingtonians have simply had enough. We dont want gifts or to feel politicians know what is best for us. We expect the people we elect to take a stand and fight for us. That is what leadership is about. Voters want to be listened to and in rural Washington, Democrats havent been listening, so the conservatives have. A republic only works if all the people are heard. Right now, the conservatives are the ones listening to Cowlitz County. Bill Josh is a Longview Realtor, Mint Valley Precinct Committee Officer for the Republican Party and a member of the Cowlitz County and city of Longview planning commissions. Love 9 Funny 6 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 5 News Sidewalk replacement program addresses 11 Mt. Lebanon streets Harry Funk / Harry Funk/The Almanac Harry Funk/The Almanac This sidewalk along Beverly Road was in top shape when this February 2019 photo was taken, but sidewalks in other parts of Mt. Lebanon have been identified as in need of improvement. Courtesy of Google Maps Sidewalks along the streets marked in red are designated for this years assessment replacement program. Sidewalks in the general area of Mt. Lebanon near Foster Elementary School are getting an upgrade. A resolution approved Tuesday by Mt. Lebanon commissioners calls for the replacement of deteriorated slabs, as determined by the public works department to be potential tripping hazards, on 11 streets in the southeastern part of the municipality, including most of the ones named after World War II heroes. Property owners, as the parties responsible for the sidewalks, will be assessed for the cost involved. The municipality pays for work on land it owns. Commissioner Craig Grella voted against the measure. During the discussion session preceding the regular commission meeting, he and some of his colleagues questioned whether the municipality could foot the entire bill. Mt. Lebanon has $105,000 budgeted this year to replace 548 slabs on residential properties. Public works director Rudy Sukal reported the cost as $8.75 per square foot for a four-inch-thick slab, used most commonly, and $10.45 for the six-inch-thick sections of sidewalk over which vehicles pass for driveway access. With slabs typically sized at 20 square feet, that adds up to $170 and $209, respectively. The sidewalk replacement program was intended for 2020 but did not take place because of hardships associated with COVID-19, but our contractor agreed to sign off on a change order to carry that pricing to this year, Sukal said. He noted that the economies of scale associated with a larger-scale contracts result in lower prices compared with contracting on an individual basis. For a contractor to come out and replace one or two slabs, it would be a lot more money, he said. They would basically pay for a full load of concrete just to get a couple of slabs done. Property owners, though, can opt out of having the municipality handle the work. We do give the residents an opportunity, at least 30 days notice, before we release the work to the contractor, that they have the ability to have their own contractor replace the slabs that have defects that we have identified, Sukal said. Municipal manager Keith McGill said the amount budgeted for the program is booked as a receivable. We anticipate, over two years, getting 90% of that funding back. Liens are filed against properties for which compensation is not received, according to finance director Andrew McCreery. Several years ago, the public works department identified 10 divisions of the municipality for sidewalk replacement on a rotating basis. Sukal said the work generally occurs every two-and-a-half to three years, meaning that completing the entirety of Mt. Lebanon could take nearly three decades. The 2021 program addresses sidewalks along Bradley Court, Eisenhower Drive, Halsey Court, Hoodridge Drive, MacArthur Drive, Marshall Drive, Ridgway Court, Roycroft Avenue, Stilwell Court, Vermont Avenue and Woodland Drive. Mt. Lebanon actually conducts two separate sidewalk replacement programs. The other effort remedies damage caused by the roots of municipally owned trees in the rights of way between sidewalks and street curbs. In those cases, the municipality covers all of the cost. And according to Sukal, property owners can benefit in another manner, as well. We have a provision in our contract that the contractor has to provide the resident with the same unit cost if they want additional sidewalk slabs done when were doing the root damage work in front of their home, he explained. Some residents take advantage of that, and they have either multiple slabs or the entire sidewalk in front of their homes completed. Sukal said the root-replacement program is continuing where it left off last year, in the vicinity of Markham Elementary School. The two biggest Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce fundraisers of the year, Chamber Experience and Business & Bites, have been combined into one event for the first time. And it wont be the last. I cant wait to see the connections on those campers faces when they finally get to be where they feel like they belong again, she said, especially after a year of the uncertainty of how life is going to be. Im just excited to see that again, and Im very positive about it. In recent interviews, Munoz and Lowder both said that any COVID-19 precautions like reduced capacity in sessions to allow for social distancing will be determined by the university and have yet to be solidified. University officials said that face coverings are not required but are highly recommended for those who have not been vaccinated. Munoz said that there are eight dates through July and August that Fish Campers can choose from, which is one more than the usual seven offered. He said the additional weekend was added so that attendees could be spaced out to allow for social distancing if needed. When camps had to go virtual last year, Munoz said that the usual attendance of up to 8,000 dropped down to about 3,000 people. For ATC, Lowder said it is typical for T-Camp to see about 300 attendees, while the spring version usually has 150 to 200 people. This past spring though, which was a sort of hybrid in-person and virtual experience, saw a bit over 200, she said. Flash China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, on Saturday paid tribute to UN peacekeepers and reiterated China's commitment to UN peacekeeping. In a video message for the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, which falls on May 29, Zhang extended his deepest respect and appreciation to all the peacekeepers deployed around the world. He paid the highest tribute to more than 4,000 UN peacekeepers who gave their lives to the cause of peace. "The best way to honor fallen heroes is to continue our pursuit of peace," said Zhang. China is the second-largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget and always pays its dues in full. China is also the largest troop and police contributor among the five permanent members of the Security Council, he noted. While the blue helmets are protecting the world, China is committed to protecting them, said Zhang. Last year, under China's initiative, the Security Council adopted Resolution 2518, the first resolution on the safety and security of peacekeepers. Last month, China, together with some other countries, established the Group of Friends on the safety and security of peacekeepers. Last Monday, China chaired a Security Council open debate on this theme, with the adoption of a presidential statement, he said. China will continue to honor its commitment with concrete actions in supporting the United Nations and protecting its peacekeepers, said the Chinese ambassador. Members of Catholic Daughters, Court Queen of Peace No. 2227, met May 20 at Blessed Sacrament. Regent Gayle Spary opened the meeting with prayer for the Supreme Court, since they will be ruling on the Mississippi abortion case. New member Pat Tackett, a transfer from Iowa, was introduced. The Spiritual Adoption Program will be starting at Resurrection Church starting the first Sunday of June and culminate with a baby shower around Feb. 14, 2022. Spary will speak at the Masses this weekend to explain the program, and will use the same signage used at Blessed Sacrament last year. The groups 40th anniversary was discussed with plans including a Mass and meal for the 73 charter members. A letter from National was read regarding new members. It was announced that graduating senior girls should receive information about Catholic Daughters of America and the Newman Center for when they attend college. Spary wrote an invitation letter with the history of CDA. It was discussed putting it on the web site and Facebook and have a welcome committee. Area students earn honors at Kansas State MANHATTAN, Kan. Several area students have earned spring semester honors at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan. Students earning a grade point average for the semester of at least 3.75 receive semester honors along with commendations from their deans. Area students earning semester honors include: Rachel Kort of Ayr; Payton Best, Carissa Jonak and David Pilsl, all of Grand Island; Colleen Fulton of Loup City; and Wyatt Schulz of St. Paul. Honors Lindee Kaldahl of Hastings was among 34 members of the newest doctor of physical therapy class at Trine University in Angola, Ind., to receive their white coats, symbolizing their entry into the physical therapy profession, on May 21. Ryann Perkins of Grand Island has been named to the winter Presidents List at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, N.H., for earning a grade point average of at least 3.7. Jennifer Quig of Hastings has been named to the winter Deans List at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester, N.H., for earning a grade point average of 3.5 to 3.699. He said the banks ATM will be available and customers may also take advantage of digital banking services. Pathway opened its Grand Island branch in September 2007. Insurance services were added under the same roof in 2012 and home mortgage was added in 2016. Wiemers said Pathway Bank was founded in 1910 as the State Bank of Cairo. Since its founding, it has been a local, community-focused bank. We have always had a special connection to, and focus on agricultural within the communities we serve; this includes strong support for our local Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapters, he said. Wiemers said Pathway is committed to our agricultural roots and we will continue the strong commitment and focus in this area. We are also looking to grow and expand our commercial business footprint in the Grand Island market, he added. Our focus is currently on organic growth within our market areas driven by our great team of employees at Pathway. On the lending side, Pathway Bank provides a full range of agricultural loans, including farmland, operating lines, equipment and livestock financing; secondary market and in-house home mortgages due to their newly added expertise, Wiemers said. Because of their diligent work in preserving these records, FamilySearch provides many records that are not included in the Ancestry.com database. Because of their partnership agreements, many of these records are accessible only within an affiliate facility. Many of these digitized records are important primary source records such as vital records like birth, marriage, and death records. Another great feature of the FamilySearch website is the catalog search by place. You can enter a place name and see all of the sources that are available on the FamilySearch site. This is a really great feature as you will be able to see different types of sources you may not think to look for otherwise, such as tax lists, funeral home records, newspaper clippings and so on. Later in the summer and into the fall, keep a look out for partnered events we will have in our Heritage Room that will highlight not only FamilySearch, but all of the genealogy and local history resources available not only at the Grand Island Public Library, but in Grand Island, Hall County and around the area, like the Hall County Historical Society and Prairie Pioneer Genealogical Society. In her artist statement, Irwin wrote, I love this quote and could personally identify with it. My calling to be an artist was known to me since I was a child. Although my family and close friends have always known this, I remember that around age 11, people would start telling me that I wouldnt be able to make a living (as an artist). And as I got older, and it was clear that it was impossible for me to NOT be an artist, I would hear things like, The only way you can make a living as an artist is to be a teacher or go into graphic design. Of course, there is nothing wrong with those professions; it just didnt fit my vision of how I was an artist. Imagine you are flying over Europe in a European air carrier on your way home from a Greek vacation in the post-coronavirus era. Suddenly, your plane does a 180-degree turn and lands in Minsk, Belarus. You see from your window that it is being escorted by a MiG-29 fighter jet. You are held for seven hours at the Minsk airport, while an exiled Belarusian dissident and his girlfriend are seized from among the passengers and hustled off by security police. This act of air piracy was not a movie plot or the work of Mideast terrorists. It took place May 22, when an Irish-owned Ryanair jet flying from Greece to Lithuania was forced on direct orders from Belarusian strongman President Alexander Lukashenko to land in Minsk as it crossed through Belarusian airspace. The goal was to kidnap prominent Belarusian journalist Raman Pratasevich, 26, who has been living in exile in Lithuania and was flying there. In other words, Lukashenko thinks he can carry out a political hijacking in a European country. And neighboring Russia is openly supporting this crime. Our states governor seemed to be taking lessons from the Grinch this week as he announced on Monday that the state would no longer accept the additional $300 per week in federal unemployment benefits for people receiving state benefits, then vetoed bills to expand the food stamp and heating assistance programs in Nebraska. But the Legislature came through for Nebraskans most in need on Wednesday when they overrode Pete Ricketts vetoes of LB108 and LB306. These bills now will become law, allowing an additional 3,945 families to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and expanding eligibility for federal heating assistance. Ricketts had said in vetoing state Sen. John McCollisters food stamp bill that providing benefits to people making between 130% and 165% of the federal poverty level would act as a disincentive to work. But that argument doesnt hold water. Nebraskans who have that much income up to $43,725 for a family of four are working, maybe even at several low-paying jobs. But they still need help in providing enough food for their families. Our state and our community have so many hard-working families that live paycheck-to-paycheck and have trouble putting enough food on the table for their children. Paris, TX (75460) Today A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. You are here: World Flash Yemen's Houthi militia said they launched a fresh bomb-laden drone attack at dawn on Sunday on the King Khalid Air Base in Saudi Arabia's southwestern border city of Khamis Mushait. "The drone attack hit the Saudi airbase accurately," Houthi military spokesman Yehya Sarea was quoted by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV as saying. Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted and destroyed a bomb-laden drone the Houthi militia launched toward Khamis Mushait, Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV reported at dawn on Sunday. This was the second such foiled attack by Houthi on Saudi Arabia in nearly 24 hours, according to Al-Arabiya TV. Cross-border missile and drone attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis have escalated since February when the group began a major offensive against the Saudi-backed Yemeni government army to capture the oil-rich province of Marib in central Yemen. A recent UN-brokered negotiation between Yemen's warring sides and other relevant parties has failed to produce a cease-fire agreement. Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. The Saudi-led Arab coalition started to intervene in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government. After a lottery to determine winners among top-scoring applications for the 75 licenses, Ford's bill would set up lotteries for awarding the next 110 licenses, in two equal batches, that would make "social-equity" applicants more likely to qualify for lotteries. Social-equity applicants include entrepreneurs from low-income neighborhoods or who had been arrested on marijuana charges or had immediate family members who had been arrested. After the 75 licenses are awarded, applications for the next 110 licenses could qualify for a lottery if they scored 85% or better on state criteria rather than the perfect scores required previously, Ford said. The bill would allow social-equity applicants who win licenses to locate their dispensaries closer than 1,500 feet from an established dispensary unless local ordinances prohibited the option. Current state law prohibits dispensaries from opening closer than 1,500 feet apart. The bill also would allow existing dispensaries to move within a municipality with that municipality's approval. And I can tell you exactly why it was cut out. It was because the people who sat in these green chairs decided that the only way to know if children learned was to make them test, test, test, she said. And so the schools, the teachers, the principals, the students feel so much pressure from these tests that they don't even feel there's time to go out and play because there's so much anxiety. Under the amended bill, all children from kindergarten through fifth grade would be entitled to at least 30 minutes of supervised, unstructured, child-directed play during any school day lasting five clock hours or longer. That time could be divided into two recess periods of 15 minutes each. During days that last less than five clock hours, the time allotted for play would be at least one-tenth of the day. Schools would not be allowed to use physical education classes as a substitute for recess. Nor would they be allowed to withhold recess from a student as a form of discipline, unless the students presence poses an immediate threat to the safety of others. Play develops social skills, teaching children how to organize, cooperate, resolve conflict, share, and lead, Ortiz said. Play gives children the freedom to be creative and explore. I realized at that moment that being optimistic does not mean everything is perfect. Its not. It does mean Ive decided to focus on the good outcomes rather than bad and to allow my mind and body to conspire together to help create a better reality. I believe optimism and a positive mindset are essential components to my healing process, but so is accuracy in describing my symptoms, positive or not. Admitting I didnt feel well wasnt a failure to be positive. In fact, not accurately deciding the current condition of my health could create an extremely negative outcome. Im learning that the smart thing to do is adjust myself to the reality and truth of my health instead of trying to make the truth of my condition something that its not. As minor as it is and as simple as it sounds, I was unable to admit I wasnt okay. It also doesnt mean Im giving into a negative diagnosis. Im still fighting with the attitude and belief Im going to beat this cancer and I am. It just means my doctors need accurate information so they can help me win this battle. This column began while I was lying in a hospital bed but is ending with me at home and back to my normal routine. Im feeling much better and looking positively forward to my day. Magazine editor's pick alert top story WATCH NOW: STORIES OF HONOR: Retired Navy vet says he realized blessing of U.S., freedom GENE ZALESKI, T&D Bowman resident Daniel Magers entered the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 in 1975 when he joined the delayed entry program. He was 18 when he was shipped off to boot camp to Great Lakes, Illinois. SPECIAL TO THE T&D Bowman resident Daniel Magers is pictured in 1975 as a U.S. Navy seaman recruit. Bowman resident and retired U.S. Navy veteran Daniel Magers did not really have a thought or interest in entering military service growing up on the plains of Kansas and later in Arkansas. It was not until his senior year of high school that the thought crossed his mind. "During high school, I realized that if I joined the service, I could use the GI Bill to go to college after," Magers said. Other factors also came up that made military service a little more attractive. There was the opportunity to leave his small town and to join a friend who had also entered the military. Magers and his friend were later in boot camp together. Magers entered the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 in 1975 when he joined the delayed-entry program. He was 18 when he was shipped off to boot camp to Great Lakes, Illinois, as a seaman recruit E-1. From there he went to Meridian, Mississippi, for technical training to be a disbursing finance clerk on board the USS Oklahoma City (CG-5), a guided-missile cruiser home-ported in Yokosuka, Japan. As a seaman apprentice (E-2), Magers was on the vessel for the next two years. After the USS Oklahoma, Magers was transferred to Misawa, Japan, and continued to work as a disbursing clerk for the next one-and-a-half years. Magers would ultimately serve 7-1/2 years in Japan before coming back to Memphis, Tennessee, and changing jobs. STORIES OF HONOR: Vietnam veteran earned Purple Heart, Bronze Star Keever Folk of Ehrhardt joined the U.S. Army in 1967 at the age of 19 and was sent to Vietnam right after going through basic training. The job change required him to go to language training in Monterey, California, before returning to Japan for another four years flying in a reconnaissance squadron at Naval Air Station, Atsugi, Japan. Magers would find himself stationed at a number of posts and gradually moving up the naval ranks. Stations and duties included: Naval Air Station Barber's Point in Hawaii where he served as an air crewman/assistant officer in charge (AOIC); Denver, Colorado (AOIC); USS Chosin (CG-65) guided missile cruiser -- electronics warfare officer; Bad Aibling, Germany -- operations officer; and San Diego, California -- operations officer. "I always enjoyed meeting people from the various countries while stationed overseas," Magers said. "During my tour on the USS Oklahoma City, we visited nine or 10 countries. We were the flagship for the 7th Fleet and carried the admiral to many locations." "You build relationships that last a lifetime and learn to experience and respect different cultures," Magers continued. "Many of the duty stations conducted relationship building by working on schools, helping with clean-ups of local areas, opening bases to local populations to share what we are doing with the locals." Magers specifically recalled his time in Bosnia. T&D STORIES OF HONOR 2021 "I deployed to Bosnia and experienced the ravages of war on the various ethnic/religious groups there and the hardships many had to endure after the war," he said. "There were IEDs (roadside bombs) that we had to deal with while moving around between camps." "I remember one time we were at a camp that was between Bosnian Muslim and Bosnian Serb territory," Magers said. "It had been heavily mined during the war." "We had a stray dog that was drinking water next to our vehicle and being playful," he said. "A few minutes later, we hear an explosion and realized the dog had slipped out through the perimeter fencing and came into contact with the mine. It was heartbreaking." "But the resilience of the people of that country was amazing to watch," Magers said. "Seeing and experiencing those things made me realize how blessed I was to be born to a country like the United States, where too often, things are taken for granted." Magers also recalled his time in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm and Shield where he experienced Muslim culture. "I would have never have been able to experience the world through the eyes of others without living in those locations," he said. "I experienced the good and the bad of the world and leaders while serving my country." "I always believed we were trying to make things better for those less fortunate than us and especially those living under tyrannical conditions," Magers said. "There were long days at sea launching aircraft for combat patrols over both countries," he continued. "As an air crewman during the Cold War, I flew many missions in areas that were deemed dangerous and encountered many ships and aircraft from hostile nations." The times were challenging. Magers said staying in touch with family as well as friendships he built during his assignments helped him through service. "The camaraderie that is established between members of the military services is important," Magers said. "It is an experience that many folks never have a chance to witness." "Knowing that the person next to you is prepared to give his or her life for yours, or for those we were protecting, is an incredible comfort," Magers said. "I came to strong faith in God later in life, but wish now that I had experienced that much earlier and shared with those I came into contact with." Magers said he was never fired upon but said there was a constant threat in combat, especially with regards to the IEDs. "During my times there, we on a couple of occasions came upon them and had to have them cleared before we could proceed," he said. "Being in the Navy, combat is something we experienced from miles away. Our weapons could neutralize threats from significant distances." Magers deployed last in the winter of 2001 through the summer of 2002 and retired in March 2003. His last deployment was to Bahrain to serve on the 5th Fleet staff during operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa. Magers was promoted to chief warrant officer in 1990 and retired as a CWO4 in 2003. He retired in San Diego before relocating to Charleston. He never did go back to Arkansas except for a high school reunion. Magers said he feels he did what he set out to do. "I worked to train those who worked for me," he said. "I think I prepared them to take over and continue what we were trained to do when I retired. "I hope that I helped those that came behind me to understand their oaths that were taken to this country and our fellow citizens," he continued. "I also hope that we presented a good image to those we came into contact with overseas and in the U.S." Magers said he does regret the time away from his family while serving, especially missing the milestones of children -- the first walk, graduation -- and other unforeseen circumstances like illness or injury of grandparents. But Magers said that despite the struggles, he is proud of his service. "We were a powerful deterrent force that sailed into various combat theaters around the world and we always trained for combat, all the while hoping that we would not have to use the firepower we carried with us," he said. "I will never forget the feeling of manning the rails in radiant white uniforms when we returned to our home ports after a six-month deployment." Currently, Magers is semi-retired and works with the Southern Methodist Church in the foreign missions department. He is a member of Bowman Southern Methodist Church, where he has served on various committees and boards. He helps to teach Sunday school and is a part of the Good News Club at Bethune-Bowman Elementary School. Magers is married to Missy, and the couple has four children -- Nicholas is in the U.S. Air Force; Patrick is a teacher in the Charleston area; and Jessica and Abby are nurses who live in Orangeburg. The couple has seven grandchildren. In addition to spending time with family, Magers enjoys hunting and fishing. Two years ago, he cleared an acre behind his house and had a pond dug. The pond is stocked with bream and bass. Reading is another hobby. As an aside, Magers noted today that the EA-3B Skywarrior airplane that he flew on while stationed in Japan in the 1980s currently sits on the USS Yorktown in Charleston. "The side number is 007 and we referred to it as the James Bond plane," he said, noting that when he relocated to Charleston in 2004, little did he know that a few years later, "this plane joined me in the Palmetto State." "I got to see her again," Magers said. When you cant read an eye chart well, your sight is impaired. When you cant read it at all, you are blind. When you cant see the disproportional number of Black men killed by the police, the extraordinary discrepancy of Blacks in prison, the numbers of Blacks arrested for possession of cannabis compared to the white population, it should indicate that you are prejudiced. When the facts are so blatantly obvious, we are blind to our own biases. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is a case in point. He denies systemic racism exists. The Republican governor argues that the idea that the U.S. has systemic policies that perpetuate racism is absolute horse manure. He undoubtedly has the information in front of him but cannot see it. Buying him a new pair of glasses is unlikely to change his views. His views have too much support from others who share his myopia. Its hard to have a serious discussion about racism without discussing history, but those who believe systemic racism doesnt exist almost always vehemently reject consideration of the past. Additionally, when looking at the present, racist deniers vigorously protest that we no longer behave brutally. On the contrary, they argue, people of color often receive favored treatment to the point that the White majority experiences discrimination. This subscription will allow existing subscribers of The World to access all of our online content, including the E-Editions area. NOTE: To claim your access to the site, you will need to enter the Last Name and First Name that is tied to your subscription in this format: SMITH, JOHN If you need help with exactly how your specific name needs be entered, please email us at admin@countrymedia.net or call us at 1-541 266 6047. Flash The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Saturday accused the European Union (EU) of being a "partner in the unjust war against Syria," as the EU decided to renew sanctions on Syria, according to the state news agency SANA. "Once again, the European Union proves its complete distance from reality, its full partnership in the unjust war on Syria, and its responsibility for the bloodshed of Syrians and destruction of their achievements," the ministry said. The EU recently said it will renew its sanctions against the Syrian government for another year. The EU sanctions were introduced in 2011 as a response to the alleged violent repression in the country. Currently, 283 individuals and 70 organizations are on the sanctions list, which includes a ban on entry to the EU and a freeze on European assets. The EU also has a ban on oil imports from Syria. The EU decision comes as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has won his fourth seven-year term in office in the presidential election. In its statement, the ministry said the "renewal of unilateral, inhuman coercive measures against Syria... affect the Syrian citizens in their life, health, and livelihood, and constitute a flagrant violation of the most basic human rights and principles of international humanitarian law." It further charged that the EU has lost credibility due to its "wrong approaches and its blind subordination to the U.S. policy." On Tuesday, Rep. Liz Cheney stopped by the Casper Star-Tribune offices for a half-hour sit-down with the newspaper. The interview spanned topics from the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol to Cheneys campaign for the 2022 Republican primary to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes recent controversial comments. The Star-Tribune has reported on some of Cheneys most noteworthy answers throughout the week. Below, you can find a majority of her interview with the Star-Tribune. The discussion has been edited for length and clarity, and notes have been added where necessary for context. The campaign Casper Star-Tribune: Are you going to be spending a lot of time in Casper? Liz Cheney: Were going to be in Casper today and part of tomorrow, and then we go over to Lander, Riverton. And then well be in Cody, just sort of doing the whole circuit. Which is good. I mean, covering a lot of territory and getting to see a lot of people and talk to folks. CST: Yeah. Its like a precursor to what its really going to be like when youre truly in the thick of the campaign. LC: Yeah, I mean, being in the House, basically its sort of always a campaign, so it doesnt change that much. CST: Thats true. But this campaign will definitely be different. I feel like its already different. LC: I think thats true. Yeah. Itll certainly be intense. I think therell be a lot of national focus on it in a way that we havent seen before. So it will be definitely it will be good. CST: So how are you going to change your campaign to address that? In terms of maybe spending or travel dates or anything like that? LC: Look, I think definitely recognizing that its not going to be like last campaign was, certainly, because of the focus, the intensity. But in Wyoming, it really does always come down to sort of the person to person, individual, talking to people one-on-one and in small groups. And so were already starting to do that. Basically, you know, thats something we do all year round every year. But I think this year, because there will be continued national focus, I think itll be a real choice for people to be able to say, Look, you can cast your vote for the candidate who is going to stand up and defend the Constitution or for somebody who is likely to have received the endorsement of Donald Trump and is loyal to Donald Trump. I think thatll be a real choice for people to make. CST: How do you think that that endorsement is going to affect the race, and how are you going to pivot when that endorsement likely does come? LC: I dont really anticipate that I will pivot, you know. What I will continue to do is talk about what I have done to fight for Wyoming, what Ive been able to do in terms of results for Wyoming on a whole range of issues, whether its energy or ag or whats going on with our tourism industry, all of the big issues that matter for us. Warren Air Force Base. But also being very clear and direct and honest with people about, you know, This is what happened in the 2020 election nationally. This is what happened on Jan. 6 and why I voted to impeach and whats happened since then. And so I think that that really will be sort of my message, what Im talking to people about, no matter whether we end up with eight, nine, 10 other opponents in the race or just one. CST: So Im sure you saw our story on Anthony Bouchard. What do you make of all of it? (Editors note: The state senator disclosed on May 20 that he had impregnated a 14-year-old girl when he was 18.) LC: I really dont have any comment on it. Im focused on delivering for the people of Wyoming. Im sure therell be multiple opponents in and out of the race, but I dont have any comment on that latest story. CST: OK. So say someone had approached your campaign with the information that he impregnated a 14 year-old-girl when he was 18. What would you have done with that information? LC: We have nothing to do with the story. I dont have any comment on it. And Im not going to answer hypotheticals. I dont believe that those are the kinds of stories that ought to be out there, that the people of Wyoming ultimately are going to be focused on. Itll be substance and policy, and thats the kind of race Im going to run. CST: Interesting. So you dont think that the people of Wyoming are going to be its not going to sway them much. Is that what youre saying? LC: What Im saying is that I am going to be running for reelection, seeking reelection based on what Ive done for the state of Wyoming, based on the big issues that we have to confront us and to challenge us. And I think that Im going to run a campaign thats worthy of the people in this state and its worthy of trying to earn their vote. Thats what Im going to stay focused on. CST: But he is your biggest threat at the moment. (Editors note: Bouchard was second to Cheney in fundraising in the first quarter of 2021.) LC: I dont have any comment on any of my opponents. I think I have seven or eight at this point. Reliving Jan. 6 CST: So I was kind of curious, just anecdotally, if you could give me like a little bit of insight into what your Jan. 6 experience was like. Weve had some people come out and say, I was shuffled to this room. I was shuffled to this room. There were insurrectionists in my office here. You know what I mean? Those like little anecdotes. I was wondering if you could kind of walk me through how that day unfolded for you and where your head was at. LC: Yeah, I mean, I was on the floor of the House and because on the House floor, you dont have television, we couldnt see what was happening on the outside of the Capitol. So the reports that we were getting came from members who had their phone and they were getting reports on their phone, or multiple times we had a Capitol police officer go up onto the dais, after they evacuated Speaker Pelosi. And then the police officer kept going up to the dais to give us updates. And so he would say things like, The rioters have breached the Capitol. And then at one point he said, The rioters are in the rotunda. CST: So what did you think at that moment? Where was your head at? LC: It was hard to believe it was real because the Capitol is just such a sacred place, and you assume that its going to be secure. One of the most just troubling moments of that period of the day was when one of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, he was sitting across from me, and he looked at his phone and he said, Liz, theres a Confederate flag flying in the rotunda. And that moment was really you realized that never happened during the Civil War. So there was a period of time where we were being instructed to get our gas masks out from under the chairs in the House. You could begin to hear the banging. They were giving us warnings, notification that thered been tear gas released in the rotunda, and thats why we had the gas masks. So it was surreal. It made me very angry, the idea that this could have happened and that there were people who were trying to use violence to stop us from counting electoral votes. CST: Yeah, usually such an insignificant thing that no one pays attention to. LC: Yeah. I mean, we learned that day how important it is. But it was very important then, where they evacuated us to my Democratic counterpart (New York Rep.) Hakeem Jeffries and I both agreed very early on how important it was that we work to make sure that people get back into the chamber that night. And that we finished counting the electoral votes just to show that the effort to stop us had not been successful. CST: So then when you were evacuated, where did you go? How close did you personally come to the insurrectionists? Do you know? LC: Well, I did not know at the time, but I know now that theres an area called the Speakers Lobby and they were taking all of us down the stairs on one side of it. And on the other side of the hallway is where people were coming in, and certainly people were trying to come in through the main doors of the chamber. So, we were close. CST: Did you know that they were trying to travel up to (Senate Minority Leader) Mitch McConnells office while you were in there? How threatening was that to you personally? LC: I mean, like I said, it was surreal. It made me very angry. But because we didnt have access to television I guess there was some television in a kind of an anteroom, but it was very difficult to know the extent of everything that was going on outside. Talking to constituents CST: So you said youve been traveling the state a little bit. What has been the response to your presence? LC: Ive been very heartened by the numbers of people who say, Thank you for standing up for principle. Just last night, somebody said to me, Listen, you know, we might not agree with you on everything, but the fact that youre standing up and doing whats right and having the courage of your convictions is something that people in Wyoming appreciate. There certainly are people who are angry, and I dont mean like aggressively angry, but angry about my vote. CST: So what do you say to them? LC: So we talk about why I voted the way I did, why it was important, what I saw that day, the fact that Donald Trump didnt send help while the attack was underway. CST: Are they receptive to that? Does it seem like it resonates? LC: People listen. Yeah. I mean, look, I think these are really big and important issues. And I think these are conversations that we have to have. Some people, Im sure their minds are not going to be changed. Some people listen and ask for additional information. And other people listen and say, Gosh, I didnt know that. And Im really glad I had the chance to talk to you about it. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Being voted out of leadership CST: So it was also reported that you didnt like make a ton of effort in this second vote to remove you from your leadership position, to kind of round up support to keep you in it. Im curious why you made that decision and what kind of calculus went into the lead-up to not try and get people to keep you in power? LC: You know, it became clear that to stay in that position, I would have to perpetuate the big lie. I would have to be willing to go along with the idea that the election was stolen. If you look at what the other leaders in the Republican party in the House are doing, thats what theyre doing. Look at what (House Minority Leader) Kevin McCarthy is doing, what (House Minority Whip) Steve Scalise is doing. They are embracing President Trump. They are essentially ignoring the very grave things that he did on Jan. 6, and Im not willing to do that. I feel, for example, very strongly, weve got to have a Jan. 6 commission. And I think that that break between me and particularly Kevin McCarthy he doesnt want a commission and I think would rather that I wasnt saying publicly we have to have a commission. So it became clear that Im not willing to do what is necessary right now. I think its bad for Wyoming, and its bad for the country to perpetuate that lie. I think its much more important to get our party back to policy and substance. CST: That being said, you did have a decent number of months in power while pushing back against the big lie. So why did you kind choose not to continue that? What was the political calculus that went into thinking like, OK, this is the right thing to do to just relinquish my position, basically? LC: I think as time went on, things changed, and it became clear that that wasnt tenable anymore. You know, there certainly was a period of time after Jan. 6, I was the only one in leadership who voted to impeach. And there was a period of time where it looked like we really could just move forward. We could say that what happened on Jan. 6 happened, we had the impeachment vote, lets look to the future. But then Kevin McCarthy went to Mar-a-Lago and began to rehabilitate Donald Trump. We began to have debates about what role Donald Trump should play in the future of the party. And my view is if you provoke an attack on the Capitol and you refuse to send help and you continue to attack the foundations of our democracy, you cant play a role in the future of the party. Im not willing to not say that. I think its so important to preserve the democracy that I think thats a case that must be made. And so it became clear that I would have to agree not to make that case if I am going to stay in leadership, and I just wont do that. CST: So take me inside the voice vote, then. What was it like? Was it just so much louder on the one side? LC: By the time we got to that vote, it was clear what was going to happen. I opened the meeting with a prayer. We always open with prayer. This was the first time that I had given the prayer myself. I cited the verse, You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. I asked that everyone in the room remember that history was watching us. And I said if youre looking for leaders who will perpetuate the lie, then Im not your person, and you have plenty of other people to choose from. It was very quick. My view on it is clear. I had to make a decision about whether or not it was more important to be a member of the House leadership or more important to fight for Wyomings values and principles and for the restoration of the party. And it was not a tough decision. It was very clear that it was more important to do the latter. CST: I know what youre getting at kind is, like, this was the right opportunity to kind of fall on your sword. LC: It is not a political calculation. You know, there are other political calculations that would have been much easier. But this was really a moment and you can look and see all of the effort that went into what happened between Jan. 6 and a couple of weeks ago to try to sort of get people together, to try to say, Lets move forward, lets be unified. But theres just simply too much pull inside our conference in the House by Donald Trump. And it just became untenable. Response to Greenes comments CST: Did you see McCarthys statement this morning on (Georgia Rep.) Marjorie Taylor Greene? (Editors note: McCarthy condemned Greenes statements comparing COVID-19 safety measures to the Holocaust.) LC: I did. I think Marjorie Taylor Greene, and I said this a couple of days ago, what she is saying is evil. Its vile. I think that we need to hold her accountable. Its interesting, if you go back and look at what McCarthy said in February, when all of the news came out about her Facebook posts that were antisemitic before she was in office, one of the things he said was, If she had said these things, while she were in office, then we would have to hold her accountable. So I think thats the question. OK, so shes now said these horrific things in office, and she needs to be held accountable for it. CST: Do you think its Nancy Pelosis responsibility to do so? (McCarthy) said, At a time when the Jewish people face increased violence and threats, anti-Semitism is on the rise in the Democrat Party and is completely ignored by Speaker Nancy Pelosi. LC: I mean, look, I think that the Democrats need to make sure that they are holding accountable people in their caucus who have said things that are antisemitic who have supported groups like Hamas at a time when Israel is under threat. But I dont think that we should pivot away from Marjorie Taylor Greene. Shes a Republican. What she said is disgusting, and I think she ought to be held accountable for it. Looking to 2022 CST: How is this campaign is going to be different? Do you plan to travel the state more? Which towns do you plan to go to more? LC: Look, I will be all over the state all the time. It is going to be a very energetic, enthusiastic, intense campaign. I think that one way it might be different is there probably will be more national focus on it, depending upon what President Trump decides hes going to do. CST: So how does that affect where you go in the state and what you spend your money on? LC: It doesnt. The difference is I think theres going to be more national attention and I think the issues about the Constitution are going to be different. But in terms of how I decide how Im spending my time, I am all in, 100%, everything possible that I can do to have the chance to make sure that Ive talked to as many people individually as possible. But I look at that from the perspective of running an effective campaign across Wyoming. Well see what happens in terms of opponents and endorsements. CST: Whats the biggest obstacle you have to overcome in your campaign, do you think? LC: Look, I am going to just continue to make sure that the people of Wyoming know what Ive been able to do and what my views are. I think certainly the prospect of President Trump and his machine trying to come into our state and anoint somebody is something weve never seen before. And I think certainly that I wont take that for granted. But again, its going to provide the people of Wyoming an opportunity to make a real choice. The other candidates in this race, including potentially whomever he decides hes going to endorse, their loyalty is to a former president who provoked an attack on our Capitol. And my loyalty is to the Constitution, to the people of Wyoming. So I look forward to that race. I look forward to those debates. CST: You want to do a debate? LC: Yeah. I look forward to doing multiple debates. CST: What are your stances on how Wyomings primaries and general elections should be run? And what are your thoughts on crossover voting? LC: Look, the state Legislature will make those decisions. I really believe that these issues under the Constitution, theyre issues that should be decided by the state. I will run a race based on whatever the state Legislature decides. And I look forward to running a successful race based on whatever they decide. CST: Do you think that taking away crossover voting could harm the number of votes you get? LC: I really am committed to earning every single vote, and whatever the state Legislature decides I just dont think that it is right to get in the middle of that. I think thats something that isnt a federal issue. Im a federal elected official. CST: But their decision affects your race. LC: I will run my race based on working hard to earn every single vote, no matter what they decide in terms of how the election is going to be run. Support in Washington CST: Have you spoken with (Wyoming Sens. John) Barrasso or (Cynthia) Lummis? LC: I do. I have. CST: Theyve kind of stayed out of this. All the statements theyve given me are, We look forward to continuing to work with Rep. Cheney. What do you think of their stance on all this? LC: Look, we have a really strong delegation and we work together on the issues that really matter for the state. And I am sure well continue to do that. Whether, you know, you go back and look at what we were able to do during COVID. Then of course it was Sen. (Mike) Enzi. And its unusual. Most of my colleagues in the House dont have that kind of relationship with the senators from their state, but the three of us work very well together, and well continue to do that. CST: So theyve been supportive of you? LC: We work together, every single day on just about every issue that matters for Wyoming. Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Joe was the scout. He was ahead of me and to the left. We were walking uphill in about six inches of snow with more falling. As the sky started to lighten we could see various shades of grey against the black of the pine trees in the distance. Suddenly, a blinding white flash and the ripping roar of a German MG 42 machine gun. We hit the deck. Off to my left, I saw Joe draw up and return fire. The bullets were snapping over my head. Finally, Joe crawled to about 20 yards from the machine gun. I saw him pull the pin from a hand grenade and lob it in a long arc to the machine gun nest. Immediately, he threw a second grenade. As it released, I saw his arm jolt back. After the second explosion, the Sergeant yelled move forward! I jumped up and angled over toward Joe. When I saw him, I just knew he was dead. I shouted for a medic, and thought I saw one coming toward us. I moved on to the machine gun position. That was the last time that I saw your son. My great grandfather was Frank MacKenzie. He lived in Sheridan. As a little boy, I remember him teaching us to milk a cow, and shooting the stream into his barn cats mouth. He was a veteran of the Great War. That war was particularly horrific, and he was fortunate to make it home. Grandad MacKenzie was at the first battle of the Somme. He was gassed and carried shrapnel from that fight for the rest of his life. Over 53,000 Americans died. In his immortal work of World War I, In Flanders Fields, the poet John McCrae wrote, To you from failing hands we throw, the torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders fields. If ye break faith. As Americans, we are obliged to remember. The torch is ours to hold high, to be worthy of their sacrifice and ensure their death were not in vain. And as Wyomingites, we will remember. In Cheyenne, in the shadow of the Wyoming State Capitol, is the Wyoming Fallen Warriors Memorial. It is our states eternal commitment to the memory of those Wyoming Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who gave their lives for their country. We will remember. Its all the more appalling that hes depicted himself in the aftermath as a sort of hero, facing down an unfair mob of liberals, RINOs and the establishment. Given the timing, it appears Bouchard didnt make the disclosure out of a sense of responsibility or an obligation to be straightforward with the voters he hopes will send him to Washington D.C. He got out in front of a damaging story that, it turns out, was less than a day from publishing in a British tabloid. But he did have other options. He could have stated simply and unequivocally that his actions were wrong. He could have avoided directing blame toward others. He could have stopped himself before arguing erroneously that his actions dont warrant punishment simply by virtue of them having happened a long time ago. He could have accepted that people are angry not because they disagree with his policies, but with his behavior. Its also worth noting that Bouchard has made a political career out of outrage. Hes developed a reputation as an uncompromising, scorched earth politician who is quick to attack and label even his Republican opponents as swamp monsters. And yet he has shown remarkably thin skin when outrage is directed his way. Editor: Several years ago Liz Cheney spoke at the Lincoln Day Republican Dinner, she was easy to peg as a neo-con, phony conservative and surrogate of Machiavellian father Dick Cheney. When she ran for Congress as a carpetbagger; Stupid Republican Tricks had nine men and a baby ran against her, splitting the vote so she was elected. That Liz Cheney has betrayed her party is not debatable, more to the point she has betrayed her constituents. If she had any honor, she would have resigned. State Senator Anthony Bouchard, first to file for her seat is more than qualified to truly represent Wyoming. He is steadfast for the Constitution and proven to be effective in legislation. Now mud begins to fly, and has Dick Cheney's fingerprints all over it, coming from a foreign news source, typical CIA dirty trick. Folks in Wyoming are pretty savvy and hold old fashioned values. So Anthony got his girlfriend pregnant? How many of us skated on that thin ice way back then? He did the right thing, marriage instead of abortion. FINANCE Minister Colm Imbert said yesterday that the proposal to increase the retirement age to 65 from the current age of 60 is under active consideration, but he said the Government has not made a firm decision on the matter as yet. Spare a thought and/or prayer for frontline workers. So croons Chris Garcia over emotional keys and heart-tugging strings on his new release Hear Their Prayer. An ode to medical and protective personnel, Garcias tune calls for national appreciation and support for those risking their lives during this countrys deadliest surge in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. US mounts forced labor lies on fishing firm to serve strategy of containing China following attack on Xinjiang industries 10:34, May 30, 2021 By Ma Jingjing ( Global Times Fishermen work on an aquafarm at Changhai county in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, July 8, 2019. Photo: Xinhua While the US' groundless allegations of "forced labor" in Xinjiang's industries including cotton, tomatoes and solar energy did not achieve its goals of containing China, the US is turning to another Chinese industry by imposing a new import ban on seafood from a Chinese fishing company. Experts said that the US aims to further suppress China by imposing bans on a wider range of Chinese industries and enterprises, but the wrong calculations from the US scapegoating China for its own inadequacies and internal problems will only accelerate its decline. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on Friday issued a withhold release order against Dalian Ocean Fishing Co, citing "the use of forced labor" in the company's fishing operations, according to a statement on the bureau's website. Many workers on the vessels are Indonesians, Reuters reported, citing CBP officials. The CBP said it will immediately detain tuna, swordfish and other products from the entity at US ports of entry. It's worth noting that it's the first time that the CBP banned an entire fleet of fishing vessels, as opposed to individual vessels targeted in the past. Established in 2000, Dalian Ocean Fishing Co is a leading ultra-low temperature long-line premium tuna fishing company headquartered in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning Province. It operates a fleet of 33 ultra-low temperature long-line fishing vessels, according to an introduction on the website. "The US' latest move indicates that it would impose bans on a wider range of Chinese industries apart from Xinjiang industries in a bid to further weaken and suppress China in the competition between the two," Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times. The US aims to draw a third party in to confront China over the issue of "forced labor" by claiming "abuses" against Indonesian workers, Li said, noting that this is in line with the Biden administration's consistent policy on China by drawing partners into strategic competition against China. Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at Renmin University, told the Global Times on Saturday that it's already widely known that the US' ulterior purpose is hindering China's national rejuvenation by seeking decoupling with China in technology and industrial chains, with issues like "forced labor" and privacy protection being major excuses. "China's national rejuvenation is in line with market and globalization rules," Wang said. He said Washington's wrong actions of targeting China as a scapegoat for looming domestic social and economic contradictions will only allow the US to miss a golden opportunity to launch internal reforms, serving to speed up its decline. The US has been confronting China with the excuse of "forced labor" for some time, which China has repeatedly denied with abundant evidence. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying reiterated at a regular press briefing on May 12 that the allegations of "forced labor" in Xinjiang are an outrageous lie, and those in the US and the West who hype the issue in order to harm Chinese companies and industries are following a malicious agenda to destabilize Xinjiang and contain China. (Web editor: He Zhuoyan, Bianji) Do you have a news tip? Want to share good news story, or do you have information that should see the light of day? Then we want to hear from you. More here Moved by the sight of senior citizens waiting in long lines outside vaccination centres across the country, businessman Shane Mahabirsingh yesterday took it upon himself to provide comfort for them. Mahabirsingh, owner of Bilda Boyz Construction in Gasparillo, visited three health centres in the South-West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) distributing chairs, water and sanitising the elderly men and women standing in line. It is not often that well-resourced and politically powerful companies such as ExxonMobil and Shell suffer historic defeats. However, last month, in different ways, both oil majors saw activist shareholders and environmentalists cause them and the international energy sector to have to think hard about what the future holds for hydrocarbons. Vladimir: Let us make the most of it, before it is too late! Waiting for Godot One of my favourite works of literature is Samuel Becketts play, Waiting for Godot. Apart from the comedic moments, the play contains a cautionary tale about the dangers of waiting and the anxiety that comes along with it. Im dealing with a lot of Overseas Adventure Travel cases at the moment. It seems the company strongly encouraged customers to accept a credit maybe a little too strongly. I mean, it should have at least waited until its own deadline before telling you that you had to take the credit. Ive said this before, and Ill say it again: If you can give your tour operator an opportunity to reschedule your trip, you should. Companies like OAT are struggling amid a difficult pandemic. You mentioned to me that your previous two OAT tours were terrific. What better way to ensure the company survives than giving it your business? But you shouldnt have to do that, and the state of Massachusetts agrees. So this is really an open-and-shut case. You get a refund. Period. If anyone else is having a problem with getting a refund from Overseas Adventure Travel, the names, numbers and email addresses of its executives can be found at elliott.org/company-contacts/grand-circle-travel/. I recommend sending a brief, polite email citing 940 Mass. Reg. 15.06 and requesting a refund within 30 days. If that doesnt work, you can file a complaint with the Massachusetts attorney general or with me. I contacted Overseas Adventure Travel on your behalf. It issued an immediate refund. Elliott is the ombudsman for National Geographic Traveler magazine. You can read more travel tips on his blog, elliott.org, or email him at chris@elliott.org The planning phase includes ways to connect language programs to the Tohono Oodham in Mexico. The Oodham language in Mexico was also included in the endangered list. They plan to take language education programming to a school in the small Oodham community of Quitovac, Geronimo said. Organizers would also like to eventually have satellite centers in each of the Nations 11 districts. The districts arent all close to one another, and having satellite centers would make the language center more accessible to everyone on the Nation, which spans across more than 4,460 square miles from south of Casa Grande to the border. Geronimo said the center will allow people to focus solely on language preservation. There have been programs over the years to try to preserve the language, through museums or through educational institutions. But the center will create positions where a persons only job is to preserve the language, Geronimo said. A common goal Ramon-Sauberan is a doctorate candidate in American Indian Studies at the University of Arizona and a history and culture instructor at the Tohono Oodham Community College in Sells, about 50 miles west of Tucson. The rioters overwhelmed another line of police officers, again with the Konolds at the front of the crowd, and entered the Capitol building, the complaint says. Police officers tried to lower metal barriers in the tunnels underneath the building, but authorities say Felicia Konold and others pushed against the barriers to keep them from closing. Some in the crowd put a podium and a chair under the barriers to prop them open and allow more rioters to enter the building. In one video posted on social media, the woman the FBI believed was Felicia Konold said she was watching the news guys and Dude, I cant even put into words, according to the complaint. I never could (unintelligible) have imagined having that much of an influence on the events that unfolded today. Dude, people were willing to follow, the complaint quotes her as saying. She described going through three lines of police in the crowd, saying my feet werent even on the ground, all my boys, behind me, holding me up in the air, pushing back, according to the complaint. SMYRNA, Tenn. (AP) A small jet carrying seven people crashed into a Tennessee lake on Saturday, and authorities indicated that no one on board survived. The Cessna C501 crashed into Percy Priest Lake near Smyrna after taking off from a nearby airport about 11 a.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. Rutherford County rescue crews were still at the scene of the crash late Saturday and planned to work through the night, Rutherford County Fire Rescue Capt. Joshua Sanders said at a news conference. He indicated that there were no survivors. Our efforts have transitioned from a rescue effort to that of a recovery effort. ... We are no longer ... looking for live victims at this point, Sanders said. County officials identified the seven killed in a news release late Saturday. Brandon Hannah, Gwen S. Lara, William J. Lara, David L. Martin, Jennifer J. Martin, Jessica Walters and Jonathan Walters, all of Brentwood, Tennessee, were presumed dead. Their names were released after family members had been notified. Around the nation, Americans will be able to pay tribute to fallen troops in ways that were impossible last year, when virus restrictions were in effect in many places. It will also be a time to remember the tens of thousands of veterans who died from COVID-19 and recommit to vaccinating those who remain reluctant. Art delaCruz, a 53-year-old retired Navy commander in Los Angeles leads the Veterans Coalition for Vaccination, said his group has been encouraging inoculated veterans to volunteer at vaccine sites to dispel myths and help assuage concerns, many of which are also shared by current service members. We understand its a personal choice, so we try to meet people where they are, said delaCruz, who is also president of Team Rubicon, a disaster-response nonprofit made up of military veterans. Theres no definitive tally for coronavirus deaths or vaccinations among American military vets, but Department of Veterans Affairs data shows more than 12,000 have died and more than 2.5 million have been inoculated against COVID-19 out of the roughly 9 million veterans enrolled in the agency's programs. PHOENIX (AP) A lawsuit filed Friday alleges that Phoenix officers retaliated against 124 people at a protest of police violence nearly a year ago by arresting them on trumped-up criminal charges that were quickly dismissed. Lawyers who filed the lawsuit said the actions of the officers chilled the free-speech rights of protesters, contending officers were partially motivated by the desire to silence and disrupt plaintiffs actual or perceived protected anti-police-violence views. The lawsuit was filed against the city of Phoenix, Police Chief Jeri Williams and other police officials by 23 people who were arrested during the May 30 protest in downtown Phoenix. Demonstrators were protesting George Floyd's death in Minneapolis and Dion Johnson's death in metro Phoenix as officers were trying to arrest them. The suit seeks unspecified monetary damages and class-action status to cover the other 101 people who were arrested. The demonstrators also were requesting court orders that would bar Phoenix police from using chemical irritants at demonstrations and declare that the protesters in question were officially cleared of the allegations. OPINION: Gov. Doug Ducey's move for the flat tax is on letter writers minds and the affects it can have on schools. What are your thoughts? Write a letter to the editor at tucson.com/letters. We hope you have enjoyed your complimentary access for the month. To continue viewing content on tucson.com, please sign in with your existing account or subscribe. Now came 2020. As barrels of crude oil were filling available storage, demand was collapsing by approximately 20%. Demand, a fundamental component of crude oil prices, seemed like a stacked deck against the oil producer. There is much more to know about how we got there and more importantly what has helped bring the oil industry back from the brink of destruction. Even though storage never actually filled up the fear of such a status was enough to trigger a price collapse. On April 20, 2020, the blackest of black swan events ripped through oil and gas boardrooms around the world no one had seen this before, nor had they seen this one coming. Only a few barrels changed hands at the negative price of -$37.61 on paper, and probably not actual barrels. It only lasted one day, but its jarring effect was felt. That event was not fundamental, it was trading caused by market factors. The surrounding events were more significant than the negative price itself. Speculators had bought oil futures on paper that they wanted to sell at a profit before physical delivery was required. Those speculators did not have actual tanks in which to store oil. When it became apparent those contracts were expiring and they would have to take delivery, they ended up paying someone to get rid of those contracts. This is not a pause of a relationship, and I want to be clear about that. The split agreement bars EYS from signing any more contracts or agreements on Epics behalf and from attending the schools upcoming administrative retreat at a hotel and says it must cease and desist contacting school employees. EYS agreed to donate or release all assets and equipment and to donate to the school an SUV and cargo van it owns. The termination agreement also lays out a complicated calculation of how much of the schools Learning Fund dollars could still change hands between Epic Charter Schools and EYS in the coming weeks. In addition to its 10% cut of every revenue dollar through the end of the fiscal year, the terms of the deal indicate the school might still be on the hook to send Learning Fund dollars to EYS so EYS can ensure that all student expenses and liabilities through July 1 are paid. But Epic Charter Schools will be deducting nearly $11 million in various administrative penalties assessed by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. Epic Assistant Superintendent Shelly Hickman told the Tulsa World the school is still waiting on EYS to invoice it for remaining Learning Fund dollars. Outrageous: Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole, a senior Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, blasted President Joe Bidens $6 trillion budget proposal as utterly outrageous and unrealistic. The last thing America needs is President Bidens proposed tax-and-spend monstrosity, said Cole. Rather than proposing trillions in spending on non-pandemic related programs and initiatives, the president should be focused on fostering the nations economic recovery. U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe also criticized the budget proposal, chiefly for only raising defense spending 1.7%. The proposal is unlikely to go anywhere in an almost evenly divided Congress but represents an opening gambit by the administration. Middle East: U.S. Sen. James Lankford laid the blame for armed conflict in Israel and the Gaza Strip on Palestinian terrorist groups and their enablers. Indirectly, he also blamed the Biden administration for what he implied has been a soft approach to those groups. On this day in 2015, a former Tulsa man who served 16 years in prison on robbery and burglary convictions before being paroled and eventually Charges against J.B. Stradford, one of many indicted along with Smitherman, were dismissed by then-Tulsa County District Attorney Bill LaFortune in 2000. Reflecting back some 14 years later, Nevergold with no other ties to the massacre other than chronicling a singular character in the incident was pleased that her work resonated enough to clear the records of otherwise innocent men and help uncover another untold portion of history. "For me, this was a significant individual whose story was significant," said Nevergold, who will host a webinar detailing her investigative work. "He's a man whose story should come out of the shadows and should be well-known. "I just like to think of him being a phoenix that really rose from those ashes. I know there are other men and women who survived who also have lives that should be amplified." The exact death toll from what ensued is not known. At least 21 soldiers were killed, with estimates of Cheyenne dead ranging from a few dozen to 150, and including Chief Black Kettle. The event, named for the Washita River where it occurred, has remained controversial, in part because many women and children were killed, and also because of contentions that the Indians were peaceful and not among those attacking settlements. The present-day Washita Battlefield National Historic Site near Cheyenne, Oklahoma, commemorates the event. 1947 Woodward tornado Traveling more than 220 miles across three states, the tornado that struck Woodward on April 9, 1947, still ranks as the deadliest tornado in Oklahoma history, and one of the worst nationally. The storm hit the city without warning at 8:42 p.m., leaving at least 107 people dead. The bodies of three children were never identified. More than 1,000 homes and businesses were destroyed, along with over 100 city blocks. 1905 Snyder tornado On May 10, 1905, just three years after it was established, the town of Snyder in southwest Oklahoma Territory was hit by a devastating tornado. Mary Williams wants to introduce a broader perspective on American history, one that honors the African Americans who built the country and spreads hope for the generations to come. A parade during the commemoration events for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre centennial was the place God told her to start, she said. Groundbreakers are often forgotten or marginalized, but our framework today is because of the footprints of yesterday, said Williams, founder of Color Me True. African Americans are woven into the fabric of America with honor and credibility as much as any other culture of people or race. Its those very founders Williams sought to bring into the publics eye Saturday morning through dazzling educational floats, vintage automobiles, historical characters and at least 100 motorcycle riders from all over the country in the first Black Wall Street Heritage Parade. The line made its way through the heart of Greenwood during the Black Wall Street Legacy Festival as Williams spoke from a stage about each of the more than 25 entries, engaging spectators in the tales of history and encouraging them to imagine the district as it once was. The Tulsa County Democratic Party issued a statement late last week acknowledging what it said was its racist past. On this, the 100th Year Centennial Commemoration of the 1921 Race Massacre of Black Wall Street, the Tulsa County Democratic Party confronts our past transgressions and acknowledges a culture of passive acceptance of racism within our organization, said the statement. The Democratic Party, at multiple points throughout history, has been represented by individuals that have held racist views; this includes previous Democratic National Committee members and Democratic elected officials on both a national and a state level. The Oklahoma Democratic Party won control of the new state in 1907 in part on a pledge of segregation and white supremacy. That shifted over time, along with Democratic dominance, and today most elected Black officials in the state are Democrats. ATHENS, Greece (AP) Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Sunday began his trip to Greece with an unofficial visit to the northeastern province of Thrace, where most of Greeces Muslim minority resides. The official part of Cavusoglus trip will take place Monday morning, when he will meet with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He and Dendias will also have an informal dinner later Sunday. Cavusoglu arrived by official plane at the Greek city of Alexandroupolis on Sunday and proceeded to the city of Komotini, where a large part of the Muslim minority resides. In #Greece to meet members of Turkish Minority in #WesternThrace and discuss our bilateral relations, Cavusoglu tweeted. His mention of a Turkish minority is diplomatically sensitive, because Greece recognizes the minority as a religious one, while Turkey refers to it as an ethnic Turkish minority. Greece has tried to promote the ethnic diversity of the minority, highlighting its Roma and Pomak components, in an effort to contain Turkish influence and possible secessionist sentiment. The Tulsa Race Massacre left a mark on Oklahoma and on the United States as a permanent consequence of discrimination and racism. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the tragedy. The thriving community of Black Wall Street was targeted and burned to the ground. Many of its residents killed by mobs of white residents, many of them deputized and handling weapons given to them by city officials. One hundred years after the massacre, much of the country is still rattled with racial inequity and discrimination. Some may even say the current state of our country has reached a crossroads when it comes to race relations. Events like the death of Black men at the hands of white police officers and the Black Lives Matter movement have created new momentum in the fight against racism in the United States. Data scientists urge Americans to look at the data behind hate crimes to help both inform and define future policy in the United States. The goal is to educate and prevent future attacks. Hate crime isnt limited to race. As weve seen in the media, hate crime biases include religion, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation and disability, among other things. Attacks on these different groups have become more prevalent or maybe its just with the availability of social media, they are more visible. With code and authority, the city frustrated the rebuilding of Greenwood. The business elite cooperated. Insurance claims were refused. No reparations were made. History was whitewashed. Schools ignored the race massacre for decades. Generations of white Tulsans graduated from public schools unaware of the events of 1921. Such a cover-up can be read either of two ways, neither exculpatory. Either the white citizens of Tulsa recognized the horrific wrong, and intentionally hid the evidence, or they were so immune to the sufferings of others if the others were Black that they could naturally stifle any consideration of it. We suspect there were strong doses of both at work. Thus, the fires of the massacre became unredeemed ashes. The failure to change: Shame should have led to reform, but it did not. The racism of 1921 Tulsa was perpetuated in statute and behavior. Until forced by courts and federal law to recognize Black Americans as full citizens, Oklahoma and Tulsa continued for decades to treat them as something less. Team BK M.C.E., consisting of eight first-year students at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), has successfully utilized the Internet of Things (IoT) and facial recognition technologies to create a screening system capable of monitoring the risk of COVID-19 infection at campus entrances. The teams system is centered around the idea of a screening booth which can check whether an occupant is wearing a face mask, as well as measure body temperature and dispense hand sanitizer. The system also employs IoT and facial recognition technology to identify each occupant along with his/her staff or student ID number a crucial aid in contact tracing efforts, according to BK M.C.E. member Cao Khanh Gia Hy. The system has so far been endorsed by the universitys management, who both approved the idea as a university-level science project and granted the team access to the institutions labs and materials. Members of BK M.C.E work on their COVID-19 screening system. Photo: Thy Huyen / Tuoi Tre HCMUT lecturers Assoc. Prof. Dr. Quan Thanh Tho, Dr. Le Thanh Long and Dr. Vo Thanh Hang mentored the team throughout the creation process. The team is currently working to finalize the systems software and hardware before installing it at the HCMUT campus in June, as requested by the school leaders. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Tourism professionals across Vietnam are seeking new careers in real estate, education, retail, and logistics as a resurgence of COVID-19 in the country stalls hopes that a return to normalcy is on the horizon. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced Nguyen Van Hien, CEO of Nu Hoang Travel Agency in Hanoi, has closed all but one of his agencys offices. There, he sits at his desk tracking the few orders that have come in since the fourth wave of the pandemic hit Vietnam in early April. According to Hoang, COVID-19 is the worst thing to hit the industry in his two decades as a tourism professional, even compared to the SARS pandemic in 2003. An unexpected stop Before the COVID-19, Hiens office along the Red River was consistently filled with a slew of domestic and international tourists. Now, instead of helping people travel across the country, Hien and his three remaining employees help move packages across Vietnam. We assumed we would have to pause business for six months at the longest, but waiting out the pandemic for over a year has been unbearable. Theres no end in sight. Many other agencies have gone bankrupt. Our business is just a fraction of what it was, said Hien. Prior to the pandemic, Hiens company sold full-packages tours from its ten offices in Hanoi. It also operated 30 buses and held stakes in restaurant chains, hotels, and cruises. At its peak, the companys 100-member staff welcomed 3,000 to 4,000 international tourists about 70 percent of its total customers each year. Now, its workforce has been reduced to just 10 employees and its bus fleet has been cut to five vehicles used primarily to ship goods in order to cover the rental fee for Nu Hoang Travel Agencys last remaining office. Most of Hieus ex-employees have tried to reinvent themselves in new industries. They work in education, insurance, real estate, e-commerce all kinds of jobs that require a different kind of expertise, he said. Nguyen Van Sang, a former tourist agency operation, now drives for Grab and runs an online business. Photo: Tam Le / Tuoi Tre Building a new life Chu Thanh Tuyen, director of another travel agency in Hanoi, spends a great deal of his time teaching his employees how to make a living in the real estate market. Tuyens firm, which used to operate ten offices in the citys Old Quarter, has narrowed down its fleet of ten busses and vans to just two busses. It has also shuttered doors on nine of its locations. His staff members who have decided to stay with the company have been forced to sell real estate on the side. I have some past experience in real estate. Fortunately, Im able to use that experience to help me and my workers earn income during this difficult time. But its not a job for everyone, said Tuyen. According to Tuyen, his online real estate classes attract dozens of students, but all have a strong desire to return to tourism as soon as possible. I entered the industry when I was still in university. Ive been doing this for ten years now. I cant just give up on this career, he said. Nguyen Van Sang, the director of another travel agency in Hanois Old Quarter, said the pandemic has forced him to close all seven of his companys offices and switch to e-commerce and driving for Grab in order to make a living. The pandemic took everything from me. Ive had to start all over, finding a new job and learning how to do it, just like I did ten years ago. The only difference is that now I have a wife and children to care for and a house to pay off, said Sang. At the peak of his business, Sang was able to bring his relatives from Thanh Hoa Province to Hanoi and offer them jobs. Some were even able to establish their own agencies. But in the end, COVID-19 shut the lights on their businesses and forced many of them back home. To make ends meet, Sang sells fresh food, coffee, vegetables, and ozonated water on Facebook. He also works as a Grab driver and takes advantage of his time with his fares to advertise his Facebook business. These jobs are new to me and the only way I can learn is by doing them. I cant just sit around and do nothing, said Sang. Sangs organic food Facebook page. Photo: Tam Le / Tuoi Tre Rock bottom Travel agency owners from across the country seem to share similar sentiments about the pandemic. We were forced to sell everything, even our stationary. It was morose to see the companys sign board lowered, said Nguyen Van Nam, the former director of a tourism company in Hanoi. According to Nam, the exodus of workers from the industry has put it in a position where the idea of recovery seems like a distant dream. Domestic and international supply chains have broken, company owners have shut their doors and lost deposits of up to a year, and hotels, automobiles, and boats have begun to degrade due to a lack of use. A few boats that we bought using loans have been docked for months because the interior is too expensive to use for anything besides serving tourists, explained Nam, adding that hes working with banks to request an extension on loan repayment periods. Thats not much we can do with the current defferal policy of just six months. Were entering the second year of the pandemic and tourism is still frozen. We spend each day hoping for it to end, he said. Silver lining But its not all gloom and doom from tourism business owners who have taken heavy losses over the last year. Many have used the time to rethink the way they think, live, and invest. It helps me to live mindfully. For any goal I set, I prioritize the impacts on the environment and on other humans, said Sang. We have destroyed our eco-system to the extent that it may never recover. Now, I run a business focusing on organic agricultural products and support the livelihoods of others, including coffee markers, he added. Regarding his tourism business, Sang said hes switched from focusing on quantity to quality. The tours he consults on are focused on the specific needs of his customers. He also uses his free time to focus more on his family. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Approximately 100,000 factory workers in the northern province of Bac Giang, Vietnams largest COVID-19 epicenter at the moment, will receive coronavirus vaccine shots over the next seven to ten days. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Saturday afternoon convened a meeting with leaders of ministries and sectors and authorities in Bac Giang Province to discuss COVID-19 prevention and control efforts in the epicenter. The province has documented 2,074 local infections since the country was hit by the fourth transmission wave on April 27. Quang Chau Industrial Park is currently the largest hot spot with more 1,520 cases, Duong Van Thai, secretary of the provincial Party Committee, said at the meeting. The number of cases in Bac Giang has risen rapidly over the past days as competent authorities have been conducting mass COVID-19 retests on workers at high-risk areas and direct contacts at local quarantine facilities. About 20,000 samples have been collected in the province per day, Thai added. Thirteen COVID-19 treatment facilities with 3,600 beds have been established, the official said, adding that more facilities with some 1,800 beds will be put into operation in the coming time. An intensive care unit (ICU) with 50 beds has been established at the Bac Giang Lung Hospital to treat serious cases. Another ICU with 100 beds is being prepared at the Bac Giang Mental Hospital. The number of COVID-19 cases in the province is expected to continue increasing, but most of these cases have already been quarantined, Thai said. According to the provincial Department of Health, the number of workers and laborers who need vaccination in the province is about 100,000. Inoculation for workers at industrial parks in Bac Giang began on Thursday afternoon. As of Saturday afternoon, about 4,500 had received their first vaccine shots. Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son said that the remaining workers will be administered with COVID-19 vaccine over the next seven to ten days. About 1,400 health workers, medical students, and police and military officers are participating in pandemic response efforts in Bac Giang, Son added. Nearly 26,000 students and teachers at medical schools from across the country have also sign up to taking part in the efforts, he added. Vietnam has documented 6,964 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday afternoon, with 2,896 recoveries and 47 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. The country has recorded 3,893 local infections in 34 provinces and cities since April 27. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Competent authorities at a COVID-19 checkpoint in Ho Chi Minh City have discovered two Chinese and three Bangladeshi nationals who tried to enter the metropolis before completing their quarantine period. The five foreigners were traveling on a 16-seater van driven by 32-year-old Duong Quoc L. along the Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway at around 8:00 pm on Friday, May 28, officers confirmed on Saturday. After checking their personal documents, authorities at the checkpoint found out that the Chinese and three Bangladeshi nationals had yet to complete their mandatory 21-day quarantine at a hotel in Vung Tau City, located in the southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau. Their quarantine period was set to last from May 7 until the end of May 28. The foreigners said they hired L. to take them to a hotel in Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City. After reaching the destination, they would book flight tickets to return to their home countries. The driver and five foreign nationals have been taken to local quarantine facilities in accordance with regulations. Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City put into operation 12 COVID-19 checkpoints on May 14. Each of these checkpoints has mobile police officers, traffic inspectors, and health workers on duty around the clock. Their main tasks are to carry out body temperature measurement for people entering the city and collect medical declarations from them. Staff at the checkpoints are also in charge of detecting those escaping from local quarantine facilities and handing them over to health authorities. Vietnam has documented 6,908 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday morning, with 2,896 recoveries and 47 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. The country has recorded 3,837 local infections in 34 provinces and cities since April 27, including 108 cases in Ho Chi Minh City. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Here are todays leading news stories: COVID-19 Updates -- Vietnams Ministry of Health recorded 52 local COVID-19 cases in Bac Giang, Ho Chi Minh City, Bac Ninh, and Hai Phong on Sunday morning, raising the national tally to 6,908, with 2,896 recoveries and 47 deaths. -- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highlighted the government's ultimate goal of protecting peoples health, driving back COVID-19 pandemic, especially in key areas, to ensure socio-economic development and social welfare during a nationwide teleconference in Hanoi on Saturday. Society -- Competent authorities at a COVID-19 checkpoint in Ho Chi Minh City confirmed on Saturday they had discovered two Chinese and three Bangladeshi nationals who had not completed their quarantine period in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. -- A six-year-old girl and her three-year-old sibling drowned after falling into a pond while playing near their house in the northern province of Ha Tinh on Saturday, local authorities confirmed, adding that their parents were not at home at the time of the accident. -- The developer of Nuoc Long hydroelectric dam project in the central province of Quang Ngai has been found destroying an area of protective forest without permission in order to facilitate the construction. -- A 27-year-old man who was previously sentenced to death for murdering four family members has been discovered having a mental illness while waiting for his second trial in Ho Chi Minh City. Business -- Vietnam shipped overseas US$130.94 billion worth of goods in the first five months of 2021, up by 30.7 percent year-on-year, the Vietnam News Agency quoted the General Statistics Office as saying. -- Vietnams consumer price index (CPI) in May was up by 0.16 percent against April and 2.9 percent year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Social distancing measures will be reinstated in Ho Chi Minh City for 15 days from 0:00 on Monday following the direction of Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong. During the meeting on COVID-19 prevention and control on Sunday morning, Chairman Phong asserted that the entire city has to follow social distancing measures under the prime ministers Directive No. 15. The directive specifies that a gathering or meeting with more than 20 people in one room is prohibited. Although it stated that a gathering of more than 10 people outside office buildings, schools, and hospitals is not allowed, Chairman Phong has decided to lower the limit in the southern city to only five people. People should keep a safe distance of at least two meters in public places, while non-essential businesses and services will remain closed. All religious rites and activities with more than 20 participants in religious establishments as well as all cultural, sports, and recreational activities in public places are suspended. All citizens, especially those above 60 years old, must only go outside when necessary and avoid coming to medical facilities except in emergency cases. Meanwhile, people in Go Vap District and Thanh Loc Ward in District 12, the two largest hot spots in the city, will have to comply with stricter measures under the PMs Directive No. 16. Under this directive, all residents are required to stay home and can only go outside to buy food, supplies, medicine, and other essential goods and services. People are also allowed to leave their homes in emergency cases, to seek medical examinations and treatment, or to go to work at factories and in other essential sectors. People must keep a two-meter distance from one another, while the gathering of more than two people outside public offices, schools, and hospitals is forbidden. Chairman Phong also ordered mass COVID-19 testing in the metropolis, with priorities given to staff members of election teams and people linked to the cluster at Revival Ekklesia Mission, a Christian congregation based in Go Vap District. He requested the health sector to gather more human resources to raise testing capacity to 50,000 samples per day. More than 280,000 workers and 3,000 experts at local industrial parks and export processing zones will also be tested for COVID-19. Vietnam has documented 7,107 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday evening, with 2,950 recoveries and 47 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. The country has recorded 4,034 local infections in 34 provinces and cities since April 27, including 157 cases in Ho Chi Minh City. The largest cluster in the city, which traces back to the Revival Ekklesia Mission, has so far recorded more than 140 cases. This is the second time Ho Chi Minh City has implemented social distancing measures since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The metropolis previously applied Directive No. 16 for 22 days in early April 2020. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! As the fourth wave of COVID-19 ravages industrial zones in Vietnam, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has proposed a benefit equivalent to sick pay for workers who are sent to quarantine to curb the spread of the epidemic. According to the ministry, the current outbreak, which emerged on April 27, poses a detrimental effect on the labor market and business operations. It has shuttered big industrial zones in northern provinces of Bac Giang and Bac Ninh, among others, sending a substantial number of workers to quarantine wards. As stipulated in Vietnams 2019 Labor Code, workers who are suspended from the job due to a major epidemic are entitled to a suspension pay from their employers, which shall not fall below the statutory minimum wages if the suspension does not exceed 14 working days. Nevertheless, the actual quarantine duration well exceeds 14 days as required by the authority. In this case, workers salary after the first two weeks in isolation will not be ensured as they have to negotiate it with the employers, a representative of the ministry said. In light of the situation, the ministry is urging the Government to approve a welfare package for quarantined workers. The workers must be a member of the social security program, who made contribution to the social insurance budget the month before their suspension from work, to be eligible for the new welfare package. They also have to present paperwork to prove that their suspension is approved as quarantine time. The new policy will be effective in a locale once 0.1 percent of the populace, or 0.1 percent of social security members, in that area are found infected with the coronavirus. For each working day in quarantine, a beneficiary will receive 75 recent of their daily salary as recognized by the social security program the month before their suspension, as stated in Vietnams Law on Social Insurance. Some 300,000 workers suspended from their job will benefit from this package, receiving an estimated amount of VND945 billion (US$409 million), or 7.4 percent of the current social insurance fund for sick and maternity pay, the ministry estimated. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Hanoi City police have launched an investigation into some 1,300 dead newborns found in a rented house in Ha Dong District. The district police on Saturday said they had found such corpses during their search at the rented house after receiving some reports from local residents. Earlier, locals had reported to police that a group of five or six young people often brought in the house dead newborns and then kept them in a freezer. Investigators have interrogated the group and initial investigation results showed that no criminal sign has been found in this case. These young people often collect dead newborns abandoned at private clinics and hospitals in Hanoi for burial as a voluntary charity work, police said. These volunteers explained that they temporarily stored the dead babies in the freezer before transporting them to some cemeteries that are far from the inner city. Police, however, said they are considering some issues relating to the groups preservation of corpses. If such collection and storage of dead newborns is found causing any environmental problems, concerned agencies will handle the case, police said. Further investigation into the case is underway. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! US actor Gavin MacLeod, best known for The Love Boat and The Mary Tyler Moore Show has died, aged 90. He died in on Saturday, having been sick for some time, although no cause of death has been given. MacLeods career began in films in 1957 in The Sword of Ali Baba, then A Man Called Gannon, The Thousand Plane Raid and Kellys Heroes. He featured as on McHales Navy as Joseph Happy Haines from 1962 64 before rising to prominence as Murray Slaughter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1970 through 1977, earning two Golden Globe nominations. But it was as Captain Stubing on The Love Boat where he won the bigger following, appearing in every episode across nine seasons, and landing three more Golden Globe nods -including an episode filmed in Australia. But there were numerous credits: Peter Gunn, Dr. Kildare, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Munsters, Rawhide, Gomer Pye USMC, My Favourite Martian, Hogans Heroes, The Flying Nun, Hawaii Five-O, Murder She Wrote, Burkes Law, Oz, Touched by an Angel, JAG and That 70s Show. Films included Operation Petticoat, The Crimebusters, The Sand Pebbles, Kellys Heroes and The Party. Mary Tyler Moore Show co-star Ed Asner wrote on Twitter, My heart is broken. Gavin was my brother, my partner in crime (and food) and my comic conspirator. I will see you in a bit Gavin. Tell the gang I will see them in a bit. Betty (White)! Its just you and me now. Princess Cruises also paid tribute saying, It is with sadness felt to the depth of the oceans that we mourn the passing of actor Gavin MacLeod our beloved global ambassador, dearest friend and treasured member of the Princess Cruises family for more than 35 years. Source: Yahoo, Wikipedia Related In a last ditch attempt to block a sweeping GOP voting bill, all Democrats walked off the House floor Sunday night, preventing a vote on the legislation before a fatal deadline. The Republican priority bill is an expansive piece of legislation that would alter nearly the entire voting process, create new limitations to early voting hours, ratchet up voting-by-mail restrictions and curb local voting options, like drive-thru voting. Neighbours spoilers follow. Neighbours star Tim Kano has spoken for the first time about Leo Tanaka's upcoming return to Ramsay Street. The actor has been back on set since mid-March after agreeing to play Leo for another stint. In an exclusive chat with Digital Spy, Tim has now revealed that there's a big story lined up for Leo's comeback. Revealing how his return came about, Tim told us: "My agent called me and said Neighbours had a storyline and they'd be interested in bringing Leo back. So that was fantastic. Photo credit: Fremantle / Jane Zhang Related: Neighbours star Tim Kano explains how shark thriller Great White is different to Jaws "I was really stoked and excited. I've still got a lot of friends on the show, and I was excited to see the crew and everyone else. "I wasn't too sure what the storyline would be, but they gave me hints and it sounded awesome. It's a really good storyline that I haven't seen done before. I couldn't say no. It was just so appealing to go back." He continued: "I'm back there until the end of the year. I started back in March and it's been so nice being back. It's so nice to see everyone, but also to be part of this crazy storyline. It's going to be really good." Tim originally played the role of Leo as a show regular between 2016 and 2019. He later returned as a guest for episodes airing in December 2019 and January 2020. Photo credit: Channel 5 Related: 10 huge Neighbours spoilers for next week Reflecting on his original exit, Tim continued: "It was the end of my contract, as when I first joined, I signed on for three years. I was definitely keen to try out some new roles and work on some different projects. "I really liked the way that Leo was in love with Terese. He proposed to her but she got back with Leo's dad Paul. It was quite a sad and melancholy way to leave the Street. "Leo decided that he needed to go on a self-searching mission and he left a note for his twin brother David, just saying that he needed to find himself. I thought it was really interesting. It was not like the usual 'jump in a cab' departures where everyone waves off the character from Ramsay Street. Story continues "This was a lot darker and heavier and more profound in terms of the character. So it all worked out really well." Since leaving Neighbours, Tim has filmed a role in the survival horror film Great White, which is out now on DVD and digital platforms. Neighbours airs weekdays at 1.45pm and 5.30pm on Channel 5 (UK) and weekdays at 6.30pm on 10 Peach (Australia). Digital Spy now has a newsletter sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox. Read more Neighbours spoilers on our dedicated homepage Want up-to-the-minute soaps news, spoilers and gossip on your social feeds? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Soaps Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @soapscoop Twitter account. You Might Also Like Russias police tracked down over 230 people who made false bomb threats across the country over the past four months of this year, the Interior Ministrys press service told TASS on Sunday, TASS reports. "From January to April 2021, the number of people who have committed crimes under Article 207 of the Russian Criminal Code (deliberate false report about an act of terrorism) reached 232," the press service stated. This count carries a maximum sentence of up to ten years behind bars. The Interior Ministry reported that this figure was 2.1% fewer than the same period in 2020. Such false bomb threats usually targeted schools, railway stations, courts and hospitals. A wave of bomb threats has swept across Russian cities and towns since November 2019. Unidentified persons email about bombs planted at courts, schools, shopping malls, stores, universities, and on flights. All these emails have been mostly sent from abroad. Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) said that five foreign resources, which had sent out thousands of hoax bomb threats, were blocked. Russia confirmed 9,694 COVID-19 cases over the past day, a new high since March 19, the anti-coronavirus crisis center told reporters on Sunday. In relative terms, the growth rate reached 0.19%, TASS reports. Since the start of the pandemic, a total of 5,063,442 people have been infected, according to the crisis center. The lowest growth rates were registered in the Jewish Autonomous Region (0.02%), the Tuva Republic (0.03%) and the Republic of Adygea (0.05%). Moscow confirmed 3,719 COVID-19 cases over the past day. Some 829 COVID-19 cases were recorded in St. Petersburg, 748 in the Moscow Region, 179 in the Rostov Region, 145 in the Voronezh Region and 143 in the Nizhny Novgorod Region. Currently, 264,410 people are undergoing treatment in Russia. Some 7,386 COVID-19 patients recovered in Russia over the past day, bringing the total number of recoveries to 4,677,870. The share of recovered patients remained at 92.4% of all those infected, according to the crisis center. Over the past day, some 602 patients were discharged in the Moscow Region, 498 in St. Petersburg, 232 in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), 195 in the Saratov Region and 152 in the Rostov Region. Russia confirmed 355 COVID-19 deaths over the past day versus 401 a day earlier and the total death toll hit 121,162. The average mortality rate remained at 2.39%, according to the crisis center. Some 59 COVID-19 deaths were registered over the past day in Moscow, 39 in St. Petersburg, 15 in the Voronezh Region, the Nizhny Novgorod and Samara Regions, and 12 in the Krasnodar Region. Vietnams top dairy company Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk) - has witnessed a strange financial movement, contrary to the strong uptrend of the stock market. CEO Mai Kieu Lien of Vinamilk. Since early 2021, the price for Vinamilk shares (VNM) has decreased by about 22% from the peak of VND116,000 per share to VND90,000 per share, while the VN-Index increased by about 20% and many blue-chips recorded an increase of 50-70% during this period. For many years, VNM was a stock of growth. Its prices rose steadily even when the market was quiet. It was once the company with the largest market capitalization in the stock market for the longest time. With the breakout of many large stocks and the backward move of VNM, Vinamilk's market capitalization dropped quickly and fell out of the top 5 largest market capitalizations. Currently, Vingroup of billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong is the largest enterprise on the stock market with more than VND410 trillion ($17.6 billion), followed by Vietcombank with VND370 trillion, Vinhomes with VND350 trillion, Hoa Phat Group of billionaire Tran Dinh Long with over VND220 trillion ($9.4 billion) and Vietinbank with VND190 trillion. In fact, Vinamilk stock has remained at the average price in the past three years, not decreasing or increasing much. Vinamilk shares were sold by foreign investors recently while the demand from domestic investors is not high. While banks, steel and real estate companies reported unprecedented profits, Vinamilk recorded a decline in profits. In the first quarter, Vinamilks profit was less than VND2.6 trillion, 9% lower than the same period in 2020. Its revenue also decreased and fell to the lowest level in the past two years. At the companys shareholders meeting 2021, CEO Mai Kieu Lien said that Vinamilk planed to do business cautiously because the situation has many uncertainties. In late 2019, Vinamilk for the first time boosted exports to China - the world's second largest dairy market. The potential of China's billion-people market is huge. However, there were risks for Vinamilk because of policy instability and huge competition in this market. It took Vinamilk 10 years to find a foothold in this market. Vinamilk's growth problem must also take into account the general decline in demand. In Vietnam and China, the demand for milk is still increasing due to population growth. However, the increase in people's living standards along with the need for nutritional control may also be something that dairy companies like Vinamilk must consider in the future. Vinamilk has diversified products and developed organic products, and expanded its distribution channel network with separate store chains. However, these moves increased selling costs, and without good control and governance, Vinamilk may face difficulties. In fact, the amount of fresh milk consumed by Vietnamese people is still low, only about half that of Thailand, but consumption trends can change quickly and competition in the domestic dairy market is huge. Vinamilks rival - TH True Milk - is also thriving, with strong financial potential. V. Ha The Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam has promulgated Directive 03, which has requested agencies financed by the State budget to priotize the use of Vietnamese goods. The directive stated that, in order to further promote the implementation of the campaign Vietnamese people use Vietnamese goods, the Secretariat requests to further improve the responsibilities of party committees at all levels and organizations in leading and directing the implementation of this campaign; and to uphold the responsibility of setting an example of party members, especially leaders in using Vietnamese goods. Agencies using state funding must prioritize the use of Vietnamese products, goods and services in accordance with international commitments and Vietnamese laws, the directive says. According to the directive, Vietnamese people are encouraged to use Vietnamese goods; and domestic enterprises and production establishments are encouraged to use raw materials, fuels, and inputs of Vietnamese origin. Relevant agencies are responsible to review, amend, supplement and perfect policies and laws to create a favorable legal corridor to support Vietnamese enterprises - first of all, the small and medium ones and digital technology enterprises to participate in the production chain of high-quality goods and services; and to have policies to protect the domestic goods distribution market in line with international commitments. IT application and e-commerce development In the directive, the Secretariat asked for promotion of Vietnamese products and domestic enterprises in domestic and foreign markets, especially markets where Vietnam has signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA); and the application of information technology, and development of e-commerce and modern trade channels. The Secretariat directed relevant bodies to implement the project on developing the domestic market in association with the campaign "Vietnamese people give priority to using Vietnamese goods" in the period of 2021 - 2025; the project on calling overseas Vietnamese to participate in introducing and using Vietnamese products and developing distribution channels of Vietnamese goods abroad in the period of 2020 - 2024; and develop and approve a scheme to promote Vietnamese enterprises to directly participate in foreign distribution networks in the period of 2021 - 2030. Thu Hang As many as 117 State agencies, including 34 ministries, 63 provinces and cities, and 20 state-owned corporations saved more than VND84,635 billion, including VND50,628 billion for the state budget last year. Finance Minister Ho Duc Phuc presented the Government's report on the results of thrift practice in 2020. According to the Government's report on practicing thrift (updated by May 5, 2021) submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee, 117 agencies, including 34 ministries, 63 provinces and cities, and 20 state-owned corporations saved more than VND84,635 billion, including VND50,628 billion for the state budget. The Electricity of Vietnam Group (EVN) ranked first, saving VND15,755 billion, followed by Hanoi with VND10,287 billion, Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) with VND6,558 billion, Military Industry - Telecommunications Group (Viettel) with VND3,999 billion, Ministry of Defense with VND3,703 billion and Ministry of Finance with VND2,059 billion. The 10 agencies that saved from VND1,000 to VND2,000 billion included: Vietnam Social Security, Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Group, Vietnam Maritime Corporation and the provinces of Lam Dong, Can Tho, Thanh Hoa, Vinh Phuc, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Yen Bai, and Binh Duong. The five units and localities that saved the least were: State Capital Management Commission with only VND327 million, Vietnam Development Bank with VND1.349 billion, Northern Food Corporation with VND2.641 billion, Ministry of Construction with VND4.579 billion, and Vietnam Television (VTV) with VND5.745 billion. Two places have not submitted their reports on thrift practicing in 2020 - Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Thap province. After reviewing the Government's report, the Finance and Budget Committee of the National Assembly assessed that the practice of thrift and anti-waste has achieved many positive results. However, there are still some shortcomings and limitations that need to be overcome. The committee noted that the implementation of some projects was slow, for example the Ben Luc - Long Thanh expressway project; and terminal T3 of Tan Son Nhat airport, Long Thanh international airport and the eastern North - South expressway project. Thu Hang In the course of several hours Saturday and early Sunday, Senate Republicans hurtled to move forward on a sweeping voting bill negotiated behind closed doors where it doubled in length and grew to include voting law changes that werent previously considered. Over Democrats objections, they suspended the chambers own rules to narrow the window lawmakers had to review the new massive piece of legislation before giving it final approval ahead of the end of Mondays end to the legislative session. This culminated in an overnight debate and party line vote early Sunday to sign off on a raft of new voting restrictions and changes to elections and get it one step closer to the governors desk. Senate Bill 7, the GOPs priority voting bill, emerged Saturday from a conference committee as an expansive bill that would touch nearly the entire voting process, including provisions to limit early voting hours, curtail local voting options and further tighten voting-by-mail, among several other provisions. It was negotiated behind closed doors over the last week after the House and Senate passed significantly different versions of the legislation and pulled from each chambers version of the bill. The bill also came back with a series of additional voting rule changes, including a new ID requirement for mail-in ballots, that werent part of previous debates on the bill. Thats going to support the literacy plan that weve been working on and add to the interventionists weve already designated for next year, Kincannon said. The district will also hire teachers who will attend special yearlong training at Texas Womans University to help students recover their literacy skills. Kincannon said the district has already posted listings for a new elementary school position, called the Reading Recovery Leader. The teachers will join the staff of the three schools that had the lowest accountability ratings for 2019, South Waco, Mountainview and Dean Highland elementary schools. They will be dividing the elementary campuses among them and supporting teachers in learning the reading recovery process, Kincannon said. But we need to build them up first. In addition to specifically academic measures, learning to regulate emotions is key for students, Kincannon said. The relief funding will be used to add additional counselors at Cedar Ridge, Crestview, Kendrick, South Waco, Cesar Chavez and Tennyson for the next three years, something a previous district evaluation pointed out the schools need. Eighty years after he rescued shipmates from the burning USS West Virginia at Pearl Harbor and crossed the color line to strafe Japanese war planes with anti-aircraft fire, Doris Millers stature keeps growing. The Navy messman and son of Waco sharecroppers was the first Black hero of World War II, winning the Navy Cross for his actions. The Waco Veterans Affairs hospital was named after him in 2014. His hometown honored him four years later with the dedication of the riverside Doris Miller Memorial, where a Memorial Day ceremony is planned for Monday. Last year, the Navy announced it would commission the aircraft carrier USS Doris Miller, an honor usually reserved for presidents and high-ranking officials. But as those extraordinary honors pile up, one distinction remains elusive as the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor approaches. Millers family, the city of Waco and members of Congress connected to Waco have sought a Medal of Honor for Miller for decades, only to see their requests politely declined by the Navy. Since 2001, Waco-born Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, has led a congressional effort to clear the way for a Medal of Honor for Miller through legislation, including a bill in 2020 that would waive statute of limitations to upgrade his Navy Cross to the higher honor. Past Congressmen Chet Edwards, D-Waco; and Bill Flores, R-College Station, have partnered with Johnson in her efforts. New U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Waco, has said honoring Miller is a priority for him. A spokesperson for Sessions said this week that he is working on some projects to honor Miller but was unavailable to discuss them. More than 15 cities, including Waco, Dallas, Highland Park, University Park, Grapevine, Grand Prairie and Irving, have expressed support for Millers cause over the years. The U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted a resolution endorsing the effort in 2001. We are not stopping, Johnson said last year. We are not giving up. Its not my nature to give up on anything I believe in. But decisions on military honors are typically reserved for the military, and the Navy does not appear to be ready to change course on Millers status. There is no doubt Doris Millers actions on Dec. 7, 1941, like those of other Navy Cross recipients, are truly heroic, a Navy spokesperson stated in an email Friday in response to questions from the Tribune-Herald. In fact the law that established the Navy Cross states it is to be awarded to those who distinguish themselves by extraordinary heroism or distinguished services in the line of his profession. Still, the process is an inherently subjective one. While there are guidelines on what actions merit certain awards, the process relies on the recollections of people who were oftentimes actively engaged in combat or struggling to survive. Ultimately this question is unanswerable. None of those involved in the decision are alive. Some variance is to be expected with awards from past conflicts. The important thing to remember is that Doris Miller is an American hero. Edwards, the former congressman, said Congress has traditionally respected the militarys decisions on honors so as not to politicize them. Every year I was in Congress I hoped that Doris Miller would receive the Medal of Honor, and I believed he earned it, Edwards said. He earned our nations respect. Unfortunately, the Pentagon seemed to push back on the legislation. Edwards saluted the Navy for naming the USS Doris Miller, and he acknowledged the difficulty of retroactive awards. I think when youre trying to review somebodys record from many years ago it requires a much higher standard of evidence, he said. But he added: If a sailor who was designated as a cook going on the deck of a ship to fire at Japanese planes on Pearl Harbor Day doesnt deserve a Medal of Honor, I dont know what does. Johnson, who remembers Miller from her childhood in Waco, has said honors including the aircraft carrier are appreciated. But its not the Medal of Honor, she said. Miller, who worked on a farm near Speegleville and attended segregated Moore High School, joined the Navy in 1939 and was assigned as a cook to the USS West Virginia. Black sailors were not trained for combat and were relegated to kitchen and laundry duties. As the attack progressed, Miller helped injured sailors on deck, including pulling his wounded captain to safety. Then, despite no training, Miller manned an anti-aircraft gun and took aim at Japanese attack planes. In an official report on the Japanese attack, originally classified, the senior surviving officer of the USS West Virginia wrote that Miller was instrumental in hauling people along through oil and water to the quarterdeck, thereby unquestionably saving the lives of a number of people who might otherwise have been lost. In 1942, bills were introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to award Miller the Medal of Honor, according to Millers biographers, Thomas Cutrer and Michael Parrish. But the effort was defeated by Georgia Democrat Carl Vinson, the House of Representatives Chairman of Naval Affairs; along with Secretary of the Navy William Franklin Knox and the Texas congressional delegation, Cutrer and Parrish wrote in an October 2019 article in World War II Magazine. President Franklin D. Roosevelt himself had to intervene to pressure Knox to give Miller the Navy Cross. Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, pinning the Navy Cross on Miller on May 27, 1942, said the award marks the first time in this conflict that such high tribute has been made in the Pacific Fleet to a member of his race, and Im sure that the future will see others similarly honored for brave acts. In their 2018 book Doris Miller, Pearl Harbor and the Birth of the Civil Rights Movement, Cutrer and Parrish describe Secretary Knox as a thoroughgoing racist who threatened to resign if the Navy was desegregated. Knox was notorious for being prejudiced, said Parrish, a history professor at Baylor University, in an interview this past week. He said the Navy as a whole in the years leading up to World War II had a reputation for mistreating people of color within its ranks, and raised the question of whether any Black person could have earned a Medal of Honor in the Navy. Thats the perennial question, he said. There doesnt seem to be any consistent policy on the part of the Navy to make the decision, or at least any consistent policy then. In fact, none of the 1.2 million Black Americans who served in World War II earned a Medal of Honor until the 1990s, when scholars and members of Congress worked to build the case for honoring seven Black soldiers, only one of whom was still alive. Miller died in action on November 24, 1943, on the USS Liscome Bay in the Pacific Ocean after a Japanese torpedo sank the vessel off the coast of Butaritari Island. By then, he had become a nationally celebrated hero and was used in advertisements to recruit Black Americans to join the war effort. Waco community activist and social worker Bettie Beard recalls that Miller recruited her two uncles to join the service during World War II. One of her uncles, Travis Howard, was on the USS Liscome Bay with Miller when the ship went down. Her uncle survived the attack and died in 1994, Beard said. She said a Medal of Honor for Miller is long overdue. Beard is organizing a communitywide Memorial Day event at 8:30 Monday at the Doris Miller Memorial at Bledsoe-Miller Park on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Steve Hernandez, McLennan County veterans service officer, will serve as master of ceremonies for the Memorial Day event, and the Rev. Carlton Stimpson of the Open Door Church of God in Christ will offer prayer. Beard, whose family is full of veterans and active-duty service members, will recite In Flanders Fields, a poem written during World War I, and she invites those who have lost relatives in wars to come forward, say their relatives name, their branch of service and what war they fought in. Beard also invites the public and members of veterans organizations who normally lay wreaths on Memorial Day to bring their wreaths to the ceremony and place them on the Doris Miller Memorial. We hope that this will be a day of unification, Beard said. We want to make sure we are honoring our deceased veterans, especially the ones who fought in wars. But we also want our community to consider what we have in common. Everybody, every race, every creed, everyone. If we love this country and all the freedoms we have, then we must honor those who fought to keep us free. We must make sure we honor and never forget those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for us and our country, Beard said. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Tommy Witherspoon Staff writer at the Waco Tribune-Herald covering courts and criminal justice. Follow me on Twitter @TSpoonFeed. Follow Tommy Witherspoon Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Considering that much of our nation is only now emerging from a COVID-19 cocoon of precautions and anxieties, expect this Memorial Day weekend to be a more joyous occasion than last years. Yet it would behoove each of us to pause amid our backyard barbecues and outdoor beach and park excursions to consider Memorial Days gravest obligation: reflecting on wartime deaths in faraway climes so we can sleep snug in our beds at night and work and play confident in our safety in a dangerous world. Mute stone markers of war dead in our cemeteries also beg us to redouble our role as homefront patriots in gauging the wisdom and judgment of our leaders in committing more of our military in harms way. The threats are many. For instance, politicians have railed often about China everything from its irresponsibility in managing what exploded into a global pandemic to its seeming delight in North Korean leader Kim Jong-uns bellicosity to Chinas growing militarization in the Pacific. What happens if China calls our bluff on long-held political vows to safeguard Taiwan (even though the United States is not so treaty-bound)? If China were to invade Taiwan without much more than saber-rattling in response from the United States, what would this say for our fast-fraying ties with Pacific nations already doubtful about our presence and resolve in the Pacific? Lessons of World War II beckon. It isn't known why the pulling cable snapped. The Vipiteno, Italy-based company that maintains the lift, Leitner SpA, has said no irregularities were detected" during the November 2020 magnetic testing of the lead cable, and that every other annual check hadn't turned up problems either. Tadini admitted during questioning that he had left a fork-shaped bracket on the cable car's emergency brake to disable it because it kept locking on its own while the car was in service, said his lawyer, Marcello Perillo. Speaking to reporters outside Verbania prison, Perillo said Tadini never would have left the bracket in place if he thought doing so might endanger passengers. He is not a criminal and would never have let people go up with the braking system blocked had he known that there was even a possibility that the cable would have broken, Perillo said. He cant even begin to get his head around the fact that the cable broke. Based on Tadini's testimony, prosecutors had hypothesized that the managers knew about the jerry-rigged brake and had an economic reason in using it to keep the funicular running. Prosecutor Olimpia Bossi said the owner would have had to have taken the whole lift out of service for the more extensive, radical" repairs that were necessary. GOVERNORS HAVE BEEF: Gov. Kim Reynolds and five other governors are asking the U.S. Department of Justice to continue its investigation into anti-competitive practices in the meatpacking industry. The DOJ originally had sent investigative demands to the nations four largest meatpackers in May 2020. The governors highlighted the threat to consumers as prices of meat at the grocery store continue to rise, all while beef producers are struggling to make ends meet. The consistently high prices realized on the boxed beef side are not being reflected on the producer side, forcing consumers to pay a premium for beef, while threatening many of our producers with the loss of their business, the governors wrote. Reynolds was joined in signing the letter by Kristi Noem of South Dakota, Greg Gianforte of Montana. Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, Doug Burgum of North Dakota and Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma. CLASSROOM MONEY: The Iowa Department of Education on Friday awarded more than $1.6 million in competitive grants to six school districts to establish therapeutic classrooms for learners whose social-emotional or behavioral needs affect their ability to be successful in their current learning environment. The desire to get outdoors has driven attendance at George Wyth State Park. It was eighth on the list of Iowas most-visited state parks in 2020 with 502,629 visitors last year. Thats a 27% percent increase since 2019, said Park Manager Lori Eberhard. That tracks with a record 16.6 million visitors who frequented Iowas state parks last year, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. And its going to be busy again this year. Were seeing numbers up at least 10% higher than this time last year, Eberhard said. Campgrounds are going to be packed. We have a few first come-first serve campsites that fill up quickly, and 75% that can be reserved from two to 90 days out. Dont wait until the last minute because there wont be any openings. Thats going to be true everywhere this summer county, state and federal parks. George Wyth offers paved and soft multi-use trails that are linked to the 100-mile trail network within Waterloo and Cedar Falls, campgrounds and four lakes. Water levels are low, so boaters should take heed. They havent been this low since 2012. It will take quite a bit to get back to normal. Weve got warning signs posted at the boat dock, Eberhard said. Klaver said the verdict was an emotional moment for relatives of Tibbetts, calling the outcome a weight off of everyone's shoulders." Several of her relatives, including her mother, had watched the proceedings daily in a conference room across from the courtroom, where the public was banned due to COVID-19 protocols. Bahena Riveras defense attorneys, Chad and Jennifer Frese, said they were disappointed in the verdict and would appeal. They said that their client had never wavered since 2018 from the story that he told on the witness stand about the two masked men that he claims were responsible. They said the decision to call him to testify was an easy one. We can tell you that getting to know Cristhian Bahena, we are very surprised that he would be the kind of person that would commit a crime like this, Chad Frese said. He is nothing but a soft-spoken, respectful, kind person. They said they would renew their arguments that Bahena Riveras statements to police were coerced and should be suppressed, along with the discovery of Tibbetts body that followed. archives 30 May - 6 Jun (2) 23 May - 30 May (4) 2 May - 9 May (3) 25 Apr - 2 May (4) 4 Apr - 11 Apr (2) 28 Mar - 4 Apr (4) 28 Feb - 7 Mar (1) 7 Feb - 14 Feb (2) 10 Jan - 17 Jan (2) 27 Dec - 3 Jan (2) 13 Dec - 20 Dec (3) 6 Dec - 13 Dec (1) 29 Nov - 6 Dec (1) 15 Nov - 22 Nov (6) 8 Nov - 15 Nov (1) 25 Oct - 1 Nov (1) 18 Oct - 25 Oct (3) 4 Oct - 11 Oct (1) 27 Sep - 4 Oct (1) 20 Sep - 27 Sep (2) 13 Sep - 20 Sep (4) 6 Sep - 13 Sep (3) 30 Aug - 6 Sep (1) 23 Aug - 30 Aug (1) 16 Aug - 23 Aug (4) 9 Aug - 16 Aug (1) 2 Aug - 9 Aug (3) 26 Jul - 2 Aug (4) 19 Jul - 26 Jul (5) 12 Jul - 19 Jul (2) 5 Jul - 12 Jul (7) 28 Jun - 5 Jul (2) 21 Jun - 28 Jun (7) 14 Jun - 21 Jun (4) 7 Jun - 14 Jun (4) 31 May - 7 Jun (3) 24 May - 31 May (2) 17 May - 24 May (1) 10 May - 17 May (1) 19 Apr - 26 Apr (1) 12 Apr - 19 Apr (1) 15 Mar - 22 Mar (1) 8 Mar - 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A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 72F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. "My brother and I have fond stories of that. We were the baggage handlers, we were the food providers, said Jones III. Nothing like that had been done in the States by African Americans, and we were very proud of that. We thought it was just something cool. We didn't understand the history that we were involved in at the time." The airline's board of directors consisted of the brothers father, aunt and some neighbors from their community in Washington, D.C. The airline operated out of National Airport in Washington and later Martin State Airport outside of Baltimore. Training the next generation "In his later years, his whole focus was on young people, exposing them to the field of aviation and allowing them the opportunity to fly, said Jones III. In 1987, his father, then in his mid-60s, opened a private flight school of his own, Cloud Club II, where he trained approximately 200 students, many whom did not know he was a Tuskegee Airman. "I think my father was probably most proud that there were a number of women who he had trained, who ended up with careers as military pilots, commercial pilots, air traffic control individuals and folks who actually had long careers in aviation, said Rodney Jones. Even after he truly retired once and for all, Jones still went to the airport every day sometimes two times a day well into his 90s. "Like clockwork, from 11 o'clock to 2 o'clock, you could go down to the airport, and you would see his car parked there, said Jones III. He watched folks flying, landing, taking off, talking to the folks. Each and every day up until he was 95 years old, driving himself to the airport every day." When the brothers expressed concern about their father driving at his age he would reply, I've been a pilot for decades, and you're going to tell me that I can't drive my car? How many accidents have you had?" Lt. Col. Herb Jones Jr. passed away on Aug. 26, 2020, at the age of 96. Aaron Kassraie joined AARP.org as a staff writer and associate editor of veterans content in 2019. He previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for Kuwait News Agency's Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for USA TODAY and Al Jazeera English. WENN Movie The 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' actor reveals six A-list actresses turned down the villainous role in his hit 1975 movie because they didn't want to play the bad guy. May 30, 2021 AceShowbiz - Michael Douglas struggled to find an actress to play wicked Nurse Ratched in his hit 1975 film "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" because big stars didn't want to play a villain. The movie star, who won an Oscar for producing the classic, reveals six A-listers turned down the role before he offered the part to Louise Fletcher. "Back in the early 1970s... actresses did not want to play villains," he tells The Talk. "Villains were not something that was politically correct within the women's movement at that time, so we had six major actresses who didn't wanna do the picture... Male actors, you die to get a good villain part - those are the ones that made everybody's career." "Louise Fletcher was pretty unknown and all of that... and she won the Academy Award for Best Actress and we felt real good about it." Eddie Murphy also turned down a role in the movie after realising Douglas and his partners wanted him to play "the black dude." The funnyman was attending community college in New York when he thought he'd try out for the role of R.P. McMurphy - the part Jack Nicholson took on in the film version of the play - but he was dismayed to discover the brains behind the production had another character in mind for Eddie. "They wanted me to play the Scatman Crothers role (Turkle, the orderly)," Murphy told Parade. "I was like, 'Because he's the only black dude?' I remember thinking, 'This is bulls**t. I would crush it!' I was so p**sed off." WENN Celebrity The British Prime Minister is married for the third time as the politician swapped vows with Carrie Symonds with whom he shares a daughter, a year after the couple battled Covid-19. May 30, 2021 AceShowbiz - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has wed his fiancee Carrie Symonds. According to the Daily Mail, the couple exchanged vows in a private ceremony at Westminster Cathedral in London on Saturday (29May21), when just 30 guests were in attendance, as per COVID-19 protocols. Father Daniel Humphries officiated the ceremony after baptising the new husband and wife's one-year-old son, Wilfred, last year (20). Johnson and Symonds, who became engaged in late 2019, are said to be planning a separate marriage celebration in July 2022 after sending out "save the date" cards to family and friends. The news makes the Conservative Party leader the first British Prime Minister to wed while in office in roughly 200 years, reports The Daily Telegraph. Downing Street representatives have declined to comment on the wedding. Johnson was previously married to Allegra Mostyn-Owen and second wife Marina Wheeler, with whom he has four children. Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds got engaged in 2020 as she was pregnant with their first child together. The engagement came several months after he was admitted to a hospital due to Covid-19. She also suffered from coronavirus symptoms but recovered after resting at home. "Many of you already know but for my friends that still don't, we got engaged at the end of last year... and we've got a baby hatching early summer. Feel incredibly blessed," she gushed when announcing her betrothal back then. Their baby becomes the first born to an incumbent leader since the August 2010 arrival of David and Samantha Cameron's daughter, Florence Rose Endellion. Johnson also fathered a child with art consultant Helen Macintyre. WENN Music The 'Thinking Out Loud' hitmaker and the Chris Martin-fronted band are tapped for the BBC Radio 1's music festivity while Pat Monahan and his bandmates stage their first-ever virtual concert. May 30, 2021 AceShowbiz - Ed Sheeran and Coldplay will headline the virtual Radio 1's Big Weekend as music fans countdown to June. After the event was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, the four-day 2021 spectacular, which began on Friday (28May21), will feature over 100 live performances from sites across the U.K. over the British spring Bank Holiday weekend. Coldplay will hit the stage at Whitby Abbey while Sheeran is set to perform on the banks of the River Alde in Suffolk. The online festival will also feature AJ Tracey, Anne-Marie, Celeste, London Grammar, and Royal Blood among others. Fans will also be able to watch a selection of tracks on Radio 1's BBC iPlayer and YouTube channels, with a curated stream on BBC iPlayer, featuring select performances and artist interviews from Saturday to Monday. Meanwhile, Train will perform their album "Drops of Jupiter" in its entirety during their first-ever livestream performance on 25 June (21). The band will take to the stage at The Wiltern in Los Angeles for the Soul Vacation gig, which will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their iconic album. In addition to the livestream, their concert will be available to watch again on 26 June at 8pm BST and 8pm AUS EST - to allow fans globally to tune in for the gig. Promoting the upcoming concert on Instagram, Train wrote, "We could all use a vacation, is that right?! Join us for Train's Soul Vacation, a stream to celebrate 20 years of Drops of Jupiter." "We'll be taking the stage at The Wiltern in Los Angeles to perform the album that you all love, with some other favourites along the way." Tickets for the livestream are available to buy now, here: dreamstage.live. Instagram Celebrity The 'Spinning Around' hitmaker is celebrating her latest birthday by releasing the Cru Classe Cotes de Provence Rose, which is the latest addition to her wine range. May 30, 2021 AceShowbiz - Kylie Minogue is celebrating her 53rd birthday by releasing a new wine. The "Spinning Around" hitmaker turned 53 on Friday (28May21) and to mark the occasion, she's announced the release of the Cru Classe Cotes de Provence Rose, the latest addition to her eponymous wine range, which has sold over a million bottles in less than a year. "I have been so touched by the amazing reaction to Kylie Minogue Wines," the Aussie hitmaker said in a statement. "To have released seven wines in less than a year, sold over a million bottles and now exporting to four continents has been absolutely astounding and testimony to all of the amazing Kylie Minogue Wines family - the growers, the winemakers, the distributors and, most importantly - the customers. Thank you all for your incredible support." "I hope you enjoy the latest addition to The Kylie Minogue Wines." The Kylie Minogue 2020 Cru Classe Cotes de Provence Rose is described as "dry with bright acidity on the palate that expresses rich pink grapefruit and opulent apricot notes - and a complex, layered texture" and boasts aromas of white flower and citrus blossom with a long, crisp and refreshing finish. The new Rose will be on sale from July at London store Harvey Nichols and online at www.kylieminoguewines.com for $42 (30). Fans can also enjoy a glass when they visit the Annabel's Club terrace in Mayfair over the summer. The wine is being produced in collaboration with the historic Chateau Saint Roseline, owned by the Teillaud family and a Cru Classe de Provence, located in Les Arcs-Sur-Argens. REDDING, Calif. - In Redding on Saturday a minor traffic collision was reported at the intersection of North Point Drive and Redwood Blvd. One of the police responders was hit by a vehicle at the scene of a roadblock that was set up after the collision. According to the Redding Police Department a driver, 37-year-old Bryce Webb, became upset about the temporary road closure. Officers allege that Webb drove past the roadblock, accelerating toward a police cadet, and then slammed on his brakes. Police said the cadet tried to avoid getting hit by the vehicle but was struck by the front bumper. The cadet was not injured. Webb, police said, drove away, but they said they were able to locate him at his home nearby. Bryce Webb was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and for driving under the influence (DUI). REDDING, Calif. - Redding Police Department officers arrested two people and recovered a stolen Corvette late Saturday night, shortly before midnight. Police said officers saw the stolen 2016 Chevy Corvette being driven into the parking lot of the Capris Motel Saturday night. The car had been stolen from Reno, Nevada said police. The two people who were in the car were arrested and taken to the Shasta County Jail after a search revealed a loaded firearm in the glove compartment that had the serial number removed. They said they also found drugs inside the car. There was marijuana and a substance believed to be methamphetamine. 27-year-old Jonte Endicott was found to be on Post Release Community Supervision for theft-related offenses. Officers said he had three warrants out for his arrest. He was taken into custody for possession of a stolen vehicle and for drug and weapons violations. Police said they also found a woman in the car who initially lied about her identify. She is 31-year-old Rosalinda Velasquez of Auburn. She was booked on charges related to drug and weapons violations. John Caupert is executive director of the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center, a position he has held since 2006. The center is located on the campus of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, across the river from St. Louis. A native of southern Illinois, he grew up on a grain and livestock farm near Pinckneyville and attended SIU-Carbondale, where he earned graduate degrees in agricultural economics and policy. Cauperts easygoing, self-deprecating manner belies the qualifications and experience he brings to the leadership position at one of the nations premier ethanol research facilities. He spent the first half of his career in the private sector, including a 10-year stint as a contractor with Anheuser-Busch, where he marketed brewers grains. He also worked at St. Louis-based Romer Labs and at the National Corn Growers Association. IFT: How did NCERC come into existence? And how did it come to be located in Illinois? CAUPERT: It was born out of the 1996 farm bill. The following year, $14 million was appropriated for bricks and mortar to develop this center. Illinois put in nearly $7 million of matching funds for capital construction. The center opened its doors in October 2003. Three years later almost to the day I was named executive director. I was the third. I guess that either proves that Im not very smart or Im a glutton for punishment. Anyway, its been 15 years and Im still here. IFT: Seriously, you are uniquely qualified for the position. How did your prior career prepare you for the leadership role at NCERC? https://www.aish.com/tp/i/gl/The-Sale-of-Yosef-and-the-Spies.html Bereishis, 42:9: Yosef recalled the dreams that he had dreamt about them, so he said to them, You are spies (meraglim atem) Baal HaTurim, 42:9 Dh: You are spies: This [you are spies] means [that Yosef alluded to them], you and not me, because Yehoshua who came out from me, was not in the counsel of the Meraglim. And they replied, your servants were not spies, this means that Yehuda replied, because he was the leader, and also came out from me Calev, who was not in the counsel of the spies. [The words loh hayu (were not) is the same gematria (numerical number) as Calev. When learning the episode of the spies a number of similarities emerge between that tragic account and a story that took place many years earlier the sale of Yosef. The Baal HaTurim notes the use of the very word Meraglim (spies) when Yosef, in his role as the Viceroy of Egypt, accuses the brothers of being spies. The Baal HaTurim makes a remarkable observation, that there seemed to have been some kind of underlying or subconscious debate between Yosef and Yehuda that alluded to the future sin of the spies: Yosef calls the brothers spies, alluding to the future sin of the spies, but he notes that his descendant, Yehoshua, was not part of the sin of the spies. However, Yehuda, the leader of the brothers, replies that his descendant, Calev, was also against the spies, so he cannot be called a spy either. This fascinating Baal HaTurim alerts us to the fact that there is a strong connection between the two seemingly disparate episodes of the sale of Yosef and the spies. In particular, it is noteworthy that the main protagonists in the sale of Yosef Yosef and Yehuda - were also the progenitors of the only righteous parties in the spies.1 Before addressing this specific connection, it is instructive to cite a number of other similarities between the two stories. One method to find connections is to search for similar word usage in the two accounts. In addition to the use of spies, other words come up in both stories: One of the causes of the brothers hatred towards Yosef was the fact that he spoke badly about them to their father, Yaakov. Indeed, the sages criticize Yosef for speaking lashon hara about the brothers, regardless of his pure motives. The Torah describes his negative speech as dibatam raah meaning bad speech about the (the brothers). In a similar vein, the Torah relates how the spies brought out dibat haaretz evil speech about Eretz Yisrael. The root word dibah is so rarely used that these are the only two times they ever appear in the Torah. Another striking word similarity is in the word shelach to send. Obviously, the whole Portion of the spies begins with that word, with God telling Moshe to send spies. Less obviously known is that the story of the sale of Yosef also begins with the word shelach when Yaakov tells Yosef that he is sending him on a mission.2 We have seen some uncanny links between the accounts of the sale of Yosef and the spies. What is the deeper connection between the two, and who do the roles of Yosef and Yehuda fit into both events? The commentators3 explicitly connect the two stories, and say that had the spies spoken well about Eretz Yisrael, then they would have rectified the sin of the sale of Yosef.4 Sadly, when the spies criticized the land, they failed, with disastrous consequences. However, perhaps the two good spies, Yehoshua and Calev, did rectify aspects of the sins of their specific ancestors, Yosef and Yehuda, that led to the tragic events of the sale of Yosef.5 Yosef himself is assigned some blame for his role in the course of event that led to his sale. In particular, as mentioned above, he is criticized for speaking lashon hara about the brothers. The Sages see from here that on some minute level, Yosef had a slight failing in this area. The commentaries observe that this fact arises in the story of the spies: When describing the spy from the Tribe of Yosefs eldest son, Menashe, the Torah notes that he comes from the Tribe of Yosef. However, when describing Yehoshua, the spy from the Tribe of Yosefs other son, Ephraim, the Torah omits any mention of Yosef. One answer given to explain why Yosef is mentioned only with regard to Menashe, is that the spy from that Tribe, failed in the same area where Yosef stumbled, in speaking lashon hara about the Land.6 In contrast, Yehoshua did not emulate Yosefs lashon hara and therefore Yosefs name is not mentioned with reference to him. To develop this idea further, it seems that Yehoshua did more than just avoid his ancestors mistake, rather he rectified it with his own speech. So, whereas Yosef spoke badly about the brothers, and the ten spies spoke badly about the Land, Yehoshua (along with Calev) spoke positively about the land, going against the vast majority of the spies, saying: The Land that we passed through, to spy it out the Land is very, very gooda Land that flows with milk and honey.7 In this way, even though he failed to dissuade the people from rebelling, Yehoshua succeeded in this own personal test to rectify the failing of his ancestor. How did Calev rectify Yehudas mistake in the sale of Yosef? It seems that the specific criticism of Yehuda more than the other brothers, is that he was the recognized leader, and so he had the most influence over their course of action. In particular, there is one pivotal moment where Yehuda could have completely saved Yosef - when Yosef is floundering in the pit, Yehuda tells the brothers that they should not kill Yosef. At that point, he could have continued that they should bring him out of the pit and return him home. However, instead, he told the brothers to sell Yosef, setting off the tragic course of events that followed. Yehuda is criticized by the Sages for this, specifically for the fact that when he said not to kill Yosef, he started the Mitzva of saving Yosef, but he did not continue it by saving Yosef. It seems that Yehudas failing is in the area of his leadership he was a natural leader but he did not use his power in the optimum way. Indeed, because of this, he was removed from his position of leadership of the brothers.8 Yehudas descendant Calev was placed in a similar situation where he could have used his evident influence as a leader to encourage the spies in their evil speech. In the midst of the spies evil speech, Calev stands up and everyone turns to him, eager to hear his words. He first sounds like he is going to join in their criticism, yet he suddenly switches and negates the evil words of the spies. Sadly, his words were not heeded, yet it seems that he managed to rectify the trait of misused leadership displayed by his ancestor, Yehuda. Both Calev and Yehoshua received tremendous reward for their brave stand while they were outnumbered. They excelled where their ancestors stumbled, in the realms of speech and leadership. They continue to serve as examples of moral strength in the face of adversity. Lake Charles, Louisiana (70615) Today Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 76F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 76F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Lake Charles, Louisiana (70615) Today Partly cloudy. Hot and humid. High 93F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 76F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. In every generation, objects of the past tend to be devalued by those ardent on enforcing their own judgment of the past and canceling part of it. Today, monuments and individuals are being displaced on the contention they are incompatible with present-day values and ideas, and irrelevant to changes in politics and international relations. Long ago, there were scapegoats, sent into the wilderness after the sins of the people were laid on them. Now scapegoats tend to be the objects of prejudice and the victims of cancel culture by those blaming others for present or past problems. They are the victims of those eager to limit or suppress free expression by shaming or ostracizing or demonizing the culprits, who may be seen as "evil." The concept of "culture wars" was propounded, if not coined, by James Davison Hunter in his book, Culture Wars, 1991, to suggest not simply disagreements, but a perception of two incompatible views, originally orthodox and progressive. In recent years, this difference in perception has underlain a variety of disparate political and social issues. Social media have emphasized the expression of these points of view and the conflict for dominance of values, beliefs, practices. Because of its prevalence, the debatable issue is whether cancel culture is a tool of social justice or a form of willful intimidation. The main issues in the present culture wars are race, slavery, ethnicity, empire. These cultural divisions are present in discussion of many organizations, and in historical interpretation. A few cases are here discussed. Let's start with the theater. The Globe, the reconstructed Elizabethan playhouse on London's South Bank, is preparing to "decolonize" the plays of Shakespeare, addressing the "problematic gendered and racialized dynamics of his plays." For the planners at the Globe, Shakespeare is the promulgator of "whiteness": white/fair connotes good, and black, dark connotes bad. In this, there is no indication whether Shakespeare, say, in A Midsummer Night's Dream or The Tempest, was expressing the prejudices of his time or drawing attention to racial injustices and racial stereotypes or colonialism. Cancel culture and woke politic have affected other British elite institutions. One example is a website report and support tool set up by the University of Cambridge that, after criticism, was temporarily removed after a few days. The website purported to create a community that nurtured a culture of mutual respect d consideration for all. According to the now deleted web page, the report allowed students to "anonymously" report teachers for "micro-aggressions." These were defined as slights, indignities, putdowns, and insults against minority groups. Among the offenses mentioned were turning one's back or raising an eyebrow when a black person is speaking, giving backhanded compliments or calling a woman a girl, behavioral or verbal slights; changes in body language when responding to those of a particular characteristic. In general, the report argued that this form of behavior would communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to persons based solely on their group membership. Ccritics can regard this website as a threat to traditions of free speech. Indeed, the Cambridge vice chancellor admitted that the list was a mistake, and a new website was put up. The anonymous reporting tool was eliminated, but students and staff can make "named reports" about inappropriate behavior by others. The danger still remains of a system of controlling speech and daily interactions. By its proposals for reporting micro-aggressions, Cambridge is following Oxford whose equality and diversity unit in 2017 issued similar guidance. In this advice, issues mentioned were not looking someone properly in the eye and asking someone from a minority background where he is "really" from. Oxford University used to be indecisive; now it's not so sure. No final decision has been made in Oxford, where in 2017 its equality and diversity unit introduced rules alleged to protect oppressed minorities. After a considerable number of protests, calling for the removal from Oriel College, Oxford, of the statue of Cecil Rhodes, the philanthropist and prominent imperialist who had called for the British Empire to seize control of much of South Africa, an independent commission was set up to examine the future of Rhodes. The majority of the commission and the leader of the Oxford city council, voted to remove the statue, a decision that the College accepted. But on May 23, 2021, the governing board of the college changed its mind and stated the controversial statue would not be taken down, ostensibly because of the complex challenges, the length of time, and costs in its removal. It has become axiomatic since the death of George Floyd that names of individuals said to be involved in racism or slavery or colonialism would be removed from institutions and monuments where they are being honored. As a result, in the U.S., Confederate flags and statues have been removed in many cities. So have statues of Christopher Columbus, whose former October holiday is now Indigenous People's Day in some quarters. Statues of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington are being considered for demolition. The latest possibly flawed individual in the U.S. is John Marshall, fourth justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, 18011835. As the result of newly discovered research in May 2021, the board of trustees of the University of Illinois decided to remove his name from the John Marshall Law school in Chicago. The U of I proclaimed that it will continue to be a place where "diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity" are supported and advanced. Marshall can be considered one of the most, if not the most, consequential jurist in American history. All recognize the importance of his decision in Marbury v. Madison, 1803, that upheld the principle of judicial review, whereby courts can strike down federal and state laws if they conflict with the Constitution. He declared the basic principle that the federal Judiciary is supreme in the exposition of the law of the Constitution. But for the U of I, Marshall is a flawed person, owner of hundreds of slaves, holder of racist views, whose court decisions supported slavery. It therefore voted against him. In the U.K., similar purification of the supposed undesirables is occurring. The list is growing. Liverpool University has renamed its Gladstone building. The great 19th-century four-times prime minister and reformer is a new member of the hit list because he spoke in Parliament at the age of 23 in defense of the slave trade in which his family had an interest. Forgotten or ignored is the fact he soon opposed the slave trade. Churchill College, Cambridge recently held a conference at which the great leader and founder of the college was denounced for racism. The latest villain is Adam Smith, author of The Wealth of Nations and the "father of capitalism." In response to the BLM movement, his grave in Edinburgh is on the list of sites of those linked to historic racial injustice. Smith, who had written that slavery is evil and inhumane, is apparently listed because he had not campaigned for the abolition of slavery. At another elite institution, a rebellion by a group, Restore Trust, in May 2021 has halted the effort to tarnish, even demonize, British history being advanced by the National Trust, the charity whose official objective is to promote the preservation and public access to buildings and places of historic or architectural interest and land of natural beauty under its protection. However, in September 2020, the Trust published a 115-page report that indicated that 93 of its estates had links to the U.K.'s colonial and slavery past. The report can be seen as a weapon of identity politics. Restore Trust held that the National Trust had lost sight of its real purpose and was preoccupied with the views of a woke minority. More than fifty members of the N.T. said they had no confidence in the leadership of the chairman of the board, Tim Parker. He, and three other senior figures who were said to have a "highly woke agenda," were forced to quit. The direction of the agenda of Mr. Parker seemed obvious but is somewhat befuddled. He had written approvingly of the BLM movement as a human rights movement with no political party affiliations, but at the virtual annual meeting of the N.T. on November 2020, he said "we are not members of BLM." A sensible view has come from U.K. culture secretary Oliver Dowden, who called for cultural institutions to adopt a more balanced view of Britain's history. That history is one of moral complexity, and one should not be selective, neither airbrushing nor whitewashing the past, nor denigrating history. One should explain and "contextualize" problematic public statues or historical objects rather than removing them from display. Image via Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here.